Mary Stuart

SCENE VIII.

Enter BURLEIGH and DAVISON, with a paper.

ELIZABETH.

Well, Davison?

DAVISON (approaches earnestly).

Your orders are obeyed,

My queen--

ELIZABETH.

What orders, sir?

[As she is about to take the paper, she shudders, and starts back.

Oh, God!

BURLEIGH.

Obey

Thy people's voice; it is the voice of God.

ELIZABETH (irresolute, as if in contest with herself)

Oh, my good lord, who will assure me now

That what I hear is my whole people's voice,

The voice of all the world! Ah! much I fear,

That, if I now should listen to the wish

Of the wild multitude, a different voice

Might soon be heard;-and that the very men,

Who now by force oblige me to this step,

May, when 'tis taken, heavily condemn me!