 | Bussy d'Ambois, or The Husbands Revenge |  |
ACT. III.
SCENE Continues.Enter Tamira.
[D'Amboise taking leave, descends into the Vault.
Tam.
He's gone, and with him, all my Courage fled,
And I am now left wholly to my Fears;
Oh, I have open'd all the Doors of Danger
To my encompass'd Honour and my Life.
Before, I was secure 'gainst Death and Hell,
But now am subject to the heartless fear
Of every Shadow, and of every Breath;
So confident a spotless Conscience is;
So weak a Guilty.
No Roof nor Shelter can secure us so,
But it will drown our Cheeks in Tears and Sorrow.
Enter Mount Surry.
Mont.
Good Morrow to my Life! what up already?
Tam.
Ay, my dear Lord, not all this Night have I
Undress'd my self, nor could I sleep a jot.
Mont.
Why, my Hearts Joy, what troubled my dear Life?
Tam.
Alas, to what end should I go to Bed,
That wholly miss'd the comfort of my Bed;
My Soul, my Heart, my Life?
Mont.
Ah dear, dear, Charmer.
[Embraces her.
Tam.
Or how could Sleep possess my Faculties,
Wanting the proper closer of my Eyes?
Mont.
Well, I will never more sleep night from thee;
All my own business, all the King's Affairs
Shall take the day to serve 'em. Every Night
I'le always dedicate to thy delight.
21
Not so my Lord, that will look much amiss,
I can make shift another night like this.
Mont.
Come to the Presence then, and see great Damboise,
Fortunes proud Mushroom, shot up in a Night,
Stand like an Atlas under the King's Arm;
Which Greatness in him, Monsieur now envies
As Bitterly and deadly as the Guise.
Tam.
What, he that was but Yesterday his Maker,
His Raiser, and Preserver!
Mont.
Even the same.
Tam.
How can that be?
[How my Heart throbs o'th suddain?
Aside.
Mont.
A Duel late was fought of Bloody consequence,
In which he being principally concern'd,
The Monsieur got his pardon of the King,
And for the same, propos'd to him a business
Which D'Amboise has refused, and since inform'd our Master
In some by-hints th'Ambition of his Brother;
Which being secretly observed by Monsieur,
Has turn'd his outward love to inward hate.
But on the contrary, the King admires him,
Designs him for a Count, and stiles him now his Eagle.
Tam.
Strange Revolution! but I hope my Lord
You'll take the Juster side.
Mont.
Nay, for my part
I have no personal malice to the Man,
He never did me hurt.
Tam.
Nor me, I'm sure.
[Exeunt.
SCENE II.
Enter King, Guise, Monsieur, Dutchess, Ladies, Gent. Guards.King.
That I did pardon him, was at your Request,
How comes this suddain Revocation?
Mons.
I had not then consider'd on it Sir.
King.
Then I have now consider'd of it Brother,
And find the nature of his Quarrel Just. Admit him.
[Enter D'Amboise.
Stand up Count, and let your wary valour
[D'Amboise Kneels.
Henceforth show, that you deserve our Pardon.
Bussy.
Royal Sir,
I lothe as much a deed of unjust nature
As Law it self does, and to insult on others;
Because I have as little spirit to dare,
And power to do, as to be insulted on;
Yet thus low I must humbly beg your Majesty,
And hope it will be heard by your high Goodness,
That I may justly use what Law and Nature
Have given me for defence; since I am free,
Offending no Just Law, let no Law make
By any wrong it does, my Life her Slave:
22
Let me be King my self, as Man was made,
[Rises.
And do a Justice that exceeds the Law,
If my wrong pass the power of single Valour,
To right and expiate; you are still my King,
And can do right exceeding Law and Nature.
Who to himself is Law, no Law does need,
Offends no Law, and is a Man indeed.
King.
Brave Man, enjoy thy wish, I'le back it with my Powers.
Bussy.
The Life you give, Great Sir, is ever yours.
King.
Thy love speaks heartily, thy Impartial Words
Are like brave Faulcons, that dare truss a Fowl
Much greater than themselves; Flatterers are Kites
That prey on Sparrows. Thou shalt be my Eagle,
And bear my Thunder underneath thy Wings.
Buss.
