полная версия
Фридрих Шиллер
Mary Stuart
SCENE V
MARY, KENNEDY.
KENNEDY
What have you done? She has gone hence in wrath
All hope is over now!
MARY (still quite beside herself)
Gone hence in wrath!
She carries death within her heart! I know it.
[Falling on KENNEDY'S bosom.
Now I am happy, Hannah! and at last,
After whole years of sorrow and abasement,
One moment of victorious revenge
A weight falls off my heart, a weight of mountains;
I plunged the steel in my oppressor's breast!
KENNEDY
Unhappy lady! Frenzy overcomes you.
Yes, you have wounded your inveterate foe;
'Tis she who wields the lightning, she is queen,
You have insulted her before her minion.
MARY
I have abased her before Leicester's eyes;
He saw it, he was witness of my triumph.
How did I hurl her from her haughty height,
He saw it, and his presence strengthened me.
SCENE VI
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 passion.
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 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 compass 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 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 passion-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 death,
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 assails me, and within is murder!
[She flies towards the house, KENNEDY follows her.
SCENE VII
MORTIMER, PAULET, and DRURY rush in in the greatest consternation. Attendants hasten over the stage.
PAULET
Shut all the portals – draw the bridges up.
MORTIMER
What is the matter, uncle?
PAULET
Where is the murderess?
Down with her, down into the darkest dungeon!
MORTIMER
What is the matter? What has passed?
PAULET
The queen!
Accursed hand! Infernal machination!
MORTIMER
The queen! What queen?
PAULET
What queen! The Queen of England;
She has been murdered on the road to London.
[Hastens into the house.
SCENE VIII
MORTIMER, soon after O'KELLY.
MORTIMER (after a pause)
Am I then mad? Came not one running by
But now, and cried aloud, the queen is murdered!
No, no! I did but dream. A feverish fancy
Paints that upon my mind as true and real,
Which but existed in my frantic thoughts.
Who's there? It is O'Kelly. So dismayed!
O'KELLY (rushing in)
Flee, Mortimer, oh! flee – for all is lost!
MORTIMER
What then is lost?
O'KELLY
Stand not on question. Think
On speedy flight.
MORTIMER
What has occurred?
O'KELLY
Sauvage,
That madman, struck the blow.
MORTIMER
It is then true!
O'KELLY
True, true – oh! save yourself.
MORTIMER (exultingly)
The queen is murdered —
And Mary shall ascend the English throne!
O'KELLY
Is murdered! Who said that?
MORTIMER
Yourself.
O'KELLY
She lives,
And I, and you, and all of us are lost.
MORTIMER
She lives!
O'KELLY
The blow was badly aimed, her cloak
Received it. Shrewsbury disarmed the murderer.
MORTIMER
She lives!
O'KELLY
She lives to whelm us all in ruin;
Come, they surround the park already; come.
MORTIMER
Who did this frantic deed?
O'KELLY
It was the monk
From Toulon, whom you saw immersed in thought,
As in the chapel the pope's bull was read,
Which poured anathemas upon the queen.
He wished to take the nearest, shortest way,
To free, with one bold stroke, the church of God,
And gain the crown of martyrdom: he trusted
His purpose only to the priest, and struck
The fatal blow upon the road to London.
MORTIMER (after a long silence)
Alas! a fierce, destructive fate pursues thee,
Unhappy one! Yes – now thy death is fixed;
Thy very angel has prepared thy fall!
O'KELLY
Say, whither will you take your flight? I go
To hide me in the forests of the north.
MORTIMER
Fly thither, and may God attend your flight;
I will remain, and still attempt to save
My love; if not, my bed shall be upon her grave.
[Exeunt at different sides.
ACT IV
SCENE I. – Antechamber
COUNT AUBESPINE, the EARLS Of KENT and LEICESTER.
AUBESPINE
How fares her majesty? My lords, you see me
Still stunned, and quite beside myself for terror!
How happened it? How was it possible
That in the midst of this most loyal people —
LEICESTER
The deed was not attempted by the people.
The assassin was a subject of your king,
A Frenchman.
AUBESPINE
Sure a lunatic.
LEICESTER
A papist,
Count Aubespine!
SCENE II
Enter BURLEIGH, in conversation with DAVISON.
BURLEIGH
Sir; let the death-warrant
Be instantly made out, and pass the seal;
Then let it be presented to the queen;
Her majesty must sign it. Hasten, sir,
We have no time to lose.
