"Tis said, the Guise will come in spite of me; Suppose it possible, and stay to advise me.

To

Mar. I will; but, on your royal word, no more. King. I will be easy,

my last gasp, as your own virgin thoughts, And never dare to breathe my passion more; Yet you'll allow me now and then to sigh As we discourse, and court you with my eyes?

Enter ALPHONSO.

Why do you wave your hand, and warn me hence?
So looks the poor condemned,

When justice beckons, there's no hope of pardon.
Sternly, like you, the judge the victim eyes,
And thus, like me, the wretch, despairing, dies.
[Exit with ALPHONSO.

Enter GRILLON.

Gril. O rare, rare creature! By the power that made me,

Wer't possible we could be damned again

By some new Eve, such virtue might redeem us.
Oh I could clasp thee, but that my arms are rough,
Till all thy sweets were broke with my embraces,
And kiss thy beauties to a dissolution!

Mar. Ah father, uncle, brother, all the kin,
The precious blood that's left me in the world,
Believe, dear sir, whate'er my actions seem,
I will not lose my virtue, for a throne.

Gril. Why, I will carve thee out a throne myself;
I'll hew down all the kings in christendom,
And seat thee on their necks, as high as heaven.

Enter Abbot DELBENE.

Abb. Colonel, your ear.

Mar. By these whispering councils,
My soul presages that the Guise is coming.
If he dares come, were I a man, a king,

I'd sacrifice him in the city's sight.

O heavens! what was't I said? Were I a man,
I know not that; but, as I am a virgin,
If I would offer thee, too lovely Guise,

It should be kneeling to the throne of mercy.—
Ha! then thou lovest, that thou art thus concerned.
Down, rising mischief, down, or I will kill thee,
Even in thy cause, and strangle new-born pity!-
Yet, if he were not married !-ha, what then?
His charms prevail ;-no, let the rebel die.
I faint beneath this strong oppression here;
Reason and love rend my divided soul;

Heaven be the judge, and still let virtue conquer.
Love to his tune my jarring heart would bring,
But reason over-winds, and cracks the string. [Exit.
Abb. The king dispatches order upon order,
With positive command to stop his coming.
Yet there is notice given to the city;
Besides, Belleure brought but a half account,
How that the Guise replied, he would obey
His majesty in all; yet, if he might
Have leave to justify himself before him,
He doubted not his cause.

Gril. The axe, the axe:

Rebellion's pampered to a pleurisy,

And it must bleed.

[Shout within.

Abb. Hark, what a shout was there! I'll to the king; it may be, 'tis reported On purpose thus.

Let there be truth or lies

In this mad fame, I'll bring you instant word.

[Exit Abbot.

Manet GRILLON: Enter GUISE, CARDINAL, MAYENNE, MALICORN, Attendants, &c. Shouts again. Gril. Death, and thou devil Malicorn, is that Thy master?

Gui. Yes, Grillon, 'tis the Guise;

One, that would court you for a friend.
Gril. A friend!

Traitor thou mean'st, and so I bid thee welcome;
But since thou art so insolent, thy blood

Be on thy head, and fall by me unpitied. [Exit. Gui. The bruises of his loyalty have crazed him. [Shouts louder.

Spirit within sings.

Malicorn, Malicorn, Malicorn, ho!
If the Guise resolves to go,

I charge, I warn thee let him know,
Perhaps his head may lie too low.

Gui. Why, Malicorn.

Mal. [Starting.] Sir, do not see the king.
Gui. I will.

Mal. 'Tis dangerous.

Gui. Therefore I will see him,

And so report my danger to the people.

Halt-to your judgment.-[MALICORN makes signs
of Assassination.] Let him, if he dare.—
But more, more, more;-why, Malicorn !—again?
I thought a look, with us, had been a language;
I'll talk my mind on any point but this

By glances;-ha! not yet? thou mak'st me blush
At thy delay; why, man, 'tis more than life,
Ambition, or a crown*.

*This speech depends on the gesticulation of the sorcerer: Guise first desires him report the danger to the people,—then bids him halt, and express his judgment more fully. Malicorn makes signs of assassination.-Guise goes on

-Let him if he dare.

But more, more, more ;

i. e. I have a further reason than state policy for my visit.-Malicorn makes repeated signs of ignorance and discontent; and Guise urges him to speak out on a subject, which he himself was unwilling to open.

Mal. What, Marmoutiere?

Gui. Ay, there a general's heart beat like a drum! Quick, quick! my reins, my back, and head and breast

Ache, as I'd been a horse-back forty hours.

Mal. She has seen the king.

Gui. I thought she might. A trick upon me; well.

Mal. Passion o' both sides.

Gui. His, thou meanest.

Mal. On hers.

Down on her knees.

Gui. And up again; no matter.

Mal. Now all in tears, now smiling, sad at parting.

Gui. Dissembled, for she told me this before; 'Twas all put on, that I might hear and rave. Mal. And so, to make sure work on't, by consent Of Grillon, who is made their bawd,

Gui. Away!

Mal. She's lodged at court.

Gui. "Tis false, they do belie her.
Mal. But, sir, I saw the apartment.

Gui. What, at court?

Mal. At court, and near the king; 'tis true, by heaven:

I never play'd you foul, why should you doubt me? Gui.I would thou hadst, ere thus unmanned my heart!

Blood, battles, fire, and death! I run, I run!
With this last blow he drives me like a coward;
Nay, let me never win a field again,

If, with the thought of these irregular vapours,
The blood ha'nt burst my lips.

Card. Peace, brother.

Gui. By heaven, I took thee for my

cian,

soul's physi

And dost thou vomit me with this loathed peace?

'Tis contradiction: no, my peaceful brother,
I'll meet him now, though fire-armed cherubins
Should cross my way. O jealousy of love!
Greater than fame! thou eldest of the passions,
Or rather all in one, I here invoke thee,
Where'er thou'rt throned in air, in earth, or hell,
Wing me to my revenge, to blood, and ruin!
Card. Have you no temper?

Gui. Pray, sir, give me leave.

A moment's thought;-ha, but I sweat and tremble,
My brain runs this and that way; it will not fix
On aught but vengeance.-Malicorn, call the people.
[Shouts within.

But hark, they shout again: I'll on and meet them;
Nay, head them to his palace, as my guards.
Yet more, on such exalted causes borne,

I'll wait him in his cabinet alone,

And look him pale; while in his courts without,
The people shout him dead with their alarms,
And make his mistress tremble in his arms. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Enter King and Council.

King. What mean these shouts?

Abb. I told your majesty,

[Shouts without.

The sheriff's have puffed the populace with hopes

Of their deliverer.

King, Hark! there rung a peal

[Shouts again.

Like thunder: see, Alphonso, what's the cause.

Enter GRILLon.

Gril. My lord, the Guise is come.

King. Is't possible! ha, Grillon, said'st thou, come? Gril. Why droops the royal majesty? O sir! King. O villain, slave, wert thou my late-born heir,

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