_Gui._ I find, my lord, the argument grows warm, Therefore, thus much, and I have done: I go To join the Holy League in this great war, In which no place of office, or command, Not of the greatest, shall be bought or sold; Whereas too often honours are conferred On soldiers, and no soldiers: This man knighted, Because he charged a troop before his dinner, And sculked behind a hedge i'the afternoon: I will have strict examination made Betwixt the meritorious and the base.
_Gril._ You have mouthed it bravely, and there is no doubt Your deeds would answer well your haughty words; Yet let me tell you, sir, there is a man, (Curse on the hearts that hate him!) that would better, Better than you, or all your puffy race, That better would become the great battalion; That when he shines in arms, and suns the field, Moves, speaks, and fights, and is himself a war.
_Gui._ Your idol, sir; you mean the great Navarre: But yet--
_Gril._ No _yet_, my lord of Guise, no _yet_; By arms, I bar you that; I swear, no _yet_; For never was his like, nor shall again. Though voted from his right by your cursed League.
_Gui._ Judge not too rashly of the Holy League, But look at home.
_Gril._ Ha! darest thou justify Those villains?
_Gui._ I'll not justify a villain, More than yourself; but if you thus proceed, If every heated breath can puff away, On each surmise, the lives of free-born people, What need that awful general convocation, The assembly of the states?--nay, let me urge,-- If thus they vilify the Holy League, What may their heads expect?
_Gril._ What, if I could, They should be certain of,--whole piles of fire.
_Gui._ Colonel, 'tis very well I know your mind, Which, without fear, or flattery to your person, I'll tell the king; and then, with his permission, Proclaim it for a warning to our people.
_Gril._ Come, you're a murderer yourself within, A traitor.
_Gui._ Thou a ---- hot old hair-brained fool.
_Gril._ You were complotter with the cursed League, The black abettor of our Harry's death.
_Gril._ 'Tis true, as thou art double-hearted: Thou double traitor, to conspire so basely; And when found out, more basely to deny't.
_Gui._ O gracious Harry, let me sound thy name, Lest this old rust of war, this knotty trifler, Should raise me to extremes.