The Spanish Tragedie | Page 9

howre shalbe when Vesper ginnes to rise, That summons home distresfull trauellers. There none shall heare vs but the harmeles birds: Happelie the gentle nightingale Shall carroll vs a-sleepe ere we be ware, And, singing wit the prickle at her breast, Tell our delight and mirthfull dalliance. Till then, each houre will seeme a yeere and more.
HOR. But, honie-sweet and honorable loue, Returne we now into your fathers sight; Dangerous suspition waits on our delight.
LOR. I, danger mixt with iealous despite Shall send thy soule into eternalle night!
Exeunt.

[ACT II. SCENE 3.]
[The Spanish court.]
Enter the KING OF SPAINE, PORTINGALE EMBASSADOUR, DON CIPRIAN, &c.
KING. Brother of Castille, to the princes loue What saies your daughter Bel-imperia?
CIP. Although she coy it, as becomes her kinde, And yet dissemble that she loues the prince, I doubt not, I, but she will stoope in time; And, were she froward, -- which she will not be, -- Yet heerin shall she follow my aduice, Which is to loue him or forgoe my loue.
KING. Then, lord embassadour of Portingale, Aduise thy king to make this marriage vp For strengthening of our late-confirmed league; I know no better meanes to make vs freends. Her dowry shall be large and liberall; Besides that she is daughter and halfe heire Vnto our brother heere, Don Ciprian, And shall enioy the moitie of his land, Ile grace her marriage with an vnckles gift, And this is it: in case the match goe forward, The tribute which you pay shalbe releast; And, if by Balthazar she haue a sonne, He shall enioy the kingdome after vs.
EMBAS. Ile make the motion to my soueraigne liege, And worke it if my counsaile may preuaile.
KING. Doe so, my lord; and, if he giue consent, I hope his presence heere will honour vs In celebration of the nuptiall day, -- And let himselfe determine of the time.
EM. Wilt please your Grace command me ought besid?
KING. Commend me to the king; and so, farewell! But wheres Prince Balthazar, to take his leaue?
EM. That is perfourmd alreadie, my good lord.
KING. Amongst the rest of what you haue in charge, The princes raunsome must not be forgot: Thats none of mine, but his that tooke him prisoner, -- And well his forwardnes deserues reward: It was Horatio, our knight-marshalls sonne.
EM. Betweene vs theres a price already pitcht, And shall be send with all conuenient speed.
KING. Then once againe farewell, my lord!
EM. Farwell, my lord of Castile, and the rest!
Exit.
KING. Now, brother, you must make some little paines To winne faire Bel-imperia from her will; Young virgins must be ruled by their freends. The prince is amiable, and loues her well; If she neglect him and forgoe his loue, She both will wrong her owne estate and ours. Therefore, whiles I doe entertaine the prince With greatest pleasure that our court affoords, Endeauor you to winne your daughters thought. If she giue back, all this will come to naught.
Exeunt.

[ACT II. SCENE 4.]
[HORATIO's garden.]
Enter HORATIO, BEL-IMPERIA, and PEDRINGANO.
HOR. Now that the night begins with sable wings To ouer-cloud the brightnes of the sunne, And that in darkenes pleasures may be done, Come, Bel-imperia, let vs to the bower, And there is safetie passe a pleasant hower.
BEL. I follow thee, my loue, and will not backe, Although my fainting hart controles my soule.
HOR. Why, make you doubt of Pedringanos faith?
BEL. No; he is as trustie as my second selfe. Goe, Pedringano, watch without the gate, And let vs known if any make approach.
PED. [aside] In-steed of watching, Ile deserue more golde By fetching Don Lorenzo to this match.
Exit PED[RINGANO].
HOR. What means my loue?
BEL. I know not what, my-selfe; And yet my hart foretels me some some mischaunce.
HOR. Sweet, say not so; faire Fortune is our freend, And heauens haue shut vp day to pleasure vs. The starres, thou seest, holde back their twinckling shine And Luna hides her-selfe to pleasure vs.
BEL. Thou hast preuailed! Ile conquer my misdoubt, And in thy loue and councell drowne my feare. I feare no more; loue now is all my thoughts! Why sit we not? for pleasure asketh ease.
HOR. The more thou sitst within these leauy bowers, The more will Flora decke it with her flowers.
BEL. I; but, if Flora spye Horatio heere, Her iealous eye will think I sit too neere.
HOR. Harke, madame, how the birds record by night, For ioy that Bel-imperia sits in sight!
BEL. No; Cupid counterfeits the nightingale, To frame sweet musick to Horatios tale.
HOR. If Cupid sing, then Venus is not farre, -- I, thou art Venus, or some fairer starre!
BEL. If I be Venus, thou must needs be Mars; And where Mars raigneth, there must needs be warres.
HOR. Then thus begin our wars: put forth thy hand, That it may combat with my ruder hand.
BEL. Set forth thy foot to