MURDERERS.

BEHEMOTH, } CARTOPHYLAX, } Spirits.

UMBRA OF FRIAR.

ELENOR, d.u.c.h.ess of Guise.

TAMYRA, Countess of Montsurry.

BEAUPRE, niece to ELENOR.

ANNABLE, maid to ELENOR.

PERO, maid to TAMYRA.

CHARLOTTE, maid to BEAUPRE.

PYRA, a court lady.

Courtiers, Ladies, Pages, Servants, Spirits, &c.

SCENE.--Paris[4:2]]

FOOTNOTES:

[4:1] The Quartos contain no list of _Dramatis Personae_. One is however prefixed to D'Urfey's version (1691), with the names of the performers added. C. W. Dilke prefixed a somewhat imperfect one to his edition in vol. III of _Old English Plays_ (1814). W. L. Phelps, who did not know of Dilke's list, supplied a more correct one in his edition in the _Mermaid Series_ (1895). The subjoined list adds some fresh details, especially concerning the subordinate characters.

[4:2] Many episodes in Bussy D'Ambois's career, which took place in the Province of Anjou, are transferred in the play to Paris.

Bussy D'Ambois

A Tragedie

ACTUS PRIMI SCENA PRIMA.

[_A glade, near the Court._]

_Enter Bussy D'Ambois poore._

[_Bussy._] Fortune, not Reason, rules the state of things, Reward goes backwards, Honor on his head, Who is not poore is monstrous; only Need Gives forme and worth to every humane seed.

As cedars beaten with continuall stormes, 5 So great men flourish; and doe imitate Unskilfull statuaries, who suppose (In forming a Colossus) if they make him Stroddle enough, stroot, and look bigg, and gape, Their work is goodly: so men meerely great 10 In their affected gravity of voice, Sowrnesse of countenance, manners cruelty, Authority, wealth, and all the sp.a.w.ne of Fortune, Think they beare all the Kingdomes worth before them; Yet differ not from those colossick statues, 15 Which, with heroique formes without o're-spread, Within are nought but morter, flint and lead.

Man is a torch borne in the winde; a dreame But of a shadow, summ'd with all his substance; And as great seamen using all their wealth 20 And skills in Neptunes deepe invisible pathes, In tall ships richly built and ribd with bra.s.se, To put a girdle round about the world, When they have done it (comming neere their haven) Are faine to give a warning peece, and call 25 A poore staid fisher-man, that never past His countries sight, to waft and guide them in: So when we wander furthest through the waves Of gla.s.sie Glory, and the gulfes of State, Topt with all t.i.tles, spreading all our reaches, 30 As if each private arme would sphere the earth, Wee must to vertue for her guide resort, Or wee shall shipwrack in our safest port. _Proc.u.mbit._

[_Enter_] _Monsieur with two Pages._

[_Monsieur._] There is no second place in numerous state That holds more than a cypher: in a King 35 All places are contain'd. His words and looks Are like the flashes and the bolts of Jove; His deeds inimitable, like the sea That shuts still as it opes, and leaves no tracts, Nor prints of president for meane mens facts: 40 There's but a thred betwixt me and a crowne; I would not wish it cut, unlesse by nature; Yet to prepare me for that possible fortune, 'Tis good to get resolved spirits about mee.

I follow'd D'Ambois to this greene retreat; 45 A man of spirit beyond the reach of feare, Who (discontent with his neglected worth) Neglects the light, and loves obscure abodes; But hee is young and haughty, apt to take Fire at advancement, to beare state, and flourish; 50 In his rise therefore shall my bounties shine: None lothes the world so much, nor loves to scoffe it, But gold and grace will make him surfet of it.

What, D'Ambois!--

_Buss._ He, sir.

_Mons._ Turn'd to earth, alive!

Up man, the sunne shines on thee.

_Buss._ Let it shine: 55 I am no mote to play in't, as great men are.

_Mons._ Callest thou men great in state, motes in the sunne?

They say so that would have thee freeze in shades, That (like the grosse Sicilian gurmundist) Empty their noses in the cates they love, 60 That none may eat but they. Do thou but bring Light to the banquet Fortune sets before thee And thou wilt loath leane darknesse like thy death.

