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 XV.

Enter2theDuchessofGuiseand her Maid.

Duch. of G.

• Go fetch me pen and ink.—

Maid.

• I will, madam.

Duch.

• That I may write unto my dearest lord.
• [Exit Maid
• Sweet Mugeroun,3 'tis he that hath my heart,
• And Guise usurps it 'cause I am his wife.
• Fain would I find some means to speak with him,
• But cannot, and therefore am enforced to write,
• That he may come and meet me in some place,
• Where we may one enjoy the other's sight.
• Re-enter the Maid, with pen, ink, and paper.
• So, set it down, and leave me to myself.
• [Exit Maid. TheDuchesswrites.
• O, would to God, this quill that here doth write

  10

• Had late been pluck'd from out fair Cupid's wing,
• That it might print these lines within his heart!
• EnterGuise.

Guise.

• What, all alone, my love? and writing too?
• I prithee, say to whom thou writ'st.

Duch.

• To such
• A one, my lord, as, when she reads my lines,
• Will laugh, I fear me, at their good array.

Guise.

• I pray thee, let me see.

Duch.

• O no, my lord; a woman only must
• Partake the secrets of my heart.

Guise.

• But, madam, I must see.

  20

• [Seizes the paper.
• Are these your secrets that no man must know!

Duch.

• O, pardon me, my lord!

Guise.

• Thou trothless and unjust! what lines are these?
• Am I grown old, or is thy lust grown young?
• Or hath my love been so obscured in thee,
• That others need to comment on my text?
• Is all my love forgot, which held thee dear,
• Ay, dearer than the apple of mine eye?
• Is Guise's glory but a cloudy mist,
• In sight and judgment of thy lustful eye?

  30

• Mort Dieu! were1 not the fruit within thy womb,
• Of whose increase I set some longing hope,
• This wrathful hand should strike thee to the heart.
• Hence, strumpet! hide thy head for shame;
• And fly my presence if thou look to live!
• [ExitDuchess.
• O wicked sex, perjùrèd and unjust!
• Now do I see that from the very first
• Her eyes and looks sow'd seeds of perjury.
• But villain, he, to whom these lines should go,
• Shall buy her love even with his dearest blood.
• [Exit.

  40

[2]Scene: a room in the Duke of Guise's house.

[3]“The gallant of the Duchess was not Mugeroun (Maugiron), but Saint-Mègrin, another of the King's ‘Mignons.’ See Anquetil.—Hist. de France, t, v. 345, ed. 1817.”—Dyce.

[1]Old ed. “wert.”