endeavoured yet to pray her to be composed, and Sir Robert Melville, kneeling at her feet, made the same entreaty. After giving way to a passionate burst of sorrow, she at length said to Melville, 'Kneel not to me, Melville?mock me not with the homage of the person, when the heart is far away?Why stay you behind with the deposed, the condemned? her who has but few hours perchance to live? You have been favoured as well as the rest; why do you continue the empty show of gratitude and thankfulness any longer than they?'
'Madam,' said Sir Robert Melville, 'so help me Heaven at my need, my heart is as true to you as when you were in your highest place.'
'True to me! true to me!' repeated the Queen, with some scorn; 'tush, Melville, what signifies the truth which walks hand in hand with my enemies' falsehood??thy hand and thy sword have never been so well acquainted that I can trust thee in aught where manhood is required?Oh, Seyton, for thy bold father, who is both wise, true, and valiant!'
Roland Graeme could withstand no longer his earnest desire to offer his services to a princess so distressed and so beautiful. 'If one sword,' he said, 'madam, can do any thing to back the wisdom of this grave counsellor, or to defend your rightful cause, here is my weapon, and here is my hand ready to draw and use it.' And raising his sword with one hand, he laid the other upon the hilt.
As he thus held up the weapon, Catherine Seyton exclaimed, 'Methinks I see a token from my father, madam;' and immediately crossing the apartment, she took Roland Graeme by the skirt of the cloak, and asked him earnestly whence he had that sword.
The page answered with surprise, 'Methinks this is no presence in which to jest?Surely, damsel, you yourself best know whence and how I obtained the weapon.'
'Is this a time for folly?' said Catherine Seyton; 'unsheathe the sword instantly!'
'If the Queen commands me,' said the youth, looking towards his royal mistress.
'For shame, maiden!' said the Queen; 'wouldst thou instigate the poor boy to enter into useless strife with the two most approved soldiers in Scotland?'
'In your Grace's cause,' replied the page, 'I will venture my life upon them!' And as he spoke, he drew his weapon partly from the sheath, and a piece of parchment, rolled around the blade, fell out and dropped on the floor. Catherine Seyton caught it up with eager haste.
'It is my father's hand-writing,' she said, 'and doubtless conveys his best duteous advice to your Majesty; I know that it was prepared to be sent in this weapon, but I expected another messenger.'
'By my faith, fair one,' thought Roland, 'and if you knew not that I had such a secret missive about me, I was yet more ignorant.'
The Queen cast her eye upon the scroll, and remained a few minutes wrapped in deep thought. 'Sir Robert Melville,' she at length said, 'this scroll advises me to submit myself to necessity, and to subscribe the deeds these hard men have brought with them, as one who gives way to the natural fear inspired by the threats of rebels and murderers. You, Sir Robert, are a wise man, and Seyton is both sagacious and brave. Neither, I think, would mislead me in this matter.'
'Madam,' said Melville, 'if I have not the strength of body of the Lord Herries or Seyton, I will yield to neither in zeal for your Majesty's service. I cannot fight for you like these lords, but neither of them is more willing to die for your service.'
'I believe it, my old and faithful counsellor,' said the Queen, 'and believe me, Melville, I did thee but a moment's injustice. Read what my Lord Seyton hath written to us, and give us thy best counsel.'
He glanced over the parchment, and instantly replied,?'Oh! my dear and royal mistress, only treason itself could give you other advice than Lord Seyton has here expressed. He, Herries, Huntly, the English ambassador Throgmorton, and others, your friends, are all alike of opinion, that whatever deeds or instruments you execute within these walls, must lose all force and effect, as extorted from your Grace by duresse, by sufferance of present evil, and fear of men, and harm to ensue on your refusal. Yield, therefore, to the tide, and be assured, that in subscribing what parchments they present to you, you bind yourself to nothing, since your act of signature wants that which alone can make it valid, the free will of the granter.'
'Ay, so says my Lord Seyton,' replied Mary; 'yet methinks, for the daughter of so long a line of sovereigns to resign her birthright, because rebels press upon her with threats, argues little of royalty, and will read ill for the fame of Mary in future chronicles. Tush! Sir Robert Melville, the traitors may use black threats and bold words, but they will not dare to put their hands forth on our person.'
'Alas! madam, they have already dared so far and incurred such peril by the lengths which they have gone, that they are but one step from the worst and uttermost.'
'Surely,' said the Queen, her fears again predominating, 'Scottish nobles would not lend themselves to assassinate a helpless woman?'
'Bethink you, madam,' he replied, 'what horrid spectacles have been seen in our day; and what act is so dark, that some Scottish hand has not been found to dare it? Lord Lindesay, besides his natural sullenness and hardness of temper, is the near kinsman of Henry Darnley, and Ruthven has his own deep and dangerous plans. The Council, besides, speak of proofs by writ and word, of a casket with letters?of I know not what.'
'Ah! good Melville,' answered the Queen, 'were I as sure of the even-handed integrity of my judges, as of my own innocence?and yet??'
'Oh! pause, madam,' said Melville; 'even innocence must sometimes for a season stoop to injurious blame. Besides, you are here?'
He looked round, and paused.
'Speak out, Melville,' said the Queen, 'never one approached my person who wished to work me evil; and even this poor page, whom I have to-day seen for the first time in my life, I can trust safely with your communication.'
'Nay, madam,' answered Melville, 'in such emergence, and he being the bearer of Lord Seyton's message, I will venture to say, before him and these fair ladies, whose truth and fidelity I dispute not?I say I will venture to say, that there are other modes besides that of open trial, by which deposed sovereigns often die; and that, as Machiavel saith, there is but one step betwixt a king's prison and his grave.'
'Oh I were it but swift and easy for the body,' said the unfortunate Princess, 'were it but a safe and happy change for the soul, the woman lives not that would take the step so soon as I?But, alas! Melville, when we think
