my blisse bereft But hope hart treasure ioy and blisse All fled faild died yea all decaide with this From forth these wounds came breath that gaue me life They murdred me that made these fatall markes The cause was loue whence grew this mortall hate The hate Lorenzo and yong Balthazar The loue my sonne to Bel-imperia But night the couerer of accursed crimes With pitchie silence husht these traitors harmes And lent them leaue for they had sorted leasure To take aduantage in my Garden plot Vpon my Sonne my deere Horatio There mercilesse they butcherd vp my boy In black darke night to pale dim cruell death He shrikes I heard and yet me thinks I heare His dismall out-cry eccho in the aire With soonest speed I hasted to the noise Where hanging on a tree I found my sonne Through girt with wounds and slaughtred as you see And greeued I think you at this spectacle Speak Calabrian whose losse resembles mine If thou canst weep vpon thy Balthazar T is like I wailde for my Horatio And you my L. whose reconciled sonne Marcht in a net and thought him selfe vnseene And rated me for brainsicke lunacie With God amend that mad Hieronimo How can you brook our plaies catastrophe And heere beholde this bloudie hand-kercher Which at Horatios death I weeping dipt Within the riuer of his bleeding wounds It as propitious see I haue reserued And neuer hath it left my bloody hart Soliciting remembrance of my vow With these O these accursed murderers Which now perform'd my hart is satisfied And to this end the Bashaw I became That might reuenge me on Lorenzos life Who therefore was appointed to the part And was to represent the Knight of Rhodes That I might kill him more conueniently So Vice-roy was this Balthazar thy Sonne That Soliman which Bel-imperia In person of Perseda murdered Solie appointed to that tragicke part That she might slay him that offended her Poore Bel-imperia mist her part in this For though the story saith she should haue died Yet I of kindenes and of care to her Did otherwise determine of her end But loue of him whom they did hate too much Did vrge her resolution to be such And Princes now beholde Hieronimo Author and actor in this Tragedie Bearing his latest fortune in his fist And will as resolute conclude his parte As any of the Actors gone before And Gentles thus I end my play Vrge no more words I haue no more to say He runs to hang himselfe King O hearken Vice-roy holde Hieronimo Brother my Nephew and thy Sonne are slaine Vice We are betraide my Balthazar is slaine Breake ope the doores runne saue Hieronimo Hieronimo doe but enforme the King of these euents Ypon mine honour thou shalt haue no harme Hiero. Vice-roy I will not trust thee with my life Which I this day haue offered to my Sonne Accursed wretch why staiest thou him that was resolued to die King Speak traitor damned bloudy murderer speak For now I haue thee I will make thee speak Why hast thou done this vndeseruing deed Vice Why hast thou murdered my Balthazar Cas. Why hast thou butchered both my children thus Hiero. O good words as deare to me was my Horatio As yours or yours or yours my L. to you My guiltles Sonne was by Lorenzo slaine And by Lorenzo and that Balthazar Am I at last reuenged thorowly Vpon whose soules may heauens be yet auenged With greater far then these afflictions Cas. But who were thy confederates in this Vice That was thy daughter Bel-imperia For by her hand my Balthazar was slaine I saw her stab him King Why speakest thou not Hiero. What lesser libertie can Kings affoord Then harmeles silence then affoord it me Sufficeth I may not nor I will not tell thee King Fetch forth the tortures Traitor as thou art I le make thee tell Hiero. Indeed thou maiest torment me as his wretched Sonne Hath done in murdring my Horatio But neuer shalt thou force me to reueale The thing which I haue vowd inuiolate And therefore in despight of all thy threats Pleasde with their deaths and easde with their reuenge First take my tung and afterwards my hart King O monstrous resolution of a wretch See Vice-roy hee hath bitten foorth his tung Rather then to reueale what we requirde Cas Yet can he write King And if in this he satisfie vs not We will deuise th e'xtreamest kinde of death That euer was inuented for a wretch Then he makes signes for a knife to mend his pen Cas. O he would haue a knife to mend his Pen Vice Heere and aduise thee that thou write the troth Looke to my brother saue Hieronimo He with a knife stabs the Duke and himselfe King What age hath euer heard such monstrous deeds My brother and the whole succeeding hope That Spaine expected after my discease Go beare his body hence that we may mourne The losse of our beloued brothers death That he may be entom'd what ere befall I am the next the neerest last of all Vice And thou Don Pedro do the like for vs Take vp our haples sonne vntimely slaine Set me with him and he with wofull me Vpon the maine mast of a ship vnmand And let the winde and tide hall me along To Sallas barking and vntamed greefe Or to the loth some poole of Acheron To weepe my want for my sweet Balthazar Spaine hath no refuge for a Portingale The Trumpets sound a dead march the King of Spaine mourning after his brothers body and the King of Portingale bearing the body of his Sonne Enter Ghoast and Reuenge Ghoast I now my hopes haue end in their effects When blood and sorrow finnish my desires Horatio murdered in his Fathers bower Vilde Serberine by Pedringano slaine False Pedringano hangd by quaint deuice Faire Isabella by her selfe misdone Prince Balthazar by Bel-imperia stabd The Duke of Castile and his wicked Sonne Both done to death by olde Hieronimo My Bel-imperia falne as Dido fell And good Hieronimo slaine by himselfe I these were spectacles to please my soule Now will I beg at louely Proserpine That by the vertue of her Princely doome I may consort my freends in pleasing sort And on my foes worke iust and sharpe reuenge I le lead my freend Horatio through those feeldes Where neuer dying warres are still inurde I le lead faire Isabella to that traine Where pittie weepes but neuer feeleth paine I le lead my Bel-imperia to those ioyes That vestal Virgins and faire Queenes possesse I le lead Hieronimo where Orpheus plaies Adding sweet pleasure to eternall daies But say Reuenge for thou must helpe or none Against the rest how shall my hate be showne Reuenge This hand shall hale them down to deepest hell Where none but furies bugs and tortures dwell Ghoast Then sweet Reuenge doo this at my request Let me be iudge and doome them to vnrest Let loose poore Titius from the vultures gripe And let Don Ciprian supply his roome Place Don Lorenzo on Ixions wheele And let the louers endles paines surcease Iuno forgets olde wrath and graunts him ease Hang Balthazar about Chineras neck And let him there bewaile his bloudy loue Repining at our ioyes that are aboue Let Serberine goe roule the fatall stone And take from Siciphus his endles mone False Pedringano for his trecherie Let him be dragde through boyling Acheron And there liue dying still in endles flames Blaspheming Gods and all their holy names Reuenge Then haste we downe to meet thy freends and foes To place thy freends in ease the rest in woes For heere though death hath end their miserie I le there begin their endles Tragedie Exeunt FINIS
