Complete Dramatic Works of Thomas Dekker

by Thomas Dekker

  Zarack It is the Cardinal making inquiry if the Queen were here.

  Eleazar See? She’s here, tell him. And yet, Zarack, stay.

  Enter Baltazar.

  BaltazarDon Roderigo is come to seek the Queen.

  Eleazar Why should Roderigo seek her here?

  BaltazarThe King hath swoonedthrice and being recovered,

  Sends up and down the court to seek her grace.

  Eleazar The King was dead with you? Run, and with a voice

  Erected high as mine, say thus, thus threaten

  To Roderigo and the Cardinal,

  Seek no Queen here; I’ll broach them, if they do,

  Upon my falchion’s point; again, more knocking!

  Knock again

  Zarack Your father is at hand, my gracious lord.

  EleazarLock all the chambers, bar him out, you apes.

  Hither a vengeance; stir, Eugenia,

  You know your old walk under ground, away!

  So down bye to the King, quick, quick, you squalls;

  Crawl with your dame, in the dark; dear love, farewell,

  One day I hope to shut you up in hell.

  Eleazar shuts them in.

  Scene II

  Enter Alvero.

  AlveroSon Eleazar, saw you not the Queen?

  Eleazar Hah!

  AlveroWas not the Queen here with you?

  Eleazar Queen with me? Because, my Lord, I’m married to your daughter,

  You (like your daughter) will grow jealous;

  The Queen with me? A Moor, a devil,

  A slave of Barbary, a dog; for so

  Your silken courtiers christen me, but, father,

  Although my flesh be tawny, in my veins

  Runs blood as red and royal as the best

  And proudest in Spain. There goes old man my father

  Who with his empire lost his life,

  And left me captive to a Spanish tyrant, Oh!

  Go tell him! Spanish tyrant! Tell him, do,

  He that can lose a kingdom and not rave,

  He’s a tame jade; I am not: tell old Philip

  I call him tyrant here’s a sword and arms,

  A heart, a head, and so pish!’tis but death

  Old fellow, she’s not here. But ereI die,

  Sword I’ll bequeath thee a rich legacy.

  Alvero Watch fitter hours to think on wrongs than now;

  Death’s frozen hand holds royal Philip’s heart,

  Half of his body lies within a grave;

  Then do not now by quarrels shake that state

  Which is already too much ruined.

  Come and take leave of him before he dies.

  Exit.

  Eleazar I’ll follow you now; purple villainy,

  Sit like an imperial robe on my back,

  That under thee I closely may contrive

  My vengeance. Foul deeds hid do sweetly thrive,

  Mischief erect thy throne and sit in state

  Here, here upon this head; let fools fear fate.

  Thus I defy my stars: I care not I

  How low I tumble down, so I mount high.

  Old time, I’ll wait bare-headed at thy heels,

  And be a foot-boy to thy winged hours;

  They shall not tell one minute out in sands,

  But I’ll set down the number; I’ll still wake,

  And waste these balls of sight by tossing them

  In base observations upon thee.

  Sweet opportunity, I’ll bind myself

  To thee in base apprenticehood so long,

  Till on thy naked scalp grow hair as thick

  As mine; and all hands shall lay hold on thee,

  If thou wilt lend me but thy rusty scythe,

  To cut down all that stand within my wrongs,

  And my revenge. Love dances in twenty forms

  Upon my beauty, that this Spanish dame

  May be bewitched and dote; her amorous flames

  Shall blow up the old King, consume his Sons,

  And make all Spain a bonfire.

  This tragedy being acted here does begin:

  To shed a harlot’s blood can be no sin.

  Exit.

  Scene III

  THE CURTAINS BEING drawn there appears in his bed King Phillip, with his Lords, the Princess Isabella, at the feet Mendoza, Alvero, Hortenzo, Fernando, Roderigo, and to them enter Queen in haste.

  Queen Mother Whose was that screech-owl’s voice, that like the sound

  Of a hell-tortured soul rang through mine ears

  Nothing but horrid shrieks, nothing but death?

