The Spanish Tragedie Part 23

BAL. Hieronimo, me thinks a comedie were better.

HIERO. A comedie? fie! comedies are fit for common wits; But to present a kingly troupe withall, Giue me a stately-written tragedie,-- Tragedia cothurnata, fitting kings, Containing matter, and not common things!

My lords, all this [our sport] must be perfourmed, As fitting, for the first nights reuelling.

The Italian tragedians were so sharpe Of wit that in one houres meditation They would performe any-thing in action.

LOR. And well it may, for I haue seene the like In Paris, mongst the French tragedians.

HIERO. In Paris? mas, and well remembered!-- Theres one thing more that rests for vs to doo.

BAL. Whats that, Hieronimo?

Forget not any-thing.

HIERO. Each one of vs Must act his parte in vnknowne languages, That it may breede the more varietie: As you, my lord, in Latin, I in Greeke, You in Italian, and, for-because I know That Bel-imperia hath practised the French, In courtly French shall all her phrases be.

BEL. You meane to try my cunning then, Hieronimo!

BAL. But this will be a meere confusion, And hardly shall we all be vnderstoode.

HEIRO. It must be so; for the conclusion Shall proue the inuention and all was good; And I my-selfe in an oration, That I will haue there behinde a curtaine, And with a strange and wondrous shew besides, a.s.sure your-selfe, shall make the matter knowne.

And all shalbe concluded in once scene, For theres no pleasure tane in tediousnes.

BAL. [to LOR.] How like you this?

LOR. Why thus, my lord, we must resolue, To soothe his humors vp.

BAL. On then, Hieronimo; farewell till soone!

HIERO. You plie this geere?

LOR. I warrant you.

Exeuent all but HIERONIMO.

HIERO. Why, so! now shall I see the fall of Babilon Wrought by the heauens in this confusion.

And, if the world like not this tragedie, Hard is the hap of olde Hieronimo.

Exit.

[ACT IV. SCENE 2.]

[HIERONIMO's garden.]

Enter ISABELLA with a weapon.

[ISA.] Tell me no more! O monstrous homicides!

Since neither pietie nor pittie moues The king to iustice or compa.s.sion, I will reuenge my-selfe vpon this place, Where thus they murdered my beloued sonne.

She cuts downe the arbour.

Downe with these branches and these loathsome bowes On this vnfortunate and fatall pine!

Downe with them, Isabella; rent them vp, And burnes the roots from whence the rest is sprung!

I will leaue not a root, a stalke, a tree, A bowe, a branch, a blossome, nor a leafe,-- Not, not a hearb within this garden plot, Accursed complot of my miserie!

Fruitlesse for-euer may this garden be, Barren the earth, and blislesse whosoeuer Immagines not to keep it vnmanurde!

An easterne winde comixt with noisome aires Shall blast the plants and yong saplings [here], The earth with serpents shalbe pestered, And pa.s.sengers, for feare to be infect, Shall stand aloofe, and, looking at it, tell There murdred dide the sonne of Isabell.

I, heere he dide, and heere I him imbrace!

See where his ghoast solicites with his wounds Reuenge on her that should reuenge his death!

Hieronimo, make haste to see thy sonne, For Sorrow and Dispaire hath scited me To heare Horatio plead with Radamant.

Make haste, Hieronimo, to holde excusde Thy negligence in pursute of their deaths Whose hatefull wrath breau'd him of his breath.

Ah, nay; thou dost delay their deaths, Forgiues the murderers of thy n.o.ble sonne; And none but I bestirre me,--to no end!

And, as I cursse this tree from further fruit, So shall my wombe be cursed for his sake; And with this weapon will I wound this brest,-- That haples brest that gaue Horatio suck!

She stabs her-selfe.

[ACT IV. SCENE 3.]

[The DUKE's castle.]

Enter HIERONIMO; he knocks up the curtaine.

Enter the DUKE OF CASTILE.

CAS. How now, Hieronimo? wheres your fellows, That you take all this paine?

HIERO. O sir, it is for the authors credit To look that all things may goe well.

But, good my lord, let me intreat your Grace To giue the king the coppie of the plaie: This is the argument of what we shew.

CAS. I will, Hieronimo.

HIERO. One more thing, my good lord.

CAS. Whats that?

HIERO. Let me intreat your Grace That, when the traine are past into the gallerie, You would vouchsafe to throwe me downe the key.

CAS. I will Hieronimo.

Exit CAS[TILE].

HIERO. What, are you ready, Balthazar?

Bring a chaire and a cushion for the king.

Enter BALTHAZAR with a chaire.