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And had his altars deck'd with dusky lights;
If ever sun stain'd heaven with bloody clouds,
And made it look with terror on the world;
If ever day were turn'd to ugly night,

And night made semblance of the hue of hell;

*

This day, this hour, this fatal night,

Shall fully shew the fury of them all.-
Apothecary!

Enter Apothecary.

Apoth. My lord?

Guise. Now shall I prove, and guerdon to the
full,

The love thou bear'st unto the house of Guise.
Where are those perfum'd gloves which I sent†
To be poison'd? hast thou done them? speak;
Will every savour breed a pang of death?

Oft have I levell'd, and at last have learn'd
That peril is the chiefest way to happiness,
And resolution honour's fairest aim.
What glory is there in a common good,
That hangs for every peasant to achieve?
That like I best, that flies beyond my reach.
Set me to scale the high Pyramides,
And thereon set the diadem of France;
I'll either rend it with my nails to naught,
Or mount the top with my aspiring wings,
Although my downfall be the deepest hell.
For this I wake, when others think I sleep;
For this I wait, that scorn attendance else;
For this, my quenchless thirst, whereon I build,
Hath often pleaded kindred to the king;
For this, this head, this heart, this hand, and
sword,

Apoth. See where they be, my good lord; and Contrives, imagines, and fully executes,

he that smells

But to them, dies.

Guise. Then thou remain'st resolute ?

Apoth. I am, my lord, in what your grace commands,

Till death.

Matters of import aimèd at by many,
Yet understood by none;

For this, hath heaven engender'd me of earth;
For this, this earth sustains my body's weight,
And with this weight I'll counterpoise a crown,
Or with seditions weary all the world;

Guise. Thanks, my good friend: I will requite For this, from Spain the stately Catholics
thy love.

Go, then, present them to the Queen Navarre;
For she is that huge blemish in our eye,
That makes these upstart heresies in France:
Be gone, my friend, present them to her straight.
[Ecit Apothecary.

Soldier!

Sold. My lord?

Enter a Soldier.

Send Indian gold to coin me French ecues;*
For this, have I a largess from the Pope,

A pension, and a dispensation too;
And by that privilege to work upon,
My policy hath fram'd religion.
Religion! O Diabole !

Fie, I am asham'd, however that I seem,

To think a word of such a simple sound,

Of so great matter should be made the ground!

Guise. Now come thou forth, and play thy The gentle king, whose pleasure uncontroll'd

tragic part:

Stand in some window, opening near the street,
And when thou see'st the Admiral ride by,
Discharge thy musket, and perform his death;
And then I'll guerdon thee with store of crowns.
Sold. I will, my lord.
[Exit.

Guise. Now, Guise, begin those deep-engen-
der'd thoughts

To burst abroad those never-dying flames
Which cannot be extinguish'd but by blood.

*This day, &c.] Something wanting in this line. Qy. "and this fatal night,”—“hour" being, as it very often is, a dissyllable?

t which I sent] The modern editors, for the metre, print, "which late I sent."

Enter a Soldier, &c.] "L'assassin fut bientôt trouvé. On choisit le fameux Maurevel, qui se cacha dans une maison devant laquelle l'amiral passoit tous les jours en revenant du Louvre," &c. Anquetil,-Hist. de France, t. v. 226, ed. 1817.

Weakeneth his body, and will waste his realin,
If I repair not what he ruinates,-
Him, as a child, I daily win with words,
So that for proof he barely bears the name;
I execute, and he sustains the blame.
The Mother-Queen works wonders for my sake,
And in my love entombs the hope of France,
Rifling the bowels of her treasury,

To supply my wants and necessity.
Paris hath full five hundred colleges,
As monasteries, priories, abbeys, and halls,
Wherein are thirty thousand able men,
Besides a thousand sturdy student Catholics;
And more, of my knowledge, in one cloister
keep +

Five hundred fat Franciscan friars and priests:

*ecues] i. e. crowns.
† keep] i. e. dwell.

All this, and more, if more may be compris'd,
To bring the will of our desires to end.
Then, Guise,

Since thou hast all the cards within thy hands,
To shuffle or cut, take this as surest thing,
That, right or wrong, thou deal thyself a king.—
Ay, but, Navarre,*-'tis but a nook of France,
Sufficient yet for such a petty king,
That, with a rabblement of his heretics,
Blinds Europe's eyes, and troubleth our estate.
Him will we [Pointing to his sword.] but first
let's follow those in France

That hinder our possession to the crown.
As Cæsar to his soldiers, so say I,-
Those that hate me will I learn to loathe.
Give me a look, that, when I bend the brows,
Pale death may walk in furrows of my face;
A hand, that with a grasp may gripe the world;
An ear to hear what my detractors say;
A royal seat, a sceptre, and a crown;

That those which do behold them † may become
As men that stand and gaze against the sun.
The plot is laid, and things shall come to pass
Where resolution strives for victory.

