Bussy D'Ambois and The Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois Part 14

_Per._ Even he, my lord.

_Mons._ Do'st thou not dreame, wench?

_Per._ I sweare he is the man.

_Mons._ The devill he is, and thy lady his dam!

Why this was the happiest shot that ever flewe; 215 the just plague of hypocrisie level'd it. Oh, the infinite regions betwixt a womans tongue and her heart! is this our G.o.ddesse of chast.i.ty? I thought I could not be so sleighted, if she had not her fraught besides, and therefore plotted this 220 with her woman, never dreaming of D'Amboys.

Deare Pero, I will advance thee for ever: but tell me now--G.o.ds pretious, it transformes mee with admiration--sweet Pero, whom should she trust with this conveyance? Or, all the dores 225 being made sure, how should his conveyance be made?

_Per._ Nay, my lord, that amazes me: I cannot by any study so much as guesse at it.

_Mons._ Well, let's favour our apprehensions 230 with forbearing that a little; for, if my heart were not hoopt with adamant, the conceipt of this would have burst it: but heark thee. _Whispers._

_Mont._ I pray thee, resolve mee: the Duke will never imagine that I am busie about's wife: 235 hath D'Ambois any privy accesse to her?

_An._ No, my lord, D'Ambois neglects her (as shee takes it) and is therefore suspicious that either your lady, or the lady Beaupre, hath closely entertain'd him. 240

_Mont._ Ber lady, a likely suspition, and very neere the life--especially of my wife.

_Mons._ Come, we'l disguise all with seeming onely to have courted.--Away, dry palm! sh'as a livor as dry as a bisket; a man may goe a 245 whole voyage with her, and get nothing but tempests from her windpipe.

_Gui._ Here's one (I think) has swallowed a porcupine, shee casts p.r.i.c.ks from her tongue so.

_Mont._ And here's a peac.o.c.k seemes to have 250 devour'd one of the Alpes, she has so swelling a spirit, & is so cold of her kindnes.

_Char._ We are no windfalls, my lord; ye must gather us with the ladder of matrimony, or we'l hang till we be rotten. 255

_Mons._ Indeed, that's the way to make ye right opena.r.s.es. But, alas, ye have no portions fit for such husbands as we wish you.

_Per._ Portions, my lord! yes, and such portions as your princ.i.p.ality cannot purchase. 260

_Mons._ What, woman, what are those portions?

_Per._ Riddle my riddle, my lord.

_Mons._ I, marry, wench, I think thy portion is a right riddle; a man shall never finde it out: but let's heare it. 265

_Per._ You shall, my lord.

_What's that, that being most rar's most cheap?

That when you sow, you never reap?

That when it growes most, most you [th]in it, And still you lose it, when you win it? 270 That when tis commonest, tis dearest, And when tis farthest off, 'tis neerest?_

_Mons._ Is this your great portion?

_Per._ Even this, my lord.

_Mons._ Beleeve me, I cannot riddle it. 275

_Per._ No, my lord; tis my chast.i.ty, which you shall neither riddle nor fiddle.

_Mons._ Your chast.i.ty! Let me begin with the end of it; how is a womans chast.i.ty neerest man, when tis furthest off? 280

_Per._ Why, my lord, when you cannot get it, it goes to th'heart on you; and that I think comes most neere you: and I am sure it shall be farre enough off. And so wee leave you to our mercies. _Exeunt Women._

_Mons._ Farewell, riddle. 285

_Gui._ Farewell, medlar.

_Mont._ Farewell, winter plum.

_Mons._ Now, my lords, what fruit of our inquisition?

feele you nothing budding yet? Speak, good my lord Montsurry. 290

_Mont._ Nothing but this: D'Ambois is thought negligent in observing the d.u.c.h.esse, and therefore she is suspicious that your neece or my wife closely entertaines him.

_Mons._ Your wife, my lord! Think you that 295 possible?

_Mont._ Alas, I know she flies him like her last houre.

_Mons._ Her last houre? Why that comes upon her the more she flies it. Does D'Ambois so, 300 think you?

_Mont._ That's not worth the answering. Tis miraculous to think with what monsters womens imaginations engrosse them when they are once enamour'd, and what wonders they will work 305 for their satisfaction. They will make a sheepe valiant, a lion fearefull.

_Mons._ And an a.s.se confident. Well, my lord, more will come forth shortly; get you to the banquet. 310

_Gui._ Come, my lord, I have the blind side of one of them. _Exit Guise c.u.m Mont[surry]._

_Mons._ O the unsounded sea of womens bloods, That when tis calmest, is most dangerous!

Not any wrinkle creaming in their faces, 315 When in their hearts are Scylla and Caribdis, Which still are hid in dark and standing foggs, Where never day s.h.i.+nes, nothing ever growes But weeds and poysons that no states-man knowes; Nor Cerberus ever saw the d.a.m.ned nookes 320 Hid with the veiles of womens vertuous lookes.

But what a cloud of sulphur have I drawne Up to my bosome in this dangerous secret!

Which if my hast with any spark should light Ere D'Ambois were engag'd in some sure plot, 325 I were blowne up; he would be, sure, my death.

Would I had never knowne it, for before I shall perswade th'importance to Montsurry, And make him with some studied stratagem Train D'Ambois to his wreak, his maid may tell it; 330 Or I (out of my fiery thirst to play With the fell tyger up in darknesse tyed, And give it some light) make it quite break loose.

I feare it, afore heaven, and will not see D'Ambois againe, till I have told Montsurry, 335 And set a snare with him to free my feares.

Whose there?

_Enter Maffe._

_Maffe._ My lord?

_Mons._ Goe, call the Count Montsurry, And make the dores fast; I will speak with none Till he come to me.

_Maf._ Well, my lord. _Exiturus._

_Mons._ Or else Send you some other, and see all the dores 340 Made safe your selfe, I pray; hast, flie about it.

_Maf._ You'l speak with none but with the Count Montsurry?

_Mons._ With none but hee, except it be the Guise.