Leicester, remaining alone.

And live I still?-can I support to live?~--
Falls not this roof with all its weight upon me?
Gapes no abyss, to swallow in its gulph

The veriest wretch on earth? What have I lost ?—
To throw
away this pearl from me!—to cast away
The highest happiness in heaven's store !—
She meets her death, is deified already;
And the despair of hell remains for me !—
Where is the purpose, which I had to drown
Unfeelingly, the voice of my affection?
Unmov'd to see her murdered ?-must remorse,
Slumb'ring remorse, be waken'd by her presence;
Must she in death spread toils of love around me?
Wretch that I am!-no more it suits me now
To melt away, in womanly compassion :
The bliss of love hath left the paths I tread.—
Let me then arm me with a brazen breast-plate,
A rock of adamant surround my brows!—
Would I not lose the price of my misdeeds,
Boldly must I maintain, and execute them.
Pity be dumb, my eyes be petrified!

I'll see her fall, I will be witness of it.

[he goes with resolute steps towards the door, through which Mary passed; but stops suddenly half way.

In vain!-the terrors of the damn'd

possess me.

I cannot, cannot see the dreadful deed;

I cannot see her die-Hear!—what was that?

They are already there-beneath my feet
The horrid consummation is prepar'd.-
I hear them speaking--God !—Away—away—
Away from this abode of death and terror!-

[he attempts to escape by another door; finds it

Must I then hear, what I cannot behold?

I hear the Dean address her; he exhorts her;

She interrupts him. Now, I hear her pray.

Her voice is firm-now all is still, quite still!-
I hear but broken sighs and women's moans.-

Now, they undress her they remove the stool-
She kneels upon the cushion lays her head-

[having spoken these last words, and paused awhile,
he is seen with a convulsive motion, suddenly to
skrink, and faint away; a dull noise of voices is at
once heard from below, and continues for some time.

Scene changes to-THE SECOND CHAMBER IN THE

FOURTH ACT.

Eliz. [entering from a side door; her gait and action expressive of the most violent uneasiness.] No mes

sage!-no one here!-stands the sun still

In its ætherial course?-must I remain
Longer upon the rack of expectation?
Is it accomplish'd ?—is it not?—I shudder
At both;-I am afraid to ask the question.
Leicester and Burleigh are not yet return'd,
Whom I appointed to fulfill the sentence.
Are they already gone?-if so, it is
Aready done; the arrow's shot; it flies,

It strikes; it has already hit the mark;

And, were my realm the price, I could not stop it!Who's there?

Enter a Page.

Eliz. Thou com'st alone? Where are the Lords?
Page. My Lord High Treas'rer, and the Earl of
Leicester-

Eliz. Where are they?—

Page. They are not in London.

Eliz. No ?

Where are they then ?—

Page. That no one could inform me ; Before the dawn, mysteriously and hasting, They quitted London.

Eliz. [exultingly.] I am Queen of England!

[walking up and down in the greatest agitation.

Go-call me-no, remain-no!-she is dead

Now I at length have room upon

this earth.

grave; who dares

Why tremble I?-why this anxiety?

My fears are cover'd by the

To I did it ?—I have tears enough

say

In store to weep her fall.-Are you still here?—

Command the Secretary Davison,

To come to me this instant.-Let the Earl

[to the Page.

Of Shrwesbury be summon'd. Here he comes.

[Exit Page.

Enter Shrewsbury.

Eliz. Welcome, my noble Lord; what brings you?say

It cannot be a trifle which hath led

Your footsteps hither at so late an hour.

Shrews. My Queen, in anxious pain for thy renown,
I sought the tower, where the secretaries
Of Mary Stuart are confin'd.I wish'd
Once more to put to proof their evidence.-
On my arrival the lieutenant seem'd

Embarrass'd and perplex'd ; refus'd to shew me
His pris'ners; but my threats obtain'd admittance.
God! what a sight was there! with frantic looks,
With hair dishevell'd, on his pallet lay

The Scot, like one tormented by a fury.

The miserable man no sooner sees me,

t

Than falling at my feet, with screams, embracing
My knees, and writhing like a worm before me;
He supplicates, conjures me to relate

His Sov'reign's destiny. A dread report,