DAVISON
It shall be done.
[Exit.
AUBESPINE
My lord high-treasurer, my faithful heart
Shares in the just rejoicings of the realm.
Praised be almighty Heaven, who hath averted
Assassination from our much-loved queen!
BURLEIGH
Praised be His name, who thus hath turned to scorn
The malice of our foes!
AUBESPINE
May heaven confound
The perpetrator of this cursed deed!
BURLEIGH
Its perpetrator and its base contriver!
AUBESPINE
Please you, my lord, to bring me to the queen,
That I may lay the warm congratulations
Of my imperial master at her feet.
BURLEIGH
There is no need of this.
AUBESPINE (officiously)
My Lord of Burleigh,
I know my duty.
BURLEIGH
Sir, your duty is
To quit, and that without delay, this kingdom.
AUBESPINE (stepping back with surprise)
What! How is this?
BURLEIGH
The sacred character
Of an ambassador to-day protects you,
But not to-morrow.
AUBESPINE
What's my crime?
BURLEIGH
Should I
Once name it, there were then no pardon for it.
AUBESPINE
I hope, my lord, my charge's privilege —
BURLEIGH
Screens not a traitor.
LEICESTER and KENT
Traitor! How?
AUBESPINE
My Lord,
Consider well —
BURLEIGH
Your passport was discovered
In the assassin's pocket.
KENT
Righteous heaven!
AUBESPINE
Sir, many passports are subscribed by me;
I cannot know the secret thoughts of men.
BURLEIGH
He in your house confessed, and was absolved.
AUBESPINE
My house is open —
BURLEIGH
To our enemies.
AUBESPINE
I claim a strict inquiry.
BURLEIGH
Tremble at it.
AUBESPINE
My monarch in my person is insulted,
He will annul the marriage contract.
BURLEIGH
That
My royal mistress has annulled already;
England will not unite herself with France.
My Lord of Kent, I give to you the charge
To see Count Aubespine embarked in safety.
The furious populace has stormed his palace,
Where a whole arsenal of arms was found;
Should he be found, they'll tear him limb from limb,
Conceal him till the fury is abated —
You answer for his life.
AUBESPINE
I go – I leave
This kingdom where they sport with public treaties
And trample on the laws of nations. Yet
My monarch, be assured, will vent his rage
In direst vengeance!
BURLEIGH
Let him seek it here.
[Exeunt KENT and AUBESPINE.
SCENE III
LEICESTER, BURLEIGH.
LEICESTER
And thus you loose yourself the knot of union
Which you officiously, uncalled for, bound!
You have deserved but little of your country,
My lord; this trouble was superfluous.
BURLEIGH
My aim was good, though fate declared against it;
Happy is he who has so fair a conscience!
LEICESTER
Well know we the mysterious mien of Burleigh
When he is on the hunt for deeds of treason.
Now you are in your element, my lord;
A monstrous outrage has been just committed,
And darkness veils as yet its perpetrators:
Now will a court of inquisition rise;
Each word, each look be weighed; men's very thoughts
Be summoned to the bar. You are, my lord,
The mighty man, the Atlas of the state,
All England's weight lies upon your shoulders.
BURLEIGH
In you, my lord, I recognize my master;
For such a victory as your eloquence
Has gained I cannot boast.
LEICESTER
What means your lordship?
BURLEIGH
You were the man who knew, behind my back,
To lure the queen to Fotheringay Castle.
LEICESTER
Behind your back! When did I fear to act
Before your face?
BURLEIGH
You led her majesty?
Oh, no – you led her not – it was the queen
Who was so gracious as to lead you thither.
LEICESTER
What mean you, my lord, by that?
BURLEIGH
The noble part
You forced the queen to play! The glorious triumph
Which you prepared for her! Too gracious princess!
So shamelessly, so wantonly to mock
Thy unsuspecting goodness, to betray thee
So pitiless to thy exulting foe!
This, then, is the magnanimity, the grace
Which suddenly possessed you in the council!
The Stuart is for this so despicable,
So weak an enemy, that it would scarce
Be worth the pains to stain us with her blood.
A specious plan! and sharply pointed too;
'Tis only pity this sharp point is broken.
LEICESTER
Unworthy wretch! this instant follow me,
And answer at the throne this insolence.
BURLEIGH
You'll find me there, my lord; and look you well
That there your eloquence desert you not.
