A Select Collection of Old English Plays Part 47

ZAR. I'll stop you on your way; Lie there, thy tongue shall tell no tales to-day.

[_Stabs him._

PHIL. Nor thine to-morrow: this revenge was well.

[_Stabs him._

By this time both the slaves shake hands in h.e.l.l.

ISA. Philippo and Hortenzo, stand you still?

What, doat you both? Cannot you see your play?

Well fare a woman then to lead the way.

Once rob the dead; put the Moors' habits on, And paint your faces with the oil of h.e.l.l: So, waiting on the tyrant----

PHIL. Come, no more, 'Tis here and here: room there below; stand wide, Bury them well, since they so G.o.dly died.

HOR. Away then, fate: now let revenge be plac'd.

PHIL. Here.

HOR. And here; a tyrant's blood doth sweetly taste.

[_Exeunt._

SCENE VI.

_Enter_ ELEAZAR, ALVERO, RODERIGO, CHRISTOFERO, _and other Lords_.

ELE. What, I imprison! Who?

ALL. Philip and Hortenzo.

ELE. Philip and Hortenzo! ha, ha, ha!

ROD. Why laughs the Moor?

ELE. I laugh, because you jest: Laugh at a jest. Who, I imprison them?

I prize their lives with weights, their necks with chains, Their hands with manacles! do I all this?

Because my face is in night's colour dyed, Think you my conscience and my soul is so?

Black faces may have hearts as white as snow; And 'tis a general rule in moral schools,[76]

The whitest faces have the blackest souls.

ALV. But touching my Hortenzo----

ELE. Good old man, I never touch'd him; do not touch me then With thy Hortenzo.

CHRIS. Where's Philip too?

ELE. And where is Philip too?

I pray, I pray, is Philip a tame Spaniard?

What, can I Philip him hither, hither make him fly?

First, where's Hortenzo? Where's Philip too?

ROD. And where is Isabel? She was with you.

ELE. And where is Isabel? She was with me!

_Enter_ PHILIP _and_ HORTENZO, _like Moors_.

And so are you; yet are you well, you see: But in good time, see where their keepers come.

Come hither, Zarack; Balthazar, come hither: Zarack, old Lord Alvero asks of thee Where young Hortenzo is.

HOR. My lord, set free.

ELE. O, is he so? Come hither, Balthazar: Lord Christofero here would ask of thee Where Prince Philippo is.

PHIL. My lord, set free.

ELE. O, is he so?

Roderigo asketh me for Isabel.

PHIL. I say, my lord, she's free.

ELE. O, is she so?

PHIL. Believe me, lords.

HOR. And me.

PHIL. I set Philippo----

HOR. I, Hortenzo free.

ELE. My lords, because you shall believe me too, Go to the castle: I will follow you.

ALV. Thanks to the mighty Moor; and, for his fame, Be more in honour than thou art in name: But let me wish the other prisoners well, The queen and cardinal: let all have right, Let law absolve them, or dissolve them quite.

ELE. Grave man, thy grey hairs paint out gravity, Thy counsels wisdom, thy wit policy.

There let us meet, and with a general brain Erect the peace of spirit and of Spain.

ALV. Then will Spain flourish.

ELE. Ay, when it is mine.

ROD. O heavenly meeting!

ELE. We must part in h.e.l.l.