[Exit.

Enter the KING OF NAVARRE, QUEEN MARGARET, the OLD QUEEN OF NAVARRE, the PRINCE OF CONDE, and the ADMIRAL; they are met by the Apothecary with the gloves, which he gives to the OLD QUEEN.

Apoth. Madam,

I beseech your grace to accept this simple gift. Old Q. of Nav. Thanks, my good friend. Hold,

take thou this reward. [Gives a purse. Apoth. I humbly thank your majesty. [Exit. Old Q. of Nav. Methinks the gloves have a very strong perfume,

The scent whereof doth make my head to ache. Nav. Doth not your grace know the man that gave them you?

Old Q of Nav. Not well; but do remember

such a man.

Adm. Your grace was ill-advis'd to take them, then,

Considering of these dangerous times.

Old Q. of Nav. Help, son Navarre! I am poison'd!

Mar. The heavens forbid your highness such mishap!

Nav. The late suspicion of the Duke of Guise Might well have mov'd your highness to beware How you did meddle with such dangerous gifts.

* Navarre] Old ed. "Nauarre, Nauarre." them] Old ed. "they."

Enter the King of Navarre, &c.] Scene, a street.

Mar. Too late it is, my lord, if that be true, To blame her highness; but I hope it be Only some natural passion makes her sick.

Old Q. of Nav. O, no, sweet Margaret! the fatal poison

Works within my head; my brain-pan breaks; My heart doth faint; I die! [Dies.

Nav. My mother poison'd here before my face!

O gracious God, what times are these!

O, grant, sweet God, my days may end with hers, That I with her may die and live again!

Mar. Let not this heavy chance, my dearest lord, (For whose effects my soul is massacrèd,) Infect thy gracious breast with fresh supply To aggravate our sudden misery.

Adm. Come, my lords, let us bear her body hence,

And see it honoured with just solemnity.

[As they are going out, the Soldier dischargeth his musket at the ADMIRAL.

Con. What, are you hurt, my Lord High Admiral?

Adm. Ay, my good lord, shot through the arm.
Nav. We are betray'd! Come, my lords,

And let us go tell the king of this.
Adm. These are

The cursed Guisians, that do seek our death.
O, fatal was this marriage to us all!

[Exeunt, bearing out the body of the OLD QUEEN OF
NAVARRE.†

Enter KING CHARLES, CATHERINE the Queen-Mother, GUISE, ANJOU, and DUMAINE.

Cath. My noble son, and princely Duke of
Guise,

Now have we got the fatal, straggling deer
Within the compass of a deadly toil,
And, as we late decreed, we may perform.

Char. Madam, it will be noted through the world

An action bloody and tyrannical;
Chiefly, since under safety of our word
They justly challenge their protection :

*Works] The modern editors print, for the metre, "Doth work."-Qy. "Worketh"?

the body of the Old Queen of Navarre] "La reine de Navarre arriva à la cour au milieu du mois de mai [1572], et le 9 juin elle étoit morte. Un cri se fit entendre par toute la France qu'elle avoit été empoisonnée; cependant, malgré les recherches les plus exactes, on ne lui trouva aucune trace de poison. Mais que ne pouvoit-on pas présumer, après les exemples trop sûrs qu'on avoit des morts aussi nécessaires, procurées par différents moyens?" Anquetil,-Hist. de France, t. v. 220, ed. 1817.

Enter King Charles, &c.] Scene, an apartment in the

Louvre.

Besides, my heart relents that noblemen,
Only corrupted in religion,

Ladies of honour, knights, and gentlemen, Should, for their conscience, taste such ruthless ends.

Anj. Though gentle minds should pity others' pains,

Yet will the wisest note their proper griefs,
And rather seek to scourge their enemies
Than be themselves base subjects to the whip.
Guise. Methinks my Lord Anjou hath well
advis'd

Your highness to consider of the thing,

And rather choose to seek your country's good Than pity or relieve these upstart heretics.

Cath. I hope these reasons may serve my princely son

To have some care for fear of enemies.

Char. Well, madam, I refer it to your majesty, And to my nephew here, the Duke of Guise: What you determine, I will ratify.

Cath. Thanks to my princely son. Then tell me, Guise,

What order will you set down for the massacre?
Guise. Thus, madam. They

That shall be actors in this massacre,
Shall wear white crosses on their burgonets,†
And tie white linen scarfs about their arms:
He that wants these, and is suspect
Shall die, be he king or emperor.

have

of heresy, Then I'll

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Cath. Your majesty were best go visit him, And make a show as if all were well.

