Bussy D'Ambois and The Revenge of Bussy D'AmboisChapman, George
General
Bussy D'Ambois and The Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois
Chapman, George
Bussy d'Amboise, 1549?-1579 -- Drama; English drama -- 17th century; Revenge -- Drama; Tragedies (Drama)
_Mail._ But thus forswearing is not perjurie.
You are no politician: not a fault,
How foule soever, done for private ends,
Is fault in us sworne to the publike good: 50
Wee never can be of the damned crew;
Wee may impolitique our selves (as 'twere)
Into the kingdomes body politique,
Whereof indeede we're members; you misse termes.
_Cler._ The things are yet the same. 55
_Mail._ Tis nothing so; the propertie is alter'd:
Y'are no lawyer. Or say that othe and othe
Are still the same in number, yet their species
Differ extreamely, as, for flat example,
When politique widowes trye men for their turne, 60
Before they wed them, they are harlots then,
But when they wed them, they are honest women:
So private men, when they forsweare, betray,
Are perjur'd treachers, but being publique once,
That is, sworne-married to the publique good-- 65
_Cler._ Are married women publique?
_Mail._ Publique good;
For marriage makes them, being the publique good,
And could not be without them: so I say
Men publique, that is, being sworne-married
To the good publique, being one body made 70
With the realmes body politique, are no more
Private, nor can be perjur'd, though forsworne,
More then a widow married, for the act
Of generation is for that an harlot,
Because for that shee was so, being unmarried: 75
An argument _a paribus_.
_Chal._ Tis a shrow'd one.
_Cler._ "Who hath no faith to men, to God hath none:"
Retaine you that, sir? who said so?
_Mail._ Twas I.
_Cler._ Thy owne tongue damne thy infidelitie!
But, Captaines all, you know me nobly borne; 80
Use yee t'assault such men as I with lackyes?
_Chal._ They are no lackyes, sir, but souldiers
Disguis'd in lackyes coates.
_1 Sold._ Sir, wee have seene the enemie.
_Cler._ Avant! yee rascols, hence!
_Mail._ Now leave your coates.
_Cler._ Let me not see them more. 85
_Aum._ I grieve that vertue lives so undistinguisht
From vice in any ill, and though the crowne
Of soveraigne law, shee should be yet her footstoole,
Subject to censure, all the shame and paine
Of all her rigor.
_Cler._ Yet false policie 90
Would cover all, being like offenders hid,
That (after notice taken where they hide)
The more they crouch and stirre, the more are spide.
_Aum._ I wonder how this chanc'd you.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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