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!

_King._ [_Looking upon_ GUISE.]
Be witness, heaven, I gave him treble warning!
He's gone--no more.--Disperse, and think upon it.
Beware my sword, which, if I once unsheath,
By all the reverence due to thrones and crowns,
Nought shall atone the vows of speedy justice,
Till fate to ruin every traitor brings,
That dares the vengeance of indulgent kings. [_Exuent._

Footnotes:
1. The Council of Sixteen certainly offered to place twenty thousand
disciplined citizens of Paris at the devotion of the Duke of Guise;
and here the intended parallel came close: for Shaftesbury used to
boast, that he could raise the