Kitabı oku: «Mary Stuart», sayfa 6

SCENE V

MARY, KENNEDY.

KENNEDY

 
   What have you done? She has gone hence in wrath
   All hope is over now!
 

MARY (still quite beside herself)

 
               Gone hence in wrath!
   She carries death within her heart! I know it.
 

[Falling on KENNEDY'S bosom.

 
   Now I am happy, Hannah! and at last,
   After whole years of sorrow and abasement,
   One moment of victorious revenge
   A weight falls off my heart, a weight of mountains;
   I plunged the steel in my oppressor's breast!
 

KENNEDY

 
   Unhappy lady! Frenzy overcomes you.
   Yes, you have wounded your inveterate foe;
   'Tis she who wields the lightning, she is queen,
   You have insulted her before her minion.
 

MARY

 
   I have abased her before Leicester's eyes;
   He saw it, he was witness of my triumph.
   How did I hurl her from her haughty height,
   He saw it, and his presence strengthened me.
 

SCENE VI

Enter MORTIMER.

KENNEDY

 
   Oh, Sir! What an occurrence!
 

MORTIMER

 
                   I heard all —
 

[Gives the nurse a sign to repair to her post, and draws nearer; his whole appearance expresses the utmost violence of passion.

 
   Thine is the palm; – thou trod'st her to the dust! —
   Thou wast the queen, she was the malefactor; —
   I am transported with thy noble courage; —
   Yes! I adore thee; like a Deity,
   My sense is dazzled by thy heavenly beams.
 

MARY (with vivacity and expectation)

 
   You spoke with Leicester, gave my letter to him.
   My present, too? – oh, speak, sir.
 

MORTIMER (beholding her with glowing looks)

 
                     How thy noble,
   Thy royal indignation shone, and cast
   A glory round thy beauty; yes, by heavens,
   Thou art the fairest woman upon earth!
 

MARY

 
   Sir, satisfy, I beg you, my impatience;
   What says his lordship? Say, sir, may I hope?
 

MORTIMER

 
   Who? – he? – he is a wretch, a very coward,
   Hope naught from him; despise him, and forget him!
 

MARY

 
   What say you?
 

MORTIMER

 
           He deliver, and possess you!
   Why let him dare it: – he! – he must with me
   In mortal contest first deserve the prize!
 

MARY

 
   You gave him not my letter? Then, indeed
   My hopes are lost!
 

MORTIMER

 
             The coward loves his life.
   Whoe'er would rescue you, and call you his,
   Must boldly dare affront e'en death itself!
 

MARY

 
   Will he do nothing for me?
 

MORTIMER

 
                 Speak not of him.
   What can he do? What need have we of him?
   I will release you; I alone.
 

MARY

 
                  Alas!
   What power have you?
 

MORTIMER

 
              Deceive yourself no more;
   Think not your case is now as formerly;
   The moment that the queen thus quitted you,
   And that your interview had ta'en this turn,
   All hope was lost, each way of mercy shut.
   Now deeds must speak, now boldness must decide,
   To compass all must all be hazarded;
   You must be free before the morning break.
 

MARY

 
   What say you, sir – to-night? – impossible!
 

MORTIMER

 
   Hear what has been resolved: – I led my friends
   Into a private chapel, where a priest
   Heard our confession, and, for every sin
   We had committed, gave us absolution;
   He gave us absolution too, beforehand,
   For every crime we might commit in future;
   He gave us too the final sacrament,
   And we are ready for the final journey.
 

MARY

 
   Oh, what an awful, dreadful preparation!
 

MORTIMER

 
   We scale, this very night, the castle's walls;
   The keys are in my power; the guards we murder!
   Then from thy chamber bear thee forcibly.
   Each living soul must die beneath our hands,
   That none remain who might disclose the deed.
 

MARY

 
   And Drury, Paulet, my two keepers, they
   Would sooner spill their dearest drop of blood.
 

MORTIMER

 
   They fall the very first beneath my steel.
 

MARY

 
   What, sir! Your uncle? How! Your second father!
 

MORTIMER

 
   Must perish by my hand – I murder him!
 

MARY

 
   Oh, bloody outrage!
 

MORTIMER

 
              We have been absolved
   Beforehand; I may perpetrate the worst;
   I can, I will do so!
 

MARY

 
              Oh, dreadful, dreadful!
 

MORTIMER

 
   And should I be obliged to kill the queen,
   I've sworn upon the host, it must be done!
 

