Bussy D'Ambois and The Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois Part 44

_Cler._ "Who hath no faith to men, to G.o.d hath none:"

Retaine you that, sir? who said so?

_Mail._ Twas I.

_Cler._ Thy owne tongue d.a.m.ne thy infidelitie!

But, Captaines all, you know me n.o.bly borne; 80 Use yee t'a.s.sault such men as I with lackyes?

_Chal._ They are no lackyes, sir, but souldiers Disguis'd in lackyes coates.

_1 Sold._ Sir, wee have seene the enemie.

_Cler._ Avant! yee rascols, hence!

_Mail._ Now leave your coates.

_Cler._ Let me not see them more. 85

_Aum._ I grieve that vertue lives so undistinguisht From vice in any ill, and though the crowne Of soveraigne law, shee should be yet her footstoole, Subject to censure, all the shame and paine Of all her rigor.

_Cler._ Yet false policie 90 Would cover all, being like offenders hid, That (after notice taken where they hide) The more they crouch and stirre, the more are spide.

_Aum._ I wonder how this chanc'd you.

_Cler._ Some informer, Bloud-hound to mischiefe, usher to the hang-man, 95 Thirstie of honour for some huge state act, Perceiving me great with the worthy Guise, And he (I know not why) held dangerous, Made me the desperate organe of his danger, Onely with that poore colour: tis the common 100 And more then wh.o.r.e-like tricke of treacherie And vermine bred to rapine and to ruine, For which this fault is still to be accus'd; Since good acts faile, crafts and deceits are us'd.

If it be other, never pittie mee. 105

_Aum._ Sir, we are glad, beleeve it, and have hope The King will so conceit it.

_Cler._ At his pleasure.

In meane time, what's your will, Lord Lieutenant?

_Mail._ To leave your owne horse, and to mount the trumpets.

_Cler._ It shall be done. This heavily prevents 110 My purpos'd recreation in these parts; Which now I thinke on, let mee begge you, sir, To lend me some one captaine of your troopes, To beare the message of my haplesse service And miserie to my most n.o.ble mistresse, 115 Countesse of Cambray; to whose house this night I promist my repaire, and know most truely, With all the ceremonies of her favour, She sure expects mee.

_Mail._ Thinke you now on that?

_Cler._ On that, sir? I, and that so worthily, 120 That if the King, in spight of your great service, Would send me instant promise of enlargement, Condition I would set this message by, I would not take it, but had rather die.

_Aum._ Your message shall be done, sir: I, my selfe, 125 Will be for you a messenger of ill.

_Cler._ I thanke you, sir, and doubt not yet to live To quite your kindnesse.

_Aum._ Meane s.p.a.ce use your spirit And knowledge for the chearfull patience Of this so strange and sodaine consequence. 130

_Cler._ Good sir, beleeve that no particular torture Can force me from my glad obedience To any thing the high and generall Cause, To match with his whole fabricke, hath ordainde; And know yee all (though farre from all your aymes, 135 Yet worth them all, and all mens endlesse studies) That in this one thing, all the discipline Of manners and of manhood is contain'd:-- A man to joyne himselfe with th'Universe In his maine sway, and make (in all things fit) 140 One with that all, and goe on round as it; Not plucking from the whole his wretched part, And into straites, or into nought revert, Wishing the compleate Universe might be Subject to such a ragge of it as hee; 145 But to consider great Necessitie All things, as well refract as voluntarie, Reduceth to the prime celestiall cause; Which he that yeelds to with a mans applause, And cheeke by cheeke goes, crossing it no breath, 150 But like G.o.ds image followes to the death, That man is truely wise, and every thing (Each cause and every part distinguishing) In nature with enough art understands, And that full glory merits at all hands 155 That doth the whole world at all parts adorne, And appertaines to one celestiall borne. _Exeunt omnes._

LINENOTES:

_Exeunt._ Q, Exit.

54 _We're_. Q, We'are.

[SCaeNA SECUNDA.

_A Room at the Court in Paris._]

_Enter Baligny, Renel._

_Baligny._ So foule a scandall never man sustain'd, Which caus'd by th'King is rude and tyrannous: Give me a place, and my Lieutenant make The filler of it!

_Renel._ I should never looke For better of him; never trust a man 5 For any justice, that is rapt with pleasure; To order armes well, that makes smockes his ensignes, And his whole governments sayles: you heard of late Hee had the foure and twenty wayes of venerie Done all before him.

_Bal._ Twas abhorr'd and beastly. 10

_Ren._ Tis more then natures mightie hand can doe To make one humane and a letcher too.

Looke how a wolfe doth like a dogge appeare, So like a friend is an adulterer; Voluptuaries, and these belly-G.o.ds, 15 No more true men are then so many toads.

A good man happy is a common good; Vile men advanc'd live of the common bloud.

_Bal._ Give, and then take, like children!

_Ren._ Bounties are As soone repented as they happen rare. 20

_Bal._ What should Kings doe, and men of eminent places, But, as they gather, sow gifts to the graces?

And where they have given, rather give againe (Being given for vertue) then, like babes and fooles, Take and repent gifts? why are wealth and power? 25

_Ren._ Power and wealth move to tyranny, not bountie; The merchant for his wealth is swolne in minde, When yet the chiefe lord of it is the winde.

_Bal._ That may so chance to our state-merchants too; Something performed, that hath not farre to goe. 30

_Ren._ That's the maine point, my lord; insist on that.

_Bal._ But doth this fire rage further? hath it taken The tender tynder of my wifes sere bloud?

Is shee so pa.s.sionate?

_Ren._ So wilde, so mad, Shee cannot live and this unwreakt sustaine. 35 The woes are bloudy that in women raigne.

The Sicile gulfe keepes feare in lesse degree; There is no tyger not more tame then shee.

_Bal._ There is no looking home, then?

_Ren._ Home! Medea With all her hearbs, charmes, thunders, lightning, 40 Made not her presence and blacke hants more dreadfull.

_Bal._ Come, to the King; if he reforme not all, Marke the event, none stand where that must fall. _Exeunt._

[SCaeNA TERTIA.