MORTIMER (beholding her with glowing looks).

How thy n.o.ble, Thy royal indignation shone, and cast A glory round thy beauty; yes, by heavens, Thou art the fairest woman upon earth!

MARY.

Sir, satisfy, I beg you, my impatience; What says his lordship? Say, sir, may I hope?

MORTIMER.

Who?--he?--he is a wretch, a very coward, Hope naught from him; despise him, and forget him!

MARY.

What say you?

MORTIMER.

He deliver, and possess you!

Why let him dare it:--he!--he must with me In mortal contest first deserve the prize!

MARY.

You gave him not my letter? Then, indeed My hopes are lost!

MORTIMER.

The coward loves his life.

Whoe'er would rescue you, and call you his, Must boldly dare affront e'en death itself!

MARY.

Will he do nothing for me?

MORTIMER.

Speak not of him.

What can he do? What need have we of him?

I will release you; I alone.

MARY.

Alas!

What power have you?

MORTIMER.

Deceive yourself no more; Think not your case is now as formerly; The moment that the queen thus quitted you, And that your interview had ta'en this turn, All hope was lost, each way of mercy shut.

Now deeds must speak, now boldness must decide, To compa.s.s all must all be hazarded; You must be free before the morning break.

MARY.

What say you, sir--to-night?--impossible!

MORTIMER.

Hear what has been resolved:--I led my friends Into a private chapel, where a priest Heard our confession, and, for every sin We had committed, gave us absolution; He gave us absolution too, beforehand, For every crime we might commit in future; He gave us too the final sacrament, And we are ready for the final journey.

MARY.

Oh, what an awful, dreadful preparation!

MORTIMER.

We scale, this very night, the castle's walls; The keys are in my power; the guards we murder!

Then from thy chamber bear thee forcibly.

Each living soul must die beneath our hands, That none remain who might disclose the deed.

MARY.

And Drury, Paulet, my two keepers, they Would sooner spill their dearest drop of blood.

MORTIMER.

They fall the very first beneath my steel.

MARY.

What, sir! Your uncle? How! Your second father!

MORTIMER.

Must perish by my hand--I murder him!

MARY.

Oh, b.l.o.o.d.y outrage!

MORTIMER.

We have been absolved Beforehand; I may perpetrate the worst; I can, I will do so!

MARY.

Oh, dreadful, dreadful!

MORTIMER.

And should I be obliged to kill the queen, I've sworn upon the host, it must be done!

MARY.

No, Mortimer; ere so much blood for me----

MORTIMER.

What is the life of all compared to thee, And to my love? The bond which holds the world Together may be loosed, a second deluge Come rolling on, and swallow all creation!

Henceforth I value nothing; ere I quit My hold on thee, may earth and time be ended!

MARY (retiring) Heavens! Sir, what language, and what looks! They scare, They frighten me!

MORTIMER (with unsteady looks, expressive of great madness).

Life's but a moment--death Is but a moment too. Why! let them drag me To Tyburn, let them tear me limb from limb, With red-hot pincers---- [Violently approaching her with extended arms.

If I clasp but thee Within my arms, thou fervently beloved!

MARY.

Madman, avaunt!

MORTIMER.

To rest upon this bosom, To press upon this pa.s.sion-breathing mouth----

MARY.

Leave me, for G.o.d's sake, sir; let me go in----