Bussy D'Ambois and The Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois Part 33

The frontispiece to this volume, the Chateau of La Coutanciere, at which Bussy D'Ambois was killed, is reproduced from an ill.u.s.tration in A.

Joubert's _Louis de Clermont_.

TO THE RIGHT

VERTUOUS, AND

truely n.o.ble Knight, Sr.

_Thomas Howard, &c._

_Sir_,

Since workes of this kinde have beene lately esteemed worthy the patronage of some of our worthiest n.o.bles, I have made no doubt to preferre this of mine to your undoubted vertue and exceeding true n.o.blesse, as contayning matter no lesse deserving your reading, 5 and excitation to heroycall life, then any such late dedication.

Nor have the greatest Princes of Italie and other countries conceived it any least diminution to their greatnesse to have their names wing'd with these tragicke plumes, and disperst by way of patronage through the 10 most n.o.ble notices of Europe.

Howsoever, therefore, in the scaenicall presentation it might meete with some maligners, yet, considering even therein it past with approbation of more worthy judgements, the ballance of their side (especially being held 15 by your impartiall hand) I hope will to no graine abide the out-weighing. And for the autenticall truth of eyther person or action, who (worth the respecting) will expect it in a poeme, whose subject is not truth, but things like truth? Poore envious soules they are that cavill at truths 20 want in these naturall fictions: materiall instruction, elegant and sententious excitation to vertue, and deflection from her contrary, being the soule, lims, and limits of an autenticall tragedie. But whatsoever merit of your full countenance and favour suffers defect in this, I shall soone 25 supply with some other of more generall account; wherein your right vertuous name made famous and preserved to posteritie, your future comfort and honour in your present acceptation and love of all vertuous and divine expression may be so much past others of your rancke encreast, as 30 they are short of your judiciall ingenuitie, in their due estimation.

For howsoever those ign.o.ble and sowre-brow'd worldlings are carelesse of whatsoever future or present opinion spreads of them; yet (with the most divine 35 philosopher, if Scripture did not confirme it) I make it matter of my faith, that we truely retaine an intellectuall feeling of good or bad after this life, proportionably answerable to the love or neglect we beare here to all vertue and truely-humane instruction: in whose favour 40 and honour I wish you most eminent, and rest ever,

_Your true vertues most true observer, Geo. Chapman_.

THE ACTORS NAMES

_Henry_, the King.

_Monsieur_, his Brother.

_Guise_, D[uke].

_Renel_, a Marquesse.

_Montsureau_, an Earle.

_Baligny_, Lord Lieutenant [of Cambray].

_Clermont D'Ambois._ _Maillard._ } _Challon._ } Captaines.

_Aumal._ } _Espernone._ _Soissone._ _Perricot_, [An _Usher_.]

[A _Messenger._]

The _Guard._ _Souldiers._ _Servants._

{ _Bussy_.

{ _Monsieur_.

The ghost[s] of { _Guise_.

{ _Card. Guise_.

{ _Shattilion_.

_Countesse_ of Cambray.

_Tamyra_, wife to Montsureau.

_Charlotte [D'Ambois]_, wife to Baligny.

_Riova_, a Servant [to the Countesse].

[SCENE: _Paris, and in or near Cambrai_.]

The Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois

A Tragedie

ACTUS PRIMI SCaeNA PRIMA.

_A Room at the Court in Paris._]

_Enter Baligny, Renel._

_Baligny._ To what will this declining kingdome turne, Swindging in every license, as in this Stupide permission of brave D'Ambois Murther?

Murther made paralell with Law! Murther us'd To serve the kingdome, given by sute to men 5 For their advancement! suffered scarcrow-like To fright adulterie! what will policie At length bring under his capacitie?

_Renel._ All things; for as, when the high births of Kings, Deliverances, and coronations, 10 We celebrate with all the cities bels Jangling together in untun'd confusion, All order'd clockes are tyed up; so, when glory, Flatterie, and smooth applauses of things ill, Uphold th'inordinate swindge of downe-right power, 15 Justice, and truth that tell the bounded use, Vertuous and well distinguisht formes of time, Are gag'd and tongue-tide. But wee have observ'd Rule in more regular motion: things most lawfull Were once most royall; Kings sought common good, 20 Mens manly liberties, though ne'er so meane, And had their owne swindge so more free, and more.

But when pride enter'd them, and rule by power, All browes that smil'd beneath them, frown'd; hearts griev'd By imitation; vertue quite was vanisht, 25 And all men studi'd selfe-love, fraud, and vice.

Then no man could be good but he was punisht.

Tyrants, being still more fearefull of the good Then of the bad, their subjects vertues ever Manag'd with curbs and dangers, and esteem'd 30 As shadowes and detractions to their owne.

_Bal._ Now all is peace, no danger, now what followes?

Idlenesse rusts us, since no vertuous labour Ends ought rewarded; ease, securitie, Now all the palme weares. Wee made warre before 35 So to prevent warre; men with giving gifts, More then receiving, made our countrey strong; Our matchlesse race of souldiers then would spend In publike warres, not private brawles, their spirits; In daring enemies, arm'd with meanest armes, 40 Not courting strumpets, and consuming birth-rights In apishnesse and envy of attire.

No labour then was harsh, no way so deepe, No rocke so steepe, but if a bird could scale it, Up would our youth flie to. A foe in armes 45 Stirr'd up a much more l.u.s.t of his encounter Then of a mistresse never so be-painted.

Ambition then was onely scaling walles, And over-topping turrets; fame was wealth; Best parts, best deedes, were best n.o.bilitie; 50 Honour with worth, and wealth well got or none.

Countries we wonne with as few men as countries: Vertue subdu'd all.

_Ren._ Just: and then our n.o.bles Lov'd vertue so, they prais'd and us'd it to; Had rather doe then say; their owne deedes hearing 55 By others glorified, then be so barraine That their parts onely stood in praising others.

_Bal._ Who could not doe, yet prais'd, and envi'd not; Civile behaviour flourisht; bountie flow'd; Avarice to upland boores, slaves, hang-men banisht. 60

_Ren._ Tis now quite otherwise. But to note the cause Of all these foule digressions and revolts From our first natures, this tis in a word: Since good arts faile, crafts and deceits are us'd: Men ignorant are idle; idle men 65 Most practise what they most may doe with ease, Fashion and favour; all their studies ayming At getting money, which no wise man ever Fed his desires with.

_Bal._ Yet now none are wise That thinke not heavens true foolish, weigh'd with that. 70 Well, thou most worthy to be greatest Guise, Make with thy greatnesse a new world arise.

Such deprest n.o.bles (followers of his) As you, my selfe, my lord, will finde a time When to revenge your wrongs.

_Ren._ I make no doubt: 75 In meane time, I could wish the wrong were righted Of your slaine brother in law, brave Bussy D'Ambois.