Part 3
HIERO. Meane-while, good Isabella, cease thy plaints, Or, at the least, dissemble them awhile; So shall we sooner finde the practise out, And learne by whome 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. Ile say his dirge,--singing fits not this case. O aliquis mihi quas pulchrum ver educet herbas
HIERO[NIMO] sets his brest vnto his sword.
Misceat, et nostro detur medicina dolori; Aut siqui faciunt annorum obliuia succos Prebeat; ipse metam megnum quaecunque per orbem Gramina sol pulchras eiecit lucis in oras. Ipse bibam quicquid meditatur saga veneni, Quicquid et irarum ui caeca nenia nectit. Omnia perpetiar, lethum quoque, dum semel omnis Nost in extincto moriatur pectore sensus. Ergo tua perpetuus speeliuit limunia somnus? Emoriar tecum: sic, sic iuuat ire sub vmbras! Attamen absistam properato cedere letho, Ne mortem vindicta tuam tum nulla sequatur.
Heere he throwes it from him and beares the body away.
[CHORUS.]
ANDREA. Broughtst thou me hether to increase my paine? I lookt that Balthazar should haue been slaine; But tis my freend Horatio that is slaine, And they abuse faire Bel-imperia, On 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 [growne] of euery worke well done; The sickle comes not till the corne be ripe. Be still, and, ere I lead thee from this place, Ile shew thee Balthazar in heauy case.
ACTUS TERTIUS.
[ACT III. SCENE 1.]
[The Portuguese court.]
Enter VICEROY OF PORTINGALE, NOBLES, ALEXANDRO, VILLUPPO.
VICEROY. Infortunate condition of kings, Seated amidst so many helples doubts! First,we are plast vpon extreamest height, And oft supplanted with exceeding hate, But euer subiect to the wheele of chance; And at our highest neuer ioy we so As we 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 and loue to kings is flatterie. For instance, lordings, look vpon your king, By hate depriued of his dearest sonne, The only hope of our successiue 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 theres no credit in the countenance.
VIL. No, for, my lord, had you beholde the traine That fained loue had coloured in his lookes When he in campe consorted Balthazar, 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 saiest 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. Tis heauen 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 froth 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, Ile lend a hand to send thee to the lake Where those thy words shall perish with thy workes, Iniurious traitour, monstrous homicide!
Enter EMBASSADOUR.
[EM.] Stay! hold a-while! and heer, with pardon of His Maiestie, lay hands vpon Villuppo!
VICE. Embassadour, what newes nath vrg'd this sodain entrance?
EM. Know, soueraigne l[ord], that Balthazar doth liue.
VICE. What saiest thou? liueth Balthazar, our sonne?
EM. Your Highnes sonne, L[ord] Balthazar doth 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 commend,
Giues him letters
Are happie witnesses of his Highnes health.
The KING lookes on the letters, and proceeds.
VICE. [reads] "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 they benefite."
EM. These are his Highnes farther articles.
He giues him more letters.
VICE. Accursed wrech to intimate these ills Against the life and reputation Of noble Alexandro! come, my lord, vnbinde him! [To ALEXANDRO] Let him vnbinde thee that is bounde to death, To make a quitall for thy discontent.
They vnbinde him.
ALEX. Dread lord, in kindnes you could do no lesse, Vpon report of such a damned fact; But thus we see our innocence hath sau'd The hopeles like which thou, Villuppo, sought By thy suggestions to haue massacred.
VICE. Say, false Villuppo, wherefore didst thou thus Falsely 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 for reward and hope to be preferd, Thus haue I shamelesly hazarded his life.
VICE. Which, villaine, shalbe ransomed with thy death, And not so meane a torment as we heere Deuised for him who thou saidst slew our sonne, But with the bitterest torments and extreames That may be yet inuented for thine end.
ALEX[ANDRO] seemes to intreat.
Intreat me not! Goe, take the traitor hence!
Exit VILLUPPO.
And, Alexandro, let vs honor thee With publique notice of thy loyaltie. To end those things articulated heere By our great l[ord], the mightie king of Spaine, We with our councell will deliberate. Come, Alexandro, keepe vs company.
Exeunt.
[ACT III. SCENE 2.]
[Spain: near the DUKE's castle.]
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 pass 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 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, show, send, some man, some meane, that may!
A letter falleth.