ouer spread the purple plaine In all this turmoyle three long hovres and more The victory to neither part inclinde Till Don Andrea with his braue Launciers In their maine battell made so great a breach That halfe dismaid the multitude retirde But Balthazar the Portingales young Prince Brought rescue and encouragde them to stay Heere-hence the fight was eagerly renewd And in that conflict was Andrea slaine Braue man at armes but weake to Balthazar Yet while the Prince insulting ouer him Breathd out proud vaunts sounding to our reproch Friendship and hardie valour ioynd in one Prickt forth Horatio our Knight Marshals sonne To challenge forth that Prince in single fight Not long betweene these twaine the fight indurde But straight the Prince was beaten from his horse And forcd to yeeld him prisoner to his foe When he was taken all the rest they fled And our Carbines pursued them to the death Till Phoebus wauing to the western deepe Our Trumpeters were chargde to sound retreat King Thanks good L. Generall for these good newes And for some argument of more to come Take this and weare it for thy soueraignes sake Giue him his chaine But tell me now hast thou confirmd a peace Gen. No peace my Liege but peace conditionall That if with homage tribute be well paid The fury of your forces wil be staide And to this peace their Viceroy hath subscribde Giue the K. a paper And made a solemne vow that during life His tribute shal be truely paid to Spaine King These words these deeds become thy person wel But now Knight Marshall frolike with thy King For t is thy Sonne that winnes this battels prize Hiero. Long may he liue to serue my soueraigne liege And soone decay vnlesse he serue my liege A tucket a farre off King Not thou nor he shall dye without reward What meanes this warning of this trumpets sound Gen. This tels me that your graces men of warre Such as warres fortune hath reseru'd from death Come marching on towards your royall seate To show themselues before your Maiestie For so I gaue in charge at my depart Whereby by demonstration shall appeare That all except three hundred or few more Are safe returnd and by their foes inricht The Armie enters Balthazar betweene Lorenzo and Horatio captiue King A gladsome sight I long to see them heere They enter and passe by Was that the warlike Prince of Portingale That by our Nephew was in triumph led Gen. It was my Liege the Prince of Portingale King But what was he that on the other side Held him by th' arme as partner of the prize Hiero. That was my sonne my gratious soueraigne Of whome though from his tender infancie My louing thoughts did neuer hope but well He neuer pleasd his fathers eyes till now Nor fild my hart with ouercloying ioyes King Goe let them march once more about these walles That staying them we may conferre and talke With our braue prisoner and his double guard Hieronimo it greatly pleaseth vs That in our victorie thou haue a share By vertue of thy worthy sonnes exploit Enter againe Bring hether the young Prince of Portingale The rest martch on but ere they be dismist We will bestow on euery souldier two duckets And on euery leader ten that they may know Our largesse welcomes them Exeunt all but Bal. Lor. Hor Welcome Don Balthazar welcome Nephew And thou Horatio thou art welcome too Young Prince although thy fathers hard misdeedes In keeping backe the tribute that he owes Deserue but euill measure at our hands Yet shalt thou know that Spaine is honorable Balt. The trespasse that my Father made in peace Is now controlde by fortune of the warres And cards once dealt it bootes not aske why so His men are slaine a weakening to his Realme His colours ceaz'd a blot vnto his name His Sonne distrest a corsiue to his hart These punishments may cleare his late offence King I Balthazar if he obserue this truce Our peace will grow the stronger for these warres Meane while liue thou though not in libertie Yet free from bearing any seruile yoake For in our hearing thy deserts were great And in our sight thy selfe art gratious Balt. And I shall studie to deserue this grace King But tell me for their holding makes me doubt To which of these twaine art thou prisoner Lor. To me my Liege Hor. To me my Soueraigne Lor. This hand first tooke his courser by the raines Hor. But first my launce did put him from his horse Lor. ceaz'd his weapon and enioyde it first Hor. But first I forc'd him lay his weapons downe King Let goe his arme vpon our priuiledge Let him goe Say worthy Prince to whether didst thou yeeld Balt. To him in curtesie to this perforce He spake me faire this other gaue me strokes He promisde life this other threatned death He wan my loue this other conquerd me And truth to say I yeeld my selfe to both Hiero. But that I knaw your grace for iust and wise And might seeme partiall in this difference Inforct by nature and by law of armes My tongue should plead for young Horatios right He hunted well that was a Lyons death Not he that in a garment wore his skin So Hares may pull dead Lyons by the beard King Content thee Marshall thou shalt haue no wrong And for thy sake thy Sonne shall want no right Will both abide the censure of my doome Lor. I craue no better then your grace awards Hor. Nor I although I sit beside my right King Then by my iudgement thus your strife shall end You both deserue and both shall haue reward Nephew thou tookst his weapon and his horse His weapons and his horse are thy reward Horatio thou didst force him first to yeeld His ransome therefore is thy valours fee Appoint the sum as you shall both agree But Nephew thou shalt haue the Prince in guard For thine estate best fitteth such a guest Horatios house were small for all his traine Yet in regarde thy substance passeth his And that iust guerdon may befall desert To him we yeeld the armour of the Prince How likes Don Balthazar of this deuice Balt. Right well my Liege if this prouizo were That Don Horatio beare vs company Whome I admire and loue for chiualrie King Horatio leaue him not that loues thee so Now let vs hence to see our souldiers paide And feast our prisoner as our friendly guest Exeunt Enter Viceroy Alexandro Villuppo Vice Is our embassadour dispatcht for Spaine Alex. Two daies my Liege are past since his depart Vice And tribute paiment gone along with him Alex. I my good Lord Vice Then rest we heere a while in our vnrest And feed our sorrowes with some inward sighes For deepest cares break neuer into teares But wherefore sit I in a Regall throne This better fits a wretches endles moane Yet this is higher then my fortunes reach And therefore better then my state deserues Falles to the ground I
