SCENE III.

_To her enter_ QUEEN-MOTHER _suddenly, with_ ALVERO _and_ RODERIGO _with rapiers_.

QUEEN-M. Lay hold upon the strumpet! where's the king? Fernando! son! Ah me! your king is dead! Lay hands upon the murd'ress.

MARIA. Imperious queen, I am as free from murder as thyself; Which I will prove, if you will hear me speak. The king is living.

ROD. If he liv'd, his breath would beat within his breast.

QUEEN-M. The life he leads, Maria, thou shalt soon participate.

MARIA. O father, save me!

ALV. Thou'rt no child of mine. Hadst thou been owner of Alvero's spirit, Thy heart would not have entertain'd a thought That had convers'd with murder: yet mine eyes, Howe'er my tongue wants words, brimful with tears Entreat her further trial.

QUEEN-M. To what end? Here lies her trial; from this royal breast Hath she stolen all comfort--all the life Of every bosom in the realm of Spain.

ROD. She's both a traitor and [a] murd'ress.

QUEEN-M. I'll have her forthwith strangled.

ALV. Hear her speak.

QUEEN-M. To heaven let her complain, if she have wrong; I murder but the murd'ress of my son.

ALL. We murder [but] the murd'ress of our king.[62]

ALV. Ah me! my child! O, O, cease your torturing!

MARIA. Heaven ope your windows, that my spotless soul, Riding upon the wings of innocence, May enter Paradise. Fairies, farewell; Fernando's death in mine you did foretell.

[_She dies._ KING _wakes_.

KING. Who calls Fernando? Love--Maria, speak; O, whither art thou fled? Whence flow these waters, That fall like winter-storms from the drown'd eyes?

ALV. From my Maria's death.

KING. My Maria dead! Damn'd be the soul to hell that stopp'd her breath. Maria! O me! who durst murder thee?

QUEEN-M. I thought my dear Fernando had been dead, And in my indignation murder'd her.

KING. I was not dead, until you murder'd me By killing fair Maria.

QUEEN-M. Gentle son----

KING. Ungentle mother, you a deed have done Of so much ruth, that no succeeding age Can ever clear you of. O my dear love! Yet heavens can witness thou wert never mine. Spain's wonder was Maria.

QUEEN-M. Sweet, have done.

KING. Have done! for what? For shedding zealous tears Over the tomb of virtuous chastity? You cry _Have done_, now I am doing good; But cried _Do on_, when you were shedding blood. Have you done, mother? Yes, yes, you have done That which will undo your unhappy son.

ROD. These words become you not, my gracious lord.

KING. These words become not me! no more it did Become you, lords, to be mute standers-by, When lustful fury ravish'd chastity: It ill becomes me to lament her death; But it became you well to stop her breath! Had she been fair, and not so virtuous, This deed had not been half so impious.

ALV. But she was fair in virtue, virtuous fair. O me!

KING. O me! she was true honour's heir. Hence, beldam, from my presence! all, fly hence; You are all murderers. Come, poor innocent, Clasp thy cold hand in mine; for here I'll lie, And since I liv'd for her, for her I'll die.