SCENE XXIII.
Reading edition
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.
Dum. My brother Cardinal slain, and I alive! O words of power to kill a thousand men!—20 Come, let us away, and levy men; 'Tis war that must assuage this tyrant's pride. Fri. My lord, hear me but speak. I am a friar of the order of the Jacobins, That for my conscience' sake will kill the king. Dum. But what doth move thee, above the rest, to do the deed? Fri. O my lord, I have been a great sinner in my days! and the deed is meritorious. Dum. But how wilt thou get opportunity?30 Fri. Tush, my lord, let me alone for that. Dum. Friar, come with me; We will go talk more of this within. [Exeunt.