The Spanish Tragedie Part 20

Exeunt all but CAST[TILE] and LOR[ENZO].

CAS. Nay, stay, Lorenzo; let me talke with you.

Seest thou this entertainement of these kings?

LOR. I doe, my lord, and ioy to see the same.

CAS. And knowest thou why this meeting is?

LOR. For her, my lord, whom Balthazar doth loue, And to confirme their promised marriage.

CAS. She is thy sister.

LOR. Who? Bel-imperia?

I, my gratious lord, and this is the day That I haue longd so happily to see.

CAS. Thou wouldst be loath that any fault of thine Should intercept her in her happines?

LOR. Heauens will not let Lorenzo erre so much.

CAS. Why then, Lorenzo, listen to my words: It is suspected, and reported too, That thou, Lorenzo, wrongst Hieronimo, And in his sutes toward his Maiestie Still keepst him back and seekes to crosse his sute.

LOR. That I, my lord?

CAS. I tell thee, sonne, my-selfe haue heard it said, When to my sorrow I haue been ashamed To answere for thee, though thou art my sonne.

Lorenzo, knowest thou not the common loue And kindenes that Hieronimo hath wone By his deserts within the court of Spaine?

Or seest thou not the k[ing] my brothers care In his behalfe and to procure his health?

Lorenzo, shouldst thou thwart his pa.s.sions, And he exclaime against thee to the king, What honour wert in this a.s.sembly, Or what a scandale were among the kings, To heare Hieronimo exclaime on thee!

Tell me,--and loke thou tell me truely too,-- Whence growes the ground of this report in court?

LOR. My l[ord], it lyes not in Lorenzos power To stop the vulgar liberall of their tongues: A small aduantage makes a water-breach; And no man liues that long contenteth all.

CAS. My-selfe haue seene thee busie to keep back Him and his supplications from the king.

LOR. Your-selfe, my l[ord], hath seene his a.s.sions, That ill beseemde the presence of a king; And, for I pittied him in his distresse, I helde him thence with kinde and curteous words, As free from malice to Hieronimo As to my soule, my lord.

CAS. Hieronimo, my sonne, mistakes thee then.

LOR. My gratious father, beleeue me, so he doth; But whats a silly man, distract in minde To think vpon the murder of his sonne?

Alas, how easie is it for him to erre!

But, for his satisfaction and the worlds, Twere good, my l[ord], that Hieronimo and I Were reconcilde, if he misconster me.

CAS. Lorenzo, that hast said; it shalbe so!

Goe, one of you, and call Hieronimo.

Etner BALTHAZAR and BEL-IMPERIA.

BAL. Come, Bel-imperia, Balthazars content, My sorrowes ease, and soueraigne of my blisse,-- Sith heauen hath [thee ordainded] to be mine, Disperce those cloudes and melanchollie lookes, And cleere them vp with those thy sunne-bright eies, Wherein my hope and heauens faire beautie lies!

BEL. My lookes, my lord, are fitting for my loue, Which, new begun, can shew no brighter yet.

BAL. New kindled flames should burne as morning sun.

BEL. But not too fast, least heate and all be done.

I see my lord my father.

BAL. True, my loue; I will goe salute him.

CAS. Welcome, Balthazar, Welcome, braue prince, the pledge of Castiles peace!

And welcome Bel-imperia! How now, girle?

Why commest thou sadly to salute vs thus?

Content thy-selfe, for I am satisfied.

It is not now as when Andrea liu'd; We haue forgotten and forgiuen that, And thou art graced with a happeir loue.

But, Balthazar, heere comes Hieronimo; Ile haue a word with him.

Enter HIERONIMO and a SERUANT.

HIERO. And wheres the duke?

SER. Yonder.

HIERO. Euen so.

[aside] What new deuice haue they deuised, tro?

Pocas palabras! Milde as the lambe!

Ist I will be reueng'd? No, I am not the man.

CAS. Welcome, Hieronimo!

LOR. Welcome, Hieronimo!

BAL. Welcome, Hieronimo!

HIERO. My lords, I thank you for Horatio.

CAS. Hieronimo, the reason that I sent To speak with you is this--

HIERO. What? so short?

Then Ile be gone; I thank you fort!

CAS. Nay, stay, Hieronimo; goe call him, sonne.

LOR. Hieronimo, my father craues a word with you.

HIERO. With me, sir? Why, my l[ord], I thought you had done.

LOR. [aside] No; would he had!

CAS. Hieronimo, I hear You finde your-selfe agreeued at my sonne, Because you haue not accesse vnto the king, And say tis he that intercepts your sutes.