Q. Mo. Aye, but, my lord, let me alone for that, For Catherine must have her will in France. As I do live, so surely shall he die, And Henry then shall wear the diadem; And if he grudge or cross his mother's will, I'll disinherit him and all the rest ; For I'll rule France, but they shall wear the crown: And if they storm, I then may pull them down. Come, my lord, let's go. SCENE III. [Exeunt. Enter five or six PROTESTANTS, with books, and kneel Tue! tue! tue! let none escape. [They kill them. [Exeunt. Enter KING CHARLES, supported by NAVARRE and EPERNOUNE; the QUEEN MOTHER, the CARDINAL, and PLESHE. CHAR. Oh! let me stay, and rest me here awhile; A griping pain hath seiz'd upon my heart; A sudden pain, the messenger of death. Q. Mo. Oh, say not so, thou kill'st thy mother's heart. CHAR. I must say so, pain forceth me to complain. NAV. Comfort yourself, my lord, I have no doubt But God will sure restore you to your health. CHAR. Oh, no, my loving brother of Navarre, Than to misdo the welfare of their king: God grant my nearest friends may prove no worse. [Dies. Q. Mo. What? art thou dead, sweet son, speak to thy mother; Oh! no, his soul is fled from out his breast, My lords, what resteth now for to be done, [Exit. Q. Mo. And now, my lords, after these funerals be done, We will, with all the speed we can, provide For Henry's coronation from Polonia. Come, let us take his body hence. [The king's body is borne out, and exeunt all but Navarre and Pleshe. NAV. And now, Navarre, whilst that these broils do last, My opportunity may serve me fit To steal from France, and hie me to my home; And now that Henry is call'd from Poland, And therefore, as speedily as I can perform, For fear that Guise, join'd with the king of Spain, But God, that always doth defend the right, As I intend to labour for the truth, And true profession of his holy word. Come, Pleshe, let us away, while time doth serve. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Trumpets sounded within, and a cry of "Vive le Roi," two or three times. Enter HENRY, crowned; QUEEN MOTHER, CARDINAL, GUISE, EPERNOUNE, MUGERON, the CUTPURSE, and others. ALL. Vive le Roi, Vive le Roi. [A flourish of Trumpets. Q. Mo. Welcome from Poland, Henry, once again! Welcome to France, thy father's royal seat! more. ALL. Vive le Roi, Vive le Roi. [A flourish of Trumpets. KING. Thanks to you all. The guider of all crowns, Grant that our deeds may well deserve your loves; And yield our thoughts to height of my deserts. No person, place, or time, or circumstance, MUGE. We know that noble minds change not their thoughts, For wearing of a crown, in that your grace Hath worn the Poland diadem before You were invested with the crown of France. KING. I tell thee, Mugeron, we will be friends,. And fellows too, whatever storms arise. MUGE. Then may it please your majesty to give me leave. To punish those that do profane this holy feast. [Mugeron cuts off the Cutpurse's ear, for cutting CUTP. Oh, Lord, mine ear! MUGE. Come, sir, give me my buttons, and here's your ear. GUISE. Sirrah, take him away. KING. Hands off, good fellow, I will be his bail For this offence. Go, sirrah, work no more Till this our coronation day be past. And now, our rites of coronation done, What now remains but for awhile to feast, And spend some days in barriers, tournay, tilt, And like disports, such as do fit the court? Let's go my lords, our dinner stays for us. [Exeunt all but the Queen Mother and Curdinal. |