The Massacre at Paris by Christopher Marlowe, Arthur Henry Bullen
Scene Xi
[Enter two Men, with the Admiral's body.]
FIRST MAN Now, sirrah, what shall we do with the Admiral?
SEC. MAN Why, let us burn him for an heretic.
FIRST MAN O no! his body will infect the fire, and the fire the air, and so we shall be poisoned with him.
SEC. MAN What shall we do, then?
FIRST MAN Let's throw him into the river.
SEC. MAN O, 'twill corrupt the water, and the water the fish, and the fish ourselves when we eat them!
FIRST MAN Then throw him into a ditch.
SEC. MAN No, no. To decide all doubts, be ruled by me: let's hang him here upon this tree.
FIRST MAN Agreed. [They hang up the body on a tree, and then exeunt.
[Enter Guise, Catherine the Queen-Mother, and the Cardinal of Lorraine, with Attendants.]
GUISE Now, madam, how like you our lusty Admiral?
CATH Believe me, Guise, he becomes the place so well As I could long ere this have wish'd him there. But come, Let's walk aside; the air's not very sweet.
GUISE No, by my faith, madam.— Sirs, take him away, and throw him in some ditch. [The Attendants bear off the Admiral's body. And now, madam, as I understand, There are a hundred Huguenots and more, Which in the woods do hold their synagogue, And daily meet about this time of day; And thither will I, to put them to the sword.
CATH Do so, sweet Guise; let us delay no time; For, if these stragglers gather head again, And disperse themselves throught the realm of France, It will be hard for us to work their deaths. Be gone; delay no time, sweet Guise.
GUISE Madam, I go as whirlwinds rage before a storm. [Exit.
CATH My Lord of Lorraine, have you marked of late, How Charles our son begins for to lament For the late night's work which my Lord of Guise Did make in Paris among the Huguenots?
CARD Madam, I have heard him solemnly vow, With the rebellious King of Navarre, To revenge their deaths upon us all.
CATH I, but, my lord, let me alone for that; For Catherine must have her will in France. As I do live, so surely shall he die, And Henry then shall wear the diadem; And, if he grudge or cross his mother's will, I'll disinherit him and all the rest; For I'll rule France, but they shall wear the crown, And, if they storm, I then may pull them down. Come, my lord, let us go. [Exeunt.