Where e're I see a smooth Tongu'd Sycophant,
I hate him like the Devil, his dear Tutor.
King.
Fly at him, and his Brood: I cast thee off.
And once more give thee Sirname of my Eagle.
Buss.
I'le make you sport enough Sir, let me have
My Lucerns too, my Dogs Inur'd to hunt
Beasts of such Rapine, only to put 'em up;
And if I truss not then my Quarry, slight me.
Shew me a Clergy-Man that is in Voice
A Lark of Heaven, in Heart, a Mole of Earth;
That Morals reads, yet leads a wicked life,
Has a meek Look, but a luxurious Paunch;
And tho he preaches vertuous Continence,
Shall meet a flesh'd Whore in a Bawdy Corner,
And use her, tho the Consequence be Murder.
Let me but Hawk at him, and like a Fellon,
He shall confess all, and you then may hang him.
Shew me a Lawyer that turns Sacred Law,
The equal render of each Man his own.
The Sanctuary and Impregnable Defence
Of retir'd Learning, and distress'd Virtue,
Into a Harpy that all things devours,
That in a bad cause Bawls till his vile Ears
Are Deaf with the very Ecchoes of his Nonsense:
Yet in a good one, if the needy Client want
Gold to anoint, shall lose it for a Jest:
Let me but Hawk once at the Rogue, and then
He shall confess all too, and you may hang him.
Enter Mount Surry and Tamira.
[King and Mont. talk.
Guise.
Where would you seek such Game as you would hawk at.
Buss.
I'le Hawk about your House for one.
Guise.
Come y'are a Glorious Ruffian, and run Mad
23
Or by that poyson'd vapour, not himself,
Shall back your Murderous slander against me.
Buss.
Oh that the King would make his Presence free
But for one Brush betwixt us! By the Reverence
Due to the sacred space between Kings and Subjects,
Here would I make thee cast that that popular Purple
In which thy proud Soul sits and braves thy Sovereign.
Mons.
Peace, Peace, I prithee Peace.
Buss.
Let him peace first, that gave the first disturbance.
Mons.
He's the better Man.
Buss.
And therefore should do best.
Mons.
He has more Titles.
Buss.
So Hidra had more Heads.
Mons.
He's greater far.
Buss.
His greatness is the Peoples, mine's my own.
Mons.
He's nobly born.
Buss.
What then, so am I;
True Nobleness in Blood, has no gradation
But in our Merit.
Guise.
Thou'rt not nobly born,
But Bastard to the Cardinal of Amboise.
Buss.
Thou lyest proud Guiserd: Oh let me fly, Sir.
[To the King.
King.
Not in my Face, my Eagle.
Buss.
Still shall we rail and foam upon this Bitt?
Is the Guise only great in Faction?
Stands he not by himself? Holds he the Opinion
That Mens Souls are without 'em? Be a Duke,
And lead me to the Field.
Guise.
Come, follow me.
King.
Stay 'em, stay D'Amboise; Cozen Guise, I wonder
Your prudent Disposition brooks so ill;
A Man so good, that only would uphold
Man in his Native Nobleness, from whose fall
All our Dissentions rise; for 'tis most certain,
That the Bounteous and Impartial hand of Nature,
That all things gave in the Original,
Without the definite terms of Thine and Mine,
Had nere bin Ravish'd by the Hand of Fortune,
Had all preserv'd her in her prime, like D'Amboise.
Let my hand therefore be the Hermean Rod,
To part and reconcile, and so preserve you
As my combin'd Embracers and Supporters.
Buss.
My Lord, 'tis the Kings motion, and we shall not seem
Womanish to any, tho we change thus so soon,
Never so great Grudg for his greater pleasure.
Guise.
I seal to that, and so the Manly freedom
That you so much profess, hereafter prove not
24
To me his Hand, shall hold the Hermean Virtue,
To joyn all hearts, in which submissive sign,
On this his Sacred right hand, I lay mine.
Buss.
'Tis well my Lord, and so your worthy greatness
Incline not to the greater Insolence,
And make you think it a prerogative,
To rack Mens Freedom by your Dignity.
My hand stuck full of Lawrel, in true sign
'Tis wholly dedicate to Righteous Peace,
In all submission kisses t'other side.
King.
