Part 14

Enter Monsieur, D'Amb bare.

Bussy. Now is the time; y'are princely vow'd my friend; Perform it princely, and obtaine my pardon.

Monsieur. Else Heaven forgive not me! Come on, brave friend! 140 If ever Nature held her selfe her owne, When the great triall of a King and subject Met in one bloud, both from one belly springing, Now prove her vertue and her greatnesse one, Or make the t'one the greater with the t'other, 145 (As true Kings should) and for your brothers love (Which is a speciall species of true vertue) Doe that you could not doe, not being a King.

Henr. Brother, I know your suit; these wilfull murthers Are ever past our pardon.

Mons. Manly slaughter 150 Should never beare th'account of wilfull murther, It being a spice of justice, where with life Offending past law equall life is laid In equall ballance, to scourge that offence By law of reputation, which to men 155 Exceeds all positive law; and what that leaves To true mens valours (not prefixing rights Of satisfaction suited to their wrongs) A free mans eminence may supply and take.

Henr. This would make every man that thinks him wrong'd, 160 Or is offended, or in wrong or right, Lay on this violence; and all vaunt themselves Law-menders and supplyers, though meere butchers, Should this fact, though of justice, be forgiven.

Mons. O no, my Lord! it would make cowards feare 165 To touch the reputations of true men. When only they are left to impe the law, Justice will soone distinguish murtherous minds From just revengers. Had my friend beene slaine, His enemy surviving, he should die, 170 Since he had added to a murther'd fame (Which was in his intent) a murthered man; And this had worthily beene wilfull murther; But my friend only sav'd his fames deare life, Which is above life, taking th'under value 175 Which in the wrong it did was forfeit to him; And in this fact only preserves a man In his uprightnesse, worthy to survive Millions of such as murther men alive.

Henr. Well, brother, rise, and raise your friend withall 180 From death to life: and, D'Ambois, let your life (Refin'd by passing through this merited death) Be purg'd from more such foule pollution; Nor on your scape, nor valour, more presuming To be again so violent.

Buss. My Lord, 185 I lothe as much a deed of unjust death, As law it selfe doth; and to tyrannise, Because I have a little spirit to dare, And power to doe, as to be tyranniz'd. This is a grace that (on my knees redoubled) 190 I crave, to double this my short lifes gift, And shall your royal bountie centuple, That I may so make good what Law and Nature Have given me for my good: since I am free, (Offending no just law) let no law make, 195 By any wrong it does, my life her slave: When I am wrong'd, and that Law failes to right me, Let me be King my selfe (as man was made) And doe a justice that exceeds the Law: If my wrong passe the power of single valour 200 To right and expiate, then be you my King, And doe a right, exceeding Law and Nature. Who to himselfe is law, no law doth need, Offends no law, and is a King indeed.

Henr. Enjoy what thou intreat'st, we give but ours. 205

Buss. What you have given, my lord, is ever yours. Exit Rex cum [Montsurry.]

Gui. Mort dieu, who would have pardon'd such a murther? Exit.

Mons. Now vanish horrors into Court attractions For which let this balme make thee fresh and faire! And now forth with thy service to the Duchesse, 210 As my long love will to Monsurries Countesse. Exit.

Buss. To whom my love hath long been vow'd in heart, Although in hand, for shew, I held the Duchesse. And now through bloud and vengeance, deeds of height, And hard to be atchiev'd, tis fit I make 215 Attempt of her perfection. I need feare No check in his rivality, since her vertues Are so renown'd, and hee of all dames hated. Exit.

LINENOTES:

Montsurry, and Attendants. A, Beaumond, Nuncius.

11 Where. A, When.

27 their. A, his.

70 Sparkl'd. So in A; B, Spakl'd.

105 [Montsurry.] Emend. ed.: Beau. Qq; see note 30, p. 149.

120 a foot. A, an eie.

128 th'. A, the.

129 spirit. A, spirits.

133 All slaine outright? So in A; B, All slaine outright but hee?

135 freckled. A, feebled.

166 true. A, full.

185 violent. So in A; B, daring.

204 law. A, King.