Mary Stuart | Page 5

avenge With
blood the bloody deed----
MARY. And bloodily, I fear, too soon 'twill be avenged on me: You
seek to comfort me, and you condemn me.

KENNEDY. You were, when you consented to this deed, No more
yourself; belonged not to yourself; The madness of a frantic love
possessed you, And bound you to a terrible seducer, The wretched
Bothwell. That despotic man Ruled you with shameful, overbearing
will, And with his philters and his hellish arts Inflamed your passions.
MARY. All the arts he used Were man's superior strength and woman's
weakness.
KENNEDY. No, no, I say. The most pernicious spirits Of hell he must
have summoned to his aid, To cast this mist before your waking senses.
Your ear no more was open to the voice Of friendly warning, and your
eyes were shut To decency; soft female bashfulness Deserted you;
those cheeks, which were before The seat of virtuous, blushing
modesty, Glowed with the flames of unrestrained desire. You cast away
the veil of secrecy, And the flagitious daring of the man O'ercame your
natural coyness: you exposed Your shame, unblushingly, to public gaze:
You let the murderer, whom the people followed With curses, through
the streets of Edinburgh, Before you bear the royal sword of Scotland
In triumph. You begirt your parliament With armed bands; and by this
shameless farce, There, in the very temple of great justice, You forced
the judges of the land to clear The murderer of his guilt. You went still
further-- O God!
MARY. Conclude--nay, pause not--say for this I gave my hand in
marriage at the altar.
KENNEDY. O let an everlasting silence veil That dreadful deed: the
heart revolts at it. A crime to stain the darkest criminal! Yet you are no
such lost one, that I know. I nursed your youth myself--your heart is
framed For tender softness: 'tis alive to shame, And all your fault is
thoughtless levity. Yes, I repeat it, there are evil spirits, Who sudden fix
in man's unguarded breast Their fatal residence, and there delight To
act their dev'lish deeds; then hurry back Unto their native hell, and
leave behind Remorse and horror in the poisoned bosom. Since this
misdeed, which blackens thus your life, You have done nothing ill;
your conduct has Been pure; myself can witness your amendment. Take
courage, then; with your own heart make peace. Whatever cause you

have for penitence, You are not guilty here. Nor England's queen, Nor
England's parliament can be your judge. Here might oppresses you: you
may present Yourself before this self-created court With all the
fortitude of innocence.
MARY. I hear a step.
KENNEDY. It is the nephew--In.

SCENE V.
The same. Enter MORTIMER, approaching cautiously.
MORTIMER (to KENNEDY). Step to the door, and keep a careful
watch, I have important business with the queen.
MARY (with dignity). I charge thee, Hannah, go not hence--remain.
MORTIMER. Fear not, my gracious lady--learn to know me.
[He gives her a card.
MARY (She examines it, and starts back astonished). Heavens! What is
this?
MORTIMER (to KENNEDY). Retire, good Kennedy; See that my
uncle comes not unawares.
MARY (to KENNEDY, who hesitates, and looks at the QUEEN
inquiringly). Go in; do as he bids you.
[KENNEDY retires with signs of wonder.

SCENE VI.
MARY, MORTIMER.

MARY. From my uncle In France--the worthy Cardinal of Lorrain?
[She reads.
"Confide in Mortimer, who brings you this; You have no truer, firmer
friend in England."
[Looking at him with astonishment.
Can I believe it? Is there no delusion To cheat my senses? Do I find a
friend So near, when I conceived myself abandoned By the whole
world? And find that friend in you, The nephew of my gaoler, whom I
thought My most inveterate enemy?
MORTIMER (kneeling). Oh, pardon, My gracious liege, for the
detested mask, Which it has cost me pain enough to wear; Yet through
such means alone have I the power To see you, and to bring you help
and rescue.
MARY. Arise, sir; you astonish me; I cannot So suddenly emerge from
the abyss Of wretchedness to hope: let me conceive This happiness,
that I may credit it.
MORTIMER. Our time is brief: each moment I expect My uncle,
whom a hated man attends; Hear, then, before his terrible commission
Surprises you, how heaven prepares your rescue.
MARY. You come in token of its wondrous power.
MORTIMER. Allow me of myself to speak.
MARY. Say on.
MORTIMER. I scarce, my liege, had numbered twenty years, Trained
in the path of strictest discipline And nursed in deadliest hate to papacy,
When led by irresistible desire For foreign travel, I resolved to leave
My country and its puritanic faith Far, far behind me: soon with rapid
speed I flew through France, and bent my eager course