Gui. Woman! [Aside.

Mar. You see, my lord,
I have my followers, like you.  I swear,
The court’s a heavenly place; but—­O, my heart! 
I know not why that sigh should come uncalled;
Perhaps, ’twas for your going; yet I swear,
I never was so moved, O Guise, as now,
Just as you entered, when from yonder window
I saw the king.

Gui. Woman, all over woman! [Aside. The world confesses, madam, Henry’s form Is noble and majestic.

Mar. O you grudge The extorted praise, and speak him but by halves.

Gui. Priest, Corso, devils! how she carries it!

Mar. I see, my lord, you’re come to take your leave;
And were it not to give the court suspicion,
I would oblige you, sir, before you go,
To lead me to the king.

Gui. Death and the devil!

Mar. But since that cannot be, I’ll take my leave
Of you, my lord; heaven grant your journey safe! 
Farewell, once more. [Offers her hand.]
                                     Not stir! does this become you,—­
Does your ambition swell into your eyes?—­
Jealousy by this light; nay then, proud Guise,
I tell you, you’re not worthy of the grace;
But I will carry’t, sir, to those that are,
And leave you to the curse of bosom-war. [Exit.

May. Is this the heavenly—­

Gui. Devil, devil, as they are all. 
’Tis true, at first she caught the heavenly form,
But now ambition sets her on her head,
By hell, I see the cloven mark upon her. 
Ha!  Grillon here! some new court-trick upon me.

  Enter GRILLON.

Gril. Sir, I have business for your ear.

Gui. Retire. [Exeunt his Followers.

Gril. The king, my lord, commanded me to wait you, And bid you welcome to the court.

Gui. The king Still loads me with new honours; but none greater Than this, the last.

Gril. There is one greater yet, Your high commission ’gainst the Huguenots; I and my family shall shortly wait you, And ’twill be glorious work.

Gui. If you are there, There must be action.

Gril. O, your pardon, sir;
I’m but a stripling in the trade of war: 
But you, whose life is one continued broil,
What will not your triumphant arms accomplish! 
You, that were formed for mastery in war. 
That, with a start, cried to your brother Mayenne,—­
“To horse!” and slaughtered forty thousand Germans[9].

Gui. Let me beseech you, colonel, no more.

Gril. But, sir, since I must make at least a figure
In this great business, let me understand
What ’tis you mean, and why you force the king
Upon so dangerous an expedition.