But first, as a true sign all grudges die,
Shake hands with Eleazar, and be friends;
This union pleaseth us. Now, brother Philip,
You are included in this league of love,
So is Roderigo. To forget all wrongs,

Your castle for a while shall bid us welcome;
Eleazar, shall it not? It is enough.

Lords, lead the way, (aside), that whilst you feast yourselves,

Fernando may find time all means to prove,
To compass fair Maria for our love.

[Exeunt omnes.

SCENE II.

QUEEN MOTHER and ELEazar.

Eleaz. Madam, a word: now have you wit or spirit?

Qu. Mo. Both.

Eleaz. Set them both to a most gainful task. Our enemies are in my castle-work.

Qu. Mo. Aye; but the king's there too; it's dangerous pride

To strike at those that crouch by a lion's side, Eleaz. Remove them.

Qu. Mo. How?

Eleaz. How! a thousand ways:

By poison, or by this: but every groom

Has skill in such base traffic; no, our policies

Must look more strange, must fly with loftier

wings;

Vengeance the higher it falls more honour brings; But you are cold, you dare not do.

Qu. Mo. I dare.

Eleaz. You have a woman's heart; look you,

this hand,

Oh! 'tis too little to strike home.

Qu. Mo. At whom?

Eleaz. Your son.

Qu. Mo. Which son, the king?
Eleaz. Angels of heaven,

Stand like his guard about him! how, the king!
Not for so many worlds as there be stars
Sticking upon th' embroider'd firmament.

The king! he loves my wife, and should he die
I know none else would love her; let him live-
(Aside.) In heaven. Good Lord Philip-
Qu. Mo. He shall die.

Eleaz. How? good, good.

Qu. Mo. By this hand.

Eleaz. When? good, good; when?

Qu. Mo. This night, if Eleazar give consent. Eleaz. Why, then, this night Philip shall not live.

To see you kill him! Is he not your son?

A mother be the murd'rer of a brat

That liv'd within her! hah!

Qu. Mo. 'Tis for thy sake.

Eleaz. Pish! What excuses cannot damn'd

sin make

To save itself! I know you love him well;
But that he has an eye, an eye, an eye.
To others, our two hearts seem to be lock'd
Up in a case of steel; upon our love, others
Dare not look; or if they dare, they cast-
Squint, purblind glances; who care though all
see all,

So long as none dare speak? But Philip
Knows that iron ribs of our villains

Are thin he laughs to see them like this hand,
With chinks and crevices; how a villainous,
A stabbing desperate tongue the boy dare speak:
A mouth! a villainous mouth! let's muzzle him.
Qu. Mo. How?

Eleaz. Thus :

Go you, and with a face well set, do

In good sad colours, such as paint out

The cheek of that fool penitence, and with a tongue

Made clean and glib, cull from their lazy swarm Some honest friars, whom that damnation gold Can tempt to lay their souls to the stake.

Seek such, they are rank and thick.

Qu. Mo. What then? I know such, what's the use?

Eleaz. This is excellent!

Hire these to write books, preach, and proclaim abroad,

That your son Philip is a bastard.

Qu. Mo. How?

Eleaz. A bastard. Do you know a bastard? do't:

Say conscience spake with you, and cry'd out do't;
By this means shall you thrust him from all hope
Of wearing Castile's diadem, and that spur,
Galling his sides, he will fly out, and fling,
And grind the cardinal's heart to a new edge
Of discontent; from discontent grows treason,
And on the stalk of treason, death; he's dead,
By this blow and by you; yet no blood shed.
Do't then; by this trick he's gone.

We stand more sure in climbing high;
Care not who fall, 'tis real policy:
Are you arm'd to do this? hah!

Qu. Mo. Sweet Moor, it's done.

Eleaz. Away then, work with boldness and with speed,

On greatest actions, greatest dangers feed:

[Exit Queen Mother.

Ha! ha! I thank thee, provident creation,
That seeing in moulding me thou didst intend
I should prove villain; thanks to thee and nature,
That skilful workman: thanks for my face!
Thanks that I have not wit to blush!

What, Zarack! ho! Baltazar !

Enter the two Moors.

Both. My lord.

Eleaz. Nearer; so silence.

Hang both your greedy ears upon my lips;
Let them devour my speech, suck in my breath,
And in, who lets it break prison, here's his death:
This night the card'nal shall be murder'd,

Both. Where?

Eleaz. And to fill up a grave, Philip dies.

Both. Where?

Eleaz. Here.

Both. By whom?

Eleaz. By thee; and, slave, by thee. Have you hearts and hands to execute? Both. Here's both.

1 Moor. He dies, were he my father. Eleaz. Ho, away.

Stay; go, go; stay; see me no more till night,

Your cheeks are black, let not your souls look

white.

Both. Till night?

Eleaz. Till night: a word; the Mother Queen Is trying if she can, with fire of gold,

Warp the green consciences of two covetous friars, To preach abroad Philip's bastardy.

1 Moor. His bastardy! who was his father? Eleaz. Who?

Search for these friars, hire them to work with

you;

Their holy callings will approve the fact,
Most good and meritorious: sin shines clear,
When her black face religion's mask doth wear.
Here comes the queen, good, and the friars..

SCENE III.

Enter two Friars, CRAB and COLE, and QUEEN MOTHER.

Cole. Your son a bastard? say we do;

But how then shall we deal with you?

I tell you, as I said before,

His being a bastard, you are so poor
In honour and in name, that time

Can never take away the crime.

Qu. Mo. I grant that, friar; yet, rather I'll endure

The wound of infamy to kill my name,

Than to see Spain bleeding with civil swords. The boy is proud, ambitious, he woos greatness; He takes up Spanish hearts on trust, to pay them When he shall finger Castile's crown. Oh! then,