FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33  
34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   >>   >|  
your passions. MARY. All the arts he used Were man's superior strength and woman's weakness. KENNEDY. No, no, I say. The most pernicious spirits Of hell he must have summoned to his aid, To cast this mist before your waking senses. Your ear no more was open to the voice Of friendly warning, and your eyes were shut To decency; soft female bashfulness Deserted you; those cheeks, which were before The seat of virtuous, blushing modesty, Glowed with the flames of unrestrained desire. You cast away the veil of secrecy, And the flagitious daring of the man O'ercame your natural coyness: you exposed Your shame, unblushingly, to public gaze: You let the murderer, whom the people followed With curses, through the streets of Edinburgh, Before you bear the royal sword of Scotland In triumph. You begirt your parliament With armed bands; and by this shameless farce, There, in the very temple of great justice, You forced the judges of the land to clear The murderer of his guilt. You went still further-- O God! MARY. Conclude--nay, pause not--say for this I gave my hand in marriage at the altar. KENNEDY. O let an everlasting silence veil That dreadful deed: the heart revolts at it. A crime to stain the darkest criminal! Yet you are no such lost one, that I know. I nursed your youth myself--your heart is framed For tender softness: 'tis alive to shame, And all your fault is thoughtless levity. Yes, I repeat it, there are evil spirits, Who sudden fix in man's unguarded breast Their fatal residence, and there delight To act their dev'lish deeds; then hurry back Unto their native hell, and leave behind Remorse and horror in the poisoned bosom. Since this misdeed, which blackens thus your life, You have done nothing ill; your conduct has Been pure; myself can witness your amendment. Take courage, then; with your own heart make peace. Whatever cause you have for penitence, You are not guilty here. Nor England's queen, Nor England's parliament can be your judge. Here might oppresses you: you may present Yourself before this self-created court With all the fortitude of innocence. MARY. I hear a step. KENNEDY. It is the nephew--In. SCENE V. The same. Enter MORTIMER, approaching cautiously. MORTIMER (to KENNEDY). Step to the door, and keep a careful watch, I have important business with the queen. MARY (with dignity). I charge thee, Hannah, go not hence--remain. M
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33  
34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

KENNEDY

 

murderer

 

England

 

spirits

 
MORTIMER
 

parliament

 

Remorse

 

blackens

 

misdeed

 

poisoned


horror

 

native

 

sudden

 
thoughtless
 
levity
 
softness
 

nursed

 

framed

 

tender

 

repeat


delight

 

residence

 

unguarded

 
breast
 

penitence

 

approaching

 
cautiously
 
nephew
 

innocence

 
fortitude

Hannah
 

remain

 
charge
 

careful

 
important
 

business

 

dignity

 
created
 

amendment

 

courage


witness

 
conduct
 

Whatever

 

oppresses

 
present
 

Yourself

 

guilty

 

blushing

 
virtuous
 

modesty