"Awake, Revenge! or we are woe-be-gone. 252
"Rev. Thus worldlings ground what they have
dreamed upon.

"Content thyself, Andrea, though I sleep,
"Yet is 253 my mood soliciting their souls:
"Suffice it thee that poor Hieronimo
"Cannot forget his son Horatio.

"Nor dies Revenge, although he sleep a while:
"For in unquiet, quietness is feigned, 25+
"And slumbering is a common worldly wile.
"Behold, Andrea, for an instance, how
"Revenge hath slept, and then imagine thou,
"What 'tis to be subject to destiny.

Enter a Dumb Show.

"Ghost. Awake, Revenge! reveal this mystery.

"Rev. The two first, the nuptial torches bore,

255 As brightly burning as the mid-day's sun: "But after them doth Hymen hie as fast, "Clothed in sable, and a saffron robe, "And blows them out, and quencheth them with blood,

"As discontent that things continue so.

"Ghost. Sufficeth me thy meaning's understood,

"And thanks to 256 thee, and those infernal powers,

"That will not tolerate a lover's woe.
"Rest thee, for I will sit to 257
"Rev. Then 258
request.

see the rest argue not, for thou hast thy

[Exeunt."

Enter BELIMPERIA and HIERONIMO.

Bel. Is this the love thou bear'st Horatio?
Is this the kindness that thou counterfeit'st?
Are these the fruits of thy incessant tears?
Hieronimo, are these thy passions,
Thy protestations, and thy deep laments,
That thou wert wont to weary men withal?
Oh, unkind father! oh, deceitful world!
With what excuses can'st thou shew thyself?
With what dishonour, and the hate of men,
From this dishonour, and the hate of men;
Thus to neglect the loss and life 259 of him,
Whom both my letters, and thine own belief,
Assures thee to be causeless slaughtered?
Hieronimo, for shame! Hieronimo,
Be not a history to after-times
Of such ungratitude unto thy son;
Unhappy mothers of such children then,
But monstrous fathers to forget so soon
The death of those, whom they with care and cost
Have tendered so, thus careless should be lost.
Myself, a stranger in respect of thee,

So loved his life, as still I wish their deaths.
Ner shall his death be unrevenged by me,
Although I bear it out for fashion's 260 sake;
For here I swear, in sight of heaven and earth,
Should'st thou neglect the love thou should'st re-
tain,

And give it over, and devise no more,
Myself should send their bateful souls to hell,
That wrought his downfal, with extremest death.

Hier. But may it be, that Belimperia
Vows such revenge as she hath deigned to say?
Why then I see that heaven applies our drift,
And all the saints do sit soliciting

For vengeance ou those cursed murderers.
Madam, 'tis true, and now I find it so:
I found a letter, written in your name,
And in that letter, how Horatio died.
Pardon, O pardon, Belimperia,
My fear and care in not believing it;
Nor think I thoughtless think upon a mean,
To let his death be unrevenged at full:
And here I vow, so you but give consent,
And will conceal my resolution,

I will ere long determine of their deaths,
That causeless thus have murdered my son.

Bel. Hieronimo, I will consent, conceal,
And aught 261 that may effect for thine avail
Join with thee to revenge Horatio's death.

Hier. On, 262 then; whatsoever I devise, Let me intreat you, grace my practices : For why, the plot's already in my head.— Here they are.

Enter BALTHEZAR and LORENZO. Bal. How now, Hieronimo? what, courting Belimperia?

Hier. Aye, my lord, such courting as I promise

252 Woe begone-Lost in woe.

253 In, 1618 21.33.
255 Bright, 1618. 23.33.
257 Unto, 16.8 23.33.

259 Life and loss, 1618. 29. 33. 261 What, 1633.

yourselves of me;

For you have given me cause, aye, by my faith 263

have you.

Bal. It pleased you, at the entertainment of the
ambassador,

To grace the king so much as with a show:
Now were your study so well furnished,
As for the passing of the first night's sport,
To entertain my father with the like,
Or any such like pleasing motion,
Assure yourself it would content them well.
Hier. Is this all?

Lor. Aye, this is all.

Hier. Why, then, I'll fit you, say no more.
264 When I was young, I gave my mind,
And plied myself to fruitless poetry;
Which, though it profit the professor nought,

Yet is it 265 passing pleasing to the world.

Lor. And how for that?

Hier. Marry, my good lord, thus:
And yet methinks you are too quick with us.
When in Toledo, there I studied,

It was my chance to write a tragedy,
See here, my lords, [Shows them a Book.
Which, long forgot, I found this other day;
Now would your lordships favour me so much
As but to grace me with your acting it,—
I mean each one of you to play a part,—
Assure you it will prove most passing strange,
And wondrous plausible to the assembly.

Bal. What, would you have us play a tragedy?
Hier. Why, Nero thought it no disparagement;
And kings and emperors have ta'en delight,
To make experience of their wits in plays.

Lor. Nay, be not angry, good Hieronimo, The prince but asked you a question.

Bal. In faith, Hieronimo, and you be in earnest, I'll make one.

Lor. And I another.

Hier. Now, my good lord, could you intreat Your sister Belimperia to make one: For what's a play without a woman in't?

Bel. Little intreaty shall serve me, Hieronimo; For I must needs be employed in your play. Hier. Why this is well: I tell you, lordlings, It was determined to have been acted

Such as could tell what to speak.