MARY

 
   No, Mortimer; ere so much blood for me —
 

MORTIMER

 
   What is the life of all compared to thee,
   And to my love? The bond which holds the world
   Together may be loosed, a second deluge
   Come rolling on, and swallow all creation!
   Henceforth I value nothing; ere I quit
   My hold on thee, may earth and time be ended!
 

MARY (retiring)

 
   Heavens! Sir, what language, and what looks! They scare,
   They frighten me!
 

MORTIMER (with unsteady looks, expressive of great madness)

 
             Life's but a moment – death
   Is but a moment too. Why! let them drag me
   To Tyburn, let them tear me limb from limb,
   With red-hot pincers —
      [Violently approaching her with extended arms.
               If I clasp but thee
   Within my arms, thou fervently beloved!
 

MARY

 
   Madman, avaunt!
 

MORTIMER

 
            To rest upon this bosom,
   To press upon this passion-breathing mouth —
 

MARY

 
   Leave me, for God's sake, sir; let me go in —
 

MORTIMER

 
   He is a madman who neglects to clasp
   His bliss in folds that never may be loosed,
   When Heaven has kindly given it to his arms.
   I will deliver you, and though it cost
   A thousand lives, I do it; but I swear,
   As God's in Heaven I will possess you too!
 

MARY

 
   Oh! will no God, no angel shelter me?
   Dread destiny! thou throwest me, in thy wrath,
   From one tremendous terror to the other!
   Was I then born to waken naught but frenzy?
   Do hate and love conspire alike to fright me!
 

MORTIMER

 
   Yes, glowing as their hatred is my love;
   They would behead thee, they would wound this neck,
   So dazzling white, with the disgraceful axe!
   Oh! offer to the living god of joy
   What thou must sacrifice to bloody hate!
   Inspire thy happy lover with those charms
   Which are no more thine own. Those golden locks
   Are forfeit to the dismal powers of death,
   Oh! use them to entwine thy slave forever!
 

MARY

 
   Alas! alas! what language must I hear!
   My woe, my sufferings should be sacred to you,
   Although my royal brows are so no more.
 

MORTIMER

 
   The crown is fallen from thy brows, thou hast
   No more of earthly majesty. Make trial,
   Raise thy imperial voice, see if a friend,
   If a deliverer will rise to save you.
   Thy moving form alone remains, the high,
   The godlike influence of thy heavenly beauty;
   This bids me venture all, this arms my hand
   With might, and drives me tow'rd the headsman's axe.
 

MARY

 
   Oh! who will save me from his raging madness?
 

MORTIMER

 
   Service that's bold demands a bold reward.
   Why shed their blood the daring? Is not life
   Life's highest good? And he a madman who
   Casts life away? First will I take my rest,
   Upon the breast that glows with love's own fire!
      [He presses her violently to his bosom.
 

MARY

 
   Oh, must I call for help against the man
   Who would deliver me!
 

MORTIMER

 
               Thou'rt not unfeeling,
   The world ne'er censured thee for frigid rigor;
   The fervent prayer of love can touch thy heart.
   Thou mad'st the minstrel Rizzio blest, and gavest
   Thyself a willing prey to Bothwell's arms.
 

MARY

 
   Presumptuous man!
 

MORTIMER

 
             He was indeed thy tyrant,
   Thou trembled'st at his rudeness, whilst thou loved'st him;
   Well, then – if only terror can obtain thee —
   By the infernal gods!
 

MARY

 
               Away – you're mad!
 

MORTIMER

 
   I'll teach thee then before me, too, to tremble.
 

KENNEDY (entering suddenly)

 
   They're coming – they approach – the park is filled
   With men in arms.
 

MORTIMER (starting and catching at his sword)

 
             I will defend you-I —
 

MARY

 
   O Hannah! save me, save me from his hands.
   Where shall I find, poor sufferer, an asylum?
   Oh! to what saint shall I address my prayers?
   Here force assails me, and within is murder!
 

[She flies towards the house, KENNEDY follows her.

SCENE VII

MORTIMER, PAULET, and DRURY rush in in the greatest consternation. Attendants hasten over the stage.

PAULET

 
   Shut all the portals – draw the bridges up.
 

MORTIMER

 
   What is the matter, uncle?
 

PAULET

 
                 Where is the murderess?
   Down with her, down into the darkest dungeon!
 

MORTIMER

 
   What is the matter? What has passed?
 

PAULET

 
                       The queen!
   Accursed hand! Infernal machination!
 