Who would beleeve thy mettall could let sloth Rust and consume it? If Themistocles 65 Had liv'd obscur'd thus in th'Athenian State, Xerxes had made both him and it his slaves.

If brave Camillus had lurckt so in Rome, He had not five times beene Dictator there, Nor foure times triumpht. If Epaminondas 70 (Who liv'd twice twenty yeeres obscur'd in Thebs) Had liv'd so still, he had beene still unnam'd, And paid his country nor himselfe their right: But putting forth his strength he rescu'd both From imminent ruine; and, like burnisht steele, 75 After long use he shin'd; for as the light Not only serves to shew, but render us Mutually profitable, so our lives In acts exemplarie not only winne Our selves good names, but doe to others give 80 Matter for vertuous deeds, by which wee live.

_Buss._ What would you wish me?

_Mons._ Leave the troubled streames, And live where thrivers doe, at the well head.

_Buss._ At the well head? Alas! what should I doe With that enchanted gla.s.se? See devils there? 85 Or (like a strumpet) learne to set my looks In an eternall brake, or practise jugling, To keep my face still fast, my heart still loose; Or beare (like dames schoolmistresses their riddles) Two tongues, and be good only for a shift; 90 Flatter great lords, to put them still in minde Why they were made lords; or please humorous ladies With a good carriage, tell them idle tales, To make their physick work; spend a man's life In sights and visitations, that will make 95 His eyes as hollow as his mistresse heart: To doe none good, but those that have no need; To gaine being forward, though you break for haste All the commandements ere you break your fast; But beleeve backwards, make your period 100 And creeds last article, "I beleeve in G.o.d": And (hearing villanies preacht) t'unfold their art, Learne to commit them? Tis a great mans part.

Shall I learne this there?

_Mons._ No, thou needst not learne; Thou hast the theorie; now goe there and practise. 105

_Buss._ I, in a thrid-bare suit; when men come there, They must have high naps, and goe from thence bare: A man may drowne the parts of ten rich men In one poore suit; brave barks, and outward glosse Attract Court loves, be in parts ne're so grosse. 110

_Mons._ Thou shalt have glosse enough, and all things fit T'enchase in all shew thy long smothered spirit: Be rul'd by me then. The old Scythians Painted blinde Fortunes powerfull hands with wings, To shew her gifts come swift and suddenly, 115 Which if her favorite be not swift to take, He loses them for ever. Then be wise;

_Exit Mon[sieur] with Pages. Manet Buss[y]._

Stay but a while here, and I'le send to thee.

_Buss._ What will he send? some crowns? It is to sow them Upon my spirit, and make them spring a crowne 120 Worth millions of the seed crownes he will send.

Like to disparking n.o.ble husbandmen, Hee'll put his plow into me, plow me up; But his unsweating thrift is policie, And learning-hating policie is ignorant 125 To fit his seed-land soyl; a smooth plain ground Will never nourish any politick seed.

I am for honest actions, not for great: If I may bring up a new fashion, And rise in Court for vertue, speed his plow! 130 The King hath knowne me long as well as hee, Yet could my fortune never fit the length Of both their understandings till this houre.

There is a deepe nicke in Times restlesse wheele For each mans good, when which nicke comes, it strikes; 135 As rhetorick yet workes not perswasion, But only is a meane to make it worke: So no man riseth by his reall merit, But when it cries "clincke" in his raisers spirit.

Many will say, that cannot rise at all, 140 Mans first houres rise is first step to his fall.

I'le venture that; men that fall low must die, As well as men cast headlong from the skie.

_Ent[er] Maffe._

[_Maffe._] Humor of Princes! Is this wretch indu'd With any merit worth a thousand crownes? 145 Will my lord have me be so ill a steward Of his revenue, to dispose a summe So great, with so small cause as shewes in him?

I must examine this. Is your name D'Ambois?

_Buss._ Sir?

_Maff._ Is your name D'Ambois?

_Buss._ Who have we here? 150 Serve you the Monsieur?

_Maff._ How?

_Buss._ Serve you the Monsieur?

_Maff._ Sir, y'are very hot. I doe serve the Monsieur; But in such place as gives me the command Of all his other servants: and because His Graces pleasure is to give your good 155 His pa.s.se through my command, me thinks you might Use me with more respect.