 | Mary Tudor |  |
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Scene IV.
The Tower Gardens.Enter Elizabeth from an Arbour, hurriedly: followed by Exeter. He kneels.
ELIZABETH.
Miscreant! how have you dared to speak such language
To a daughter of England?
EXETER.
Mercifully judge me.
ELIZABETH.
This is no case for mercy, but avengement.
Dare you to trifle thus with royal hearts?
You proffered love forsooth! ventured caresses!
But, Sir, I checked you, as was your desert—
And spurn and trample on you as a scorpion.
Begone, I say, once more!
Enter from behind Mary with Gardiner unobserved.
EXETER.
Will you not pardon
A victim, not offender?
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Not offender?
What, wed a Queen—and privily woo her sister?
Out on thee! hence! I spit upon thee, caitiff!
EXETER.
I had no choice—strangely she wrought on me.
You know her—in her passions terrible—
Dared I repulse her? Madness held us both.
I loving thee—thee only, pledged my troth—
Yea, pledged my troth, and must be—
ELIZABETH.
King of England!
EXETER.
Have you no heart for pardon?
ELIZABETH.
None for thee!
Elizabeth of England never pardons.
A heart like hers, above the common shafts
Of hope or fear, indifferently regards
Unworthy suitors: treats them as light toys,
To be cast aside, contemptuously forgotten.
EXETER.
Have you a heart?
ELIZABETH.
No heart, Sir, to betray me:
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No heart the slave of sensuous weaknesses:
No heart that blinds to duty!
EXETER.
Precious time
Is passing—promise me one boon, at least—
If not forgiveness, silence. She whom I loathe—
Whom I must wed—will soon be here—
MARY
[staggering forward].
Is here!—
O God! O God!
ELIZABETH.
What have you heard? whate'er
I said, I am prepared to reavow.
No plotter I—no spier out of plots!
MARY.
O God! O God!
ELIZABETH.
I spake in haste—forgive me!
My poor, poor sister! only be calm and hear me.
Nay, pluck not at your throat—stare not so wildly!
Will no one fetch some water? she will choke.
MARY.
What's this? where am I? the earth reels—the wind
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Elizabeth! you weep—something has happened—
What? what? Has any one assailed my life?
My brain is wounded.
GARDINER
[aside].
We must change her thoughts—
Or she will straight go mad. I bring, my liege,
False Dudley's pardon.
MARY.
Ha!—a pardon—Dudley—
Yes, I remember. Give it—quickly, quickly—
Give it—Thus, thus, like my poor heart, I rend thee!
I crush thee! Thou shalt die—O pandering Fiend!
There was another paper—give it to me—
Warrant of doom!—a pen—there—let him die—
[Signs the warrant.
Stabber of hearts!—ere sunset. Hear ye? vengeance!
A vulture gnaws my heart—food, food, for vengeance!
Soft: there was yet another—where is he?
And she, my loving sister—Boleyn's child!—
Seize on the false ones!
GARDINER.
She is innocent.
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My Lord, I pray you, peace.
MARY.
Who dares oppose me?
Obey me, Sir—or—or—obstruct me not—
Or I will do such deeds as shall make pale
The Angel of the Record! Ha! still here—
Thou wretched, wretched man? yet, let me look
One moment on the face I loved.
[She catches Exeter's arm, gazes wistfully in his face, then suddenly kisses his forehead.
The last—
Passion's last weakness! I am weak no more!
Henceforth I root all softness from my heart.
Away with him—with her!
[Exeunt Elizabeth and Exeter, severally, in custody.
Enter Page, bearing a cup.
What's this? some wine?
Ay—let me taste—I need it—I am faint.
[She lifts the cup.
I take this as a sacramental pledge!
Henceforth am I a dedicated creature
To my country; to my God! I rend all weakness
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Shall warp me. If I live, I'll rule this land
For pious ends severe, not happiness—
For duty—for my People, for the Church!
[She drinks, making the sign of the Cross.
The Church for England! England for the Church!
[Exeunt.
| Mary Tudor | |