liue And well intreated in the Court of Spaine Humbly commends him to your Maiestie These eies beheld and these my followers With these the letters of the Kings commends Giues him Letters Are happie witnesses of his highnes health The King lookes on the letters and proceeds Vice Thy sonne doth liue your tribute is receiu'd Thy peace is made and we are satisfied The rest resolue vpon as things proposde For both our honors and thy benefite Em. These are his highnes farther articles He giues him more Letters Vice Accursed wretch to intimate these ills Against the life and reputation Of noble Alexandro come my Lord vnbinde him Let him vnbinde thee that is bound to death To make a quitall for thy discontent They vnbinde him Alex. Dread Lord in kindenes you could do no lesse Vpon report of such a damned fact But thus we see our innocence hath sau'd The hopeles life which thou Villuppo sought By thy suggestions to haue massacred Vice Say false Villuppo wherefore didst thou thus Falsly betray Lord Alexandros life Him whom thou knowest that no vnkindenes els But euen the slaughter of our deerest sonne Could once haue moued vs to haue misconceaued Alex. Say trecherous Villuppo tell the King Or wherein hath Alexandro vsed thee ill Vil. Rent with remembrance of so foule a deed My guiltie soule submits me to thy doome For not for Alexandros iniuries But forreward and hope to be preferd Thus haue I shamelesly hazarded his life Vice which villaine shal be ransomed with thy deeth And not so meane a torment as we heere Deuisde for him who thou saidst slew our sonne But with the bitterest torments and extreames That may be yet inuented for thine end Alex. seemes to intreat Intreat me not goe take the traitor hence Exit Vil. And Alexandro let vs honor thee With publique notice of thy loyaltie To end those things articulated heere By our great L the mightie king of Spaine We with our councell will deliberate Come Alexandro keepe vs company Exeunt Enter Hieronimo Hiero. Oh eies no eies but fountains fraught with teares Oh life no life but liuely fourme of death Oh world no world but masse of publique wrongs Confusde and filde with murder and misdeeds Oh sacred heauens if this vnhallowed deed If this inhumane and barberous attempt If this incomparable murder thus Of mine but now no more my sonne Shall vnreueald and vnreuenged passe How should we tearme your dealings to be iust If you vniustly deale with those that in your iustice trust The night sad secretary to my mones With direfull visions wake my vexed soule And with the wounds of my distresfull sonne Solicite me for notice of his death The ougly feends do sally forth of hell And frame my steps to vnfrequented paths And feare my hart with fierce inflamed thoughts The cloudie day my discontents records Early begins to regester my dreames And driue me forth to seeke the murtherer Eies life world heauens hel night and day See search shew send some man Some meane that may A Letter falleth What 's heere a letter tush it is not so A Letter written to Hieronimo Red incke Bel. For want of incke receiue this bloudie writ Me hath my haples brother hid from thee Reuenge thy selfe on Balthazar and him For these were they that murdred thy Sonne Hieronimo reuenge Horatios death And better fare then Bel-imperia doth Hiero What meanes this vnexpected miracle My Sonne slaine by Lorenzo and the Prince What cause had they Horatio to maligne Or what might mooue thee Bel-imperia To accuse thy brother had he beene the meane Hieronimo beware thou art betraide And to intrap thy life this traine is laide Aduise thee therefore be not credulous This is deuised to endanger thee That thou by this Lorenzo shouldst accuse And he for thy dishonour done should draw Thy life in question and thy name in hate Deare was the life of my beloued Sonne And of his death behoues me be reueng'd Then hazard not thine owne Hieronimo But liue t' effect thy resolution I therefore will by circumstances trie What I can gather to confirme this writ And harkning neere the Duke of Castiles house Close if I can with Belimperia To listen more but nothing to bewray Enter Pedringano Hiero. Now Pedringano Ped. Now Hieronimo Hiero. Where 's thy Lady Ped. I know not heer 's my Lord Enter Lorenzo Lor. How now whos 's this Hieronimo Hiero. My Lord Ped. He asketh for my Lady Bel-imperia Lor. What to doo Hieronimo The Duke my father hath Vpon some disgrace a while remoou'd her hence But if it be ought I may enforme her of Tell me Hieronimo and I le let her know it Hiero. Nay nay my Lord I thank you it shall not need I had a sute vnto her but too late And her disgrace makes me vnfortunate Lor. Why so Hieronimo vse me Hiero. Oh no my Lord I dare not it must not be I humbly thank your Lordship Lor. Why then farewell Hiero. My griefe no hart my thoughts no tung can tell Exit Lor. Come hither Pedringano seest thou this Ped. My Lord I see it and suspect it too Lor. This is that damned villain Serberine That hath I feare reuealde Horatios death Ped. My Lord he could not t was so lately done And since he hath not lest my company Lor. Admit he haue not his conditions such As feare of flattering words may make him false I know his humour and there with repent That ere I vsde him in this enterprise But Pedringano to preuent the worst And cause I know thee secret as my soule Heere for thy further satisfaction take thou this Giues him more golde And harken to me thus it is deuisde This night thou must and prethee so resolue Meet Serberine at S. Liugis Parke Thou knowest t is heere hard by behinde the house There take thy stand and see thou strike him sure For dye he must if we do meane to liue Ped. But how shall Serberine be there my Lord Lor. Let me alone I le send to him to meet The Prince and me where thou must doe this deed Ped. It shal be done my L. it shall be done And I le goe arme my selfe to meet him there Lor. When things shall alter as I hope they wil Then shalt thou mount for this thou knowest my minde Exit Ped. Che le Ieron Enter Page Page My Lord Lor. Goe sirra to Serberine and bid him forthwith Meet the Prince and me at S. Liugis Parke Behinde the house this euening boy Page I goe my Lord But sirra let the houre be eight a clocke Bid him not faile Page I flye my Lord Exit Lor. Now to confirme the complot thou hast cast Of all these practises I le spread the watch Vpon precise commandement from the king Strongly to guard the place where Pedringano This night shall murder haples Serberine Thus must we worke that will auoide distrust Thus must we practise to preuent mishap And thus one ill another must expulse
brother forged this for my sake And you my Lord were made his instruement A worke of worth worthy the noting too But what 's the cause that you concealde me since Lor Your melancholly Sister since the newes Of your first fauourite Don Andreas death My Fathers olde wrath hath exasperate Bal. And better wa st for you being in disgrace To absent your selfe and giue his fury place Bel. But why had I no notice of his ire Lor. That were to adde more fewell to your fire Who burnt like Aetna for Andreas losse Bel. Hath not my Father then enquirde for me Lor. Sister he hath and thus excusde I thee He whispereth in her care But Bel-imperia see the gentle prince Looke on thy loue beholde yong Balthazar Whose passions by thy presence are increast And in whose melanchollie thou maiest see Thy hate his loue thy flight his following thee Bel. Brother you are become an Oratour I know not I by what experience Too pollitick for me past all compare Since last I saw you but content your selfe The Prince is meditating higher things Bal. T is of thy beauty then that conquers Kings Of those thy tresses