  A Country Road, between Cambrai and Paris.] Enter Clermont, Mail[lard], Chal[on] with Souldiers. Maillard. Wee joy you take a chance so ill, so well. Clermont. Who ever saw me differ in acceptance Of eyther fortune? Chalon. What, love bad like good! How should one learne that? Cler. To love nothing outward, Or not within our owne powers to command;5 And so being sure of every thing we love, Who cares to lose the rest? if any man Would neyther live nor dye in his free choise, But as hee sees necessitie will have it (Which if hee would resist, he strives in vaine)10 What can come neere him that hee doth not well? And if in worst events his will be done, How can the best be better? all is one. Mail. Me thinkes tis prettie. Cler. Put no difference If you have this, or not this; but as children15 Playing at coites ever regard their game, And care not for their coites, so let a man The things themselves that touch him not esteeme, But his free power in well disposing them. Chal. Prettie, from toyes! Cler. Me thinkes this double disticke 20 Seemes prettily too to stay superfluous longings: "Not to have want, what riches doth exceede? Not to be subject, what superiour thing? He that to nought aspires, doth nothing neede; Who breakes no law is subject to no King."25 Mail. This goes to mine eare well, I promise you. Chal. O, but tis passing hard to stay one thus. Cler. Tis so; rancke custome raps men so beyond it. And as tis hard so well mens dores to barre To keepe the cat out and th'adulterer:30 So tis as hard to curbe affections so Wee let in nought to make them over-flow. And as of Homers verses, many critickes On those stand of which times old moth hath eaten The first or last feete, and the perfect parts35 Of his unmatched poeme sinke beneath, With upright gasping and sloath dull as death: So the unprofitable things of life, And those we cannot compasse, we affect; All that doth profit and wee have, neglect,40 Like covetous and basely getting men That, gathering much, use never what they keepe; But for the least they loose, extreamely weepe. Mail. This prettie talking, and our horses walking Downe this steepe hill, spends time with equall profit.45 Cler. Tis well bestow'd on ye; meate and men sicke Agree like this and you: and yet even this Is th'end of all skill, power, wealth, all that is. Chal. I long to heare, sir, how your mistresse takes this. Enter Aumal with a cabinet. Mail. Wee soone shall know it; see Aumall return'd.50 Aumale. Ease to your bands, sir! Cler. Welcome, worthy friend! Chal. How tooke his noblest mistresse your sad message? Aum. As great rich men take sodaine povertie. I never witness'd a more noble love, Nor a more ruthfull sorrow: I well wisht55 Some other had beene master of my message. Mail. Y'are happy, sir, in all things, but this one Of your unhappy apprehension. Cler. This is to mee, compar'd with her much mone, As one teare is to her whole passion.60 Aum. Sir, shee commends her kindest service to you, And this rich cabinet. Chal. O happy man! This may enough hold to redeeme your bands. Cler. These clouds, I doubt not, will be soone blowne over. Enter Baligny, with his discharge: Renel, and others. Aum. Your hope is just and happy; see, sir, both65 In both the looks of these. Baligny. Here's a discharge For this your prisoner, my good Lord Lieutenant. Mail. Alas, sir, I usurpe that stile, enforc't, And hope you know it was not my aspiring. Bal. Well, sir, my wrong aspir'd past all mens hopes.70 Mail. I sorrow for it, sir. Renel. You see, sir, there Your prisoners discharge autenticall. Mail. It is, sir, and I yeeld it him with gladnesse. Bal. Brother, I brought you downe to much good purpose. Cler. Repeate not that, sir; the amends makes all.75 Ren. I joy in it, my best and worthiest friend; O, y'have a princely fautor of the Guise. Bal. I thinke I did my part to. Ren. Well, sir, all Is in the issue well: and (worthiest friend) Here's from your friend, the Guise; here from the Countesse,80 Your brothers mistresse, the contents whereof I know, and must prepare you now to please Th'unrested spirit of your slaughtered brother, If it be true, as you imagin'd once, His apparition show'd it. The complot85 Is now laid sure betwixt us; therefore haste Both to your great friend (who hath some use waightie For your repaire to him) and to the Countesse, Whose satisfaction is no lesse important. Cler. I see all, and will haste as it importeth.90 And good friend, since I must delay a little My wisht attendance on my noblest mistresse, Excuse me to her, with returne of this, And endlesse protestation of my service; And now become as glad a messenger, As you were late a wofull. Aum. Happy change! I ever will salute thee with my service. Exit. Bal. Yet more newes, brother; the late jesting Monsieur Makes now your brothers dying prophesie equall At all parts, being dead as he presag'd. Ren. Heaven shield the Guise from seconding that truth With what he likewise prophesied on him! Cler. It hath enough, twas grac'd with truth in one; To'th other falshood and confusion! Leade to the Court, sir. Bal. You Ile leade no more; 105 It was to ominous and foule before. Exeunt. Finis Actus quarti. LINENOTES: |
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