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and the unreasonable ambition of thy house. There was no quarrel between us until thy most worthy ally inspired thee with the mad and rash desire to claim for thyself the royal titles and my throne! Not satisfied with this, he then urged thee to make war against me, to threaten my crown and my life. Amidst the peace which reigned in my dominions, he fraudulently excited my subjects to revolt. But heaven doth protect me, and the attempt was abandoned in despair. The blow was aimed at my head, but 't is on thine that it will fall.

Mary-I am in the hand of my God, but thou wilt not exceed thy power by committing a deed so atrocious? Eliz.-What could prevent me? Thy kinsman has shown monarchs how to make peace with their enemies! Who would be surety for thee if, imprudently, I were to release thee? How can I rely on thy pledged faith? Nought but my power renders me secure. No! there can be no friendship with a race of vipers.

Mary-Are these thy dark suspicions? To thine eyes, then, I have ever seemed a stranger and an enemy. If thou hadst but recognized me as heiress to thy throneas is my lawful right-love, friendship, would have made me thy friend thy sister.

Eliz.-What affection hast thou that is not feigned? I declare thee heiress to my throne! Insidious treachery! In order, forsooth, to overturn the state, and-wily Armida that thou art entrap within thy snares all the youthful spirits of my kingdom, so that during my own lifetime all eyes would turn towards thee the new constellation!

Mary-Reign on in peace! I renounce all right to thy sceptre. The wings of my ambition have long drooped, and greatness has no longer charms for me. 'Tis thou who hast it all; I am now only the shade of Mary

Stuart! My pristine ardor has been subdued by the ignominy of my chains. Thou hast nipped my existence. in the bud. But pronounce those magnanimous words for which thou cam'st hither; for I will not believe that thou art come to enjoy the base delight of insulting thy victim! Pronounce the words so longed for, and say, "Mary, thou art free! Till now thou hast known only my power; now know my greatness." Woe to thee, shouldst thou not depart from me propitious, beneficent, like an invoked Deity. O sister! not for all England, not for all the lands the vast ocean embraces, would I present myself to thee with the inexorable aspect with which thou now regardest me.

Eliz.-At length thou confessest thyself vanquished! Hast thou emptied thy quiver of the artifices it contained? Hast thou no more assassins? Does there not remain to thee one single hero to undertake in thy defence the duties of knight-errant? Gone, Mary, gone forever are those days. Thou canst no longer seduce a follower of mine; other causes now inflame men's hearts. In vain didst thou seek a fourth husband among my English subjects; they knew too well that thou murderest thy husbands, as thou dost thy lovers.

Mary-(Shuddering)-O heavens! sister! Grant me

resignation.

Eliz. (To LEICESTER, with contempt)-Earl, are these the boasted features, on which no mortal eye could gaze with safety? Is this the beauty to which no other woman's could be compared? In sooth, the reputation appears to have been easily won. To be thus celebrated as the reigning beauty of the universe seems merely to infer that she has been universal in the distribution of her favors.

Mary-Ah, 't is too much!

Eliz.-(With a smile of satisfaction)-Now thou showest thyself in thine own form. Till now thou hast won a mask. Mary-(With dignified pride)-They were mere human errors that overcame my youth. My grandeur dazzled me. I have nought to conceal, nor deny my faults; my pride has ever disdained the base artifices of vile intriguers. The worst I ever did is known, and I may boast myself far better than my reputation. But woe to thee, thou malignant hypocrite, if thou ever lettest fall the mantle beneath which thou concealest thy shameless amours! Thou, the daughter of Anne Boleyn, hast not inherited virtue! The causes that brought thy sinful mother to the block are known to all.

Tal.-(Stepping between them)—Is this, O Mary, thine endurance? Is this thy humility?

Mary-Endurance? I have endured all that a mortal heart can bear. Hence, abject humility! Insulted patience, get ye from my heart! And thou, my long pentup indignation, break thy bonds, and burst forth from thy lair! Oh, Thou gavest to the angry serpent his deadly glance; arm my tongue with poisonous stings.

Tal.-(TO ELIZABETH)-Forgive the angry transports which thou hast thyself provoked.

Lei.-(Inducing ELIZABETH to withdraw)—Hear not the ravings of a distracted woman. Leave this ill—

Mary-The throne of England is profaned by a baseborn-the British nation is duped by a vile pretender! If right did prevail, thou wouldst be grovelling at my feet, for 't is I who am thy sovereign. (ELIZABETH retires. LEICESTER and TALBOT follow.) She departs, burning with rage, and with bitterness of death at heart. Now happy I am! I have degraded her in Leicester's presence. At last! at last! After long years of insult and contumely, I have at least enjoyed a season of triumph and revenge.-Adapted by J. HOWARD GORE.

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FAG-Sir, there is a gentleman below desires to see

you-Shall I show him into the parlor ?

Capt. Absolute-Ay-you may.

Acres-Well, I must be gone

Capt. A.-Stay; who is it, Fag?
Fag-Your father, sir.

Capt. A.-You puppy, why didn't you show him up directly?

[Exit FAG.] Acres You have business with Sir Anthony.-I expect a message from Mrs. Malaprop, at my lodgings. I have sent also to my dear friend, Sir Lucius O'Trigger. —Adieu, Jack, we must meet at night, when you shall give me a dozen bumpers to little Lydia. [Exit.]

Capt. A.-That I will, with all my heart. Now for a parental lecture-I hope he has heard nothing of the business that has brought me here—I wish the gout had held him fast in Devonshire, with all my soul!

Enter SIR ANTHONY.

Sir, I am delighted to see you here, and looking so well!, -your sudden arrival at Bath made me apprehensive for your health.

Sir Anthony-Very apprehensive, I dare say, Jack-What, you are recruiting here, hey?

Capt. A.-Yes, sir; I am on duty.

Sir A.-Well, Jack, I am glad to see you, though I did not expect it; for I was going to write to you on a little matter of business. Jack, I have been considering

that I grow old and infirm, and shall probably not trouble you long.

Capt. A.-Pardon me, sir, I never saw you look more strong and hearty, and I pray fervently that you may continue so.

Sir A.-I hope your prayers may be heard, with all my heart. Now, Jack, I am sensible that the income of your commission, and what I have hitherto allowed you, is but a small pittance for a lad of your spirit.

Capt. A.-Sir, you are very good.

Sir A.-And it is my wish, while yet I live, to have my boy make some figure in the world.-I have resolved, therefore, to fix you at once in a noble independence.

Capt. A.-Sir, your kindness overpowers me.-Yet, sir, I presume you would not wish me to quit the army? Sir A.-Oh! that shall be as your wife chooses. Capt. A.-My wife, sir!

Sir A.-Ay, ay, settle that between you-settle that between you.

Capt. A.-A wife, sir, did you say?

Sir A.-Ay, a wife-why, did not I mention her before?

Capt. A.-Not a word of her, sir.

Sir A.-Odd so! I must n't forget her, though-Yes, Jack, the independence I was talking of, is by a marriage the fortune is saddled with a wife-but I suppose that makes no difference?

Capt. A.-Sir! sir! you amaze me!

Sir A.-Why, what's the matter with the fool? Just now you were all gratitude and duty.

Capt. A.-I was, sir,—you talked to me of independence and a fortune, but not a word of a wife.

Sir A.-Why-what difference does that make? Odds life, sir! if you have the estate, you must take it with the live stock on it, as it stands.

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