[_Embraces him_.
--Shall _Abdelazer_ fall?
_Card_. Yes, upon thee-- Like the tall Ruins of a falling Tower, To crush thee into Dust-- [_As they embrace, the Guards seize him and the rest_.
Traitor and b.a.s.t.a.r.d, I arrest thee of High-Treason.
_Phil_. Hah!--Traitor!--and b.a.s.t.a.r.d--and from thee!
[_They hold_ Philip"s _Hands_.
_Card_. Guards, to your Hands the Prisoner is committed.
There"s your Warrant--_Alonzo_, you are free.
[_Ex_. Card.
_Phil_. Prithee lend me one Hand--to wipe my Eyes, And see who "tis dares authorize this Warrant: --The Devil and his Dam!--the Moor and Queen!
Their Warrant!--G.o.ds! _Alonzo_, must we obey it?
Villains, you cannot be my Jailors; there"s no Prison, No Dungeon deep enough; no Gate so strong, To keep a Man confin"d--so mad with Wrong.
--Oh, dost thou weep, _Alonzo_?
_Alon_. I wou"d fain shed a Tear, But from my Tears so many Show"rs are gone, They are too poor to pay your Sorrow"s Tribute; There is no Remedy, we must to Prison.
_Phil_. Yes, and from thence to Death-- I thought I should have had a Tomb hung round With tatter"d Ensigns, broken Spears and Javelins; And that my Body, with a thousand Wounds, Shou"d have been borne on some triumphant Chariot, With solemn Mourning, Drums, and Trumpets sounding; Whilst all the wondring World with Grief and Envy, Had wish"d my glorious Destiny their own: But now, _Alonzo_--like a Beast I fall, And hardly Pity waits my Funeral.
[_Exeunt_.
ACT V.
SCENE I. _A Presence-Chamber, with a Throne and Canopy.
Enter_ Abdelazer, Cardinal, Alonzo, Ordonio, Roderigo, _and other Lords, one bearing the Crown, which is laid on the Table on a Cushion; the_ Queen, Leonora, _and Ladies.
They all seat themselves, leaving the Throne and Chair of State empty_. Abdelazer _rises and bows_, Roderigo _kneeling, presents him with the Crown_.
_Abd_. Grandees of _Spain_, if in this royal Presence There breathes a Man, who having laid his hold So fast on such a Jewel, and dares wear it, In the Contempt of Envy, as I dare; Yet uncompell"d (as freely as the G.o.ds Bestow their Blessings) wou"d give such Wealth away; Let such a Man stand forth--are ye all fix"d?
No wonder, since a King"s a Deity.
And who"d not be a G.o.d?
This glorious Prospect, when I first saw the Light, Met with my Infant Hopes; nor have those Fetters (Which e"er they grew towards Men, Spain taught me how to wear) Made me forget what"s due to that ill.u.s.trious Birth; --Yet thus--I cast aside the Rays of Majesty-- [_Kneels, and lays the Crown on the Table_.
And on my Knee do humbly offer up This splendid powerful thing, and ease your Fears Of Usurpation and of Tyranny.
_Alon_. What new Device is this? [_Aside_.
_Card_. This is an Action generous and just-- Let us proceed to new Election.
_Abd_. Stay, Peers of _Spain_, If young Prince _Philip_ be King _Philip"s_ Son, Then is he Heir to _Philip_, and his Crown; But if a b.a.s.t.a.r.d, then he is a Rebel, And as a Traitor to the Crown shou"d bleed: That dangerous popular Spirit must be laid, Or _Spain_ must languish under civil Swords; And _Portugal_ taking advantage of those Disorders, (a.s.sisted by the Male-contents within, If _Philip_ live) will bring Confusion home.
--Our Remedy for this is first to prove, And then proclaim him b.a.s.t.a.r.d.
_Alon_. That Project wou"d be worth your Politicks [_Aside_.
--How shou"d we prove him b.a.s.t.a.r.d?
_Abd_. Her Majesty being lately urg"d by Conscience, And much above her Honour prizing _Spain_, Declar"d this Secret, but has not nam"d the Man; If he be n.o.ble and a _Spaniard_ born, He shall repair her Fame by marrying her.
_Card_. No; Spaniard, or Moor, the daring Slave shall die.
_Qu_. Would I were cover"d with a Veil of Night, [_Weeps_.
That I might hide the Blushes on my Cheeks!
But when your Safety comes into Dispute, My Honour, nor my Life must come in compet.i.tion.
--I"ll therefore hide my Eyes, and blushing own, That _Philip"s_ Father is i"th" Presence now.
_Alon_. I"th" Presence! name him.
_Qu_. The Cardinal-- [_All rise in Amazement_.
_Card_. How"s this, Madam!
_Abd_. How! the Cardinal!
_Card_. I _Philip"s_ Father, Madam!
_Qu_. Dull Lover--is not all this done for thee!
Dost thou not see a Kingdom and my self, By this Confession, thrown into thy Arms?
_Card_. On Terms so infamous I must despise it.
_Qu_. Have I thrown by all Sense of Modesty, To render you the Master of my Bed, To be refus"d--was there any other way?--
_Card_. I cannot yield; this Cruelty transcends All you have ever done me--Heavens! what a Contest Of Love and Honour swells my rising Heart!
_Qu_. By all my Love, if you refuse me now, Now when I have remov"d all Difficulties, I"ll be reveng"d a thousand killing ways.
_Card_. Madam, I cannot own so false a thing, My Conscience and Religion will not suffer me.
_Qu_. Away with all this Canting; Conscience, and Religion!
No, take advice from nothing but from Love.
_Card_. "Tis certain I"m bewitch"d--she has a Spell Hid in those charming Lips.
_Alon_. Prince Cardinal, what say you to this?
_Card_. I cannot bring it forth--
_Qu_. Do"t, or thou"rt lost for ever.
_Card_. Death! What"s a Woman"s Power!
And yet I can resist it.
_Qu_. And dare you disobey me?
_Card_. Is"t not enough I"ve given you up my Power, Nay, and resign"d my Life into your Hands, But you wou"d d.a.m.n me too--I will not yield-- Oh, now I find a very h.e.l.l within me; How am I misguided by my Pa.s.sion!