Tush, to be short, he meant to make me monk, Let Christian princes, that shall hear of this Ne'er was there king of France so yoked as I. Enter GUISE'S Son. Henry. Boy, look where your father lies. G.'s Son. My father slain! who hath done this deed? Henry. Sirrah, 'twas I that slew him ; and will slay 120 Thee too, an thou prove such a traitor. G's Son. Art thou king, and hast done this bloody deed? I'll be reveng'd. [Offers to throw his dagger. Henry. Away to prison with him! I'll clip his wings Or e'er he pass my hands. Away with him! [Some of the Attendants bear off GUISE's Son. But what availeth that this traitor's dead, And that young cardinal that is grown so proud? And will1 him, in my name, to kill the duke. 130 These two will make one entire Duke of Guise, Eper. My lord, see, where she comes, as if she droop'd To hear these news. Henry. And let her droop; my heart is light enough. Enter CATHERINE the Queen Mother. Mother, how like you this device of mine? Henry. Nay, he was king, and countermanded me : But now I will be king, and rule myself, And make the Guisians stoop that are alive. 140 Cath. I cannot speak for grief.—When thou wast born, I would that I had murdered thee, my son ! My son? thou art a changeling, not my son : 150 Henry. Cry out, exclaim, howl till thy throat be hoarse! The Guise is slain, and I rejoice therefore : And now will I to arms.-Come, Epernoun, And let her grieve her heart out, if she will. [Exit with EPERNOUN. Cath. Away! leave me alone to meditate. [Exeunt Attendants. Sweet Guise, would he had died, so thou wert here ! To whom shall I bewray my secrets now, Or who will help to build religion? The Protestants will glory and insult; Wicked Navarre will get the crown of France; 160 [Exit. SCENE XXII. Enter1 two Murderers, dragging in the CARDINAL. Card. Murder me not; I am a cardinal. First Murd. Wert thou the Pope thou might'st not scape from us. Card. What, will you file your hands with churchmen's blood? Sec. Murd. Shed your blood! O Lord, no! for we intend to strangle you. Card. Then there is no remedy, but I must die? First Murd. No remedy; therefore prepare yourself. Card. Yet lives my brother Duke Dumaine, and many mo, To revenge our deaths upon that cursèd king; And with their paws drench his black soul in hell! First Murd. Yours, my Lord Cardinal, you should have said. So, pluck amain: [They strangle him. He is hard-hearted; therefore pull with violence. Come, take him away. Exeunt with the body. 1 Scene: the interior of a prison at Blois. SCENE XXIII. Enter1 DUMAINE, reading a letter; with others. Sweet Duke of Guise, our prop to lean upon, And all those traitors to the Church of Rome That durst attempt to murder noble Guise. Enter Friar. 10 Fri. My lord, I come to bring you news that your brother the Cardinal of Lorraine, by the king's consent, is lately strangled unto death. Dum. My brother Cardinal slain, and I alive! O words of power to kill a thousand men ! Come, let us away, and levy men; 'Tis war that must assuage this tyrant's pride. 1 Scene: a room in Dumaine's house, at Paris. 20 Fri. My lord, hear me but speak. I am a friar of the order of the Jacobins, Dum. But what doth move thee, above the rest, to do the deed? Fri. O my lord, I have been a great sinner in my days! and the deed is meritorious. Dum. But how wilt thou get opportunity? Fri. Tush, my lord, let me alone for that. We will go talk more of this within. 30 [Exeunt. SCENE XXIV. Drums and Trumpets. Enter1 KING HENRY, the KING OF NAVARRE, EPERNOUN, BARTUS, PLESHÈ, Soldiers, and Attendants. Henry. Brother of Navarre, I sorrow much That ever I was prov'd your enemy, And that the sweet and princely mind you bear I vow, as I am lawful king of France, That ever I vouchsaf'd my dearest friends. Nav. It is enough if that Navarre may be 1 Scene: Saint-Cloud. 10 |