A Select Collection of Old English Plays Part 44

ELE. No, I'll speed[71] her myself.

Arm in arm? so, so; look upon this ring; Whoever brings this token to your hands, Regard not for what purpose, seize on them, And chain them to the rest: they come--away!

Murder, be proud; and, tragedy, laugh on, I'll seek a stage for thee to jet[72] upon.

_Enter_ ISABELLA _and_ HORTENZO; _seeing the Moor, they turn back_.

ELE. My lord, my Lord Hortenzo.

HOR. Ah, is't you?

Trust me, I saw you not.

ELE. What makes your grace so sad?

HOR. She grieves for the imprison'd queen her mother And for Philippo; in the sandy heap That wait upon an hour, there are not found So many little bodies, as those sighs And tears which she hath every minute spent, Since her lov'd brother felt imprisonment.

ELE. Pity, great pity; would it lay in me To give him liberty.

ISA. It does.

ELE. In me!

Free him, your mother-queen and cardinal too.

In me? alas! not me; no, no, in you!

Yet, for I'll have my conscience white and pure, Here, madam, take this ring; and if my name Can break down castle-walls and open gates, Take it, and do't; fetch them all forth,--and yet 'Tis unfit you should go.

HOR. That happy office I'll execute myself.

ELE. Will you? Would I Stood gracious in their sight! Well, go: Do what you will: Hortenzo, if this charm Unbinds them, here 'tis: lady, you and I Aloof will follow him, and when we meet, Speak for me, for I'll kiss Philippo's feet.

HOR. I shall be proud to see all reconcil'd.

[_Exit._

ELE. Alas, my lord! why, true; go, go.

ISA. Make haste, dear love.

ELE. Hortenzo is a man Compos'd of sweet proportion; has a foot, A leg, a hand, a face, an eye, a wit-- The best, Hortenzo, in the Spanish court.

O, he's the nonpareil.

ISA. Your tongue had wont To be more sparing in Hortenzo's praise.

ELE. Ah! I may curse his praises, rather ban Mine own nativity: why did this colour Dart in my flesh so far! O, would my face Were of Hortenzo's fas.h.i.+on; else would yours Were as black as mine is.

ISA. Mine like yours? why?

ELE. Hark, I love you; yes, faith, I said this--I love you.

I do--leave him.

ISA. d.a.m.nation! vanish from me.

ELE. Coy!

Were you as hard as flint, O, you should yield Like soften'd wax; were you as pure as fire, I'd touch you; yes, I'll taint you: see you this?

I'll bring you to this lure.

ISA. If I want hands To kill myself, before thou dost it, do.

ELE. I'll cut away your hands. Well, my desire Is raging as the sea, and mad as fire.

Will you?

ISA. Torment me not, good devil.

ELE. Will you.

ISA. I'll tear mine eyes out, if they tempt thy l.u.s.t.

ELE. Do.

ISA. Touch me not; these knives----

ELE. Ha, ha! kill yourself, Because I jest with you! I wrong Hortenzo.

Settle your thoughts, 'twas but a trick to try That which few women have, true constancy.

ISA. If then my speeches taste of gall----

ELE. Nay, faith, You are not bitter; no; you should have rail'd, Have spit upon me, spurn'd me; you're not bitter: Why, do you think that I would nurse a thought, To hurt your honour? If that thought had brains, I'd beat them out. But come; by this Hortenzo Is fast.

ISA. Ha! fast?

ELE. Ay, fast--in Philip's arms; Wrestling together for the prize of love; By this they're on the way: I'll be your guard; Come, follow me; I'll lead you in the van, Where [_Aside_] thou shalt see four chins upon one chain.

[_Exeunt._

SCENE IV.

HORTENZO, QUEEN-MOTHER, CARDINAL, _and_ PHILIP, _chained by the necks_. ZARACK _and_ BALTHAZAR _busy about fastening_ HORTENZO.

HOR. You d.a.m.ned ministers of villany, Sworn to d.a.m.nation by the book of h.e.l.l; You maps of night, you element of devils, Why do you yoke my neck with iron chains?

BAL. Many do borrow chains, but you have this Gratis for nothing.

CAR. Slaves, unbind us.

BOTH. No.

[_Exeunt the two Moors._

PHIL. I am impatient; veins, why crack you not, And tilt your blood into the face of heaven, To make red clouds, like ensigns in the sky, Displaying a d.a.m.n'd tyrant's cruelty!

Yet can I laugh in my extremest pangs Of blood and spirit to see the cardinal Keep rank with me, and my vile mother-queen, To see herself where she would have me seen.

Good fellows.h.i.+p, i' faith!