if she Cuckolds my good Opinion of her Honesty there 's a whole Sex fall'n under a General Rule without one Exception aside Exeunt Grill. and Alph. Mar. You bid my Uncle wait you King Yes Mar. This hour King I think it was Mar. Something of moment hangs upon this hour King Not more on this than on the next and next My time is all ta'ne up on Usury I never am before hand with my hours But every one has work before it comes Mar. There 's something for my service to be done Those were your words King And you desire their meaning Mar. I dare not ask and yet perhaps may ghess King 'T is searching there where Heaven can only pry Not Man who knows not Man but by surmise Nor Devils nor Angels of a purer Mould Can trace the winding Labyrinths of Thought I tell thee Marmoutier I never speak Not when alone for fear some Fiend should hear And blab my Secrets out Mar. You hate the Guise King True I did hate him Mar. And you hate him still King I am reconcil'd Mar. Your Spirit is too high Great Souls forgive not injuries till time Has put their Enemies into their power That they may shew Forgiveness is their own For else 't is fear to punish that forgives The Coward not the King King He has submitted Mar. In show for in effect he still insults King Well Kings must bear sometimes Mar. They must till they can shake their burden off And that 's I think your aim King Mistaken still All Favours all Preferments pass through them I 'm pliant and they mould me as they please Mar. These are your Arts to make 'em more secure Just so your Brother us'd the Admiral Brothers may think and act like Brothers too King What said you ha what mean you Marmoutier Mar. Nay what mean you That Start betray'd you Sir King This is no Vigil of St. Bartholmew Nor is Blois Paris Mar. 'T is an open Town King What then Mar. Where you are strongest King Well what then Mar. No more but you have Power and are provok'd King O! Thou hast set thy Foot upon a Snake Get quickly off or it will sting thee dead Mar. Can I unknow it King No but keep it secret Mar. Think Sir your Thoughts are still as much your own As when you kept the Key of your own Breast But since you let me in I find it fill'd With Death and Horror you would murder Guise King Murder what Murder use a softer word And call it Soveraign Justice Mar. Wou'd I cou'd But Justice bears the Godlike shape of Law And Law requires Defence and equal Plea Betwixt th' Offender and the righteous Judge King Yes when th' Offender can be judg'd by Laws But when his Greatness overturns the Scales Then Kings are Justice in the last Appeal And forc'd by strong Necessity may strike In which indeed th'y assert the Publick Good And like sworn Surgeons lop the gangren'd Limb Unpleasant wholsom work Mar. If this be needful King Ha didst not thou thy self in fathoming The depth of my designs drop there the Plummet Didst thou not say Affronts so Great so Publick I never could forgive Mar. I did but yet╌ King What means But yet 'T is Evidence so full If the last Trumpet sounded in my Ears Undaunted I should meet the Saints half way And in the Face of Heaven maintain the Fact Mar. Maintain it then to Heaven but not to me Do you love me King Can you doubt it Mar. Yes I can doubt it if you can deny Love begs once more this great Offender's life Can you forgive the man you justly hate That hazards both your Life and Crown to spare him One whom you may suspect I more than pity For I would have you see that what I ask I know is wond'rous difficult to grant Can you be thus extravagantly Good King What then For I begin to fear my firmness And doubt the soft destruction of your tongue Mar. Then in Return I swear to Heaven and you To give you all the Preference of my Soul No Rebel Rival to disturb you there Let him but live that he may be my Convert King walks awhile then wipes his eyes and speaks King You 've Conquer'd all that 's past shall be forgiv'n My lavish Love has made a lavish Grant But know this Act of Grace shall be my last Let him repent yes let him well repent Let him desist and tempt Revenge no further For by yond Heaven that 's Conscious of his Crimes I will no more by Mercy be betray'd Deputies appearing at the Door The Deputies are entring You must leave me Thus Tyrant Business all my hours usurps And makes me live for others Mar. Now Heav'n reward you with a prosperous Reign And grant you never may be good in vain Exit Enter Deputies of the Three States Cardinal of Guise and Archbishop of Lyons at the Head of ' em King Well my good Lords what matters of importance Employ'd the States this Morning Archb. One high Point Was warmly canvass'd in the Commons House And will be soon Resolv'd King What was 't Card. Succession King That 's one high Point indeed but not to be So warmly canvass'd or so