Part 14
_Tam._ Those with faire warnings might have beene reform'd, Not these unmanly rages. You have heard The fiction of the north winde and the sunne, 80 Both working on a traveller, and contending Which had most power to take his cloake from him: Which when the winde attempted, hee roar'd out Outragious blasts at him to force it off, That wrapt it closer on: when the calme sunne 85 (The winde once leaving) charg'd him with still beames, Quiet and fervent, and therein was constant, Which made him cast off both his cloake and coate; 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
_Enter a Souldier._
_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?
_Enter Renel, with the Souldier._
_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 free 110 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.
_Enter Baligny, with a challenge._
_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._
_Finis Actus primi._
LINENOTES:
4 _honours_. Emended by Phelps; Q, humors.
_Enter Montsurry._ Emended by all editors; Q, Monsieur.
28 _dry_. Emended by all editors; Q, dye.
52 _affections_. Q, affectons.
62 _Mont._ Emended here, and in the stage-directions to the end of the Scene, by Shepherd, Phelps; Q, _Mons._
100 _it is_. Ed.; Q, tis.
115-16. Broken in Q at _lordship_, _here_, _I_.
123 _Y'are_. Emended by Shepherd, Phelps; Q, Ye'are.
134-36. Broken in Q at first _challenge_, _then_, _murther_, _get off_.
ACTUS SECUNDI SCÆNA PRIMA.
[_A Room at the Court._]
_Henry, Baligny._
_Henry._ Come, Baligny, we now are private; say, What service bring'st thou? make it short; the Guise (Whose friend thou seem'st) is now in Court, and neare, And may observe us.
_Baligny._ This, sir, then, in short. The faction of the Guise (with which my policie, 5 For service to your Highnesse, seemes to joyne) Growes ripe, and must be gather'd into hold; Of which my brother Clermont being a part Exceeding capitall, deserves to have A capitall eye on him. And (as you may 10 With best advantage, and your speediest charge) Command his apprehension: which (because The Court, you know, is strong in his defence) Wee must aske country swindge and open fields. And therefore I have wrought him to goe downe 15 To Cambray with me (of which government 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 give 20 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 you 30 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 good 35 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 preservation 40 Of both those in their order and first end, 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 flatterer 45 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 seeme 50 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
_Enter Guise._
_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 vertuous 85 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 drinke 100 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 was 105 After Pithagoras, so is Brutus, Clermont. And, were not Brutus a conspirator--
_Bal._ Conspirator, my lord! Doth that empaire him? Cæsar beganne to tyrannize; and when vertue, Nor the religion of the Gods, could serve 110 To curbe the insolence of his proud lawes, Brutus would be the Gods just instrument. What said the Princesse, sweet Antigone, In the grave Greeke tragedian, when the question Twixt her and Creon is for lawes of Kings? 115 Which when he urges, shee replies on him Though his lawes were a Kings, they were not Gods; Nor would shee value Creons written lawes With Gods unwrit edicts, since they last not This day and the next, but every day and ever, 120 Where Kings lawes alter every day and houre, And in that change imply a bounded power.
_Gui._ Well, let us leave these vaine disputings what Is to be done, and fall to doing something. When are you for your government in Cambray? 125
_Bal._ When you command, my lord.
_Gui._ Nay, that's not fit. Continue your designements with the King, With all your service; onely, if I send, Respect me as your friend, and love my Clermont.
_Bal._ Your Highnesse knowes my vowes.
_Gui._ I, tis enough. 130 _Exit Guise. Manet Bal[igny]._
[Sidenote: +Amêchanon de pantos+, &c.
_Impossible est viri cognoscere mentem ac voluntatem, priusquam in Magistratibus apparet._
Sopho. _Antig._]
_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 But when he shines in some authoritie, So no authoritie should suffer censure But by a man of more authoritie. Great vessels into lesse are emptied never, There's a redoundance past their continent ever. 140 These _virtuosi_ are the poorest creatures; For looke how spinners weave out of themselves Webs, whose strange matter none before can see; So these, out of an unseene good in vertue, Make arguments of right and comfort in her, 145 That clothe them like the poore web of a spinner.
_Enter Clermont._
_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.
[Sidenote: _Quo mollius degunt, eo servilius._
Epict.]
_Cler._ They are the breathing sepulchres of noblesse: No trulier noble men then lions pictures, 155 Hung up for signes, are lions. Who knowes not That lyons the more soft kept, are more servile? And looke how lyons close kept, fed by hand, Lose quite th'innative fire of spirit and greatnesse That lyons free breathe, forraging for prey, 160 And grow so grosse that mastifes, curs, and mungrils 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 well 175 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 And bore their heads much lower for their hornes: Simil[iter.] 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
_Bal._ That makes their bodies fat. I faine would know How many millions of our other Nobles Would make one Guise. There is a true tenth Worthy, Who, did not one act onely blemish him--
_Cler._ One act! what one?
_Bal._ One that (though yeeres past done) 200 Stickes by him still, and will distaine him ever.
_Cler._ Good heaven! wherein? what one act can you name 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
_Bal._ O, it was hainous!
_Cler._ To a brutish sense, But not a manly reason. Wee so tender The vile part in us that the part divine We see in hell, and shrinke not. Who was first Head of that Massacre?
_Bal._ The Guise.
