Hier. Say, father, tell me what's thy suit? Sener. No, sir; could my woes Give way unto my most distressful words, Then should I not in paper (as you see) With ink bewray what blood began in me. Hier. What's here?—The humble supplication of Don Bazulto, for his murdered son. Senex. Aye, sir.

Hier. No, sir, it was my murdered son! Oh my

son,

Oh my son, Oh my son Horatio!

But mine, or thine, Bazulto, be content.
Here take my handkerchief, and wipe thine eyes,
Whiles wretched I in thy mishaps may see
The lively pourtrait of my dying self.

[He draweth out a bloody Napkin.

O no, not this, Horatio, this was thine:
And when I dyed it in thy dearest blood,
This was a token 'twixt thy soul and me,
That of thy death revenged I should be.
But here, take this, and this,-what, my purse?
Aye, this, and that, and all of them are thine:
For all as one are our extremities.

1 Cit. Oh, see the kindness of Hieronimo!
2 Cit. This gentleness shows him a gentleman.
Hier. See, see, oh see thy shame, Hieronimo;
See here a loving father to his son;
Behold the sorrows and the sad laments,
That he delivereth 223 for his son's decease.
If love's 224 effects so strive in lesser things,
If love enforce such moods in meaner wits,

If love express 225 such power in poor estates;
Hieronimo,-when as a raging sea,

Tost with the wind and tide, o'erturneth then
The upper billows, course of waves to keep,
Whilst lesser waters labour in the deep :-
Then shamest thou not, Hieronimo, to neglect
The sweet 226 revenge of thy Horatio?
Though on this earth justice will not be found,
I'll down to hell, and, in this passion,

217 Causes, 1623. 33.

218

This, 1618. 23. 33.

Again, Churchyard's Challenge, p. 152.:

20 Stand you, 618. 23. 33.

222 Rueful, 1618. 23. 33. 224 Love, 61.

226 Swift, 1618. 23. 33.

Knock at the dismal gates of Pluto's court, Getting by force (as once Alcides did) 227 A troop of furies, and tormenting hags, To torture Don Lorenzo and the rest. Yet, lest the triple-headed porter should Deny my passage to the slimy strond, The Thraciau poet thou shalt counterfeit.Come on, 228 old father, be my Orpheus; And if thou can'st 229 no notes upon the harp, Then sound the burden of thy sore heart's grief. Till we do gain, that Proserpine may grant Revenge on them that murdered my son. Then will I rend and tear them thus, and thus, Shivering their limbs in pieces with my teeth. [Tears the Papers.

1 Cit. O, sir, my declaration!

2 Cit. Alas, my lease! it cost me ten pound; And you, my lord, have torn the same. Hier. That cannot be, I gave it

230

never a

wound; Shew me one drop of blood fallen from the same: How is it possible I should slay it then? Tush, no; run after, catch me if you can.

[Exeunt all but the Old Man.

BAZULTO remains till HIERONIMO enters again, who staring him in the face speaketh.

Hier. And art thou come, Horatio, from the depth,

To ask for justice in this upper earth,
To tell thy father thou art unrevenged,
To wring more tears from Isabella's eyes,
Whose lights are dimned with overlong laments?
Go back, my son, complain to Æacus,
For here's no justice; gentle boy, be gone,
For justice is exiled from the earth:
Hieronimo will bear thee company.
Thy mother cries on righteous Rhadamant,
For just revenge against the murderers.
Baz. Alas, my lord, whence springs this trou-
bled speech?

Hier. But let me look on my Horatio. Sweet boy, how 231 232 art thou changed in death's black shade!

Had Proserpine no pity on thy youth,

But suffered thy fair crimson-coloured spring,
With withered winter to be blasted thus?

Horatio, 233 thou art older than thy father:
Ah, ruthless fate! that favour thus transforms!
Baz. Ah, my good lord, I am not your young

son.

