SCENE VI.
Reading edition
Enter [366] Guise, Anjou, Dumaine, Gonzago, Retes, Mountsorrell, and Soldiers, to the massacre. Guise. Anjou, Dumaine, Gonzago, Retes, swear, By the argent crosses in your burgonets, To kill all that you suspect of heresy. Dum. I swear by this, to be unmerciful. Anj. I am disguis'd, and none knows who I am, And therefore mean to murder all I meet. Gon. And so will I. Retes. And I. Guise. Away, then! break into the Admiral's house. Retes. I, let the Admiral be first despatch'd. Guise. The Admiral,10 Chief standard-bearer to the Lutherans, Shall in the entrance [367] of this massacre Be murder'd in his bed. Gonzago, conduct them thither; and then Beset his house, that not a man may live. Anj. That charge is mine.—Switzers, keep you the streets; And at each corner shall the king's guard stand. Gon. Come, sirs, follow me. [Exit Gonzago with others. Anj. Cousin, the captain of the Admiral's guard, Plac'd by my brother, will betray his lord.20 Now, Guise, shall Catholics flourish once again; The head being off, the members cannot stand. Retes. But look, my lord, there's some in the Admiral's house. Gonzago and others enter the Admiral's house; the Admiral discovered in bed. Anj. In lucky time: come, let us keep this lane, And slay his servants that shall issue out. Gon. Where is the Admiral? Adm. O let me pray before I die! Gon. Then pray unto our Lady; kiss this cross. [Stabs him. Adm. O God, forgive my sins! [Dies. Guise. Gonzago, what, is he dead? Gon. I, my lord.30 Guise. Then throw him down. [368] [The body of the Admiral is thrown down. Anj. Now, cousin, view him well: It maybe 'tis some other, and he escap'd. Guise. Cousin, 'tis he; I know him by his look: See where my soldier shot him through the arm; He miss'd him near, but we have struck him now.— Ah, base Chatillon and degenerate, Chief Standard-bearer to the Lutherans, Thus, in despite of thy religion, The Duke of Guise stamps on thy lifeless bulk! Anj. Away with him! cut off his head and hands,40 And send them for a present to the Pope; [369] And, when this just revenge is finishèd, Unto Mount Falcon [370] will we drag his corse; And he, that living hated so the Cross, Shall, being dead, be hanged thereon in chains. Guise. Anjou, Gonzago, Retes, if that you three Will be as resolute as I and Dumaine, There shall not a Huguenot breathe in France. Anj. I swear by this cross, we'll not be partial, But slay as many as we can come near.50 Guise. Mountsorrell, go shoot the ordnance off, That they, which have already set the street, May know their watchword; then toll the bell, And so let's forward to the massacre. Mount. I will, my lord. [Exit. Guise. And now, my lords, let's closely to our business. Anj. Anjou will follow thee. Dum. And so will Dumaine. [The ordnance being shot off, the bell tolls. Guise. Come, then, let's away. [Exeunt.