The Online Library of Liberty

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• 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 XIX.

Enter1 aSoldier

Sold.

• Sir, to you, sir, that dares make the duke a cuckold, and use a counterfeit key to his privy-chamber-door; and although you take out nothing but your own, yet you put in that which displeaseth him, and so forestall his market, and set up your standing where you should not; and whereas he is your landlord, you will take upon you to be his, and till the ground that he himself should occupy, which is his own free land; if it be not too free -there's the question; and though I come not to take possession (as I would I might!), yet I mean to keep you out; which I will, if this gear hold.

  11

• EnterMugeroun.
• What, are ye come so soon? have at ye, sir!
• [Shoots atMugerounand kills him.1
• EnterGuiseandAttendants.
• Guise. [Giving a purse]. Hold thee, tall soldier, take thee this, and fly.
• [Exit Soldier.
• Lie there, the king's delight, and Guise's scorn!
• Revenge it, Henry, as thou list or dare;
• I did it only in despite of thee.
• [Attendants bear offMugeroun'Sbody.
• EnterKing HenryandEpernoun.

Henry.

• My Lord of Guise, we understand
• That you have gathered a power of men:
• What your intent is yet we cannot learn,
• But we presume it is not for our good.

  20

Guise.

• Why, I am no traitor to the crown of France,
• What I have done, 'tis for the Gospel's sake.

Eper.

• Nay, for the Pope's sake, and thine own benefit
• What peer in France but thou, aspiring Guise,
• Durst be in arms without the king's consent?
• I challenge thee for treason in the cause.

Guise.

• Ah, base Epernoun! were not his highness here,
• Thou shouldst perceive the Duke of Guise is mov'd.

Henry.

• Be patient, Guise, and threat not Epernoun,
• Lest thou perceive the king of France be mov'd.

  30

Guise.

• Why, I'm a prince of the Valois line,
• Therefore an enemy to the Bourbonites;
• I am a juror in the holy league,
• And therefore hated of the Protestants:
• What should I do but stand upon my guard?
• And, being able, I'll keep an host in pay.

Eper.

• Thou able to maintain an host in pay,
• That liv'st by foreign exhibition!1
• The Pope and King of Spain are thy good friends;
• Else all France knows how poor a duke thou art.

  40

Henry.

• Ay, those are they that feed him with their gold
• To countermand our will, and check our friends.

Guise.

• My lord, to speak more plainly, thus it is.
• Being animated by religious zeal,
• I mean to muster all the power I can,
• To overthrow those factious2 Puritans:
• And know, my lord, the Pope will sell his triple crown,
• Ay, and the Catholic Philip, King of Spain,
• Ere I shall want, will cause his Indians
• To rip the golden bowels of America.

  50

• Navarre, that cloaks them underneath his wings,
• Shall feel the house of Lorraine is his foe.
• Your highness needs not fear mine army's force;
• 'Tis for your safety, and your enemies' wreck.

Henry.

• Guise, wear our crown, and be thou king of France,
• And, as dictator, make or war or peace,
• Whilst I cry placet, like a senator!
• I cannot brook thy haughty insolence:
• Dismiss thy camp, or else by our edict
• Be thou proclaim'd a traitor throughout France.

  60

• Guise. The choice is hard; I must dissemble.-
• [Aside.
• My lord, in token of my true humility,
• And simple meaning to your majesty,
• I kiss your grace's hand, and take my leave,
• Intending to dislodge my camp with speed.

Henry.

• Then farewell, Guise; the king and thou are friends.
• [ExitGuise.

Eper.

• But trust him not, my lord; for, had your highness
• Seen with what a pomp he enter'd Paris,
• And how the citizens with gifts and shows
• Did entertain him,

  70

• And promised to be at his command-
• Nay, they fear'd not to speak it in the streets,
• That the Guise durst stand in arms against the king,
• For not effecting of his holiness' will.

Henry.

• Did they of Paris entertain him so?
• Then means he present treason to our state.
• Well, let me alone.- Who's within there?
• Enter anAttendant,with pen and ink.
• Make a discharge of all my council straight,
• And I'll subscribe my name, and seal it straight.-
• [Attendant writes.
• My head shall be my council; they are false;

  80

• And, Eperoun, I will be rul'd by thee.

Eper.

• My lord,
• I think, for safety of your royal person,
• It would be good the Guise were made away,
• And so to quite1 your grace of all suspect.

Henry.

• First let us set our hand and seal to this,
• And then I'll tell thee what I mean to do.—
• [Writes.
• So; convey this to the council presently.
• [Exit Attendant.
• And, Epernoun, though I seem mild and calm,
• Think not but I am tragical within.

  90

• I'll secretly convey me unto Blois;
• For, now that Paris takes the Guise's part,
• Here is no staying for the king of France,
• Unless he mean to be betray'd and die:
• But, as I live, so sure the Guise shall die.
• [Exeunt

[1]Scene outside the Louvre.-In his Htst. of Eng. Dram. Poetry, III 134 (old ed.), Collier printed a portion (given below) of this scene from a fragment of a MS. copy. It will be seen that the printed text was much mutilated.

• “Enter a Souldier with a muskett,
• Souldier. Now, sir, to you that dares make a duke a cuckolde, and use a counterfeyt key to his privye chamber: though you take out none but your owne treasure, yett you put in that displeases him, and fill up his rome that he shold occupye. Herein, sir, you forestalle the markett, and sett up your standinge where you shold not. But you will saye you leave him rome enoghe besides: that's no answere; he's to have the choyce of his owne freeland; yf it be not too free, there's the questione. Nowe, for where he is your landlorde, you take upon you to be his, and will needs enter by defaulte: what though you were once in possession, yett comminge upon you once unawares, he frayde you out againe; therefore your entrye is mere intrusions: this is against the law, sir: and though I come not to keepe possessione (as I wolde I might I), yet I come to keepe you out, sir.
• EnterMinion.
• You are wellcome, sir: have at you!
• [He kills him.
• Minion. Trayterouse Guise, ah, thou hast morthered me!
• EnterGuise.
• Guise. Hold the[e], tall soldier! take the[e] this, and flye.
• [Exit[Soldier].
• Thus fall, imperfett exbalatione,
• Which our great sonn of France cold not effecte;
• A fyery meteor in the fermament:
• Lye there, the kinge's delyght and Guise's scorne'
• Revenge it, Henry, yf thou list or darst:
• I did it onely in dispight of thee.
• Fondlie hast thou incenste the Guise's sowle,
• That of it selfe was hote enough to worke
• Thy just degestione with extreamest shame.
• The armye I have gatherd now shall ayme,
• More at thie end then exterpatione;
• And when thou thinkst I have forgotten this,
• And that thou most reposest in my faythe,
• Than will I wake thee from thy folishe dreame,
• And lett thee see thie selfe my prysoner.
• [Exeunt.”

[1]“Mugeroun (Maugiron) fell In a duel' Anquetil, Hist. de France, t. v. 344, ed. 1817: but Saint-Megrin, the gallant of the Duchess of Guise, was assassinated. 'Ils dresserent une embuscade & la porte du Louvre. Comme Saint-Megrin, en sortoit la nuit, des assassins apostes jeterent sur lui, et I'etendirent sur le pave, perce de trente-cinq coups II vecut cependant jusqu'au lendemain.' Anquetil, Ibid. p. 347.”-Dyce.

[1]Pension, maintenance.

[2]Collier's correction for the old copy's “sexious.”

[1]Quit, free.