Chapter XXXII: Act II: Scene I.939

[_Enter_] HENRY, GUISE, MONTSURRY, _and_ Attendants.

_He._ This desperate quarrel sprung out of their envies
To D’Ambois’ sudden bravery,[940] and great spirit.

_Gu._ Neither is worth their envy.

_He._ Less than either
Will make the gall of envy overflow.
She feeds on outcast entrails like a kite; 5
In which foul heap, if any ill lies hid,
She sticks her beak into it, shakes it up,
And hurls it all abroad, that all may view it.
Corruption is her nutriment; but touch her
With any precious ointment, and you kill her.
Where she finds any filth in men, she feasts, 11
And with her black throat bruits it through the world
(Being sound and healthful). But if she but taste
The slenderest pittance of commended virtue,
She surfeits on it, and is like a fly 15
That passes all the body’s soundest parts,
And dwells upon the gores; or if her squint eye
Have power to find none there, she forges some.
She makes that crooked ever which is straight;
Calls valour giddiness, justice tyranny; 20
A wise man may shun her, she not herself;
Whithersoever she flies from her harms,
She bears her foes still claspt in her own arms:
And therefore, Cousin Guise, let us avoid her.

_Enter_ Nuntius.

_Nu._ What Atlas or Olympus lifts his head 25
So far past covert, that with air enough
My words may be inform’d, and from their height
I may be seen, and heard through all the world?
A tale so worthy, and so fraught with wonder
Sticks in my jaws, and labours with event. 30

_He._ Comest thou from D’Ambois?

_Nu._ From him, and the rest,
His friends and enemies; whose stern fight I saw,
And heard their words before and in the fray.

_He._ Relate at large what thou hast seen and heard.

_Nu._ I saw fierce D’Ambois and his two brave friends 35
Enter the field, and at their heels their foes;
Which were the famous soldiers, Barrisor,
L’Anou, and Pyrrhot, great in deeds of arms:
All which arriv’d at the evenest piece of earth
The field afforded, the three challengers 40
Turn’d head, drew all their rapiers, and stood rankt:
When face to face the three defendants met them,
Alike prepar’d, and resolute alike.
Like bonfires of contributory wood
Every man’s look show’d, fed with either’s spirit; 45
As one had been a mirror to another,
Like forms of life and death, each took from other;
And so were life and death mixt at their heights,
That you could see no fear of death, for life,
Nor love of life, for death; but in their brows 50
Pyrrho’s opinion in great letters shone:
That life and death in all respects are one.

_He._ Past there no sort of words at their encounter?

_Nu._ As Hector, ’twixt the hosts of Greece and Troy, 54
(When Paris and the Spartan king should end
The nine years’ war) held up his brazen lance
For signal that both hosts should cease from arms,
And hear him speak: so Barrisor advis’d,[941]
Advanc’d his naked rapier ’twixt both sides,
Ript[942] up the quarrel, and compar’d six lives 60
Then laid in balance with six idle words;
Offer’d remission and contrition too;
Or else that he and D’Ambois might conclude
The others’ dangers. D’Ambois lik’d the last;
But Barrisor’s friends (being equally engag’d 65
In the main quarrel) never would expose
His life alone to that they all deserv’d.
And, for the other offer of remission,
D’Ambois (that like a laurel put in fire
Sparkl’d and spit) did much more than scorn 70
That his wrong should incense him so like chaff
To go so soon out; and like lighted paper
Approve his spirit at once both fire and ashes.
So drew they lots and in them fates appointed
That Barrisor should fight with fiery D’Ambois; 75
Pyrrhot with Melynell; with Brisac L’Anou:
And then like flame and powder they commixt,
So spritely, that I wisht they had been spirits,
That the ne’er-shutting wounds, they needs must open,
Might as they open’d shut, and never kill. 80
But D’Ambois’ sword (that light’ned as it flew)
Shot like a pointed comet at the face
Of manly Barrisor; and there it stuck.
Thrice pluckt he[943] at it, and thrice drew on thrusts,
From him[944] that of himself was free as fire: 85
Who[944] thrust still as he[943] pluckt, yet (past belief)
He[943] with his subtle eye, hand, body, scapt.
At last, the deadly hitten point tugg’d off,
On fell his yet undaunted foe so fiercely
That (only made more horrid with his wound) 90
Great D’Ambois shrunk, and gave a little ground;
But soon return’d, redoubled[945] in his danger,
And at the heart of Barrisor seal’d his anger.
Then, as in Arden I have seen an oak
Long shook with tempests, and his lofty top 95
Bent to his root, which being at length made loose
Even groaning with his weight) he ’gan to nod
This way and that, as loth his curled brows
(Which he had oft wrapt in the sky with storms) 99
Should stoop: and yet, his radical fibres burst,
Storm-like he fell, and hid the fear-cold earth;
So fell stout Barrisor, that had stood the shocks
Of ten set battles in your highness’ war,
’Gainst the sole soldier of the world, Navarre.

