_Enter the_ KING OF NAVARRE,[357] QUEEN MARGARET,
_the_ OLD QUEEN OF NAVARRE, _the_ PRINCE OF CONDÉ,
_and the_ ADMIRAL; _they are met by the_ Apothecary
_with the gloves, which he gives to the_ OLD QUEEN.
_Apoth._ Madam,
I beseech your grace to accept this simple gift.
_Old Q. of Nav._ Thanks, my good friend. Hold, take
thou this reward. [_Gives a purse._
_Apoth._ I humbly thank your majesty. [_Exit._
_Old Q. of Nav._ Methinks the gloves have a very strong perfume,
The scent whereof doth make my head to ache.
_Nav._ Doth not your grace know the man that gave them you?
_Old Q. of Nav._ Not well; but do remember such a man.
_Adm._ Your grace was ill-advised to take them, then,
Considering of these dangerous times. 10
_Old Q. of Nav._ Help, son Navarre! I am poisoned!
_Mar._ The heavens forbid your highness such mishap!
_Nav._ The late suspicion of the Duke of Guise
Might well have moved your highness to beware
How you did meddle with such dangerous gifts.
_Mar._ Too late it is, my lord, if that be true,
To blame her highness; but I hope it be
Only some natural passion makes her sick.
_Old Q. of Nav._ O no, sweet Margaret! the fatal poison
Works within my head; my brain-pan breaks; 20
My heart doth faint; I die! [_Dies._
_Nav._ My mother poisoned here before my face!
O gracious God, what times are these!
O grant, sweet God, my days may end with hers,
That I with her may die and live again!
_Mar._ Let not this heavy chance, my dearest lord
(For whose effects my soul is massacrèd),
Infect thy gracious breast with fresh supply
To aggravate our sudden misery.
_Adm._ Come, my lords, let us bear her body hence, 30
And see it honoured with just solemnity.
[_As they are going out, the_ Soldier _dischargeth his
musket at the_ ADMIRAL.
_Con._ What, are you hurt, my Lord High Admiral?
_Adm._ I, my good lord, shot through the arm.
_Nav._ We[358] are betrayed! Come, my lords,
And let us go tell the king of this.
_Adm._ These are
The cursèd Guisians, that do seek our death.
O fatal was this marriage to us all!
[_Exeunt, bearing out the body of the_ OLD QUEEN OF NAVARRE.