_Mar._ O you grudge The extorted praise, and speak him but by halves. _Gui._ Priest, Corso, devils! how she carries it! _Mar._ I see, my lord, you're come to take your leave; And were it not to give the court suspicion, I would oblige you, sir, before you go, To lead me to the king. _Gui._ Death and the devil! _Mar._ But since that cannot be, I'll take my leave Of you, my lord; heaven grant your journey safe! Farewell, once more. [_Offers her hand._] Not stir! does this become you,-- Does your ambition swell into your eyes?-- Jealousy by this light; nay then, proud Guise, I tell you, you're not worthy of the grace; But I will carry't, sir, to those that are, And leave you to the curse of bosom-war. [_Exit._ _May._ Is this the heavenly-- _Gui._ Devil, devil, as they are all. 'Tis true, at first she caught the heavenly form, But now ambition sets her on her head, By hell, I see the cloven mark upon her. Ha! Grillon here! some new court-trick upon me. _Enter_ GRILLON. _Gril._ Sir, I have business for your ear. _Gui._ Retire. [_Exeunt his Followers._ _Gril._ The king, my lord, commanded me to wait you, And bid you welcome to the court. _Gui._ The king Still loads me with new honours; but none greater Than this, the last. _Gril._ There is one greater yet, Your high commission 'gainst the Huguenots; I and my family shall shortly wait you, And 'twill be glorious work. _Gui._ If you are there, There must be action. _Gril._ O, your pardon, sir; I'm but a stripling in the trade of war: But you, whose life is one continued broil, What will not your triumphant arms accomplish! You, that were formed for mastery in war. That, with a start, cried to your brother Mayenne,-- "To horse!" and slaughtered forty thousand Germans[9]. _Gui._ Let me beseech you, colonel, no more. _Gril._ But, sir, since I must make at least a figure In this great business, let me understand What 'tis you mean, and why you force the king Upon so dangerous an expedition. _Gui._ Sir, I intend the greatness of the king; The greatness of all France, whom it imports To make their arms their business, aim, and glory; And where so proper as upon those rebels, That covered all the state with blood and death? _Gril._ Stored arsenals and armouries, fields of horse, Ordnance, munition, and the nerve of war, Sound infantry, not harassed and diseased, To meet the fierce Navarre, should first be thought on. _Gui._ I find, my lord, the argument grows warm, Therefore, thus much, and I have done: I go To join the Holy League in this great war, In which no place of office, or command, Not of the greatest, shall be bought or sold; Whereas too often honours are conferred On soldiers, and no soldiers: This man knighted, Because he charged a troop before his dinner, And sculked behind a hedge i'the afternoon: I will have strict examination made Betwixt the meritorious and the base.