DOUGHTY (_starting up with energy and emotion_). You need not read! (_surprise on all_) already sentence is pronounced. Conscience in her own court—Herself the judge—who only knows the deep-dyed guilt of dark sedition, hath decreed my doom! (_Abruptly_). You’ll bear me witness! I die thus self-condemned. I dare not live! Life would be a Hell! where worms unseen, the viper tooth of fell remorse would ceaseless gnaw the ever waking mind. I could not face my country brave men’s contempt, the multitudes ferocious scowl. Death is my sole relief and refuge. Thus would I whet your vengeance, or your justice. I have conspired your ruin, worse than death, to foil your project, give you up to Spain—(_Great excitement and indignation_). To fire and faggot, tortures inflicted on the brave before you! the Cadiz galleys, dungeons of Seville—burnings in the plazas of Mexico and Madrid—the yelling crowd—the vengeful monks gloating over the writhings of your agony. In self defence you have the right to slay me! Sentence is idle form. Self doomed I choose to die: I only ask that unrecorded I may pass away, and SILENCE be my epitaph! (a _conference between_ DRAKE _and_ WINTER _aside_) WINTER (_turning to_ DOUGHTY). Thus then let it be. To morrow we have fixed for execution. CREW. So say we all! WINTER. Till then, Mr. Fletcher, he is in your charge. The task of preparation for his end be thine. (_Exeunt the court._) DOUGHTY. Here my life must end, where I thought it had but well begun! Ambition’s bright mirage with hope deceitful lured. Its distant plains glowed in the sunshine of a feigned success. Success!—by what instruments? The base, the dastards—traitors to treason’s self.—The means? Murder of brave companions, with whom I vowed to live or die. Dethronement of a noble Queen, to whom I swore allegiance. For what end? To set a foreign tyrant on her throne—thus to enslave my country, which I love. Foul! Faithless! Traitor! (_he rushes about in distraction_, _beating his head with his fists_). Crime against nature!—against God!—’gainst England—’gainst myself!—for I am, or was, an Englishman! Reason! Judgement! Honour! Great nature’s guardians of the heart and conduct. Where were you, when I was tempted thus? Like drunken sentinels—deserters from your duly when needed most. Oh guilt! beyond all law to constitute a crime, or court to punish! (_writhing under remorse_, _looking upward_) Doughty, I try you here. (_Striking his heart._) Thou shall not live—Doughty decrees your death! Could I but die outright, and leave no name! (_he looks at the dismal prospect distractedly_) Place—suggestive of eternal death!—Where life itself in cold obstruction!—Icy apathy!—Ye rugged rocks, and snow-clad hills, bleak, barren plains—where nature sleeps in frost. Waste, howling, wilderness—a living tomb! Huge walls of mountain—strange birds—strange beasts—wild men, more savage still, than the sterility that bounds their lives.