chastelard-第17节
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Doubtless he was away in banishment；
Or kept some march far off。
MARY BEATON。
Still you see nothing？
MARY CARMICHAEL。
Yea； now they bring him forth with a great noise；
The folk all shouting and men thrust about
Each way from him。
MARY BEATON。
Ah； Lord God； bear with me；
Help me to bear a little with my love
For thine own love； or give me some quick death。
Do not come down； I shall get strength again；
Only my breath fails。 Looks he sad or blithe？
Not sad I doubt yet。
MARY CARMICHAEL。
Nay； not sad a whit；
But like a man who losing gold or lands
Should lose a heavy sorrow； his face set；
The eyes not curious to the right or left；
And reading in a book； his hands unbound；
With short fleet smiles。 The whole place catches breath；
Looking at him； 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 myselfone 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 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
End
