QUEEN.

My love!

If I could kiss my heart's root out on you You would taste love hid at the core of me.

CHASTELARD.

Kiss me twice more. This beautiful bowed head That has such hair with kissing ripples in And shivering soft eyelashes and brows With fluttered blood! but laugh a little, sweetly, That I may see your sad mouth's laughing look I have used sweet hours in seeing. O, will you weep?

I pray you do not weep.

QUEEN.

Nay, dear, I have No tears in me; I never shall weep much, I think, in all my life; I have wept for wrath Sometimes and for mere pain, but for love's pity I cannot weep at all. I would to God You loved me less; I give you all I can For all this love of yours, and yet I am sure I shall live out the sorrow of your death And be glad afterwards. You know I am sorry.

I should weep now; forgive me for your part, God made me hard, I think. Alas, you see I had fain been other than I am.

CHASTELARD.

Yea, love.

Comfort your heart. What way am I do die?

QUEEN.

Ah, will you go yet, sweet?

CHASTELARD.

No, by God's body.

You will not see? how shall I make you see?

Look, it may be love was a sort of curse Made for my plague and mixed up with my days Somewise in their beginning; or indeed A bitter birth begotten of sad stars At mine own body's birth, that heaven might make My life taste sharp where other men drank sweet; But whether in heavy body or broken soul, I know it must go on to be my death.

There was the matter of my fate in me When I was fashioned first, and given such life As goes with a sad end; no fault but God's.

Yea, and for all this I am not penitent: You see I am perfect in these sins of mine, I have my sins writ in a book to read; Now I shall die and be well done with this.

But I am sure you cannot see such things, God knows I blame you not.

QUEEN.

What shall be said?

You know most well that I am sorrowful.

But you should chide me. Sweet, you have seen fair wars, Have seen men slain and ridden red in them; Why will you die a chamberer's death like this?

What, shall no praise be written of my knight, For my fame's sake?

CHASTELARD.

Nay, no great praise, I think; I will no more; what should I do with death, Though I died goodly out of sight of you?

I have gone once: here am I set now, sweet, Till the end come. That is your husband, hark, He knocks at the outer door. Kiss me just once.

You know now all you have to say. Nay, love, Let him come quickly.

[Enter DARNLEY, and afterwards the MARIES.]

DARNLEY.

Yea, what thing is here?

Ay, this was what the doors shut fast upon-- Ay, trust you to be fast at prayer, my sweet?

By God I have a mind--

CHASTELARD.

What mind then, sir?

A liar's lewd mind, to coin sins for jest, Because you take me in such wise as this?

Look you, I have to die soon, and I swear, That am no liar but a free knight and lord, I shall die clear of any sin to you, Save that I came for no good will of mine; I am no carle, I play fair games with faith, And by mine honor for my sake I swear I say but truth; for no man's sake save mine, Lest I die shamed. Madam, I pray you say I am no liar; you know me what I am, A sinful man and shortly to be slain, That in a simple insolence of love Have stained with a fool's eyes your holy hours And with a fool's words put your pity out; Nathless you know if I be liar or no, Wherefore for God's sake give me grace to swear (Yea, for mine too) how past all praise you are And stainless of all shame; and how all men Lie, saying you are not most good and innocent, Yea, the one thing good as God.

DARNLEY.

O sir, we know You can swear well, being taken; you fair French Dare swallow God's name for a lewd love-sake As it were water. Nay, we know, we know; Save your sweet breath now lest you lack it soon: We are simple, we; we have not heard of you.

Madam, by God you are well shamed in him: Ay, trust you to be fingering in one's face, Play with one's neck-chain? ah, your maiden's man, A relic of your people's!

CHASTELARD.

Hold your peace, Or I will set an edge on your own lie Shall scar yourself. Madam, have out your guard; 'T is time I were got hence.

QUEEN.

Sweet Hamilton, Hold you my hand and help me to sit down.

O Henry, I am beaten from my wits-- Let me have time and live; call out my people-- Bring forth some armed guard to lay hold on him: But see no man be slain.

Sirs, hide your swords; I will not have men slain.

DARNLEY.

What, is this true?

Call the queen's people--help the queen there, you-- Ho, sirs, come in.

[Enter some with the Guard.]

QUEEN.

Lay hold upon that man; Bear him away, but see he have no hurt.

CHASTELARD.

Into your hands I render up myself With a free heart; deal with me how you list, But courteously, I pray you. Take my sword.

Farewell, great queen; the sweetness in your look Makes life look bitter on me. Farewell, sirs.

[He is taken out.]

DARNLEY.

Yea, pluck him forth, and have him hanged by dawn; He shall find bed enow to sleep. God's love!

That such a knave should be a knight like this!

QUEEN.

Sir, peace awhile; this shall be as I please; Take patience to you. Lords, I pray you see All be done goodly; look they wrong him not.

Carmichael, you shall sleep with me to-night; I am sorely shaken, even to the heart. Fair lords, I thank you for your care. Sweet, stay by me.

END OF THE THIRD ACT.

ACT IV.

MURRAY.

SCENE I.-The Queen's Lodging at St. Andrew's.

The QUEEN and the four MARIES.

QUEEN.