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 IV.

Enter1KingCharles, Catherinethe Queen-MotherGuise, Anjou, andDumaine.

Cath.

• My noble son, and princely Duke of Guise,
• Now have we got the fatal, straggling deer
• Within the compass of a deadly toil,

Char.

• Madam, it will be noted through the world
• An action bloody and tyrannical;
• Chiefly, since under safety of our word
• They justly challenge their protection:
• Besides, my heart relents that noblemen,
• Only corrupted in religion,

  10

• Ladies of honour, knights, and gentlemen,
• Should, for their conscience, taste such ruthless ends.

Anj.

• Though gentle minds should pity others' pam,
• Yet will the wisest note their proper griefs,
• And rather seek to scourge their enemies
• Than be themselves base subjects to the whip.

Guise.

• Methinks my Lord Anjou hath well advised
• Your highness to consider of the thing,
• And rather choose to seek your country's good.
• Than pity or relieve these upstart heretics.

  20

Cath.

• I hope these reasons may serve my princely son
• To have some care for fear of enemies.

Char.

• Well, madam, I refer it to your majesty,
• And to my nephew here, the Duke of Guise:
• What you determine, I will ratify.

Cath.

• Thanks to my princely son.—Then tell me, Guise,
• What order will you set down for the massacre?

Guise.

• Thus, madam. They
• That shall be actors in this massacre,
• Shall wear white crosses on their burgonets,

  30

• And tie white linen scarfs about their arms:
• He that wants these, and is suspect1 of heresy,
• Shall die, be he king or emperor. Then I'll have
• A peal of ordnance shot from the tower, at which
• They all shall issue out, and set2 the streets;
• And then,
• The watch-word being given, a bell shall ring,
• Which when they hear, they shall begin to kill,
• And never cease until that bell shall cease;
• Then breathe a while.

  40

• Enter theAdmiral'S Serving-Man.

Char.

• How now, fellow! what news?

Serv.-M.

• An it please your grace, the Lord High Admiral,
• Riding the streets, was traitorously shot;
• And most humbly1 entreats your majesty
• To visit him, sick in his bed.

Char.

• Messenger, tell him I will see him straight.
• [Exit Serv -M
• What shall we do now with the Admiral?

Cath.

• Your majesty were best go visit him,
• And make a show as if all were well.

Char.

• Content; I will go visit the Admiral.

  50

Guise.

• And I will go take order for his death.
• [Exeunt.2

[1]Scene: an apartment in the Louvre.

[1]So Dyce.—Old ed. “suspected.”

[2]Beset.

[1]Old ed. “humble.”

[2]Not marked in old ed.