_Buss._ So Hydra had more heads.

_Mons._ He's greater knowne.

_Buss._ His greatnesse is the peoples, mine's mine owne. 75

_Mons._ He's n.o.blier borne.

_Buss._ He is not; I am n.o.ble, And n.o.blesse in his blood hath no gradation, But in his merit.

_Gui._ Th'art not n.o.bly borne, But b.a.s.t.a.r.d to the Cardinall of Ambois.

_Buss._ Thou liest, proud Guiserd; let me flie, my Lord! 80

_Henr._ Not in my face, my eagle! violence flies The sanctuaries of a princes eyes.

_Buss._ Still shall we chide, and fome upon this bit?

Is the Guise onely great in faction?

Stands he not by himselfe? Proves he th'opinion 85 That mens soules are without them? Be a duke, And lead me to the field.

_Guis._ Come, follow me.

_Henr._ Stay them! stay, D'Ambois! Cosen Guise, I wonder Your honour'd disposition brooks so ill A man so good that only would uphold 90 Man in his native n.o.blesse, from whose fall All our dissentions rise; that in himselfe (Without the outward patches of our frailty, Riches and honour) knowes he comprehends Worth with the greatest. Kings had never borne 95 Such boundlesse empire over other men, Had all maintain'd the spirit and state of D'Ambois; Nor had the full impartiall hand of Nature, That all things gave in her originall Without these definite terms of Mine and Thine, 100 Beene turn'd unjustly to the hand of Fortune, Had all preserv'd her in her prime like D'Ambois; No envie, no disjunction had dissolv'd, Or pluck'd one stick out of the golden f.a.ggot In which the world of Saturne bound our lifes, 105 Had all beene held together with the nerves, The genius, and th'ingenious soule of D'Ambois.

Let my hand therefore be the Hermean rod To part and reconcile, and so conserve you, As my combin'd embracers and supporters. 110

_Buss._ Tis our Kings motion, and we shall not seeme To worst eies womanish, though we change thus soone Never so great grudge for his greater pleasure.

_Gui._ I seale to that, and so the manly freedome, That you so much professe, hereafter prove not 115 A bold and glorious licence to deprave, To me his hand shall hold the Hermean vertue His grace affects, in which submissive signe On this his sacred right hand I lay mine.

_Buss._ Tis well, my lord, and so your worthy greatnesse 120 Decline not to the greater insolence, Nor make you think it a prerogative To rack mens freedomes with the ruder wrongs, My hand (stuck full of lawrell, in true signe Tis wholly dedicate to righteous peace) 125 In all submission kisseth th'other side.

_Henr._ Thanks to ye both: and kindly I invite ye Both to a banquet where weele sacrifice Full cups to confirmation of your loves; At which (faire ladies) I entreat your presence; 130 And hope you, madam, will take one carowse For reconcilement of your lord and servant.

_d.u.c.h.ess._ If I should faile, my lord, some other lady Would be found there to doe that for my servant.

_Mons._ Any of these here?

_Duch._ Nay, I know not that. 135

_Buss._ Think your thoughts like my mistresse, honour'd lady?

_Tamyra._ I think not on you, sir; y'are one I know not.

_Buss._ Cry you mercy, madam!

_Montsurry._ Oh sir, has she met you?

_Exeunt Henry, D'Amb[ois], Ladies._

_Mons._ What had my bounty drunk when it rais'd him?

_Gui._ Y'ave stuck us up a very worthy flag, 140 That takes more winde than we with all our sailes.

_Mons._ O, so he spreds and flourishes.

_Gui._ He must downe; Upstarts should never perch too neere a crowne.

_Mons._ Tis true, my lord; and as this doting hand Even out of earth (like Juno) struck this giant, 145 So Joves great ordinance shall be here implide To strike him under th'aetna of his pride.

To which work lend your hands, and let us cast Where we may set snares for his ranging greatnes.

I think it best, amongst our greatest women: 150 For there is no such trap to catch an upstart As a loose downfall; for, you know, their falls Are th'ends of all mens rising. If great men And wise make scapes to please advantage, Tis with a woman--women that woorst may 155 Still hold mens candels: they direct and know All things amisse in all men, and their women All things amisse in them; through whose charm'd mouthes We may see all the close scapes of the Court.

When the most royall beast of chase, the hart, 160 Being old, and cunning in his layres and haunts, Can never be discovered to the bow, The peece, or hound--yet where, behind some queich, He breaks his gall, and rutteth with his hinde, The place is markt, and by his venery 165 He still is taken. Shall we then attempt The chiefest meane to that discovery here, And court our greatest ladies chiefest women With shewes of love, and liberall promises?

Tis but our breath. If something given in hand 170 Sharpen their hopes of more, 'twill be well ventur'd.

_Gui._ No doubt of that: and 'tis the cunningst point Of our devis'd investigation.

_Mons._ I have broken The yce to it already with the woman Of your chast lady, and conceive good hope 175 I shall wade thorow to some wished sh.o.r.e At our next meeting.

_Mont._ Nay, there's small hope there.

_Gui._ Take say of her, my lord, she comes most fitly.

_Mons._ Starting back?

_Enter Charlot, Anable, Pero._

_Gui._ Y'are ingag'd indeed. 180

_Annable._ Nay pray, my lord, forbeare.

_Mont._ What, skittish, servant?

_An._ No, my lord, I am not so fit for your service.

_Charlotte._ Nay, pardon me now, my lord; my lady expects me. 185

_Gui._ Ile satisfie her expectation, as far as an unkle may.

_Mons._ Well said! a spirit of courtship of all hands. Now, mine owne Pero, hast thou remembred 190 me for the discovery I entreated thee to make of thy mistresse? Speak boldly, and be sure of all things I have sworne to thee.

_Pero._ Building on that a.s.surance (my lord) I may speak; and much the rather because my 195 lady hath not trusted me with that I can tell you; for now I cannot be said to betray her.

_Mons._ That's all one, so wee reach our objects: forth, I beseech thee.

_Per._ To tell you truth, my lord, I have made 200 a strange discovery.

_Mons._ Excellent Pero, thou reviv'st me; may I sink quick to perdition if my tongue discover it!

_Per._ Tis thus, then: this last night my lord lay forth, and I, watching my ladies sitting up, 205 stole up at midnight from my pallat, and (having before made a hole both through the wall and arras to her inmost chamber) I saw D'Ambois and her selfe reading a letter!

_Mons._ D'Ambois! 210