The Spanish Tragedie Part 11

LOR. Goe, sirra, To Serberine, and bid him forthwith meet The prince and me at S. Luigis Parke, Behinde the house, this euening, boy.

PAGE. I goe, my lord.

LOR. But, sirra, let the houre be eight a-clocke.

Bid him not faile.

PAGE. I flye, my lord.

Exit.

LOR. Now to confirme the complot thou hast cast Of all these practices, Ile spread the watch, Vpon precise commandement from the king Strongly to guard the place where Pedringano This night shall murder haples Serberine.

Thus must we worke that will auoide distrust, Thus must we practice to preuent mishap, And thus one ill another must expulse.

This slie enquiry of Hieronimo For Bel-imperia, breeds suspition; And [thus] suspition boads a further ill.

As for my-selfe, I know my secret fault, And so doe they, but I haue dealt for them.

They that for coine their soules endangered To saue my life, for coyne shall venture theirs; And better tis that base companions dye Then by their life to hazard our good haps.

Nor shall they liue for me to feare their faith; Ile trust my-selfe, my-selfe shall be my freend; For dye they shall,-- Slaues are ordein[e]d to no other end.

Exit.

[ACT III. SCENE 3.]

[San Luigi's Park.]

Enter PEDRINGANO with a pistoll.

PED. Now, Pedringano, bid thy pistoll holde; And holde on, Fortune! Once more fauour me!

Giue but successe to mine attempting spirit, And let me s.h.i.+ft for taking of mine aime.

Heere is the golde! This is the golde proposde!

It is no dreame that I aduenture for, But Pedringano is possest thereof.

And he that would not straine his conscience For him that thus his liberall purse hath sretcht, Vnworthy such a fauour may he faile, And, wis.h.i.+ng, want when such as I preuaile!

As for the feare of apprehension, I know, if need should be, my n.o.ble lord Will stand betweene me and ensuing harmes.

Besides, this place is free from all suspect.

Heere therefore will I stay and take my stand.

Enter the WATCH.

I WATCH. I wonder much to what intent it is That we are thus expresly chargd to watch.

II WATCH. This by commandement in the kings own name.

III WATCH. But we were neuer wont to watch and ward So neere the duke his brothers house before.

II WATCH. Content your-selfe, stand close, theres somewhat int.

Enter SERBERINE.

SER. [aside] Heere, Serberine, attend and stay thy pace; For heere did Don Lorenzos page appoint That thou by his command shouldst meet with him.

How fit a place, if one were so disposde, Me thinks this corner is to close with one.

PED. [aside] Heere comes the bird that I must ceaze vpon; Now, Pedringano, or neuer play the man!

SER. [aside] I wonder that his lords.h.i.+p staies so long, Or wherefore should he send for me so late.

PED. For this, Serberine; and thou shalt ha'te!

Shootes the dagge.

So, there he lyes; my promise is performde.

The WATCH.

I WATCH. Harke, gentlemen, this is a pistol shot!

II WATCH. And heeres one slaine; stay the murderer!

PED. Now, by the sorrowes of the soules in h.e.l.l,

He striues with the WATCH.

Who first laies hands on me, Ile be his priest!

III WATCH. Sirra, confesse, and therein play the priest.

Why hast thou thus vnkindely kild the man?

PED. Why, because he walkt abroad so late.

III WATCH. Come sir, you had bene better kept your bed Then haue committed this misdeed so late.

II WATCH. Come to the marshalls with the murderer!

I WATCH. On to Hieronimos! helpe me heere To bring the murdred body with vs too.

PED. Hieronimo? Carry me before whom you will; What ere he be, Ile answere him and you.

And doe your worst, for I defie you all!

Exeunt.

[ACT III. SCENE 4.]

[The DUKE's castle]

Enter LORENZO and BALTHAZAR.