Mary Stuart

SCENE XI.

The Second Chamber in the Fourth Act.

ELIZABETH (entering from a side door; her gait and action expressive

of the most violent uneasiness).

No message yet arrived! What! no one here!

Will evening never come! Stands the sun still

In its ethereal course? I can no more

Remain upon the rack of expectation!

Is it accomplished? Is it not? I shudder

At both events, and do not dare to ask.

My Lord of Leicester comes not,-Burleigh too,

Whom I appointed to fulfil the sentence.

If they have quitted London then 'tis done,

The bolt has left its rest-it cuts the air-

It strikes; has struck already: were my realm

At stake I could not now arrest its course.

Who's there?