SCENE II.

QUEEN-MOTHER _and_ ELEAZAR.

ELE. Madam, a word: now have you wit or spirit?

QUEEN-M. Both.

ELE. Set them both to a most gainful task. Our enemies are in my castle-work.

QUEEN-M. Ay; but the king's there too; it's dangerous pride To strike at those that crouch by a lion's side.

ELE. Remove them.

QUEEN-M. How?

ELE. How! a thousand ways: By poison, or by this [_Points to his sword_]; but every groom Has skill in such base traffic; no, our policies Must look more strange, must fly with loftier wings; Vengeance, the higher it falls, more honour brings; But you are cold--you dare not do.

QUEEN-M. I dare.

ELE. You have a woman's heart; look you, this hand--

[_Takes her hand._

O, 'tis too little to strike home.

QUEEN-M. At whom?

ELE. Your son.

QUEEN-M. Which son? the king?

ELE. Angels of heaven Stand like his guard about him! how, the king! Not for so many worlds as there be stars Sticking upon th' embroider'd firmament. The king! he loves my wife, and should he die, I know none else would love her; let him live In heaven.[54]

[_Aside_.

Good Lord Philip----

QUEEN-M. He shall die.

ELE. How? good, good.

QUEEN-M. By this hand.

ELE. When? good, good; when?

QUEEN-M. This night, if Eleazar give consent.

ELE. Why, then, this night Philip shall 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! ha!

QUEEN-M. 'Tis for thy sake.

ELE. Pish! What excuses cannot damn'd sin make To save itself! I know you love him well; 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 iron ribs of our villains Are thin: he laughs to see them, like this hand, With chinks and crevices; how [with] a villanous, A stabbing, [a] desperate tongue the boy dare speak: A mouth, a villanous mouth! let's muzzle him.

QUEEN-M. How?

ELE. Thus: Go you, and with a face well-set do In good sad colours, such as paint out The cheek of that foul penitence, and with a tongue Made clean and glib, cull from their lazy swarm Some honest friars whom that damnation, gold, Can tempt to lay their souls to the stake; Seek such--they are rank and thick.

QUEEN-M. What then? I know such--what's the use?

ELE. This is excellent! Hire these to write books, preach, and proclaim abroad That your son Philip is a bastard.

QUEEN-M. How?

ELE. A bastard. Do you know a bastard? do't: Say conscience spake with you, and cried out do't; By this means shall you thrust him from all hope Of wearing Castile's diadem, and, that spur Galling his sides, he will fly out and fling, And grind the cardinal's heart to a new edge 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. Do't then; by this trick he is gone. We stand more sure in climbing high; Care not who fall, 'tis real policy: are you Arm'd to do this, ha?

QUEEN-M. Sweet Moor, it is done.

ELE. Away then; work with boldness and with speed: On greatest actions greatest dangers feed.

[_Exit_ QUEEN-MOTHER.

Ha, ha! I thank thee, provident creation, That seeing[55] in moulding me thou didst 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, Balthazar!

_Enter the two_ MOORS.

BOTH. My lord.

ELE. Nearer. So: silence! Hang both your greedy ears upon my lips; Let them devour my speech, suck in my breath, and in. Who let's it break prison, here is his death. This night the card'nal shall be murder'd.

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 [the] hearts and hands to execute?

BOTH. Here's both.

1ST 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?

ELE. Till night: a word! the Mother-Queen Is trying, if she can, with fire of gold Warp the green consciences of two covetous friars To preach abroad Philip's bastardy.

_1st Moor._ His bastardy! who was his father?

ELE. Who? Search for these friars: hire them to work with you. Their holy callings will approve the fact Most good and meritorious: sin shines clear, When her black face religion's mask doth wear. Here comes the queen--good--and the friars.