ACT II., SCENE 1.

_Enter two_ LORDS, PHILIP, MENDOZA, ELEAZAR, _with him the_ KING _crowned_; QUEEN-MOTHER, ALVERO, ZARACK, BALTHAZAR, _and Attendants_.

MEN. Why stares this devil thus, as if pale death Had made his eyes the dreadful messengers To carry black destruction to the world? Was he not banish'd Spain?

PHIL. Your sacred mouth Pronounc'd the sentence of his banishment: Then spurn the villain forth.

ELE. Who spurns the Moor, Were better set his foot upon the devil. Do spurn me, and this confounding arm of wrath Shall, like a thunderbolt breaking the clouds, Divide his body from his soul! Stand back. Spurn Eleazar!

ROD. Shall we bear this pride?

ALV. Why not? he underwent much injury.

MEN. What injury have we perform'd, proud lord?

ELE. Proud cardinal, my unjust banishment.

MEN. 'Twas we that did it, and our words are laws.

KING. 'Twas we repeal'd him, and our words are laws.

ZAR. BAL. If not, these are.

[_All the Moors draw._

PHIL. How! threaten'd and outdar'd!

KING. Shall we give arm to hostile violence? Sheathe your swords, sheathe them: it's we command.

ELE. Grant Eleazar justice, my dread liege.

MEN. Eleazar hath had justice from our hands, And he stands banish'd from the court of Spain.

KING. Have you done justice? Why, Lord Cardinal, From whom do you derive authority To banish him the court without our leave?

MEN. From this, the staff of our protectorship; From this, which the last will of your dead father Committed to our trust; from this high place, Which lifts Mendoza's spirits beyond the pitch Of ordinary honour, and from this----

[KING _takes the staff from_ MENDOZA, _and gives it to_ ELEAZAR.

KING. Which too much overweening insolence Hath quite ta'en from thee. Eleazar, up, And from us sway this staff of Regency.

ALL. How's this!

PHIL. Dare sons presume to break their father's will?

KING. Dare subjects countercheck their sovereign's will? 'Tis done, and who gainsays it, is a traitor.

PHIL. I do, Fernando, yet am I no traitor.

MEN. Fernando, I am wrong'd; by Peter's chair, Mendoza vows revenge. I'll lay aside My cardinal's hat, and in a wall of steel, The glorious livery of a soldier, Fight for my late-lost honour.

KING. Cardinal!

MEN. King! thou shalt be no king for wronging me. The Pope shall send his bulls through all thy realm, And pull obedience from thy subjects' hearts, To put on armour of the Mother Church. Curses shall fall like lightnings on thy head, Bell, book, and candle: holy water, prayers, Shall all chime vengeance to the court of Spain, Till they have power to conjure down that fiend, That damn'd Moor, that devil, that Lucifer, That dares aspire the staff the card'nal sway'd.

ELE. Ha, ha, ha! I laugh yet, that the cardinal's vex'd.

PHIL. Laugh'st thou, base slave! the wrinkles of that scorn Thine own heart's blood shall fill. Brother, farewell; Since you disprove the will our father left For base lust of a loathed concubine.

ELE. Ha! concubine! who does Prince Philip mean?

PHIL. [_To_ ELEAZAR.] Thy wife. [_To_ ALVERO.] Thy daughter. Base, aspiring lords, Who to buy honour are content to sell Your names to infamy, your souls to hell. And stamp you now? Do, do, for you shall see I go for vengeance, and she'll come with me.

ELE. Stay, for she's here already, see, proud boy.

[_They both draw._

QUEEN-M. Hold! stay this fury; if you long for 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?

QUEEN-M. No state shall suffer wrong; then hear me speak: Mendoza, you have sworn you love the queen; Then by that love I charge you leave these arms. Eleazar, for those favours I have given you, Embrace the cardinal, and be friends with him.

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

QUEEN-M. 'Twas rage made his tongue err; do you not know The violent love Mendoza bears the queen? Then speak him fair, for in that honey'd breath I'll lay a bait shall train him to his death.

[_Aside._

Come, come, I see your looks give way to peace; Lord Cardinal, begin; and [_Aside_] for reward, Ere this fair setting sun behold his bride, Be bold to challenge love, yet be denied.

MEN. That promise makes me yield.

[_Aside._]

My gracious lord, Though 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 awhile shall bid us welcome; Eleazar, shall it not? It is enough. Lords, lead the way, that [_Aside_] whilst you feast yourselves, Fernando may find time all means to prove, To compass fair Maria for our love.

[_Exeunt omnes._