Char. Content; I will go visit the Admiral. Guise. And I will go take order for his death. [Exeunt CATHERINE and GUISE.

The ADMIRAL discovered in bed.*

Char. How fares it with my Lord High
Admiral?

Hath he been hurt with villains in the street?
I vow and swear, as I am king of France,
To find and to repay the man with death,
With death delay'd and torments never us'd,
That durst presume, for hope of any gain,
To hurt the nobleman his † sovereign loves.
Adm. Ah, my good lord, these are the
Guisians,

That seek to massacre our guiltless lives!

Char. Assure yourself, my good Lord Admiral, I deeply sorrow for your treacherous wrong; And that I am not more secure myself Than I am careful you should be preserv'd.Cousin, take twenty of our strongest guard, And, under your direction, see they keep All treacherous violence from our noble friend; Repaying all attempts with present death Upon the cursed breakers of our peace.— And so be patient, good Lord Admiral, And every hour I will visit you.

Adm. I humbly thank your royal majesty. [Exeunt CHARLES, &c. Scene closes.

Enter GUISE, ANJOU, DUMAINE, GONZAGO, RETES, § MOUNTSORRELL, and Soldiers, to the massacre.

Guise. Anjou, Dumaine, Gonzago, Retes, swear, By the argent crosses in your burgonets, To kill all that you suspect of heresy.

Dum. I swear by this, to be unmerciful.

*The Admiral discovered in bed] Old ed. "Enter the Admirall in his bed." Sometimes such stage-directions meant that a bed, containing the sleeper, was to be thrust upon the stage; but we may conclude from a subsequent scene (p. 231, first col.) that here, a curtain having been drawn, the Admiral was discovered on a bed, upon what was called the upper-stage. The audience were now to suppose that they beheld the Admiral's sleeping apartment. The old ed. does not mark the exit of Catherine; but it is evident that our poet intended her to go out here. We are told, however, by historians that she accompanied the king when he visited the wounded Admiral: see note on Mem. de Sully, t. i. 48, ed. 1747, Loudres.

this] Old ed. "their."

Enter Guise, &c.] Scene, a street.

§ Gonzago, Retes] i. e. Louis de Gonzague, Duc de Nevers; and Albert de Gondi, Duc de Retz.

Anj. I am disguis'd, and none knows who I

am,

And therefore mean to murder all I meet.

Gon. And so will I.

Retes. And I.

Guise. Away, then! break into the Admiral's
house.

Retes. Ay, let the Admiral be first despatch'd.
Guise. The Admiral,

Chief standard-bearer to the Lutherans,
Shall in the entrance of this massacre
Be murder'd in his bed.

Gonzago, conduct them thither; and then
Beset his house, that not a man may live.

Anj. That charge is mine.-Switzers, keep you
the streets;

And at each corner shall the king's guard stand.
Gon. Come, sirs, follow me.

[Exit GONZAGO with others.

Guise. Then throw him down.

[The body of the ADMIRAL is thrown down.
Anj. Now, cousin, view him well:
It may be 'tis some other, and he escap'd.
Guise. Cousin, 'tis he; I know him by his
look:

See where my soldier shot him through the arm;
He miss'd him near, but we have struck him

now.

Ah, base Chatillon and degenerate,
Chief standard-bearer to the Lutherans,
Thus, in despite of thy religion,

The Duke of Guise stamps on thy lifeless bulk!
Anj. Away with him! cut off his head and

hands,*

And send them for a present to the Pope;
And, when this just revenge is finished,
Unto Mount Faucon + will we drag his corse;
And he, that living hated so the Cross,

Anj. Cousin, the captain of the Admiral's Shall, being dead, be hang'd thereon in chains.

guard,
Plac'd by my brother, will betray his lord.
Now, Guise, shall Catholics flourish once again;
The head being off, the members cannot stand.
Retes. But look, my lord, there's some in the
Admiral's house.

[The ADMIRAL discovered in bed; Gonzago and
others in the house.†

Anj. In lucky time: come, let us keep this
lane,

And slay his servants that shall issue out.

Gon. Where is the Admiral?

Adm. O, let me pray before I die!

Gon. Then pray unto our Lady; kiss this

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So in Heywood's

Four Prentises of London, the Soldier, having captured
Robert and Charles, says,-

"Take them to guard: this entrance to our warres
Is full of spirit, and begets much hope."

