[Dec, Ip 
453 Original 
Tet partial judges JwayM by jealous fear 
1^0 pi eas of sight, no claims of pity hear. 
By bigot fury is her fate decreed, 
By povv’r remorseless is she doom’d fo bleed. 
The herald soon the fatal message brought, 
Pregnant with death with cruel vengeance 
fraught. 
Alas ! O q^ueen, sad tidings’must thou hear. 
And wretched I th’ unwilling messenger} 
The English council with determin’d hate 
Pecree thy death, and urge thee to thy fate.” 
Weeping he spoke, the queen, prepar’d to die, 
Eler sentence patient heard, and scarce a sigh 
I’rom her calm breast its gentle passage broke. 
Serenely smiling, thus at length she spoke } 
Without regret 1 yield my wretched breath. 
And pant in bitterness of soul for death. 
Bliza’s sov’reign mandate I obey. 
And bow resign’d to her imperial sway. 
But tho' I bend to her usurp’d command, 
Can great Eliza stain her royal hand 
In guiltless blood ? or cannot pity move 
Elcr gen’rouS heart, and soften it to love ? 
But, as I hope my soul shall take its flight 
To the pure regions of celestial light, 
Here in my Maker’s presence I attest, 
Who knows the thoughts and secrets of my 
breast, 
That ne’er I wished to Expose Eliza’s life 
To trait’rous projects, or th’ assassin’s knife j 
"Vet to regain my liberty I tried, 
By kings defended, and to kings allied. 
Tho’ envy’s serpent tongue revile my fame, 
Tho’ calumny asperse my injur’d name} 
Yet still 1 hope to see the glorious day. 
When truth ia heav’n my actions shall dls- 
play. 
For this, this only favour let me sue. 
If mercy can to misery be due ; 
Ot let my faithful mourning servants prove 
borne kird remembrance of their mistress’ 
love ! 
But tell Eliza, tho’ by her opprest. 
Religion breathes forgiveness hi my breast. 
May conscience ne’er its scorpion stings iin- 
part, 
Or strike conviction to her envious heart.” 
She spoke, her words the messenger obey’d} 
Her last request to England’s queen convey’d. 
Now midnight's solemn shade invests the 
pole, 
And silence feeds fresh thoughts in Mary’s 
soul. 
Now reason undisturb’d asserts her sway} 
And life’s delusive phantoms fade away. 
Tiie hour fast conics, the scene of death 
drav/3 nigh, 
And earth recedes before her swimming eye. 
Before her God, she pours her soul in pray’r, 
Ker Saviour’s cross forbids her to despair. 
*’ If charm’d by Pleasure’s syren voice, she 
said. 
My erring soul'from Virtue’s path has stray’d} 
If false delights my wav’ring soul have 
warm’d, 
The pomp of pow’r my giddy sense hath 
charm’d j 
Poetrij* 
O! spare me, God, nci* o'er my guilty head 
The fulness of thy righteous vengeance shed. 
But ah ! the spectre Death in terrors tlrest 
Bids sharp repentance pierce my shudd’ring 
breast. 
Alas ! unhappy Darnlev} could I prove 
Cold to the ties of du'y and of love ? 
’Tis done—the flame of fiate no longer burnSj 
Nature relents, but ah ! too late returns. 
Ah let the racking pain, the deep-felt groan. 
My death, my sorrow, for my crirqe atone ! 
And oh! forgive my sins, .almighty God, 
And seal my pardon with a Saviour’s blood ! 
Ah ! let bis death, my deepest crimes efface. 
Abate my sofrov/s, and confirm my peace 1 
With pitying eye, O God, ray weakness 
viev/. 
Relieve my woes, my sinking strength re^- 
new, 
O Saviour, hear, and let religion’s ray 
Dispel the clouds of grief, and hope’s bright 
dawn display.” 
To heal her sorrows sent by God’s behest 
Religion, lovely cherub, calms her breast; 
While hope and faith firm fortitude impart. 
And breathe new vigour to her sinking heart* 
The fatal hour now comes, and hark ! the tell 
Of death beats solemn a slow-sounding knell j 
Ill-fated queen ! her soul to heav’n aspires. 
And mild devotion fans her rising fires. 
Free from the vain pursuit of eartbly^hings-, 
, Her soul expands and spreads her joyful 
wings. 
i^er faithful servants to their mistress cling. 
And to her grief a soothing comfort bring. 
Tiieymix with her’s their sympathising sighs, 
I'hey join’d in pray’r, and lift to heav’n their 
eyes. 
Confirm’d in faith, the queen awaits her 
doom, 
A willing victim to the greedy tomb. 
While resignation with her mild controul 
Allays the tumults of her troubled soul. 
She seeks th’ appointed place} the steps as¬ 
cends ; 
The duteous Mclvil on his queen attends. 
Fronr Melvil’s eyes the stieaming sorrow 
flow, 
He mourns his queen in agonies of woe. 
“ W’eep not foi me, (she cries ;) death brings 
relief, 
Heals my vex’d soul, and terminates my grief} 
If e’er thy mistress to thy thoughts was dear. 
These my last blessings to my offspring bear } 
Tell him, I die in true religion’s cause, 
A martyr sacred to her glorious laws. 
May peace and happiness attend his j oudi. 
May Fakh inspire him and a love of truth. 
O!; ! may he shun the paths his mother trad. 
Forgive his enemies, revere his God I ” 
7 hen on the cross uplifted from her breast. 
Salvation’s pledge, her glowing lips she prest. 
“ As on the cross thy arms were stretcu’d, O 
Lord, 
Thy arms of raercy to my soul afiord. 
Relieve my sorrows, let thy pitying grace 
Receive my soul, and every crime erase ! ” 
She 
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