SCENE IV.

_Enter Citizens, and_ MELANAX, _in his fanatic Habit, at the head them._

_Mel._ Hold, hold, a little, fellow citizens; and you, gentlemen of the rabble, a word of godly exhortation to strengthen your hands, ere you give the onset.

_1 Cit._ Is this a time to make sermons? I would not hear the devil now, though he should come in God's name, to preach peace to us.

_2 Cit._ Look you, gentlemen, sermons are not to be despised; we have all profited by godly sermons that promote sedition: let the precious man hold forth.

_Omn._ Let him hold forth, let him hold forth.

_Mel._ To promote sedition is my business: It has been so before any of you were born, and will be so, when you are all dead and damned; I have led on the rabble in all ages.

_1 Cit._ That's a lie, and a loud one.

_2 Cit._ He has led the rabble both old and young, that's all ages: A heavenly sweet man, I warrant him; I have seen him somewhere in a pulpit.

_Mel._ I have sown rebellion every where.

_1 Cit._ How, every where? That's another lie: How far have you travelled, friend?

_Mel._ Over all the world.

_1 Cit._ Now, that's a rapper.

_2 Cit._ I say no: For, look you, gentlemen, if he has been a traveller, he certainly says true, for he may lie by authority.

_Mel._ That the rabble may depose their prince, has in all times, and in all countries, been accounted lawful.

_1 Cit._ That's the first true syllable he has uttered: but as how, and whereby, and when, may they depose him?

_Mel._ Whenever they have more power to depose, than he has to oppose; and this they may do upon the least occasion.

_1 Cit._ Sirrah, you mince the matter; you should say, we may do it upon no occasion, for the less the better.

_Mel._ [_Aside._] Here's a rogue now, will out-shoot the devil in his own bow.

_2 Cit._ Some occasion, in my mind, were not amiss: for, look you, gentlemen, if we have no occasion, then whereby we have no occasion to depose him; and therefore, either religion or liberty, I stick to those occasions; for when they are gone, good night to godliness and freedom.

_Mel._ When the most are of one side, as that's our case, we are always in the right; for they, that are in power, will ever be the judges: so that if we say white is black, poor white must lose the cause, and put on mourning; for white is but a single syllable, and we are a whole sentence. Therefore, go on boldly, and lay on resolutely for your Solemn League and Covenant; and if here be any squeamish conscience who fears to fight against the king,--though I, that have known you, citizens, these thousand years, suspect not any,--let such understand that his majesty's politic capacity is to be distinguished from his natural; and though you murder him in one, you may preserve him in the other; and so much for this time, because the enemy is at hand.

_2 Cit._ [_Looking out._] Look you, gentlemen, 'tis Grillon, the fierce colonel; he that devours our wives, and ravishes our children.

_1 Cit._ He looks so grum, I don't care to have to do with him; would I were safe in my shop, behind the counter.

_2 Cit._ And would I were under my wife's petticoats. Look you, gentlemen.

_Mel._ You, neighbour, behind your counter, yesterday paid a bill of exchange in glass louis d'ors; and you, friend, that cry, look you, gentlemen, this very morning was under another woman's petticoats, and not your wife's.

_2 Cit._ How the devil does he know this?

_Mel._ Therefore, fight lustily for the cause of heaven, and to make even tallies for your sins; which, that you may do with a better conscience, I absolve you both, and all the rest of you: Now, go on merrily; for those, that escape, shall avoid killing; and those, who do not escape, I will provide for in another world. [_Cry within, on the other side of the stage,_ Vive le Roi, vive le Roi!

_Enter_ GRILLON, _and his Party._

_Gril._ Come on, fellow soldiers, _Commilitones_; that's my word, as 'twas Julius Cæsar's, of pagan memory. 'Fore God, I am no speech maker; but there are the rogues, and here's bilbo, that's a word and a blow; we must either cut their throats, or they cut ours, that's pure necessity, for your comfort: Now, if any man can be so unkind to his own body,--for I meddle not with your souls,--as to stand still like a good Christian, and offer his weasand to a butcher's whittle,--I say no more, but that he may be saved, and that's the best can come on him. [_Cry on both sides,_ Vive le Roi, vive Guise! _They fight._

_Mel._ Hey, for the duke of Guise, and property! Up with religion and the cause, and down with those arbitrary rogues there! Stand to't, you associated cuckolds. [_Citizens go back._] O rogues! O cowards!--Damn these half-strained shopkeepers, got between gentlemen and city wives; how naturally they quake, and run away from their own fathers! twenty souls a penny were a dear bargain of them. [_They all run off,_ MELANAX _with them; the 1st and 2d Citizens taken._

_Gril._ Possess yourselves of the place, Maubert, and hang me up those two rogues, for an example.

