The Noble Spanish Soldier Part 18

NO No.

BALTHAZAR No? More no's? I know him, let him enter.

MEDINA Signor, I thank your kind intelligence, The news long since was sent into our ears, Yet we embrace your love, so fare you well.

CARLO Will you smell to a sprig of rosemary?

NO No.

BALTHAZAR Will you be hanged?

NO No.

BALTHAZAR This is either Signor No, or no Signor.

MEDINA He makes his love to us a warning piece To arm ourselves against we come to court, Because the guard is doubled.

ALL Tush, we care not.

BALTHAZAR If any here arms his hand to cut off the head, let him first pluck out my throat. In any n.o.ble act I'll wade chin-deep with you. But to kill a King?

MEDINA No hear me...

BALTHAZAR You were better, my Lord, sail five hundred times to Bantam <55> in the West Indies, that once to Barathrum in the Low Countries. It's hot going under the line there, the calenture <56> of the soul is a most miserable madness.

MEDINA Turn then this wheel of fate from shedding blood Till with her own hand Justice weighs all.

BALTHAZAR Good.

Exeunt.

ACT FIVE SCENE THREE

Enter Queen, Malateste.

QUEEN Must then his trul <57> be once more sphered in court To triumph in my spoils, in my eclipses?

And I like moping Juno sit, whilst Jove Varies his l.u.s.t into five hundred shapes To steal to his wh.o.r.e's bed! No Malateste, Italian fires of Jealousy burn my marrow.

For to delude my hopes, the lecherous king Cuts out this robe of cunning marriage, To cover his incontinence, which flames Hot, as my fury, in his black desires.

I am swollen big with child of vengeance now, And till delivered, feel the throws of h.e.l.l.

MALATESTE Just is your imagination, high and n.o.ble, And the brave heat of a true Florentine: For Spain trumpets abroad her interest In the King's heart, and with a black coal draws On every wall your scoffed at injuries, As one that has the refuse of her sheets, And the sick Autumn of the weakened King, Where she drunk pleasures up in the full spring.

QUEEN That, Malateste, that, that torrent wracks me.

But Hymen's torch, held downward, shall drop out, And for it, the mad Furies swing their brands About the bride-chamber.

MALATESTE The priest that joins them, Our twin born malediction.

QUEEN Loud it may speak.

MALATESTE The herbs and flowers to strew the wedding way, Be cypress, eugh, cold colliquintida. <58>

QUEEN Herbane and poppy, and that magical weed Which hags at midnight watch to catch the seed. <59>

MALATESTE To these our execrations, and what mischief h.e.l.l can but hatch in a distracted brain, I'll be the executioner, though it look So horrid it can fright even murder back.

QUEEN Poison his wh.o.r.e today, for thou shalt wait On the King's cup, and when heated with wine He calls to drink the bride's health, marry her Alive to a gaping grave.

MALATESTE At board?

QUEEN At board.

MALATESTE When she being guarded round about with friends, Like a fairy land, hemmed with rocks and seas, What rescue shall I find?

QUEEN Mine arms. Dost faint?

Stood all the Pyrenean hills that part Spain and our country, on each others shoulders, Burning with Aetnean flame, yet thou should'st on, As being my steel of resolution, First striking sparkles from my flinty breast.

Wert thou to catch the horses of the sun Fast by their bridles, and to turn back day, Would'st thou not do it, base coward, to make way To the Italians second bliss, revenge?

MALATESTE Were my bones threatened to the wheel of torture I'll do it.

Enter Lopez.

QUEEN A raven's voice, and it likes me well.

LOPEZ The King expects your presence.

MALATESTE So, so we come.

To turn this bride's day to a day of doom.

Exeunt.

ACT FIVE SCENE FOUR

A banquet set out, cornets sounding; enter at one door, Lopez, Valasco, Alanzo, No. After them King, Cardinal, with Don c.o.c.kadillio, Bridegroom, Queen and Malateste after. At the other door, Alba, Carlo, Roderigo, Medina and Daenia leading Onaelia as bride, Cornego, and Juanna after, Balthazar alone. The Bride and Bridegroom kiss, and by the Cardinal are joined hand in hand. The King is very merry, hugging Medina very lovingly.

KING For half Spain's weigh in ingots I'd not lose This little man today.

MEDINA Not for so much Twice told Sir, would I miss your Kingly presence.

Mine eyes have lost the acquaintance of your face So long, and I so little late read o'er That index of the royal book your mind, That scarce, without your comment, can I tell When in those leaves you turn o'er smiles or frowns.

KING 'Tis dimness of your sight, no fault i'the letter.

Medina, you shall find that free from erratas, And for a proof, if I could breathe my heart In welcome forth, this hall should ring naught else.

Welcome Medina, Good Marquis Daenia, Dons of Spain all welcome.

My dearest love and Queen, be it your place To entertain the bride, and do her grace.

QUEEN With all the love I can, whose fire is such, To give her heat, I cannot burn too much.

KING Contracted bride, and bridegroom sit, Sweet flowers not plucked in season lose their scent, So will our pleasures. Father Cardinal, Methinks this morning new begins our reign.

CARDINAL Peace had her Sabbath ne'r till now in Spain.