Ariadnes twines Where with my libertie thou hast surprisde Of that thine iuorie front my sorrowes map Wherein I see no hauen to rest my hope Bel. To loue and feare and both at once my Lord In my conceipt are things of more import Then womens wits are to be busied with Bal. T is I that loue Bel. Whome Bal. Bel-imperia Bel. But I that feare Bal. Whome Bel. Bel-imperia Lor. Feare your selfe Bel. I brother Lor. How Bel. As those that what they loue are loath and feare to loose Bal. Then faire let Balthazar your keeper be Bel. No Balthazar doth feare as well as we Est tremulo metui pauidum iunxere timorem Et vanum stolidae proditionis opus Exit Lor. Nay and you argue things so cunningly Wee le goe continue this discourse at Court Bal. Led by the loadstar of her heauenly lookes Wends poore oppressed Balthazar As ore the mountains walkes the wanderer Incertain to effect his Pilgrimage Exeunt Enter two Portingales and Hieronimo meets them 1 By your leaue Sir Hiero. Good leaue haue you nay I pray you goe For I le leaue you if you can leaue me so 2 Pray you which is the next way to my L. the Dukes Hiero. The next way from me 1 To his house we meane Hiero. O hard by t is yon house that you see 2 You could not tell vs if his Sonne were there Hiero. Who my Lord Lorenzo 1 I Sir He goeth in at one doore and comes out at another Hiero. Oh forbeare for other talke for vs far fitter were But if you be importunate to know The way to him and where to finde him out Then list to me and I le resolue your doubt There is a path vpon your left hand side That leadeth from a guiltie conscience Vnto a forrest of distrust and feare A darkesome place and dangerous to passe There shall you meet with melancholly thoughts Whose balefull humours if you but vpholde It will conduct you to dispaire and death Whose rockie cliffes when you haue once behelde Within a hugie dale of lasting night That kindled with the worlds iniquities Doth cast vp filthy and detested fumes Not far from thence where murderers haue built A habitation for their cursed soules There in a brazen Caldron fixt by Ioue In his fell wrath vpon a sulpher flame Your selues shall finde Lorenzo bathing him In boyling lead and blood of innocents 1 Ha ha ha Hiero. Ha ha ha why ha ha ha Farewell good ha ha ha Exit 2 Doubtles this man is passing lunaticke Or imperfection of his age doth make him dote Come le ts away to seek my Lord the Duke Enter Hieronimo with a Ponyard in one hand and a Rope in the other Hiero. Now Sir perhaps I come and see the King The King sees me and faine would heare my sute Why is not this a strange and seld seene thing That standers by with toyes should strike me mute Go too I see their shifts and say no more Hieronimo t is time for thee to trudge Downe by the dale that flowes with purple gore Standeth a firie Tower there sits a iudge Vpon a seat of steele and molten brasse And twixt his teeth he holdes a fire-brand That leades vnto the lake where hell doth stand Away Hieronimo to him be gone Hee le doe thee iustice for Horatios death Turne down this path thou shalt be with him straite Or this and then thou needst not take thy breth This way or that way soft and faire not so For if I hang or kill my selfe le ts know Who will reuenge Horatios murther then No no fie no pardon me I le none of that He flings away the dagger halter This way I le take and this way comes the King He takes them vp againe And heere I le haue a fling at him that 's flat And Balthazar I le be with thee to bring And thee Lorenzo heere 's the King nay stay And heere I heere there goes the hare away Enter King Embassador Castile and Lorenzo King Now shew Embassadour what our Viceroy saith Hath hee receiu'd the articles we sent Hiero. Iustice O iustice to Hieronimo Lor. Back seest thou not the King is busie Hiero. O is he so King Who is he that interrupts our busines Hiero. Not I Hieronimo beware goe by goe by Embas. Renowned King he hath receiued and read Thy kingly proffers and thy promist league And as a man extreamely ouer-ioyd To heare his Sonne so Princely entertainde Whose death he had so solemnely bewailde This for thy further satisfaction And kingly loue he kindely lets thee know First for the marriage of his Princely Sonne With Bel-imperia thy beloued Neece The newes are more delightfull to his soule Then myrrh or incense to the offended heauens In person therefore will he come himselfe To see the marriage rites solemnized And in the presence of the Court of Spaine To knit a sure inexecrable band Of Kingly loue and euerlasting league Betwixt the Crownes of Spaine and Portingale There will he giue his Crowne to Balthazar And make a Queene of Bel-imperia King Brother how like you this our Vice-roies loue Cast. No doubt my Lord it is an argument Of honorable care to keepe his freend And wondrous zeale to Balthazar his sonne Nor am I least indebted to his grace That bends his liking to my daughter thus Em. Now last dread Lord heere hath his highnes sent Although he send not that his Sonne returne His ransome due to Don Horatio Hiero. Horatio who cals Horatio King And well remembred thank his Maiestie Heere see it giuen to Horatio Hiero. Iustice O iustice iustice gentle King King Who is that Hieronimo Hiero. Iustice O iustice O my sonne my sonne My Sonne whom naught can ransome or redeeme Lor. Hieronimo you are not well aduisde Hiero. A way Lorenzo hinder me no
is this A man hangd vp and all the murderers gone And in my bower to lay the guilt on me This place was made for pleasure not for death He cuts him downe Those garments that he weares I oft haue seene Alas it is Horatio my sweet sonne O no but he that whilome was my sonne O was it thou that call'dst me from my bed O speak if any sparke of life remaine I am thy father who hath slaine my sonne What sauadge monster not of humane kinde Hath heere beene glutted with thy harmeles blood And left thy bloudie corpes dishonoured heere For me amidst this darke and deathfull shades To drowne thee with an ocean of my teares O heauens why made you night to couer sinue By day this deed of darkenes had not beene O earth why didst thou not in time deuoure The vilde prophaner of this sacred bower O poore Horatio what hadst thou misdoone To leese thy life ere life was new begun O wicked butcher what so ere thou wert How could thou strangle vertue and desert Ay me most wretched that haue lost my ioy In leesing my Horatio my sweet boy Enter Isabell Isa. My husbands absence makes my hart to throb Hieronimo Hiero. Heere Isabella helpe me to lament For sighes are stopt and all my teares are spent Isa. What world of griefe my sonne Horatio O where 's the author of this endles woe Hiero. To know the author were some ease of greefe For in reuenge my hart would finde releefe Isa. Then is he gone and is my sonne gone too O gush out teares fountains and flouds of teares Blow sighes and raise an euerlasting storme For outrage fits our cursed wretchednes Hiero. Sweet louely Rose ill pluckt before thy time Faire worthy sonne not conquerd but betraid I le kisse thee now for words with teares are stainde Isa. And I le close vp the glasses of his sight For once these eyes were onely my delight Hiero. Seest thou this handkercher besmerd