Mary Tudor An Historical Drama |
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Scene II.
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 | Mary Tudor |  |
Scene II.
The Tower Hill. A Scaffold at the end of the stage. A side porch through which enter Northumberland, guarded, preceded by Bedingfield, as Lieutenant of the Tower; Pembroke; and others.NORTHUMBERLAND.
Something, ere yet I die, touching my faith
I would make known. It is a privilege
Precious to all, but specially to me—
Am I permitted?
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Without doubt.
PEMBROKE.
Your Lordship
Will bear in mind, Sir Henry is enjoined
To have this matter perfected ere sunset.
The horizon's clouded: not to miss true time,
He should be prompt.
NORTHUMBERLAND.
Why then abridge my time
By this unseemly let? this gentleman
Stands in commission: you but a spectator;
Cruel, unmanly, and unnatural!
PEMBROKE.
False to the last!
NORTHUMBERLAND.
Protect me from this dastard,
Who strikes me chained! I was a pardoned man
An hour agone. This sudden change might scare
The stoutest heart, the most obdurate soften.
Let me not mount, with angry passions chafed,
Yon fatal stage: but with an humble spirit
Forgiving, seek forgiveness from my God.
PEMBROKE.
Think you all honest men are silenced here,
While knaves speak free?
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Aspick avaunt!
BEDINGFIELD.
Be silent,
My Lord of Pembroke: this is harsh. Sir John,
Speak as you purposed.
NORTHUMBERLAND.
I must crave short pause
Till the dean of Paul's return. I would pour forth
My last prayers at his knees, my spiritual sponsor.
Rightly you hear. This holy man hath shown
My soul's dark errors: which I purpose here,
By free confession somewhat to atone.
PEMBROKE
[Aside].
By Heaven he will recant, and win his pardon
With neck upon the block!
NORTHUMBERLAND.
Hear me, good people!
I do acknowledge my most grievous sin.
Out of all bounds ambitious, I deserve
This doom. Be warned by me. Hold fast that Faith
Which your forefathers loved; consenting not
To heresy, foul source of shame and sin!
There grew my bane. I temporized with evil—
Basely partook with those false fanaticks
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And, spite of the keen pricking of my conscience,
Presumptuously strove—'tis gone—'tis gone—
PEMBROKE.
Ha, ha!
NORTHUMBERLAND.
That laugh was imped in hell! Strike, Fiend!
Here at the breast that loathes, the mouth that bans thee!
Cowardly stabber, strike! give me some pang
Shall counterwork this torture of the mind!
Look at him! see that man I made a man
Shrink from Scorn's phantom finger like a hound—
What! not a look? then, thus, thou smitten hound!
[Touching Pembroke with his finger who starts back and retires.
Merciful Heaven! is this a mood to die in?
O child! O babbling maniac! fool, fool, fool!—
BEDINGFIELD.
Keep out my Lord of Pembroke.
NORTHUMBERLAND.
I am thankful.
Good people, pray for me!
Enter Fakenham.
Fakenham, am I saved?
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God grant salvation to thy sinful soul!
NORTHUMBERLAND.
The terrible “To be” is come! Time's past!
Yet all's to do—an age crammed to a span!
Time, never garnered till thy last sands ebb,—
How shall my sharp need eke thy wasted glass,
Or wit reverse it? my brain spins—my tongue
Is palsied. I must have time—I must have time!
Hurl me not like a dog into the pit!
FAKENHAM.
Turn thee to God! forget this world!
NORTHUMBERLAND.
O Thou
Great Being! who hast made me what I am,
Crush not for ever this sin-leavened clay!
Forget not mercy. Thou, not Judge alone,
But just Redeemer! save me in my sin!—
My voice is choked—Time racks me—World, farewell!
[Northumberland drops on his knees before Fakenham, bowing his head upon his hands; then starts up, and hurriedly ascends the scaffold.
NORTHUMBERLAND.
The block! the vault! thus are thy words fulfilled!
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Follow, my Lords; bear witness to the end.
And you, Sir, recollect, as the head falls,
Give fire to your great ordnance: that the Queen
May know, thereby, the traitor is no more.
[The scene closes: and, after a pause, a Cannon shot is heard.
| Mary Tudor | |