SCENE IV.

HORTENZO, QUEEN-MOTHER, CARDINAL, _and_ PHILIP, _chained by the necks_. ZARACK _and_ BALTHAZAR _busy about fastening_ HORTENZO.

HOR. You damned ministers of villany, Sworn to damnation by the book of hell; You maps of night, you element of devils, Why do you yoke my neck with iron chains?

BAL. Many do borrow chains, but you have this Gratis for nothing.

CAR. Slaves, unbind us.

BOTH. No.

[_Exeunt the two Moors._

PHIL. I am impatient; veins, why crack you not, And tilt your blood into the face of heaven, To make red clouds, like ensigns in the sky, Displaying a damn'd tyrant's cruelty! Yet can I laugh in my extremest pangs Of blood and spirit to see the cardinal Keep rank with me, and my vile mother-queen, To see herself where she would have me seen. Good fellowship, i' faith!

HOR. And I can tell, True misery loves a companion well.

PHIL. Thou left'st me to the mercy of a Moor That hath damnation dyed upon his flesh; 'Twas well; thou, mother, didst unmotherly Betray thy true son to false bastardy; Thou left'st me then: now thou art found and staid, And thou, who didst betray me, art betray'd. A plague upon you all!

CAR. Thou cursest them Whom I may curse: first, may I curse myself, Too credulous of loyalty and love; Next may I curse the Moor, more than a devil; And last thy mother, mother of all evil.

QUEEN-M. All curses and all crosses light on thee! What need I curse myself, when all curse me? I have been deadly impious, I confess: Forgive me, and my sin will seem the less. This heavy chain, which now my neck assaults, Weighs ten times lighter than my heavy faults.

PHIL. Hortenzo, I commend myself to thee; Thou that are near'st, stand'st furthest off from me.

HOR. That mould of hell, that Moor, has chain'd me here; 'Tis not myself, but Isabel I fear.