Mary Stuart

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Фридрих Шиллер

Год написания книги

2017

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In you, my lord, I recognize my master;
For such a victory as your eloquence
Has gained I cannot boast.

LEICESTER

What means your lordship?

BURLEIGH

You were the man who knew, behind my back,
To lure the queen to Fotheringay Castle.

LEICESTER

Behind your back! When did I fear to act
Before your face?

BURLEIGH

You led her majesty?
Oh, no – you led her not – it was the queen
Who was so gracious as to lead you thither.

LEICESTER

What mean you, my lord, by that?

BURLEIGH

The noble part
You forced the queen to play! The glorious triumph
Which you prepared for her! Too gracious princess!
So shamelessly, so wantonly to mock
Thy unsuspecting goodness, to betray thee
So pitiless to thy exulting foe!
This, then, is the magnanimity, the grace
Which suddenly possessed you in the council!
The Stuart is for this so despicable,
So weak an enemy, that it would scarce
Be worth the pains to stain us with her blood.
A specious plan! and sharply pointed too;
'Tis only pity this sharp point is broken.

LEICESTER

Unworthy wretch! this instant follow me,
And answer at the throne this insolence.

BURLEIGH

You'll find me there, my lord; and look you well
That there your eloquence desert you not.

[Exit

SCENE IV

LEICESTER alone, then MORTIMER.

LEICESTER

I am detected! All my plot's disclosed!
How has my evil genius tracked my steps!
Alas! if he has proofs, if she should learn
That I have held a secret correspondence
With her worst enemy; how criminal
Shall I appear to her! How false will then
My counsel seem, and all the fatal pains
I took to lure the queen to Fotheringay!
I've shamefully betrayed, I have exposed her
To her detested enemy's revilings!
Oh! never, never can she pardon that.
All will appear as if premeditated.
The bitter turn of this sad interview,
The triumph and the tauntings of her rival;
Yes, e'en the murderous hand which had prepared
A bloody, monstrous, unexpected fate;
All, all will be ascribed to my suggestions!
I see no rescue! nowhere – ha! Who comes?

[MORTIMER enters in the most violent uneasiness, and looks with apprehension round him.

MORTIMER

Lord Leicester! Is it you! Are we alone?

LEICESTER

Ill-fated wretch, away! What seek you here?

MORTIMER

They are upon our track – upon yours, too;
Be vigilant!

LEICESTER

Away, away!