A Select Collection of Old English Plays Part 32

MARIA. Why from my bed have you thus frighted me?

KING. To let thee view a b.l.o.o.d.y horrid tragedy.

MARIA. Begin it, then; I'll gladly lose my life, Rather than be an emperor's concubine.

KING. By my high birth, I swear thou shalt be none; The tragedy I'll write with my own hand; A king shall act it, and a king shall die, Except sweet mercy's beam shine from thine eye.

If this affright thee, it shall sleep for ever.

If still thou hate me, thus this n.o.ble blade This royal purple temple shall invade.

MARIA. My husband is from hence: for his sake spare me.

KING. Thy husband is no Spaniard: thou art one: So is Fernando; then for country's sake, Let me not spare thee: on thy husband's face Eternal night in gloomy shades doth dwell; But I'll look on thee like the gilded sun, When to the west his fiery horses run.

MARIA. True, here you look on me with sunset eyes, For by beholding you my glory dies.

KING. Call me thy morning then; for, like the morn, In pride Maria shall through Spain be borne.

[_Music plays within._

This music was prepar'd to please thine ears:[60]

Love me, and thou shalt hear no other sounds.

[_A banquet brought in._

Lo, here's a banquet set with mine own hands; Love me, and thus I'll feast thee like a queen.

I might command thee, being thy sovereign; But love me, and I'll kneel and sue to thee, And circle this white forehead with the crown Of Castile, Portugal, and Arragon, And all those petty kingdoms which do bow Their tributary knees to Philip's heir.

MARIA. I cannot love you whilst my husband lives.

KING. I'll send him to the wars, and in the front Of some main army shall he n.o.bly die.

MARIA. I cannot love you if you murder him.

KING. For thy sake then I'll call a parliament, And banish by a law all Moors from Spain.

MARIA. I'll wander with him into banishment.

KING. It shall be death for any negro's hand To touch the beauty of a Spanish dame.

Come, come, what needs such cavils with a king?

Night blinds all jealous eyes, and we may play.

Carouse that bowl to me: I'll pledge all this; Being down, we'll make it more sweet with a kiss.

Begin, I'll lock all doors: begin, Spain's queen:

[_Locks the doors._

Love's banquet is most sweet when 'tis least seen.

MARIA. O thou conserver of my honour's life: Instead of poisoning him, drown him in sleep.

Because I'll quench the flames of wild desire, I'll drink this off--let fire conquer love's fire.

[_Aside._

KING. Were love himself in real substance here, Thus would I drink him down; let your sweet strings Speak louder: pleasure is but a slave to kings, In which love swims. Maria, kiss thy king: Circle me in this ring of ivory; O, I grow dull, and the cold hand of sleep Hath thrust his icy fingers in my breast,[61]

And made a frost within me. Sweet, one kiss To thaw this deadness that congeals my soul.

MAR. Your majesty hath overwatch'd yourself.

He sleeps already--not the sleep of death, But a sweet slumber, which the powerful drug Instill'd through all his spirits. O bright day, Bring home my dear lord ere his king awake, Else of his unstain'd bed he'll shipwreck make.

[_Offers to go._

_Enter_ OBERON, _and_ FAIRIES _dancing before him; and Music with them_.

MARIA. O me! what shapes are these?

OBER. Stay, stay, Maria.

MARIA. My sovereign lord awake, save poor Maria.

OBER. He cannot save thee: save that pain; Before he wake, thou shalt be slain: His mother's hand shall stop thy breath, Thinking her own son is done to death: And she that takes away thy life, Does it to be thy husband's wife: Adieu, Maria, we must hence: Embrace thine end with patience.

Elves and fairies make no stand, Till you come in fairyland.

[_Exeunt dancing and singing._

MARIA. Fairies or devils, whatsoe'er you be, Thus will I hide me from your company.

[_Offers to go._

SCENE III.

_To her enter_ QUEEN-MOTHER _suddenly, with_ ALVERO _and_ RODERIGO _with rapiers_.

QUEEN-M. Lay hold upon the strumpet! where's the king?

Fernando! son! Ah me! your king is dead!

Lay hands upon the murd'ress.

MARIA. Imperious queen, I am as free from murder as thyself; Which I will prove, if you will hear me speak.

The king is living.

ROD. If he liv'd, his breath would beat within his breast.

QUEEN-M. The life he leads, Maria, thou shalt soon partic.i.p.ate.

MARIA. O father, save me!

ALV. Thou'rt no child of mine.

Hadst thou been owner of Alvero's spirit, Thy heart would not have entertain'd a thought That had convers'd with murder: yet mine eyes, Howe'er my tongue wants words, brimful with tears Entreat her further trial.

QUEEN-M. To what end?