Volume II Part 52 (2/2)

SCENE VI.

_Enter_[366] GUISE, ANJOU, DUMAINE, GONZAGO, RETES, MOUNTSORRELL, _and_ Soldiers, _to the ma.s.sacre_.

_Guise._ Anjou, Dumaine, Gonzago, Retes, swear, By the argent crosses in your burgonets, To kill all that you suspect of heresy.

_Dum._ I swear by this, to be unmerciful.

_Anj._ I am disguis'd, and none knows who I am, And therefore mean to murder all I meet.

_Gon._ And so will I.

_Retes._ And I.

_Guise._ Away, then! break into the Admiral's house.

_Retes._ I, let the Admiral be first despatch'd.

_Guise._ The Admiral, 10 Chief standard-bearer to the Lutherans, Shall in the entrance[367] of this ma.s.sacre Be murder'd in his bed.

Gonzago, conduct them thither; and then Beset his house, that not a man may live.

_Anj._ That charge is mine.--Switzers, keep you the streets; And at each corner shall the king's guard stand.

_Gon._ Come, sirs, follow me.

[_Exit_ GONZAGO _with others_.

_Anj._ Cousin, the captain of the Admiral's guard, Plac'd by my brother, will betray his lord. 20 Now, Guise, shall Catholics flourish once again; The head being off, the members cannot stand.

_Retes._ But look, my lord, there's some in the Admiral's house.

GONZAGO _and others enter the_ ADMIRAL'S _house; the_ ADMIRAL _discovered in bed_.

_Anj._ In lucky time: come, let us keep this lane, And slay his servants that shall issue out.

_Gon._ Where is the Admiral?

_Adm._ O let me pray before I die!

_Gon._ Then pray unto our Lady; kiss this cross. [_Stabs him._

_Adm._ O G.o.d, forgive my sins! [_Dies._

_Guise._ Gonzago, what, is he dead?

_Gon._ I, my lord. 30

_Guise._ Then throw him down.[368]

[_The body of the_ ADMIRAL _is thrown down._ _Anj._ Now, cousin, view him well: It maybe 'tis some other, and he escap'd.

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