Whats heere? a letter? Tush, it is not so! A letter for Hieronimo. [Reads] "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 murdered thy sonne. Hieronimo, reuenge Horatios death, And better fare then Bel-imperia doth!"-- 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 they brother, had he beene the meane? Hieronimo, beware! thou art betraide, And to intrap they life this traine is laide. Aduise thee therefore, be not credulous: This is deuised to endanger thee, That thou, by this, Lorenzo shoulst accuse. And he, for thy dishonour done, show draw Thy life in question and thy name in hate. Deare was the life of my beloved sonne, And of his death behoues me to be aueng'd: Then hazard not thine own, Hieronimo, But liue t'effect thy resolution! I therefore will by circumstances trie What I can gather to confirme this writ, And, [harken] neere the Duke of Castiles house, Close if I can with Belimperia, To listen more, but nothing to bewray.
Enter PEDRINGANO.
Now, Predringano!
PED. Now, Hieronimo!
HIERO. Wheres thy lady?
PED. I know not; heers my lord.
Enter LORENZO.
LOR. How now, whose this? Hieronimo?
HIERO. My lord.
PED. He asketh me for my lady Bel-imperia.
LOR. What to doo, Hieronimo? Vse me.
[Dialogue from the undated and the 'A' manuscript.]
HIERO. Oh, no, my lord, I dare not, it must not be; I humbly thank your lordship.
[End of insertion.]
[Dialogue from the 1618, 1623, and 1633 editions.]
HIERO. Who? You, my lord? I reserue your favour for a greater honour; This is a very toy, my lord, a toy.
LOR. All's one, Hieronimo; acquaint me with it.
HIERO. Y faith, my lord, tis an idle thing. I must confesse I ha bin too slacke, too tardy, To remisse vnto your Honour.
LOR. How now, Hieronimo?
HIERO. In troth, my lord, it is a thing of nothing: The murder of a sonne or so, my lord,-- A thing of nothing.
[End of insertion.]
LOR. Why then, farewell!
HIERO. My griefe in 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; twas so lately done, And since he hath not left my company.
LOR. Admit he haue not; his conditions such As feare or 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 prithee so resoule-- Meet Serberine at St. Luigis Parke,-- Thou knowest tis 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, Ile send him to meet The prince and me where thou must doe this deed.
PED. It shalbe done, my l[ord]; it shall be done; And Ile 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[RINGANO].
Che le Ieron!
Enter PAGE.
PAGE. My lord.
LOR. Goe, sirra, To Serberine, and bid him forthwith meet The prince and me at S. Luigis Parke, Behinde the house, this euening, boy.
PAGE. I goe, my lord.
LOR. 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 practices, Ile 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 practice to preuent mishap, And thus one ill another must expulse. This slie enquiry of Hieronimo For Bel-imperia, breeds suspition; And [thus] suspition boads a further ill. As for my-selfe, I know my secret fault, And so doe they, but I haue dealt for them. They that for coine their soules endangered To saue my life, for coyne shall venture theirs; And better tis that base companions dye Then by their life to hazard our good haps. Nor shall they liue for me to feare their faith; Ile trust my-selfe, my-selfe shall be my freend; For dye they shall,-- Slaues are ordein[e]d to no other end.
Exit.
[ACT III. SCENE 3.]
[San Luigi's Park.]
Enter PEDRINGANO with a pistoll.
PED. Now, Pedringano, bid thy pistoll holde; And holde on, Fortune! Once more fauour me! Giue but successe to mine attempting spirit, And let me shift for taking of mine aime. Heere is the golde! This is the golde proposde! It is no dreame that I aduenture for, But Pedringano is possest thereof. And he that would not straine his conscience For him that thus his liberall purse hath sretcht, Vnworthy such a fauour may he faile, And, wishing, want when such as I preuaile! As for the feare of apprehension, I know, if need should be, my noble lord Will stand betweene me and ensuing harmes. Besides, this place is free from all suspect. Heere therefore will I stay and take my stand.
Enter the WATCH.
I WATCH. I wonder much to what intent it is That we are thus expresly chargd to watch.
II WATCH. This by commandement in the kings own name.
III WATCH. But we were neuer wont to watch and ward So neere the duke his brothers house before.
II WATCH. Content your-selfe, stand close, theres somewhat int.
Enter SERBERINE.
SER. [aside] Heere, Serberine, attend and stay thy pace; For heere did Don Lorenzos page appoint That thou by his command shouldst meet with him. How fit a place, if one were so disposde, Me thinks this corner is to close with one.
