LOR. What to do, Hieronimo? Use me.

HIERO. Oh, no, my lord, I dare not, it must not be; I humbly thank your lordship.

LOR. Why then, farewell!

HIERO. My grief no heart, my thoughts no tongue can tell.

Exit.

LOR. Come hither, Pedringano; see'st thou this?

PED. My lord, I see it, and suspect it too.

LOR. This is that d.a.m.ned villain Serberine, That hath, I fear, reveal'd Horatio's death.

PED. My lord, he could not; 'twas so lately done, And since he hath not left my company.

LOR. Admit he have not; his conditions such As fear or flattering words may make him false.

I know his humour, and therewith repent That e'er I us'd him in this enterprise.

But, Pedringano, to prevent the worst, And 'cause I know thee secret as my soul, Here, for thy further satisfaction, take thou this!

Gives him more gold.

And hearken to me; thus it is devis'd: This night thou must--and prithee so resolve-- Meet Serberine at St. Luigi's Park,-- Thou knowest 'tis here hard by behind the house; There take thy stand, and see thou strike him sure, For die he must, if we do mean to live.

PED. But how shall Serberine be there, my lord?

LOR. Let me alone, I'll send him to meet The prince and me where thou must do this deed.

PED. It shall be done, my lord; it shall be done; And I'll go arm myself to meet him there.

LOR. When things shall alter, as I hope they will, Then shalt thou mount for this, thou knowest my mind.

Exit PEDRINGANO.

Che le Ieron!

Enter PAGE.

PAGE. My lord.

LOR. Go, sirrah, To Serberine, and bid him forthwith meet The prince and me at S. Luigi's Park, Behind the house, this evening, boy.

PAGE. I go, my lord.

LOR. But, sirrah, let the hour be eight o'clock.

Bid him not fail.

PAGE. I fly, my lord.

Exit.

LOR. Now to confirm the complot thou hast cast Of all these practices, I'll spread the watch, Upon precise commandment from the king Strongly to guard the place where Pedringano This night shall murder hapless Serberine.

Thus must we work that will avoid distrust, Thus must we practice to prevent mishap, And thus one ill another must expulse.

This sly enquiry of Hieronimo For Bel-imperia breeds suspicion; And this suspicion bodes a further ill.

As for myself, I know my secret fault, And so do they, but I have dealt for them.

They that for coin their souls endangered To save my life, for coin shall venture theirs; And better 'tis that base companions die Than by their life to hazard our good haps.

Nor shall they live for me to fear their faith; I'll trust myself, myself shall be my friend; For die they shall,-- Slaves are ordain'd to no other end.

Exit.

[ACT III. SCENE 3.]

[San Luigi's Park.]

Enter PEDRINGANO with a pistol.

PED. Now, Pedringano, bid thy pistol hold; And hold on, Fortune! Once more favour me!

Give but success to mine attempting spirit, And let me shift for taking of mine aim.

Here is the gold! This is the gold propos'd!

It is no dream that I adventure for, But Pedringano is posses'd thereof.

And he that would not strain his conscience For him that thus his liberal purse hath stretch'd, Unworthy such a favour, may he fail, And, wishing, want, when such as I prevail!

As for the fear of apprehension, I know, if need should be, my n.o.ble lord Will stand between me and ensuing harms.

Besides, this place is free from all suspect.

Here therefore will I stay and take my stand.

Enter the WATCH.

I WATCH. I wonder much to what intent it is That we are thus expressly charg'd to watch.

II WATCH. This by commandment in the king's own name.

III WATCH. But we were never wont to watch and ward So near the duke his brother's house before.

II WATCH. Content yourself, stand close, there's somewhat in't.

Enter SERBERINE.

SER. [aside] Here, Serberine, attend and stay thy pace; For here did Don Lorenzo's page appoint That thou by his command shouldst meet with him.

How fit a place, if one were so dispos'd, Methinks this corner is to close with one.

PED. [aside] Here comes the bird that I must seize upon; Now, Pedringano, or never play the man!

SER. [aside] I wonder that his lordship stays so long, Or wherefore should he send for me so late.

PED. For this, Serberine; and thou shalt ha't!