Sig. G. 4. ed. 1615. The Admiral discovered in bed: Gonzago and others in the house] Old ed. "Enter into the Admirals house, and he in his bed." Here, we must suppose that, a curtain having been drawn (as before, p. 230, sec. col.), the Admiral was discovered in bed,-on the upper-stage, as it appears from what Guise presently says, "Then throw him down."-The Admiral's body was thrown out of the window see Mezeray's Hist. de France, t. ii. 1095, ed. 1646. It would seem that the audience were now to suppose that they saw at once both the interior of the Admiral's dwelling, and the street or court before it !"L'Amiral étoit logé dans la rue Betify, dans une Auberge qui est aujourd'hui l'Hôtel S. Pierre." Note on Mem. de Sully, t. i. 55, ed. 1747, Londres.

Guise. Anjou, Gonzago, Retes, if that you

three

Will be as resolute as I and Dumaine,
There shall not a Huguenot breathe in France.

*cut off his head and hands, &c.] "Vn Italien de sa garde [of the Chevalier's guard] luy coupa la teste, et la porta incontinent à la Reyne mere, qui l'ayant enbaumée, à ce que disent les Huguenots, l'enuoya à Rome." Mezeray, ubi supra.

↑ Mount Faucon] So the old ed.; and so indeed our early authors usually wrote the name;

"O, may they once as high as Haman mount,
And from Mount Faulcon give a sad account," &c.
Sylvester's Du Bartas's Works (A Hymn of Alms),

p. 517, ed. 1641.

"La populace s'attache à ce malheureux corps sans teste, et lui fait toutes les indignitez imaginables: premierement ils luy coupent les mains et les parties honteuses, et e laissent sur le fumier d'vne escurie; puis l'apredisnée, ils le reprennent, le traisnent trois iours durant par es boules, et le iettent dans l'eau; après l'en ayant retiré, ils le portent à Montfaucon, où le pendant les pieds en haut auec vne chaisne de fer, ils allument du feu dessous pour le brusler: mais il n'en est que grillé seulement, et non pas consumé. Ainsi leur vengeance s'acharnant sur celuy qu'ils auoient tant apprehendé viuant, le tourmenta par tous les elemens, iusqu'à tant que le Mareschal de Montmorency fit desrober durant vne nuit obscure ces miserables restes, et leur donna repos dans sa Chappelle de Chantilly." Mezeray, ubi supra.—“A little on this side Paris, euen at the towns end, there is the fayrest Gallowes that euer I saw, built vpon a little hillocke called Mount Falcon, which consisteth of fourteene faire pillars of free-stone: this gallowes was made in the time of the Guisian massacre, to hang the Admirall of France Chatillion, who was a Protestant, Anno Dom. 1572." Coryat's Crudities, &c. p. 20, ed. 1611.-I may just observe that the treatment of the Admiral's body in a later scene (p. 234, sec. col.) is at variance with the present speech of Anjou.

Anj. I swear by this cross, we'll not be partial, Without the intercession of some saint? But slay as many as we can come near.

Guise. Mountsorrell, go shoot the ordnance off, That they, which have already set the street, May know their watchword; then toll the bell, And so let's forward to the massacre.

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Sanctus Jacobus, he's † my saint; pray to him.
Ser. O, let me pray unto my God!
Mount. Then take this with you.

[Stabs SEROUNE, who dies; and then exit.

Enter RAMUS, in his study.

Ramus. What fearful cries come from the river

Seine,+

That fright poor Ramus sitting at his book!
I fear the Guisians have pass'd the bridge,
And mean once more to menace me.

Enter TALEUS. §

Tal. Fly, Ramus, fly, if thou wilt save thy life!

Ramus. Tell me, Talæus, wherefore should I fly?

Tal. The Guisians are

Hard at thy door, and mean to murder us:
Hark, hark, they come! I'll leap out at the

window.

Ramus. Sweet Talæus, stay.

Enter GONZAGO and RETES.

Gon. Who goes there?

Retes. 'Tis Talæus, Ramus' bedfellow.
Gon. What art thou?

Tal. I am, as Ramus is, a Christian.
Retes. O, let him go; he is a Catholic.

[Exit TALEUS. Gon. Come, Ramus, more gold, or thou shalt have the stab.

Ramus. Alas, I am a scholar! how should I
have gold?

All that I have is but my stipend from the king,
Which is no sooner receiv'd but it is spent.

Enter GUISE, ANJOU, DUMAINE, MOUNTSORRELL, and
Soldiers.

Anj. Who have you there?

Retes. "Tis Ramus, the king's Professor of
Logic.
Guise. Stab him.

Ramus. O, good my lord,

Wherein hath Ramus been so offensious?

Guise. Marry, sir, in having a smack in all,

And yet didst never sound anything to the depth.

* Sanctus] Old ed. "Sancta,"

t he's] Old ed. "he was."

Seine] Old ed. "Rene."

Talaus] i. e. Audomarus Talæus.

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