soon Resolv'd Card. Things necessary must sometimes be sudden King No sudden danger threatens you my Lord. Archb. What may be sudden must be counted so We hope and wish Your Life But Yours and Ours Are in the hand of Heaven King My Lord They are Yet in a Natural way I may live long If Heaven and You my Loyal Subjects please Archb. But since good Princes like Your Majesty Take care of dangers meerly possible Which may concern their Subjects whose they are And for whom Kings are made King Yes we for them And they for us the Benefits are mutual And so the Tyes are too Card. To cut things short The Commons will decree to exclude Navar From the Succession of the Realm of France King Decree my Lord What one Estate decree Where then are the other two and what am I The Government is cast up somewhat short The Clergy and Nobility casheer'd Five hundred popular Figures on a Row And I my Self that am or should be King An o'regrown Cypher set before the Sum What Reasons urge our Soveraigns for th'Exclusion Archb. He stands suspected Sir of Heresie King Has he been call'd to make his just defence Card. That needs not for 't is known King To whom Card. The Commons King What is' t those Gods the Commons do not know But Heresie you Church-men teach us Vulgar Supposes obstinate and stiff persisting In Errors prov'd long Admonitions made And all rejected has this Course been us'd Archb. We grant it has not but╌ King Nay give me leave Iurge from your own Grant it has not been If then in process of a petty Sum Both Parties having not been fully heard No Sentence can be giv'n Much less in the Succession of a Crown Which after my
this Outrage will undo us Guise All things are ripe and Love new points their Ruine Ha! my good Lords what if the murd'ring Council Were in our Power should they escape our Justice I see by each Mans laying of his Hand Upon his Sword you swear the like Revenge For me I wish that mine may both rot off╌ Card. No more May. The Council of Sixteen attend you Guise I go╌That Vermin may devour my Limbs That I may die like the late puling Francis Under the Barbers Hands Imposthumes choak me If while alive I cease to chew their Ruine Alphonso Corso Grillon Priest together To hang 'em in Effigie nay to tread Drag stamp and grind 'em after they are dead Exeunt ACT II. SCENE I. Enter Queen-Mother Abbot Delbene Polin Q. M. PRay mark the Form of the Conspiracy Guise gives it out he Journeys to Champagn But lurks indeed at Lagny hard by Paris Where every Hour he hears and gives Instructions Mean time the Council of Sixteen assure him They have Twenty thousand Citizens in Arms. Is it not so Polin Pol. True on my Life And if the King doubts the Discovery Send me to the Bastile till all be prov'd Q. M. Call Colonel Grillon the King would speak with him Exit Polin Abbot Was ever Age like this Q. M. Polin is honest Beside the whole Proceeding is so like The hair-brain'd Rout I guess'd as much before Know then it is resolv'd to seize the King When next he goes in Penitential Weeds Among the Friars without his usual Guards Then under shew of Popular Sedition For Safety shut him in a Monastery And sacrifice his Favourites to their Rage Abbot When is this Council to be held again Q. M. Immediately upon the Duke's departure Abbot Why sends not then the King sufficient Guards To seise the Fiends and hew 'em into pieces Q. M. 'T is in appearance easie but th' Effect Most hazardous for straight upon th' Alarm The City would be sure to be in Arms Therefore to undertake and not to compass Were to come off with Ruine and Dishonour You know th' Italian Proverb Bisogna Copriersi He that will venture on a Hornets Nest Should Arm his Head and Buckler well his Breast Abbot But wherefore seems the King so unresolv'd Q. M. I brought Polin and made the Demonstration Told him Necessity cry'd out to take A Resolution to preserve his Life And look on Guise as a reclaimless Rebel But thro the Natural Sweetness of his Temper And dangerous Mercy coldly he reply'd Madam I will consider what you say Abbot Yet after all could we but fix him Q. M. Right The Business were more firm for this Delay For Noblest Natures tho they suffer long When once provok'd they turn the Face to Danger But see he comes Alphonso Corso with him Let us withdraw and when 't is fit rejoyn him Exeunt Enter King Alphonso Corso King Alphonso Corso Alph. Sir King I think thou lov'st me Alph. More than my Life King That 's much yet I believe thee My Mother has the Judgment of the World And all things move by That but my Alphonso She has a Cruel Wit Alph. The Provocation Sir King I know it well But if thou 'dst have my Heart within thy Hand All Conjurations blot the Name of Kings What Honours Interest were the World to buy him Shall make a Brave Man smile and do a