Enter Guise.
Guise. What, all alone, my love? and writing too? I prithee, say to whom thou writ'st.
Duch. To such A one, my Lord, as, when she reads my lines, Will laugh, I fear me, at their good array.
Guise. I pray thee, let me see.
Duch. O no, my lord; a woman only must Partake the secrets of my heart.
Guise. But, madam, I must see. [Seizes the paper.20 Are these your secrets that no man must know!
Duch. O, pardon me, my lord!
Guise. Thou trothless and unjust! what lines are these? Am I grown old, or is thy lust grown young? Or hath my love been so obscured in thee, That others need to comment on my text? Is all my love forgot, which held thee dear, I, dearer than the apple of mine eye? Is Guise's glory but a cloudy mist, In sight and judgment of thy lustful eye?30 Mort Dieu! were [404] not the fruit within thy womb, Of whose increase I set some longing hope, This wrathful hand should strike thee to the heart. Hence, strumpet! hide thy head for shame; And fly my presence if thou look to live! [Exit Duchess. O wicked sex, perjùrèd and unjust! Now do I see that from the very first Her eyes and looks sow'd seeds of perjury. But villain, he, to whom these lines should go, Shall buy her love even with his dearest blood.40 [Exit.
SCENE XVI.
Enter [405] the King of Navarre, Pleshé, Bartus, and train, with drums and trumpets.