The Works of Christopher Marlowe Volume II Part 55

[_Exeunt._

SCENE XI.

_Enter_[389] _two_ Men, _with the_ ADMIRAL'S _body_.

_First Man._ Now, sirrah, what shall we do with the Admiral?

_Sec. Man._ Why, let us burn him for an heretic.

_First Man._ O no! his body will infect the fire, and the fire the air, and so we shall be poisoned with him.

_Sec. Man._ What shall we do, then?

_First Man._ Let's throw him into the river.

_Sec. Man._ O, 'twill corrupt the water, and the water the fish, and the[390] fish ourselves when we eat them!

_First Man._ Then throw him into a ditch. 10

_Sec. Man._ No, no. To decide all doubts, be ruled by me: let's hang him here upon this tree.

_First Man._ Agreed.

[_They hang up the body on a tree, and then exeunt._

_Enter_ GUISE, CATHERINE _the Queen-Mother, and the_ CARDINAL OF LORRAINE, _with_ Attendants.

_Guise._ Now, madam, how like you our l.u.s.ty Admiral?

_Cath._ Believe me, Guise, he becomes the place so well As I could long ere this have wish'd him there.

But come, Let's walk aside; the air's not very sweet.

_Guise._ No, by my faith, madam.--

Sirs, take him away, and throw him in some ditch. 20 [_The_ Attendants _bear off the_ ADMIRAL'S _body_.

And now, madam, as I understand, There are a hundred Huguenots and more, Which in the woods do hold their synagogue, And daily meet about this time of day; And thither will I, to put them to the sword.

_Cath._ Do so, sweet Guise; let us delay no time; For, if these stragglers gather head again, And disperse themselves throught the realm of France, It will be hard for us to work their deaths.

Be gone; delay no time, sweet Guise.

_Guise._ Madam, 30 I go as whirlwinds rage before a storm. [_Exit._

_Cath._ My Lord of Lorraine, have you marked of late, How Charles our son begins for to lament For the late night's work which my Lord of Guise Did make in Paris among the Huguenots?

_Card._ Madam, I have heard him solemnly vow, With the rebellious King of Navarre, To revenge their deaths upon us all.

_Cath._ I, but, my lord, let me alone for that; For Catherine must have her will in France. 40 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 us go.

[_Exeunt._

SCENE XII.

_Enter_[391] _five or six_ Protestants, _with books, and kneel together. Then enter_ GUISE _and others_.

_Guise._ Down with the Huguenots! murder them!

_First Pro._ O Monsieur de Guise, hear me but speak!

_Guise._ No, villain; that tongue of thine, That hath blasphem'd the holy Church of Rome, Shall drive no plaints into the Guise's ears, To make the justice of my heart relent.-- _Tuez, tuez, tuez!_ let none escape. [_They kill the_ Protestants.

So drag them away.

[_Exeunt with the bodies._

SCENE XIII.

_Enter_[392] KING CHARLES, _supported by the_ KING OF NAVARRE _and_ EPERNOUN; CATHERINE _the Queen-Mother, the_ CARDINAL OF LORRAINE, PLESHe,[393]

_and_ Attendants.

_Char._ O, let me stay, and rest me here awhile!

A griping pain hath seiz'd upon my heart; A sudden pang, the messenger of death.

_Cath._ O, say not so! thou kill'st thy mother's heart.

_Char._ I must say so; pain forceth me complain.

_Nav._ Comfort yourself, my lord, and have no doubt But G.o.d will sure restore you to your health.

_Char._ O no, my loving brother of Navarre!

I have deserved a scourge, I must confess; Yet is their[394] patience of another sort 10 Than to misdo the welfare of their king: G.o.d grant my nearest friends may prove no worse!

O, hold me up, my sight begins to fail, My sinews shrink, my brains turn upside down; My heart doth break: I faint and die. [_Dies._

_Cath._ Art thou dead, sweet son? speak to thy mother!

O no, his soul is fled from out his breast, And he nor hears nor sees us what we do!

My lords, what resteth there now to be done, But that we presently despatch amba.s.sadors 20 To Poland, to call Henry back again, To wear his brother's crown and dignity?

Epernoun, go see it presently be done, And bid him come without delay to us.

_Eper._ Madam, I will. [_Exit._

_Cath._ And now, My lords, after these funerals be done, We will, with all the speed we can, provide For Henry's coronation from Polony.

Come, let us take his body hence. 30 [_The body of_ KING CHARLES _is borne out; and_ _exeunt all except the_ KING OF NAVARRE _and_ PLESHe.

_Nav._ And now, Pleshe,[395] whilst that these broils do last, My opportunity may serve it fit To steal from France, and hie me to my home, For there's no safety in this realm for me: And now that Henry is call'd from Poland, It is my due, by just succession; And therefore, as speedily as I can perform, I'll muster up an army secretly, For fear that Guise, join'd with the king of Spain, Might seek[396] to cross me in mine enterprise. 40 But G.o.d, that always doth defend the right, Will show his mercy, and preserve us still.

_Pleshe._ The virtues of our true religion Cannot but march, with many graces more, Whose army shall discomfort all your foes, And, at the length, in Pampelonia[397] crown (In spite of Spain, and all the popish power, That holds it from your highness wrongfully) Your majesty her rightful lord and sovereign.

_Nav._ Truth, Pleshe; and G.o.d so prosper me in all, 50 As I intend to labour for the truth, And true profession of his holy word!

Come, Pleshe, let's away whilst time doth serve.

[_Exeunt._