University of Virginia Library

Scena II.

Enter Queen Mother, and Eleazar.
Eleaz.
Madam a word now, have you wit or spirit?

Qu. Mother.
Both.

Eleaz.
Set them both to a most gainfull task,
Our enemies are in my Castle-work.

Qu. Mother.
I; but the King's there too, it's dangerous pride,
To strike at those; that couch by a Lyons side.

Eleaz.
Remove them:

Qu. Mother.
How?

Eleaz.
How? a thousand ways;
By poison, or by this, but every groom
Has skill in such base traffick; no our pollicies
Must look more strange, must flie with loftier wings:
Vengeance the higher it falls, more horror brings:
But you are cold, you dare not do.

Qu. Mother.
I dare.

Eleaz.
You have a womans heart, look you this hand,
Oh! 'tis too little to strike home.

Qu. Mother.
At whom?

Eleaz.
Your son.

Qu. Mother.
Which son, the King?

Eleaz.
Angels of heaven, stand like his guard about him, how? the King
Not for so many worlds as here be stars,
Sticking upon th'imbroidred firmament.
The King? he loves my wife and should he die;
I know none els would love her, let him live.
(in heaven) good Lord Philip.

Aside
Queen Mother
He shall die.

Eleaz.
How? good good.

Qu. Mo.
By this hand.

Eleaz.
When, good good; when?

Qu. M.
This night if Eleazer give consent;

El.
Why then this night Philip shal 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. Mother
'Tis for thy sake.

Eleaz.
Puh! What excuses cannot dam'd sin make
To save it self, I know you love him wel,
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 villains
Are thin: Hee laughs to see them like this hand,
With chinks, and crevises, how a villanous eye,
A stabbing desperate tongue, the boy dare speak,
A mouth, a villanous mouth, lets muzzle him.

Qu. Mo.
How?

Ele.
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 Friers, whom that damnation gold,
Can tempt to lay their souls to'th 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? doo't;
Say conscience spake with you, and cry'd out, doo't
By this means shall you thrust him from all hopes
Of wearing Castiles diadem, and that spur
Galling his sides, he will flye out, and fling,
And grind the Cardinals heart to a new edg
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.
Doo't then; by this trick, he gon!
We stand more sure in climbing high;
Care not who fall 'tis reall policie:
Are you arm'd to do this? hah!

Queen Mo.
Sweet Moor it's done.

Eleaz.
Away then, work with boldness, and with speed;
On greatest actions greatest dangers feed.
Ezit Qu. Mother.
Ha! ha, I thank thee provident creation,
That seeing in moulding me thou did'st 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'nall shall be murd'red.

Both.
Where?

Ele.
And to fill up a grave Philip dies:

Both.
Where?

Ele.
Here.

Both.
By whom?

Ele.
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.

Ele.
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 Mo Qu.
Is trying if she can with fire of gold,
Warpe the green consciences of two covetous Friers,
To preach abroad Philip's bastardy.

1 Moor.
His bastardy, who was his father?

Eleazar.
Who?
Search for these friers, hire them to work with you;
Their holy callings will approve the fact.
Most good and meritorious; sin shines clear,
When her black face Religions masque doth wear.
Aside.
Here comes the Queen, good; and the Friers.