_Gu._ Oh, piteous and horrid murder!

[_Mont._] Such a life
Methinks had metal in it to survive 105
An age of men.

_He._ Such often soonest end.
Thy felt report calls on, we long to know
On what events the other have arriv’d.

_Nu._ Sorrow and fury, like two opposite fumes
Met in the upper region of a cloud, 111
At the report made by this worthy’s fall,
Brake from the earth, and with them rose Revenge,
Ent’ring with fresh powers his two noble friends;
And under that odds fell surcharged[946] Brisac, 115
The friend of D’Ambois, before fierce L’Anou;
Which D’Ambois seeing, as I once did see,
In my young travels through Armenia,
An angry unicorn in his full career
Charge with too swift a foot a jeweller 120
That watcht him for the treasure of his brow,[947]
And, ere he could get shelter of a tree,
Nail him with his rich antler to the earth;
So D’Ambois ran upon reveng’d L’Anou,
Who eying th’ eager point borne in his face, 125
And giving back, fell back, and in his fall
His foe’s uncurbed sword stopt in his heart;
By which time all the life-strings of the tw’ other
Were cut, and both fell as their spirits flew
Upwards; and still hunt honour at the view: 130
And now, of all the six, sole D’Ambois stood
Untoucht, save only with the others’ blood.

_He._ All slain outright?

_Nu._ All slain outright but he,
Who kneeling in the warm life of his friends,
(All freckled with the blood his rapier rain’d) 135
He kist their pale cheeks, and bade both farewell;
And see the bravest man the French earth bears! [_Exit_ Nuntius.]

_Enter_ Monsieur D’AMBOIS _bare_.[948]

_Bu._ Now is the time; y’are princely vow’d my friend;
Perform it princely, and obtain my pardon.

_Mo._ Else heaven forgive not me! Come on, brave friend!— 140
If ever nature held herself her own,
When the great trial of a king and subject
Met in one blood, both from one belly springing;
Now prove her virtue and her greatness one,
Or make the t’ one the greater with t’ other, 145
(As true kings should) and for your brother’s love,
(Which is a special species of true virtue)
Do that you could not do, not being a king.

_He._ Brother, I know your suit; these wilful murders
Are ever past our pardon.

_Mo._ Manly slaughter 150
Should never bear th’ account of wilful murder;
It being a spice[949] of justice, where with life
Offending past law,[950] equal life is laid
In equal balance, to scourge that offence
By law of reputation, which to men 155
Exceeds all positive law, and what that[951] leaves
To true men’s valours (not prefixing rights
Of satisfaction, suited to their wrongs)
A free man’s eminence may supply and take.

_He._ 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 suppliers,[952] though mere butchers;
Should this fact[953] (though of justice[954]) be forgiven?