Murder Therefore I hate the Memory of Brutus I mean the latter so cry'd up in Story Caesar did ill but did it in the Sun And foremost in the Field but sneaking Brutus Whom none but Cowards and white-liver'd Knaves Would dare commend lagging behind his Fellows His Dagger in his Bosom stabb'd his Father This is a Blot which Tully's Eloquence Could ne're wipe off tho the mistaken Man Makes bold to call those Traytors Men Divine Alph. Tully was wise but wanted Constancy Enter Queen-Mother Abbot Delbene Q. M. Good-even Sir 't is just the time you order'd To wait on your Decrees King Oh Madam Q. M. Sir King Oh Mother but I cannot make it way Chaos and Shades 't is huddl'd up in Night Q. M. Speak then for Speech is morning to the Mind It spreads the Beautious Images abroad Which else lie furl'd and clouded in the Soul King You would Embark me in a Sea of Blood Q. M. You see the Plot directly on your Person But give it ore I did but state the Case Take Guise into your Heart and drive your Friends Let Knaves in Shops prescribe you how to sway And when they read your Acts with their vile Breath Proclaim aloud they like not this or that Then in a drove come Lowing to the Louvre And cry they 'l have it mended that they will Or you shall be no King King 'T is true the People Ne're know a Mean when once they get the Power But O if the Design we lay should fail Better the Traytors never should be touch'd If Execution cries not out 't is done Q. M. No Sir you cannot fear the sure Design But I have liv'd too long fince my own Blood Dares not Confide in her that gave him Being King Stay Madam stay come back forgive my fears Where all our thoughts should creep like deepest streams Know then I hate aspiring Guise to Death Whor'd Margerite Plots upon my life And shall I not Revenge Q. M. Why this is Harry Harry at Moncontour when in his Bloom He saw the Admiral Colligny's Back King O this Whale Guise with all the Lorain Fry Might I but view him after his Plots and Plunges Strook on those Cowring Shallows that await him This were a Florence Master-piece indeed Q. M. He comes to take his leave King Then for Champagn But lies in wait till Paris is in Arms. Call Grillon in all that I beg you now Is to be hush'd upon the Consultation As Urns that never blab Q. M. Doubt not your Friends Love 'em and then you need not fear your Foes Enter Grillon King Welcome my Honest-Man my old try'd Friend Why dost thou flye me Grillon and Retire Grill. Rather let me demand your Majesty Why fly you from your self I 've heard you say You 'd Arm against the League why do you not The Thoughts of such as you are Starts Divine And when you mould with second Cast the Spirit The Air the Life the Golden Vapour 's gone King Soft my Old Friend Guise Plots upon my life Polin shall tell thee more hast thou not heard Th'unsufferable Affronts he daily offers War without Treasure on the Hugonots While I am forc'd against my bent of Soul Against all Laws all Custom Right Succession To cast Navar from the Imperial Line Grill. Why do you Sir Death let me tell the Traytor King Peace Guise is going to his Government You are his Foe of Old Go to him Grillon Visit him as from me to be Employ'd In this great War against the Hugonots And prethee tell him roundly of his Faults No farther Honest
King Thou dost by Heaven But with such Charming pleasure I love and tremble as at Angels view Mar. Love me my Lord King Who shou'd be lov'd but you So lov'd that even my Crown and self are vile While you are by try me upon despair My Kingdom at the stake Ambition starv'd Revenge forgot and all great Appetites That whet uncommon Spirits to aspire So once a day I may have leave╌ Nay Madam then you fear me Mar. Fear you Sir what is there dreadful in you You 've all the Graces that can Crown Mankind Yet wear 'em so as if you did not know 'em So stainless fearless free in all your actions As if Heaven lent you to the World to Pattern King Madam I find you 're no Petitioner My People would not treat me in this sort Tho' 't were to gain a part of their Design But to the Guise they deal their faithless Praise As fast as you your flattery to me Tho' for what end I cannot guess except You come like them to mock at my Misfortunes Mar. Forgive you Heaven that thought no mighty Monarch The Love of all the Good and wonder of the Great I swear by Heaven my Heart adores and loves you King O Madam rise Mar. Nay were you Sir unthron'd By this Seditious Rout that dare despise you Blast all my days ye Powers torment my Nights Nay let the Misery invade my Sex That cou'd not for the Royal Cause like me Throw all their Luxury before your Feet And follow you like Pilgrims through the World Grill. Sound Wind and Limb fore God a gallant Girl Aside King What shall I answer to thee O thou Balm To heal a broken yet a Kingly Heart For so I swear I will be to my Last Come to my Arms and be thy Harry's Angel Shine through my Cares and make my Crown sit easie Mar. O never Sir King What said you Marmoutiere Why dost thou turn thy Beauties into Frowns Mar. You know Sir 't is impossible no more King No more╌and with that stern resolv'd behaviour By Heaven were I a dying and the Priest Shou'd urge my last Confession I 'd cry out Oh Marmoutiere and yet thou say'st no more Mar. 