The Massacre at Paris

The Massacre at Paris Summary

The Massacre at Paris by Christopher Marlowe is a historical play depicting the events of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre in 1572, where thousands of Huguenots (French Protestants) were killed in Paris. The play explores themes of religious conflict, political ambition, and the brutal consequences of fanaticism.

eBook download options

Format	Price	Download
azw3	Free
Mobi	Free
Epub	Free
pdf	Free

The Massacre at Paris Excerpt

Short Summary: Christopher Marlowe's The Massacre at Paris dramatizes the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, highlighting the violent clash between Catholics and Huguenots in 16th-century France. The play delves into the treacherous politics and religious fervor that led to this tragic event.

[Scene i]
Enter Charles the French King, Catherine the Queen Mother, the King of Navarre, the Prince of Condé, the Lord High Admiral, and Margaret the Queen of Navarre, with others.

CHARLES. Prince of Navarre, my honourable brother, Prince Condé, and my good Lord Admiral, wish this union and religious league, knit in these hands, thus joined in nuptial rites, may not dissolve till death dissolve our lives, and that the native sparks of princely love, that kindled first this motion in our hearts, may still be fueled in our progeny.

NAVARRE. The many favours which your grace has shown, from time to time, but specially in this, shall bind me ever to your highness' will, in what Queen Mother or your grace commands.

QUEEN MOTHER. Thanks, son Navarre; you see we love you well, that link you in marriage with our daughter here: and as you know, our difference in religion might be a means to cross you in your love.

CHARLES. Well, Madam, let that rest: and now, my Lords, the marriage rites performed, we think it good to go and consummate the rest, with hearing of an holy mass: Sister, I think yourself will bear us company.

QUEEN MARGARET. I will, my good Lord.

CHARLES. The rest that will not go, my Lords, may stay: come, Mother, let us go to honour this solemnity.

QUEEN MOTHER. Which I'll dissolve with blood and cruelty. [Aside.]

Exit Charles the King, Queen Mother, and Margaret the Queen of Navarre, with others; and remain Navarre, the Prince of Condé, and the Lord High Admiral.

NAVARRE. Prince Condé and my good Lord Admiral, now Guise may storm, but does us little hurt: having the King, Queen Mother on our side, to stop the malice of his envious heart, that seeks to murder all the Protestants: have you not heard of late how he decreed, if that the King had given consent thereto, that all the Protestants that are in Paris should have been murdered the other night?

ADMIRAL. My Lord, I marvel that the aspiring Guise dares once adventure without the King's assent to meddle or attempt such dangerous things.

CONDÉ. My Lord, you need not marvel at the Guise, for what he doth, the Pope will ratify: in murder, mischief, or in tyranny.

NAVARRE. But he that sits and rules above the clouds doth hear and see the prayers of the just: and will revenge the blood of innocents, that Guise hath slain by treason of his heart, and brought by murder to their timeless ends.

ADMIRAL. My Lord, but did you mark the Cardinal, the Guise's brother, and the Duke Dumaine, how they did storm at these your nuptial rites, because the house of Bourbon now comes in, and joins your lineage to the crown of France?

NAVARRE. And that's the cause that Guise so frowns at us, and beats his brains to catch us in his trap, which he hath pitched within his deadly toil. Come, my Lords, let's go to the church and pray that God may still defend the right of France: and make his Gospel flourish in this land.

Exeunt.