"Here we shall await, soon will she return from the tournament." "The magnanimous Queen is the joy of all our hearts." "How happy will be the day that binds her to noble love." "Yea, fairer still will we see" "Albion's pure star when we shall see her united to the splendour of France." "Then in celebration will we admire the power that belongs to love." "Yes, the King of France desires the English throne with my heart." "Yet still I hesitate to accept this high invitation," "but if the good of my true Britons leads me up to the wedding altar, then my right hand will hold sway" "o'er the lot of France and England." "Ah!" "When I see at the altar step a pure love from heaven, when it bids me take the rosy veil of M arriage, another heart robs me of my beloved liberty!" "And as I see a dread impediment rise up between us," "my heart cannot smile upon another love." "I n this day of happiness does the Stuart lament alone trouble Britain?" "M ercy, mercy for the Stuart." "Ho!" "I thought not to see this day of joy beclouded." "Why do you force me to weep o'er the head of one so guilty, and o'er her sad fate?" "Ah, render to the axe that head that stirs fatal fears, dread discord e'en among clans, with the flame of love." "Silence!" "I cannot yet decide." "Ah!" "Let heaven send a ray of light to clear my muddled thought;" "perchance will mercy speak within my breast." "But if the wretched maid has stolen all the hope of my heart the dawn of grim vengeance shall not tarry to break." "M ay Elizabeth's fair heart follow the prompting of mercy." "Remember, Elizabeth that all pity is harmful." "Why do I not see Leicester among you?" "D oes he alone stand apart from our common joy?" "Here he is!" "Lord Earl!" "Even now I asked about you." "Ah!" "Forgive me if I tarried to follow your bidding!" "What do you command me?" "Take this ring, deliver it to the Envoy of France;" "and to his Prince let him bear the message, that I accept his proposal of marriage." "His expression does not change!" "But I may still refuse the crown he offers me for I am free." "Take it." "Ungrateful wretch!" "I obey your command!" "Farewell." "At the joust, Talbot, did you not ask of me?" "I did." " What then do you want?" " To speak to you." "Listen and take to heart every word I utter." " I have been to Fotheringhay..." " What do I hear!" "I have seen the unhappy Stuart maid!" "Ah!" "Lower your voice within these walls!" "How did you find her?" "An angel of love, as fair as ever, and still as generous of spirit." "Oh!" "I n no way does she deserve her cruel lot." "And what did she say to you?" "Ah, speak!" "First may I be quite sure that I may trust your heart?" "Speak;" "I give you my word." "This image and this sheet are sent to you by M ary Stuart." "I had them from her own hand, and first she bathed them in her tears." "Oh, what delight!" "With what tender tone she spoke your name!" "Oh, what delight!" "Ah!" "Look on this fair face beloved, adored, it shines at me as on the day when first it struck me." "I feel as though once again" "I saw a languid smile appear on the face that once on such a fondly remembered day did place my fate in chains." "Her life is in its twilight, and she seeks help from you." "Oh, what memories!" "Oh fond portrait!" "I should be happy to die for her!" "What is your decision?" "I shall free her!" "Or I shall die with her!" "Have you no fear yet of the threat of Babington?" "For her shall I face every fear and every danger!" "I wish to free her, I will free her!" "I f so truly she has loved me then I shall wipe the tears from her eyes and if I should fall victim," "I shall be proud of my fate." "I f so truly she has loved you if she has shed so many a tear she will not but bemoan a further victim if she cannot escape the hour of dread." "Are you troubled?" "Not I. What an encounter!" "Talbot has spoken with you?" "'Tis true." "What can this mean?" "I no longer trust him." "She charms everybody!" "Ah!" "Perchance, my Earl, has a message from the Stuart been delivered to you?" "You suspect needlessly." "Talbot's faith is known." "I know your heart, too;" "reveal the truth" " I command." "Oh heavens!" "M y Queen..." "Still you dissimulate?" "I understand." "No, do not leave, listen to me!" "Ah, stop!" "A note..." "Give me the note." "Harsh fate!" "Here, at your royal foot, I lay it down." "Through me she requests the favour of an audience." "Arise, good Earl." "You do too much for her." "The haughty maid thinks to charm me thus;" "but vain is her hope." "What words!" "She is moved!" "I should go down into the prison cell." "Ah, my Queen." "Where power lies, who will desire your three crowns?" "Like a lighting flash in a dark night she dazzled, fled, disappeared!" "The wheel of Fortune has