'T is well Sir I have lost my aim farewell King Come back O stay my Life flows after you Mar. No Sir I find I am a trouble to you You will not hear my Suit King You Cannot go You shannot╌O your suit I kneel to grant it I beg you take whatever you demand Mar. Then Sir thus low or prostrate if you please Let me intreat for Guise King Ha Madam what For Guise for Guise that stubborn arrogant Rebel That laughs at proffer'd Mercy slights his Pardon Mocks Royal Grace and plots upon my Life Ha! and do you protect him then the World Is sworn to Henry's Death does Beauty too And Innocence it self conspire against me Then let me tamely yield my Glories up Which once I vow'd with my drawn Sword to wear To my last drop of Blood Come Guise come Cardinal All you lov'd Traytors come╌I strip to meet you Sheath all your Daggers in Curst Henry's Heart Mar. This I expected but when you have heard How far I would intreat your Majesty Perhaps you 'll be more Calm King See I 'm hush'd Speak then how far Madam wou'd you Command Mar. Not to proceed to last Extremities Before the Wound is desperate think alone For no Man Judges like your Majesty Take your own Methods all the heads of France Cannot so well advise you as your self Therefore resume my Lord your Godlike temper Yet do not bear more than a Monarch should Believe it Sir the more your Majesty Draws back your Arm the more of Fate it Carries King Thou Genius of my State thou perfect Model Of Heaven it self and abstract of the Angels Forgive the late disturbance of my Soul I 'm clear by Nature as a Rockless Stream But they dig through the Gravel of my Heart Therefore let me conjure you do not go 'T is said the Guise will come in fpight of me Suppose it possible and stay to advise me Mar. I will but on your Royal word no more King I will be easie To my last gasp as your own Virgin Thoughts And never dare to breathe my Passion more Yet you 'll allow me now and then to Sigh As we discourse and Court you with my Eyes Enter Alphonso Why do you wave your Hand And warn me hence So looks the poor Condemn'd When Justice beck'ns there 's no hope of Pardon Sternly like you the Judge his Victim eyes And thus like me the Wretch despairing dies Exit with Alph. Enter Grillon Grill. O Rare rare Creature by the Power that made me Wer 't possible we cou'd be damn'd again By some new Eve such Virtue might relieve us O I cou'd clasp thee but that my Arms are rough Till all thy Sweets were broke with my Embraces And kiss thy Beauties to a dissolution Mar. Ah Father Uncle Brother all the Kin The precious Blood that 's left me in the World Believe dear Sir what-e're my actions seem I will not lose my Virtue for a Throne Grill. Why I will Carve thee out a Throne my self I 'le hew down all the Common-wealths in Christendom And seat thee on their Necks as high as Heaven Enter Abbot Delbene Abb. Colonel your Ear. Mar. By these whispering Councils My Soul presages that the Guise is coming If he dares come were I a Man a King I 'd sacrifice him in the City's sight O Heavens what was 't I said Were I a Man I know not that but as I am a Virgin If I wou'd offer thee too lovely Guise It shou'd be kneeling to the Throne for Mercy Ha! then thou lov'st that thou art thus concern'd Down rising mischief down or I will kill thee Even in thy Cause and strangle new born pity Yet if he were not married ha what then His Charms prevail no let the Rebel dye I faint beneath this strong oppression here Reason and Love rend my divided Soul Heav'n be the Judg and still let Virtue Conquer Love to his Tune my jarring Heart wou'd bring But Reason over-winds and Cracks the String Exit Abb. The King dispatches Order upon Order With positive Command to stop his coming Yet there is notice given to the City Besides Belleure brought but a half account How that the Guise reply'd he would obey His Majesty in all yet if he might Have leave to justify himself before him He doubted not his Cause Grill. The Ax the Ax Rebellion's pamper'd to a Plurisie And it must bleed Shout within Abbot Hark what a shout was there I 'le to the King it may be 't is reported On purpose thus Let there be Truth or Lies In this mad Fame I 'le bring you instant word Exit Abbot Manet Grillon Enter Guise Cardinal Mayen Malicorn Attendants c. Shouts again Grill. Death and thou Devil Malicorn is that Thy Master Guise Yes Grillon 't is
