Part 28

460 thy. A, that. the. A, my.

461 hath reference. A, I carrie.

499 The purest. A, A perfect.

ACTUS QUARTI SCENA PRIMA.

Henry, Monsieur with a letter, Guise, Montsurry, Bussy, Elynor, Tamyra, Beaupre, Pero, Charlotte, Anable, Pyrha, with foure Pages.

Henry. Ladies, ye have not done our banquet right, Nor lookt upon it with those cheereful rayes That lately turn'd your breaths to flouds of gold; Your looks, me thinks, are not drawne out with thoughts So cleare and free as heretofore, but foule 5 As if the thick complexions of men Govern'd within them.

Bussy. 'Tis not like, my lord, That men in women rule, but contrary; For as the moone, of all things God created Not only is the most appropriate image 10 Or glasse to shew them how they wax and wane, But in her height and motion likewise beares Imperiall influences that command In all their powers, and make them wax and wane: So women, that, of all things made of nothing, 15 Are the most perfect idols of the moone, Or still-unwean'd sweet moon-calves with white faces, Not only are paterns of change to men, But as the tender moon-shine of their beauties Cleares or is cloudy, make men glad or sad. 20 So then they rule in men, not men in them.

Monsieur. But here the moons are chang'd (as the King notes) And either men rule in them, or some power Beyond their voluntary faculty, For nothing can recover their lost faces. 25

Montsurry. None can be alwayes one: our griefes and joyes Hold severall scepters in us, and have times For their divided empires: which griefe now in them Doth prove as proper to his diadem.

Buss. And griefe's a naturall sicknesse of the bloud, 30 That time to part asks, as his comming had; Onely sleight fooles griev'd suddenly are glad. A man may say t'a dead man, "be reviv'd," As well as to one sorrowfull, "be not griev'd." And therefore (princely mistresse) in all warres 35 Against these base foes that insult on weaknesse, And still fight hous'd behind the shield of Nature, Of priviledge law, treachery, or beastly need, Your servant cannot help; authority here Goes with corruption, something like some states 40 That back woorst men; valour to them must creepe That to themselves left would feare him asleepe.

Duchess. Ye all take that for granted that doth rest Yet to be prov'd; we all are as we were, As merry and as free in thought as ever. 45

Guise. And why then can ye not disclose your thoughts?

Tamyra. Me thinks the man hath answer'd for us well.

Mons. The man! why, madam, d'ee not know his name?

Tam. Man is a name of honour for a King: Additions take away from each chiefe thing. 50 The schoole of modesty not to learne learnes dames: They sit in high formes there that know mens names.

Mons. [to Bussy.] Heark, sweet heart, here's a bar set to your valour! It cannot enter here, no, not to notice Of what your name is; your great eagles beak 55 (Should you flie at her) had as good encounter An Albion cliffe as her more craggy liver.

Buss. Ile not attempt her, sir; her sight and name (By which I onely know her) doth deter me.

Henr. So doe they all men else.

Mons. You would say so, 60 If you knew all.

Tam. Knew all, my lord? what meane you?

Mons. All that I know, madam.

Tam. That you know! Speak it.

Mons. No, tis enough I feele it.

Henr. But me thinks Her courtship is more pure then heretofore. True courtiers should be modest, and not nice; 65 Bold, but not impudent; pleasure love, not vice.

Mons. Sweet heart, come hither! what if one should make Horns at Mountsurry, would it not strike him jealous Through all the proofes of his chaste ladies vertues?

Buss. If he be wise, not. 70

Mons. What, not if I should name the gardener That I would have him think hath grafted him?

Buss. So the large licence that your greatnesse uses To jest at all men may be taught indeed To make a difference of the grounds you play on, 75 Both in the men you scandall and the matter.