Bussy D'Ambois and The Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois Part 46

_Gui._ In his most gentle and unwearied minde, Rightly to vertue fram'd in very nature; 15 In his most firme inexorable spirit To be remov'd from any thing hee chuseth For worthinesse; or beare the lest perswasion To what is base, or fitteth not his object; In his contempt of riches, and of greatnesse 20 In estimation of th'idolatrous vulgar; His scorne of all things servile and ign.o.ble, Though they could gaine him never such advancement; His liberall kinde of speaking what is truth, In spight of temporising; the great rising 25 And learning of his soule so much the more Against ill fortune, as shee set her selfe Sharpe against him or would present most hard, To shunne the malice of her deadliest charge; His detestation of his speciall friends, 30 When he perceiv'd their tyrannous will to doe, Or their abjection basely to sustaine Any injustice that they could revenge; The flexibilitie of his most anger, Even in the maine careere and fury of it, 35 When any object of desertfull pittie Offers it selfe to him; his sweet disposure, As much abhorring to behold as doe Any unnaturall and bloudy action; His just contempt of jesters, parasites, 40 Servile observers, and polluted tongues-- In short, this Senecall man is found in him, Hee may with heavens immortall powers compare, To whom the day and fortune equall are; Come faire or foule, whatever chance can fall, 45 Fixt in himselfe, hee still is one to all.

_Hen._ Showes he to others thus?

_Omnes._ To all that know him.

_Hen._ And apprehend I this man for a traitor?

_Gui._ These are your Machevilian villaines, Your b.a.s.t.a.r.d Teucers, that, their mischiefes done, 50 Runne to your s.h.i.+eld for shelter; Cacusses That cut their too large murtherous theveries To their dens length still. Woe be to that state Where treacherie guards, and ruine makes men great!

_Hen._ Goe, take my letters for him, and release him. 55

_Om._ Thankes to your Highnesse; ever live your Highnesse!

_Exeunt._

_Baligny._ Better a man were buried quicke then live A propertie for state and spoile to thrive. _Exit._

LINENOTES:

_Aversus._ In left margin in Q.

51 _Cacusses_. Ed.; Q, Caucusses.

[SCaeNA QUINTA.

_A Country Road, between Cambrai and Paris._]

_Enter Clermont, Mail[lard], Chal[on] with Souldiers._

_Maillard._ Wee joy you take a chance so ill, so well.

_Clermont._ Who ever saw me differ in acceptance Of eyther fortune?

_Chalon._ What, love bad like good!

How should one learne that?

_Cler._ To love nothing outward, Or not within our owne powers to command; 5 And so being sure of every thing we love, Who cares to lose the rest? if any man Would neyther live nor dye in his free choise, But as hee sees necessitie will have it (Which if hee would resist, he strives in vaine) 10 What can come neere him that hee doth not well?

And if in worst events his will be done, How can the best be better? all is one.

_Mail._ Me thinkes tis prettie.

_Cler._ Put no difference If you have this, or not this; but as children 15 Playing at coites ever regard their game, And care not for their coites, so let a man The things themselves that touch him not esteeme, But his free power in well disposing them.

_Chal._ Prettie, from toyes!

_Cler._ Me thinkes this double disticke 20 Seemes prettily too to stay superfluous longings: "Not to have want, what riches doth exceede?

Not to be subject, what superiour thing?

He that to nought aspires, doth nothing neede; Who breakes no law is subject to no King." 25

_Mail._ This goes to mine eare well, I promise you.

_Chal._ O, but tis pa.s.sing hard to stay one thus.

_Cler._ Tis so; rancke custome raps men so beyond it.

And as tis hard so well mens dores to barre To keepe the cat out and th'adulterer: 30 So tis as hard to curbe affections so Wee let in nought to make them over-flow.

And as of Homers verses, many critickes On those stand of which times old moth hath eaten The first or last feete, and the perfect parts 35 Of his unmatched poeme sinke beneath, With upright gasping and sloath dull as death: So the unprofitable things of life, And those we cannot compa.s.se, we affect; All that doth profit and wee have, neglect, 40 Like covetous and basely getting men That, gathering much, use never what they keepe; But for the least they loose, extreamely weepe.

_Mail._ This prettie talking, and our horses walking Downe this steepe hill, spends time with equall profit. 45

_Cler._ Tis well bestow'd on ye; meate and men sicke Agree like this and you: and yet even this Is th'end of all skill, power, wealth, all that is.

_Chal._ I long to heare, sir, how your mistresse takes this.

_Enter Aumal with a cabinet._

_Mail._ Wee soone shall know it; see Aumall return'd. 50

_Aumale._ Ease to your bands, sir!

_Cler._ Welcome, worthy friend!

_Chal._ How tooke his n.o.blest mistresse your sad message?

_Aum._ As great rich men take sodaine povertie.

I never witness'd a more n.o.ble love, Nor a more ruthfull sorrow: I well wisht 55 Some other had beene master of my message.

_Mail._ Y'are happy, sir, in all things, but this one Of your unhappy apprehension.

_Cler._ This is to mee, compar'd with her much mone, As one teare is to her whole pa.s.sion. 60

_Aum._ Sir, shee commends her kindest service to you, And this rich cabinet.

_Chal._ O happy man!

This may enough hold to redeeme your bands.

_Cler._ These clouds, I doubt not, will be soone blowne over.

_Enter Baligny, with his discharge: Renel, and others._

_Aum._ Your hope is just and happy; see, sir, both 65 In both the looks of these.

_Baligny._ Here's a discharge For this your prisoner, my good Lord Lieutenant.

_Mail._ Alas, sir, I usurpe that stile, enforc't, And hope you know it was not my aspiring.

_Bal._ Well, sir, my wrong aspir'd past all mens hopes. 70