Act Five Scene One
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.