turned and pride has turned pale." "Ah, mercy!" "M y heart implores it for her." "Your heart, which is hers - is it not?" "These words strike me!" "At court all believe this so." " And all are mistaken." " Liar!" " Yes, all are mistaken." " Liar!" " Pity alone binds me to her." " He loves her!" "He loves her!" "Oh, my rage!" "Oh, my rage!" "I s she graceful?" "Speak!" " Yes!" " Yes?" "Yes?" "Yes?" "Yes!" "She was the picture of love, in the dawning years;" "she had the face of an angel that appears, and instils love;" "heavenly was her soul sweet her breath;" "fair in the days of her triumph fair in her martyrdom." "I must believe you, she is an angel if you describe her thus." "I f in the squalor of a dungeon she is the delight of every heart." " Ah... no..." " I know that she fires every spirit flatters every desire." " Queen..." "I... believe..." "If you adore her, oh traitor," " I fear my suffering." " Fair in the days of her triumph fair in her martyrdom." "C ome." "The heartless one asks this of me." "Grant my request." "Where?" "When?" "For this very day near her castle, a hunting party is arranged thus can you go into the forest." "Earl, is this your wish?" "I beg you." "I understand." "Reckless spirit!" "I surrender to you." "My rival laid her hand upon my head wishing to steal my royal crown, :" "Yet beaten did the haughty maid become all the bolder, and tried to rob me of a beloved heart." "Ah!" "Too grievous is the offence, I shall punish her." "Ah!" "C ome, my Queen, and show yourself merciful, you will see the divine innocent beauty;" "you are a sister to her, have mercy on her, for hatred has spoken enough within your breast." " Bring peace to her" " B e silent" " And I shall be requited." " B e silent, speak not!" "Ah!" "C ome, my Queen, bring peace to her and I shall be requited." "My rival laid her hand upon my head wishing to steal my royal crown, :" " Yet beaten did the haughty maid" " Queen," " become all the bolder," " I beseech you, ah!" "And tried to rob me of a beloved heart." "Ah!" "Too grievous is the offence, I shall punish her." "Slow down, my Queen." "Why so?" "Are you not happy that unwonted joy now fills my breast?" "Can you not see?" "M y prison cell is the open sk y." "I longed so for this!" "Oh!" "How dear is the delight that now surrounds me!" "Know you not that sorrow, sorrow awaits you within those walls?" "Look:" "On the meadows fragrant and fair appears the family of flowers and smiles, yes, smiles for me, and the breeze, returning from" "France's sweet shores, tells me to rejoice as in the happy days of my first youth." "Oh cloud!" "Lightly drifting in the sk y, you bear my affection, you carry my sighs to the blessed land that once nurtured me." "Ah!" "Kindly stoop, gather me in your wings," "Take me to that land, lift me away from my torments!" "Yet the cruel cloud flees too towards the blessed land that once nurtured me." "What sounds!" " To the woods, to the hunt!" "The stag appears..." " What voices!" "I think it is the royal hunt!" "The sounds come nearer..." "The steeds..." " The Queen!" " Ah!" " The Queen!" " That dreaded name!" "The tyrant is wandering through the park." "In the peace of my melancholy rest she will strike me with a new shock." "I asked her, yet dare not see her," "I cannot find this courage in my breast!" "Let her stay, stay upon the beloved throne, and her gaze be far from me, too sorely am I despised;" "pity for me lies mute in everyone's heart." "She is coming." "Let us run, run." "Run; my heart cannot bear this." "Her heart cannot bear this, no!" "I n the peace of my melancholy rest she will strike me with a new shock." "I asked her, yet dare not see her," "I cannot find this courage in my breast!" "Let her stay, stay upon the beloved throne, and her gaze be far from me, too sorely am I despised;" "pity for me lies mute in everyone's heart." "Ah!" "D oes joy deceive me?" "Leicester, is it you?" "You?" "He who adores you has come to break your chains." "Shall I finally be free of my prison?" "Free?" "And yours for ever?" "M y troubled heart can scarce believe it." "Elizabeth is coming here, to her royal presence the hunt offers an excuse." "You must appear submissive..." "Submissive to her!" "Today you must." "Oh heavens!" "What must I hear?" "Ah, spare me this dreadful sight!" "I f you love me, ah!" "Stay." "M ust I?" "And you must hope." "Abandoned by all" "Prey to cruel pain, oppressed, forsaken, what hope is in my heart?" "I am condemned to weep, to sigh for ever;" "your love alone can quiet my woes." "No:" "You must not mistrust;" "she is greater on her throne Her heart was moved by your letter..." " What are you saying?" "...in her eye I glimpsed a tear appearing." "Ah!" "I f you listen to me, and trust in me