_Mo._ Oh, no, my lord; it would make cowards fear 165
To touch the reputatious of true men
When only they are left to imp[955] the law.
Justice will soon distinguish murderous minds
From just revengers. Had my friend been slain,
(His enemy surviving) he should die, 170
Since he had added to a murder’d fame
(Which was in his intent) a murdered man,
And this had worthily been wilful murder;
But my friend only sav’d his fame’s dear 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 uprightness; worthy to survive
Millions of such as murder men alive.

_He._ Well, brother, rise, and raise your friend withal 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 foul pollution;
Nor on your scape nor valour more presuming
To be again so daring.

_Bu._ My lord, 185
I loathe as much a deed of unjust death
As law itself doth; and to tyrannize,
Because I have a little spirit to dare
And power to do, as to be tyranniz’d.
This is a grace that (on my knees redoubled[956]),
I crave to double this, my short life’s gift; 191
And shall your royal bounty 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 fails to right me,
Let me be king myself (as man was made),
And do a justice that exceeds the law;
If my wrong pass the power of single valour 200
To right and expiate, then be you my king,
And do a right, exceeding law and nature.
Who to himself is law, no law doth need,
Offends no law, and is a king indeed.

_He._ Enjoy what thou entreat’st; we give but ours. 205

_Bu._ What you have given, my lord, is ever yours.
_Exit_ Rex _cum_ [MONTSURRY.]

_Gu. Mort dieu!_ who would have pardon’d such a murder? _Exit._

_Mo._ Now vanish horrors into Court attractions,
For which let this balm make thee fresh and fair.
And now forth with thy service to the duchess, 210
As my long love will to Montsurry’s countess. _Exit._

_Bu._ To whom my love hath long been vow’d in heart,
Although in hand for show I held the duchess.
And now through blood and vengeance, deeds of height
And hard to be achiev’d, ’tis fit I make 215
Attempt of her perfection. I need fear
No check in his rivality,[957] since her virtues
Are so renown’d, and he of all dames hated. _Exit._

[SCENE II.][958]

MONTSURRY, TAMYRA, BEAUPRE, PERO, CHARLOTTE, PYRA.

_Mont._ He will have pardon, sure.

_Ta._ ’T were pity, else:
For though his great spirit something overflow,
All faults are atill borne that from greatness grow;
But such a sudden courtier saw I never.

_Be._ He was too sudden, which indeed was rudeness. 5

_Ta._ True, for it argued his no due conceit[959]
Both of the place and greatness of the persons,
Nor of our sex: all which (we all being strangers
To his encounter) should have made more manners 9
Deserve more welcome.

_Mont._ All this fault is found
Because he lov’d the duchess and left you.

_Ta._ Alas, love give her joy; I am so far
From envy of her honour, that I swear,
Had he encounter’d me with such proud slight,
I would have put that project[960] face of his 15
To a more test than did her duchesship.

_Be._ Why (by your leave, my lord) I ’ll speak it here,
Although she be my aunt, she scarce was modest,
When she percerv’d the duke her husband take
Those late exceptions to her servant’s courtship, 20
To entertain him.

_Ta._ Ay, and stand him still,
Letting her husband give her servant place.
Though he did manly, she should be a woman.

_Enter_ GUISE.

[_Gu._] D’Ambois is pardon’d! Where’s a king? Where law?
See how it runs, much like a turbulent sea, 25
Here high and glorious as it did contend
To wash the heavens and make the stars more pure,
And here so low, it leaves the mud of hell
To every common view; come, Count Montsurry, 29
We must consult of this.

_Ta._ Stay not, sweet lord.

_Mont._ Be pleas’d, I ’ll straight return. _Exit cum_ GUISE.

_Ta._ Would that would please me!

