A Select Collection of Old English Plays
Chapter 43 : QUEEN-M. Strumpet! and I not sit there, who [shall] then?ELE. Down!Back! if she touch i

QUEEN-M. Strumpet! and I not sit there, who [shall] then?

ELE. Down!

Back! if she touch it, she'll bewitch the chair; This throne belongs to Isabel the fair.

Bring forth the princess dress'd in royal robes, The true affecter of Alvero's son, Virtuous Hortenzo. Lords, behold your queen.

SCENE II.

_Enter_ ISABELLA _in royal robes, and_ HORTENZO.

QUEEN-M. Thou villain, what intend'st thou, savage slave?

ELE. To advance virtue thus, and thus to tread On l.u.s.t, on murder, on adultery's head.

Look, lords, upon your sovereign Isabel; Though all may doubt the fruits of such a womb, Is she not like King Philip? Let her rule.

QUEEN-M. She rule!

ELE. She rule: ay, she.

QUEEN-M. A child To sway an empire? I am her protectress; I'll pour black curses on thy d.a.m.ned head If thou wrong'st me. Lords, lords!

ELE. Princes of Spain, Be deaf, be blind; hear not, behold her not; She kill'd my virtuous wife.

QUEEN-M. He kill'd your king.

ELE. 'Twas in my just wrath.

QUEEN-M. 'Twas to get his crown.

ELE. His crown! why, here 'tis: thou slew'st my Maria, To have access to my unstained bed.

QUEEN-M. O heaven!

ELE. 'Tis true: how often have I stopp'd Thy unchaste songs from pa.s.sing through mine ears.

How oft, when thy luxurious arms have twin'd About my jetty neck, have I cried out: Away, those scalding veins burn me--'tis true.

QUEEN-M. Devil, 'tis a lie!

ELE. Thou slew'st my sweet Maria; Alvero, 'twas thy daughter, 'twas; Hortenzo, She was thy sister; justice, Isabella; This serpent poison'd thy dear father's bed, Setting large horns on his imperial head.

QUEEN-M. Hear me!

ELE. Ha, why?

ALV. Madam, you shall be heard Before the courts, before the courts of Spain.

ELE. A guard! a guard!

_Enter two Moors and others._

QUEEN-M. A guard! for what? for whom?

HOR. To wait on you; So many great sins must not wait with few.

QUEEN-M. Keep me in prison! dare you, lords?

ALV. O no!

Were your cause strong, we would not arm you so; But honour fainting needeth many hands; Kingdoms stand safe when mischief lies in bands.

You must to prison.

[_Exeunt._

QUEEN-M. Must I! must I! Slave, I'll d.a.m.n thee, ere thou triumph'st o'er my grave.

[_Exit with a guard._

SCENE III.

_Manet_ ELEAZAR.

ELE. Do, do, my jocund spleen It does, it will, it shall. I have at one throw Rifled away the diadem of Spain; 'Tis gone, and there's no more to set but this At all. Then, at this last cast, I'll sweep up My former petty losses, or lose all, Like to a desperate gamester.

_Enter_ ZARACK.

Ha, how? fast?

ZAR. Except their bodies turn to airy spirits, And fly through windows, they are safe, my lord: If they can eat through locks and bars of iron, They may escape; if not, then not.

ELE. O Zarack!

Wit is a thief; there's picklock policy, To whom all doors fly open; therefore go; In our name charge the keeper to resign His office; and if he have tricks of cruelty, Let him bequeath 'em at his death--for kill him.

Turn all thy body into eyes, And watch them; let those eyes, like fiery comets, Sparkle out nothing but the death of kings.

And ah! now thus: thou know'st I did invent A torturing iron chain.

ZAR. O, for necks, my lord?

ELE. Ay; that, that, that; away, and yoke them. Stay,

_Enter_ BALTHAZAR.

Here's Balthazar: go both, teach them to preach Through an iron pillory. I'll spread a net To catch Alvero; O, he is old and wise; They are unfit to live that have sharp eyes.

Hortenzo, Roderigo, to't to't: all They have supple knees, sleek'd brows, but hearts of gall; The bitterness shall be wash'd off with blood: Tyrants swim safest in a crimson flood.

BAL. I come to tell your grace that Isabella Is with Hortenzo arm in arm at hand; Zarack and I may kill them now with ease.

Is't done? and then 'tis done.

ZAR. Murther thou the man, And I'll stab her.