 | The Queen-Mother |  |
147
Scene VIII.
The Streets.Enter Guise, Tavannes, with Soldiers; Marsillac, Soubise, Pardaillan, and others confusedly.
Sol.
Guise, Guise! down with them! for the king, the king!
Guise, Guise!
1 Sol.
Here, dog, take this to choke upon.
Mar.
Sirs, stand by me; hew down that knave at right,
I pray you, sir. Nay, we shall spoil them yet;
Stand but a little fast.
A Huguenot.
Mercy! God help!
Tav.
Thrust me a steel nail in that tongue and throat;
So, sir; prate now as you do love such nails.
Set on; this August serves for reaping-time;
Bleed the plague out with your incisions.
Mar.
Guise, if thou hast a man's mark left on thee,
Do me this right. I thank you, sir; the office
Spares me some work.
Gui.
Stand to me, men; down with him!
My heel hath rent a better face to-night.
Tav.
Kill me this scapegate harlot in her smock,
The child to water. Charge their face again;
Make a clean way and we shall smite them all.
Par.
Yea, devil's dog, wilt only snarl at me?
Prithee, but room to die in and take breath,
148
[Dies.
Tav.
(crossing Soubise.)
Ah thing, what set thee on such work to do?
Die, fragment, and turn carrion fit for use.
[Stabs him.
There's not a man the less.
Sol.
Tavannes! Tavannes!
Others.
Guise, Guise! upon them for the king, the king!
[Exeunt.
| The Queen-Mother | |