with blood It shall not from me till I take reuenge Seest thou those wounds that yet are bleeding fresh I le not intombe them till I haue reueng'd Then will I ioy amidst my discontent Till then my sorrow neuer shal be spent Isa. The heauens are iust murder cannot be hid Time is the author both of truth and right And time will bring this trecherie to light Hiero. Meane while good Isabella cease thy plaints Or at the least dissemble them a while So shall we sooner finde the practise out And learne by whom all this was brought about Come Isabell now let vs take him vp They take him vp And beare him in from out this cursed place I le say his dirge singing fits not this case O aliquis mihi quas pulcbrum var educet herbas Hiero sets his brest vnto his sword Misceat nostro detur medicina dolori Aut siquifaciunt annum oblimia succos Prebeat ipse metum magnam quicunque per orbem Gramina Sol pulcbras effecit inluminis oras Ipse bibam quicquid meditatur saga veneri Quicquid irrani euecaca menia nectit Omnia perpetiar letbum quoque dum semel omnis Noster in extincto moriatur pectora sensus Ergo tuos occulos nunquam mea vita videbo Et tua perpetuus sepeliuit lumina somnus Emoriar tecum Sic sic iuuat Ire sub vmbras Attamen absistam proper 〈…〉 Ne mortem vindicta tuam iam nulla sequatur Heere he throwes it from him and beares the body away Andrea Broughtst thou me hether to increase my paine I lookt that Balthazar should haue been slaine But t is my freend Horatis that is slaine And they abuse faire Bel-imperia Or whom I doted more then all the world Because she lou'd me more then all the world Reuenge Thou talkest of haruest when the corne is greene The end is crowne of euery worke well done The Sickle comes not till the corne be ripe Be still and ere I lead thee from this place I le shew thee Balthazar in heauy case Actus Tertius Enter Viceroy of Portingale Nobles Alexandro Villuppo Viceroy INfortunate condition of Kings Seated amidst so many helpeles doubts First we are plast vpon extreamest height And oft supplanted with exceeding heat But euer subiect to the wheele of chance And at our highest never ioy we so As we both doubt and dread our ouerthrow So striueth not the waues with sundry winds As fortune toyleth in the affaires of kings That would be feard yet feare to be beloued Sith feare or loue to Kings is flatteries For instance Lordings look vpon your King By hate depriued of his dearest sonne The onely hope of our succes successive line Nob. I had not thought that Alexandros hart Had beene enuenomde with such extreame hate But now I see that words haue seuerall workes And there 's no credit in the countenance Vil. No for my Lord had you behelde the traine That fained loue had coloured in his lookes When he in campe consorted Belthazar Farre more inconstant had you thought the Sunne That howerly coasts the center of the earth Then Alexandros purpose to the Prince Vice No more Villuppo thou hast said enough And with thy words thou slaiest our wounded thoughts Nor shall I longer dally with the world Procrastinating Alexandros death Goe some of you and fetch the traitor forth That as he is condemned he may dye Enter Alexandro with a Noble man and Halberts Nob. In such extreames will nought but patience serue Alex. But in extreames what patience shall I vse Nor discontents it me to leaue the world With whome there nothing can preuaile but wrong Nob. Yet hope the best Alex. T is Heauen is my hope As for the earth it is too much infect To yeeld me hope of any of her mould Vice Why linger ye bring forth that daring feend And let him die for his accursed deed Alex. Not that I feare the extremitie of death For Nobles cannot stoop to seruile feare Doo I O King thus discontented liue But this O this torments my labouring soule That thus I die suspected of a sinne Whereof as heauens haue knowne my secret thoughts So am I free from this suggestion Vice No more I say to the tortures when Binde him and burne his body in those flames They binde him to the stake That shall prefigure those vnquenched fiers Of Phlegiton prepared for his soule Alex. My guiltles death will be aueng'd on thee On thee Villuppo that hath malisde thus Or for thy meed hast falsely me accusde Vil. Nay Alexandro if thou menace me I le lend a hand to send thee to the lake Where those thy words shall perish with thy workes Iniurious traitour monstrous homicide Enter Embassadour Stay hold a while and heer with pardon of his Maiestie Lay hands vpon Villuppo Vice Embassadour what news hath vrg'd this sodain entrance Em. Know soueraigne L. that Balthazar doth liue Vice What saiest thou liueth Balthazar our sonne Em. Your highnes sonne L. Balthazar doth
porter should Denye my passage to the slimy strond The Thracian Poet thou shalt counterfeite Come on olde Father be my Orpheus And if thou canst no notes vpon the Harpe Then sound the burden of thy fore harts greefe Till we do gaine that Proserpine may graunt Reuenge on them that murdred my Sonne Then will I rent and teare them thus and thus Shiuering their limmes in peeces with my teeth Teare the Papers 1 Oh sir my Declaration Exit Hieronimo and they after 2 Saue my bond Enter Hieronimo 2 Saue my bond 3 Alas my lease it cost me ten pound And you my Lord haue torne the same Hiero. That can not be I gaue it neuer a wound Shew me one drop of bloud fall from the same How is it possible I should stay it then Tush no run after catch me if you can Exeunt all but the olde man Bazulto remaines till Hieronimo enters againe who staring him in the face speakes Hiero. And art thou come Horatio from the depth To aske for iustice in this vpper earth To tell thy Father thou art vnreueng'd To wring more teares from Isabellas eies Whose lights are dimd with ouer-long laments Goe back my sonne complaine to Eacus For heere 's no iustice gentle boy be gone For iustice is exiled from the earth Heronimo will beare thee company Thy mother cries on righteous Radamant For iust reuenge against the murderers Senex Alas my L. whence springs this troubled speech Hiero. But let me looke on my Horatio Sweet boy how art thou chang'd in deaths black shade Had Proserpine no pittie on thy youth But suffered thy fair crimson colourd spring With withered winter to be blasted thus Horatio thou art older then thy Father Ah ruthlesse Father that fauour thus transformess Ba. Ah my good Lord I am not your yong Sonne Hie. What not my Sonne thou then a furie art Sent from the emptie Kingdome of blacke night To summon me to make appearance Before grim Mynos and iust Radamant To plague Hieronimo that is remisse And seekes not vengeance for Horatioes death Ba. I am a greeued man and not a Ghost That came for iustice for my murdered Sonne Hie. I now I know thee now thou namest my Sonne Thou art the liuely image of my griefe Within thy face my sorrowes I may see Thy eyes are gum'd with teares thy cheekes are wan Thy forehead troubled and thy muttring lips Murmure sad words abruptly broken off By force of windie sighes thy spirit breathes And all this sorrow riseth for thy Sonne And selfe same sorrow feele I for my Sonne Come in old man thou shalt to Izabell Leane on my arme I thee thou me shalt stay And thou and I and she will sing a