1800.] 
In the third aét the projefted interview 
really takes place. Mary, who is fuppofed 
to have been held in the ftriéteft confine- 
ment, exults in the liberty the is allowed 
to enjoy in the open air. Being infiduoufly 
permitted to walk in the garden of Fothe- 
ringay, fhe feels herfelf enraptured by the 
feeming profpeét of approaching liberty,. 
fhe hails the fanning breeze, and bids the 
clouds, in their airy career to France, re- 
member her to her kinfman, the King of 
France. The poet changes on a fudden, 
the iambic meafure to a lyric fong, fully 
contrived to fupply the chorus of the Greek 
tragedy. This high flow of fpirits is 
brought to a fudden ebb, when Sir Paulet 
and Shrewfbury rufh upon her, In order to 
inform her of the long-wifhed for arrival 
of Queen Elizabeth. Soon after Elizabeth 
arrives, accompanied by Leicefter. Both 
queens are at firft greatly embarraffedto 
find themfelves in, the other's prefence ; 
but Elizabeth obférving that it belt became 
Mary to addrefs her, Mary throws herfelf, 
with great reluétance, at the Queen of 
England’s feet, conjuring her in the moft 
affecting terms to reftore her to her free- 
dom, to her country, and relations: but 
on Elizabeth’s treating her with haughri- 
nefs, the flarts up in a fit of defpair, and 
burfts into the moft poignant abufe of 
Elizabeth, calling ber a baltard, and an 
ufurper, till the latter runs away mad 
with rage. Soon after O'Kelly arrives, 
and tells Mary that Elizabeth had been 
killed on her way home: but Mortimer 
informs her that the blow of the affaffin 
had been prevented by the Earl of Shrewi- 
bury, and Elizabeth preferved. Mortimer, 
now left alone with Mary, declares his 
tefolution of delivering her; but, blazing. 
up on a fudden into a frantiy declaration 
of fenfual appetite, he {wears that in re- 
compence fhy muft give him her hand, at 
the fame time feizing her in his arms, 
kiffing her neck, and behaving as though 
he defigned immediately to reap the re- 
ward of what he might do in her fervice. 
In the fourth aét the fcene is transferred | 
to London; we fee Elizabeth exafperated 
at the affront given by Mary, and at the 
attack upon her life: when Davifon enters 
to bring her the fentence of death pro- 
nounced againit Mary; fhe feigns, the 
fluctuates, and, having at length figned ut, 
jeaves Davifon in incertitude whether fhe 
will have the fentence immediately exe- 
cuted or net. Scarcely is Elizabeth gone, 
when Burleigh enters, and, learning that 
the warrant is figned by the Queen, 
{natches it from Davifon’s hands to have 
itexecuted immediately, But many epi- 
Theatrical Retrofped?. 
171 
fodes are interwoven. Burleigh and the 
French ambaffadors meet in the anti.chame 
ber of the Queen: the former advifes the 
latter to quit the kingdom immediately, as 
the plot of affaffinating Elizabeth had been 
laid in his hetel, and the treaty of alliance 
was bicken by that action. When Lei- 
ce(ter appears, Burleigh reproaches him 
for advifing the Queen to an interview 
with Mary, and gives him to underftand 
that he is pretty well aware of the true 
motives : 
‘6 You did not fhew this Mary to the Queen; 
The Queen did thew you Mary.” 
and threatens to reveal his treacherous de- 
figns. When Burleigh is gone, Mortimer 
exters; a quarrel enfues between him and 
Leicefter, the former accufing the Earl for 
his felfifh and cowardly behaviour, and the 
latter denying all participation in the plot. 
At length, wifhing to rid himfelf from a 
dangerous witnefs, and to ingratiate himfelf 
again with the Queen, he calls on a fudden 
upon the guards, and orders them to feize 
Mortimer. This gentleman, feeing no 
mears of efcaping punifhment, ftabs him- 
felf. The fcene is removed to Queen 
Elizabeth's apartment, where the Queen 
is in conference with Burleigh, who hae 
already difclofed to her Leicefter’s trea- 
chery. While they are fpeaking, Leicef- 
ter is announced: but the Queen refufes to 
{te him, and forbids him to be admitted 
any more. Leicefter, however, forces his 
way, and fucceeds in refuting Burleigh’s 
imputations by acenfing. Mortimer, aod 
fupports his accufation by the account of 
his violent death. 
to revenge herfelf, orders him to affitt ag 
the execution of Mary. 
In the beginning of the fifth aé&t, the 
fcene lies at Fotheringay, Melvil, an old 
faithful fervant, and Mids Kennedy lament 
the fate of their Queen, the preparations 
for whofe execution in the hall the latter 
had feen. Mary herfelf entering, confoles 
her faithful fervants, and makes her Jaf 
difpofals ; the reft having withdrawn, and 
Mary exprefiing her defire of being pre- 
pared for death by a prieit of her religion, 
Melvil declares that he will take orders, 
and therefore thinks himfelf now already 
fit for performing the office of a prieit; ac- 
cordingly the aét of confeffion and abfolu- 
tion is exhibited. Soon after Burleigh and 
Leicefter enter and read her fenence. As 
foon as fhe fees Leicefter, after a flight 
f{wooning, the reproaches him with his per- 
fidy. When the is led out to executions 
Leicefter remains torn with remorfe; he 
imagines he hears al] the preparations made 
in the hall under him; at length he hears 
“2 the 
4 
4 
The Queen, in order | 
