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AUBESPINE. Great queen, you have upon your throne done honor To every virtue; nothing now remains But to the sex, whose greatest boast you are To be the leading star, and give the great Example of its most consistent duties.
Let us not mix two inconsistent things; If France be truly anxious for my hand, It must partake my interests, and renounce Alliance with my foes. AUBESPINE. In thine own eyes Would she not seem to act unworthily, If in this joyous treaty she forgot This hapless queen, the widow of her king; In whose behalf her honor and her faith Are bound to plead for grace.
My Lord of Burleigh, I know my duty. BURLEIGH. Sir, your duty is To quit, and that without delay, this kingdom. What! How is this? BURLEIGH. The sacred character Of an ambassador to-day protects you, But not to-morrow. AUBESPINE. What's my crime? BURLEIGH. Should I Once name it, there were then no pardon for it. AUBESPINE. I hope, my lord, my charge's privilege BURLEIGH. Screens not a traitor.
Enter ELIZABETH, led in by LEICESTER, COUNT AUBESPINE, BELLIEVRE, LORDS SHREWSBURY and BURLEIGH, with other French and English gentlemen. Count, I am sorry for these noblemen Whose gallant zeal hath brought them over sea To visit these our shores, that they, with us, Must miss the splendor of St. Germain's court.
BURLEIGH. Tremble at it. AUBESPINE. My monarch in my person is insulted, He will annul the marriage contract. BURLEIGH. That My royal mistress has annulled already; England will not unite herself with France. My Lord of Kent, I give to you the charge To see Count Aubespine embarked in safety.
BURLEIGH. Praised be His name, who thus hath turned to scorn The malice of our foes! AUBESPINE. May heaven confound The perpetrator of this cursed deed! BURLEIGH. Its perpetrator and its base contriver! AUBESPINE. Please you, my lord, to bring me to the queen, That I may lay the warm congratulations Of my imperial master at her feet. BURLEIGH. There is no need of this.
The furious populace has stormed his palace, Where a whole arsenal of arms was found; Should he be found, they'll tear him limb from limb, Conceal him till the fury is abated You answer for his life. AUBESPINE. I go I leave This kingdom where they sport with public treaties And trample on the laws of nations. Yet My monarch, be assured, will vent his rage In direst vengeance!
I go To hide me in the forests of the north. MORTIMER. Fly thither, and may God attend your flight; I will remain, and still attempt to save My love; if not, my bed shall be upon her grave. SCENE I. Antechamber. COUNT AUBESPINE, the EARLS Of KENT and LEICESTER. AUBESPINE. How fares her majesty? My lords, you see me Still stunned, and quite beside myself for terror! How happened it?
MORTIMER. No: neither open or disguised murder Shall e'er prevail against you: fear no more; All is prepared; twelve nobles of the land Are my confederates, and have pledged to-day, Upon the sacrament, their faith to free you, With dauntless arm, from this captivity. Count Aubespine, the French ambassador, Knows of our plot, and offers his assistance: 'Tis in his palace that we hold our meetings.
BURLEIGH. Sir; let the death-warrant Be instantly made out, and pass the seal; Then let it be presented to the queen; Her majesty must sign it. Hasten, sir, We have no time to lose. DAVISON. It shall be done. AUBESPINE. My lord high-treasurer, my faithful heart Shares in the just rejoicings of the realm. Praised be almighty Heaven, who hath averted Assassination from our much-loved queen!
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