Queen (excited to frenzy, impatient of some dreadful apprehension, rushes up to him, and seizing hold of him, shakes him for explanation.) God of England! Speak man, what mean you? It must be something which quells the soul of Drake.—What then? Quick.—Relieve this boding doubt, this frantic apprehension. Quick! Quick, what then?
Drake. Why then, my Liege, he would equip a fleet, collect his mighty hosts, crush the Low Countries in an hour, annihilate our trade, blockade our ports. France shrinking paralysed, overawed, and then—
Queen (starting away as from a frightful apparition, but with unquailing spirit rushes about with uplifted arms and the rage of a tigress.) I see! I see! I see it all—Villains, fools, and traitors, I should be left without an ally to battle with the world in arms. Rebels, traitors, assassins—Fiends of Hell within—The fleets and armies of Spain without. The wars of the roses over again. Fierce civil strife, seas of brothers’ blood—The proud island before whose arms Europe has quailed, trampled into a Spanish province! (A pause of grim rage and sarcasm), and the moles and bats would give it to him! (She laughs with a grim and bitter expression of rage and exultation). Ha! Ha! Ha! They shan’t, Drake, they shan’t! Philip shall not have one ochavo of it. No! War or no war—never! Shade of Henry of Monmouth! Can thy stone casement hold thee? (She walks about with a proud resolve then confronts him). What then do you propose sir? You are entitled to a voice in the matter.
Drake. Your Majesty can now take the wind out of his sails, you can build and equip the fleet. Give me, my Liege, but a small one, I’ll burn every town upon his coast, every stick of navy he possesses, in harbour or afloat; carry his gold fleet to England, and drive him from the ocean in a month; (he walks aside in exultation).
Queen (abruptly). You’re the man, Drake! you’re the man!
Drake. Then, my Liege, we shall occupy California and the Indies, whose downtrodden people will welcome you as a Saviour. England will become the mart of the precious metals, the centre of universal commerce. The tribes of broken humanity will come begging for the crumbs that fall from your replenished table. Our great race, (elevating his voice) shall spread from land to land, from sea to sea, till one wide luminous zone of truth, of light, of freedom, shall gird the globe; the sun shall make his eternal round and never set in the dominions.
He looks upward with confiding fervour as if delivering a divine message from on high. The Queen overpowered with emotion at the awful development of national greatness.
Queen. Hold! Spare me! My brain turns, stunned, bewildered in the vastness of that visioned future. (She exclaims imploringly as one afraid to advance farther.) Stay! Stay!
Drake (impetuously). I speak not without book, My Royal Mistress. It was not human power that raised your Majesty and held your right hand, (a pause) through death and tyranny, (the Queen much moved) until you reached your throne, or guided my little bark through storm and battle to your shores. It is not chance, my Liege, but Providence that rules! A secret impulse ever drove me on, (a pause) and now assures me that the end is near. The blood of butchered nations crying to heaven, at length is heard. Spain totters to her fall! (He walks aside excited, then returns and continues with energy). The star of England rises from the sea to rule its waves, the ocean rules the land, its trident shakes the earth! (He comes up to the Queen impassioned). ’Tis thine! ’Tis thine! Stretch forth thine hand, my Liege, and grasp the Trident.
Queen (in great excitement). Drake! Drake! A virtue goeth out of thee. I’m filled with awe, but feel the power. (She essays to leave.) Come! Come!