SCENE IV.

ALV. Why should my son be banished?

_Enter_ MARIA.

QUEEN-M. Of that dispute not now. Alvero, I'll to the king my son; it shall be tried, If Castile's king can cool a cardinal's pride.

[_Exeunt_ QUEEN _and_ ALVERO.

ELE. If I digest this gall--O my Maria, I am whipp'd, and rack'd, and torn upon the wheel Of giddy Fortune; she and her minions Have got me down, and treading on my bosom, They cry, _Lie still_: the cardinal (O rare!) would bandy me away from Spain, And banish me to beg--ay, beg with slaves.

MARIA. Conquer with patience these indignities.

ELE. Patience! ha, ha! yes, yes, an honest cardinal!

MARIA. Yet smother [still] the grief, and seek revenge.

ELE. Ha! banish me! s'foot, why, say they do, There's Portugal--a good air, and France--a fine country, Or Barbary--rich, and has Moors; the Turk, Pure devil, and allows enough to fat The sides of villany--good living there! I can live there, and there, and there; Troth, 'tis a villain can live anywhere. But say I go from hence: I leave behind me A cardinal that will laugh; I leave behind me A Philip that will clap his hands for joy. And dance lavoltoes through the Castile court; But the deep'st wound of all is this, I leave My wrongs, dishonours, and my discontents-- O, unreveng'd; my bedrid enemies Shall never be rais'd up by the strong physical Curing of my sword; therefore stay still; Many have hearts to strike, that dare not kill Leave me, Maria. Cardinal, this disgrace Shall dye thy soul as inky as my face. Pish!--hence, Maria.

_Enter_ ALVERO.

MARIA. To the king I'll fly, He shall revenge my lord's indignity.

[_Exit._

ALV. Mendoza woos the king to banish thee. Startle thy wonted spirits, awake thy soul, And on thy resolution fasten wings, Whose golden feathers may outstrip their hate.

ELE. I'll tie no golden feathers to my wings.

ALV. Shall they thus tread thee down, which once were glad To lacquey by thy conquering chariot-wheels?

ELE. I care not: I can swallow more sour wrongs.

ALV. If they triumph o'er thee, they'll spurn me down.

ELE. Look: spurn again!

ALV. What ice hath cool'd that fire, Which sometimes made thy thoughts to heaven aspire? This patience had not wont to dwell with thee.

_Enter_ FERNANDO _and_ MARIA.

ELE. 'Tis right, but now the world is chang'd, you see; Though I seem dead to you, here lives a fire---- No more, here comes the king and my Maria: The Spaniard loves my wife; she swears to me She's chaste as the white moon; well, if she be; Well, too, if she be not, I care not, I; I'll climb up by that love to dignity.

FER. Thou woo'st me to revenge thy husband's wrong, I woo thy fair self not to wrong thyself; Swear but to love me, and to thee I'll swear To crown thy husband with a diadem.

MARIA. Such love as I dare yield, I'll not deny.

FER. When in the golden arms of majesty-- I am broke off--yonder thy husband stands; I'll set him free, if thou unite my bands; So much for that. Durst then the cardinal Put on such insolence? tell me, fair madam, Where's your most valiant husband?

ELE. He sees me, and yet inquires for me.

MARIA. Yonder, my lord.

FER. Eleazar, I have in my breast writ down From her report your late receiv'd disgrace; My father lov'd you dearly, so will I.

ELE. True, for my wife's sake.

[_Aside._

FER. This indignity Will I have interest in; for, being your king, You shall perceive I'll curb my underling. This morning is our coronation, and [Our] father's funeral solemnised. Be present, step into your wonted place, We'll gild your dim disgraces with our grace.

[_Exeunt._

ELE. I thank my sovereign that you love my wife; I thank thee, wife, that thou wilt lock my head In such strong armour to bear off all blows; Who dare say such wives are their husbands' foes? Let's see now, by her falling I must rise; Cardinal, you die if the king bid me live; Philip, you die for railing at me; Proud lord, you die, that with Mendoza cried, Banish the Moor. And you, my loving liege, you're best sit fast: If all these live not, you must die at last.