A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Xiv Part 41

CAR. Yes, upon thee, Like to the ruins of a tower, to grind Thy body into dust. Traitor and b.a.s.t.a.r.d, I do arrest thee of high treason.

PHIL. Ha!

Traitor and b.a.s.t.a.r.d! and by thee? my weapons!

CAR. Lay hands upon him!

PHIL. Ah! you're best do so.

CAR. Alvero, there's the warrant; to your hands The prisoner is committed. Lords, let's part: Look to him, on your life.

[_Exeunt_ CARDINAL, _&c._

_Manent_ PHILIP _and_ ALVERO.

PHIL. Heart! heart! heart! heart!

[_Tears the warrant._

The devil and his dam, the Moor and my mother, Their warrant I will not obey: old greybeard, Thou shalt not be my jailer; there's no prison, No dungeon deep enough, no grates so strong, That can keep in a man so mad with wrong.

What, dost thou weep?

ALV. I would fain shed a tear, But from mine eyes so many show'rs are gone; Grief drinks my tears so fast, that here's not one.

You must to prison.

PHIL. Dost thou speak to me?

ALV. You must to prison.

PHIL. And from thence to death.

I thought I should have had a tomb hung round With tatter'd colours, broken spears; I thought My body should have fallen down full of wounds; But one can kill an emperor, fool; then why Wouldst thou have many? Curse, be mad, and die.

[_Exeunt._

ACT V., SCENE I.

_Enter_ RODERIGO _and_ CHRISTOFERO, _two bare-headed before them_; CARDINAL _alone_; ZARACK _and_ BALTHAZAR _bearing the crown on a cushion_; ELEAZAR _next_; QUEEN-MOTHER _after him; other Lords after her_; ALVERO, _sad, meets them_.

CAR. Alvero, 'tis the pleasure of the king, Of the queen-mother, and these honoured states, To ease you of Philippo; there's a warrant Sent to remove him to a stronger guard.

ALV. I thank you; you shall rid me of much care.

ELE. Sit down, and take your place.

ALV. If I might have the place I like best, It should be my grave.

[_Sits down. The Moors stand aside with the crown_: ELEAZAR, _rising, takes it_.

ELE. Stand in voice-reach, away!

BOTH MOORS. We are gone.

[_Exeunt._

ELE. Princes of Spain, if in this royal court There sit a man that, having laid his hold So fast on such a jewel, and dare wear it In the contempt of envy, as I dare, Yet uncompell'd (as freely as poor pilgrims Bestow their prayers) would give such wealth away; Let such a man step forth; what, do none rise?

No, no, for kings indeed are deities; And who'd not (as the sun) in brightness shine?

To be the greatest is to be divine.

Who, among millions, would not be the mightiest, To sit in G.o.dlike state: to have all eyes Dazzled with admiration, and all tongues Shouting loud prayers: to rob every heart Of love: to have the strength of every arm: A sovereign's name? why, 'tis a sovereign charm This glory roundabout me hath thrown beams: I have stood upon the top of fortune's wheel, And backward turn'd the iron screw of fate.

The destinies have spun a silken thread About my life; yet, n.o.ble Spaniards, see _Hoc tantum tanti_, thus I cast aside The shape of majesty, and on my knee

[_Kneels: the_ CARDINAL _fetches the crown, and sets it on the chair_.

To this imperial state lowly resign This usurpation: wiping off your fears, Which stuck so hard upon me; let a hand, A right and royal hand, take up this wreath, And guard it; right is of itself most strong; No kingdom got by cunning can stand long.

CAR. Proceed to new election of a king.

ALL. Agreed.

ELE. Stay, peers of Spain: if young Philippo Be Philip's son, then is he Philip's heir; Then must his royal name be set in gold; Philip is then the diamond to that ring.

But if he be a b.a.s.t.a.r.d, here's his seat, For baseness has no gall, till it grow great.

First, therefore, let him blood, if he must bleed, Yet in what vein you strike him, best take heed; The Portugal's his friend; you saw he came, At holding up a finger, arm'd: this peace Rid hence his dangerous friendship; he's at home.

But when he hears that Philip is tied up.

Yet hears not why, he'll catch occasion's lock, And on that narrow bridge make shift to lead A scrambling army through the heart of Spain: Look to't; being in, he'll hardly out again.

Therefore first prove and then proclaim him b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

ALV. How shall we prove it?

ELE. He that put him out to making, I am sure can tell; if not, Then she that shap'd him can: here's the queen-mother, Being p.r.i.c.k'd in conscience, and preferring Spain Before her own respect, will name the man.

If he be n.o.ble, and a Spaniard born, He'll hide th' apparent scars of their infamies With the white hand of marriage; that and time Will eat the blemish off: say, shall it?

ALL. No.

CAR. Spaniard or Moor, the saucy slave shall die.

HOR. Death is too easy for such villany.

ELE. Spaniard or Moor, the saucy slave shall die?

I would he might; I know myself am clear, As is the new-born infant. Madam, stand forth.

Be bold to speak: shame in the grave wants sense, Heaven with sin's greatest forfeits can dispense.

QUEEN-M. Would I were cover'd with the veil of night, You might not see red shame sit on my cheeks; But being Spain's common safety stands for truth, Hiding my weeping eyes, I blush and say, Philippo's father sits here.

ROD. Here! name him.

QUEEN-M. The Lord Mendoza did beget that son; O, let not this dishonour further run.