  Whilst I, vailing my knees to the cold earth,

  Drowning my withered cheeks in my warm tears,

  And stretching out my arms to pull from heaven

  Health for the Royal Majesty of Spain,

  All cried, the Majesty of Spain is dead:

  That last word dead struck through the echoing air,

  Rebounded on my heart, and smote me down

  Breathless to the cold earth, and made me leave

  My prayers for Philip’s life, but thanks to heaven

  I see him alive, and lives I hope to see

  Unnumbered years to guide this empery.

  King PhillipThe number of my years ends in one day,

  Ere this sun’s down all a King’s glory sets,

  For all our lives are but death’s counterfeits.

  Father Mendoza and you peers of Spain,

  Dry your wet eyes, for sorrow wanted force

  To inspire a breathing soul in a dead corse;

  Such is your King: where’s Isabel our Daughter?

  Mendoza At your bed’s feet confounded in her tears.

  King PhillipShe of your grief the heaviest burthen bears;

  You can but lose a King, but she a father.

  Queen MotherShe bear the heaviest burthen?; oh say rather

  I bear, and am borne down; my sorrowing

  Is for a husband’s loss, loss of a King.

  King PhillipNo more, Alvero! Call the Princess hither.

  AlveroMadam, his majesty does call for you.

  King PhillipCome hither, Isabella, reach a hand;

  Yet now it shall not need; instead of thine

  Death, shoving thee back, clasps his hands in mine,

  And bids me come away, I must, I must;

  Though Kings be gods on earth, they turn to dust.

  Is not Prince Philip come from Portugal?

  Roderigo The Prince as yet is not returned, my Lord.

  King PhillipCommend me to him, if I ne’erbehold him:

  This tells the order of my funeral;

  Do it as ’tis set down: embalm my body;

  Though worms do make no difference of flesh,

  Yet Kings are curious here to dig their graves,

  Such is man’s frailty; when I am embalmed,

  Apparel me in a rich royal robe,

  According to the custom of the land;

  Then place my bones within that brazen shrine

  Which death hathbuilt for my ancestors:

  I cannot name death, but he straight steps in,

  And pulls me by the arm.

  FernandoHis grace doth faint.

  Help me, my lords, softly to raise him up.

  Enter Eleazar and stands sadly by.

  King PhillipLift me not up, I shortly must go down,

  When a few dribbling minutes have run out;

  Mine hour is ended: King of Spain, farewell:

  You all acknowledge him your Sovereign.

  All When you are dead we will acknowledge him.

  King PhillipGovern this kingdom well. To be a King

  Is given to many, but to govern well is

  Granted to few. Have care to Isabel;

  Her virtue was King Philip’s looking-glass.

  Reverence the Queen your mother. Love your sister,

  And the young Prince your brother; even that day

  When Spain shall solemnize my
obsequies,

  And lay me up in earth, let them crown you.

  Where’s Eleazar, Don Alvero’s son?

  FernandoYonder with crossed arms stands he malcontent.

  King PhillipI do commend him to thee for a man

  Both wise and warlike, yet beware of him;

  Ambition wings his spirit: keep him down;

  What will not men attempt to win a crown?

  Mendoza is protector of thy realm;

  I did elect him for his gravity,

  I trust he’ll be a father to thy youth:

  Call help, Fernando! Now I faint indeed.

  FernandoMy Lords.

  King PhillipLet none with a distracted voice

  Shriek out and trouble me in my departure.

  Heaven’s hands, I see, are beckoning for my soul

  I come, I come; thus do the proudest die;

  Death hath no mercy, life no certainty.

  MendozaAs yet his soul’s not from her temple gone,

  Therefore forbear loud lamentation.

  Queen MotherOh he is dead, he’s dead! Lament and die,

  In her King’s end, begins Spain’s misery

  IsabellaHe shall not end so soon; father, dear father!

  FernandoForbear, sweet Isabella, shrieks are vain.

