And. Nay, sweet love, cease; To be denied our honour, why 'twere base To breathe and live; and 17 war in such a case Is even as necessary as our blood.

Swords are in season then when right's withstood:
Deny us tribute, that so many years

We have in peace told out; why it would raise
Spleen in the host of angels! 'twere enough
To make our tranquil saints of angry stuff.

Bel. You have o'erwrought the chiding of my breast;

And by that argument you firmly prove

brows;

Prince Balthezar his son

Grew violent, and wish'd the fight begun.

Enter LORENZO.

Lor. So. so, I have sent my slave to hell; Though he blab there, the devils will not tell.

16 A Tucket within.

Spain. How now! what means this trumpet's sound?

Enter a Messenger.

Mes. My leege, the Portugals Are up in arms glittering in steel.

Spain. Where's our lord general, Lorenzo,
stout Andrea,

With whom I rank sprightly Horatio?
What! for shame, shall the Portugals
Trample the fields before you?

Gen. No, my leege, there's time enough
To let out blood enough: tribute shall flow,
Out of their bowels, and be tendered so.
Spain. Farewell, brave lords; my wishes are
bequeath'd,

A nobler rank of spirits never breath'd. [Exeunt King and Nobles. Jer. O, my sweet boy, heaven shield thee still from care!

O, be as fortunate as thou art fair!

Hor. And heaven bless you, my father, in this fight,

That I may see your grey head crowned in white! [Exeunt.

Enter ANDREA and BELLIMPERIA. Bel. You came but now, must you part again? You told me that your spirit

Should put on peace; but, see, war follows war.

Lend me thy loving and thy warlike arm,
On which I knit this soft and silken charm,
Tied with an amorous knot: O, may it prove
Inchanted armour, being charmed by love;
That when it mounts up to thy warlike crest,
It may put by the sword, and so be blest.

And. O what divinity proceeds from love! What happier fortune then myself can move Hark! the drum beckons me; sweet dear, farewell!

This scarf shall be my charm 'gainst foes and hell. Bel. O, let me kiss thee first.

And. The drum again!

Bel. Hath that more power than I?
And. Do't quickly then: farewell!

[Exit ANDREA: Bel. Farewell! O cruel part! Andrea's bosom bears away my heart. [Exit BELLIMPERIA.

Enter BALTHEZAR, ALEXANDRO, VOLLUPO, Don PEDRO, with Soldiers, Drum, and Colours. Bal. Come, valiant spirits, you peers of Por

tugal,

That owe your lives, your faiths, and services,
To set you free from base captivity.
O let our fathers' scandal ne'er be seen
As a base blush upon our free-born cheeks;
Let all the tribute that proud Spain received
Of those all captive Portugales deceased,
Turn into chafe, and choke their insolence.
Methinks no moiety, not one little thought
Of them whose servile acts live in their graves,
But should raise spleens big as a cannon-bullet
Within your bosoins: O, for honour,
Your country's reputation, your lives' freedom,
Indeed your all that may be termed revenge,
Now let your bloods be liberal as the sea;
And all those wounds that you receive of Spain,

Let theirs be equal to quit yours again.
Speak, Portugales! are you resolved as I,
To live like captives, or as free-born die?
Vol. Prince Balthezar, as you say, so say we;
To die with honour, scorn captivity.

Alex. Why, spoke like true Portugales indeed;
I am assured of your forwardness.
Now, Spain, sit firm, I'll make thy towers shake,
And all that gold thou hadst from Portugal,
Which makes thy court melt in luxuriousness,
I vow to have it treble at thy hands.
Hark, Portugales! I hear their Spanish drum:
March on, and meet them; this must be the day,
That all they have received they back must pay.
[The Portugales march about.

Enter JERONIMO, ANDREA, HORATIO, LORENZO, Lord General, ROGERO, and Attendants, with Drum and Colours.

Jer. What, are you braving us before we come! We'll be as shrill as you: strike alarum, drum. [They sound a flourish on both sides.

Bal. Thou inch of Spain! Thou man, from thy hose downward scarce so much!

Thou very little longer than thy beard!
Speak not such big words; they'll throw thee
down,

Little Jeronimo! words greater than thyself!
It must be.

Jer. And thou long thing of Portugal, why not? Thou, that art full as tall

As an English gallows, upper beam and all,
Devourer of apparel, thou huge swallower,
My hose will scarce make thee a standing collar.
What! have I almost quited you?

And. Have done,

Impatient Marshal.

Bal. Spanish combatants,

What! do you set a little pigmy marshal
To question with a prince?

And. No, prince Balthezar;

I have desired him peace, that we might war:
What is the tribute-money tendered yet?
Bal. Tribute? ha, ha!

