Bussy D'Ambois and The Revenge of Bussy D'AmboisChapman, George
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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)
_Bussy._ 'Tis not like, my lord,
That men in women rule, but contrary;
For as the moone, of all things God created
Not only is the most appropriate image 10
Or glasse to shew them how they wax and wane,
But in her height and motion likewise beares
Imperiall influences that command
In all their powers, and make them wax and wane:
So women, that, of all things made of nothing, 15
Are the most perfect idols of the moone,
Or still-unwean'd sweet moon-calves with white faces,
Not only are paterns of change to men,
But as the tender moon-shine of their beauties
Cleares or is cloudy, make men glad or sad. 20
So then they rule in men, not men in them.
_Monsieur._ But here the moons are chang'd (as the King notes)
And either men rule in them, or some power
Beyond their voluntary faculty,
For nothing can recover their lost faces. 25
_Montsurry._ None can be alwayes one: our griefes and joyes
Hold severall scepters in us, and have times
For their divided empires: which griefe now in them
Doth prove as proper to his diadem.
_Buss._ And griefe's a naturall sicknesse of the bloud, 30
That time to part asks, as his comming had;
Onely sleight fooles griev'd suddenly are glad.
A man may say t'a dead man, "be reviv'd,"
As well as to one sorrowfull, "be not griev'd."
And therefore (princely mistresse) in all warres 35
Against these base foes that insult on weaknesse,
And still fight hous'd behind the shield of Nature,
Of priviledge law, treachery, or beastly need,
Your servant cannot help; authority here
Goes with corruption, something like some states 40
That back woorst men; valour to them must creepe
That to themselves left would feare him asleepe.
_Duchess._ Ye all take that for granted that doth rest
Yet to be prov'd; we all are as we were,
As merry and as free in thought as ever. 45
_Guise._ And why then can ye not disclose your thoughts?
_Tamyra._ Me thinks the man hath answer'd for us well.
_Mons._ The man! why, madam, d'ee not know his name?
_Tam._ Man is a name of honour for a King:
Additions take away from each chiefe thing. 50
The schoole of modesty not to learne learnes dames:
They sit in high formes there that know mens names.
_Mons._ [_to Bussy._] Heark, sweet heart, here's a bar set to
your valour!
It cannot enter here, no, not to notice
Of what your name is; your great eagles beak 55
(Should you flie at her) had as good encounter
An Albion cliffe as her more craggy liver.
_Buss._ Ile not attempt her, sir; her sight and name
(By which I onely know her) doth deter me.
_Henr._ So doe they all men else.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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