 | The Duke of Guise |  |
Scene the Third.
Enter King and Council.[Shouts without.
King.
What mean these Shouts?
Abb.
I told your Majesty;
The Sheriffs have puff'd the Populace with hopes
Of their Deliverer.
[Shouts again.
King.
Hark, there rung a Peal
Like Thunder; see, Alphonso, what's the Cause.
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Grill.
My Lord, the Guise is come.
King.
Is't possible! ha, Grillon, said'st thou, come?
Grill.
Why droops the Royal Majesty? O Sir—
King.
O Villain, Slave, wert thou my late born Heir,
Giv'n me by Heav'n, ev'n when I lay a dying;
But peace, thou festring thought, and hide thy Wound;
Where is he?
Grill.
With her Majesty, your Mother;
She has tak'n Chair, and he walks bowing by her,
With thirty thousand Rebels at his heels.
King.
What's to be done? No pall upon my Spirit;
But he that loves me best, and dares the most
On this nice point of Empire, let him speak.
Alph.
I would advise you, Sir, to call him in,
And kill him instantly upon the Spot.
Abb.
I like Alphonso's Counsel, short, sure Work,
Cut off the Head, and let the Body walk.
Enter Queen-Mother.
Q. M.
Sir, the Guise waits.
King.
He enters on his Fate.
Q. M.
Not so, forbear, the City's up in Arms;
Nor doubt, if in their heat you cut him off,
That they will spare the Royal Majesty.
Once, Sir, let me advise, and rule your Fury.
King.
You shall, I'le see him, and I'le spare him now.
Q. M.
What will you say?
King.
I know not;
Colonel Grillon, call the Archers in,
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Stand to their Arms, receive him as a Traytor.
[Exit Grill.
My Heart has set thee down, O Guise, in Blood,
Blood, Mother, Blood, ne're to be blotted out.
Q. M.
Yet you'l relent when this hot sit is over.
King.
If I forgive him, may I ne're be forgiv'n;
No, if I tamely bear such Insolence,
What act of Treason will the Villains stop at?
Seize me, they've sworn, Imprison me's the next,
Perhaps Arraign me, and then doom me dead;
But e're I suffer that, fall all together,
Or rather, on their slaughter'd Heaps erect
Thy Throne, and then proclaim it for Example,
I'm born a Monarch; which implies, alone
To weild the Scepter, and depend on none.
[Exeunt.
| The Duke of Guise | |