Part 57

Tamy. Ile make him reade it. Exit Tamy.

Ren. This was a sleight well maskt. O what is man, 140 Unlesse he be a politician! Exit.

Finis Actus primi.

LINENOTES:

4 honours. Emended by Phelps; Q, humors.

Enter Montsurry. Emended by all editors; Q, Monsieur.

28 dry. Emended by all editors; Q, dye.

52 affections. Q, affectons.

62 Mont. Emended here, and in the stage-directions to the end of the Scene, by Shepherd, Phelps; Q, Mons.

100 it is. Ed.; Q, tis.

115-16. Broken in Q at lordship, here, I.

123 Y'are. Emended by Shepherd, Phelps; Q, Ye'are.

134-36. Broken in Q at first challenge, then, murther, get off.

ACTUS SECUNDI SCAENA PRIMA.

Henry, Baligny.

Henry. Come, Baligny, we now are private; say, What service bring'st thou? make it short; the Guise (Whose friend thou seem'st) is now in Court, and neare, And may observe us.

Baligny. This, sir, then, in short. The faction of the Guise (with which my policie, 5 For service to your Highnesse, seemes to joyne) Growes ripe, and must be gather'd into hold; Of which my brother Clermont being a part Exceeding capitall, deserves to have A capitall eye on him. And (as you may 10 With best advantage, and your speediest charge) Command his apprehension: which (because The Court, you know, is strong in his defence) Wee must aske country swindge and open fields. And therefore I have wrought him to goe downe 15 To Cambray with me (of which government Your Highnesse bountie made mee your lieutenant), Where when I have him, I will leave my house, And faine some service out about the confines; When, in the meane time, if you please to give 20 Command to my lieutenant, by your letters, To traine him to some muster, where he may (Much to his honour) see for him your forces Put into battaile, when hee comes, hee may With some close stratageme be apprehended: 25 For otherwise your whole powers there will faile To worke his apprehension: and with that My hand needes never be discern'd therein.

Hen. Thankes, honest Baligny.

Bal. Your Highnesse knowes I will be honest, and betray for you 30 Brother and father; for I know (my lord) Treacherie for Kings is truest loyaltie, Nor is to beare the name of treacherie, But grave, deepe policie. All acts that seeme Ill in particular respects are good 35 As they respect your universal rule: As in the maine sway of the Universe The supreame Rectors generall decrees, To guard the mightie globes of earth and heaven, Since they make good that guard to preservation 40 Of both those in their order and first end, No mans particular (as hee thinkes) wrong Must hold him wrong'd; no, not though all mens reasons, All law, all conscience, concludes it wrong. Nor is comparison a flatterer 45 To liken you here to the King of Kings; Nor any mans particular offence Against the worlds sway, to offence at yours In any subject; who as little may Grudge at their particular wrong, if so it seeme 50 For th'universall right of your estate, As, being a subject of the worlds whole sway As well as yours, and being a righteous man To whom heaven promises defence, and blessing, Brought to decay, disgrace, and quite defencelesse, 55 Hee may complaine of heaven for wrong to him.

Hen. Tis true: the simile at all parts holds, As all good subjects hold, that love our favour.

Bal. Which is our heaven here; and a miserie Incomparable, and most truely hellish, 60 To live depriv'd of our Kings grace and countenance, Without which best conditions are most cursed: Life of that nature, howsoever short, Is a most lingering and tedious life; Or rather no life, but a languishing, 65 And an abuse of life.

Hen. Tis well conceited.

Bal. I thought it not amisse to yeeld your Highness A reason of my speeches; lest perhaps You might conceive I flatter'd: which (I know) Of all ils under heaven you most abhorre. 70

Hen. Still thou art right, my vertuous Baligny, For which I thanke and love thee. Thy advise Ile not forget. Haste to thy government, And carry D'Ambois with thee. So farewell. Exit.

Bal. Your Majestie fare ever like it selfe. 75

Enter Guise.

Guise. My sure friend Baligny!

Bal. Noblest of princes!