[Exit
SCENE IV
LEICESTER alone, then MORTIMER.
LEICESTER
I am detected! All my plot's disclosed!
How has my evil genius tracked my steps!
Alas! if he has proofs, if she should learn
That I have held a secret correspondence
With her worst enemy; how criminal
Shall I appear to her! How false will then
My counsel seem, and all the fatal pains
I took to lure the queen to Fotheringay!
I've shamefully betrayed, I have exposed her
To her detested enemy's revilings!
Oh! never, never can she pardon that.
All will appear as if premeditated.
The bitter turn of this sad interview,
The triumph and the tauntings of her rival;
Yes, e'en the murderous hand which had prepared
A bloody, monstrous, unexpected fate;
All, all will be ascribed to my suggestions!
I see no rescue! nowhere – ha! Who comes?
[MORTIMER enters in the most violent uneasiness, and looks with apprehension round him.
MORTIMER
Lord Leicester! Is it you! Are we alone?
LEICESTER
Ill-fated wretch, away! What seek you here?
MORTIMER
They are upon our track – upon yours, too;
Be vigilant!
LEICESTER
Away, away!
MORTIMER
They know
That private conferences have been held
At Aubespine's —
LEICESTER
What's that to me?
MORTIMER
They know, too,
That the assassin —
LEICESTER
That is your affair —
Audacious wretch! to dare to mix my name
In your detested outrage: go; defend
Your bloody deeds yourself!
MORTIMER
But only hear me.
LEICESTER (violently enraged)
Down, down to hell! Why cling you at my heels
Like an infernal spirit! I disclaim you;
I know you not; I make no common cause
With murderers!
MORTIMER
You will not hear me, then!
I came to warn you; you too are detected.
LEICESTER
How! What?
MORTIMER
Lord Burleigh went to Fotheringay
Just as the luckless deed had been attempted;
Searched with strict scrutiny the queen's apartments,
And found there —
LEICESTER
What?
MORTIMER
A letter which the queen
Had just addressed to you —
LEICESTER
Unhappy woman!
MORTIMER
In which she calls on you to keep your word,
Renews the promise of her hand, and mentions
The picture which she sent you.
LEICESTER
Death and hell!
MORTIMER
Lord Burleigh has the letter.
LEICESTER
I am lost!
[During the following speech of MORTIMER, LEICESTER goes up and down as in despair.
MORTIMER
Improve the moment; be beforehand with him,
And save yourself – save her! An oath can clear
Your fame; contrive excuses to avert
The worst. I am disarmed, can do no more;
My comrades are dispersed – to pieces fallen
Our whole confederacy. For Scotland I
To rally such new friends as there I may.
'Tis now your turn, my lord; try what your weight,
What bold assurance can effect.
LEICESTER (stops suddenly as if resolved)
I will.
[Goes to the door, opens it, and calls.
Who waits without? Guards! seize this wretched traitor!
[To the officer, who comes in with soldiers.
And guard him closely! A most dreadful plot
Is brought to light – I'll to her majesty.
MORTIMER (stands for a time petrified with wonder; collects himself soon, and follows LEICESTER with his looks expressive of the most sovereign contempt)
Infamous wretch! But I deserve it all.
Who told me then to trust this practised villain?
Now o'er my head he strides, and on my fall
He builds the bridge of safety! be it so;
Go, save thyself – my lips are sealed forever;
I will not join even thee in my destruction;
I would not own thee, no, not even in death;
Life is the faithless villain's only good!
[To the officer of the guard, who steps forward to seize him.
What wilt thou, slave of tyranny, with me?
I laugh to scorn thy threatenings; I am free.
[Drawing a dagger.
OFFICER
He's armed; rush in and wrest his weapon from him.
[They rush upon him, he defends himself.
MORTIMER (raising his voice)
And in this latest moment shall my heart
Expand itself in freedom, and my tongue
Shall break this long constraint. Curse and destruction
Light on you all who have betrayed your faith,
Your God, and your true sovereign! Who, alike
To earthly Mary false as to the heavenly,
Have sold your duties to this bastard queen!
OFFICER
Hear you these blasphemies? Rush forward – seize him.
MORTIMER
Beloved queen! I could not set thee free;
Yet take a lesson from me how to die.
Mary, thou holy one, O! pray for me!
And take me to thy heavenly home on high.
[Stabs himself, and falls into the arms of the guard.
