Part 59

Cler. Good heaven! wherein? what one act can you name Suppos'd his staine that Ile not prove his luster?

Bal. To satisfie you, twas the Massacre.

Cler. The Massacre! 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 hell, and shrinke not. Who was first Head of that Massacre?

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 ravishing 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 massacerd.

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 Nobles; 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:

+Amechanon+ (misprinted +Aukchanou+) . . . Antig. In left margin of Q.

ACTUS TERTII SCAENA PRIMA.

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 passe th'insulting Pillars 5 Of Bacchus and Alcides.

Chalon. I much wonder Our Lord Lieutenant brought his brother downe To feast and honour him, and yet now leaves him At such an instance.

Mail. Twas the Kings command; For whom he must leave brother, wife, friend, all things. 10

Aumale. The confines of his government, whose view Is the pretext of his command, hath neede Of no such sodaine expedition.

Mail. Wee must not argue that. The Kings command Is neede and right enough: and that he serves, 15 (As all true subjects should) without disputing.