A Select Collection of Old English Plays Part 27

ELE. Ha! concubine! who does Prince Philip mean?

PHIL. [_To_ ELEAZAR.] Thy wife. [_To_ ALVERO.] Thy daughter.

Base, aspiring lords, Who to buy honour are content to sell Your names to infamy, your souls to h.e.l.l.

And stamp you now? Do, do, for you shall see I go for vengeance, and she'll come with me.

ELE. Stay, for she's here already, see, proud boy.

[_They both draw._

QUEEN-M. Hold! stay this fury; if you long for blood, Murder me first. Dear son, you are a king; Then stay the violent tempest of their wrath.

KING. Shall kings be oversway'd in their desires?

ROD. Shall subjects be oppress'd by tyranny?

QUEEN-M. No state shall suffer wrong; then hear me speak: Mendoza, you have sworn you love the queen; Then by that love I charge you leave these arms.

Eleazar, for those favours I have given you, Embrace the cardinal, and be friends with him.

ELE. And have my wife call'd strumpet to my face!

QUEEN-M. 'Twas rage made his tongue err; do you not know The violent love Mendoza bears the queen?

Then speak him fair, for in that honey'd breath I'll lay a bait shall train him to his death.

[_Aside._

Come, come, I see your looks give way to peace; Lord Cardinal, begin; and [_Aside_] for reward, Ere this fair setting sun behold his bride, Be bold to challenge love, yet be denied.

MEN. That promise makes me yield.

[_Aside._]

My gracious lord, Though my disgrace hath graven its memory On every Spaniard's eye, yet shall the duty I owe your sacred highness, and the love My country challengeth, make me lay by Hostile intendments, and return again To the fair circle of obedience.

KING. Both pardon and our favour bids you welcome; And for some satisfaction for your wrongs, We here create you Salamanca's Duke: But first, as a true sign all grudges die, Shake hands with Eleazar, and be friends; This union pleaseth us. Now, brother Philip, You are included in this league of love, So is Roderigo. To forget all wrongs, Your castle for awhile shall bid us welcome; Eleazar, shall it not? It is enough.

Lords, lead the way, that [_Aside_] whilst you feast yourselves, Fernando may find time all means to prove, To compa.s.s fair Maria for our love.

[_Exeunt omnes._

SCENE II.

QUEEN-MOTHER _and_ ELEAZAR.

ELE. Madam, a word: now have you wit or spirit?

QUEEN-M. Both.

ELE. Set them both to a most gainful task.

Our enemies are in my castle-work.

QUEEN-M. Ay; but the king's there too; it's dangerous pride To strike at those that crouch by a lion's side.

ELE. Remove them.

QUEEN-M. How?

ELE. How! a thousand ways: By poison, or by this [_Points to his sword_]; but every groom Has skill in such base traffic; no, our policies Must look more strange, must fly with loftier wings; Vengeance, the higher it falls, more honour brings; But you are cold--you dare not do.

QUEEN-M. I dare.

ELE. You have a woman's heart; look you, this hand--

[_Takes her hand._

O, 'tis too little to strike home.

QUEEN-M. At whom?

ELE. Your son.

QUEEN-M. Which son? the king?

ELE. Angels of heaven Stand like his guard about him! how, the king!

Not for so many worlds as there be stars Sticking upon th' embroider'd firmament.

The king! he loves my wife, and should he die, I know none else would love her; let him live In heaven.[54]

[_Aside_.

Good Lord Philip----

QUEEN-M. He shall die.

ELE. How? good, good.

QUEEN-M. By this hand.

ELE. When? good, good; when?

QUEEN-M. This night, if Eleazar give consent.

ELE. Why, then, this night Philip shall not live To see you kill him! Is he not your son?

A mother be the murd'rer of a brat That liv'd within her! ha!

QUEEN-M. 'Tis for thy sake.

ELE. Pish! What excuses cannot d.a.m.n'd sin make To save itself! I know you love him well; But that he has an eye, an eye, an eye.

To others, our two hearts seem to be lock'd Up in a case of steel; upon our love others Dare not look; or, if they dare, they cast Squint, purblind glances. Who care, though all see all, So long as none dare speak? But Philip Knows that iron ribs of our villains Are thin: he laughs to see them, like this hand, With c.h.i.n.ks and crevices; how [with] a villanous, A stabbing, [a] desperate tongue the boy dare speak: A mouth, a villanous mouth! let's muzzle him.