Volume II Part 55 (1/2)

[_Exeunt._

SCENE XI.

_Enter_[389] _two_ Men, _with the_ ADMIRAL'S _body_.

_First Man._ Now, sirrah, what shall we do with the Admiral?

_Sec. Man._ Why, let us burn him for an heretic.

_First Man._ O no! his body will infect the fire, and the fire the air, and so we shall be poisoned with him.

_Sec. Man._ What shall we do, then?

_First Man._ Let's throw him into the river.

_Sec. Man._ O, 'twill corrupt the water, and the water the fish, and the[390] fish ourselves when we eat them!

_First Man._ Then throw him into a ditch. 10

_Sec. Man._ No, no. To decide all doubts, be ruled by me: let's hang him here upon this tree.

_First Man._ Agreed.

[_They hang up the body on a tree, and then exeunt._

_Enter_ GUISE, CATHERINE _the Queen-Mother, and the_ CARDINAL OF LORRAINE, _with_ Attendants.

_Guise._ Now, madam, how like you our l.u.s.ty Admiral?

_Cath._ Believe me, Guise, he becomes the place so well As I could long ere this have wish'd him there.

But come, Let's walk aside; the air's not very sweet.

_Guise._ No, by my faith, madam.--

Sirs, take him away, and throw him in some ditch. 20 [_The_ Attendants _bear off the_ ADMIRAL'S _body_.

And now, madam, as I understand, There are a hundred Huguenots and more, Which in the woods do hold their synagogue, And daily meet about this time of day; And thither will I, to put them to the sword.

_Cath._ Do so, sweet Guise; let us delay no time; For, if these stragglers gather head again, And disperse themselves throught the realm of France, It will be hard for us to work their deaths.

Be gone; delay no time, sweet Guise.

_Guise._ Madam, 30 I go as whirlwinds rage before a storm. [_Exit._

_Cath._ My Lord of Lorraine, have you marked of late, How Charles our son begins for to lament For the late night's work which my Lord of Guise Did make in Paris among the Huguenots?

_Card._ Madam, I have heard him solemnly vow, With the rebellious King of Navarre, To revenge their deaths upon us all.

_Cath._ I, but, my lord, let me alone for that; For Catherine must have her will in France. 40 As I do live, so surely shall he die, And Henry then shall wear the diadem; And, if he grudge or cross his mother's will, I'll disinherit him and all the rest; For I'll rule France, but they shall wear the crown, And, if they storm, I then may pull them down.

Come, my lord, let us go.

[_Exeunt._

SCENE XII.

_Enter_[391] _five or six_ Protestants, _with books, and kneel together. Then enter_ GUISE _and others_.