University of Virginia Library

Scena I.

Enter Queen Mother, with a Torch, solus.
Qu. Mo.
Fair eldest child of love, thou spotlesse night,
Empresse of silence, and the Queen of sleep;
Who with thy black cheeks pure complexion,
Mak'st lovers eyes enamour'd of thy beauty:
Thou art like my Moor, therefore will I adore thee,
For lending me this opportunity,
Oh with the soft skin'd Negro! heavens keep back
The saucy staring day from the worlds eye,
Untill my Eleazar make return;
Then in his Castle shall he find his wife,
Transform'd into a strumpet by my son;
Then shall he hate her whom he would not kill?
Then shall I kill her whom I cannot love?
The King is sporting with his Concubine.
Blush not my boy, be bold like me thy mother,
But their delights torture my soul like Devills,
Except her shame be seen: Wherefore awake
Christophero, Verdugo, raise the Court,
Arise you Peers of Spain, Alvaro rise,
Preserve your country from base infamies.

Enter severally at severall doors, with lights and Rapiers drawn, Alvero, Roderigo, and Christophero, with others.
All.
Who rais'd these exclamations through the Court?

Qu. Mo.
Sheath up your Swords, you need not swords, but eyes
To intercept this treason.

Alv.
What's the treason?
Who are traitors? ring the larum bell;
Cry arm through all the City; once before
The horrid sound of treason did affright
Our sleeping spirits.

Qu. Mo.
Stay, you need not cry arm
Arm, for this black deed
Works treason to your King, to me; to you,
To Spain, and all that shall in Spain ensue.
This night Maria (Eleazars wife)
Hath drawn the King by her Lascivious looks
Privately to a banquet, I unseen
Stood and beheld him in him in her lustfull arms.
Oh God! shall bastards wear Spains Diadem?
If you can kneel to basenesse, vex them not;
If you disdain to kneel, wash of this blot.

Roder.
Lets break into the chamber and surprize her?

Alve.
Oh miserable me! do, do, break in,
My Country shall not blush at my childs sin.

Queen Mo.
Delay is nurse to danger, follow me,
Come you and witnesse to her villany.

Alvero.
Haplesse Alvere, how art thou undone,
In a light daughter, and a stubborn son.

Exeunt omnes.