you will see that all will change." "I am convinced, convinced of her heart!" "Yet often it holds mercy and pity." "Not for her who casts a shadow over her throne!" "No, do you think so?" "Then I myself, if she be deaf to your prayers shall take my own revenge." "What are you saying?" "What can you do?" "E xpose yourself to risk for me!" "Ah, I would not have this." "I shall take my own revenge." "Ah!" "I f ever my heart trembled at the cruel sight of death, do not make me tremble for your life." "All that I wish, all I seek is to see you, true and grateful;" "for you do I wish that my condition were not so wretched." "Yes, faith, honour binds it; and my heart which loves you swears it." "You will rise up from the misfortune that robs you of all your glory." "And if then I cannot offer you a throne, or the hand of a sovereign then I shall offer you the hand that released you from prison." "D o not open yourself to risk." "I swear that you will rise up from misfortune." " Ah!" "No!" " Yes, faith." " Ah!" "I do not wish" " Yes, faith, honour binds it..." "Ah!" "D o not make me tremble for your life." "Yes, faith and honour bind me." "You will rise up from the misfortune" "What place is this?" "Fotheringhay." "Oh, Earl!" "Where do you see me?" "Have no doubt;" "presently M ary will be led into your presence by wise Talbot." "To what sacrifice do I stoop for you!" "D o you see?" "Remove the hunters from the adjacent avenues;" "the people's path is too busy." "You see, my Queen, how Anglia adores you." "Ah!" "You know it demands you to be its head." "Silence." "Ah!" "Remember that to bring comfort to the sorrowing life of a sister" "I led you." "The hand that brought her squalor can give her again the happiness of yesterday." "I abhor her!" "He recalls only her." "C ome." "Ah!" "Leave me." "Take me back to my shelter." "Here she is." "Oh God." "She is still the same, haughty, proud;" "with her magnificent spirit she fills me with fury;" "but hush now; she is oppressed by just terror." "On the face of that tyrant I see the mark of her fierce sentence, and dread malice." "M y spirit is oppressed by cruel fear." "Ah!" "Receive her." "I would fain flee her." "D o not hold back." "The abyss stands before me." "Too proud is she." "B eaten down by cruel fate she stands wretched before you." "D ead to the world, and dead to the throne," "I am prostrate at your feet" "I beg only your forgiveness, be not unrelenting" "Ah!" "Sister, be satisfied now with the outrages you have inflicted on me!" "Alas!" "Raise a miserable maiden who counts on your heart." "Pay no heed, I implore you, to her false lips." "No, that station suits you in dust and shame." "Suffering." "Who has made you so cruel to me?" "Who?" "You yourself;" "your soul, that haughty soul, vile, iniquitous..." "And shall I suffer this?" "Shall I?" "Go, ask this, oh wretch," "of the betrayed bed of the unavenged ghost of that wretched husband;" "ask it of your arm, your wicked heart which midst the dalliance of love did plot crimes and betrayal and nought but treachery." "Ah!" "Robert!" "I can take no more." "Ah!" "Have a little faith, I beg you..." "Call upon your constancy!" "...to her false lips." "S ome hope is left yet." "You shall not pay with honour and your life for a pardon granted to you, a favour which our love was oft denied by heaven." "What words in my presence!" "You, Robert?" "What shall I say?" "Where is the charm of love, and that face so fair?" "I f all long to praise it for favours as a reward;" "but on the Stuart's head eternal shame has fallen again." " Ah!" "Robert!" " Oh God!" "Hold back!" "I can take no more." "What an insult!" "Oh wrongful mockery!" "What insult!" "Tremble, tremble!" "I mpure daughter of B oleyn," "can you speak of dishonour?" "Obscene, unworthy whore, my shame falls upon you," "the soil of England is defiled, vile bastard, by your foot!" "Ho, guards!" "What words are these?" "She rants!" "There is no more hope for her!" "Go, wild creature, prepare yourself, to suffer your final destiny:" "On your despised head I shall cast infamy." "Drag away the wild creature who has condemned herself!" "Ah, reckless one, I lose you, when I sought to save you." "When I came back to you in true faith destiny struck us down." "Yes, be silent, tremble, tremble, all hope now is lost." "Drag her away!" "Lead me now to death;" "I shall challenge my final lot." "One single moment of triumph has repaid all my torment." "Are you thinking?" "And so late?" "And she who scorns you is still alive?" "She who incited all of Europe against you, and who has threatened your sacred life so often?" "I n your voice my heart is struck with all the power of my derided honour." "But - oh God!" " Who will assure me against un just