MORTIMER

 
   The queen! What queen?
 

PAULET

 
                What queen! The Queen of England;
   She has been murdered on the road to London.
 

[Hastens into the house.

SCENE VIII

MORTIMER, soon after O'KELLY.

MORTIMER (after a pause)

 
   Am I then mad? Came not one running by
   But now, and cried aloud, the queen is murdered!
   No, no! I did but dream. A feverish fancy
   Paints that upon my mind as true and real,
   Which but existed in my frantic thoughts.
   Who's there? It is O'Kelly. So dismayed!
 

O'KELLY (rushing in)

 
   Flee, Mortimer, oh! flee – for all is lost!
 

MORTIMER

 
   What then is lost?
 

O'KELLY

 
             Stand not on question. Think
   On speedy flight.
 

MORTIMER

 
            What has occurred?
 

O'KELLY

 
                      Sauvage,
   That madman, struck the blow.
 

MORTIMER

 
                   It is then true!
 

O'KELLY

 
   True, true – oh! save yourself.
 

MORTIMER (exultingly)

 
                   The queen is murdered —
   And Mary shall ascend the English throne!
 

O'KELLY

 
   Is murdered! Who said that?
 

MORTIMER

 
                  Yourself.
 

O'KELLY

 
                She lives,
   And I, and you, and all of us are lost.
 

MORTIMER

 
   She lives!
 

O'KELLY

 
         The blow was badly aimed, her cloak
   Received it. Shrewsbury disarmed the murderer.
 

MORTIMER

 
   She lives!
 

O'KELLY

 
         She lives to whelm us all in ruin;
   Come, they surround the park already; come.
 

MORTIMER

 
   Who did this frantic deed?
 

O'KELLY

 
                 It was the monk
   From Toulon, whom you saw immersed in thought,
   As in the chapel the pope's bull was read,
   Which poured anathemas upon the queen.
   He wished to take the nearest, shortest way,
   To free, with one bold stroke, the church of God,
   And gain the crown of martyrdom: he trusted
   His purpose only to the priest, and struck
   The fatal blow upon the road to London.
 

MORTIMER (after a long silence)

 
   Alas! a fierce, destructive fate pursues thee,
   Unhappy one! Yes – now thy death is fixed;
   Thy very angel has prepared thy fall!
 

O'KELLY

 
   Say, whither will you take your flight? I go
   To hide me in the forests of the north.
 

MORTIMER

 
   Fly thither, and may God attend your flight;
   I will remain, and still attempt to save
   My love; if not, my bed shall be upon her grave.
 

[Exeunt at different sides.

ACT IV

SCENE I. – Antechamber

COUNT AUBESPINE, the EARLS Of KENT and LEICESTER.

AUBESPINE

 
   How fares her majesty? My lords, you see me
   Still stunned, and quite beside myself for terror!
   How happened it? How was it possible
   That in the midst of this most loyal people —
 

LEICESTER

 
   The deed was not attempted by the people.
   The assassin was a subject of your king,
   A Frenchman.
 

AUBESPINE

 
          Sure a lunatic.
 

LEICESTER

 
                   A papist,
   Count Aubespine!
 

SCENE II

Enter BURLEIGH, in conversation with DAVISON.

BURLEIGH

 
            Sir; let the death-warrant
   Be instantly made out, and pass the seal;
   Then let it be presented to the queen;
   Her majesty must sign it. Hasten, sir,
   We have no time to lose.
 

DAVISON

 
                It shall be done.
 

[Exit.

AUBESPINE

 
   My lord high-treasurer, my faithful heart
   Shares in the just rejoicings of the realm.
   Praised be almighty Heaven, who hath averted
   Assassination from our much-loved queen!
 

BURLEIGH

 
   Praised be His name, who thus hath turned to scorn
   The malice of our foes!
 

AUBESPINE

 
                May heaven confound
   The perpetrator of this cursed deed!
 

BURLEIGH

 
   Its perpetrator and its base contriver!
 

AUBESPINE

 
   Please you, my lord, to bring me to the queen,
   That I may lay the warm congratulations
   Of my imperial master at her feet.
 

BURLEIGH

 
   There is no need of this.
 

AUBESPINE (officiously)

 
                 My Lord of Burleigh,
   I know my duty.
 

BURLEIGH

 
            Sir, your duty is
   To quit, and that without delay, this kingdom.
 

AUBESPINE (stepping back with surprise)

 
   What! How is this?
 