I thank ye both; and equally invite you
To a kind Banquet, where we'll sacrifice
Full Cups to Confirmation of our Loves.
At which, fair Ladies, I desire your Presence,
And hope you Madam, will take off one Glass
To the Reconcilement of your Lord and Servant.
Dutchess.
If I should fail it Sir, some other Lady
Would be found there to do that for my Servant.
Mons.
Any of these here?
Dutchess.
Nay, I know not that.
Buss.
Are you of that Opinion, pretty Lady?
Tam.
I think not on you Sir, y'are one I know not.
[Scornfully.
Bussy.
Cry ye Mercy Madam.
Mont.
Oh Sir, has she met with ye, ha, ha, ha.
Bussy.
'Tis still my Luck my Lord,
[Exeunt King, D'Amb. and Ladies.
Manent Guise, Monsieur and Mount Surry.
Mons.
What had my Bounty drunk, when it rais'd him?
Guise.
Y'have stuck up a very worthy Flag,
That takes more Wind, than we with all our Sails.
Mont.
Oh how he spreads and flourishes!
Guise.
He must down;
Upstarts should never perch too near a Crown.
Mons.
And as this doting hand
Even out of Earth, like Juno, struck this Giant,
So Jove's great Ordnance shall be here imploy'd
To strike him under th'Ætna of his Pride.
To which work, lend your hands. In my opinion
'Tis necessary then, that we attempt
The safest means to that discovery,
And court our greatest Ladies chiefest Women
With shews of Love, and liberal Promises.
I have one already, that I think I'm sure of;
'Tis but our Breath. If something given in hand
Sharpen their hopes of more, 'twill be well ventur'd.
Guise.
I'm of your Mind my Lord.
Mons.
I have broken
The Ice to it already with the Woman
Of your Chaste Lady, and conceive good hopes
Against we meet next.
25
Ah! there's small hopes there.
Guis.
Very like—Lord, Lord, how credulous these Cuckcold's are?
[aside.
—Here, she comes and two of her Companions.
Enter Women.
Mons.
What starting back and from your Friend—
[Takes hold of Charlot.
Guise.
Nay, Faith you are engag'd—
[To Pero.
Pero.
Nay, Pray my Lord, forbear.
[Exit Pero.
Mont.
What, are you skittish?
[To Anable.
Ana.
No, my Lord, I have out liv'd that season long since.
Mons.
Now my dear Charlotte, hast thou remembred me for the discovery
I intreated thee to make of thy Mistriss? Come, speak boldly, and
be sure of all things that I have sworn to thee.
Charl.
Building on that assurance, my Lord, I may speak; and the rather,
because my Lady has not intrusted me with what I can tell you, for
now I dō not betray her.
Mons.
Whugh, that's all one; if thou didst so, we reach our aims; come,
prithee let's hear.
Charl.
To tell you the truth, my Lord, I have made a strange Discovery.
Mons.
Excellent Rogue! how thou revivest me? thou shalt be married
this Carnival, I'll make thee a Lady for't; I know a Coxombly Knight
of my Acquaintance will do't for a Words speaking.
Charl.
Well, really your Highness is so obliging, tis this
Then: Last Night my Lord lay out, and I,
Watching my Lady's sitting up, stole up at Midnight
From my bed, and having made a hole
Quite through the Walls and Arras to her inmost Chamber,
What do you think I saw?
Mons.
The Devil and she perhaps playing at Picket.
Charl.
'Twas one indeed, that you like as ill as the Devil.
Mons.
I like as ill—
Char.
To be brief, my Lord, I saw her and D'Ambois reading a Letter.
Mons.
D' Ambois!
Char.
Even he, my Lord.
Mons.
Dost thou not dream, Wench?
Charl.
I swear, he is the Man.
Mons.
The Devil indeed, and thy Lady is his Dam; why
This was the happiest shot that ever flew, the just
Plague of Hypocrisie levelled it. Oh the infinite
Regions betwixt a Woman's Tongue and her Heart!
Is this our Goddess of Chastity?—But sweet Charlot,
Who should she trust with this Conveyance? Or all
The doors being fast, how should his Conveyance be made?
Charl.
Nay, my Lord, that amazes me, I cannot by any
Study, so much as guess at it.