song Three parts in one but all of discords fram'd Talke not of cords but let vs now be gone For with a cord Horatio was slaine Exeunt Enter King of Spaine the Duke Vice-roy and Lorenzo Balthazar Don Pedro and Belimperia King Go Brother it is the Duke of Castiles cause salute the Vice roy in our name Castile I go Vice Go forth Don Pedro for thy Nephews sake And greet the Duke of Castile Pedro. It shall be so King And now to meet these Portaguise For as we now are so sometimes were these Kings and commanders of the westerne Indies Welcome braue Vice-roy to the Court of Spaine And welcome all his honorable traine T is not vnknowne to vs for why you come Or haue so kingly crost the Seas Suffiseth it in this we note the troth And more then common loue you lend to vs So is it that mine honorable Neice For it beseemes vs now that it be knowne Already is betroth'd to Balthazar And by appointment and our condiscent To morrow are they to be married To this intent we entertaine thy selfe Thy followers their pleasure and our peace Speak men of Portingale shall it be so If I say so if not say flatly no Vice Renowmed King I come not as thou thinkst With doubtfull followers vnresolued men But such as haue vpon thine articles Confirmed thy motion and contented me Know soueraigne I come to solemnize The marriage of thy beloued Neece Faire Bel-imperia with my Balthazar With thee my Sonne whom sith I liue to see Heere take my Crowne I giue it her and thee And let me liue a solitarie life In ceaselesse praiers To think how strangely heauen hath thee preserued King See brother see how nature striues in him Come worthy Vice-roy and accompany Thy freend with thine extremities A place more priuate fits this princely mood Vice Or heere or where your highnes thinks it good Exeunt all but Cast and Lor. 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 towards his Maiestie Still keepst him back and seeks 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 beene 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. my brothers care In his behalfe and to procure his health Lorenzo shouldst thou thwart his passions And hee exclaime against thee to the King What honour wert in this assembly Or what a scandale wert among the Kings To heare Hieronimo exclaime on thee Tell me and looke thou tell me truely too Whence growes the ground of this report in Court Lor. My L. 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. hath seene his passions 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 what 's 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 T were good my L. that Hieronimo and I Were reconcilde if he misconster me Cas. Lorenzo
but giue consent And will conceale my resolution I will ere long determine of their deathes That causles thus haue murderd my Sonne Bel. Hieronimo I will consent conceale And ought that may effect for thine auaile Ioyne with thee to reuenge Horatioes death Hier. On then whatsoeuer I deuise Let me entreat you grace my practises For why the plots already in mine head Heere they are Enter Balthazar and Lorenzo Bal. How now Hieronimo what courting Bel-imperia Hiero. I my Lord such courting as I promise you She hath my hart but you my Lord haue hers Lor. But now Hieronimo or neuer we are to intreate your helpe Hie. My help why my good Lords assure your selues of me For you haue giuen me cause I by my faith haue you Bal. It pleasde you at the entertainment of the Embassadour To grace the King so much as with a shew Now were your studie so well furnished As for the passing of the first nights sport To entertaine my Father with the like Or any such like pleasing motion Assure your selfe it would content them well Hiero. Is this all Bal. I this is all Hiero. Why then I le fit you say no more When I was youg I gaue my minde And plide my selfe to fruitles poetrie Which though it profite the professor naught Yet is it passing pleasing to the world Lor. And how for that Hiero. Marrie my good Lord thus And yet me thinks you are too quick with vs When in Tolledo there I studied It was my chaunce to write a tragedie See heere my Lords He shewes them a book Which long forgot I found this other day Now would your Lordships fauour me so much As but to grace me with your acting it I meane each one of you to play a part Assure you it will proue most passing strange And wondrous plausible to that assembly Bal. What would you haue vs play a Tragedie Hiero. Why Nero thought it no disparagement And Kings and Emperours haue tane delight To make experience of their wits in plaies Lor. Nay be not angry good Hieronimo The Prince but asked a question Bal. In faith Hieronimo and you be in earnest I le make one Lor. And I another Hiero. Now my good Lord could you intrear Your Sister Bel-imperia to make one For what 's a play without a woman in it Bel. Little intreaty shall serue me Hieronomo For I must needs be imployed in your play Hiero. Why this is well I tell you Lordings It was determined to haue beene acted By Gentlemen and schollers too Such as could tell what to speak Bal. And now it shall be plaide by Princes and Courtiers such as can tell how to speak If as it is our Country manner You will but let vs know the argument Hiero. That shall I roundly the Cronicles of Spaine Recorde this written of a Knight of Rodes He was betrothed and wedded at the length To one Perseda an Italian dame Whose beauty rauished all that her behelde Especially the soule of Soliman Who at the marriage way the cheefest guest By sundry meanes sought Soliman to winne Persedas loue and could not gaine the same Then gan he break his passions to a freend One of his Bashawes whom he held full deere Her had this Bashaw long solicited And saw she was not otherwise to be wonne But by her husbands death this Knight of Rodes Whome presently by trecherie he slew She stirde with an exceeding hate therefore As cause of this slew Soliman And to escape the Bashawes tirannie Did stab her selfe and this the Tragedie Lor. O excellent Bel. But say Hieronimo what then became of him That was the Bashaw Hiero. Marrie thus moued with remorse of his misdeeds Ran to a mountain top and hung himselfe Bal. But which of vs is to performe that parte Hiero. O that will I my Lords make no doubt of it I le play the murderer I warrant you For I already haue conceited that Bal. And what shall I Hiero. Great Soliman the Turkish Emperour Lor. And I Hiero. Erastus the Knight of Rhodes Bel. And I Hiero. Perseda chaste and resolute And heere my Lords are seuerall abstracts drawne For eache of you to note your partes And act it as occasion 's offred you You must prouide a turkish cappe A black mustacio and a fauchion Giues a paper to Bal. You with a crosse like to a Knight of Rhodes Giues another to Lor. And Madame you must attire your selfe He giueth Bel. another Like Phoebe Flora or the huntresse Which to your discretion shall seeme best And as for me my Lords I le looke to one And with the raunsome that the Vice-roy sent So furnish and performe this tragedie As all the world shall say Hieronimo Was liberall in gracing of it so Bal. Hieronimo me thinks a Comedie were better Hiero. A Comedie fie comedies are fit for common wits But to present a Kingly troupe