PED. [aside] Heere comes the bird that I must ceaze vpon; Now, Pedringano, or neuer play the man!
SER. [aside] I wonder that his lordship staies so long, Or wherefore should he send for me so late.
PED. For this, Serberine; and thou shalt ha'te!
Shootes the dagge.
So, there he lyes; my promise is performde.
The WATCH.
I WATCH. Harke, gentlemen, this is a pistol shot!
II WATCH. And heeres one slaine; stay the murderer!
PED. Now, by the sorrowes of the soules in hell,
He striues with the WATCH.
Who first laies hands on me, Ile be his priest!
III WATCH. Sirra, confesse, and therein play the priest. Why hast thou thus vnkindely kild the man?
PED. Why, because he walkt abroad so late.
III WATCH. Come sir, you had bene better kept your bed Then haue committed this misdeed so late.
II WATCH. Come to the marshalls with the murderer!
I WATCH. On to Hieronimos! helpe me heere To bring the murdred body with vs too.
PED. Hieronimo? Carry me before whom you will; What ere he be, Ile answere him and you. And doe your worst, for I defie you all!
Exeunt.
[ACT III. SCENE 4.]
[The DUKE's castle]
Enter LORENZO and BALTHAZAR.
BAL. How now, my lord? what makes you rise so soone?
LOR. Feare of preuenting our mishaps too late.
BAL. What mischiefe is it that we not mistrust?
LOR. Our greatest ils we least mistrust, my lord, And [unexpected] harmes do hurt vs most.
BAL. Why, tell me, Don Lorenz,--tell me, man, If ought concernes our honor and your owne!
LOR. Nor you nor me, my lord, but both in one; But I suspect--and the presumptions great-- That by those base confederates in our fault Touching the death of Don Horatio We are all betraide to olde Hieronimo.
BAL. Betraide, Lorenzo? tush! it cannot be.
LOR. A guiltie conscience vrged with the thought Of former euils, easily cannot erre: I am perswaded--and diswade me not-- That als reuealed to Hieronimo. And therefore know that I haue cast it thus--
[Enter PAGE.]
But heeres the page. How now? what newes with thee?
PAGE. My lord, Serberine is slaine.
BAL. Who? Serberine, my man?
PAGE. Your Highnes man, my lord.
LOR. Speak, page: who murdered him?
PAGE. He that is apprehended for the fact.
LOR. Who?
PAGE. Pedringano.
BAL. Is Serberine slaine, that lou'd his lord so well? Iniurious villaine! murderer of his freend!
LOR. Hath Pedringano murdered Serberine? My lord, let me entreat you to take the paines To exasperate and hasten his reuenge With your complaints vnto my l[ord] the king. This their dissention breeds a greater doubt.
BAL. Assure thee, Don Lorenzo, he shall dye, Or els his Highnes hardly shall deny. Meane-while, Ile haste the marshall sessions, For die he shall for this damned deed.
Exit BALT[HAZAR].
LOR. [aside] Why, so! this fits our former pollicie; And thus experience bids the wise and deale. I lay the plot, he prosecutes the point; I set the trap, he breakes the worthles twigs, And sees not that wherewith the bird was limde. Thus hopefull men, that means to holde their owne, Must look, like fowlers, to their dearest freends. He runnes to kill whome I haue hope to catch, And no man knowes it was my reaching [fetch]. Tis hard to trust vnto a multitude,-- Or any one, in mine opinion, When men themselues their secrets will reueale.
Enter a MESSENGER with a letter.
LOR. Boy.
PAGE. My lord.
LOR. Whats he?
MES. I haue a letter to your lordship.
LOR. From whence?
MES. From Pedringanos that's imprisoned.
LOR. So he is in prison then?
MES. I, my good lord.
LOR. What would he with vs?
[Reads the letter.]
He writes vs heere To stand good l[ord] and help him in distres. Tell him I haue his letters, know his minde; And what we may, let him assure him of. Fellow, be gone; my boy shall follow thee.
Exit MES[SENGER].
[Aside] This works like waxe! Yet once more try thy wits.-- Boy, goe conuay this purse to Pedringano,-- Thou knowest the prison,--closely giue it him, And be aduisde that none here there-about. Bid him be merry still, but secret; And, though the marshall sessions be to-day, Bid him not doubt of his deliuerie. Tell him his pardon is already signde, And thereon bid him boldely be resolued; For, were he ready to be turned off,-- As tis my will the vttermost be tride,-- Thou with his pardon shalt attend him still. Shew him this boxe, tell him his pardons int; But opent not, and if thou louest thy life, But let him wisely keepe his hopes vnknowne. He shall not want while Don Lorenzo liues. Away!
