How. Was that my Lord of Devon? do not you [Devon. Be seen in corners with my Lord of He hath fallen out of favor with the Queen. [and him She fears the Lords may side with you Against her marriage; therefore is he dangerous, [come And if this Prince of fluff and feather To woo you, niece, he is dangerous every way. Eliz. Not very dangerous that way, my good uncle. [danger here. How. But your state is full of The disaffected, heretics, reformers. Look to you as the one to crown their ends. [you; Mix not yourself with any plot I pray Nay, if by chance you hear of any such, Speak not thereof-no, not to your best friend, [it. StillLest you should be confounded with Perinde ac cadaver-as the priest says, [dead body. You know your Latin-quiet as a What was my Lord of Devon telling you? [or not, Eliz. Whether he told me any thing I follow your good counsel, gracious uncle. Quiet as a dead body. How. You do right well. I do not care to know; but this I charge you. [Chancellor Tell Courtenay nothing. The Lord (I count it as a kind of virtue in him, He hath not many), as a mastiff dog May love a puppy cur for no more [up together, Than that the twain have been tied Thus Gardiner-for the two were fellow-prisoners reason So many years in yon accursed Tower- You should not play upon me. Eliz. Enter Gard. The Queen would see your Grace upon the moment. Eli. Why, my lord Bishop? Gard. I think she means to counsel To Ashridge, or some other country Your Grace will hear her reasons from herself. [before the word Eliz. Tis mine own wish fulfill'd Was spoken, for in truth I had meant to crave, Permission of her Highness to retire To Ashridge, and pursue my studies there. [before the word Gard. Madam, to have the wish Is man's good Fairy—and the Queen is yours. I left her with rich jewels in her hand, Whereof 'tis like enough she means to make A farewell present to your Grace. My Lord, I have the jewel of a loyal heart. Gard. I doubt it not, Madam, most loyal. [Bows low and exit, How See, This comes of parleying with my Lord of Devon. [self Well, well, you must obey; and I'myBelieve it will be better for your wel Your time will come. [fare. Eliz. I think my time will come. Uncle, I am of sovereign nature, that I know. Not to be quell'd; and I have felt within me. [God's just hour Stirrings of some great doom when Peals-but this fierce old Gardiner his big baldness, That irritable forelock which he rubs, His buzzard beak and deep-incavern'd Ilalf fright me. one them. [eyes How. You've a bold heart; keep it [turn traitor; He cannot touch you save that you And so take heed I pray you-you are [you, niece. Who love that men should smile upon They'd smile you into treason—some of [smiling sea. Eliz. I spy the rock beneath the But if this Philip, the proud Catholic prince, [hates me, seek And this bald priest, and she that In that lone house, to practise on my By poison, fire, shot, stab- įlife, Hour. They will not, niece. Mine is the fleet and all the power at sea Or will be in a moment. If they dared To harm you, I would blow this Philip and all [devil. Your trouble to the dogstar and the Eliz. To the Pleiads, uncle; they have lost a sister. Hour. But why say that? what have you done to lose her? [Queen. Come, come, I will go with you to the [Exeunt. SCENE V. A Room in the Palace. Mary with Philip's miniature. Alice. Mary (kissing the miniature). Most goodly, kinglike, and an emperor's son, A king to be,-is he not noble, girl? Alice. Goodly enough, your Grace, and yet, methinks, I have seen goodlier. Mary Ay; some waxen doll Thy baby eyes have rested on, belike; All red and white, the fashion of our land. [her soul) But my good mother came (God rest Of Spain, and I am Spanish in myself, And in my likings. Alice. By your Grace's leave Your royal mother came of Spain, but took [royal father To the English red and white. Your (For so they say) was all pure lily and In his youth, and like a lady. [rose Mary. O, just God! Sweet mother, you had time and cause enough To sicken of his lilies and his roses. Cast off, betray'd, defamed, divorced, forlorn ! (forgiveness, And then the king-that traitor past The false archbishop fawning on him, married The mother of Elizbeth-a heretic Ev'n as she is; but God hath sent me here To take such order with all heretics That it shall be, before I die, as tho' My father and my brother had not lived. Jane, What wast