ACT I.

DAVID RIZZIO.

B

TIME, MARCH 9, 1566.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-HOLYROOD.

Enter DARNLEY and MARY CARMICHAEL.

Darnley. But you will not believe me though you

hear;

You have no faith; you steer by sight, and see
This fellow gilt and garnished with her grace
Sit covered by the queen where lords stand bare
And jet before them lordlier; and the sight
Makes firm your faith that in his hand and eye
This land is but a harp to play upon,
Whose strings may turn to serpents or to swords
To maim his hand or charm his eye to death.
You have no faith to see this, or to read

The sentence that ensuing shall write me king,
And worth men's fears or faiths: lo, now you laugh,
As though my hope were braggart, and myself
A fool and mouthpiece of its foolish vaunt:
You have no faith.

Mary Carmichael. I have no wit nor will
To choose between St. David for my lord
And sweet St. Henry.

Darnley.

Nay, King David now,

King David psalmist; but for all his song

I doubt he hath lost the old trick of touch he had

Once in the sword-play.

Mary Carmichael.

See you play not Saul,

Who are something of his stature in our eyes,

Much of his mighty presence; be it not said
He hath snipt your skirts already.

Darnley.

Who said that?

Who speaks of me so, lies to the blood and bone,
To the heart and soul lies. I am no king mayhap-

I do not say yet I shall die no king

God knows that, and is wise-but man I am,

Look else, who love you

Mary Carmichael.

Sir, be king for me,

It shall content my will to youward, seeing

I take you to be royal, and myself

Honest.

Darnley. Why honest ? what a gibe is this! What make you of me?

Mary Carmichael.

'Tis time I were on service.

Darnley.

Yea, what should I make ?

O, the queen's?

She gets good service, excellent service done,
And worthy servants hath she-a liberal queen.

Well, if you will.

[Exit MARY CARMICHAEL.

I would the month were out,

If earth were easier by just one less knave,

I might sleep well and laugh and walk at ease

Enter MORTON.

With none to mate me.-Ah, my good lord and friend,
I had somewhat I would say—but let words be.
The man you know of-I would you had made him

safe;

I would have told you this much.

Morton.

Sir, the earl

Murray being with us in the main thing here,
Though he keep hand from the red handiwork,
Shall enough help us.

Darnley.

Let him know it not then :

Let him stand by: he must not know it. Why, well,

It is the more our honour: yet would God

He, being not with us, were not anywhere,

But dead, sir, dead. I say, who hath eyes to see
May see him dangerous to us, and manifest.
Ye have no eyes who see not: for my part,

I noted him at once. Sir, by this light,
When I first saw him-and I have eyes to see-
I knew what manner of meaning in his face
Lay privy and folded up and sealed and signed.
I would you lords had sight and heart like mine,
He would not long live dangerous; yet, God wot,
For my poor personal peril I would match

This body against his better.

Morton.

There's no need

Of iron words and matches here of men,

Save this we meet upon ; which being played out
Leaves our hands full and henceforth peaceable.