_1 Cit._ O spare me, sweet colonel; I am but a young beginner, and new set up.

_Gril._ I'll be your customer, and set you up a little better, sirrah;--go, hang him at the next sign-post:--What have you to say for yourself, scoundrel? why were you a rebel?

_2 Cit._ Look you, colonel, 'twas out of no ill meaning to the government; all that I did, was pure obedience to my wife.

_Gril._ Nay, if thou hast a wife that wears the breeches, thou shalt be condemned to live: Get thee home for a hen-pecked traitor.--What, are we encompassed? Nay, then, faces this way; we'll sell our skins to the fairest chapmen.

_Enter_ AUMALE _and Soldiers, on the one side, Citizens on the other._ GRILLON, _and his Party, are disarmed._

_1 Cit._ Bear away that bloody-minded colonel, and hang him up at the next sign-post: Nay, when I am in power, I can make examples too.

_Omn._ Tear him piece-meal; tear him piece-meal. [_Pull and haul him._

_Gril._ Rogues, villains, rebels, traitors, cuckolds! 'Swounds, what do you make of a man? do you think legs and arms are strung upon a wire, like a jointed baby? carry me off quickly, you were best, and hang me decently, according to my first sentence.

_2 Cit._ Look you, colonel; you are too bulky to be carried off all at once; a leg or an arm is one man's burden: give me a little finger for a sample of him, whereby I'll carry it for a token to my sovereign lady.

_Gril._ 'Tis too little, in all conscience, for her; take a bigger token, cuckold. _Et tu, Brute,_ whom I saved? O the conscience of a shopkeeper!

_2 Cit._ Look you, colonel, for your saving of me, I thank you heartily, whereby that debt's paid; but for speaking treason against my anointed wife, that's a new reckoning between us.

_Enter_ GUISE, _with a General's Staff in his Hand;_ MAYENNE, _Cardinal, Archbishop,_ MALICORN, _and Attendants._

_Omn._ _Vive_ Guise!

_Gui._ [_Bowing, and bareheaded._] I thank you, countrymen: the hand of heaven In all our safeties has appeared this day. Stand on your guard, and double every watch, But stain your triumph with no Christian blood; French we are all, and brothers of a land.

_Card._ What mean you, brother, by this godly talk, Of sparing Christian blood? why, these are dogs; Now, by the sword that cut off Malchus' ear, Mere dogs, that neither can be saved nor damned.

_Arch._ Where have you learnt to spare inveterate foes?

_Gui._ You know the book.

_Arch._ And can expound it too: But Christian faith was in the nonage then, And Roman heathens lorded o'er the world. What madness were it for the weak and few, To fight against the many and the strong? Grillon must die, so must the tyrant's guards, Lest, gathering head again, they make more work.

_Mal._ My lord, the people must be fleshed in blood, To teach them the true relish; dip them with you, Or they'll perhaps repent.

_Gui._ You are fools; to kill them, were to shew I feared them; The court, disarmed, disheartened and besieged, Are all as much within my power, as if I griped them in my fist.

_May._ 'Tis rightly judged: And, let me add, who heads a popular cause, Must prosecute that cause by popular ways: So, whether you are merciful or no, You must affect to be.

_Gui._ Dismiss those prisoners.--Grillon, you are free; I do not ask your love, be still my foe.

_Gril._ I will be so: but let me tell you, Guise, As this was greatly done, 'twas proudly too: I'll give you back your life when next we meet; 'Till then I am your debtor.

_Gui._ That's till dooms-day. [GRILLON _and his Party exeunt one way, Rabble the other._ Haste, brother, draw out fifteen thousand men, Surround the Louvre, lest the prey should 'scape. I know the king will send to treat; We'll set the dice on him in high demands, No less than all his offices of trust; He shall be pared, and cantoned out, and clipped So long, he shall not pass.

_Card._ What! do we talk Of paring, clipping, and such tedious work, Like those that hang their noses o'er a potion, And qualm, and keck, and take it down by sips!

_Arch._ Best make advantage of this popular rage, Let in the o'erwhelming tide on Harry's head; In that promiscuous fury, who shall know, Among a thousand swords, who killed the king?

_Mal._ O my dear lord, upon this only day Depends the series of your following fate: Think your good genius has assumed my shape, In this prophetic doom.

_Gui._ Peace, croaking raven!-- I'll seize him first, then make him a led monarch; I'll be declared lieutenant-general Amidst the three estates, that represent The glorious, full, majestic face of France, Which, in his own despite, the king shall call: So let him reign my tenant during life, His brother of Navarre shut out for ever, Branded with heresy, and barred from sway; That, when Valois consumed in ashes lies, The Phoenix race of Charlemain may rise. [_Exeunt._