Joseph Mellish - Mary Stuart (Act 3 Scene 6) lyrics

Enter MORTIMER. KENNEDY. Oh, Sir! What an occurrence! MORTIMER. I heard all— [Gives the nurse a sign to repair to her post, and draws nearer; his whole appearance expresses the utmost violence of pa**ion. Thine is the palm;—thou trod'st her to the dust!— Thou wast the queen, she was the malefactor;— I am transported with thy noble courage;— Yes! I adore thee; like a Deity, My sense is dazzled by thy heavenly beams. MARY (with vivacity and expectation). You spoke with Leicester, gave my letter to him. My present, too?—oh, speak, sir. MORTIMER (beholding her with glowing looks). How thy noble, 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 d**h 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** 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, bloody 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 k** 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—d**h 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**ion-breathing mouth—— MARY. Leave me, for God's sake, sir; let me go in—— MORTIMER. He is a madman who neglects to clasp His bliss in folds that never may be loosed, When Heaven has kindly given it to his arms. I will deliver you, and though it cost A thousand lives, I do it; but I swear, As God's in Heaven I will possess you too! MARY. Oh! will no God, no angel shelter me? Dread destiny! thou throwest me, in thy wrath, From one tremendous terror to the other! Was I then born to waken naught but frenzy? Do hate and love conspire alike to fright me! MORTIMER. Yes, glowing as their hatred is my love; They would behead thee, they would wound this neck, So dazzling white, with the disgraceful axe! Oh! offer to the living god of joy What thou must sacrifice to bloody hate! Inspire thy happy lover with those charms Which are no more thine own. Those golden locks Are forfeit to the dismal powers of d**h, Oh! use them to entwine thy slave forever! MARY. Alas! alas! what language must I hear! My woe, my sufferings should be sacred to you, Although my royal brows are so no more. MORTIMER. The crown is fallen from thy brows, thou hast No more of earthly majesty. Make trial, Raise thy imperial voice, see if a friend, If a deliverer will rise to save you. Thy moving form alone remains, the high, The godlike influence of thy heavenly beauty; This bids me venture all, this arms my hand With might, and drives me tow'rd the headsman's axe. MARY. Oh! who will save me from his raging madness? MORTIMER. Service that's bold demands a bold reward. Why shed their blood the daring? Is not life Life's highest good? And he a madman who Casts life away? First will I take my rest, Upon the breast that glows with love's own fire! [He presses her violently to his bosom. MARY. Oh, must I call for help against the man Who would deliver me! MORTIMER. Thou'rt not unfeeling, The world ne'er censured thee for frigid rigor; The fervent prayer of love can touch thy heart. Thou mad'st the minstrel Rizzio blest, and gavest Thyself a willing prey to Bothwell's arms. MARY. Presumptuous man! MORTIMER. He was indeed thy tyrant, Thou trembled'st at his rudeness, whilst thou loved'st him; Well, then—if only terror can obtain thee— By the infernal gods! MARY. Away—you're mad! MORTIMER. I'll teach thee then before me, too, to tremble. KENNEDY (entering suddenly). They're coming—they approach—the park is filled With men in arms. MORTIMER (starting and catching at his sword). I will defend you-I—— MARY. O Hannah! save me, save me from his hands. Where shall I find, poor sufferer, an asylum? Oh! to what saint shall I address my prayers? Here force a**ails me, and within is murder! [She flies towards the house, KENNEDY follows her.