The Massacre at Paris by Christopher Marlowe, Arthur Henry Bullen
Scene Xv
[Enter the Duchess of Guise and her Maid.]
DUCH. OF G Go fetch me pen and ink,—
MAID I will, madam.
DUCH That I may write unto my dearest lord. [Exit Maid. Sweet Mugeroun, 'tis he that hath my heart, And Guise usurps it 'cause I am his wife. Fain would I find some means to speak with him, But cannot, and therefore am enforced to write, That he may come and meet me in some place, Where we may one enjoy the other's sight.
[Re-enter the Maid, with pen, ink, and paper.]
So, set it down, and leave me to myself. [Exit Maid. The Duchess writes. O, would to God, this quill that here doth write Had late been pluck'd from out fair Cupid's wing, That it might print these lines within his heart!
[Enter Guise.]
GUISE What, all alone, my love? and writing too? I prithee, say to whom thou writ'st.
DUCH To such A one, my Lord, as, when she reads my lines, Will laugh, I fear me, at their good array.
GUISE I pray thee, let me see.
DUCH O no, my lord; a woman only must Partake the secrets of my heart.
GUISE But, madam, I must see. [Seizes the paper. Are these your secrets that no man must know!
DUCH O, pardon me, my lord!
GUISE. Thou trothless and unjust! what lines are these? Am I grown old, or is thy lust grown young? Or hath my love been so obscured in thee, That others need to comment on my text? Is all my love forgot, which held thee dear, I, dearer than the apple of mine eye? Is Guise's glory but a cloudy mist, In sight and judgment of thy lustful eye? Mort Dieu! were not the fruit within thy womb, Of whose increase I set some longing hope, This wrathful hand should strike thee to the heart. Hence, strumpet! hide thy head for shame; And fly my presence if thou look to live! [Exit Duchess. O wicked sex, perjùrèd and unjust! Now do I see that from the very first Her eyes and looks sow'd seeds of perjury. But villain, he, to whom these lines should go, Shall buy her love even with his dearest blood. [Exit.