BURLEIGH

 
              The sacred character
   Of an ambassador to-day protects you,
   But not to-morrow.
 

AUBESPINE

 
             What's my crime?
 

BURLEIGH

 
                      Should I
   Once name it, there were then no pardon for it.
 

AUBESPINE

 
   I hope, my lord, my charge's privilege —
 

BURLEIGH

 
   Screens not a traitor.
 

LEICESTER and KENT

 
               Traitor! How?
 

AUBESPINE

 
                       My Lord,
   Consider well —
 

BURLEIGH

 
            Your passport was discovered
   In the assassin's pocket.
 

KENT

 
                 Righteous heaven!
 

AUBESPINE

 
   Sir, many passports are subscribed by me;
   I cannot know the secret thoughts of men.
 

BURLEIGH

 
   He in your house confessed, and was absolved.
 

AUBESPINE

 
   My house is open —
 

BURLEIGH

 
             To our enemies.
 

AUBESPINE

 
   I claim a strict inquiry.
 

BURLEIGH

 
                 Tremble at it.
 

AUBESPINE

 
   My monarch in my person is insulted,
   He will annul the marriage contract.
 

BURLEIGH

 
                      That
   My royal mistress has annulled already;
   England will not unite herself with France.
   My Lord of Kent, I give to you the charge
   To see Count Aubespine embarked in safety.
   The furious populace has stormed his palace,
   Where a whole arsenal of arms was found;
   Should he be found, they'll tear him limb from limb,
   Conceal him till the fury is abated —
   You answer for his life.
 

AUBESPINE

 
                 I go – I leave
   This kingdom where they sport with public treaties
   And trample on the laws of nations. Yet
   My monarch, be assured, will vent his rage
   In direst vengeance!
 

BURLEIGH

 
              Let him seek it here.
 

[Exeunt KENT and AUBESPINE.

SCENE III

LEICESTER, BURLEIGH.

LEICESTER

 
   And thus you loose yourself the knot of union
   Which you officiously, uncalled for, bound!
   You have deserved but little of your country,
   My lord; this trouble was superfluous.
 

BURLEIGH

 
   My aim was good, though fate declared against it;
   Happy is he who has so fair a conscience!
 

LEICESTER

 
   Well know we the mysterious mien of Burleigh
   When he is on the hunt for deeds of treason.
   Now you are in your element, my lord;
   A monstrous outrage has been just committed,
   And darkness veils as yet its perpetrators:
   Now will a court of inquisition rise;
   Each word, each look be weighed; men's very thoughts
   Be summoned to the bar. You are, my lord,
   The mighty man, the Atlas of the state,
   All England's weight lies upon your shoulders.
 

BURLEIGH

 
   In you, my lord, I recognize my master;
   For such a victory as your eloquence
   Has gained I cannot boast.
 

LEICESTER

 
                 What means your lordship?
 

BURLEIGH

 
   You were the man who knew, behind my back,
   To lure the queen to Fotheringay Castle.
 

LEICESTER

 
   Behind your back! When did I fear to act
   Before your face?
 

BURLEIGH

 
             You led her majesty?
   Oh, no – you led her not – it was the queen
   Who was so gracious as to lead you thither.
 

LEICESTER

 
   What mean you, my lord, by that?
 

BURLEIGH

 
                    The noble part
   You forced the queen to play! The glorious triumph
   Which you prepared for her! Too gracious princess!
   So shamelessly, so wantonly to mock
   Thy unsuspecting goodness, to betray thee
   So pitiless to thy exulting foe!
   This, then, is the magnanimity, the grace
   Which suddenly possessed you in the council!
   The Stuart is for this so despicable,
   So weak an enemy, that it would scarce
   Be worth the pains to stain us with her blood.
   A specious plan! and sharply pointed too;
   'Tis only pity this sharp point is broken.
 

LEICESTER

 
   Unworthy wretch! this instant follow me,
   And answer at the throne this insolence.
 

BURLEIGH

 
   You'll find me there, my lord; and look you well
   That there your eloquence desert you not.
 

[Exit

SCENE IV

LEICESTER alone, then MORTIMER.