26
Well, we'll forbear that a little—
Mont.
Prithee resolve me, the Duke will never
Think I am busie about his Wife—Has D'Ambois
Any privy Access to her?
Anab.
No my Lord, D'Ambois neglects her, and therefore
She is suspitious, that either your Lady or the Lady
Beaupre has closely entertin'd him.
Mont.
My Lady! ha, ha, that's a likely suspition indeed;
By Heaven, I dare trust her with a thousand of 'em.
Mons.
Come, we'll disguise all with seeming only to have courted.
Charl.
And will your Highness be sure to remember the Knight.
Mons.
I will, I will upon my Honour—
[Exeunt Women.
Guis.
I shall live to see thee laugh'd at e're it be long, ha, ha, ha.
Mons.
Well, my Lords, What fruit of our Inquisition? my Lord
Montsurry, find you nothing budding, yet?
Mont.
It makes me smile to think on't, mine suspects that.
Your Neice or my Wife closely entertains him!
Mons.
Your Wife, my Lord, think you that possible?
Mont.
Ridiculous! I know she flies him like her last hour.
Mons.
Her last hour, what! that comes upon her the more she flies it;
Does D' Ambois so? think ye.
Mont.
That's not worth answering—
Mons.
Well, more of this another time, I'll meet you at the Banquet,
and afterwards we'll consult.
Guis.
'Tis miraculous to think, what Monsters
Womens Imaginations ingross, when they are once
Enamored, and what wonders they'll work for their
Satisfaction, they will make a Sheep valiant, a Lyon fearful.
Mont.
And an Ass confident—
[Aside.
Well, my Lord, more will out shortly; come let's to the Banquet.
[Exeunt.
SCENE II.
Hall.Re-enter Monsieur and Maffe.
Mons.
Make the Doors fast and sure, I'll speak with none till I come
out.
Maff.
It shall be done my Lord, but I beseech your Highness,
(That I this minute may discharge my honesty,)
Be pleased to look on my Accompts.
Mons.
Dam your Accounts, ye Dunce, is this a minute—
Maff.
Dam my Accompts, my Lord.
Mons.
Get thee gone, if thou wouldst save a beating:
Away I say, and let none enter, on thy Life.
Maff.
What the Devil ails him?
Mons.
Art thou here still?
[Gall Page, Maff.
27
No, no, my Lord, I have been gone this half hour.
What the Devil ails him?
[Peevishly.
[Exit.
Mons.
Oh the unsounded Sea of Womens Blood!
That when 'tis calmest is most dangerous;
[Call Dambo.
How many Joys are smiling in their Faces,
When in their Hearts are Scilla and Charibdis?
But what what a Mine of Sulphur have I drawn
Into my bosome by this dangerous secret?
Which if my haste with any Spark should light,
E're D'Ambois were engag'd in some sure Plot,
I were blown up, he would be sure my death:
Grant therefore, thou bright Angel of my Life,
A sure Lease of it, but for some few days,
That I may clear my Bosome of the Snake
I cherished there: And then I'll defie Fortune,
I fear him strangely; his advancing Valour
Is like a Spirit rais'd without a Circle,
Endangering him that ignorantly rais'd him;
And for whose Fury he has learnt no limits:
How now—
[Enter Page hastily.
Page.
My Lord, Count D'Ambois rushing in o'th'sudden,
Is coming up the Stairs.
Enter Maffe, running.
Maff.
I cannot help it, what could I do more?
As I was gathering a strong Guard to line
The Passage, and bar fast the Doors, the Man of
Blood is entred.
Mons.
Thou starest as if thou hadst seen the Devil.
Maff.
'Oons I had rather have seen a thousand, I
Am not able to endure sight of him, I'll goe and hire
A fencing Master to fight presently, there is no living else,
I shall be murdered three times a day by him;—
Here he comes, Gad zooks, I'll begone and hide my self.
[Exit.
Enter D'Ambois.
Mons.
Oh! Count, welcome, (pray Heaven he has found
Out nothing,) how now, what leapest thou at?
Buss.
Oh Royal Object!
Mons,
Thou dreamst, awake, Object! In th'empthy Air.
Buss.
Worthy the Brows of Titan.
Mons.
Prithee, what meanst thou?
Buss.
