The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Publisher's Notice
• To My Worthy Friend , Master Thomas Hammon, of Gray's Inn , &c.
• Persons Represented.
• The Jew of Malta.
• Act the First.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Act the Second.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Act the Third.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• Act the Fourth.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• Act the Fifth.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Edward the Second.
• Act the First.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Act the Second.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Act the Third.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Act the Fourth.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• Act the Fifth.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• The Massacre At Paris.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• Scene VII.
• Scene VIII.
• Scene IX.
• Scene X.
• Scene XI.
• Scene XII.
• Scene XIII.
• Scene XIV.
• Scene XV.
• Scene XVI.
• Scene XVII.
• Scene XVIII.
• Scene XIX.
• Scene XX.
• Scene XXI.
• Scene XXII.
• Scene XXIII.
• Scene XXIV.
• The Tragedy of Dido, Queen of Carthage.
• Act I.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Act II.
• Scene I.
• Act III.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Act IV.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene Iii
• Scene IV.
• Scene V
• Act V.
• Scene I.

SCENE I.

EnterCharles,1the French king, Catherine, the Queen-Mother; theKingofNavarre; Margaret, Queen of Navarre; thePrinceofCondè; theLordHighAdmiral; theOldQueenofNavarre; with others.

Char.

• Prince of Navarre, my honourable brother,
• Prince Condè, and my good Lord Admiral,
• I wish this union and religious league,
• Knit in these hands, thus joined in nuptial rites,
• May not dissolve till death dissolve our lives;
• And that the native sparks of princely love,
• That kindled first this motion in our hearts,
• May still be fuelled in our progeny.

Nav.

• The many favours which your grace hath shown,
• From time to time, but specially in this,

  10

• Shall bind me ever to your highness' will,
• In what Queen-Mother or your grace commands.

Cath.

• Thanks, son Navarre. You see we love you well,
• That link you in marriage with our daughter here;
• And, as you know, our difference in religion
• Might be a means to cross you in your love.—

Char.

• Well, madam, let that rest.—
• And now, my lords, the marriage rites performed,
• We think it good to go and cònsummate
• The rest with hearing of a holy mass.—

  20

• Sister, I think yourself will bear us company.

Mar.

• I will, my good lord.

Char.

• The rest that will not go, my lords, may stay.—
• Come, mother,
• Let us go to honour this solemnity.

Cath.

• Which I'll dissolve with blood and cruelty.
• [Aside.
• [Exeunt all except the KingofNavarre, Condè,and theAdmiral.

Nav.

• Prince Condè, and my good Lord Admiral,
• Now Guise may storm, but do us little hurt,
• Having the king, Queen-Mother on our sides,
• To stop the malice of his envious heart,

  30

• That seeks to murder all the Protestants.
• Have you not heard of late how he decreed
• (If that the king had given consent thereto)
• That all the Protestants that are in Paris

Adm.

• My lord, I marvel that th' aspiring Guise Dares once adventure, without the king's consent,
• To meddle or attempt such dangerous things.

Con.

• My lord, you need not marvel at the Guise,
• For what he doth, the Pope will ratify,

  40

• In murder, mischief, or in tyranny.

Nav.

• But he that sits and rules above the clouds
• Doth hear and see the prayers of the just,
• And will revenge the blood of innocents,
• That Guise hath slain by treason of his heart,
• And brought by murder to their timeless1 ends.

Adm.

• My lord, but did you mark the Cardinal,
• The Guise's brother, and the Duke Dumaine,
• How they did storm at these your nuptial rites,
• Because the house of Bourbon now comes in,

  50

• And joins your lineage to the crown of France?

Nav.

• And that's the cause that Guise so frowns at us.
• And beats his brains to catch us in his trap,
• Which he hath pitched within his deadly toil.
• Come, my lords, let's go to the church, and pray
• That God may still defend the right of France,
• And make his Gospel flourish in this land.
• Exeunt

[1]In the old copy there is no division into scenes. Scene: an apartment in the Louvre.

[1]Untimely.