LEICESTER

 
   I am detected! All my plot's disclosed!
   How has my evil genius tracked my steps!
   Alas! if he has proofs, if she should learn
   That I have held a secret correspondence
   With her worst enemy; how criminal
   Shall I appear to her! How false will then
   My counsel seem, and all the fatal pains
   I took to lure the queen to Fotheringay!
   I've shamefully betrayed, I have exposed her
   To her detested enemy's revilings!
   Oh! never, never can she pardon that.
   All will appear as if premeditated.
   The bitter turn of this sad interview,
   The triumph and the tauntings of her rival;
   Yes, e'en the murderous hand which had prepared
   A bloody, monstrous, unexpected fate;
   All, all will be ascribed to my suggestions!
   I see no rescue! nowhere – ha! Who comes?
 

[MORTIMER enters in the most violent uneasiness, and looks with apprehension round him.

MORTIMER

 
   Lord Leicester! Is it you! Are we alone?
 

LEICESTER

 
   Ill-fated wretch, away! What seek you here?
 

MORTIMER

 
   They are upon our track – upon yours, too;
   Be vigilant!
 

LEICESTER

 
          Away, away!
 

MORTIMER

 
                 They know
   That private conferences have been held
   At Aubespine's —
 

LEICESTER

 
            What's that to me?
 

MORTIMER

 
                      They know, too,
   That the assassin —
 

LEICESTER

 
              That is your affair —
   Audacious wretch! to dare to mix my name
   In your detested outrage: go; defend
   Your bloody deeds yourself!
 

MORTIMER

 
                  But only hear me.
 

LEICESTER (violently enraged)

 
   Down, down to hell! Why cling you at my heels
   Like an infernal spirit! I disclaim you;
   I know you not; I make no common cause
   With murderers!
 

MORTIMER

 
            You will not hear me, then!
   I came to warn you; you too are detected.
 

LEICESTER

 
   How! What?
 

MORTIMER

 
          Lord Burleigh went to Fotheringay
   Just as the luckless deed had been attempted;
   Searched with strict scrutiny the queen's apartments,
   And found there —
 

LEICESTER

 
             What?
 

MORTIMER

 
                A letter which the queen
   Had just addressed to you —
 

LEICESTER

 
                  Unhappy woman!
 

MORTIMER

 
   In which she calls on you to keep your word,
   Renews the promise of her hand, and mentions
   The picture which she sent you.
 

LEICESTER

 
                    Death and hell!
 

MORTIMER

 
   Lord Burleigh has the letter.
 

LEICESTER

 
                   I am lost!
 

[During the following speech of MORTIMER, LEICESTER goes up and down as in despair.

MORTIMER

 
   Improve the moment; be beforehand with him,
   And save yourself – save her! An oath can clear
   Your fame; contrive excuses to avert
   The worst. I am disarmed, can do no more;
   My comrades are dispersed – to pieces fallen
   Our whole confederacy. For Scotland I
   To rally such new friends as there I may.
   'Tis now your turn, my lord; try what your weight,
   What bold assurance can effect.
 

LEICESTER (stops suddenly as if resolved)

 
                    I will.
 

[Goes to the door, opens it, and calls.

 
   Who waits without? Guards! seize this wretched traitor!
 

[To the officer, who comes in with soldiers.

 
   And guard him closely! A most dreadful plot
   Is brought to light – I'll to her majesty.
 

MORTIMER (stands for a time petrified with wonder; collects himself soon, and follows LEICESTER with his looks expressive of the most sovereign contempt)

 
   Infamous wretch! But I deserve it all.
   Who told me then to trust this practised villain?
   Now o'er my head he strides, and on my fall
   He builds the bridge of safety! be it so;
   Go, save thyself – my lips are sealed forever;
   I will not join even thee in my destruction;
   I would not own thee, no, not even in death;
   Life is the faithless villain's only good!
 

[To the officer of the guard, who steps forward to seize him.

 
   What wilt thou, slave of tyranny, with me?
   I laugh to scorn thy threatenings; I am free.
 

[Drawing a dagger.

OFFICER

 
   He's armed; rush in and wrest his weapon from him.
 

[They rush upon him, he defends himself.

MORTIMER (raising his voice)

 
   And in this latest moment shall my heart
   Expand itself in freedom, and my tongue
   Shall break this long constraint. Curse and destruction
   Light on you all who have betrayed your faith,
   Your God, and your true sovereign! Who, alike
   To earthly Mary false as to the heavenly,
   Have sold your duties to this bastard queen!
 

OFFICER

 
   Hear you these blasphemies? Rush forward – seize him.
 

MORTIMER

 
   Beloved queen! I could not set thee free;
   Yet take a lesson from me how to die.
   Mary, thou holy one, O! pray for me!
   And take me to thy heavenly home on high.
 

[Stabs himself, and falls into the arms of the guard.