Part 33 (1/2)
Here lies her trial; from this royal breast Hath she stolen all comfort--all the life Of every bosom in the realm of Spain.
ROD. She's both a traitor and [a] murd'ress.
QUEEN-M. I'll have her forthwith strangled.
ALV. Hear her speak.
QUEEN-M. To heaven let her complain, if she have wrong; I murder but the murd'ress of my son.
ALL. We murder [but] the murd'ress of our king.[62]
ALV. Ah me! my child! O, O, cease your torturing!
MARIA. Heaven ope your windows, that my spotless soul, Riding upon the wings of innocence, May enter Paradise. Fairies, farewell; Fernando's death in mine you did foretell.
[_She dies._ KING _wakes_.
KING. Who calls Fernando? Love--Maria, speak; O, whither art thou fled? Whence flow these waters, That fall like winter-storms from the drown'd eyes?
ALV. From my Maria's death.
KING. My Maria dead!
d.a.m.n'd be the soul to h.e.l.l that stopp'd her breath.
Maria! O me! who durst murder thee?
QUEEN-M. I thought my dear Fernando had been dead, And in my indignation murder'd her.
KING. I was not dead, until you murder'd me By killing fair Maria.
QUEEN-M. Gentle son----
KING. Ungentle mother, you a deed have done Of so much ruth, that no succeeding age Can ever clear you of. O my dear love!
Yet heavens can witness thou wert never mine.
Spain's wonder was Maria.
QUEEN-M. Sweet, have done.
KING. Have done! for what? For shedding zealous tears Over the tomb of virtuous chast.i.ty?
You cry _Have done_, now I am doing good; But cried _Do on_, when you were shedding blood.
Have you done, mother? Yes, yes, you have done That which will undo your unhappy son.
ROD. These words become you not, my gracious lord.
KING. These words become not me! no more it did Become you, lords, to be mute standers-by, When l.u.s.tful fury ravish'd chast.i.ty: It ill becomes me to lament her death; But it became you well to stop her breath!
Had she been fair, and not so virtuous, This deed had not been half so impious.
ALV. But she was fair in virtue, virtuous fair. O me!
KING. O me! she was true honour's heir.