Laval returns from Italy to claim his bride. In the earlier part of the play, a hint is given of Gonzales' rancorous hate of Laval, the undercurrent of which is now revealed. Gonzales, beneath the seal of confession, obtains the secret of the crime of Françoise. In her presence, as the betrothed Laval rushes to embrace his bride, he taunts him with her guilt. The wretched Françoise, in vain conjured to assert her innocence, stabs herself. The King had been followed thither by the Queen; both now appear. Gonzales riots revenge in one of the most vigorous portions of the drama: GONZALES. Look on thy bride! look on that faded thing, That e'en the tears thy manhood showers go fast, And bravely, cannot wake to life again! I call all nature to bear witness here-- As fair a flower once grew within my home, As young, as lovely, and as dearly lov'd-- I had a sister once, a gentle maid-- The only daughter of my father's house, Round whom our ruder loves did all entwine, As round the dearest treasure that we own'd. She was the centre of our souls' affections-- She was the bud, that underneath our strong And sheltering arms, spread over her, did blow. So grew this fair, fair girl, till envious fate Brought on the hour when she was withered. Thy father, sir--now mark--for 'tis the point And moral of my tale--thy father, then, Was, by my sire, in war ta'en prisoner-- Wounded almost to death, he brought him home, Shelter'd him,--cherish'd him,--and, with a care, Most like a brother's, watch'd his bed of sickness, Till ruddy health, once more through all his veins Sent life's warm stream in strong returning tide. How think ye he repaid my father's love? From her dear home he lur'd my sister forth, And, having robb'd her of her treasur'd honour, Cast her away, defil'd,--despoil'd--forsaken-- The daughter of a high and ancient line-- The child of so much love--she died--she died-- Upon the threshold of that home, from which My father spurn'd her--over whose pale corse I swore to hunt, through life, her ravisher-- Nor ever from by bloodhound track desist, Till line and deep atonement had been made-- Honour for honour given--blood for blood. "The Queen orders Gonzales to death; but the monk accuses her of the intended murder of Françoise, and produces her written order to that effect. The King can no longer be blind to his mother's crimes; she is disgraced, degraded, and condemned to pass the rest of her days in a convent." Here the fourth act, and the acting play closes. In the fifth De Bourbon reappears. Lautrec proposes to join him, and assassinate the King, in revenge for the ruin of Françoise. The memorable battle of Pavia ensues, and terminates with the death of the King and the triumph of Bourbon. Triboulet, the jester of the Court of Francis, is introduced with some pleasantry, by way of relief to the darker deeds.