Volume II Part 54 (2/2)

[_Exit_ DUMAINE.

And in the meantime, my lord, could we devise To get those pedants from the King Navarre, That are tutors to him and the Prince of Conde--

_Anj._ For that, let me alone: cousin, stay you here, And when you see me in, then follow hard.[385]

ANJOU _knocketh at the door: and enter the_ KING OF NAVARRE _and the_ PRINCE OF CONDe,[386] _with their two_ Schoolmasters.

How now, my lords! how fare you?

_Nav._ My lord, they say That all the Protestants are ma.s.sacred.

_Anj._ I, so they are; but yet, what remedy? 70 I have done what I could to stay this broil.

_Nav._ But yet, my lord, the report doth run That you were one that made this ma.s.sacre.

_Anj._ Who, I? you are deceiv'd; I rose but now.

[GUISE _and the others come forward_[387]

_from the back of the stage._ _Guise._ Murder the Huguenots! take those pedants hence!

_Nav._ Thou traitor, Guise, lay off thy b.l.o.o.d.y hands!

_Con._ Come, let us go tell the king.

[_Exit with the_ KING OF NAVARRE.

_Guise._ Come, sirs, I'll whip you to death with my poniard's point.

[_Stabs the_ Schoolmasters, _who die_.

_Anj._ Away with them both!

[_Exeunt_ ANJOU _and_ Soldiers _with the bodies_.

_Guise._ And now, sirs, for this night let our fury stay.

Yet will we not that the ma.s.sacre shall end: 81 Gonzago, post you to Orleans, Retes to Dieppe, Mountsorrell unto Rouen, And spare not one that you suspect of heresy.

And now stay That bell, that to the devil's matins rings.

Now every man put off his burgonet, And so convey him closely to his bed.

[_Exeunt._

SCENE X.

_Enter_[388] ANJOU, _with two_ Lords of Poland.

_Anj._ My lords of Poland, I must needs confess, The offer of your Prince Elector's far Beyond the reach of my deserts; For Poland is, as I have been inform'd, A martial people, worthy such a king As hath sufficient counsel in himself To lighten doubts, and frustrate subtle foes; And such a king, whom practice long hath taught To please himself with manage of the wars, The greatest wars within our Christian bounds,-- 10 I mean our wars against the Muscovites, And, on the other side, against the Turk, Rich princes both, and mighty emperors.

Yet, by my brother Charles, our King of France, And by his grace's council, it is thought That, if I undertake to wear the crown Of Poland, it may prejudice their hope Of my inheritance to the crown of France; For, if th' Almighty take my brother hence, By due descent the regal seat is mine. 20 With Poland, therefore, must I covenant thus,-- That if, by death of Charles, the diadem Of France be cast on me, then, with your leaves, I may retire me to my native home.

If your commission serve to warrant this, I thankfully shall undertake the charge Of you and yours, and carefully maintain The wealth and safety of your kingdom's right.

_First Lord._ All this, and more, your highness shall command, For Poland's crown and kingly diadem. 30

_Anj._ Then, come, my lords, let's go.

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