SCENE VI.

_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_.