Bothwell Author:Algernon Charles Swinburne Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Scene III.—Holyrood. The Queen and Rizzio ; Mary Seyton and Mary Carmichael in attendatuc. Queen, Is he so tender-tongued ? it is his fear That plucks the... more » fang out from his hate, and makes A stingless snake of his malignant heart; He hath a mind, or had he a mind at all, Would have a mind to mischief ; but his will Is a dumb devil. Rizzio. Why, fear then and no love Will make faith in him out of falsehood's self, And keep him constant through unstableness. Queen. Fear that makes faith may break faith ; and a fool Is but in folly stable. I cannot tell If he indeed fear these men more than me; Or if he slip their collar, whether or no He will be firm on my side, as you say, Through very lightness; but I think not of him, Steadfast or slippery. Would I had been that day Handless, when I made one his hand with mine ! Yet it seemed best. I am spirit-sick and faint With shame of his foul follies and loathed life, Which hath no part but lewdness of a man, Nor style of soul nor several quality, Dividing men from men, and man from beast, By working heart or complement of brain— None, very none. I will not see him to-night. I have given command to ensure our privacy. Is it past noon ? Enter Darnley and Mary Beaton. Darnley. You say she hath asked for me ? Mary Beaton. Ay, and complainingly, as though her love Were struck at by your absence. Darnley. Love ! her love ! It were a cunning stroke should print a wound In that which hath no substance, and no spirit To feel the hurt. Well, I will speak to her. Queen. How like a chidden bondman of his lord Looks my lord now ! Come you from penance, sir ? Has the kirk put you to no private shame Besides the public tongue of broad rebuke ? We are blessed in your penitence ; it is A gracious promise fo...« less