Gui. No more! Ill fortune! 290

I would have given a million to have heard

His scoffes retorted, and the insolence

Of his high birth and greatnesse (which were never

Effects of his deserts, but of his fortune)

Made show to his dull eyes beneath the worth295

That men aspire to by their knowing vertues,

Without which greatnesse is a shade, a bubble.

Cler. But what one great man dreames of that but you?

All take their births and birth-rights left to them

(Acquir'd by others) for their owne worths purchase,300

When many a foole in both is great as they:

And who would thinke they could winne with their worths

Wealthy possessions, when, wonne to their hands,

They neyther can judge justly of their value,

Nor know their use? and therefore they are puft305

With such proud tumours as this Monsieur is,

Enabled onely by the goods they have

To scorne all goodnesse: none great fill their fortunes;

But as those men that make their houses greater,

Their housholds being lesse, so Fortune raises310

Huge heapes of out-side in these mightie men,

And gives them nothing in them.

Gui. True as truth:

And therefore they had rather drowne their substance

In superfluities of brickes and stones

(Like Sysiphus, advancing of them ever,315

And ever pulling downe) then lay the cost

Of any sluttish corner on a man,

Built with Gods finger, and enstil'd his temple.

Bal. Tis nobly said, my lord.

Gui. I would have these things

Brought upon stages, to let mightie misers320

See all their grave and serious miseries plaid,

As once they were in Athens and olde Rome.

Cler. Nay, we must now have nothing brought on stages,

But puppetry, and pide ridiculous antickes:

Men thither come to laugh, and feede fool-fat,325

Checke at all goodnesse there, as being prophan'd:

When, wheresoever goodnesse comes, shee makes

The place still sacred, though with other feete

Never so much tis scandal'd and polluted.

Let me learne anything that fits a man,330

Bal. Why, is not all the world esteem'd a stage?

Cler. Yes, and right worthily; and stages too

Have a respect due to them, if but onely

For what the good Greeke moralist sayes of them:335

"Is a man proud of greatnesse, or of riches?

Give me an expert actor, Ile shew all,

That can within his greatest glory fall.

Is a man fraid with povertie and lownesse?

Give me an actor, Ile shew every eye340

What hee laments so, and so much doth flye,

The best and worst of both." If but for this then,

To make the proudest out-side that most swels

With things without him, and above his worth,

See how small cause hee has to be so blowne up;345

And the most poore man, to be griev'd with poorenesse,

Both being so easily borne by expert actors,

The stage and actors are not so contemptfull

As every innovating Puritane,

And ignorant sweater out of zealous envie350

Laught at them all, were worthy the enstaging.355

All objects, were they ne'er so full of teares,

He so conceited that he could distill thence

Matter that still fed his ridiculous humour.

Heard he a lawyer, never so vehement pleading,

Hee stood and laught. Heard hee a trades-man swearing,360

Never so thriftily selling of his wares,

He stood and laught. Heard hee an holy brother,

For hollow ostentation, at his prayers

Ne'er so impetuously, hee stood and laught.

Saw hee a great man never so insulting,365

Severely inflicting, gravely giving lawes,

Not for their good, but his, hee stood and laught.

Saw hee a youthfull widow

Never so weeping, wringing of her hands

For her lost lord, still the philosopher laught.370

Now whether hee suppos'd all these presentments

Were onely maskeries, and wore false faces,

Or else were simply vaine, I take no care;

But still hee laught, how grave soere they were.

Gui. And might right well, my Clermont; and for this375

Vertuous digression we will thanke the scoffes

Of vicious Monsieur. But now for the maine point

Of your late resolution for revenge

Of your slaine friend.

Cler. I have here my challenge,

Which I will pray my brother Baligny380

To beare the murtherous Earle.

Bal. I have prepar'd

Meanes for accesse to him, through all his guard.

Gui. About it then, my worthy Baligny,

And bring us the successe.

Bal. I will, my lord. Exeunt.

Enter, O enter! and, though length of time

Never lets any scape thy constant justice,

Yet now prevent that length. Flye, flye, and here

Fixe thy steele foot-steps; here, O here, where still10

Earth (mov'd with pittie) yeelded and embrac'd

My loves faire figure, drawne in his deare bloud,

And mark'd the place, to show thee where was done

The cruell'st murther that ere fled the sunne.

O Earth! why keep'st thou not as well his spirit,15

Here be my daily pallet; here all nights20

That can be wrested from thy rivals armes,

O my deare Bussy, I will lye, and kisse

Spirit into thy bloud, or breathe out mine

In sighes, and kisses, and sad tunes to thine. She sings.

