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 XIII.

Enter2King Charles, supported by theKingofNavarreandEpernoun; Catherinethe Queen-Mother, theCardinalofLorraine, Pleshè,3and Attendants.

Char.

• O, let me stay, and rest me here awhile!
• A griping pain hath seiz'd upon my heart;
• A sudden pang, the messenger of death.

Cath.

• O, say not so! thou kill'st thy mother's heart.

Char.

• I must say so; pain forceth me complain.

Nov.

• Comfort yourself, my lord, and have no doubt
• But God will sure restore you to your health.

Char.

• O no, my loving brother of Navarre!
• I have deserved a scourge, I must confess;
• Yet is their1 patience of another sort

  10

• Than to misdo the welfare of their king:
• God grant my nearest friends may prove no worse!
• O, hold me up, my sight begins to fail,
• My sinews shrink, my brains turn upside down;
• My heart doth break: I faint and die.
• [Dies.

Cath.

• What, art thou dead, sweet son? speak to thy mother!
• O no, his soul is fled from out his breast,
• And he nor hears nor sees us what we do!
• My lords, what resteth there now to be done,
• But that we presently despatch ambassadors

  20

• To Poland, to call Henry back again,
• To wear his brother's crown and dignity?
• Epernoun, go see it presently be done,
• And bid him come without delay to us.

Eper.

• Madam, I will.
• [Exit.

Cath.

• And now,
• My lords, after these funerals be done,
• We will, with all the speed we can, provide
• For Henry's coronation from Polony.
• Come, let us take his body hence.

  30

• The body ofKing Charlesis borne out; and exeunt all except theKingofNavarreandPleshè.

Nav.

• And now, Pleshè,1 whilst that these broils do last,
• My opportunity may serve it fit
• To steal from France, and hie me to my home,
• For there's no safety in this realm for me:
• And now that Henry is call'd from Poland,
• It is my due, by just succession;
• And therefore, as speedily as I can perform,
• I'll muster up an army secretly,
• For fear that Guise, join'd with the King of Spain,
• Might seek2 to cross me in mine enterprise.

  40

• But God, that always doth defend the right,
• Will show his mercy, and preserve us still.

Pleshè.

• The virtues of our true religion
• Cannot but march, with many graces more,
• Whose army shall discomfort all your foes,
• And, at the length, in Pampelonia3 crown
• (In spite of Spain, and all the popish power,
• That holds it from your highness wrongfully)
• Your majesty her rightful lord and sovereign.

Nav.

• Truth, Pleshè; and God so prosper me in all,

  50

• As I intend to labour for the truth,
• And true profession of his holy word!
• Come, Pleshè, let's away whilst time doth serve.
• [Exeunt.

[2]Scene: a room in the Castle of Vincennes.

[3]Du-Plessis Mornay.

[1]Old ed. “there,” which Dyce silently retains. The correction was made by Cunningham, who explains the passage thus:—” There are persons (you yourself and my Protestant subjects, for instance) from whom I have deserved a scourge, but their feelings would never lead them to poison their king; God grant that my dearest relations may prove to have been no worse than those who ought to be my enemies,” &c.—” Scourge” must surely be the scourge of God. Navarre had said, “God will sure restore you:” to which the king answers, “I have deserved a scourge” from God. Before 1. 10 a line or more referring to the massacre of the Protestants must have dropped out.

[1]Old ed. “Nauarre.”

[2]Old ed. “seeme.”

[3]Pampeluna.