withall Giue me a stately written Tragedie Tragedia cothernato fitting Kings Containing matter and not common things My Lords all this must be perfourmed As sitting for the first nights reuelling The Italian Tragedians were so sharpe of wit That in one houres meditation They would performe any thing in action Lor. And well it may for I haue seene the like In Paris mongst the French Tragedians Hiero. In Paris mas and well remembred There 's one thing more that rests for vs to doo Bal. What 's that Hieronimo forget not any thing Hiero. Each one of vs must act his parte In vnknowne languages That it may breede the more varietie As you my Lord in Latin I in Greeke You in Italian and for because I know That Bel-imperia hath practised the French In courtly French shall all her phraises be Bel. You meane to trye my cunning then Hieronimo Bal. But this will be a meere confusion And hardly shall we all be vnderstoode Hiero. It must be so for the conclusion Shall proue the inuention and all was good And I my selfe in an Oration That I will haue there behinde a curtaine And with a strange and wondrous shew besides Assure your selfe shall make the matter knowne And all shal be concluded in one Scene For there 's no pleasure tane in tediousnes Bal. How like you this Lor. Why thus my Lord we must resolue To soothe his humors vp Bal. On then Hieronimo farewell till soone Hiero. You le plie this geere Lor. I warrant you Exeunt all but Hiero. Hiero. Why so now shall I see the fall of Babilon Wrought by the heauens in this confusion And if the world like not this tragedie Hard is the hap of olde Hieronimo Exit Enter Isabella with a weapon Tell me no more O monstrous homicides Since neither pietie nor pittie moues The King to iustice or compassion I will reuenge my selfe vpon this place Where thus they murdered my beloued Sonne She cuts downe the Arbour Downe with these branches and these loathsome bowes Of this vnfortunate and fatall pine Downe with them Isabella rent them vp And
burne the roots from whence the rest is sprung I will not leaue a root a stalke a tree A bowe a branch a blossome nor a leafe No not an hearb within this garden Plot Accursed complot of my miserie Fruitlesse for euer may this garden be Barren the earth and blislesse whosoeuer Immagines not to keep it vnmanurde An Easterne winde comixt with noisome aires Shall blast the plants and the yong saplings The earth with Serpents shal be pestered be And passengers for feare to be infect Shall stand aloofe and looking at it tell There murdred dide the sonne of Isabell I heere he dide and heere I him imbrace See where his Ghoast solicites with his wounds Reuenge on her that should reuenge his death Hieronimo make haste to see thy sonne For sorrow and dispaire hath scited me To heare Horatio plead with Radamant Make haste Hieronimo to holde excusde Thy negligence in pursute of their deaths Whose hatefull wrath bereu'd him of his breath Ah nay thou dost delay their deaths Forgiues the murderers of thy noble sonne And none but I bestirre me to no end And as I cursse this tree from further fruit So shall my wombe be cursed for his sake And with this weapon will I wound the brest The haples brest that gaue Horatio suck She stabs her selfe Enter Hieronimo he knocks vp the curtaine Enter the Duke of Castile Cas. How now Hieronimo where 's your fellows That you take all this paine Hiero. O sir it is for the Authors credit To look that all things may goe well But good my Lord let me intreat your grace To giue the King the coppie of the plaie This is the argument of what we shew Cas, I will Hieronimo Hiero. One thing more my good Lord Cas. What 's that Hiero. Let me intreat your grace That when the traine are past into the gallerie You would vouchsafe to throwe me downe the key Cas. I will Hieronimo Exit Cas. Hiero. What are you ready Balthazar Bring a chaire and a cushion for the King Enter Balthazar with a Chaire Well doon Balthazar hang vp the title Our scene is Rhodes what is your beard on Bal. Halfe on the other is in my hand Hiero. Dispatch for shame are you so long Exit Balthazar Bethink thy selfe Hieronimo Recall thy wits recompt thy former wrongs Thou hast receiued by murder of thy sonne And lastly not least how Isabell Once his mother and thy deerest wife All woe begone for him hath slaine her selfe Behoues thee then Hieronimo to be reueng'd The plot is laide of dire reuenge On then Hieronimo pursue reuenge For nothing wants but acting of reuenge Exit Hieronimo Enter Spanish King Vice-roy the Duke of Castile and their traine King Now Viceroy shall we see the Tragedie Of Soliman the Turkish Emperour Performde of pleasure by your Sonne the Prince My Nephew Don Lorenzo and my Neece Vice Who Bel-imperia King I and Hieronimo our Marshall At whose request they deine to doo 't themselues These be our pastimes in the Court of Spaine Heere brother you shall be the booke-keeper This is the argument of that they shew He giueth him a booke Gentlemen this play of Hieronimo in sundrie Languages was thought good to be set downe in English more largely for the easier vnderstanding to euery publique Reader Enter Balthazar Bel-imperia and Hieronimo Balthazar BAshaw that Rhodes is ours yeeld heauens the honor And holy Mahomet our sacred Prophet And be thou grac't with euery excelence That Soliman can giue or thou desire But thy desert in conquering Rhodes is lesse Then in reseruing this faire Christian Nimph Perseda blisfull lamp of Excellence Whose eies compell like powerfull Adamant The warlike heart of Soliman to wait King See Vice-Roy that is Balthazar your Sonne That represents the Emperour Solyman How well he acts his amorous passion Vice I Bel-imperia hath taught him that Castile That 's because his mind tunnes all on Bel-imperia Hiero. What euer ioy earth yeelds betide your Meiestie Balt. Earth yeelds no ioy without Persedaes loue Hiero. Let then Perseda on your grace attend Balt. She shall not wait on me but I on her Drawne by the influence of her lights I yeeld But let my friend the Rhodian knight come foorth Erasto dearer then my life to me That he may see Perseda my beloued Enter Erasto King Heere comes Lorenzo looke vp on the plot And tel me brother what part plaies he Bel. Ah my Erasto welcome to Perseda Lo. Thrice happie is Erasto that thou liuest Rhodes losse is nothing to Erastoes ioy Sith his Perseda liues his life suruiues Balt. Ah Bashaw heere is loue betweene Erasto And faire Perseda soueraigne of my soule Hiero. Remooue Erasto mighty Solyman And then Perseda will be quickly wonne Balt. Erasto is my friend and while he liues Perseda neuer will remooue her loue Hiero. Let not Erasto liue to greeue great Soliman Balt. Deare is Erasto in our Princly eye Hiero. But if he be your riuall let him die Balt. VVhy let him die so loue commaundeth me Yet greeue I that Erasto should so die Hiero. Erasto Solyman saluteth thee And lets thee wit by me his highnes will VVhich is thou shouldst be thus imploid Stab him Bel. Ay me Erasto see Solyman Erastoe 's slaine Balt. Yet liueth Solyman to comfort thee Faire Queene of beautie let not fauour die But with a gratious eye beholde his griefe That with Persedaes beautie is encreast If by Persedaes