Card. Then there is no remedy, but I must die?
First Murd. No remedy; therefore prepare yourself.
Card. Yet lives my brother Duke Dumaine, and many mo, To revenge our deaths upon that cursèd king; Upon whose heart may all the Furies gripe,10 And with their paws drench his black soul in hell!
First Murd. Yours, my Lord Cardinal, you should have said.— [They strangle him. So, pluck amain: He is hard-hearted; therefore pull with violence. Come, take him away. [Exeunt with the body.
SCENE XXIII.
Enter [424] Dumaine, reading a letter; with others.
Dum. My noble brother murder'd by the king! O, what may I do for to revenge thy death? The king's alone, it cannot satisfy. Sweet Duke of Guise, our prop to lean upon, Now thou art dead, here is no stay for us. I am thy brother, and I'll revenge thy death, And root Valois his line from forth of France; And beat proud Bourbon to his native home, That basely seeks to join with such a king, Whose murderous thoughts will be his overthrow.10 He will'd the governor of Orleans, in his name, That I with speed should have been put to death; But that's prevented, for to end his life, And [425] all those traitors to the Church of Rome That durst attempt to murder noble Guise.
Enter Friar.
Fri. My lord, I come to bring you news that your brother the Cardinal of Lorraine,
by the king's consent, is lately strangled unto death.