Part 377 (1/2)

A greater still! What do you mean by that?

PAULET.

You heard the bugle-horns?

MARY (starting back with foreboding apprehension).

You frighten me.

PAULET.

The queen is hunting in the neighborhood----

MARY.

What!

PAULET.

In a few moments she'll appear before you.

KENNEDY (hastening towards MARY, and about to fall).

How fare you, dearest lady? You grow pale.

PAULET.

How? Is't not well? Was it not then your prayer?

'Tis granted now, before it was expected; You who had ever such a ready speech, Now summon all your powers of eloquence, The important time to use them now is come.

MARY.

Oh, why was I not told of this before?

Now I am not prepared for it--not now What, as the greatest favor, I besought, Seems to me now most fearful; Hannah, come, Lead me into the house, till I collect My spirits.

PAULET.

Stay; you must await her here.

Yes! I believe you may be well alarmed To stand before your judge.

SCENE III.

Enter the EARL OF SHREWSBURY.

MARY.

'Tis not for that, O G.o.d!

Far other thoughts possess me now.

Oh, worthy Shrewsbury! You come as though You were an angel sent to me from heaven.

I cannot, will not see her. Save me, save me From the detested sight!

SHREWSBURY.

Your majesty, Command yourself, and summon all your courage, 'Tis the decisive moment of your fate.

MARY.

For years I've waited, and prepared myself.

For this I've studied, weighed, and written down Each word within the tablet of my memory That was to touch and move her to compa.s.sion.

Forgotten suddenly, effaced is all, And nothing lives within me at this moment But the fierce, burning feeling of my wrongs.

My heart is turned to direst hate against her; All gentle thoughts, all sweet forgiving words, Are gone, and round me stand with grisly mien, The fiends of h.e.l.l, and shake their snaky locks!