Gui. O cardinal, O Lyons!—­but no more; Yes, one word more:  thou hast a privilege [To the Cardinal. To speak with a recluse; O therefore tell her, If never thou behold’st me breathe again, Tell her I sighed it last.—­O Marmoutiere! [Exit bowing.

Card. You will have all things your own way, my lord.  By heaven, I have strange horror on my soul.

Arch. I say again, that Henry dares not do it.

Card. Beware, your grace, of minds that bear like him. 
I know he scorns to stoop to mean revenge;
But when some mightier mischief shocks his toure,
He shoots at once with thunder on his wings,
And makes it air.—­but hark, my lord, ’tis doing!

Guise within.] Murderers, villains!

Arch. I hear your brother’s voice; run to the door.

  CARD. and ARCH. run to the door.

Card. Help, help, the Guise is murdered!

Arch. Help, help!

Gril. Cease your vain cries, you are the king’s prisoners;—­ Take them, Dugast, into your custody.

Card. We must obey, my lord, for heaven calls us. [Exeunt.

The SCENE draws, behind it a Traverse.

The GUISE is assaulted by eight.  They stab him in all parts, but
most in the head.

Gui. O villains! hell-hounds! hold.
                                     [Half draws his sword, is held.
Murdered, O basely, and not draw my sword!—­
Dog, Lognac,—­but my own blood choaks me. 
Down, villain, down!—­I’m gone,—­O Marmoutiere!
                                 [Flings himself upon him, dies[23].

The Traverse is drawn.

The King rises from his Chair, comes forward with his
Cabinet-council.

King. Open the closet, and let in the council;
Bid Dugast execute the cardinal;
Seize all the factious leaders, as I ordered,
And every one be answered, on your lives.

  Enter Queen-Mother followed by the Counsellors.

O, madam, you are welcome; how goes your health?

Qu.  M. A little mended, sir.—­What have you done?

King. That which has made me king of France; for there The king of Paris at your feet lies dead.

Qu.  M. You have cut out dangerous work, but make it up With speed and resolution[24].

King. Yes, I’ll wear
The fox no longer, but put on the lion;
And since I could resolve to take the heads
Of this great insurrection, you, the members,
Look to it; beware, turn from your stubbornness,
And learn to know me, for I will be king.

Gril. ’Sdeath, how the traitors lower, and quake, and droop, And gather to the wing of his protection, As if they were his friends, and fought his cause!