First seize the King Mal. Suppose it done He 's clapt within a Covent shorn a Saint My Master mounts the Throne Mel. Not so fast Malicorne Thy Master mounts not till the King be slain Mal. Not when depos'd Mel. He cannot be depos'd He may be kill'd a violent Fate attends him But at his Birth there shone a Regal Star Mal. My Master had a stronger Mel. No not a stronger but more popular Their Births were full oppos'd the Guise now strongest But if th' ill Influence pass o'r Harry's Head As in a year it will France ne're shall boast A greater King than he now cut him off While yet his Stars are weak Mal. Thou talk'st of Stars Canst thou not see more deep into Events And by a surer way Mel. No Malicorne The ways of Heaven are brok'n since our Fall Gulph beyond Gulph and never to be shot Once we cou'd read our mighty Maker's mind As in a Chrystal Mirror see th' Idea's Of things that always are as He is always Now shut below in this dark Sphere By Second causes dimly we may guess And peep far off on Heavens revolving Orbs Which cast obscure Reflections from the Throne Mal. Then tell me thy Surmises of the future Mel. I took the Revolution of the Year Just when the Sun was entering in the Ram Th' ascending Scorpion poyson'd all the Sky A sign of deep deceit and treachery Full on his Cusp his angry Master sate Conjoyn'd with Saturn baleful both to Man Of secret Slaughters Empires overturn'd Strife Blood and Massacres expect to hear And all th' Events of an ill omen'd Year Mal. Then flourish Hell and mighty Mischief reign Mischief to some to others must be good But hark for now tho' 't is the dead of Night When silence broods upon our darkned world Methinks I hear a murmuring hollow sound Like the deaf Chimes of Bells in Steeples touch'd Mel. 'T is truly ghess'd But know 't is from no nightly Sexton's hand There 's not a damned Ghost nor hell-born Fiend That can from Limbo scape but hither flies With leathern wings they beat the dusky Skies To sacred Churches all in Swarms repair Some crowd the Spires but most the hallow'd Bells And softly Toll for Souls departing Knells Each Chime thou hear'st a future death foretells Now there they perch to have 'em in their Eyes Till all go loaded to the Neather Skies Mal. To morrow then Mel. To morrow let it be Or thou deceiv'st those hungry gaping Fiends And Beelzebub will rage Mal. Why Beelzebub Hast thou not often said That Lucifer's your King Mel. I told thee true But Lucifer as he who foremost fell So now lies lowest in th' Abyss of Hell Chain'd till the dreadful Doom in place of whom Sits Beelzebub Vicegerent of the damn'd Who listning downward hears his roaring Lord And executes his purpose but no more The morning creeps behind you Eastern hill And now the Guard is mine to drive the Elves And foolish Fairies from their Moon-light Play And lash the Laggers from the sight of day Descends Enter Guise Mayenne Cardinal and Archbishop May. Sullen methinks and slow the Morning breaks As if the Sun were listless to appear And dark designs hung heavy on the day Guise Y' are an old Man too soon y' are superstitious I 'le trust my Stars I know 'em now by proof The Genius of the King bends under mine Inviron'd with his Guards he durst not touch me But aw'd and craven'd as he had been spell'd Would have pronounc'd Go kill the Guise and durst not Card. We have him in our power coopt in his Court Who leads the first Attack Now by yond Heaven╌ That blushes at my Scarlet Robes I 'll d'off This womanish Attire of godly peace And cry Lie there Lord Cardinal of Guise Guise As much too hot as Mayenne too cool But 't is the manlier fault o' th' two Bishop Have you not heard the King preventing day Receiv'd the Guards into the City Gates The jolly Sivisses marching to their Fifes The Crowd stood gaping heartless and amaz'd Shrunk to their shops and left the passage free Guise I would it should be so 't was a good horror First let 'em fear for Rapes and ransackt Houses That very fright when I appear to head'em Will harden their soft City Courages Cold Burghers must be struck and struck like Flints Ere their hid Fire will sparkle Bishop I am glad the King has introduc'd these Guards Card. Your Reason Bishop They are too few for us to fear Our numbers in old martial Men are more The City not cast in but the pretence That hither they are brought to bridle Paris Will make this Rising pass for just defence May. Suppose the City should not rise Guise Suppose as well the Sun should never rise He may not rise for Heaven may play a trick But he has risen from Adam's time to ours Is nothing to be left to Noble Hazard No Venture made but all dull Certainty By Heav'n I 'le tug with Harry for a Crown Rather than have it on