ACT V., SCENE I.

_Enter_ RODERIGO _and_ CHRISTOFERO, _two bare-headed before them_; CARDINAL _alone_; ZARACK _and_ BALTHAZAR _bearing the crown on a cushion_; ELEAZAR _next_; QUEEN-MOTHER _after him; other Lords after her_; ALVERO, _sad, meets them_.

CAR. Alvero, 'tis the pleasure of the king, Of the queen-mother, and these honoured states, To ease you of Philippo; there's a warrant Sent to remove him to a stronger guard.

ALV. I thank you; you shall rid me of much care.

ELE. Sit down, and take your place.

ALV. If I might have the place I like best, It should be my grave.

[_Sits down. The Moors stand aside with the crown_: ELEAZAR, _rising, takes it_.

ELE. Stand in voice-reach, away!

BOTH MOORS. We are gone.

[_Exeunt._

ELE. Princes of Spain, if in this royal court There sit a man that, having laid his hold So fast on such a jewel, and dare wear it In the contempt of envy, as I dare, Yet uncompell'd (as freely as poor pilgrims Bestow their prayers) would give such wealth away; Let such a man step forth; what, do none rise? No, no, for kings indeed are deities; And who'd not (as the sun) in brightness shine? To be the greatest is to be divine. Who, among millions, would not be the mightiest, To sit in godlike state: to have all eyes Dazzled with admiration, and all tongues Shouting loud prayers: to rob every heart Of love: to have the strength of every arm: A sovereign's name? why, 'tis a sovereign charm This glory roundabout me hath thrown beams: I have stood upon the top of fortune's wheel, And backward turn'd the iron screw of fate. The destinies have spun a silken thread About my life; yet, noble Spaniards, see _Hoc tantum tanti_, thus I cast aside The shape of majesty, and on my knee

[_Kneels: the_ CARDINAL _fetches the crown, and sets it on the chair_.

To this imperial state lowly resign This usurpation: wiping off your fears, Which stuck so hard upon me; let a hand, A right and royal hand, take up this wreath, And guard it; right is of itself most strong; No kingdom got by cunning can stand long.

CAR. Proceed to new election of a king.

ALL. Agreed.

ELE. Stay, peers of Spain: if young Philippo Be Philip's son, then is he Philip's heir; Then must his royal name be set in gold; Philip is then the diamond to that ring. But if he be a bastard, here's his seat, For baseness has no gall, till it grow great. First, therefore, let him blood, if he must bleed, Yet in what vein you strike him, best take heed; The Portugal's his friend; you saw he came, At holding up a finger, arm'd: this peace Rid hence his dangerous friendship; he's at home. But when he hears that Philip is tied up. Yet hears not why, he'll catch occasion's lock, And on that narrow bridge make shift to lead A scrambling army through the heart of Spain: Look to't; being in, he'll hardly out again. Therefore first prove and then proclaim him bastard.

ALV. How shall we prove it?

ELE. He that put him out to making, I am sure can tell; if not, Then she that shap'd him can: here's the queen-mother, Being prick'd in conscience, and preferring Spain Before her own respect, will name the man. If he be noble, and a Spaniard born, He'll hide th' apparent scars of their infamies With the white hand of marriage; that and time Will eat the blemish off: say, shall it?

ALL. No.

CAR. Spaniard or Moor, the saucy slave shall die.

HOR. Death is too easy for such villany.

ELE. Spaniard or Moor, the saucy slave shall die? I would he might; I know myself am clear, As is the new-born infant. Madam, stand forth. Be bold to speak: shame in the grave wants sense, Heaven with sin's greatest forfeits can dispense.

QUEEN-M. Would I were cover'd with the veil of night, You might not see red shame sit on my cheeks; But being Spain's common safety stands for truth, Hiding my weeping eyes, I blush and say, Philippo's father sits here.

ROD. Here! name him.

QUEEN-M. The Lord Mendoza did beget that son; O, let not this dishonour further run.

ALV. What, Cardinal Mendoza?

QUEEN-M. Yes, yes, even he.

ELE. Spaniard or Moor, the saucy slave shall die.

CAR. I Philip's father?

[_Comes down, the rest talk._

QUEEN-M. Nay, deny me not; Now may a kingdom and my love be got.