_Be._ I ’ll leave you, madam, to your passions;
I see there ’s change of weather in your looks. _Exit cum suis._

_Ta._ I cannot cloak it; but, as when a fume,
Hot, dry, and gross, within the womb of earth
Or in her superficies begot, 36
When extreme cold hath struck it to her heart,
The more it is comprest, the more it rageth;
Exceeds his prison’s strength that should contain it,
And then it tosseth temples in the air, 40
All bars made engines to his insolent fury;
So, of a sudden, my licentious fancy
Riots within me: not my name and house
Nor my religion, to this hour observ’d,
Can stand above it. I must utter that 45
That will in parting break more strings in me
Than death when life parts; and that holy man
That, from my cradle, counsell’d for my soul,
I now must make an agent for my blood.[961] 49

_Enter_ MONSIEUR.

_Mo._ Yet, is my mistress gracious?

_Ta._ Yet unanswered?

_Mo._ Pray thee regard thine own good, if not mine,
And cheer my love for that; you do not know
What you may be by me, nor what without me;
I may have power t’ advance and pull down any.

_Ta._ That ’s not my study. One way I am sure 55
You shall not pull down me; my husband’s height
Is crown to all my hopes; and his retiring
To any mean state, shall be my aspiring;
My honour ’s in mine own hands, spite of kings.

_Mo._ Honour, what ’s that? Your second maidenhead: 60
And what is that? A word. The word is gone,
The thing remains: the rose is pluckt, the stalk
Abides; an easy loss where no lack’s found.
Believe it, there ’s as small lack in the loss
As there is pain i’ th’ losing; archers ever 65
Have two strings to a bow; and shall great Cupid
(Archer of archers both in men and women,)
Be worse provided than a common archer?
A husband and a friend all wise wives have.

_Ta._ Wise wives they are that on such strings depend, 70
With a firm husband joining a loose friend!

_Mo._ Still you stand on your husband, so do all
The common sex of you, when y’ are encounter’d
With one ye cannot fancy. All men know 74
You live in Court, here, by your own election,
Frequenting all our common sports and triumphs,
All the most youthful company of men:
And wherefore do you this? To please your husband?
’T is gross and fulsome: if your husband’s pleasure
Be all your object, and you aim at honour 80
In living close to him, get you from Court;
You may have him at home; these common put-offs
For common women serve: “My honour! Husband!”
Dames maritorious[962] ne’er were meritorious.
Speak plain, and say, “I do not like you, sir, 85
Y’ are an ill-favour’d fellow in my eye;”
And I am answer’d.

_Ta._ Then, I pray, be answer’d:
For in good faith, my lord, I do not like you
In that sort[963] you like.

_Mo._ Then have at you, here!
Take (with a politic hand) this rope of pearl, 90
And though you be not amorous, yet be wise:
Take me for wisdom; he that you can love
Is ne’er the further from you.

_Ta._ Now it comes
So ill prepar’d, that I may take a poison,
Under a medicine as good cheap as it; 95
I will not have it were it worth the world.

_Mo._ Horror of death; could I but please your eye,
You would give me the like, ere you would lose me.
“Honour and husband!”

_Ta._ By this light, my lord,
Y’ are a vile fellow, and I ’ll tell the king 100
Your occupation of dishonouring ladies
And of his Court. A lady cannot live
As she was born, and with that sort of pleasure
That fits her state, but she must be defam’d
With an infamous lord’s detraction. 105
Who would endure the Court if these attempts
Of open and profest lust must be borne?
Who ’s there? Come on, dame; you are at your book
When men are at your mistress; have I taught you
Any such waiting-woman’s quality? 110

_Mo._ Farewell, good “husband.” _Exit_ Monsieur.

_Mont._ Farewell, wicked lord.

_Enter_ MONTSURRY.

_Mont._ Was not the Monsieur here?

_Ta._ Yes, to good purpose;
And your cause is as good to seek him too,
And haunt his company.

_Mont._ Why, what ’s the matter?

_Ta._ Matter of death, were I some husbands’ wife. 115
I cannot live at quiet in my chamber,
For opportunities[964] almost to rapes
Offer’d me by him.

