Mary Stuart

SCENE VIII.

Enter BURLEIGH, LEICESTER, and PAULET.

[LEICESTER remains in the background, without raising

his eyes; BURLEIGH, who remarks his confusion, steps

between him and the QUEEN.

BURLEIGH.

I come, my Lady Stuart, to receive

Your last commands and wishes.

MARY.

Thanks, my lord.

BURLEIGH.

It is the pleasure of my royal mistress

That nothing reasonable be denied you.

MARY.

My will, my lord, declares my last desires;

I've placed it in the hand of Sir Amias,

And humbly beg that it may be fulfilled.

PAULET.

You may rely on this.

MARY.

I beg that all

My servants unmolested may return

To France, or Scotland, as their wishes lead.

BURLEIGH.

It shall be as you wish.

MARY.

And since my body

Is not to rest in consecrated ground,

I pray you suffer this my faithful servant

To bear my heart to France, to my relations-

Alas! 'twas ever there.

BURLEIGH.

It shall be done.

What wishes else?

MARY.

Unto her majesty

Of England bear a sister's salutation;

Tell her that from the bottom of my heart

I pardon her my death; most humbly, too,

I crave her to forgive me for the passion

With which I spoke to her. May God preserve her

And bless her with a long and prosperous reign.

BURLEIGH.

Say, do you still adhere to your resolve,

And still refuse assistance from the dean?

MARY.

My lord, I've made my peace with God.

[To PAULET.

Good sir,

I have unwittingly caused you much sorrow,

Bereft you of your age's only stay.

Oh, let me hope you do not hate my name.

PAULET (giving her his hand).

The Lord be with you! Go your way in peace.