BAL. Welcome, Hieronimo!

HIERO. My lords, I thank you for Horatio.

CAS. Hieronimo, the reason that I sent To speak with you is this--

HIERO. What? so short?

Then I'll be gone; I thank you for't!

CAS. Nay, stay, Hieronimo; go call him, son.

LOR. Hieronimo, my father craves a word with you.

HIERO. With me, sir? Why, my lord, I thought you had done.

LOR. [aside] No; would he had!

CAS. Hieronimo, I hear You find yourself aggrieved at my son, Because you have not access unto the king, And say 'tis he that intercepts your suits.

HIERO. Why, is not this a miserable thing, my lord?

CAS. Hieronimo, I hope you have no cause, And would be loath that one of your deserts Should once have reason to suspect my son, Considering how I think of you myself.

HIERO. Your son Lorenzo? whom, my n.o.ble lord?

The hope of Spain? mine honourable friend?

Grant me the combat of them, if they dare!

Draws out his sword.

I'll meet them face-to-face to tell me so!

These be the scandalous reports of such As love not me, and hate my lord too much.

Should I suspect Lorenzo would prevent Or cross my suit, that lov'd my son so well?

My lord, I am asham'd it should be said.

LOR. Hieronimo, I never gave you cause.

HIERO. My good lord, I know you did not.

CAS. There then pause, And, for the satisfaction of the world, Hieronimo, frequent my homely house, The Duke of Castile Ciprian's ancient seat; And when thou wilt, use me, my son, and it.

But here before Prince Balthazar and me Embrace each other, and be perfect friends.

HIERO. Aye, marry, my lord, and shall!

Friends, quoth he? See, I'll be friends with you all!

Especially with you, my lovely lord; For divers causes it is fit for us That we be friends. The world is suspicious, And men may think what we imagine not.

BAL. Why this is freely done, Hieronimo.

LOR. And I hope old grudges are forgot.

HIERO. What else? it were a shame it should not be so!

CAS. Come on, Hieronimo, at my request; Let us entreat your company today!

Exeunt.

[CHORUS.]

Enter GHOST and REVENGE.

GHOST. Awake Erictho! Cerberus, awake!

Solicit Pluto, gentle Proserpine!

To combat, Acheron and Erebus in h.e.l.l!

For ne'er by Styx and Phlegeton there came, Nor ferried Charon to the fiery lakes, Such fearful sights, as poor Andrea sees!

Revenge awake!

REVENGE. Awake? For why?

GHOST. Awake, Revenge! for thou art ill advis'd To sleep away what thou art warn'd to watch!

REVENGE. Content thyself, and do not trouble me.

GHOST. Awake, Revenge, if love, as love hath had, Have yet the power of prevalence in h.e.l.l!

Hieronimo with Lorenzo is join'd in league, And intercepts our pa.s.sage to revenge.

Awake, Revenge, or we are woe-begone!

REVENGE. Thus worldings ground what they have dream'd upon!

Content thyself, Andrea; though I sleep, Yet is my mood soliciting their souls.

Sufficeth thee that poor Hieronimo Cannot forget his son Horatio.

Nor dies Revenge although he sleep awhile; For in unquiet, quietness is feign'd, And slumb'ring is a common worldly wile.

Behold, Andrea, for an instance how Revenge hath slept; and then imagine thou What 'tis to be subject to destiny.

Enter a Dumb-show.

GHOST. Awake, Revenge! reveal this mystery!

REVENGE. The two first do the nuptial torches bear, As brightly burning as the midday's sun; But after them doth Hymen hie as fast, Clothed in sable and a saffron robe, And blows them out and quencheth them with blood, As discontent that things continue so.

GHOST. Sufficeth me; thy meanings understood, And thanks to thee and those infernal powers That will not tolerate a lover's woe.

Rest thee; for I will sit to see the rest.

REVENGE. Then argue not; for thou hast thy request.

Exeunt.

[ACT IV. SCENE 1.]

[The DUKE's castle.]