CAR. Those eyes and tongue bewitch me, shame lie here; That love has sweetest taste that is bought dear.

CHRIS. What answers Lord Mendoza to the queen?

CAR. I confess guilty, Philip is my son; Her majesty hath nam'd the time and place.

ALV. To you, but not to us; go forward, madam.

QUEEN-M. Within the circle of twice ten years since, Your deceas'd king made war in Barbary, Won Tunis, conquer'd Fez, and hand to hand Slew great Abdela, King of Fez, and father To that Barbarian prince.

ELE. I was but young, but now methinks I see my father's wounds: poor Barbaria! No more--

QUEEN-M. In absence of my lord, mourning his want, To me alone, being in my private walk-- I think at Salamanca:--yes, 'twas there; Enters Mendoza, under show of shrift,[69] Threatens my death if I denied his lust; In fine, by force he won me to his will: I wept, and cried for help, but all in vain. Mendoza there abus'd the bed of Spain.

ELE. Spaniard or Moor, that saucy slave shall die.

ALV. Why did you not complain of this vile act?

QUEEN-M. Alas! I was alone, young, full of fear, Bashful and doubtful of my own defame; Knowing King Philip rash and jealous, I hid his sins, thinking to hide my shame.

HOR. What says the cardinal?

CAR. Such a time there was; 'Tis pass'd: I'll make amends with marriage, And satisfy with trentals,[70] dirges, prayers, The offended spirit of the wronged king.

[QUEEN _and they talk_.

ELE. Spaniard or Moor, the saucy slave shall die. O, 'twould seem best it should be thus, Mendoza; She to accuse, I urge, and both conclude Your marriage, like a comic interlude. Lords, will you hear this hateful sin confess'd, And not impose upon the ravisher death, The due punishment? O, it must be so.

ALV. What does the queen desire?

QUEEN-M. Justice, revenge, On vile Mendoza for my ravishment. I kiss the cold earth with my humble knees, From whence I will not rise, till some just hand Cast to the ground the traitor cardinal.

ALL. Stand forth, Mendoza.

ELE. Swells your heart so high? Down, lecher; if you will not stand, then lie.

CAR. You have betray'd me by my too much trust; I never did this deed of rape and lust.

ROD. Your tongue confess'd it.

CAR. True, I was entic'd.

ELE. Entic'd! do you believe that?

QUEEN-M. Justice, lords; Sentence the cardinal for his hateful sin.

ALV. We will assemble all the states of Spain, And as they judge, so justice shall be done.

ELE. A guard! To prison with the cardinal.

_Enter_ ZARACK, BALTHAZAR, _and others_.

CAR. Damn'd slave, my tongue shall go at liberty To curse thee, ban that strumpet; dogs, keep off.

ELE. Hist, hist! on, on!

QUEEN-M. I cannot brook his sight.

ALV. You must to prison, and be patient.

CAR. Weep'st thou, Alvero? all struck dumb? My fears Are that those drops will change to bloody tears. This woman and this serpent----

QUEEN-M. Drag him hence.

CAR. Who dares lay hands upon me? Lords of Spain, Let your swords bail me: this false queen did lie.

ELE. Spaniard or Moor, the saucy slave shall die.

CAR. I'll fight thee, damned hellhound, for my life.

ELE. Spaniard or Moor, the saucy slave shall die.

CAR. I'll prove upon thy head----

ELE. The slave shall die.

CAR. Lords, stop this villain's throat.

ELE. Shall die, shall die.

CAR. Hear me but speak.

ELE. Away.

ALV. Words are ill-spent, Where wrong sits judge; you're arm'd, if innocent.

CAR. Well then, I must to prison: Moor, no more. Heavens, thou art just! Prince Philip I betray'd, And now myself fall; guile with guile is paid.

[_Exit._

QUEEN-M. Philip being prov'd a bastard, who shall sit Upon this empty throne?

ELE. Strumpet, not you.

QUEEN-M. Strumpet! and I not sit there, who [shall] then?

ELE. Down! Back! if she touch it, she'll bewitch the chair; This throne belongs to Isabel the fair. Bring forth the princess dress'd in royal robes, The true affecter of Alvero's son, Virtuous Hortenzo. Lords, behold your queen.