Guise. Thanks, my good friend: I will requite thy love. Go, then, present them to the Queen Navarre;20 For she is that huge blemish in our eye, That makes these upstart heresies in France: Be gone, my friend, present them to her straight. [Exit Apothecary. Soldier!
Enter a Soldier.
Sold. My lord?
Guise. Now come thou forth and play thy tragic part: Stand in some window, [351] opening near the street, And when thou see'st the Admiral ride by, Discharge thy musket, and perform his death; And then I'll guerdon thee with store of crowns.30
Sold. I will, my lord. [Exit.
Guise. Now, Guise, begin those deep-engendered thoughts To burst abroad those never-dying flames Which cannot be extinguished but by blood. Oft have I levelled, and at last have learn'd That peril is the cheapest way to happiness, And resolution honour's fairest aim. What glory is there in a common good, That hangs for every peasant to achieve? That like I best that flies beyond my reach.40 Set me to scale the high Pyramides, And thereon set the diadem of France; I'll either rend it with my nails to naught, Or mount the top with my aspiring wings, Although my downfall be the deepest hell. For this I wake, when others think I sleep; For this I wait, that scorn attendance else; For this, my quenchless thirst, whereon I build, Hath often pleaded kindred to the king; For this, this head, this heart, this hand, and sword,50 Contrives, imagines, and fully executes, Matters of import aimèd at by many, Yet understood by none; For this, hath heaven engendered me of earth; For this, this earth sustains my body's weight, And with this weight I'll counterpoise a crown, Or with seditions weary all the world; For this, from Spain the stately Catholics Send Indian gold to coin me French ecues; [352] For this, have I a largess from the Pope,60 A pension, and a dispensation too; And by that privilege to work upon, My policy hath fram'd religion. Religion! O Diabole! Fie, I am asham'd, however that I seem, To think a word of such a simple sound, Of so great matter should be made the ground! The gentle king, whose pleasure uncontroll'd Weakeneth his body, and will waste his realm, If I repair not what he ruinates, [353]—70 Him, as a child, I daily win with words, So that for proof he barely bears the name; I execute, and he sustains the blame. The Mother-Queen works wonders for my sake, And in my love entombs the hope of France, Rifling the bowels of her treasury, To supply my wants and necessity. Paris hath full five hundred colleges, As monasteries, priories, abbeys, and halls, Wherein are thirty thousand able men,80 Besides a thousand sturdy student Catholics: And more,—of my knowledge, in one cloister keep [354] Five hundred fat Franciscan friars and priests: All this, and more, if more may be comprised, To bring the will of our desires to end. Then, Guise, Since thou hast all the cards within thy hands, To shuffle or cut, take this as surest thing, That, right or wrong, thou deal thyself a king.— I, but, Navarre, [355]—'tis but a nook of France,90 Sufficient yet for such a petty king, That, with a rabblement of his heretics, Blinds Europe's eyes, and troubleth our estate. Him will we— [Pointing to his sword] but first let's follow those in France That hinder our possession to the crown. As Cæsar to his soldiers, so say I,— Those that hate me will I learn to loathe. Give me a look, that, when I bend the brows, Pale death may walk in furrows of my face; A hand, that with a grasp may gripe the world;100 An ear to hear what my detractors say; A royal seat, a sceptre, and a crown; That those which do behold, they [356] may become As men that stand and gaze against the sun. The plot is laid, and things shall come to pass Where resolution strives for victory. [Exit.
SCENE III.
Enter the King of Navarre, [357] Queen Margaret, the Old Queen of Navarre, the Prince of Condé, and the Admiral; they are met by the Apothecary with the gloves, which he gives to the Old Queen.
Apoth. Madam, I beseech your grace to accept this simple gift.
Old Q. of Nav. Thanks, my good friend. Hold, takethou this reward. [Gives a purse.