Mary Stuart

SCENE XIV.

Enter DAVISON.

ELIZABETH.

The sentence, sir, which I but late intrusted

Unto your keeping; where is it?

DAVISON (in the utmost astonishment).

The sentence!

ELIZABETH (more urgent).

Which yesterday I gave into your charge.

DAVISON.

Into my charge, my liege!

ELIZABETH.

The people urged

And baited me to sign it. I perforce

Was driven to yield obedience to their will.

I did so; did so on extreme constraint,

And in your hands deposited the paper.

To gain time was my purpose; you remember

What then I told you. Now, the paper, sir!

SHREWSBURY.

Restore it, sir, affairs have changed since then,

The inquiry must be set on foot anew.

DAVISON.

Anew! Eternal mercy!

ELIZABETH.

Why this pause,

This hesitation? Where, sir, is the paper?

DAVISON.

I am undone! Undone! My fate is sealed!

ELIZABETH (interrupting him violently).

Let me not fancy, sir--

DAVISON.

Oh, I am lost!

I have it not.

ELIZABETH.

How? What?

SHREWSBURY.

Oh, God in heaven!

DAVISON.

It is in Burleigh's hands-since yesterday.

ELIZABETH.

Wretch! Is it thus you have obeyed my orders?

Did I not lay my strict injunction on you

To keep it carefully?

DAVISON.

No such injunction

Was laid on me, my liege.

ELIZABETH.

Give me the lie?

Opprobrious wretch! When did I order you

To give the paper into Burleigh's hands?

DAVISON.

Never expressly in so many words.

ELIZABETH.

And, paltering villain I dare you then presume

To construe, as you list, my words-and lay

Your bloody meaning on them? Wo betide you,

If evil come of this officious deed!

Your life shall answer the event to me.

Earl Shrewsbury, you see how my good name

Has been abused!

SHREWSBURY.

I see! Oh, God in heaven!

ELIZABETH.

What say you?

SHREWSBURY.

If the knight has dared to act

In this, upon his own authority,

Without the knowledge of your majesty,

He must be cited to the Court of Peers

To answer there for subjecting thy name

To the abhorrence of all after time.