A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Xiv Part 37

PHIL. You lie.

CAR. Lie!

PHIL. Lie! a pox upon't, cardinal, come on, Second the desperate vanguard which is mine, And where I'll die or win. Follow my sword The b.l.o.o.d.y way I lead it, or, by heaven, I'll play the devil, and mar all! we'll turn our backs Upon the Moors, and set on thee; ay, thee, Thee, cardinal! s'heart! thee.

CAR. Your desperate arm Hath almost thrust quite through the heart of hope: Our fortunes lie a-bleeding by your rash And violent onset.

PHIL. O, O, s'life! s'foot! will you [not] fight?

CAR. We will not hazard all upon one cast.

PHIL. You will not?

CAR. No.

PHIL. Coward!

CAR. By deeds I'll try.

Whether your venomous tongue says true. Farewell; Courage shines both in this and policy.

[_Exit._

PHIL. To save thy skin whole, that's thy policy.

You wh.o.r.eson fat-chapp'd guts, Ill melt away That larded body by the heat of fight, Which I'll compel thee to, or else by flying: To work which I'll give way to the proud foe.

Whilst I stand laughing to behold you run.

Cardinal, I'll do't, I'll do't; a Moor, a Moor!

Philip cries a Moor! holla! la! whoo!

_Enter_ KING OF PORTUGAL.

K. OF PORT. Prince Philip! Philip!

PHIL. Here: plague, where's the Moor?

K. OF PORT. The Moor's a devil: never did horrid fiend, Compell'd by some magician's mighty charm, Break through the prisons of the solid earth With more strange horror than this prince of h.e.l.l, This d.a.m.ned negro, lion-like doth rush Through all, and spite of all knit opposition.

PHIL. Puh, puh! where, where?

I'll meet him: where? You mad me!

'Tis not his arm That acts such wonders, but our cowardice.

This cardinal, O, this cardinal is a slave.

_Enter_ CAPTAIN.

CAPT. Sound a retreat, or else the day is lost!

PHIL. I'll beat that dog to death that sounds retreat.

K. OF PORT. Philip!

PHIL. I'll tear his heart out that dares name that sound.

K. OF PORT. Sound a retreat.

PHIL. Who's that? you tempt my sword, sir; Continue this alarum, fight pell-mell; Fight, kill, be d.a.m.n'd. This fat-back, coward cardinal Lies heavy on my shoulders; this, ay, this, Shall fling him off. Sound a retreat? Zounds! you mad me!

Ambition plumes the Moor, whilst black despair, Offering to tear from him the diadem Which he usurps, makes him to cry at all, And to act deeds beyond astonishment.

But Philip is the night that darks his glories: This sword, yet reeking with his negro's blood, Being grasp'd by equity and this strong arm, Shall through and through.

ALL. Away, then!

PHIL. From before me.

Stay, stand, stand fast: fight. A Moor, a Moor.

SCENE III.

_Enter_ ELEAZAR, ZARACK, BALTHAZAR, RODERIGO, CHRISTOFERO, _and others; they fight: Moors are all beat in. Exeunt omnes. Manet_ ELEAZAR, _weary; a Moor lies slain_.

ELE. O, for more work, more souls to post to h.e.l.l, That I might pile up Charon's boat so full, Until it topple o'er! O, 'twould be sport To see them sprawl through the black slimy lake.

Ha, ha! there's one going thither: sirrah! you, You slave, who kill'd thee? How he grins! this breast, Had it been temper'd and made proof like mine, It never would have been a mark for fools To hit afar off with their dastard bullets.

But thou didst well; thou knew'st I was thy lord, And out of love and duty to me here, Where I fell weary, thou laidst down thyself To bear me up thus: G.o.d-a-mercy, slave, A king for this shall give thee a rich grave.

_As he sits down, enter_ PHILIP _with a broken sword_.

PHIL. I'll wear thee to the pommel, but I'll find The subject of mine honour and revenge.

Moor, 'tis for thee I seek! come, now, now take me At good advantage. Speak! where art thou?

ELE. Here!

PHIL. Fate and revenge, I thank you. Rise!

ELE. Leave and live.

PHIL. Villain, it is Philippo that bids rise.

ELE. It had been good for thee to have hid thy name; For the discovery, like to a dangerous charm, Hurts him that finds it. Wherefore do those bloodhounds, Thy rage and valour, chase me?

PHIL. Why? to kill thee.

ELE. With that? what, a blunt axe! Think'st thou, I'll let Thy fury take a full blow at this head, Having these arms? Be wise, go change thy weapon.

PHIL. O sir!

ELE. I'll stay thy coming.

PHIL. Thou'lt be d.a.m.n'd first.

ELE. By all our Indian G.o.ds----