Bal. And now it shall be 266 played by princes and courtiers,

Such as can tell how to speak;

If, as it is our country manner,

You will but let us know the argument.

Hier. That shall I roundly.--The chronicles of
Spain

Record this written of a knight of 267 Rhodes:
He was betrothed, and wedded at the length,
To one Perseda, an Italian dame,
Whose beauty ravished all that her beheld;
Especially the soul of Solyman,

Who at the marriage was the chiefest guest.
By sundry means sought Solyman to win
Perseda's love, and could not gain the same;
Then 'gan he break his passion to a friend,
One of his Bashaws, whom he held full dear;
Her had this Bashaw long solicited,

And saw she was not otherwise to be won
But by her husband's death, this knight of Rhodes;
Whom presently by treachery he slew :

She, stirred with an exceeding hate therefore,
As cause of this slew Solyman;

And, to escape the Bashaw's tyranny,
Did stab herself:-and this 268 the tragedy.
Lor. Aye, sir.

Bel. But say, Hieronimo, what then became of
him

That was the Bashaw?

Hier. Marry, thus: Moved with remorse of his

misdeeds,

Ran to a mountain top, and 269 hung himself.
Bal. But which of us is to perform that part?
Hier. O, that will I, my lords, make no doubt
of it,

I'll play the murderer, I warrant you;
For I already have conceited that.
Bal. And what shall I?

Hier. Great Solyman, the 270 Turkish emperor.
Lor. And I?

Hier. Erasto, the knight of Rhodes.
Bel. And I?

Hier. Perseda, chaste, and resolute.-
And here, my lords, are several abstracts drawn,
For each of you to note your parts,

163 Honour, 1618. 23. 33.

265 It is, 1633.

267 Of the Rhodes, 1618. 269 Hanged, 1618. 23. 33.

And none but I bestir me to no end:
And as I curse this tree from farther fruit,
So shall my womb be cursed for his sake;
And with this weapon will I wound the breast,
The hapless breast that gave Horatio suck.

[She stabs herself. Enter HIERONIMO, he knocks up the Curtain. Enter the Duke of Castile.

Cast. How now, Hieronimo, where's your fellows,

That you take all this pain?

Hier. O, sir, it is for the author's credit,
To look that all things may go well;
But, good my lord, let me intreat your grace
To give the king the, copy of the play;
This is the argument of what we show.
Cast. I will, Hieronimo.

Hier. One thing more, my good 283 lord.
Cast. What's that?

284

282

Hier. Let me intreat your grace, That when the train are past into the gallery, You would vouchsafe to throw me down the key. Cast. I will, Hieronimo. [Exit Castile. Hier. What are you ready, Balthezar ? Bring a chair and a cushion for the king.

Enter BALTHEZAR with a Chair.

Well done, Balthezar, hang up the title;
Our scene is Rhodes. What, is your beard on?
Bal. Half on, the other is in my hand.
Hier. Dispatch for shame! are you so long?-
[Exit BALTHEZAR,

Bethink thyself, Hieronimo,
Recal thy wits, recount thy former wrongs,
Thou hast received by murder of thy son.
And lastly, though not least, how Isabel,
Once his mother, and my dearest wife,

All woe-begone 285 for him, hath slain herself.
Behoves thee then, Hieronimo, to be revenged!
The plot is laid of dire revenge.

On then, 286 Hieronimo, pursue revenge;
For nothing wants, but acting of revenge. [Exit.

Enter Spanish King, Viceroy, Duke of Castile, and their Train..

King. Now, Viceroy, shall we see the tragedy Of Solyman the Turkish emperor, Performed of pleasure by your 287 son the prince, My nephew, Don Lorenzo, and my niece? Vice. Who, Belimperia?

King. Aye, and Hieronimo, our marshal,

Bul. Bashaw, that Rhodes is ours, yield heavens the honour,

And holy Mahomet our sacred prophet:
And be thou graced with every excellence,
That Solyman can give, or thou desire.
But thy desert in conquering Rhodes is less,
Than in reserving this fair Christian 289 nymph,
Perseda, blissful lamp of excellence,
Whose eyes compel like powerful adamant
The warlike heart of Solyman to wait.

King. See Viceroy, that is Balthezar your son,
That represents the emperor Solyman:
How well he acts his amorous passion!

Vice. Aye, Belimperia hath taught him that. Cast. That's because his mind runs all on Belimperia.

Hier. Whatever joy earth yields, betide 290 majesty.

your

Bal. Earth yields no joy without Perseda's love. Hier. 291 Let then Perseda on your grace at

tend.

Bal. She shall not wait on me, but I on her, Drawn by the influence of her lights, I yield; But let my friend the Rhodian knight come forth, Erastus dearer than my life to me,

That he may sce Perseda my beloved.

Enter LORENZO.

King. Here comes Lorenzo-Look upon the plot,

And tell me, brother, what part plays he?
Bel. Ah, my Erastus, welcome to Perseda.
Lor. Thrice happy is Erastus that thou livest;
Rhodes' loss is nothing to Erastus' joy,
Sith his Perseda lives, his life survives.
Bal. Ah, Bashaw, here is love betwixt Erastus
And fair Perseda, sovereign of my soul.

Hier. Remove Erastus, mighty Solyman,

282 Thy, 1618. 23. 33.

284 Is, 1618. 23. 33.

286

On them, 1618. 23. 33.

288 Denie, 1618.

29 Betinde, 1618.