Chapter 12

Enter King, Cardinal with letters, [Valesco and Lopez].

KING Commend us to Medina, say his letters Right pleasing are, and that, except himself Nothing could be more welcome. Counsel him, To blot the opinion out of factious numbers, Only to have his ordinary train Waiting upon him. For, to quit all fears Upon his side of us, our very court Shall even but dimly shine with some few Dons, Freely to prove our longings great to peace.

CARDINAL The Constable expects some pawn from you, That in this fairy circle shall rise up No fury to confound his niece nor him.

KING A King's word is engaged.

CARDINAL It shall be taken.

KING Valasco, call the Captain of our Guard, Bid him attend us instantly.

VALASCO I shall.

Exit Valasco.

KING Lopez come hither. See, Letters from Duke Medina, both in the name Of him and all his faction, offering peace, And our old love, his niece Onaelia In marriage with her free and fair consent To Cockadillio, a Don of Spain.

LOPEZ Will you refuse this?

KING My crown as soon. They feel their sinewy plots Belike to shrink i'the joints. And fearing ruin, Have found this cement out to piece up all, Which more endangers all.

LOPEZ How sir? Endangers!

KING Lions may hunted be into the snare, But if they once break loose, woe be to him That first seized on them. A poor prisoner scorns To kiss his jailer. And shall a king be choked With sweet-meats by false traitors! No, I will fawn On them as they stroke me, till they are fast But in this paw. And then...

LOPEZ A brave revenge! The Captain of your Guard.

Enter Alanzo, the Captain.

KING Upon thy life Double our guard this day. Let every man Bear a charged pistol hid, and, at a watch-word Given by a musket, when our self sees time, Rush in, and, if Medina's faction wrestle Against your forces, kill, but if yield, save. Be secret!

ALANZO I am charmed, Sir.

Exit Alanzo.

KING Watch Valasco. If any wear a Cross, feather or glove, Or such prodigious signs of a knit faction, Table their names up. At our court-gate plant Good strength to bar them out, if once they swarm. Do this upon thy life.

VALASCO Not death shall fright me.

Exit [Valasco and Lopez,] enter Balthazar.

BALTHAZAR 'Tis done, Sir.

KING Death! What's Done?

BALTHAZAR Young cub's flayed, but the she-fox shifting her hole is fled. The little jackanapes, the boy's brained.

KING Sebastian?

BALTHAZAR He shall ne'r speak more Spanish.

KING Thou teachest me to curse thee.

BALTHAZAR For a bargain you set your hand to.

KING Half my crown I'd lose were it undone.

BALTHAZAR But half a crown! That's nothing. His brains stick in my conscience more than yours.

KING How lost I the French doctor?

BALTHAZAR As Frenchmen lose their hair. Here was too hot staying for him.

KING Get thou from my sight, the Queen would see thee.

BALTHAZAR Your gold, Sir.

KING Go with Judas and repent.

BALTHAZAR So men hate whores after lust's heat is spent. I'm gone, Sir.

KING Tell me true, is he dead?

BALTHAZAR Dead.

KING No matter. 'Tis but morning of revenge, The sunset shall be red and tragical.

Exit King.

BALTHAZAR Sin is a raven croaking <52> her own fall.

Exit Balthazar.