SCENE VIII.
Enter BURLEIGH and DAVISON, with a paper.
ELIZABETH.
Well, Davison?
DAVISON (approaches earnestly).
Your orders are obeyed,
My queen--
ELIZABETH.
What orders, sir?
[As she is about to take the paper, she shudders, and starts back.
Oh, God!
BURLEIGH.
Obey
Thy people's voice; it is the voice of God.
ELIZABETH (irresolute, as if in contest with herself)
Oh, my good lord, who will assure me now
That what I hear is my whole people's voice,
The voice of all the world! Ah! much I fear,
That, if I now should listen to the wish
Of the wild multitude, a different voice
Might soon be heard;-and that the very men,
Who now by force oblige me to this step,
May, when 'tis taken, heavily condemn me!
SCENE IX.
Enter the EARL OF SHREWSBURY (who enters with great emotion).
SHREWSBURY.
Hold fast, my queen, they wish to hurry thee;
[Seeing DAVISON with the paper.
Be firm-or is it then decided?-is it
Indeed decided? I behold a paper
Of ominous appearance in his hand;
Let it not at this moment meet thy eyes,
My queen!--
ELIZABETH.
Good Shrewsbury! I am constrained--
SHREWSBURY.
Who can constrain thee? Thou art Queen of England,
Here must thy majesty assert its rights:
Command those savage voices to be silent,
Who take upon themselves to put constraint
Upon thy royal will, to rule thy judgment.
Fear only, blind conjecture, moves thy people;
Thou art thyself beside thyself; thy wrath
Is grievously provoked: thou art but mortal,
And canst not thus ascend the judgment seat.
BURLEIGH.
Judgment has long been past. It is not now
The time to speak but execute the sentence.
KENT (who upon SHREWSBURY'S entry had retired, comes back).
The tumult gains apace; there are no means
To moderate the people.
ELIZABETH (to SHREWSBURY).
See, my lord,
How they press on.
SHREWSBURY.
I only ask a respite;
A single word traced by thy hand decides
The peace, the happiness of all thy life!
Thou hast for years considered, let not then
A moment ruled by passion hurry thee-
But a short respite-recollect thyself!
Wait for a moment of tranquillity.
BURLEIGH (violently).
Wait for it-pause-delay-till flames of fire
Consume the realm; until the fifth attempt
Of murder be successful! God, indeed,
Hath thrice delivered thee; thy late escape
Was marvellous, and to expect again
A miracle would be to tempt thy God!
SHREWSBURY.
That God, whose potent hand hath thrice preserved thee,
Who lent my aged feeble arm its strength
To overcome the madman:-he deserves
Thy confidence. I will not raise the voice