accusations?" "Heaven, devout Albion and the whole world," "Wherever resounds the fame of your virtues and of the heart of the Stuart and of the crimes and the insults you have suffered..." "Ah!" "Silence." "I am insulted." "How the haughty maid delighted in her triumph!" "What glances she cast at me!" "Ah!" "Faithful friend, I wish for peace, and she robs me of it." "Nor will she cease troubling you as long as she lives." "I have decided." "She must die." "That life so damning for me" "Ah!" "I should wish to cut it down." "But my heart holds back my hand, a veil is cast over my thoughts," "I feel as though I saw the wicked maid, heard her, strike me down and startle me, and hope of calm steal from me with menacing mien." "Ah!" "Just Heaven!" "Sustain a soul that is so prone to doubt." "Ah!" "Why so suddenly are your thoughts upset?" "Never fear that you might be robbed of your former honour." "For the words uttered for the unpunished outrage" "Would every Englishman in this same moment avenge you." "Sign the sheet, for rulers all will pardon you." "Yes." "M y Queen!" "Let her execution be expedited." "Oh heavens, what words!" " I s this perhaps..." "...The sentence." "The sentence?" "Yes, the sentence, oh traitor." "I am requited!" "And you condemn innocence!" "Dare you still speak?" "Ah!" "Alas!" "For pity's sake hold back" " at least this final blow;" " D o not listen to the worthless wretch," " yield to my prayers, - now that you are safe at last." "Or strike against my own breast." "None can oblige you, your will is free." "Your request is in vain," "I am firm set in my decision." " I n the end of my arrogant rival" " Ah!" "M ercy!" " Do I find the end of my risk." " Ah!" "M y Queen!" "Freer through her blood my power rises up anew." "The day which is the wretch's last, will be the first of peace." "Barbarous woman, have you signed the death of a sister?" "And you must stand witness at her last moment;" "Your beloved shall die after the fateful moment when the warlike metal fires three shots." "And you would have me watch?" "B e silent, silent." " You would?" " Silence." "All pity is dead." "M y Queen!" "M y Queen!" "B egone, wretch; your face paints the terror which strikes your breast." "Prepare a grave for your affection, when the Stuart is dead." "I go, I go, for I read on your face that you rant, and burn with rage." "A friend, a comfort and support the poor maid will find in my heart." "Ah, my Queen, ah, calm is your face you have returned to peace and to glory;" "this, yes this, will be the finest of days for your crown and for England." "The treacherous woman wished to insult me even in my tomb," "Yet the shame fell upon her." "Oh coward!" "And am I not a Tudor daughter?" "C oward!" "But Leicester..." "Perhaps the sovereign's rage has overwhelmed him." "Ah, I alone am the cause of all misfortunes!" "What do you want?" "I am the bearer of a sad charge." "This sheet is the last sign of your days." "Thus a Queen is judged in England?" "Oh sinners!" "And the false writings..." " The kingdom..." " Enough." " But..." " Enough now." "Away." "Talbot, stay here." "D o you desire a holy M inister to guide you in the path of death?" "I refuse this." "And shall be what I have been, a foreigner to your faith." "Still bold and proud!" "Oh, my good Talbot!" "I asked Elizabeth's permission to see you before the bloody hour." "Ah!" "Yes, comfort me, spare my spirit from total rejection." "Yet unflinchingly did you receive this grim tiding." "Oh Talbot!" "Did you not read my heart on my face?" "I t trembled." "And Leicester?" "He is to come as a spectator of your fate;" " the Queen commands him." " Ah, unhappy man!" "What painful punishment is reserved for him!" "And the tyrant will exult." "E'en before, before the avenging flash descends." "Alas!" "Speak not." "Wrest from S cotland, from my throne, and from my faith, with her did I seek peaceful asylum, and found my prison." "What are you saying?" "Has not God granted you relief from your sorrows?" "Ah no, Talbot, never." "The hateful phantom of my sins twixt heaven and me has always stood, and disturbing the sleep of the departed, evokes from the grave the bloody shadow of Henry." "Talbot, do you see?" "The bloodless corpse of young Darnley?" "Ah, comfort your bewildered thoughts." "Now you stand close to immortal centuries." "Bring to the block a heart pure of all earthly affection." "Yes, to wash away my guilt my tears must flow mixed with blood;" "listen;" "I wish to confess my sins in your faithful breast!" "Speak!" "I n you at least I find a friend!" "When with rosy light the day shone upon me, when amidst happy sights my spirit delighted, love made me sin, love opened the abyss." "At its sweet smile" "I hated my consort;" "Henry!" "Henry!" "Ah, woe