thou saying of this Lady Now in the Tower? Alice. Why, Madam, she was pass- To him within there who made Heaven head So full of grace and beauty! would Were half as gracious! O, My lord to be, My love, for thy sake only. I am eleven years older than he is. No, by the holy Virgin, being noble, But love me only: then the bastard sprout. My sister, is far fairer than myself. No, being of the true faith with myself. Paget is for him- for to wed with Spain [against him; Would treble England-Gardiner is The Council, people, Parliament against him; [hated me; But I will have him! My hard father My brother rather hated me than loved; [Virgin, My sister cowers and hates me. Holy Plead with thy blessed Son; grant me my prayer; lead Give me my Philip; and we two will The living waters of the Faith again Back thro' their widow'd channel here, and watch [of old, The parch'd banks rolling incense, as To heaven, and kindled with the palms of Christ! Enter Usher. Who waits, sir? [lor. Usher. Madam, the Lord ChancelMary. Bid him come in (Enter Gardiner.) Good-morning, my good Lord. [Erit Usher. Gard. That every morning of your Majesty May be most good, is every morning's prayer [Gardiner. Of your most loyal subject, Stephen Mary. Come you to tell me this, my Lord? Gard. And more. Your people have begun to learn your worth. [debts, Your pious wish to pay King Edward's Your lavish household curb'd, and the remission [people, Of half that subsidy levied on the Make all tongues praise and all hearts beat for you, I'd have you yet more loved: the realm is poor, [withdraw The exchequer at neap-ebb: we might Part of our garrison at Calais. Mary ('alais! Our one point on the main, the gate of I am Queen of England; take mine Do not fear it. Of that hereafter. I say your Grace is loved. [your friend That I may keep you thus, who am And ever faithful counsellor, might I speak? Mary. I can forespeak your speaking. Would I marry Prince Philip, if all England hate him? That is [another: answer Your question, and I front it with Is it England, or a party? Now, your imy dress Gard. My answer is, I wear beneath A shirt of mail: my house hath been assaulted, [lace, And when I walk abroad, the popu With fingers pointed like so many dag[Philip gers, Stab me in fancy, hissing Spain and I made him Earl of Devon, and-the He wrecks his health and wealth on [dog. courtesans, And rolls himself in carrion like a Card. More like a school-boy that hath broken bounds, Sickening himself with sweets. And brought us back the mass. I am To God and to your Grace: yet I know Your people, and I go with them so far, [here to play Will brook nor Pope nor Spaniard The tyrant, or in commonwealth or church. Mary (showing the picture). Is this the face of one who plays the tyrant? [gentle? Peruse it; it is not goodly, ay, and Gard. Madam, methinks a cold face and a haughty And when your Highness talks of Courtenay[life Ay, true-a goodly one. I would his Were half as goodly (aside). Mary. What is that you mutter? Gard. Oh, Madam, take it bluntly; marry Philip, And be stepmother of a score of sons! The prince is known in Spain, in Flanders, ha! For Philip- may leave us. You offend us; you You see thro' warping glasses. Gard. If your Majesty Mary. I have sworn upon the body and blood of (hrist I'll none but Philip. Gard. Hath your Grace so sworn? Mary. Ay, Simon Renard knows it. Gard. News to me! It then remains for your poor Gardiner, [what less So you still care to trust him someThan Simon Renard, to compose the Pray God he do not be the first to Must be content with that; and so, farewell. Noail. (going, returns). I would your answer had been other, Madam, For I foresee dark days. Mary. And so do I, sir; Your master works against me in the dark. I do believe he holp Northumberland My sister, and I will not,-after me In order to betroth her to your Dauphin. See then: [Dauphin, Mary of Scotland, married to your Would make our England, France; Mary of England, joining hands with Spain. Would be too strong for France. Yea, were there issue born to her, Spain and we, One crown, might rule the world. There lies your fear. That is your drift. You play at hide and seek. Show me your faces! Noail. Madam, I am amazed: French, I must needs wish all good things for France iprotest That must be pardon'd me but I Your Grace's policy hath a farther flight Than mine into the future. We but Some