  IsabellaYou cry forbear; you by his loss of breath

  Have won a kingdom, you may cry forbear,

  But I have lost a father, and a King;

  And no tongue shall control my sorrowing.

  Hortenzo Whither,good Isabella?

  IsabellaI will go where I will languish in eternal woe.

  Hortenzo Nay, gentle love.

  Isabella Talk not of love to me.

  The world and the world’s pride henceforth I’ll scorn.

  Exit.

  Hortenzo My love shall follow thee; if thou deny’st

  To live with poor Hortenzo as his wife,

  I’ll never change my love, but change my life.

  Enter Philip hastily.

  PhillipI know he is not dead, I know proud death

  Durst not behold such sacred majesty.

  Why stand you thus distracted? Mother, brother,

  My Lord Mendoza, where’s my Royal father?

  Queen MotherHere lies the temple of his royal soul.

  FernandoHere’s all that’s left of Philip’s majesty.

  Wash you his tomb with tears; Fernando’s moan,

  Hating a partner, shall be spent alone.

  Exit.

  PhillipOh happy father, miserable son!

  Philip is gone to joy; Philip’s forlorn.

  He dies to live; my life with woe is torn.

  Queen MotherSweet son.

  PhillipSweet mother, oh! How I now do shame

  To lay on one so foul so fair a name.

  Had you been a true mother, a true wife,

  This King had not so soon been robbed of life.

  Queen MotherWhat means this rage, my son?

  PhillipCall not me your son!

  My father whilst he lived tired his strong arms

  In bearing Christian armour against the Turks

  And spent his brains in warlike stratagems

  To bring confusion on damned Infidels;

  Whilst you that snorted here at home betrayed

  His name to everlasting infamy;

  Whilst you at home suffered his bed-chamber

  To be a brothel, whilst you at home

  Suffered his Queen to be a concubine,

  And wanton red-cheeked boys to be her bawds

  Whilst she reeking in that lecher’sarms -

  Eleazar Me!

  PhillipVillain, ’tis thee; thou hell-begotten fiend, at thee I stare.

  Queen MotherPhilip, thou art a villain to dishonour me.

  Phillip Mother, I am no villain; ’tis this villain

  Dishonours you and me, dishonours Spain,

  Dishonours all these Lords; this devil is he, that —

  Eleazar What! Oh, pardon me: I must throw off

  All chains of duty; wert thou ten King’s sons,

  Had I as many souls as I have sins,

  As this from hence, so they from this should fly

  In just revenge of this indignity.

  Phillip Give way, or I’ll make way upon your bosoms.

  Eleazar Did my dear sovereign live, sirrah that tongue -

  Queen Mother Did but King Philip live, traitor I’d tell —

  PhillipA tale that should rid both your souls to hell.

  Tell Philip’s ghost, that Philip tells his Queen,

  That Philip’s Queen is a Moor’s Concubine,

  Did the King live I’d tell him how you two

  Ripped up the entrails of his treasury

  With masques and antic revelling.

  Eleazar Words insupportable; dost hear me boy?

  Queen Mother Stand you all still, and see me thus trod down?

  PhilllipStand you all still, yet let this devil stand here?

  MendozaForbear, sweet Prince; Eleazar, I am now

  Protector to Fernando, King of Spain:

  By that authority and by consent

  Of all these peers, I utterly deprive thee

  Of all those royalties thou hold’st in Spain.

  Queen MotherCardinal, who lends thee this commission?

  Eleazar Cardinal, I’ll shorten thee by the head for this.

  PhillipForward, my Lord Mendoza, damn the fiend!

  Eleazar Princes of Spain, consent you to this pride?

  All We do.

  Queen Mother For what cause? Let his faith be tried.

  MendozaHis treasons need no trial, they’re too plain;

  Come not within the court, for if you do,

  To beg with Indian slaves I’ll banish you.

  Exit all but Alvero, Queen and Eleazar.

  Scene IV

  AlveroWhy should my son be banished?

  Enter Maria.

  Queen MotherOf that dispute not now, Alvero;

  I’ll to the King my son; it shall be tried

  If Castile’s King can cool a Cardinal’s pride.