What else: Wherefore meet our drums,
But to tender and receive the sums

Of
many a bleeding heart, which, ere sun fall,
Shall pay dear tribute, even their lives and all.
And. Prince Balthezar, I know your valiant
spirit;

I know your courage to be tried and good,
And yet, O prince, be not confirmed in blood:
Not that I taste of fear or cowardice,
But of religion, piety, and love

To many bosoms, that yet firmly move
Without disturbed spleens. O, in thy heart,
Weigh the dear drops of many a purple part,

That must be acted on the field's green stage
Before the evening dews quench the sun's rage,
Let tribute be appeased and so stayed,
And let not wonted fealty be denaved 13
To our desertful kingdom. Portugales,
Keep your forefathers' oaths; that virtue craves;
Let them not lie foresworn now in their graves,
To make their ashes perjured and unjust,
For heaven can be revenged on their dust.
They swore to Spain, both for themselves and you;
And will posterity prove their sires untrue?
This should not be 'mong men of virtuous sprit:
Pay tribute then, and receive peace and writ.
Bal. O virtuous coward!
Hor. O ignoble spirit!

To term him coward for his virtuous merit!

And, Coward! nay, then, relentless rib of stee,
What virtue cannot, thou shalt make him feel.
Lor. Proud Alexandro, thou art mine.
Alex. Agreed.

Rog. And thou, Vollupo, mine.
Vol. I'll make thee bleed.

Hor. And thou, Don Pedro, mine.

Don Ped. I care not whose; or thine, or thine, or all at once.

Bal. I bind thee, Don Andrea, by thy honour, Thy valiancy, and all that thou hold'st great, To meet me single in the battle's heat;

Where I'll set down, in characters on thy flesh, Four precious lines, spoke by our father's mouth, When first thou cam'st embassador; these they

are:

'Tis said we shall not answer, at next birth,
Our fathers' faults in heaven, why then on earth?
Which proves and shows,

That what they lost by base captivity,
We may redeem with wonted valiancy:
And to this crimson end our colours spread;
Our courages are new born, our valours bread,
Therefore, Andrea, as thou tenderest fame,
Wars, reputation, and a soldier's name,
Meet me.

And. I will.

Bal. Single me out.

And. I shall.

Alex. Do you the like.

Lor. And you all, and we.

And. Can we be foes, and all so well agreed? Bal. Why, man, in war there's bleeding amity; And he this day gives me the deepest wound, I'll call him brother.

And. Theu, prince, call me so;

To gain that name, I'll give the deepest blow. Jer. Nay, then, if brotherhood by strokes come due,

I hope, boy, thou wilt gain a brother too.
Hor. Father, doubt it not.
And. Lord general,

Jer. Aye, aye, Don Pedro, my boy shall meet thee.

Come, valiant spirits of Spain;
Valiant Andrea, fortunate Lorenzo,
Worthy Rogero, sprightly Horatio;
O, let me dwell a little on that name!
Be all as fortunate as heaven's blest host,
But, blame me not, I'd have Horatio most;
Ride all conquerors when the fight is done,
Especially ride thee home so, my son.
So now kiss and embrace: Come, come,
I am war's tutor :-strike alarum, drum.

[Exeunt. [After a long alarum, the Portugales and Spaniards meet. The Portugales are put to the

Made of the ribs of Mars and fortitude?
He promised to meet fair, and single me
Out o'the misty battle. Did you search
The left wing for him? speak.

Capt. We did, my lord.

And. And could he not be found?
Capt. Not in that wing, my lord.

And. Why, this would vex the resolution
Of a suffering spleen!--Prince Balthezar !
Portugal's valiant heir!

The glory of our foe, the heart of courage,
The very soul of true nobility,

I call thee by thy right name, answer me !—
Go, captain, pass the left wing squadron; hie!
Mingle yourself again amidst the army;
Pray, sweat to find him out.- [Exit Captain.
This place I'll keep :

Now wounds are wide, and blood is very deep.
'Tis now about the heavy dread of battle,
Soldiers drop down as thick as if death mowed
them;

As sith men trim the long-haired ruffian fields, So fast they fall, so fast to fate life yields.

Bal. I can hold no longer!

And. Worthy Rogero, sure 'twas multitudes

And. Mine, for a wager.

Bal. Thine! what wager, say?

And. I hold three wounds to one.

Could ne'er o'erwhelm thee in such crimson

streams,

And no mean blood shall quit it.-Balthezar,

Aler. Why, look;

Witness the naked truth upon my breast.
Come, let's meet, let's meet,

And break our haughty sculls down to our feet.

[They fight. ALEXANDRO beats in ROGERO. Enter LORENZO and Don PEDRO at one Door, and ALEXANDRO and ROGERO at another Door.LORENZO kills Don PEDRO, and ALEXANDRO kills ROGERO. Enter at one Door ANDREA, at

another Door BALTHEZAR.

And. O me, ill stead! valiant Rogero slain! Bal. O my sad fates! Don Pedro weltering in his gore!

O could I meet Andrea, now my blood's a tiptoe, This hand and sword should melt him:

Valiant Don Pedro !

Bal, Andrea, we meet in blood now.

And. Aye, in valiant blood of Don Rogero's shedding,

And each drop is worth a thousand Portugales. Bal. I'll top thy head, for that ambitious word. And. You cannot, prince: see a revengeful sword

Waves o'er my head.

