KING. Were love himself in real substance here, Thus would I drink him down; let your sweet strings Speak louder: pleasure is but a slave to kings, In which love swims. Maria, kiss thy king: Circle me in this ring of ivory; O, I grow dull, and the cold hand of sleep Hath thrust his icy fingers in my breast,[61] And made a frost within me. Sweet, one kiss To thaw this deadness that congeals my soul. MAR. Your majesty hath overwatch'd yourself. He sleeps already--not the sleep of death, But a sweet slumber, which the powerful drug Instill'd through all his spirits. O bright day, Bring home my dear lord ere his king awake, Else of his unstain'd bed he'll shipwreck make. [_Offers to go._ _Enter_ OBERON, _and_ FAIRIES _dancing before him; and Music with them_. MARIA. O me! what shapes are these? OBER. Stay, stay, Maria. MARIA. My sovereign lord awake, save poor Maria. OBER. He cannot save thee: save that pain; Before he wake, thou shalt be slain: His mother's hand shall stop thy breath, Thinking her own son is done to death: And she that takes away thy life, Does it to be thy husband's wife: Adieu, Maria, we must hence: Embrace thine end with patience. Elves and fairies make no stand, Till you come in fairyland. [_Exeunt dancing and singing._ MARIA. Fairies or devils, whatsoe'er you be, Thus will I hide me from your company. [_Offers to go._ SCENE III. _To her enter_ QUEEN-MOTHER _suddenly, with_ ALVERO _and_ RODERIGO _with rapiers_. QUEEN-M. Lay hold upon the strumpet! where's the king? Fernando! son! Ah me! your king is dead! Lay hands upon the murd'ress. MARIA. Imperious queen, I am as free from murder as thyself; Which I will prove, if you will hear me speak. The king is living. ROD. If he liv'd, his breath would beat within his breast. QUEEN-M. The life he leads, Maria, thou shalt soon participate. MARIA. O father, save me! ALV. Thou'rt no child of mine. Hadst thou been owner of Alvero's spirit, Thy heart would not have entertain'd a thought That had convers'd with murder: yet mine eyes, Howe'er my tongue wants words, brimful with tears Entreat her further trial. QUEEN-M. To what end? Here lies her trial; from this royal breast Hath she stolen all comfort--all the life Of every bosom in the realm of Spain. ROD. She's both a traitor and [a] murd'ress. QUEEN-M. I'll have her forthwith strangled. ALV. Hear her speak. QUEEN-M. To heaven let her complain, if she have wrong; I murder but the murd'ress of my son. ALL. We murder [but] the murd'ress of our king.[62] ALV. Ah me! my child! O, O, cease your torturing! MARIA. Heaven ope your windows, that my spotless soul, Riding upon the wings of innocence, May enter Paradise. Fairies, farewell; Fernando's death in mine you did foretell. [_She dies._ KING _wakes_. KING. Who calls Fernando? Love--Maria, speak; O, whither art thou fled? Whence flow these waters, That fall like winter-storms from the drown'd eyes?