The Works of Christopher Marlowe, Vol. 2 (of 3)Marlowe, Christopher
General
The Works of Christopher Marlowe, Vol. 2 (of 3)
Marlowe, Christopher
English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Nav._ We[358] are betrayed! Come, my lords,
And let us go tell the king of this.
_Adm._ These are
The cursèd Guisians, that do seek our death.
O fatal was this marriage to us all!
[_Exeunt, bearing out the body of the_ OLD QUEEN OF NAVARRE.
SCENE IV.
_Enter_[359] KING CHARLES, CATHERINE _the Queen-Mother_,
GUISE, ANJOU, _and_ DUMAINE.
_Cath._ My noble son, and princely Duke of Guise,
Now have we got the fatal, straggling deer
Within the compass of a deadly toil,
And, as we late decreed, we may perform.
_Char._ Madam, it will be noted through the world
An action bloody and tyrannical;
Chiefly, since under safety of our word
They justly challenge their protection:
Besides, my heart relents that noblemen,
Only corrupted in religion, 10
Ladies of honour, knights, and gentlemen,
Should, for their conscience, taste such ruthless ends.
_Anj._ Though gentle minds should pity others' pain,
Yet will the wisest note their proper griefs,
And rather seek to scourge their enemies
Than be themselves base subjects to the whip.
_Guise._ Methinks my Lord Anjou hath well advised
Your highness to consider of the thing,
And rather choose to seek your country's good
Than pity or relieve these upstart heretics. 20
_Cath._ I hope these reasons may serve my princely son
To have some care for fear of enemies.
_Char._ Well, madam, I refer it to your majesty,
And to my nephew here, the Duke of Guise:
What you determine, I will ratify.
_Cat._ Thanks to my princely son.--Then tell me,Guise,
What order will you set down for the massacre?
_Guise._ Thus, madam. They
That shall be actors in this massacre,
Shall wear white crosses on their burgonets, 30
And tie white linen scarfs about their arms:
He that wants these, and is suspect[360] of heresy,
Shall die, be he king or emperor. Then I'll have
A peal of ordnance shot from the tower, at which
They all shall issue out, and set[361] the streets;
And then,
The watch-word being given, a bell shall ring,
Which when they hear, they shall begin to kill,
And never cease until that bell shall cease;
Then breathe a while. 40
_Enter the_ ADMIRAL'S Serving-Man.
_Char._ How now, fellow! what news?
_Serv.-M._ An it please your grace, the Lord High Admiral,
Riding the streets, was traitorously shot;
And most humbly[362] entreats your majesty
To visit him, sick in his bed.
_Char._ Messenger, tell him I will see him straight.
[_Exit_ Serv.-M.
What shall we do now with the Admiral?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account