nought. The scaffold! the scaffold! 'tis horrible!—For shame! no more tears, but deeds!—But I shall never be able! I shall never be able! Have pity on me, my God!—Methinks some one comes. Who is speaking? I recognize that voice; 'tis the Queen's. Ah me! all is lost!
[She conceals herself behind a pillar.—Enter the Queen and Simon Renard.
The Queen.And so the change surprises you! Aha! I do not resemble myself, you say!—Well, what care I for that? For so it is. Now, I would not have him die.
Renard.But your Majesty decreed yesterday that the execution should take place to-day.
The Queen.As I had decreed day before yesterday that the execution should take place yesterday. As I had decreed Sunday that the execution should take place Monday. To-day, I decree that the execution shall take place to-morrow.
Renard.'Tis true that, since the Second Sunday in Advent, when the sentence of the Star Chamber was pronounced and the two condemned men returned to the Tower, preceded by the headsman with the axe turned toward them,—it was three weeks since,—your Majesty each day postpones the thing until the morrow.
The Queen.Well, do you not understand what that means, good sir? Must I needs tell you all? must a woman lay bare her heart before you, because she is a queen, unhappy creature, and you represent here the Prince of Spain, my future husband?
