BALTHAZAR Take sin as the English snuff tobacco, and scornfully blow the smoke in the eyes of heaven, the vapour flies up in clouds of bravery. But when 'tis out, the coal is black, your conscience, and the pipe stinks. A sea of rosewater cannot sweeten your corrupted bosom.

KING Nay, spit thy venom.

BALTHAZAR 'Tis Aqua Coelestis <23>, no venom. For when you shall clasp up these two books, never to be opened again, when by letting fall that anchor which can never more be weighed up, your mortal navigation ends. Then there's no playing at spurn-point <24> with thunderbolts. A vintner then for unconscionable reckoning or a tailor for unmeasurable items shall not answer in half that fear you must.

KING No more.

BALTHAZAR I will follow truth at the heels, though her foot beat my gums in pieces.

KING The barber that draws out a lion's tooth Curseth his trade; and so shalt thou.

BALTHAZAR I care not.

KING Because you have beaten a few base-born moors, Me think'st thou to chastise? What is past I pardon, Because I made the key to unlock thy railing; But if thou dar'st once more be so untuned I'll sent thee to the galleys. Who are without there, How now?

Enter [guards and attendants] drawn.

ALL In danger, Sir?

KING Yes, yes, I am, but 'tis no point of weapon Can rescue me. Go presently and summon All our chief Grandees, Cardinals, and Lords Of Spain to meet in Council instantly.

We called you forth to execute a business Of another strain - but 'tis no matter now.

Thou diest when next thou furrowest up our brow.

BALTHAZAR So, die!

Exit Balthazar, enter Cardinal, Rodrigo, Alba, Daenia, Valasco.

KING I find my sceptre shaken by enchantments Charactered in this parchment, which to unloose, I'll practice only counter-charms of fire, And blow the spells of lightening into smoke: Fetch burning tapers.

[Exit attendant who returns with light.]

CARDINAL Give me audience, Sir.

My apprehension opens me a way To a close fatal mischief, worse than this You strive to murder. Oh, this act of yours Alone shall give your dangers life, which else Can never grow to height. Do, Sir, but read A book here closed up, which too late you opened, Now blotted by you with foul marginal notes.

KING Art frantic?

CARDINAL You are so, Sir.

KING If I be, Then here's my first mad fit.

CARDINAL For honour's sake, For love you bear to conscience -

KING Reach the flames: Grandees and Lords of Spain be witness all What here I cancel. Read, do you know this bond?

ALL Our hands are to it.

DAENIA 'Tis your confirmed contract With my sad kinswoman: but wherefore Sir, Now is your rage on fire, in such a presence To have it mourn in ashes?

KING Marquis Daenia We'll lend that tongue, when this no more can speak.

CARDINAL Dear Sir!

KING I am deaf, Played the full concert of the spheres unto me Upon their loudest strings - so burn that witch Who would dry up the tree of all Spain's glories, But that I purge her sorceries by fire.

[Burns contract.]

Troy lies in cinders. Let your Oracles Now laugh at me if I have been deceived By their ridiculous riddles. Why, good father, Now you may freely chide, why was your zeal Ready to burst in showers to quench our fury?

CARDINAL Fury indeed, you give it proper name.

What have you done? Closed up a festering wound Which rots the heart. Like a bad surgeon, Labouring to pluck out from your eye a mote, You thrust the eye clean out.

KING Th'art mad ex tempore: What eye? Which is that wound?

CARDINAL That scroll, which now You make the black indenture of your l.u.s.t Although eat up in flames, is printed here, In me, in him, in these, in all that saw it, In all that ever did but hear 'twas yours.

The scold of the whole world, fame, will anon Rail with her thousand tongues at this poor shift Which gives your sin a flame greater than that You lend the paper. You to quench a wild fire, Cast Oil upon it.

KING Oil to blood shall turn, I'll lose a limb before the heart shall mourn.

Exeunt, Daenia and Alba remain.

DAENIA He's mad with rage or joy.

ALBA With both; with rage To see his follies checked, with fruitless joy Because he hopes his contract is cut off, Which divine justice more exemplifies.

Enter Medina.

MEDINA Where's the King?

DAENIA Wrapped up in clouds of lightning.

MEDINA What has he done? Saw you the contract torn?

As I did here a minion swear he threatened.

ALBA He tore it not, but burned it.

MEDINA Openly!

DAENIA And heaven with us to witness.

MEDINA Well, that fire Will prove a catching flame to burn his kingdom.

ALBA Meet and consult.

MEDINA No more, trust not the air With our projections, let us all revenge Wrongs done to our most n.o.ble kinswoman.

Action is honours language, swords are tongues, Which both speak best, and best do right our wrongs.

Exeunt.

ACT 2 SCENE 2