griefe be not releast Bel. Tyrant desist soliciting vaine sutes Relentles are mine eares to thy laments As thy butcher is pittilesse and base VVhich seazd on my Erasto harmelesse knight Yet by thy power thou thinkest to commaund And to thy power Perseda doth obey But were she able thus she would reuenge Thy treacheries on thee ignoble Prince Stab him And on herselfe she would be thus reuengd Stab herselfe King VVell said olde Marshal this was brauely done Hiero. But Bel-imperia plaies Perseda well Vice were this in earnest Bel-imperia You would be better to my Sonne then so King But now what followes for Hieronimo Hiero Marrie this followes for Hieronimo Heere breake we off our sundrie languages And thus conclude I in our vulgare tung Happely you think but bootles are your thoughts That this is fabulously counterfeit And that we doo as all Tragedians doo To die to day for fashioning our scene The death of Aiax or some Romaine peere And in a minute starting vp againe Reuiue to please to morrowes audience No Princes know I am Hieronimo The hopeles Father of a haples Sonne Whose tung is tun'd to tell his latest tale Not to excuse grosse errors in the play I see your lookes vrge instance of these words Beholde the reason vrging me to this Shewes his dead sonne See heere my shew look on this spectacle Heere lay my hope and heere my hope hath end Heere lay my hart and heere my hart was slaine Heere lay my treasure heere my treasure lost Heere lay my blisse and heere
thou hast said it shal be so Goe one of you and call Hieronimo Enter Balthazar aud Bel-imperia Bal. Come Bel-imperie Balthazar 's content My sorrowes ease and soueraigne of my blisse Sith heauen hath or dainde thee 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 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. Truce 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 happier loue But Balthazar heere comes Hieronimo I le haue a word with him Enter Hieronimo and a Seruant Hiero. And where 's the Duke Ser. yonder Hiero. Euen so what new deuice haue they deuised tro Pocas Palabras milde as the Lambe I st 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 I le be gone I thank you for t Cas. Nay stay Hieronimo goe call him sonne Hieronimo my father craues a word with you Hiero. With me sir why my L. I thought you had done Lor. 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 t is he that intercepts your sutes Hiero. Why is not this a miserable thing my Lord Cas. Hieronimo I hope you haue no cause And would be loth that one of your deserts Should once haue reason to suspect my Sonne Considering how I think of you my selfe Hiero. Your sonne Lorenzo whome my noble Lord The hope of Spaine mine honourable freend Graunt me the combat of them if they dare Drawes out his sword I le meet him face to face to tell me so These be the scandalous reports of such As loues not me and hate my Lord too much Should I suspect Lorenzo would preuent Or crosse my sute that loued my Sonne so well My Lord I am ashamed it should be said Lor. Hieronimo I neuer gaue you cause Hero My good Lord I know you did not Cas. There then pause and for the satisfaction of the world Hieronimo frequent my homely house The Duke of Castile Ciprians ancient seat And when thou wilt vse me my sonne and it But heere before Prince Balthazar and me Embrace each other and be perfect freends Hiero. I marry my Lord and shall Freends quoth he see I le be freends with you all Specially with you my louely Lord For diuers causes it is fit for vs That we be freends the world is suspitious And men may think what we imagine not Bal. Why this is freendly doone Hieronimo Lor. And that I hope olde grudges are forgot Hiero. What els it were a shame it should not be so Cas. Come on Hieronimo at my request Let vs entreat your company to day Exeunt Hiero. Yor Lordships to commaund Pha keep your way Mi. Chi mi fa Pui Correzza Che non sule Tradito viha otrade vule Exit Enter Ghoast and Reuenge Ghost Awake Erictha Cerberus awake Sollicite Pluto gentle Proserpine To combat Achinon and Ericus in hell For neere by Stix and Phlegeton Nor ferried Caron to the fierie lakes Such fearfull sights as poore Andrea see Reuenge awake Reuenge Awake for why Ghost Awake Reuenge for thou art ill aduisde Thâ—sleepe away what thou art warnd to watch Reuenge Content thy selfe and doe not trouble me Ghost Awake Reuenge if loue as loue hath had Haue yet the power or preuailance in hell Hieronimo with Lorenzo is ioynde in league And intercepts our passage to reuenge Awake Reuenge or we are woe begone Reuenge Thus worldlings ground what they haue dreamd vpon Content thy selfe Andrea though I sleepe Yet is my mood soliciting their soules Sufficeth thee that poore Hieronimo Cannot forget his sonne Horatio Nor dies Reuenge although he sleepe a while For in vnquiet quietnes is faind And slumbring is a common worldly wile Beholde Andrea for an instance how Reuenge hath slept and then imagine thou What t is to be subiect to destinie Enter a dumme shew Ghost Awake Reuenge reueale this misterie Reuenge The two first the nuptiall Torches boare As brightly burning as the mid-daies sunne But after them doth Himen hie as fast Clothed in sable and a Saffron robe And blowes them out and quencheth them with blood As discontent that things continue so Ghost Sufficeth me thy meanings vnderstood And thanks to thee and those infernall powers That will not tollerate a Louers woe Rest thee for I will sit to see the rest Reuenge Then argue not for thou hast thy request Exeunt Actus Quartus Enter Bel-imperia and Hieronimo Bel-imperia IS this the loue thou bearst Horatio Is this the kindnes that thou counterfeits Are these the fruits of thine incessant teares Hieronimo are these thy passions Thy protestations and thy deepe laments That thou wert wont to wearie men withall O vnkind Father O deceitfull world With what excuses canst thou shew thy selfe With what dishonour and the hate of men From this dishonour and the hate of men Thus to neglect the losse and life of him Whom both my letters and thine owne beliefe Assures thee to be causles slaughtered Hieronimo for shame Hieronimo Be not a History to after times Of such in gratitude vnto thy Sonne Vnhappy Mothers of such children then But monstrous Fathers to forget so soone The death of those whom they with care and cost Haue tendred so thus careles should be lost My selfe a stranger in respect of thee So loued his life as still I wish their deathes Nor shall his death be vnreuengd by me Although I beare it out for fashions sake For heere I sweare in sight of heauen and earth Shouldst thou neglect the loue thou shouldst retaine And giue it ouer and deuise no more My selfe should send their hatefull soules to hel That wrought his downfall with extreamest death Hie. But may it be that Bel-imperia Vowes such reuenge as she hath daind to say Why then I see that heauen applies our drift And all the Saints doe sit soliciting For vengeance on those cursed murtherers Madame t is 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 Bel-imperia My feare and care in not beleeuing it Nor thinke I thoughtles thinke vpon a meane To let his death be vnreveng'd at full And heere I vow so you