Bal. Another over mine;

Let them both meet, in crimson tinctures shine. [They fight; and ANDREA hath Balthezar

down.

Enter Portugales, and relieve Balthezar, and kill ANDREA.

And. O, I am slain! help me, Horatio!
My foes are base, and slay me cowardly.
Farewell, dear, dearest Bellimperia !
Yet herein joy is mingled with sad breath:
I keep her favour longer than my breath.

[He dies. Sound alarum. ANDREA slain, and Prince BALTHEZAR vaunting on him. Enter JERONIMO, HORATIO, and Lord General. Hor. My other soul, my bosom, my heart's friend,

O, my Andrea, slain! I have the price of him In princely blood.

Prince Balthezar, my sword shall strike true strains, And fetch Andrea's ransom forth thy veins.Lord general, drive them hence, while I make

So strong a courage in so green a set.

Hor. If thou be'st valiaut, cease these idle words,

And let revenge hang on our glittering swords, With this proud prince, the haughty Balthezar.

[HORATIO has Prince BALTHEZAR down; then

enter LORENZO and seizes his weapon. Hor. Hand off, Lorenzo; touch not my prisoner. Lor. He's my prisoner;

I seized his weapons first.

Hor. O, base renown! 'tis easy to seize those, Were forced laid down.

19 Pollares-Poles headed by axes.

Contus securi munitus. Skinner.

steed.

Hor. Well, my lord,

To you a while I tender my whole prisoner.
Lor. Horatio,

You tender me part of mine own, you know.
Hor. Well, peace; with my blood dispense,
Until my liege shall end the difference.

Jer. Lorenzo, thou dost boast of base renown; Why, I could whip all these, were their hose down. Hor. Speak, prince, to whether dost thou yield? Bal. The vanquished yields to both, to you first. Hor. O, abject prince! what, dost thou yield to two?

Jer. Content thee, boy; thou shalt sustain no

wrong.

I'll to the king before, and let him know
The sum of victory, and his overthrow.

[Exit JERONIMO. Lor. Andrea slain! thanks to the stars above. I'll choose my sister out her second love.

[Exeunt LORENZO and BALTHEZAR. Hor. Come, noble rib of honour, valiant carcase! I loved thee so entirely when thou breathedst, That I could die wert but to bleed with thee, And wish me wounds, even for society. Heaven and this arm once saved thee from thy foe,

When his all-wrathful sword did basely point
At the rich circle of thy labouring heart,
Thou groveling under indignation

Of sword and ruth: O then stept heaven and I
Between the stroke, but now alack must die.
Since so the powers above have writ it down,
In marble leaves, that death is mortal crown ;
Come then, my friend, in purple I will bear
Thee to my private tent, and then prepare
For honour'd funeral for thy melting corse.

[He takes his Scarf and ties it about his arm. This scarf I'll wear in memory of our souls And of our mutual loves; here, here, I'll wind it; And full as often as I think on thee, I'll kiss this little ensign, this soft banner, Smear'd with foes' blood, all for the master's ho

nour.

Alas! I pity Bellimperia's eyes, Just at this instant, her heart sinks and dies. [Exit HORATIO carrying ANDREA on his back.

Enter JERONIMO solus.

Jer. My boy adds treble comfort to my age; His share is greatest in the victory. The Portugales are slain, and put to flight By Spaniards force, most by Horatio's might. I'll to the Spanish tents to see my soll,

ral of ANDREA: next HORATIO and LORENZO, leading Prince BALTHEZAR captive; then the Lord General, with others, mourning. A great cry within, Charon, a boat, a boat! then enter CHARON, and the Ghost of ANDREA.

Hor. O, my lords,

See, Don Andrea's ghost salutes me! see, embraces me!

Lor. It is your love that shapes this apparition, 20

Hor. Do you not see him plainly, lords? Now he would kiss my cheek. O, my pale friend, Wert thou any thing but a ghost, I could love thee. See, he points at his own hearse; mark all, As if he did rejoice at funeral.

And. Revenge, give my tongue freedom to paint her part,

To thank Horatio, and commend his heart.
Revenge. No, you'll blab secrets then?
And. By Charon's boat, I will not.
Revenge. Nay, you shall not; therefore pass;
Secrets in hell are locked with doors of brass :
Use action if you will, but not in voice,
Your friend conceives, in signs, how you rejoice.
Hor. See, see, he points to have us
ward on:

21

go forI pr'ythee rest, it shall be done, sweet Don. O, now he's vanished.

[Sound Trumpets, and a peal of Ordnance. And. I am a happy ghost;

Revenge, my passage now cannot be crost.
Come, Charon; come, hell's sculler, waft me o'er
Your sable streams, which look like moulten pitch;
My funeral rites are made, my hearse hung rich.
[Exeunt Ghost and Revenge. A great noise
within.

Within. Charon, a boat! Charou, Charon !
Charon. Who calls so loud on Charon?
Indeed 'tis such a time, the truth to tell,
I never want a fare, to pass to hell.

[Exeunt.

21 Us-The quarto reads, his.

30