Hier. What, not my son? thou then 234 a fury

art,

Sent from the empty kingdom of black night,
To summon me to make appearance
Before grim Minos and just Rhadamant,
To plague Hieronimo that is remiss,
And seeks not vengeance for Horatio's death.
Baz. I am a grieved man, and not a ghost,
That came for justice for my murdered son.
Hier. Aye, now I know thee, now thou nam'st
thy sou :

Thou art the lively image of my grief,
Within thy face, my sorrows I may see:
Thy eyes are gum'd 235 with tears, thy cheeks are

wan,

Thy forehead troubled, and thy muttering lips
Murmur sad words abruptly broken off,
By force of windy sighs thy spirit breathes,
And all this sorrow riseth for thy son:
And self-same sorrow feel I for my son.
Come in, old man, thou shalt to Isabel :
Lean on my arm; I thee, thou me, shalt stay,
And thou, and I, and she, will sing a song;
Three parts in one, but all of discords framed :
Talk not of chords, but let us now be gone,
For with a cord Horatio was slain, [Exeunt.
Enter King of Spain, the Duke, Viceroy, and
LORENZO, BALTHEZAR, Don PEDRO, and BE-

227 Did, omitted, 1618.

228 On, omitted, 1618. 23. 33.

So, Spenser, and others.

230 Them, 1618 23.33.

231 How, omitted, 1618.

232 Thou art, 1623. 33.

234 Then thou, 1633.

236 Be, sir, 1618.-Be done, sir, 1623.

238 Sufficed, 1618. 23. 33.

VOL. I.

233 Older, 1618. 23. 33.

235 Dimmed, 1618. 23. 33.

237 The, 1618. 23. 33.

3 s

(For it besecms us now that it be known)
Already is betrothed to Balthezar;
And, by appointment and our condescent,
To-morrow are they 239 to be married.
To this intent we entertain thyself,
Thy followers, their pleasure, 240 and our peace.
Speak, men of Portingale; shall it be so?
If aye, say so; if not, say flatly, no.

Vice. Renowned king, I come not as thou think'st,
With doubtful followers, unresolved men,
But such as have upon thine articles
Confirmed thy motion, and contented me.
Know, sovereign, I come to solemnize
The marriage of thy well-beloved niece,
Fair Belimperia, with my Balthezar;
With thee, my son, whom sith I live to see,
Here take my crown, I give it her and thee:
And let me live a solitary life,

In ceaseless prayers,

To think how strangely heaven hath thee preserved.

King. See, brother, see, how nature strives in him!

Come, worthy Viceroy, and accompany
Thy friend, with thine extremities;

A place more private fits this princely mood. Vice. Or here, or where your highness thinks it good.

[Exeunt all but CASTILE and LORENZO. Cast. Nay, stay, Lorenzo, let me talk with you; See'st thou this entertainment of these kings? Lor. I do, my lord, and joy to see the same. Cast. And knowest thou why this meeting is? Lor. For her, my lord, whom Balthezar doth love,

And to confirm the promised marriage.

Cast. She is thy sister.

Lor. Who, Belimperia? Aye, my gracious lord; And this is the day that I have longed so happily

to see.

Cast. Thou would'st be loth that any fault of

thine

Should intercept her in her happiness?

Lor. Heavens will not let Lorenzo err so much. Cast. Why, then, Lorenzo, listen to my words. It is suspected, and reported too,

That thou, Lorenzo, wrong'st Hieronimo,
And in his suits towards his majesty

Still keep'st him back, and seek'st to cross his suit.
Lor. That I, my lord?

241

my son.

