Mar. Farewell for ever; ah, Guise, though now we part,
In the bright orbs, prepared us by our fates,
Our souls shall meet,—farewell!—and Io's sing above,
Where no ambition, nor state-crime, the happier spirits prove,
But all are blest, and all enjoy an everlasting love. [Exit Marmoutiere.
Guise solus.
Gui. Glory, where art thou? fame, revenge, ambition,
Where are you fled? there's ice upon my nerves;
My salt, my metal, and my spirits gone,
116 Palled as a slave, that's bed-rid with an ague,
I wish my flesh were off.[Blood falls from his nose.
What now! thou bleed'st:—
Three, and no more!—what then? and why, what then?
But just three drops! and why not just three drops,
As well as four or five, or five and twenty?
Enter a Page.
Page. My lord, your brother and the arch-bishop wait you.
Gui. I come;—down, devil!—ha! must I stumble too?
Away, ye dreams! what if it thundered now,
Or if a raven crossed me in my way?
Or now it comes, because last night I dreamt
The council-hall was hung with crimson round,
And all the ceiling plaistered o'er with black.
No more!—Blue fires, and ye dull rolling lakes,
Fathomless caves, ye dungeons of old night,
Phantoms, be gone! if I must die, I'll fall
True politician, and defy you all.[Exit.
SCENE II.—The Court before the Council-hall.
Grillon, Larchant, Soldiers placed, People crowding
Gril. Are your guards doubled, captain?
Larch. Sir, they are.