SCENE XIV.

_Trumpets sound within, and a cry of "Vive le Roi"

two or three times. Enter_[398] ANJOU _crowned as King Henry the Third_; CATHERINE _the Queen Mother, the_ CARDINAL OF LORRAINE, GUISE, EPERNOUN, MUGEROUN, _the_ Cutpurse, _and others_.

_All. Vive le Roi, Vive le Roi! [A flourish of trumpets._

_Cath._ Welcome from Poland, Henry, once again!

Welcome to France, thy father's royal seat!

Here hast thou a country void of fears, A warlike people to maintain thy right, A watchful senate for ordaining laws, A loving mother to preserve thy state, And all things that a king may wish besides; All this, and more, hath Henry with his crown.

_Card._ And long may Henry enjoy all this, and more! 10

_All._ _Vive le Roi, Vive le Roi!_ [_A flourish of trumpets._ _Henry._ Thanks to you all. The guider of all crowns Grant that our deeds may well deserve your loves!

And so they shall if fortune speed my will, And yield your thoughts to height of my deserts.

What say our minions? think they Henry's heart Will not both harbour love and majesty?

Put off that fear, they are already join'd: No person, place, or time, or circ.u.mstance, Shall slack my love's affection from his bent: 20 As now you are, so shall you still persist, Removeless from the favours of your king.

_Mug._ We know that n.o.ble minds change not their thoughts For wearing of a crown, in that your grace Hath worn the Poland diadem before You were invested in the crown of France.

_Henry._ I tell thee, Mugeroun, we will be friends, And fellows too, whatever storms arise.

_Mug._ Then[399] may it please your majesty to give me leave To punish those that do profane this holy feast. 30

_Henry._ How mean'st thou that?

[MUGEROUN _cuts off the_ Cutpurse's _ear, for cutting the gold b.u.t.tons off his cloak_.

_Cutp._ O Lord, mine ear!

_Mug._ Come, sir, give me my b.u.t.tons, and here's your ear.

_Guise._ Sirrah, take him away.

_Henry._ Hands off, good fellow; I will be his bail For this offence.--Go, sirrah, work no more Till this our coronation day be past.-- And now, Our solemn rites of coronation done, What now remains but for a while to feast, 40 And spend some days in barriers, tourney, tilt, And like disports, such as do fit the court?

Let's go, my lords; our dinner stays for us.

[_Exeunt all except_ CATHERINE _the Queen Mother and the_ CARDINAL OF LORRAINE.

_Cath._ My Lord Cardinal of Lorraine, tell me, How likes your grace my son's pleasantness?

His mind, you see, runs on his minions, And all his heaven is to delight himself; And, whilst he sleeps securely thus in ease, Thy brother Guise and we may now provide To plant ourselves with such authority 50 As not a man may live without our leaves.

Then shall the Catholic faith of Rome Flourish in France, and none deny the same.

_Card._ Madam, as in secrecy I was told, My brother Guise hath gather'd a power of men, Which are,[400] he saith, to kill the Puritans; But 'tis the house of Bourbon that he means.

Now, madam, must you insinuate with the king, And tell him that 'tis for his country's good, And common profit of religion. 60

_Cath._ Tush, man, let me alone with him, To work the way to bring this thing to pa.s.s; And, if he do deny what I do say, I'll despatch him with his brother presently, And then shall Monsieur wear the diadem.

Tush, all shall die unless I have my will; For, while she lives, Catherine will be queen.

Come, my lord,[401] let us go seek the Guise, And then determine of this enterprise.

[_Exeunt._

SCENE XV.

_Enter_[402] _the_ d.u.c.h.eSS OF GUISE _and her_ Maid.

_Duch. of G._ Go fetch me pen and ink,--

_Maid._ I will, madam.

_Duch._ That I may write unto my dearest lord. [_Exit_ Maid.

Sweet Mugeroun,[403] 'tis he that hath my heart, And Guise usurps it 'cause I am his wife.

Fain would I find some means to speak with him, But cannot, and therefore am enforced to write, That he may come and meet me in some place, Where we may one enjoy the other's sight.

_Re-enter the_ Maid, _with pen, ink, and paper_.

So, set it down, and leave me to myself.

[_Exit_ Maid. _The_ d.u.c.h.eSS _writes_.

O, would to G.o.d, this quill that here doth write 10 Had late been pluck'd from out fair Cupid's wing, That it might print these lines within his heart!

_Enter_ GUISE.

_Guise._ What, all alone, my love? and writing too?

I prithee, say to whom thou writ'st.

_Duch._ To such A one, my Lord, as, when she reads my lines, Will laugh, I fear me, at their good array.

_Guise._ I pray thee, let me see.

_Duch._ O no, my lord; a woman only must Partake the secrets of my heart.

_Guise._ But, madam, I must see. [_Seizes the paper._ 20

Are these your secrets that no man must know!

_Duch._ O, pardon me, my lord!

_Guise_. Thou trothless and unjust! what lines are these?

Am I grown old, or is thy l.u.s.t grown young?

Or hath my love been so obscured in thee, That others need to comment on my text?

Is all my love forgot, which held thee dear, I, dearer than the apple of mine eye?

Is Guise's glory but a cloudy mist, In sight and judgment of thy l.u.s.tful eye? 30 _Mort Dieu!_ were[404] not the fruit within thy womb, Of whose increase I set some longing hope, This wrathful hand should strike thee to the heart.

Hence, strumpet! hide thy head for shame; And fly my presence if thou look to live!

[_Exit_ d.u.c.h.eSS.

O wicked s.e.x, perjured and unjust!

Now do I see that from the very first Her eyes and looks sow'd seeds of perjury.

But villain, he, to whom these lines should go, Shall buy her love even with his dearest blood. 40 [_Exit._

SCENE XVI.