Cast. I tell thee, son, myself have heard it said, When (to my sorrow) I have been ashamed To answer for thee, though thou art Lorenzo, know'st thou not the common love, And kindness that Hieronimo hath won By his deserts, within the court of Spain? Or seest thou not the king my brother's care In his behalf, and to procure his health? Lorenzo, should'st thou thwart his passions, And he exclaim against thee to the king, What honour were't in this assembly, Or what a scandal were't among the kings, To hear Hieronimo exclaim on thee? Tell me, and look thou tell me truly too, Whence grows the ground of this report in court? Lor. My lord, it lies not in Lorenzo's power To stop the vulgar, liberal 243 of their tongues; A small advantage makes a water-breach, And no man lives, that long contenteth all.

242

Cast. Myself have scen thee busy to keep back Him and his supplications from the king.

Lor. Yourself, my lord, have seen his passions,
That ill-bescemed the presence of a king;
And, for I pitied him in his distress,

I held him thence with kind and courteous words,
As free from malice to Hieronimo,
As to my soul, my lord.

Cast. Hieronimo, my son, mistakes thee then.
Lor. My gracious father, believe me, so he doth.
But what's a silly man, distract in mind,
To think upon the murder of his son ?
Alas? how easy is it for him to err?
But, for his satisfaction, and the world's,
'Twere good, my lord, that 244 Hieronimo and I
Were reconciled, if he misconstrue me.

Cast. Lorenzo, thou hast said, it shall be so.— Go one of you, and call Hieronimo.

Enter BALTHEZAR and BELIMPERIA. Bal. Come, Belimperia, Balthezar's content; My sorrow's ease, and sovereign of my bliss, Sith heaven hath ordained thee 245 to be mine, Disperse those clouds and melancholy looks, And clear 246 them up with those thy sun-bright

239 They are, 1633.

241 Wert, 1618 23.33.

240 Pleasures, 1623. 33.

242 Too, omitted, 1618. 23. 33.

"Next that, the fame

244 That, omitted, 1623. 33. 246 Cheare, 1618. 23. 33.

I

Bel. But not too fast, lest heat and all be done. see, my lord, my father.

Bal. Truce, my love, I will go salute him. Cast. Welcome, Balthezar; welcome, brave prince,

The pledge of Castile's peace;

And welcome, Belimperia.-How now, girl?
Why com'st thou sadly to salute us thus ?
Content thyself, for I am satisfied,

It is not now as when Andrea lived,
We have forgotten and forgiven that,
And thou art graced with a happier love.-
But, Balthezar, here comes Hieronimo.
I'll have a word with him.

Enter HIERONIMO and Servant.

Hier. And where's the duke?

Serv. Yonder.

vised tro?

Pocas palabras, 247 mild as the lamb:

I'st, I will be revenged? 248 no, I am not the man. Cast. Welcome, Hieronimo.

Lor. Welcome, Hieronimo.

Bal. Welcome, Hieronimo.

Hier. My lords, I thank you for Horatio.
Cast. Hieronimo, the reason that I sent

To speak with you, is this.

Hier. What, so short?

Then I'll be gone, I thank you for't.

Cast. Nay, stay, Hieronimo :-go call him, son. Lor. Hieronimo, my father craves a word with

That we be friends; the world is suspicious,
And men may think what we imagine not.

Bal. Why this is friendly done, Hieronimo.
Lor. And thus, I hope, old grudges are forgot.
Hier. What else? it were a shame it should
not be so.

Cast. Come on, Hieronimo, at my request,
Let us intreat your company to-day. Exeunt.
Hier. Your lordship's to command.—Pha!
Keep your way.

249 Mi! chi mi fa piu carrezze che non suole Tradito mi ha, o tradir mi vuole. [Exit. Enter Ghost and Revenge.

"Ghost. Awake, Erictho; Cerberus, awake! "Solicit Pluto, gentle Proserpine,

"To combat Acheron aud Erebus in hell,
"For ne'er by Styx and Phlegeton,
"Nor ferried Charon to the fiery lakes,
"Such fearful sights, as poor Andrea see.
"Revenge, awake!