settled ground for peace to stand upon. Mary. Well, we will leave all this, sir, to our council. Have you seen Philip ever? Only once. Nouil. No, surely [thee, Mary. I can make allowance for Thou speakest of the enemy of thy king. [naked truth. Noail. Make no allowance for the Ile is every way a lesser man than Charles; [ing in him. Stone-hard, ice-cold—no dash of darMary. If cold, his life is pure. Why (smiling), no, indeed. Mary. Sayst thou? [smilings, Noail. A very wanton life indeed Mary. Your audience is concluded, sir. [Exit Noailles. You cannot Learn a man's nature from his natural foe. Let the great angel of the church como with him; Stand on the deck and spread his wings for sail! God lay the waves and strew the storms at sea, [O Renard, And here at land among the people. I am much beset, I am almost in despair jours; Paget is ours. Gardiner perchance is But for our heretic ParliainentRen. O Madam, You fly your thoughts like kites. My Master, Charles, [here, Bade you go softly with your heretics Until your throne had ceased to tremble. Then [Besides, Spit them like larks for aught I care. When Henry broke the church To pieces, there were carcass of your [among you many wolves Who dragg'd the scatter'd limbs into (render these; their den. The Pope would have you make them So would your cousin, Cardinal Pole ; ill counsel! [not yet These let them keep at present; stir This matter of the church lands. At his coming Your star will rise. Mary. My star! a baleful one. I see but the black night, and hear the wolf. What star? Ren. princely son, Your star will be your [lands! Heir of this England and the Nether And if your wolf the while should howl for more. [gold. We'll dust him from a bag of Spanish I do believe, I have dusted some already, jours. That, soon or late, your parliament is Ren. The lot of princes. To sit Is to be lied about. [high Mary. They call him cold, Haughty, ay, worse. Ren. Why, doubtless, Philip shows Some of the bearing of your blue blood -still All within measure-nay, it well be comes him. Mary. Hath he the large ability of his father? Ren. Nay, some believe that he will go beyond him. Mary. Is this like him? Ren. Philip Ay, somewhat; but your [the sun. : Is the most princelike Prince beneath This is a daub to Philip. Mary. Of a pure life? Ren. As an angel among angels. Yea, by Heaven, ["Whosoever The text-Your Highness knows it, Looketh after a woman," would not [in him there. graze The Prince of Spain. You are happy Chaste as your grace! Mary. I am happy in him there. Ren. And would be altogether happy, madam, [closer. So that your sister were but look'd to You have sent her from the court, but then she goes, I warrant, not to hear the nightingales, But hatch you some new treason in the woods. Mary. We have our spies abroad to catch her tripping, And then if caught, to the Tower. Ren. The Tower! the block. The word has turn'd your Highness pale; the thing [er's time. Was no such scarecrow in your fathI have heard, the tongue yet quiver'd with the jest When the head leapt-so common ! I do think To save your crown that it must come to this. [people love her, Mary. I love her not, but all the And would not have her even to the Tower. Ren. Not yet; but your old Traitors of the Tower Why, when you put Northumberland to death, [them all, The sentence having passed upon Spared you the Duke of Suffolk, Guilford Dudley, Ev'n that young girl who dared to wear your crown? Mary. Dared, no, not that; the child obey'd her father Spite of her tears her father forced it on her. Ren. Good Madam, when the Roman wish'd to reign, He slew not him alone who wore the purple, But his assessor in the throne, perchance A child more innocent than Lady of mercy, [tire, or this Stamp out the And wastes more life. Will smoulder and re-flame, and burn the throne [will not come Where you should sit with Philip: he Till she be gone. Mary. Indeed, if that were true Usher. Your Council is in Session, please your Majesty. Mary. Sir, let them sit. I must have time to breathe. No, say I come. (Exit Usher.) I won by boldness once. The Emperor counsell'd me to fly to Flanders. [rode, I would not; but a hundred miles f Sent out my letters, call'd my friends together, Struck home and won. And when the Council would not crown me-thought [keep, To bind me first by oaths I could not And keep with Christ and conscience was it boldness. |