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)
_Buss._ What dismall change is here! the good old Frier
Is murther'd, being made knowne to serve my love;
And now his restlesse spirit would fore-warne me 15
Of some plot dangerous, and imminent.
Note what he wants! He wants his upper weed,
He wants his life, and body: which of these
Should be the want he meanes, and may supply me
With any fit fore-warning? This strange vision, 20
(Together with the dark prediction
Us'd by the Prince of Darknesse that was rais'd
By this embodied shadow) stirre my thoughts
With reminiscion of the Spirits promise,
Who told me that by any invocation 25
I should have power to raise him, though it wanted
The powerfull words and decent rites of art.
Never had my set braine such need of spirit
T'instruct and cheere it; now then I will claime
Performance of his free and gentle vow 30
T'appeare in greater light, and make more plain
His rugged oracle. I long to know
How my deare mistresse fares, and be inform'd
What hand she now holds on the troubled bloud
Of her incensed lord: me thought the Spirit 35
(When he had utter'd his perplext presage)
Threw his chang'd countenance headlong into clouds;
His forehead bent, as it would hide his face,
He knockt his chin against his darkned breast,
And struck a churlish silence through his pow'rs. 40
Terror of darknesse! O, thou King of flames!
That with thy musique-footed horse dost strike
The cleare light out of chrystall on dark earth,
And hurlst instructive fire about the world,
Wake, wake, the drowsie and enchanted night 45
That sleepes with dead eyes in this heavy riddle!
Or thou great Prince of Shades, where never sunne
Stickes his far-darted beames, whose eyes are made
To shine in darknesse, and see ever best
Where men are blindest, open now the heart 50
Of thy abashed oracle, that, for feare
Of some ill it includes, would faine lie hid,
And rise thou with it in thy greater light!
_Thunders. Surgit Spiritus cum suis._
_Behemoth._ Thus, to observe my vow of apparition
In greater light, and explicate thy fate, 55
I come; and tell thee that, if thou obey
The summons that thy mistresse next will send thee,
Her hand shall be thy death.
_Buss._ When will she send?
_Beh._ Soone as I set againe, where late I rose.
_Buss._ Is the old Frier slaine?
_Beh._ No, and yet lives not. 60
_Buss._ Died he a naturall death?
_Beh._ He did.
_Buss._ Who then
Will my deare mistresse send?
_Beh._ I must not tell thee.
_Buss._ Who lets thee?
_Beh._ Fate.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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