_Cler._ Tis nothing so. 210 Who was in fault for all the slaughters made In Ilion, and about it? Were the Greekes? Was it not Paris ravishing the Queene Of Lacædemon; breach of shame and faith, And all the lawes of hospitalitie? 215 This is the beastly slaughter made of men, When truth is over-throwne, his lawes corrupted; When soules are smother'd in the flatter'd flesh, Slaine bodies are no more then oxen slaine.
_Bal._ Differ not men from oxen?
_Cler._ Who sayes so? 220 But see wherein; in the understanding rules Of their opinions, lives, and actions; In their communities of faith and reason. Was not the wolfe that nourisht Romulus 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 meane 240 (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 And sometimes breathe your brave Scotch running horse, 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 worth 260 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._
_Finis Actus secundi._
LINENOTES:
+Amêchanon+ (misprinted +Aukchanou+) . . . _Antig._ In left margin of Q.
ACTUS TERTII SCÆNA PRIMA.
[_A Parade-Ground near Cambrai._]
_A march of Captaines over the Stage._
_Maillard, Chalon, Aumall following with Souldiers._
_Maillard._ These troopes and companies come in with wings: So many men, so arm'd, so gallant horse, I thinke no other government in France So soone could bring together. With such men Me thinkes a man might passe th'insulting Pillars 5 Of Bacchus and Alcides.
_Chalon._ I much wonder Our Lord Lieutenant brought his brother downe To feast and honour him, and yet now leaves him At such an instance.
_Mail._ Twas the Kings command; For whom he must leave brother, wife, friend, all things. 10
_Aumale._ The confines of his government, whose view Is the pretext of his command, hath neede Of no such sodaine expedition.
_Mail._ Wee must not argue that. The Kings command Is neede and right enough: and that he serves, 15 (As all true subjects should) without disputing.
_Chal._ But knowes not hee of your command to take His brother Clermont?
_Mail._ No: the Kings will is Expressely to conceale his apprehension From my Lord Governour. Observ'd yee not? 20 Againe peruse the letters. Both you are Made my assistants, and have right and trust In all the waightie secrets like my selfe.
_Aum._ Tis strange a man that had, through his life past, So sure a foote in vertue and true knowledge 25 As Clermont D'Ambois, should be now found tripping, And taken up thus, so to make his fall More steepe and head-long.
_Mail._ It is Vertues fortune, To keepe her low, and in her proper place; Height hath no roome for her. But as a man 30 That hath a fruitfull wife, and every yeere A childe by her, hath every yeere a month To breathe himselfe, where hee that gets no childe Hath not a nights rest (if he will doe well); So, let one marry this same barraine Vertue, 35 She never lets him rest, where fruitfull Vice Spares her rich drudge, gives him in labour breath, Feedes him with bane, and makes him fat with death.
_Chal._ I see that good lives never can secure Men from bad livers. Worst men will have best 40 As ill as they, or heaven to hell they'll wrest.
_Aum._ There was a merit for this, in the fault That Bussy made, for which he (doing pennance) Proves that these foule adulterous guilts will runne Through the whole bloud, which not the cleare can shunne. 45
_Mail._ Ile therefore take heede of the bastarding Whole innocent races; tis a fearefull thing. And as I am true batcheler, I sweare, To touch no woman (to the coupling ends) Unlesse it be mine owne wife or my friends; 50 I may make bold with him.
_Aum._ Tis safe and common. The more your friend dares trust, the more deceive him. And as through dewie vapors the sunnes forme Makes the gay rainebow girdle to a storme, So in hearts hollow, friendship (even the sunne 55 To all good growing in societie) Makes his so glorious and divine name hold Collours for all the ill that can be told. _Trumpets within._
_Mail._ Harke! our last troopes are come.
_Chal._ (_Drums beate._) Harke! our last foote.
_Mail._ Come, let us put all quickly into battaile, 60 And send for Clermont, in whose honour all This martiall preparation wee pretend.
_Chal._ Wee must bethinke us, ere wee apprehend him, (Besides our maine strength) of some stratageme To make good our severe command on him, 65 As well to save blood as to make him sure: For if hee come on his Scotch horse, all France Put at the heeles of him will faile to take him.
_Mail._ What thinke you if wee should disguise a brace Of our best souldiers in faire lackies coates, 70 And send them for him, running by his side, Till they have brought him in some ambuscado We close may lodge for him, and sodainely Lay sure hand on him, plucking him from horse?
_Aum._ It must be sure and strong hand; for if once 75 Hee feeles the touch of such a stratageme, Tis not choicest brace of all our bands Can manacle or quench his fiery hands.
_Mail._ When they have seaz'd him, the ambush shal make in.
_Aum._ Doe as you please; his blamelesse spirit deserves 80 (I dare engage my life) of all this, nothing.
_Chal._ Why should all this stirre be, then?
_Aum._ Who knowes not The bumbast politie thrusts into his gyant, To make his wisedome seeme of size as huge, And all for sleight encounter of a shade, 85 So hee be toucht, hee would have hainous made?
_Mail._ It may be once so; but so ever, never. Ambition is abroad, on foote, on horse; Faction chokes every corner, streete, the Court; Whose faction tis you know, and who is held 90 The fautors right hand: how high his aymes reach Nought but a crowne can measure. This must fall Past shadowes waights, and is most capitall.
_Chal._ No question; for since hee is come to Cambray, The malecontent, decaid Marquesse Renel, 95 Is come, and new arriv'd; and made partaker Of all the entertaining showes and feasts That welcom'd Clermont to the brave virago, His manly sister. Such wee are esteem'd As are our consorts. Marquesse malecontent 100 Comes where hee knowes his vaine hath safest vent.