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new fair lives where all are new things else； And know not why； and weep
not。
QUEEN。 A right rhyme； And right a thyme's worth： nay； a sweet song；
though。 What； shall my cousin hold fast that love of his； Her face and talk；
when life ends？ as God grant His life end late and sweet； I love him well。
She is fair enough； his lover； a fair…faced maid； With gray sweet eyes and
tender touch of talk； And that； God wot； I wist not。 See you； sir； Men say I
needs must get wed hastily； Do none point lips at him？
CHASTELARD。 Yea； guessingly。
QUEEN。 God help such lips！ and get me leave to laugh！ What should I
do but paint and put him up Like a gilt god； a saintship in a shrine； For all
fools' feast？ God's mercy on men's wits！ Tall as a housetop and as bare of
brain I'll have no staffs with fool…faced carven heads To hang my life on。
Nay； for love； no more； For fear I laugh and set their eyes on edge To find
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Algernon Charles Swinburne； _Chastelard； a tragedy_ 。 Boston： E。P。 Dutton； 1866。
out why I laugh。 Good…night； fair lords； Bid them cease playing。 Give me
your hand； good…night。
SCENE III。MARY BEATON'S chamber： night。
＇Enter CHASTELARD。＇
CHASTELARD。 I am not certain yet she will not come； For I can feel
her hand's heat still in mine； Past doubting of； and see her brows half draw；
And half a light in the eyes。 If she come not； I am no worse than he that
dies to…night。 This two years' patience gets an end at least； Whichever way
I am well done with it。 How hard the thin sweet moon is； split and laced
And latticed over； just a stray of it Catching and clinging at a strip of wall；
Hardly a hand's breadth。 Did she turn indeed In going out？ not to catch up
her gown The page let slip； but to keep sight of me？ There was a soft small
stir beneath her eyes Hard to put on； a quivering of her blood That knew of
the old nights watched out wakefully。 Those measures of her dancing too
were changed More swift and with more eager stops at whiles And rapid
pauses where breath failed her lips。
＇Enter MARY BEATON。＇
O； she is come： if you be she indeed Let me but hold your hand； what；
no word yet？ You turn and kiss me without word； O sweet； If you will slay
me be not over quick； Kill me with some slow heavy kiss that plucks The
heart out at the lips。 Alas！ Sweet love； Give me some old sweet word to
kiss away。 Is it a jest？ for I can feel your hair Touch meI may embrace
your body too？ I know you well enough without sweet words。 How should
one make you speak？ This is not she。 Come in the light； nay； let me see
your eyes。 Ah； you it is？ what have I done to you？ And do you look now to
be slain for this That you twist back and shudder like one stabbed？
MARY BEATON。 Yea； kill me now and do not look at me： God knows
I meant to die。 Sir； for God's love； Kill me now quick ere I go mad with
shame。
CHASTELARD。 Cling not upon my wrists： let go the hilt： Nay； you
will bruise your hand with it： stand up： You shall not have my sword forth。
MARY BEATON。 Kill me now； I will not rise： there； I am patient； see；
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Algernon Charles Swinburne； _Chastelard； a tragedy_ 。 Boston： E。P。 Dutton； 1866。
I will not strive； but kill me for God's sake。
CHASTELARD。 Pray you rise up and be not shaken so： Forgive me
my rash words； my heart was gone After the thing you were： be not
ashamed； Give me the shame； you have no part in it； Can I not say a word
shall do you good？ Forgive that too。
MARY BEATON。 I shall run crazed with shame； But when I felt your
lips catch hold on mine It stopped my breath： I would have told you all；
Let me go out： you see I lied to you； Am I am shamed； I pray you loose
me； sir； Let me go out。
CHASTELARD。 Think no base things of me： I were most base to let
you go ashamed。 Think my heart's love and honor go with you： Yea； while
I live； for your love's noble sake； I am your servant in what wise may be；
To love and serve you with right thankful heart。
MARY BEATON。 I have given men leave to mock me； and must bear
What shame they please： you have good cause to mock。 Let me pass now。
CHASTELARD。 You know I mock you not。 If ever I leave off to
honor you； God give me shame！ I were the worst churl born。
MARY BEATON。 No marvel though the queen should love you too；
Being such a knight。 I pray you for her love； Lord Chastelard； of your
great courtesy； Think now no scorn to give me my last kiss That I shall
have of man before I die。 Even the same lips you kissed and knew not of
Will you kiss now； knowing the shame of them； And say no one word to
me afterwards； That I may see I have loved the best lover And man most
courteous of all men alive？
MARY SEYTON。
＇Within。＇
Here； fetch the light： nay； this way； enter all。
MARY BEATON。 I am twice undone。 Fly； get some hiding； sir； They
have spied upon me somehow。
CHASTELARD。 Nay； fear not； Stand by my side。
＇Enter MARY SEYTON and MARY HAMILTON。＇
MARY HAMILTON。 Give me that light： this way。
CHASTELARD。 What jest is here； fair ladies？ it walks late；
Something too late for laughing。
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Algernon Charles Swinburne； _Chastelard； a tragedy_ 。 Boston： E。P。 Dutton； 1866。
MARY SEYTON。 Nay； fair sir； What jest is this of yours？ Look to
your lady： She is nigh swooned。 The queen shall know all this。
MARY HAMILTON。 A grievous shame it is we are fallen upon； Hold
forth the light。 Is this your care of us？ Nay； come； look up： this is no game；
God wot。
CHASTELARD。 Shame shall befall them that speak shamefully： I
swear this lady is as pure and good As any maiden； and who believes me
not Shall keep the shame for his part and the lie。 To them that come in
honor and not in hate I will make answer。 Lady； have good heart。 Give me
the light there： I will see you forth。
END OF THE FIRST ACT。
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Algernon Charles Swinburne； _Chastelard； a tragedy_ 。 Boston： E。P。 Dutton； 1866。
ACT II。
DARNLEY。
SCENE I。The great Chamber in Holyrood。
The QUEEN and MARY SEYTON。
QUEEN。 But will you swear it？
MARY SEYTON。 Swear it； madam？
QUEEN。 Ay Swear it。
MARY SEYTON。 Madam； I am not friends with them。
QUEEN。 Swear then against them if you are not friends。
MARY SEYTON。 Indeed I saw them kiss。
QUEEN。 So lovers use What； their mout