Montsurry. Still on this hant? Still shall adulterous bloud25

Affect thy spirits? Thinke, for shame, but this,

This bloud, that cockatrice-like thus thou brood'st,

To dry is to breede any quench to thine.

And therefore now (if onely for thy lust

A little cover'd with a vaile of shame)30

Looke out for fresh life, rather then witch-like

Learne to kisse horror, and with death engender.

Strange crosse in nature, purest virgine shame

Lies in the bloud as lust lyes; and together

Many times mixe too; and in none more shamefull35

Then in the shamefac't. Who can then distinguish

Twixt their affections; or tell when hee meetes

With one not common? Yet, as worthiest poets

Shunne common and plebeian formes of speech,

Every illiberall and affected phrase,40

To clothe their matter, and together tye

Matter and forme with art and decencie;

So worthiest women should shunne vulgar guises,

And though they cannot but flye out for change,

Yet modestie, the matter of their lives,45

Be it adulterate, should be painted true

With modest out-parts; what they should doe still

Grac'd with good show, though deedes be ne'er so ill.

Tamy. That is so farre from all yee seeke of us

That (though your selves be common as the ayre)50

We must not take the ayre, wee must not fit

Our actions to our owne affections:

But as geometricians (you still say)

Teach that no lines, nor superficies,

Doe move themselves, but still accompanie55

The motions of their bodies; so poore wives

Must not pursue, nor have their owne affections,

But to their husbands earnests, and their jests,

To their austerities of lookes, and laughters,

(Though ne'er so foolish and injurious)60

Like parasites and slaves, fit their disposures.

Mont. I usde thee as my soule, to move and rule me.

Tamy. So said you, when you woo'd. So souldiers tortur'd

With tedious sieges of some wel-wall'd towne,

Propound conditions of most large contents,65

Freedome of lawes, all former government;

But having once set foote within the wals,

And got the reynes of power into their hands,

Then doe they tyrannize at their owne rude swindges,

Seaze all their goods, their liberties, and lives,70

And make advantage, and their lusts, their lawes.

Mont. But love me, and performe a wifes part yet,

With all my love before, I sweare forgivenesse.

Tamy. Forgivenesse! that grace you should seeke of mee:

These tortur'd fingers and these stab'd-through armes75

Like whom should men doe. If yee wish your wives

Should leave dislik'd things, seeke it not with rage,90

For that enrages; what yee give, yee have:

But use calme warnings, and kinde manly meanes,

And that in wives most prostitute will winne

Not onely sure amends, but make us wives

Better then those that ne'er led faultie lives.95

Soldier. My lord.

Mont. How now; would any speake with me?

Sold. I, sir.

Mont. Perverse, and traiterous miscreant!

Where are your other fellowes of my guard?

Have I not told you I will speake with none

But Lord Renel?

Sold. And it is hee that stayes you. 100

Mont. O, is it he? Tis well: attend him in. [Exit Soldier.]

I must be vigilant; the Furies haunt mee.

Doe you heare, dame?

Renel [aside, to the Soldier]. Be true now, for your ladies injur'd sake,

Whose bountie you have so much cause to honour:105

For her respect is chiefe in this designe,

And therefore serve it; call out of the way

All your confederate fellowes of his guard,

Till Monsieur Baligny be enter'd here.

Sold. Upon your honour, my lord shall be free110

From any hurt, you say?

Ren. Free as my selfe. Watch then, and cleare his entrie.

Sold. I will not faile, my lord. Exit Souldier.

Ren. God save your lordship!

Mont. My noblest Lord Renel! past all men welcome!

Wife, welcome his lordship. Osculatur.

Ren. [to Tam.] I much joy 115

In your returne here.

Tamy. You doe more then I.

Mont. Shee's passionate still, to thinke we ever parted

By my too sterne injurious jelousie.

Ren. Tis well your lordship will confesse your errour

In so good time yet.

Mont. Death! who have wee here? 120

Ho! Guard! Villaines!

Baligny. Why exclaime you so?

Mont. Negligent trayters! Murther, murther, murther!

Bal. Y'are mad. Had mine entent beene so, like yours,

It had beene done ere this.

Ren. Sir, your intent,

And action too, was rude to enter thus.125

Bal. Y'are a decaid lord to tell me of rudenesse,

As much decaid in manners as in meanes.

Ren. You talke of manners, that thus rudely thrust

Upon a man that's busie with his wife!

Bal. And kept your lordship then the dore?

Ren. The dore! 130

Mont. Sweet lord, forbeare. Show, show your purpose, sir,

To move such bold feete into others roofes.

Bal. This is my purpose, sir; from Clermont D'Ambois

I bring this challenge.

Mont. Challenge! Ile touch none.

Bal. Ile leave it here then.