on you, in me you found death, but his grim voice strikes into the depths of my heart, ah!" "B eloved shadow, Ah!" "B e still," "I feel death in my breast." "Let my tears suffice, and my torment requite you." "Ah, The pardon of God," " every soul will implore for you." " Pardon for my long sighs and pray to heaven for me." "One more sin you have to weep over still." "Ah!" "What?" " Were you with Babington?" " Ah!" "B e silent:" "It was a fatal mistake!" "Remember that mighty God is the punisher of sins, and that from his all-seeing eye no false heart can hide." "No!" "Never could my thought hide from heaven;" "ah, true friend a heavy veil has lain over the truth." "Yes, this swears a languishing heart, that begs God's pity." "I swear to God!" "I swear to God!" "Ah on your blood will shine the truth that was hidden." "Yes... yes." "Willingly leave in the prison cell this life of troubles, turned into an angel you will go to the God of consolation." "And in purest bliss your soul enthralled, will forget the palpitations that have shaken your heart." "Now that the ray of my weak life is fading, heaven alone can bring peace to my sad heart." "Ah!" "I f too many tears have nourished this spirit let all my woes find end in the final pain." "I nnocent then?" "I go to my death." "Unhappy woman!" "I nnocent you go to die." "Yes, innocent, I swear, I go to my death." "Have you seen?" "Yes, we have." "Oh, grim device!" "The block... the axe..." "The funeral room..." "And the bustling people close by the steps of the fatal scaffold." "What a sight!" "What horror!" "The victim awaits the vile host." "The royal victim." "Oh fickle fate!" "Yet a Queen's barbarous death will always bring infamy" "And shame to England's name." "Anna!" "Lower your voices here." "Where is the unhappy one?" "Sad, down-hearted, she approaches." "Alas!" "With your sorrows do not worsen her rancour." "We shall say nought." "At last I see you again." "We shall lose you!" "I shall find a better life." "Yes, a better life." "Happily I fly to God's embrace, but flee you from this land of sorrows." "This sorrow breaks our hearts!" "Alas!" "Weep not!" "Anna, you alone must stay, you who are the best-loved," "here is a kerchief bathed in tears;" "it will act as a gloomy blind for my eyes, when they close for ever on the light of day." "But are you still weeping?" "C ome with me, true friends, and to merciful heaven let us raise our final prayer," "devout and ardent." "Alas!" "You hear a humble prayer, oh kindly God of mercy." "Receive me in the shade of your pardon, for my heart has no other shelter." "Alas!" "You hear a humble prayer, oh kindly God of mercy." "Receive her in the shade of your pardon for her heart has no other shelter." "Receive her in the wings of your pardon for her heart has no other shelter." "Tears are vain, heaven assists me." "Forget the errors of your life." "Freed from suffering, freed from torment, bountiful heaven has forgiven you." "Freed from suffering, freed from torment," "I shall feed on eternal love." "Spread a veil over troubles past, bountiful heaven has forgiven you." "Ah, the shot!" "The moment of your death is close at hand" "Elizabeth wants your every desire satisfied." "Speak." "I did not hope for such pity from her." "I ask but a small favour." "Let Anna see me step up to the scaffold." "She will be there." "I f you grant my first request," "then hear one more." "From a dying heart bear you the pardon to her who offended and condemned me." "Tell her to sit easy on her throne, that I shall not trouble her happy days." "For Britain, for her life" "I shall beseech divine favour." "Ah!" "Let her not be punished by remorse;" "I shall wash all away with my blood." "From a dying heart bear you the pardon, let her not be punished by remorse," "I shall wash all away with my blood." "Cruel axe!" "You sever a life which filled us with sweet delight." "The Earl is here." "Ah, to what dismal scene he comes." "I see you again." "Lost, oppressed by un just suffering, near to death..." "Hold back, hold back your sorrow!" "Farewell for ever!" "The hour approaches." "Ah, I cannot leave you yet." " The hour approaches." " Stand back, you wretch!" "B e quiet!" "Tremble!" "Sinners all!" "Fear a God who will avenge innocence!" "Ah!" "Why can I not quench your blind fury with my blood?" "Robert!" "Robert!" "Listen!" "Ah!" "I f once your arm was to free me from my chains and shackles, now let it guide me in strength as a final comfort of love." "And may the shedding of my innocent blood soothe the rage of wrathful heaven, and not call down upon false England the scourge of a God of vengeance." "What words!" "What grim fate!" "Ah!" "Anna, farewell!" "Farewell Robert!" "I nnocent, defamed, she dies."