University of Virginia Library

Scene III.

An Apartment in the Tower.
Enter Mary and Exeter.
MARY.
Not here? then we must seek her in the pleasance.
Go thou—our Chancellor claims audience first.
Go seek my sister—tell her what thou wilt.
I follow, and shall ratify the tale.

EXETER.
Delay not, gentle mistress. Slowly creeps
The sand of Time when watched by love-sick eyes!

MARY.
Send Gardiner—so adieu—adieu!
[Exit Exeter.
How noble
His aspect! and how full of grace his port!
I shall be happy yet!—Not here we'll dwell,
Within these doleful turrets. Windsor's shade
Suits happy lovers. There we'll stray together
Unseen, but by the wild deer's timid eye—
I shall be happy yet! This fluttering heart
Shall ache no more with fearful expectation.
No cares but wife-like cares shall cloud my brow—
As thus—why lingers his wind-footed steed
So long upon the chase? How in the tourney
Fares his unshivered lance; his spotless plume?
Wherefore his appetite is dull—cheek pale—
His spirit chafed? Or, peradventure, all
That throng of sweet solicitudes that stir
Maternal bosoms for their infant charge.
Why woeful tears from ready laughter start—
And what caress can soothe such fragile hearts.
Sweet cares! delicious dreams!—But I awake!
Enter Gardiner.
Gardiner, I greet you well! My heart is light!
Why look you grave—you bring no heavy news?

GARDINER.
The christian mourns when but a sinner dies.
I bear the warrant for a sinner's death:
Dudley's. Wil't please you sign?

MARY.
I have changed my purpose.
Prepare a pardon: traitor though he be.

GARDINER.
Pardon, my liege? Have you considered this?

MARY.
My Lord of Exeter hath shown good cause—
You smile—

GARDINER.
I had forboded this. My Lord
Is light of thought, and, so he gains his end,
Weighs not the issue.

MARY.
Edward Courtenaye, Sir,
Deserves not censure.

GARDINER.
Dudley visited
Lord Exeter in prison.

MARY.
We know well
He served him: therefore Courtenaye serves him now.

GARDINER.
After the trial they had private converse:
And a quick ear caught words—touching the Princess—

MARY.
My sister?

GARDINER.
Yes—his love for her—so said,
Or seemed to say, this Dudley.

MARY.
Seemed to say?
There's some mistake—I tell thee, it is false!
Give me a chair—

GARDINER.
You are very pale, my liege—

MARY.
Sir, I am well. It is a lie, I say!
As you shall learn. Report our grace to Dudley:
Then join us in the gardens. There you'll find
Our sister, and much cherished Exeter;
Whom thou, Lord Chancellor, must learn to honour,
Not to malign.

GARDINER.
Pardon my heedlessness.
It was a fault. I shall be circumspect.

MARY.
Be so and prosper. Join us presently.

[Exeunt severally.