tame terms of yielding I scorn to poach for Power Enter a Servant who whispers Guise A Lady say'st thou Young and Beautiful Brought in a Chair Conduct her in╌ Exit Serv. Card. You wou'd be left alone╌ Guise I wou'd Retire Re-enter Servant with Marmoutier and Exit Starting back Is' t possible I dare not trust my Eyes You are not Marmoutier Mar. What am I then Guise Why any thing but she What should the Mistress of a King do here Mar. Find him who wou'd be Master of a King Guise I sent not for you Madam Mar. I think my Lord the King sent not for you Guise Do you not fear your Visit will be known Mar. Fear is for guilty Men Rebels and Traytors Where e're I go my Virtue is my Guard Guise What Devil has sent thee here to plague my Soul O that I could detest thee now as much As ever I have lov'd nay even as much As yet in spite of all thy Crimes I love But 't is a Love so mixt with dark Despair The Smoke and Soot smother the rising flame And make my Soul a Furnace Woman Woman What can I call thee more if Devil 't were less Sure thine 's a Race was never got by Adam But Eve play'd false engendring with the Serpent Her own part worse than his Mar. Then they got Traytors Guise Yes Angel Traytors fit to shine in Palaces Fork'd into Ills and split into Deceits Two in their very frame 't was well 't was well I saw not thee at Court thou Basilisk For if I had ' those Eyes without his Guards Had done the Tyrant's work Mar. Why then it seems I was not false in all I told you Guise If you left Paris I would go to Court You see I kept my Promise Guise Still thy Sex Once true in all thy Life and that for Mischief Mar. Have I said I lov'd you Guise Stab on Stab 'T is plain you love
know your purpose Guise I change 't is true because I love you still Love you O Heav'n ev'n in my own despight I tell you all even at that very Moment I know you straight betray me to the King Mar. O Guise I never did but Sir I come To tell you I must never see you more Guise The King 's at Blois and you have reason for 't Therefore what am I to expect from pity From yours I mean when you behold me slain Mar. First answer me and then I 'le speak my heart Have you O Guise since your last Solemn Oaths Stood firm to what you swore Be plain my Lord Or run it o're awhile because agen I tell you I must never see you more Guise Never She 's set on by the King to sift me Why by that Never then all I have sworn Is true as that the King designs to end me Mar. Keep your Obedience by the Saints you live Guise Then mark 't is judg'd by heads grown white in Council This very day he means to cut me off Mar. ╌By Heaven then you 'r for sworn you 've broke your Vows Guise ╌By you the Justice of the Earth I have not Mar. ╌By you Dissembler of the world you have I know the King Guise ╌ I do believe you Madam Mar. ╌ I have try'd you both Guise ╌Not me the King you mean Mar. ╌Do these o'reboyling Answers suit the Guise But go to Council Sir there shew your truth If you are innocent you 're safe but O If I shou'd chance to see you stretcht along Your Love O Guise and your Ambition gone That venerable Aspect pale with death I must conclude you merited your end Guise ╌You must you will and smile upon my Murder Mar. Therefore if you are conscious of a Breach Confess it to me Lead me to the King He has promis'd me to conquer his Revenge And place you next him therefore if you 're right Make me not fear it by Asseverations But speak your heart and O resolve me truly Guise ╌Madam I ha' thought and trust you with my Soul You saw but now my parting with my Brother The Prelate too of Lyons 't was debated Warmly against me that I should go on Mar. ╌Did I not tell you Sir Guise ╌True but in spight Of those Imperial Arguments they urg'd I was not to be work'd from second thought There we broke off And mark me if I live You are the Saint that makes a Convert of me Mar. Go then O Heaven VVhy must I still suspect you VVhy heaves my Heart And why o'reflow my Eyes Yet if you live O Guise there there 's the Cause I never shall converse nor see you more Guise O say not so for Once again I 'le see you VVere you this very Night to lodge with Angels Yet say not Never for I hope by Virtue To merit Heaven and wed you late in Glory Mar. This Night my Lord I 'm a Recluse for ever Guise Ha! Stay till Morning Tapers are too dim Stay till the Sun rises to salute you Stay till I lead you to that dismal Den Of Virgins buried quick and stay for Ever Mar. Alas Your Suit is vain for I have vow'd it Nor was there any other way to clear Th' imputed stains of my suspected Honour Guise Hear me a word one Sigh one Tear at parting And one last Look for O my earthly Saint I see your Face pale as the Cherubins At Adam's Fall Mar. O Heaven I now confess My heart bleeds for thee Guise Guise Why