按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
she seems at point to speak： Now she lies back； and laughs； with her brows
drawn And her lips drawn too。 Now they read his crime I see the
laughter tightening her chin： Why do you bend your body and draw breath？
They will not slay him in her sight； I am sure She will not have him slain。
MARY BEATON。 Forth； and fear not： I was just praying to myself
one word； A prayer I have to say for her to God If he will mind it。
MARY CARMICHAEL。 Now he looks her side； Something he says； if
one could hear thus far： She leans out； lengthening her throat to hear And
her eyes shining。
MARY BEATON。 Ah； I had no hope： Yea thou God knowest that I had
no hope。 Let it end quickly。
MARY CARMICHAEL。 Now his eyes are wide And his smile great；
and like another smile The blood fills all his face。 Her cheek and neck
Work fast and hard； she must have pardoned him； He looks so merrily。
Now he comes forth Out of that ring of people and kneels down； Ah； how
the helve and edge of the great axe Turn in the sunlight as the man shifts
hands It must be for a show： because she sits And hardly moves her head
this wayI see Her chin and lifted lips。 Now she stands up； Puts out her
hand； and they fall muttering； Ah！
MARY BEATON。 Is it done now？
MARY CARMICHAEL。 For God's love； stay there； Do not look out。
Nay； he is dead by this； But gather up yourself from off the floor； Will she
die too？ I shut mine eyes and heard Sweet； do not beat your face upon
the ground。 Nay； he is dead and slain。
MARY BEATON。 What； slain indeed？ I knew he would be slain。 Ay；
through the neck： I knew one must be smitten through the neck To die so
quick： if one were stabbed to the heart； He would die slower。
MARY CARMICHAEL。 Will you behold him dead？
MARY BEATON。 Yea： must a dead man not be looked upon That
living one was fain of？ give me way。 Lo you； what sort of hair this fellow
had； The doomsman gathers it into his hand To grasp the head by for all
72
… Page 73…
Algernon Charles Swinburne； _Chastelard； a tragedy_ 。 Boston： E。P。 Dutton； 1866。
men to see； I never did that。
MARY CARMICHAEL。 For God's love； let me go。
MARY BEATON。 I think sometimes she must have held it so； Holding
his head back； see you； by the hair To kiss his face； still lying in his arms。
Ay； go and weep： it must be pitiful If one could see it。 What is this they
say？ So perish the Queen's traitors！ Yea； but so Perish the Queen！ God； do
thus much to her For his sake only： yea； for pity's sake Do thus much with
her。
MARY CARMICHAEL。 Prithee come in with me： Nay； come at once。
MARY BEATON。 If I should meet with her And spit upon her at her
coming in But if I live then shall I see one day When God will smite her
lying harlot's mouth Surely I shall。 Come； I will go with you； We will sit
down together face to face Now； and keep silence； for this life is hard； And
the end of it is quietness at last。 Come； let us go： here is no word to say。
AN USHER。 Make way there for the lord of Bothwell； room Place
for my lord of Bothwell next the queen。
EXPLICIT
73