250 Rev. Awake, for why?

"Ghost. Awake, Revenge, for thou art ill ad

vised

"Awake, Revenge! or we are woe-be-gone. 252
"Rev. Thus worldlings ground what they have
dreamed upon.

"Content thyself, Andrea, though I sleep,
"Yet is 253 my mood soliciting their souls:
"Suffice it thee that poor Hieronimo
"Cannot forget his son Horatio.

"Nor dies Revenge, although he sleep a while:
"For in unquiet, quietness is feigned, 25+
"And slumbering is a common worldly wile.
"Behold, Andrea, for an instance, how
"Revenge hath slept, and then imagine thou,
"What 'tis to be subject to destiny.

Enter a Dumb Show.

"Ghost. Awake, Revenge! reveal this mystery.

"Rev. The two first, the nuptial torches bore, "As brightly 255 burning as the mid-day's sun: "But after them doth Hymen hie as fast, "Clothed in sable, and a saffron robe, "And blows them out, and quencheth them with blood,

"As discontent that things continue so.

"Ghost. Sufficeth me thy meaning's understood,

"And thanks to 256 thee, and those infernal powers,

"That will not tolerate a lover's woe. "Rest thee, for I will sit to 257 see the rest "Rev. Then 258 argue not, for thou hast thy request.

Enter BELIMPERIA and HIERONIMO.
Bel. Is this the love thou bear'st Horatio?
Is this the kindness that thou counterfeit'st?
Are these the fruits of thy incessant tears?
Hieronimo, are these thy passions,
Thy protestations, and thy deep laments,
That thou wert wont to weary men withal?
Oh, unkind father! oh, deceitful world!
With what excuses can'st thou shew thyself?
With what dishonour, and the hate of men,
From this dishonour, and the hate of men;
Thus to neglect the loss and life 259 of him,
Whom both my letters, and thine own helief,
Assures thee to be causeless slaughtered?
Hieronimo, for shame! Hieronimo,
Be not a history to after-times
Of such ungratitude unto thy son;
Unhappy mothers of such children then,
But monstrous fathers to forget so soon
The death of those, whom they with care and cost
Have tendered so, thus careless should be lost.
Myself, a stranger in respect of thee,

So loved his life, as still I wish their deaths.
Nor shall his death be unrevenged by me,
Although I bear it out for fashion's 260 sake;
For here I swear, in sight of heaven and earth,
Should'st thou neglect the love thou should'st re-
tain,

And give it over, and devise no more,
Myself should send their hateful souls to hell,
That wrought his downfal, with extremest death.

[Exeunt."

Hier. But may it be, that Belimperia
Vows such revenge as she hath deigned to say?
Why then I see that heaven applies our drift,
And all the saints do sit soliciting

For vengeance on those cursed murderers.
Madam, 'tis true, and now I find it so:
I found a letter, written in your name,
And in that letter, how Horatio died.
Pardon, O pardon, Belimperia,
My fear and care in not believing it;
Nor think I thoughtless think upon a mean,
To let his death be unrevenged at full :
And here I vow, so you but give consent,
And will conceal my resolution,

I will ere long determine of their deaths,
That causeless thus have murdered my son.

Bel. Hieronimo, I will consent, conceal,
And aught 261 that may effect for thine avail
Join with thee to revenge Horatio's death.

Hier. On, 262 then; whatsoever I devise, Let me intreat you, grace my practices: For why, the plot's already in my head.Here they are.

Enter BALTHEZAR and LORENZO. Bal. How now, Hieronimo? what, courting Belimperia?

Hier. Aye, my lord, such courting as I promise

252 Woe begone-Lost in woe. 253 in, 1618. 25. 33. 255 Bright, 1618. 23. 33. 257 Unto, 16.8 24.33.

259 Life and loss, 1618. 23. 33. 261 What, 1633.

254 Found, 1618. 23. 33. 256 Unto, 1618. 23. 33. 258 Thus, 1618.

260 Fashion.

262 O then, 1618. 23. 33.