Madam why Mar. Because by this Disorder And that sad Fate that bodes upon your Brow I do believe you love me more than Glory Guise Without an Oath I do therefore have Mercy And think not Death cou'd make me tremble thus Be pitiful to those Infirmities Which thus Unman me stay till the Council's o're If you are pleas'd to grant an hour or two To my last Pray'r I 'le thank you as my Saint If you refuse me Madam I 'le not murmur Mar. Alas my Guise O Heav'n what did I say But take it take it if it be too kind Honour may pard'n it since it is my last Guise O let me crawl Vile as I am and kiss She gives him her Hand Your Sacred Robe Is' t possible Your Hand O that it were my last expiring Moment For I shall never taste the like again Mar. Farewell my Proselyte your better Genius Watch your Ambition Guise I have none but you Must I ne're see you more Mar. I have sworn you must not Thought thus roots me here melts my Resolves Weeps And makes me loyter when the Angels call me Guise O ye Celestial Dewes O Paradise O Heav'n O Joys Ne're to be tasted more Mar. Nay take a little more cold Marmoutier The temperate devoted Marmoutier Is gone a last Embrace I must bequeath you Guise And O let me return it with another Mar. Farewell for ever Ah Guise tho now we part In the bright Orbs prepar'd us by our Fates Our Souls shall meet╌Farewell╌and Io's sing above Where no Ambition nor State Crime the happier spirits prove But all are blest and all enjoy an everlasting Love Exit Mar. Guise solus Guise Glory where art thou Fame Revenge Ambition Where are you fled there 's Ice upon my Nerves My Salt my Mettal and my Spirits gone Pall'd as a Slave that 's Bed-rid with an Ague I wish my flesh were off What now Thou bleed'st Three and no more What then And why what then But just three drops And why not just three drops As well as four or five or five and twenty Enter a Page Page My Lord your Brother and the Archbishop wait you Guise I come down Devil ha Must I stumble too Away ye Dreams What if it thunder'd Now Or if a Raven cross'd me in my way Or now it comes because last Night I dreamt The Council-Hall was hung with Crimson round And all the Cieling plaister'd o're with black No more blue Fires and ye dull rowling Lakes Fathomless Caves ye Dungeons of old Night Fantoms be gone if I must dye I 'le fall True Polititian and defie you all SCENE II. The Court before the Council-Hall Grillon Larchant Soldiers plac'd People crowding Grill. Are your Guards doubl'd Captain Larch Sir They are Grill. When the Guise comes remember your Petition Make way there for his Eminence Give back Your Eminence comes late Enter two Cardinals Counsellors the Cardinal of Guise Archbishop of Lyons last the Guise Guise Well Colonel Are we Friends Grill. Faith I think not Guise Give me your Hand Grill. No for that gives a Heart Guise Yet we shall clasp in Heaven Grill. By Heaven we shall not Unless it be with Gripes Guise True Grillon still Larch My Lord. Guise Ha Captain you are well attended If I mistake not Sir your Number 's doubl'd Larch All these have serv'd against the Hereticks And therefore beg your Grace you would remember Their VVounds and lost Arrears Guise It
Villain Mal. 'T is confess'd Grill. Then in the Name of all thy Brother Devils What wou'dst thou have with me Mal. I know you 're honest Therefore it is my business to disturb you Grill. Fore God I 'le beat thee if thou urge me farther Mal. Why tho' you shou'd yet if you hear me after The pleasure I shall take in your vexation Will heal my Bruises Grill. Wert thou definite Rogue I'faith I think that I should give thee hearing But such a boundless Villany as thine Admits no Patience Mal. Your Niece is come to Court And yields her Honour to our Henry's Bed Grill. Thou ly'st damn'd Villain Strikes him Mal. So why this I look'd for But yet I swear by Hell and my Revenge 'T is true as you have wrong'd me Grill. Wrong'd thee Villain And name Revenge O wer't thou Grillon's Match And worthy of my Sword I swear by this One had been past an Oath but thou' rt a Worm And if I tread thee dar'st not turn again Mal. 