Ren. Thou shall leave thy life first. 135

Mont. Murther, murther!

Ren. Retire, my lord; get off.

They all fight and Bal[igny] drives in Mont[surry].

Hold, or thy death shall hold thee. Hence, my lord!

Bal. There lye the chalenge. Exit Mon[tsurry].

Ren. Was not this well handled?

Bal. Nobly, my lord. All thankes. Exit Bal[igny].

Tamy. Ile make him reade it. Exit Tamy[ra].

Ren. This was a sleight well maskt. O what is man,140

Unlesse he be a politician! Exit.

Your Highnesse bountie made mee your lieutenant),

Where when I have him, I will leave my house,

And faine some service out about the confines;

When, in the meane time, if you please to give20

Command to my lieutenant, by your letters,

To traine him to some muster, where he may

(Much to his honour) see for him your forces

Put into battaile, when hee comes, hee may

With some close stratageme be apprehended:25

For otherwise your whole powers there will faile

To worke his apprehension: and with that

My hand needes never be discern'd therein.

Hen. Thankes, honest Baligny.

Bal. Your Highnesse knowes

I will be honest, and betray for you30

Brother and father; for I know (my lord)

Treacherie for Kings is truest loyaltie,

Nor is to beare the name of treacherie,

But grave, deepe policie. All acts that seeme

Ill in particular respects are good35

As they respect your universal rule:

As in the maine sway of the Universe

The supreame Rectors generall decrees,

To guard the mightie globes of earth and heaven,

Since they make good that guard to preservation40

No mans particular (as hee thinkes) wrong

Must hold him wrong'd; no, not though all mens reasons,

All law, all conscience, concludes it wrong.

Nor is comparison a flatterer45

To liken you here to the King of Kings;

Nor any mans particular offence

Against the worlds sway, to offence at yours

In any subject; who as little may

Grudge at their particular wrong, if so it seeme50

For th'universall right of your estate,

As, being a subject of the worlds whole sway

As well as yours, and being a righteous man

To whom heaven promises defence, and blessing,

Brought to decay, disgrace, and quite defencelesse,55

Hee may complaine of heaven for wrong to him.

Hen. Tis true: the simile at all parts holds,

As all good subjects hold, that love our favour.

Bal. Which is our heaven here; and a miserie

Incomparable, and most truely hellish,60

To live depriv'd of our Kings grace and countenance,

Without which best conditions are most cursed:

Life of that nature, howsoever short,

Is a most lingering and tedious life;

Or rather no life, but a languishing,65

And an abuse of life.

Hen. Tis well conceited.

Bal. I thought it not amisse to yeeld your Highness

A reason of my speeches; lest perhaps

You might conceive I flatter'd: which (I know)

Of all ils under heaven you most abhorre.70

Hen. Still thou art right, my vertuous Baligny,

For which I thanke and love thee. Thy advise

Ile not forget. Haste to thy government,

And carry D'Ambois with thee. So farewell. Exit.

Bal. Your Majestie fare ever like it selfe.75

Guise. My sure friend Baligny!

Bal. Noblest of princes!

Gui. How stands the state of Cambray?

Bal. Strong, my lord,

And fit for service: for whose readinesse

Your creature, Clermont D'Ambois, and my selfe

Ride shortly downe.

Gui. That Clermont is my love; 80

France never bred a nobler gentleman

For all parts; he exceeds his brother Bussy.

Bal. I, my lord?

Gui. Farre: because (besides his valour)

Hee hath the crowne of man and all his parts,

Which Learning is; and that so true and vertuous85

That it gives power to doe as well as say

What ever fits a most accomplisht man;

Which Bussy, for his valours season, lackt;

And so was rapt with outrage oftentimes

Beyond decorum; where this absolute Clermont,90

Though (onely for his naturall zeale to right)

Hee will be fiery, when hee sees it crost,

And in defence of it, yet when he lists

Hee can containe that fire, as hid in embers.

Bal. No question, hee's a true, learn'd gentleman.95

Gui. He is as true as tides, or any starre

Is in his motion; and for his rare learning,

Hee is not (as all else are that seeke knowledge)

Of taste so much deprav'd that they had rather

Delight and satisfie themselves to drinke100

Of the streame troubled, wandring ne'er so farre

From the cleare fount, then of the fount it selfe.

In all, Romes Brutus is reviv'd in him,

Whom hee of industry doth imitate;

Or rather, as great Troys Euphorbus was105

Bal. Conspirator, my lord! Doth that empaire him?

Cæsar beganne to tyrannize; and when vertue,

Nor the religion of the Gods, could serve110

Bal. Your Highnesse knowes my vowes.

Gui. I, tis enough. 130

Bal. Thus must wee play on both sides, and thus harten

In any ill those men whose good wee hate.