See ye not a Crown
Impale the Forehead of the great King Monsieur?
Mons.
Fie, fie; no more of that.
Buss.
Ah Prince! that is the Subject
Of these your Melancholy close Retirements.
Mons.
Wilt thou ne'er leave that wrongful Supposition?
28
Thy Absence so long suffered oftentime,
Puts me in some small doubt, thou dost not love me;
Wilt thou do one thing therefore now sincerely?
Buss.
Ay, any thing, but killing of the King.
Mons.
Still in that Discord and ill taken Note;
How most unseasonably thou playest the Echoe
In this Fall thy of Friendship?
Buss.
Then doubt not,
That there is any Act within my Nerves,
But killing of the King, that is not yours.
Mons.
I will believe, to prove which by my Love
Shewn to thy Vertues:
I charge thee utter, even with all the Freedom,
Both of thy noble Nature and thy Friendship,
The full and plain state of me in thy Thoughts.
Buss.
What! utter plainly what I think of thee.
Mons.
Plain, as Truth.
Buss.
Why, this swims quite against the stream of Greatness;
Great Men would rather hear their Flatterers,
And if they are not made Fools, are not wise.
Mons.
I am no such great Fool, and therefore charge thee
Even from the Root of thy free Heart display me.
Buss.
Since you affect it in such serious terms;
If you your self will tell me what you think,
As freely and as heartily of me;
I'll be as open in my Thoughts of you.
Mons.
Agreed upon my Honour, and make this,
That prove we in our full Description
Never so foul, live still the sounder Friends.
Buss.
What else? Come, pay me home, I'll stand it bravely.
Mons.
I will I swear, I think thee then a Man
That dares as much as a wild Horse or Tiger,
As headstrong, and as bloody, and to feed
The ravenous Woolf of thy most Canibal Valour,
Rather than not employ it, thou wouldst turn
Bully to any Bawd, Slave to a Jew, or English Usurer;
Do any thing—but killing of the King—
[Fleering by.
That in thy Valour thou'rt like other Animals,
That have strange gifts in Nature, but no Soul
Diffus'd quite through to make 'em of a piece;
But like a vicious Horse, that wants the sense
To know his Master, who when he has gotten head,
Leaps bolt upright, and having thrown his Rider,
Turns Tail, and with his Hoof knocks out his Brains:
And in thy Valour, which I call Barbarity,
Thou'rt more ridiculous and vainglorious
Than any Mountebanck, and impudent.
29
And glorifie thee like a Jupiter Hammon;
Tho' eat'st thy Heart in Vinegar, and thy Gall
Turns all thy Blood to poyson, which is Cause
Of that Toadpool that stands in thy Complection;
And makes thee with a cold and Earthly Moisture,
As Plague to thy damn'd Pride, rot as thou liv'st;
To study Calumnies and Treacheries,
To humane Slaughters like a Screech Owl sing,
And to all Mischiefs—but to kill the King.
Buss.
So, have you said?
Mons.
Yes Faith, What thinkest thou? Do I flatter thee?
Speak I not like a true and trusty Friend?
Buss.
As ever any Man was blessed withal:
Now here's for me; I think you then no Devil,
Because you are very like to be no King;
Of which with any Friend of yours I'll lay
This keen Stiletto against all your Stars,
Ay, and against your Treasons, which are more,
That you did never good, but to doe ill;
But ill of all sorts free and for it self;
That like a Cannon making Lanes through Armies,
The first Man of a Rank that whole Rank falling,
If you have wrong'd a Man, you are so far
From making him amends, that all his Race,
Friends and Relations fall into your Chace.
That y' have a Tongue so scandalous, 'twill cut
The purest Christal, and a Breath that will
Kill to that Wall, a Spider.
And lastly, which I must for Gratitude ever remember
My Politique Prince, I do believe and know
That of my Rise you were the only Spring
In Royal Hopes,—that I should kill the King.
Mons.
Why, now I see thou lov'st me; let's to the Banquet,
And in thy Brothers Posture meet his Majesty,
D'Amb.
And let Fate judge, that knows what each intends
If ever bitter Foes, seem'd better Friends.
[Exeunt.
[Curtain falls.
The End of the Third Act.
| Bussy d'Ambois, or The Husbands Revenge | |