Just at this happy moment, by what would doubtless be considered “a stroke of genius,” Murray is made to enter and announce the arrival of Darnley, the unfortunate individual whose crime it is to persist in being Mary's lawful husband when she is in love with one who, by her own command, was somebody else's lawful husband. As may be supposed from what we know of her already, the contrite queen greets the announcement as contrite queens in similar situations are wont to do, thus:
“By heaven! I had rather death had leave than he.
What comes he for? To vex me quick or dead
With his lewd eyes and sodden, sidelong face,
That I may die with loathing of him?
By God, as God shall look upon my soul,
I will not see him.”
After this there is clearly nothing left for the bishop to do but administer the last sacraments and bid the Christian soul depart in peace. Luckily, however, at this critical juncture, and by another “stroke of genius,” the well-known tramp of Bothwell's heel falls on the ear of the dying queen, who immediately feels better, and bids her attendants “bring him in.”
One more passage, and we have done with Mr. Swinburne's Mary. Darnley is not yet murdered; Bothwell is not yet divorced from Jane Gordon; he who became James I. of England is about to be born; the queen has in the preceding scene made the “confession” noticed above; the time, therefore, was ripe for her to make the following declaration to Bothwell:
“I purge me now and perfect my desire,