PEDRO. It shall be so.

KING. And now to meet these Portuguese; For, as we now are, so sometimes were these, Kings and commanders of the western Indies.

Welcome, brave viceroy, to the court of Spain!

And welcome, all his honourable train!

'Tis not unknown to us for why you come, Or have so kingly cross'd the seas.

Sufficeth it, in this we note the troth And more than common love you lend to us.

So is it that mine honourable niece, For it beseems us now that it be known, Already is betroth'd to Balthazar; And, by appointment and our condescent, Tomorrow are they to be married.

To this intent we entertain thyself, Thy followers, their pleasure, and our peace.

Speak, men of Portingal, shall it be so?

If aye, say so; if not, say so flatly.

VICE. Renowned king, I come not, as thou think'st, With doubtful followers, unresolved men, But such as have upon thine articles Confirm'd thy motion and contented me.

Know, sovereign, I come to solemnize The marriage of thy beloved niece, Fair Bel-imperia, with my Balthazar,-- With thee, my son, whom sith I live to see, Here, take my crown, I give it to her and thee, And let me live a solitary life, In ceaseless prayers, To think how strangely heav'n hath thee preserved.

KING. See, brother, see, how nature strives in him!

Come, worthy viceroy, and accompany Thy friend, to strive with thine extremities: A place more private fits this princely mood.

VICE. Or here or where your Highness thinks it good.

Exeunt all but CASTILE and LORENZO.

CAS. Nay, stay, Lorenzo; let me talk with you.

See'st thou this entertainment of these kings?

LOR. I do, my lord, and joy to see the same.

CAS. And know'st thou why this meeting is?

LOR. For her, my lord, whom Balthazar doth love, And to confirm their promis'd marriage.

CAS. She is thy sister.

LOR. Who? Bel-imperia?

Aye, my gracious lord, and this is the day That I have long'd so happily to see.

CAS. Thou wouldst be loath that any fault of thine Should intercept her in her happiness?

LOR. Heav'ns will not let Lorenzo err so much.

CAS. Why then, Lorenzo, listen to my words: It is suspected, and reported too, That thou, Lorenzo, wrong'st Hieronimo, And in his suits toward his Majesty Still keep'st him back and seek'st to cross his suit.

LOR. That I, my lord?

CAS. I tell thee, son, myself have heard it said, When to my sorrow I have been asham'd To answer for thee, though thou art my son.

Lorenzo, know'st thou not the common love And kindness that Hieronimo hath won By his deserts within the court of Spain?

Or see'st thou not the king my brother's care In his behalf and to procure his health?

Lorenzo, should'st thou thwart his pa.s.sions, And he exclaim against thee to the king, What honour were't in this a.s.sembly, Or what a scandal were't among the kings, To hear Hieronimo exclaim on thee!

Tell me,--and look thou tell me truly too,-- Whence grows the ground of this report in court?

LOR. My lord, it lies not in Lorenzo's power To stop the vulgar, liberal of their tongues: A small advantage makes a water-breach; And no man lives that long contenteth all.

CAS. Myself have seen thee busy to keep back Him and his supplications from the king.

LOR. Yourself, my lord, hath seen his pa.s.sions, That ill beseem'd the presence of a king; And, for I pitied him in his distress, I held him thence with kind and courteous words, As free from malice to Hieronimo As to my soul, my lord.

CAS. Hieronimo, my son, mistakes thee then.

LOR. My gracious father, believe me, so he doth; But what's a silly man, distract in mind, To think upon the murder of his son?

Alas, how easy is it for him to err!

But, for his satisfaction and the world's, 'Twere good, my lord, that Hieronimo and I Were reconcil'd, if he misconstrue me.

CAS. Lorenzo, that hast said; it shall be so!

Go, one of you, and call Hieronimo.

Enter BALTHAZAR and BEL-IMPERIA.

BAL. Come, Bel-imperia, Balthazar's content, My sorrow's ease, and sovereign of my bliss,-- Sith heav'n hath ordain'd thee to be mine, Disperse those clouds and melancholy looks, And clear them up with those thy sun-bright eyes, Wherein my hope and heav'n's fair beauty lies!

BEL. My looks, my lord, are fitting for my love, Which, new begun, can show no brighter yet.

BAL. New kindled flames should burn as morning sun.

BEL. But not too fast, least heat and all be done.

I see my lord my father.

BAL. True, my love; I will go salute him.

CAS. Welcome, Balthazar, Welcome, brave prince, the pledge of Castile's peace!

And welcome Bel-imperia! How now, girl?

Why com'st thou sadly to salute us thus?

Content thyself, for I am satisfied.

It is not now as when Andrea liv'd; We have forgotten and forgiven that, And thou art graced with a happier love.

But, Balthazar, here comes Hieronimo; I'll have a word with him.

Enter HIERONIMO and a SERVANT.

HIERO. And where's the duke?

SER. Yonder.

HIERO. Even so.

[aside] What new device have they devised, trow?

Pocas palabras! Mild as the lamb!

Is't I will be reveng'd? No, I am not the man.

CAS. Welcome, Hieronimo!

LOR. Welcome, Hieronimo!