University of Virginia Library

SCENE—Another Apartment.
Raymond, Ronsard, and Bramville enter.
RONSARD.
Alas, brave Count—

RAYMOND.
Methinks the solid earth
Trembles beneath me; yes, let earthquakes yawn,
And in the dark abyss ingulf mankind.
And am I, am I then that dreadful tyrant
'Gainst whom she calmly stipulates protection?
Oh lost Erminia!
Oh for the heat of madness to possess me,
While I tore off, and trampled on the ensigns
Of service to the man who has for ever
Murder'd my peace!—Then thus, and thus—yet prostrate
[tearing his sash.
My country lies. Ah heaven, and could I save her!
Oh dreadful—But for whom, for whom to save her?
For him whose raging lust—
Oh sacred nature, be thy untaught impulse
My only law, my peace thy pious fury.

Enter Guise.
GUISE.
Such storm of rage, my Lord, ill fits the duty
You owe your royal guest.

RAYMOND.
Does this disturb him!
Thinks he to slumber on my nuptial couch!
Amidst his wanton revels he shall know
My honour, and my wrongs shall yet have vengeance.
Bourbon will soon revenge me.—I have seen—
Oh Heaven, had rather Hell's deep gulph before me
Open'd its horrors!

GUISE.
Yet may time, my Lord—
'Tis true your Monarch acts the happy lover.
Yet time, my Lord—

RAYMOND.
And dar'st thou thus insult me,
Wrong'd as I am—But this shall quit thy services

[draws his sword.
GUISE.
O good, my Lord—

RAYMOND.
Defend thy heart.

GUISE.
Hither, this instant seize him—

[calling in soldiers, after whom enter Ld. Adm.
RAYMOND.
Dare you your general's frown!
—At distance, varlets.

LORD ADMIRAL.
Not yet, my Lord—I bring the King's command,
Let him retire.

RAYMOND
to GUISE.
And thou pale dastard, live
Some little hours, then curse thyself and die.

BRAMVILLE.
Oh villany behold thy horrid triumphs!
With noble Raymond falls my country too.

[Ex. Raymond, Ronsard, and Bramville.
GUISE.
Now are my hopes of Raymond's wild blind honour,
And headlong rage, accomplish'd; trust me, Lord Admiral,
The tales we told him of his lov'd Erminia
Sicken'd his pride of grandeur. But when now
Boldly he threatens that the traytor Bourbon
Shall soon revenge his wrongs; now to dismiss him—

LORD ADMIRAL.
Francis, my Lord, would e'en resign his crown
To win the shy bewitching fair one's smile;
And were her Raymond seiz'd, and she to hear it,
Her instant death he deems the consequence.
The King thus wills a splendid train to-morrow,
Soon as the dawn, o'er these wide dales shall rouse
The slumbering deer, Erminia must be won
To join the band; a feign'd alarm of danger
From Bourbon shall afford the apology,
Kindly to bear her off to Fountainbleau.
Then shall proud Raymond meet the traytor's fate.
Eemoine's aid, my Lord—

GUISE.
Shall seal our purpose,
Tho' now Erminia's gentle love to Raymond
Be all live tenderness, yet she is woman.

[Exeunt.