SCENE III.–The Upper Chamber in Holyrood.

In this chapter of Algernon Charles Swinburne’s _Chastelard, a Tragedy_, Queen Mary exhibits a complex interplay of mercy, defiance, and a haunting prelude to an inevitable tragedy. She begins by ensuring Chastelard’s pardon with passionate resolve, attempting to circumvent his fate by indicating her willingness to confront his executioners and, if necessary, share in his sentence. The Queen dispatches Mary Beaton and Carmichael to observe the unfolding events discreetly from Holyrood, instructing them to act unaware of her plans, thus weaving a narrative of suspense and implicit trust in her capacity for clemency.

Mary Beaton and Mary Carmichael, stationed in Holyrood, offer contrasting views on the situation below. Carmichael notes the assemblage’s mundane activities, while Beaton, consumed by an emotional tumult, predicts the crowd’s eventual outcry against the Queen. Despite Carmichael’s consolations, Beaton’s premonitions darken with a visceral hatred for the Queen, whom she accuses of a murderous disposition masked by beauty. The sighting of significant figures, such as Murray and Darnley, among the crowd, adds layers of political intrigue and personal vendettas, hinting at the complex socio-political fabric that Chastelard’s execution is set against.

The climax burgeons as Chastelard is brought forth, met with a mixture of anticipation, horror, and final resignations from the spectators above. Beaton’s internal struggle, oscillating between prayer and despair, portrays a profound human conflict in the face of mortality and betrayal. Carmichael’s description of Chastelard’s demeanor—as one unburdened by his fate, engaging with the crowd, and ultimately facing his execution with a perplexing cheer—highlights a dissonant courage rooted in either conviction or resignation.

The execution scene, as witnessed by the two Maries, juxtaposes the public spectacle of death with a private moment of anguish and acceptance. As the axe falls, sealing Chastelard’s fate, Queen Mary’s reactions, entwined with Beaton’s grief, encapsulate a poignant reflection on the intricacies of power, love, and retribution. Beaton’s insistence on visually confronting death, driven by a profound connection to the living Chastelard, underscores the narrative’s exploration of human emotional depth amidst the stark finality of justice and the cruelty of political machinations. In conclusion, this chapter weaves a complex tapestry of emotion, political intrigue, and the inevitable tragic end, all under the looming shadow of Queen Mary’s fraught leadership and the doomed love affair with Chastelard.