Mary Stuart

SCENE II.

Enter MARGARET CURL.

KENNEDY.

How, madam, fares the queen? Is she awake?

CURL (drying her tears).

She is already dressed-she asks for you.

KENNEDY.

I go:-

[To MELVIL, who seems to wish to accompany her.

But follow not until the queen

Has been prepared to see you.

[Exit.

CURL.

Melvil, sure,

The ancient steward?

MELVIL.

Yes, the same.

CURL.

Oh, sir,

This is a house which needs no steward now!

Melvil, you come from London; can you give

No tidings of my husband?

MELVIL.

It is said

He will be set at liberty as soon--

CURL.

As soon as our dear queen shall be no more.

Oh, the unworthy, the disgraceful traitor!

He is our lady's murderer-'tis said

It was his testimony which condemned him.

MELVIL.

'Tis true.

CURL.

Oh, curse upon him! Be his soul

Condemned forever! he has borne false witness.

MELVIL.

Think, madam, what you say.

CURL.

I will maintain it

With every sacred oath before the court,

I will repeat it in his very face;

The world shall hear of nothing else. I say

That she dies innocent!

MELVIL..

God grant it true!

[1] The document is now in the British Museum.