'T is false I dare like you but cannot act There is no force in this Enervate Arm. Blasted I was e're born Curse on my Stars Got by some dotard in his pithless Years And sent a wither'd Saplin to the world Yet I've Brain and there is my Revenge Therefore I say agen these Eyes have seen Thy Blood at Court bright as a Summers Morn When all the Heaven is streak'd with dappl'd Fires And fleck'd with Blushes like a rifl'd Maid Nay by the Gleamy Fires that melted from her Fast Sighs and Smiles swoln Lips and heaving Breasts My Soul presages Henry has enjoy'd her Grill. Again thou ly'st and I will crumble thee Thou bottl'd Spider into thy Primitive Earth Unless thou swear thy very Thought 's a Lye Mal. I stand in Adamant and thus defie thee Nay draw and with the edge betwixt my Lips Even while thou rak'st it through my Teeth I 'le swear All I have said is true as thou art honest Or I a Villain Grill. Damn'd infamous Wretch So much below my scorn I dare not kill thee And yet so much my hate that I must fear thee For should it be as thou hast said ' not all The Trophies of my Lawrell'd Honesty Shou'd bar me from forsaking this bad World And never draw my Sword for Henry more Mal. Ha 't is well and now I am Reveng'd I was in hopes thou would'st have utter ' Treason And forfeited thy Head to pay me fully Grill. Hast thou Compacted for a Lease of Years With Hell that thus thou ventur'st to provoke me Mal. Perhaps I have How right the Blockhead hits Yet more to rack thy Heart and break thy Brain Thy Niece has been before the Guise's Mistress Grill. Hell-hound avant Mal. Forgive my honest meaning Exit Grill. 'T is hatch'd beneath a Plot upon mine honour And thus he lays his Baits to Catch my Soul Ha! but the Presence Opens who comes here By Heaven my Niece led by Alphonso Corso Ha Malicorn is' t possible Truth from thee T is plain and I in Justifying Woman Have done the Devil wrong Alph. Madam the King Please you to sit will instantly attend you Grill. Death Hell and Furies ha she comes to seek him O Prostitute and on her prodigal Flesh She has lavish'd all the Diamonds of the Guise To set her off and sell her to the King Mar. O Heavens did ever Virgin yet attempt An Enterprise like mine I that resolv'd Never to leave those dear delightful Shades But act the little part that Nature gave me On the Green Carpets of some guiltless Grove And having finish'd it forsake the World Unless sometimes my Heart might entertain Some small remembrance of the taking Guise But that far far from any dark'ning Thought To Cloud my Honour or Eclipse my Virtue Grill. Thou ly'st and if thou hadst not glane'd aside And spy'd me coming I had had it all Mar. By Heav'n by all that 's good╌ Grill. Thou hast lost thy Honour Give me thy Hand this Hand by which I caught thee From the bold Ruffian in the Massacre That would have stain'd thy almost Insant Honour With Lust and Blood dost thou remember it Mar. I do and bless the Godlike Arm that sav'd me Grill. 'T is false thou hast forgot my generous Action And now thou laugh'st to think how thou hast cheated For all his kindness this old grisl'd Fool. Mar. Forbid it Heaven Grill. But oh that thou hadst dy'd Ten thousand Deaths e're blasted Grillon's Glory Grillon that sav'd thee from a barbarous World Where thou hadst starv'd or sold thy self for Bread Took thee into his Bosom foster'd thee As his own Soul and lap'd thee in his Heart-strings And now sor all my Cares to serve me thus O 't is too much ye Powers double Confusion On all my Wars and oh out shame upon thee It wrings the Tears from Grillon's Iron Heart And melts me to a Babe Mar. Sir Father hear me I come to Court to save the Life of Guise Grill. And prostitute thy Honour to the King Mar. I have look'd perhaps too nicely for my Sex Into the dark Affairs of fatal State And to advance this dangerous Inquisition I listn'd to the Love of daring Guise Grill. By Arms by Honesty I swear thou lov'st him Mar. By Heav'n that gave those Arms success I swear I do not as you think but take it all I 've heard the Guise not with an Angels temper Something beyond the tenderness of pity And yet not Love Now by the Powers that fram'd me this is all Nor should the World have wrought this close Confession But to rebate your jealousie of Honour Grill. I know not what to say nor what to think There 's Heaven still in thy Voice but that 's a Sign Virtue 's departing for thy better Angel Still makes the Womans Tongue his rising Ground Wags there a while and takes his slight for ever Mar. You must not go Grill. Tho' I have Reason plain As day to judge thee false I think thee true By Heaven methinks I see a Glory round thee There 's something says thou wilt not lose thy Honour Death and the Devil that 's my own Honesty My foolish open Nature that would have All like my self but off I 'le hence and Curse thee Mar. O stay Grill. I wo'n not Mar. Hark the King 's a coming Let me conjure you for your own Souls quiet And for the everlasting rest of mine Stir not till you have heard my Hearts design Grill. Angel or Devil I will╌nay at this rate She 'll make me shortly bring him to her Bed Bawd for him No he shall make me run my Head Into a Cannon when 't is Firing first That 's honourable sport but I 'll retire And if she plays me false here 's that shall mend her Marmoutiere Sits Song and Dance Enter the King King After the breathing of a Love-sick Heart Upon your Hand once more nay twice forgive me Mar. I discompose you Sir