PAGE. I goe, my lord, I runne!
LOR. But, sirra, see that this be cleanely done.
Exit PAGE.
Now stands our fortune on a tickle point, And now or neuer ends Lorenzos doubts. One only thing is vneffected yet, And thats to see the executioner,-- But to what end? I list not trust the aire With vtterance of our pretence therein, For feare the priuie whispring of the winde Conuay our words amongst vnfreendly eares, That lye too open to aduantages. Et quel che voglio io, nessun lo sa, Intendo io quel [che] mi bastera.
Exit.
[ACT III. SCENE 5.]
[A street.]
Enter BOY with the boxe.
[BOY.] My maister hath forbidden me to look in this box, and, by my troth, tis likely, if he had not warned me, I should not haue had so much idle time; for wee [men-kinde] in our minoritie are like women in their vncertaintie; that they are most forbidden, they wil soonest attempt; so I now. By my bare honesty, heeres nothing but the bare emptie box! Were it not sin against secrecie, I would say it were a peece of gentlemanlike knauery. I must goe to Pedringano and tell him his pardon is in this boxe! Nay, I would haue sworne it, had I not seene the contrary. I cannot choose but smile to thinke how the villain wil flout the gallowes, scorne the audience, and descant on the hangman, and all presuming of his pardon from hence. Wilt not be an odde iest, for me to stand and grace euery iest he makes, pointing my figner at this boxe, as who [should] say: "Mock on, heers thy warrant!" Ist not a scuruie iest that a man should iest himselfe to death? Alas, poor Pedringano! I am in a sorte sorie for thee, but, if I should be hanged with thee, I [could not] weep.
Exit.
[ACT III. SCENE 6.]
[The court of justice.]
Enter HIERONIMO and the DEPUTIE.
HIERO. Thus must we toyle in others mens extreames That know not how to rememdie our owne, And doe them iusties, when vniustly we For all our wrongs can compasse no redrese. But shall I neuer liue to see the day That I may come by iustice to the Heauens To know the cause that may my cares allay? This toyles my body, this consumeth age, That onley I to all men iust must be, And neither gods nor men be iust to me!
DEP. Worthy Hieronimo, your office askes A care to punish such as doe transgresse.
HIERO. So ist my duety to regarde his death Who when he liued deserued my dearest blood. But come; for that we came for, lets begin; For heere lyes that which bids me to be gone.
Enter OFFICERS, BOY, & PEDRINGANO with a letter in his hand, bound.
DEPU. Bring forth the prisoner for the court is set.
PED. Gramercy, boy! but it was time to come, For I had written to my lord anew A neerer matter that concerneth him, For feare his lordship had forgotten me; But, sith he hath rememberd me so well, Come, come, come on! when shall we to this geere?
HIERO. Stand forth, thou monster, murderer of men, And heere, for satisfaction of the world, Confesse thy folly and repent thy fault, For ther's thy place of execution.
PED. This is short worke! Well, to your martiallship First I confesse, nor feare I death therefore, I am the man,--twas I slew Serberine. But, sir, then you think this shalbe the place Where we shall satisfie you for this geare?
DEPU. I, Pedrigano.
PED. No I think not so.
HEIRO. Peace, impudent! for thou shalt finde it so; For blood with blood shall, while I sit as iudge, Be satisfied, and the law dischargde. And, though my-selfe cannot receiue the like, Yet will I see that others haue their right. Dispatch! the fault approued and confest, And by our law he is condemned to die.
HANG. Come on, sir! are you ready?
PED. To do what, my fine officious knaue?
HANG. To goe to this geere.
PED. O, sir, you are to forward; thou woulst faine furnish me with a halter, to disfurnish me of my habit. So should I goe out of this geere, my raiment, into that geere, the rope. But, hangman, now I spy your knauery, Ile not change without boot; thats flat.
HANG. Come, sir.
PED. So then I must vp?
HANG. No remedie.
PED. Yes, but there shalbe for my comming downe.
HANG. Indeed heers a remedie for that.
PED. How? be turnd off?
HANG. I, truly. Come, are you ready? I pray [you], sir, dispatch, the day goes away.
PED. What, doe you hang by the howre? If you doo, I may chance to break your olde custome.
HANG. Faith, you haue [no] reason, for I am like to break your yong neck.