Bussy D'Ambois and The Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois Part 38

_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 s.h.i.+nes 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 n.o.blesse lost, in him quicke buried.

[Sidenote: _Quo mollius degunt, eo servilius._

Epict.]

_Cler._ They are the breathing sepulchres of n.o.blesse: No trulier n.o.ble 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 n.o.bles 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 n.o.ble but who sc.r.a.pes 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 n.o.bles 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 l.u.s.ter?

_Bal._ To satisfie you, twas the Ma.s.sacre.

_Cler._ The Ma.s.sacre! 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 h.e.l.l, and shrinke not. Who was first Head of that Ma.s.sacre?

_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 ravis.h.i.+ng the Queene Of Lacaedemon; 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 ma.s.sacerd.

_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 n.o.bles; 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:

???a??? (misprinted ????a???) . . . _Antig._ In left margin of Q.

ACTUS TERTII SCaeNA 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 pa.s.se th'insulting Pillars 5 Of Bacchus and Alcides.