_Mont._ Pray thee bear with him.
Thou know’st he is a bachelor and a courtier,
Ay, and a prince; and their prerogatives 120
Are to their laws, as to their pardons are
Their reservations, after Parliaments—
One quits another; form gives all their essence.
That prince doth high in virtue’s reckoning stand
That will entreat a vice, and not command. 125
So far bear with him; should another man
Trust to his privilege, he should trust to death.
Take comfort, then, my comfort, nay, triumph
And crown thyself, thou part’st with victory;[965]
My presence is so only dear to thee 130
That other men’s appear worse than they be.
For this night yet, bear with my forced absence;
Thou know’st my business; and with how much weight.
My vow hath charg’d it.

_Ta._ True, my lord, and never
My fruitless love shall let[966] your serious honour;
Yet, sweet lord, do not stay; you know my soul 136
Is so long time without me, and I dead,
As you are absent.

_Mont._ By this kiss, receive
My soul for hostage, till I see my love.

_Ta._ The morn shall let me see you.

_Mont._ With the sun
I ’ll visit thy more comfortable[967] beauties. 141

_Ta._ This is my comfort, that the sun hath left
The whole world’s beauty ere my sun leaves me.

_Mont._ ’T is late night now indeed; farewell, my light. _Exit._

_Ta._ Farewell, my light and life;—but not in him, 145
In mine own dark love and light bent to another.
Alas that in the wane[968] of our affections
We should supply it with a full dissembling,
In which each youngest maid is grown a mother;
Frailty is fruitful, one sin gets another. 150
Our loves like sparkles are that brightest shine
When they go out, most vice shows most divine.—
Go, maid, to bed; lend me your book, I pray;
Not like yourself for form; I ’ll this night trouble
None of your services. Make sure the doors, 155
And call your other fellows to their rest.

_Pe._ I will,—[_Aside._] yet I will watch to know why you watch.
_Exit._

_Ta._ Now all ye peaceful regents of the night,
Silently-gliding exhalations,
Languishing winds, and murmuring falls of waters, 160
Sadness of heart and ominous secureness,
Enchantments, dead sleeps, all the friends of rest,
That ever wrought upon the life of man,
Extend your utmost strengths; and this charm’d hour 164
Fix like the centre;[969] make the violent wheels
Of Time and Fortune stand; and great Existence
(The Maker’s treasury) now not seem to be,
To all but my approaching friends and me.
They come, alas, they come! Fear, fear and hope
Of one thing, at one instant fight in me; 170
I love what most I loathe, and cannot live
Unless I compass that which holds my death;
For life ’s mere death, loving one that loathes me,
And he I love will loath me, when he sees
I fly my sex, my virtue, my renown, 175
To run so madly on a man unknown.
_The vault opens._
See, see, a vault is opening that was never
Known to my lord and husband, nor to any
But him that brings the man I love, and me.
How shall I look on him? How shall I live,
And not consume in blushes? I will in, 181
And cast myself off,[970] as I ne’er had been.[971] _Exit._

_Ascendit_ Friar _and_ D’AMBOIS.

_Fr._ Come, worthiest son, I am past measure glad,
That you (whose worth I have approv’d so long)
Should be the object of her fearful love; 185
Since both your wit and spirit can adapt
Their full force to supply her utmost weakness.
You know her worths and virtues, for report
Of all that know is to a man a knowledge: 189
You know besides, that our affections’ storm,
Rais’d in our blood, no reason can reform.
Though she seek then their satisfaction
(Which she must needs, or rest unsatisfied)
Your judgment will esteem her peace thus wrought, 194
Nothing less dear than if yourself had sought;
And (with another colour, which my art
Shall teach you to lay on) yourself must seem
The only agent, and the first orb move[972]
In this our set and cunning world of love.

_Bu._ Give me the colour, my most honour’d father, 200
And trust my cunning then to lay it on.

