A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Xiv Part 39

QUEEN-M. I would the Moor's d.a.m.nation were the ransom Of all the innocent blood that has been shed In this black day: I care not for the Moor; Love to my kingdom's peace makes me put on This habit of a suppliant; shall I speed?

CAR. You shall, were it to have my bosom bleed; I have no power to spare the negro's head, When I behold the wounds which his black hand Has given mine honour: but when I look on you, I have no power to hate him; since your breath Dissolves my frozen heart, being spent for him; In you my life must drown itself or swim.

You have prevail'd: drum, swiftly hence; call back Our fierce-pursuing troops, that run to catch The laurel wreath of conquest: let it stand Awhile untouch'd by any soldier's hand.

[_Exit drum._

Away! stay you and guard us. Where's the Moor?

I'll lose what I have got, a victor's prize, Yielding myself a prisoner to your eyes.

QUEEN-M. Mine eyes shall quickly grant you liberty.

The Moor stays my return; I'll put on wings, And fetch him; to make peace belongs to kings.

_As she goes out, enter_ ELEAZAR, ZARACK, BALTHAZAR, _and Soldiers well armed; at sight of each other, all draw_.

CAR. Soldiers, call back the drum: we are betray'd.

ELE. Moors, stand upon your guard; avoid, look back.

QUEEN-M. What means this jealousy? Mendoza, Moor, Lay by your weapons and embrace; the sight Of this and this begets suspicion.

Eleazar, by my birth, he comes in peace: Mendoza, by mine honour, so comes he.

CAR. Discharge these soldiers then.

ELE. And these.

[_Soldiers stand aloof._

CAR. Away!

ELE. Go!

QUEEN-M. Soul, rejoice, to see this glorious day.

[_She joins them together; they embrace._

CAR. Your virtues work this wonder. I have met At her most dear command: what's your desires?

ELE. Peace and your honour'd arms: how loathingly I sounded the alarums, witness heaven.

'Twas not to strike your breast, but to let out The rank blood of ambition. That Philip Makes you his ladder, and being climb'd so high As he may reach a diadem, there you lie.

He's base-begotten,--that's his mother's sin.

QUEEN-M. G.o.d pardon it.

ELE. Ah! amen. But he's a b.a.s.t.a.r.d, And rather than I'll kneel to him, I'll saw My legs off by the thighs, because I'll stand In spite of reverence: he's a b.a.s.t.a.r.d, he's!

And to beat down his usurpation I have thrown about this thunder: but, Mendoza, The people hate him for his birth; He only leans on you, you are his pillar; You gone, he walks on crutches, or else falls.

Then shrink from under him; are not they Fools that, bearing others up, themselves seem low, Because they above sit high; why, you do so.

CAR. 'Tis true.

QUEEN-M. Behold this error with fix'd eyes.

CAR. 'Tis true. Well?

ELE. O, have you found it? Have you smelt The train of powder that must blow you up, Up into air? What air? Why this, a breath; Look you; in this time may a king meet death.

[Have] an eye to't, check it, check it.

CAR. How?

ELE. How? thus-- Steal from the heat of that incestuous blood, Where ravish'd honour and Philippo lies; Leave him; divide this huge and monstrous body Of armed Spaniards into limbs thus big: Part man from man, send every soldier home; I'll do the like: peace with an olive branch Shall fly with dovelike wings about all Spain; The crown, which I as a good husband keep, I will lay down upon the empty chair; Marry you the queen, and fill it: for my part, These knees are yours, sir.

CAR. Is this sound?

ELE. From my heart.

CAR. If you prove false----

ELE. If I do, let fire fall----

CAR. Amen.

ELE. Upon thy head [_Aside_]; and so it shall.

CAR. All of myself is yours; soldiers, begone.

ELE. And that way you.

CAR. The rest I will divide: The lords shall be convented.

ELE. Good.

CAR. Let's meet.

QUEEN-M. Where?

ELE. Here anon: this [_Aside_] is thy winding-sheet.

[_Exit_ CARDINAL. _The Moor walks up and down musing._

QUEEN-M. What shape will this prodigious womb bring forth, Which groans with such strange labour?

ELE. Excellent!

QUEEN-M. Why, Eleazar, art thou rapt with joys, Or does thy sinking policy make to sh.o.r.e?

ELE. Ha!

QUEEN-M. Eleazar, madman! hear'st thou, Moor?