Kings may doe what they list, and for Kings, subjects,

Eyther exempt from censure or exception;

For, as no mans worth can be justly judg'd 135

There's a redoundance past their continent ever.140

Clermont. Now, to my challenge. What's the place, the weapon?

Bal. Soft, sir! let first your challenge be received.

Hee would not touch, nor see it.

Cler. Possible!

How did you then?

Bal. Left it, in his despight. 150

But when hee saw mee enter so expectlesse,

To heare his base exclaimes of "murther, murther,"

Made mee thinke noblesse lost, in him quicke buried.

No trulier noble men then lions pictures,155

Have spirit to cow them: so our soft French Nobles

Chain'd up in ease and numbd securitie

(Their spirits shrunke up like their covetous fists,

And never opened but Domitian-like,165

And all his base, obsequious minions

When they were catching though it were but flyes),

Besotted with their pezzants love of gaine,

Rusting at home, and on each other preying,

Are for their greatnesse but the greater slaves,170

And none is noble but who scrapes and saves.

Bal. Tis base, tis base; and yet they thinke them high.

Cler. So children mounted on their hobby-horse

Thinke they are riding, when with wanton toile

They beare what should beare them. A man may well175

Compare them to those foolish great-spleen'd cammels,

That to their high heads beg'd of Jove hornes higher;

Whose most uncomely and ridiculous pride

When hee had satisfied, they could not use,

But where they went upright before, they stoopt,180

As these high men doe, low in all true grace,

Their height being priviledge to all things base.

And as the foolish poet that still writ

All his most selfe-lov'd verse in paper royall,185

Or partchment rul'd with lead, smooth'd with the pumice,

Bound richly up, and strung with crimson strings;

Never so blest as when hee writ and read

The ape-lov'd issue of his braine; and never

But joying in himselfe, admiring ever:190

Yet in his workes behold him, and hee show'd

Like to a ditcher. So these painted men,

All set on out-side, looke upon within,

And not a pezzants entrailes you shall finde

More foule and mezel'd, nor more sterv'd of minde.195

Suppos'd his staine that Ile not prove his luster?

Bal. To satisfie you, twas the Massacre.

Cler. The Massacre! I thought twas some such blemish.205

Cler. Tis nothing so. 210

More humane then the men that did expose him?225

Bal. That makes against you.

Cler. Not, sir, if you note

That by that deede, the actions difference make

Twixt men and beasts, and not their names nor formes.

Had faith, nor shame, all hospitable rights

Beene broke by Troy, Greece had not made that slaughter.230

Had that beene sav'd (sayes a philosopher)

The Iliads and Odysses had beene lost.

Had Faith and true Religion beene prefer'd

Religious Guise had never massacerd.

Bal. Well, sir, I cannot, when I meete with you,235

But thus digresse a little, for my learning,

From any other businesse I entend.

But now the voyage we resolv'd for Cambray,

I told the Guise, beginnes; and wee must haste.

And till the Lord Renel hath found some meane240

(Conspiring with the Countesse) to make sure

Your sworne wreake on her husband, though this fail'd,

In my so brave command wee'll spend the time,

Sometimes in training out in skirmishes

And battailes all our troopes and companies;245

That great Guise gave you, that all th'horse in France

Farre over-runnes at every race and hunting

Both of the hare and deere. You shall be honor'd

Like the great Guise himselfe, above the King.250

And (can you but appease your great-spleen'd sister

For our delaid wreake of your brothers slaughter)

At all parts you'll be welcom'd to your wonder.

Cler. Ile see my lord the Guise againe before

Wee take our journey?

Bal. O, sir, by all meanes; 255

You cannot be too carefull of his love,

That ever takes occasion to be raising

Your virtues past the reaches of this age,

And rankes you with the best of th'ancient Romanes.

Cler. That praise at no part moves mee, but the worth260

Of all hee can give others spher'd in him.

Bal. Hee yet is thought to entertaine strange aymes.

Cler. He may be well; yet not, as you thinke, strange.

His strange aymes are to crosse the common custome

Of servile Nobles; in which hee's so ravisht,265

That quite the earth he leaves, and up hee leapes

On Atlas shoulders, and from thence lookes downe,

Viewing how farre off other high ones creepe;

Rich, poore of reason, wander; all pale looking,

And trembling but to thinke of their sure deaths,270

Their lives so base are, and so rancke their breaths.

Which I teach Guise to heighten, and make sweet

With lifes deare odors, a good minde and name;

For which hee onely loves me, and deserves

My love and life, which through all deaths I vow:275

Resolving this (what ever change can be)

Thou hast created, thou hast ruinde mee. Exit.