_Fr._ ’T is this, good son; Lord Barrisor (whom you slew)
Did love her dearly, and with all fit means
Hath urg’d his acceptation, of all which
She keeps one letter written in his blood. 205
You must say thus, then, that you heard from me
How much herself was toucht in conscience
With a report (which is in truth disperst)
That your main quarrel grew about her love,
Lord Barrisor imagining your courtship 210
Of the great Guise’s Duchess in the presence,
Was by you made to his elected mistress;
And so made me your mean now to resolve her,
Choosing (by my direction) this night’s depth
For the more clear avoiding of all note 215
Of your presumed presence: and with this
(To clear her hands of such a lover’s blood)
She will so kindly thank and entertain you,
Methinks I see how, ay, and ten to one,
Show you the confirmation in his blood, 220
Lest you should think report and she did feign,
That you shall so have circumstantial means
To come to the direct, which must be used:
For the direct is crooked; love comes flying;
The height of love is still won with denying. 225

_Bu._ Thanks, honour’d father.

_Fr._ She must never know
That you know anything of any love
Sustain’d on her part: for, learn this of me,
In anything a woman does alone,
If she dissemble, she thinks ’tis not done; 230
If not dissemble,[973] nor a little chide,
Give her her wish, she is not satisfi’d;
To have a man think that she never seeks,
Does her more good than to have all she likes:
This frailty sticks in them beyond their sex,
Which to reform, reason is too perplex: 236
Urge reason to them, it will do no good;
Humour (that is the chariot of our food
In everybody) must in them be fed,
To carry their affections by it bred. 240
Stand close.

_Enter_ TAMYRA _with a book_.

_Ta._ Alas, I fear my strangeness will retire him.
If he go back, I die; I must prevent it,
And cheer his onset with my sight at least,
And that’s the most; though every step he takes 245
Goes to my heart. I ’ll rather die than seem
Not to be strange to that I most esteem.

_Fr._ Madam.

_Ta._ Ah!

_Fr._ You will pardon me, I hope,
That so beyond your expectation,
And at a time for visitants so unfit, 250
I (with my noble friend here) visit you.
You know that my access at any time
Hath ever been admitted; and that friend
That my care will presume to bring with me
Shall have all circumstance of worth in him 255
To merit as free welcome as myself.

_Ta._ Oh, father! but at this suspicious hour
You know how apt best men are to suspect us,
In any cause that makes suspicious shadow
No greater than the shadow of a hair: 260
And y’ are to blame. What though my lord and husband
Lie forth to-night, and, since I cannot sleep
When he is absent, I sit up to-night;
Though all the doors are sure, and all our servants
As sure bound with their sleeps; yet there is One 265
That wakes above, whose eye no sleep can bind.
He sees through doors, and darkness, and our thoughts;
And therefore as we should avoid with fear
To think amiss ourselves before his search,
So should we be as curious to shun 270
All cause that other think not ill of us.

_Bu._ Madam, ’t is far from that; I only heard
By this my honour’d father, that your conscience
Made some deep scruple with a false report
That Barrisor’s blood should something touch your honour, 275
Since he imagin’d I was courting you,
When I was bold to change words with the duchess,
And therefore made his quarrel; his long love
And service, as I hear, being deeply vowed 279
To your perfections, which my ready presence,
Presum’d on with my father at this season
For the more care of your so curious[974] honour,
Can well resolve[975] your conscience, is most false.

_Ta._ And is it therefore that you come, good sir? 284
Then crave I now your pardon and my father’s,
And swear your presence does me so much good,
That all I have it hinds to your requital.
Indeed, sir, ’t is most true that a report
Is spread, alleging that his love to me
Was reason of your quarrel, and because 290
You shall not think I feign it for my glory
That he importun’d me for his court service,[976]
I ’ll show you his own hand, set down in blood
To that vain purpose. Good sir, then come in.
Father, I thank you now a thousand-fold. 295
_Exit_ TAMYRA _and_ D’AMBOIS.

_Fr._ May it be worth it to you, honour’d daughter.
_Descendit_ Friar.