And stamp you now? Do, do, for you shall see

I

go for vengeance, and she'll come with me.

ELEAZ. Stay! for she's here already; see, proud [They both draw. Q. Mo. Hold! stay this fury; if you long for

boy!

blood,

Murder me first. Dear son, you are a king;

Then stay

the violent tempest of their wrath. KING. Shall kings be oversway'd in their desires? ROD. Shall subjects be oppress'd by tyranny? Q. Mo. No state shall suffer wrong; then hear me speak :

[Aside to Mendoza.] Mendoza, you have sworn you love the queen;

Then by that love I charge you leave these arms. [Aside to Eleazar.] Eleazar, for those favours I have

given you,

Embrace the cardinal, and be friends with him.

ELEAZ. And have my wife call'd strumpet to my face!

Q. Mo. 'Twas rage made his tongue err; do you

not know

The violent love Mendoza bears the queen?

Then speak him fair, for in that honied breath
I'll lay a bait shall train him to his death.

[Aloud.] Come, come, I see your looks give way to

peace;

Lord Cardinal begin; [aside] and for reward,

Ere this fair setting sun behold his bride;

Be bold to challenge love, yet be denied.

MEND. [Aside.] That promise makes me yield,—

my gracious lord,

Although my disgrace hath graven its memory
On every Spaniard's eye, yet shall the duty
I owe your sacred highness, and the love
My country challengeth, make me lay by
Hostile intendments, and return again

To the fair circle of obedience.

KING. Both pardon and our favour bids you welcome;

And for some satisfaction for your wrongs,

We here create you Salamanca's Duke:
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.

Enter QUEEN MOTHER and ELEAZAR.

ELEAZ. Madam, a word: now have you wit or spirit? Q. Mo. Both.

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

Q. 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.

Q. Mo. How?

ELEAZ. How! a thousand ways:

By poison, or by this [pointing to his dagger]: 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.

Q. Mo. I dare.

ELEAZ. You have a woman's heart; look you, this hand,

Oh! 'tis too little to strike home.

Q. Mo. At whom?

ELEAZ. Your son.

Q. 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-
Q. Mo. He shall die.

ELEAZ. How? good! good!

Q. Mo. By this hand.

ELEAZ. When? good! good! when?

Q. 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! ah!

Q. 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 the iron ribs of our villainies

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

Go

ELEAZ. Thus :

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

Q.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.

Q. 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 arm'd to do this? ah!

you

Q. 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.

Boг. My lord.