Part 394 (1/2)

CURL.

All the walls were hung With black; a s.p.a.cious scaffold, too, o'erspread With sable cloth, was raised above the floor, And in the middle of the scaffold stood A dreadful sable block! upon it lay A naked, polished axe:--the hall was full Of cruel people, crowding round the scaffold Who, with a horrid thirst for human blood, Seemed waiting for the victim!

THE WOMEN.

Gracious heaven, Protect our queen!

MELVIL.

Be calm; the queen approaches.

SCENE VI.

Enter MARY in white and sumptuously arrayed, as for a festival: she wears hanging from her neck, on a row of small beads, an Agnus Dei; a rosary hangs from her girdle; she bears a crucifix in her hand, and a diadem of precious stones binds her hair; her large black veil is thrown back.

On her entrance all present fall back on both sides with the most violent expressions of anguish.

MELVIL falls involuntarily upon his knees.

MARY (with quiet majesty, looking round the whole circle).

Why these complaints? Why weep ye? Ye should rather Rejoice with me, that now at length the end Of my long woe approaches; that my shackles Fall off, my prison opens, and my soul Delighted mounts on seraph's wings, and seeks The land of everlasting liberty.

When I was offered up to the oppression Of my proud enemy, was forced to suffer Ign.o.ble taunts, and insults most unfitting A free and sovereign queen, then was the time To weep for me; but as an earnest friend, Beneficent and healing death approaches.

All the indignities which I have suffered On earth are covered by his sable wings.

The most degraded criminal's enn.o.bled By his last sufferings, by his final exit; I feel again the crown upon my brows.

And dignity possess my swelling soul!

[Advancing a few steps.

How! Melvil here! My worthy sir, not so; Arise; you rather come in time to see The triumph of your mistress than her death.

One comfort, which I never had expected, Is granted me, that after death my name Will not be quite abandoned to my foes; One friend at least, one partner of my faith, Will be my witness in the hour of death.

Say, honest Melvil, how you fared the while In this inhospitable, hostile land?

For since the time they tore you from my side My fears for you have oft depressed my soul.

MELVIL.

No other evil galled me but my grief For thee, and that I wanted power to serve thee.

MARY.

How fares my chamberlain, old Didier?

But sure the faithful servant long has slept The sleep of death, for he was full of years.

MELVIL.

G.o.d hath not granted him as yet this grace; He lives to see the grave o'erwhelm thy youth.

MARY.

Oh! could I but have felt before my death, The happiness of pressing one descendant Of the dear blood of Stuart to my bosom.

But I must suffer in a foreign land, None but my servants to bewail my fate!

Sir; to your loyal bosom I commit My latest wishes. Bear then, sir, my blessing To the most Christian king, my royal brother, And the whole royal family of France.

I bless the cardinal, my honored uncle, And also Henry Guise, my n.o.ble cousin.

I bless the holy father, the vicegerent Of Christ on earth, who will, I trust, bless me.