  Exit Queen and Alvero.

  Eleazar If I digest this gall - oh, my Maria,

  I am whipped, and racked, and torn upon the wheel

  Of giddy fortune. She and her minions

  Have got me down and treading on my bosom,

  They cry, lie still. The Cardinal

  (Oh! rare) would ban me away from Spain,

  And banish me to beg; aye, beg with slaves.

  MariaConquer with patience these indignities.

  Eleazar Patience? Ha, ha: yes, yes an honest Cardinal!

  Maria Yet smoother the grief and seek revenge.

  Eleazar Hah! Banish me, s’foot, why say he do;

  There’s Portugal, a good air, and France, a fine country;

  Or Barbary, rich and has Moors; the Turk

  Pure devil and allows enough to fat

  The sides of villainy; good living there:

  I can live there, and there, and there,

  Troth ’tis a villain can live any where:

  But say I go from hence, I leave behind me

  A Cardinal, that will laugh, I leave behind me

  A Philip, that will clap his hands for joy;

  And dance through the Castile Court.

  But the deepest wound of all is this, I leave

  My wrongs, dishonours, and my discontents,

  Oh! unrevenged; my bedrid enemies

  Shall never be raised up by the strong physical,

  Curing of my sword, therefore stay still:

  Many have hearts to strike, that dare not kill.

  Leave me, Maria! Cardinal, this disgrace

  Shall dye thy soul as inky as my face:

  Pish, hence, Maria.

  Enter Alvero.

  MariaTo the King I’ll fly.

  He shall revenge my lord’s indignity.

  Exit.

  AlveroMendoza woos the K
ing to banish thee;

  Startle thy wonted spirits, awake thy soul

  And on thy resolution fasten wings

  Whose golden feathers may out-strip their hate,

  Eleazar I’ll tie no golden feathers to my wings.

  Alvero Shall they thus tread thee down which once were glad

  To lackey by thy conquering Chariot wheels?

  Eleazar I care not! I can swallow more sour wrongs:

  AlveroIf they triumph o’erthee; they spurn me down.

  Eleazar Look, spurn again.

  AlveroWhat ice hath cooled that fire

  Which sometimes made thy thoughts to heaven aspire?

  This patience had not wont to dwell with thee.

  Enter Fernando and Maria.

  EleazarIt is right, but now the world’s changed, you see;

  Though I seem dead to you, here lives a fire.

  No more, here comes the King and my Maria;

  The Spaniard loves my wife; she swears to me,

  She’s chaste as the white moon, well if she be,

  Well too if she be not; I care not:

  I’ll climb up by that love to dignity.

  FernandoThou woo’st me to revenge thy husband’s wrong,

  I woo thy fair self not to wrong thy self;

  Swear but to love me, and to thee I’ll swear

  To crown thy husband with a diadem.

  MariaSuch love as I dare yield, I’ll not deny.

  FernandoWhen in the golden arms of majesty -

  I am broke off; yonder thy husband stands.

  I’ll set him free, if thou untie my bands;

  So much for that. Durst then the Cardinal,

  Put on such insolence? Tell me, fair madam,

  Where’s your most valiant husband?

  Eleazar He sees me and yet inquires for me.

  Maria Yonder, my Lord.

  FernandoEleazar, I have in my breast written down

  From her report your late received disgrace:

  My father loved you dearly, so will I.

  Eleazar True, for my wife’s sake.

  Aside.

  FernandoThis Indignity will I have Interest in for being your King;

  You shall perceive I’ll curb my underling.

  This morning is our coronation

  And father’s funeral solemnized.

  Be present, step into your wonted place;

  We’ll guild your dim disgraces with our grace.

  Exit.

  Eleazar I thank my sovereign that you love my wife;

  I thank thee, wife, that thou wilt lock my head

  In such strong armour, to bear off all blows;

  Who dares say such wives are their husbands’ foes?

  Let’s see now, by her falling I must rise.

  Cardinal, you die, if the King bid me live;