_Trumpets sound within, and a cry of "Vive le Roi"
two or three times. Enter_[398] ANJOU
_crowned as King Henry the Third_; CATHERINE
_the Queen Mother, the_ CARDINAL OF LORRAINE,
GUISE, EPERNOUN, MUGEROUN,
_the_ Cutpurse, _and others_.
_All. Vive le Roi, Vive le Roi! [A flourish of trumpets._
_Cath._ Welcome from Poland, Henry, once again!
Welcome to France, thy father's royal seat!
Here hast thou a country void of fears,
A warlike people to maintain thy right,
A watchful senate for ordaining laws,
A loving mother to preserve thy state,
And all things that a king may wish besides;
All this, and more, hath Henry with his crown.
_Card._ And long may Henry enjoy all this, and more! 10
_All._ _Vive le Roi, Vive le Roi!_
[_A flourish of trumpets._
_Henry._ Thanks to you all. The guider of all crowns
Grant that our deeds may well deserve your loves!
And so they shall if fortune speed my will,
And yield your thoughts to height of my deserts.
What say our minions? think they Henry's heart
Will not both harbour love and majesty?
Put off that fear, they are already join'd:
No person, place, or time, or circumstance,
Shall slack my love's affection from his bent: 20
As now you are, so shall you still persist,
Removeless from the favours of your king.
_Mug._ We know that noble minds change not their thoughts
For wearing of a crown, in that your grace
Hath worn the Poland diadem before
You were invested in the crown of France.
_Henry._ I tell thee, Mugeroun, we will be friends,
And fellows too, whatever storms arise.
_Mug._ Then[399] may it please your majesty to give me leave
To punish those that do profane this holy feast. 30
_Henry._ How mean'st thou that?
[MUGEROUN _cuts off the_ Cutpurse's _ear,
for cutting the gold buttons off his cloak_.
_Cutp._ O Lord, mine ear!
_Mug._ Come, sir, give me my buttons, and here's your ear.
_Guise._ Sirrah, take him away.
_Henry._ Hands off, good fellow; I will be his bail
For this offence.--Go, sirrah, work no more
Till this our coronation day be past.--
And now,
Our solemn rites of coronation done,
What now remains but for a while to feast, 40
And spend some days in barriers, tourney, tilt,
And like disports, such as do fit the court?
Let's go, my lords; our dinner stays for us.
[_Exeunt all except_ CATHERINE _the Queen Mother
and the_ CARDINAL OF LORRAINE.
_Cath._ My Lord Cardinal of Lorraine, tell me,
How likes your grace my son's pleasantness?
His mind, you see, runs on his minions,
And all his heaven is to delight himself;
And, whilst he sleeps securely thus in ease,
Thy brother Guise and we may now provide
To plant ourselves with such authority 50
As not a man may live without our leaves.
Then shall the Catholic faith of Rome
Flourish in France, and none deny the same.
_Card._ Madam, as in secrecy I was told,
My brother Guise hath gather'd a power of men,
Which are,[400] he saith, to kill the Puritans;
But 'tis the house of Bourbon that he means.
Now, madam, must you insinuate with the king,
And tell him that 'tis for his country's good,
And common profit of religion. 60
_Cath._ Tush, man, let me alone with him,
To work the way to bring this thing to pass;
And, if he do deny what I do say,
I'll despatch him with his brother presently,
And then shall Monsieur wear the diadem.
Tush, all shall die unless I have my will;
For, while she lives, Catherine will be queen.
Come, my lord,[401] let us go seek the Guise,
And then determine of this enterprise.
[_Exeunt._