Part 60

Chal. But knowes not hee of your command to take His brother Clermont?

Mail. No: the Kings will is Expressely to conceale his apprehension From my Lord Governour. Observ'd yee not? 20 Againe peruse the letters. Both you are Made my assistants, and have right and trust In all the waightie secrets like my selfe.

Aum. Tis strange a man that had, through his life past, So sure a foote in vertue and true knowledge 25 As Clermont D'Ambois, should be now found tripping, And taken up thus, so to make his fall More steepe and head-long.

Mail. It is Vertues fortune, To keepe her low, and in her proper place; Height hath no roome for her. But as a man 30 That hath a fruitfull wife, and every yeere A childe by her, hath every yeere a month To breathe himselfe, where hee that gets no childe Hath not a nights rest (if he will doe well); So, let one marry this same barraine Vertue, 35 She never lets him rest, where fruitfull Vice Spares her rich drudge, gives him in labour breath, Feedes him with bane, and makes him fat with death.

Chal. I see that good lives never can secure Men from bad livers. Worst men will have best 40 As ill as they, or heaven to hell they'll wrest.

Aum. There was a merit for this, in the fault That Bussy made, for which he (doing pennance) Proves that these foule adulterous guilts will runne Through the whole bloud, which not the cleare can shunne. 45

Mail. Ile therefore take heede of the bastarding Whole innocent races; tis a fearefull thing. And as I am true batcheler, I sweare, To touch no woman (to the coupling ends) Unlesse it be mine owne wife or my friends; 50 I may make bold with him.

Aum. Tis safe and common. The more your friend dares trust, the more deceive him. And as through dewie vapors the sunnes forme Makes the gay rainebow girdle to a storme, So in hearts hollow, friendship (even the sunne 55 To all good growing in societie) Makes his so glorious and divine name hold Collours for all the ill that can be told. Trumpets within.

Mail. Harke! our last troopes are come.

Chal. (Drums beate.) Harke! our last foote.

Mail. Come, let us put all quickly into battaile, 60 And send for Clermont, in whose honour all This martiall preparation wee pretend.

Chal. Wee must bethinke us, ere wee apprehend him, (Besides our maine strength) of some stratageme To make good our severe command on him, 65 As well to save blood as to make him sure: For if hee come on his Scotch horse, all France Put at the heeles of him will faile to take him.

Mail. What thinke you if wee should disguise a brace Of our best souldiers in faire lackies coates, 70 And send them for him, running by his side, Till they have brought him in some ambuscado We close may lodge for him, and sodainely Lay sure hand on him, plucking him from horse?

Aum. It must be sure and strong hand; for if once 75 Hee feeles the touch of such a stratageme, Tis not choicest brace of all our bands Can manacle or quench his fiery hands.

Mail. When they have seaz'd him, the ambush shal make in.

Aum. Doe as you please; his blamelesse spirit deserves 80 (I dare engage my life) of all this, nothing.

Chal. Why should all this stirre be, then?

Aum. Who knowes not The bumbast politie thrusts into his gyant, To make his wisedome seeme of size as huge, And all for sleight encounter of a shade, 85 So hee be toucht, hee would have hainous made?

Mail. It may be once so; but so ever, never. Ambition is abroad, on foote, on horse; Faction chokes every corner, streete, the Court; Whose faction tis you know, and who is held 90 The fautors right hand: how high his aymes reach Nought but a crowne can measure. This must fall Past shadowes waights, and is most capitall.

Chal. No question; for since hee is come to Cambray, The malecontent, decaid Marquesse Renel, 95 Is come, and new arriv'd; and made partaker Of all the entertaining showes and feasts That welcom'd Clermont to the brave virago, His manly sister. Such wee are esteem'd As are our consorts. Marquesse malecontent 100 Comes where hee knowes his vaine hath safest vent.

Mail. Let him come at his will, and goe as free; Let us ply Clermont, our whole charge is hee. Exeunt.

LINENOTES:

Trumpets within. Drums beate. In Q these directions follow instead of precede l. 59.

Exeunt. Q, Exit.

A Room in the Governor's Castle at Cambrai.]

Enter a Gentleman Usher before Clermont: Renel, Charlotte, with two women attendants, with others: showes having past within.

Charlotte. This for your lordships welcome into Cambray.

Renel. Noblest of ladies, tis beyond all power (Were my estate at first full) in my meanes To quit or merit.