Act 4 — SCENE VI. Changes to a Tent.

Enter Abdelazer, Roderigo, Osmin, Zarrack, and some others of his Party.

Rod. Oh, fly, my Lord, fly, for the Day is lost.

Abd. There are three hundred and odd Days i’th Year, And cannot we lose one? dismiss thy Fears, They’ll make a Coward of thee.

Osm. Sir, all the noble Spaniards have forsook you; Your Soldiers faint, are round beset with Enemies, Nor can you shun your Fate, but by your Flight.

Abd. I can—and must—in spite of Fate: The Wheel of War shall turn about again, And dash the Current of his Victories.— This is the Tent I’ve pitched, at distance from the Armies, To meet the Queen and Cardinal; Charm’d with the Magick of Dissimulation, I know by this h’as furl’d his Ensigns up, And is become a tame and coward Ass. [A Retreat is sounded. —Hark—hark, ‘tis done: oh, my inchanting Engine! —Dost thou not hear Retreat sounded?

Rod. Sure ‘tis impossible.

Abd. She has prevail’d—a Woman’s Tongue and Eyes Are Forces stronger than Artilleries. Enter Queen, Cardinal, Women, and Soldiers. —We are betray’d—

Qu. What means this Jealousy? lay by your Weapons. And embrace—the sight of these beget Suspicion: —Abdelazer, by my Birth he comes in peace; Lord Cardinal, on my Honour so comes he.

Abd. Let him withdraw his Troops then.

Qu. They’re Guards for all our Safeties: Give me your Hand, Prince Cardinal—thine, Abdelazer— [She brings them together, they embrace. This blest Accord I do behold with Joy.

Card. Abdelazer, I at the Queen’s Command have met you here, To know what ‘tis you will propose to us.

Abd. Peace and eternal Friendship ‘twixt us two. How much against my Will I took up Arms, Be witness, Heav’n: nor was it in revenge to you, But to let out th’ infected Blood of Philip, Whose sole aim Is to be King—which Spain will never suffer; Spain gave me Education, though not Birth, Which has intitled it my native Home, To which such Reverence and Esteem I bear, I will preserve it from the Tyrant’s Rage. The People who once lov’d him, now abhor him, And ‘tis your Power alone that buoys him up: And when you’ve lifted him into a Throne, ’.is time to shake you off.

Card. Whilst I behold him as my native Prince, My Honour and Religion bids me serve him; Yet not when I’m convinc’d that whilst I do so, I injure Spain.

Abd. If he were so, the Powers above forbid We should not serve, adore, and fight for him; But Philip is a Bastard:—nay, ‘twill surprize ye, But that ‘tis Truth, the Queen will satisfy you.

Qu. With one bold Word he has undone my Honour. [Weeps. Too bluntly, Abdelazer, you repeat That which by slow Degrees you shou’d have utter’d.

Abd. Pardon my Roughness, Madam, I meant well.

Card. Philip a Bastard! If by such Arts you wou’d divide me from him, I shall suspect you wou’d betray us both.

Qu. Sir, he informs you Truth; and I blush less To own him so, than that he is a Traitor.

Card. Philip a Bastard! oh, it cannot be— Madam, take heed you do not for Revenge, Barter your dearer Honour, and lose both.

Qu. I know what’s due to Honour, and Revenge, But better what I owe to Spain, and you— You are a Prince o’th’ Blood, and may put off The Cardinal when you please, and be a Monarch.

Card. Though my Ambition’s equal to my Passion, Neither shall make me act against those Principles My Honour ever taught me to obey. —And, Madam— ’.is less a Sin, not to believe you her, Than ‘tis to doubt your Virtue.

Qu. I wish it were untold, if it must forfeit The least of your Esteem—but that ‘tis Truth, Be witness, Heav’n, my Shame, my Sighs, and Tears. [Weeps.

Card. Why, Madam, was’t so long conceal’d from me?

Qu. The Circumstances I shall at leisure tell you: And for the present, Let it suffice, he cannot rule in Spain, Nor can you side with him, without being made As much incapable to reign as he.

Card. Though Love and Honour I have always made The Business of my Life; My Soul retains too so much of Ambition, As puts me still in mind of what I am, A Prince, and Heir to Spain: Nor shall my blinded Zeal to Loyalty, Make me that glorious Interest resign, Since Philip’s Claims are not so great as mine. —Madam, tho I’m convinc’d I’ve done amiss In taking Arms for Philip, Yet ‘twill be difficult to disengage my self.

Abd. Most easily— Proclaim it in the head of all your Troops, The Justice of your Cause for leaving him; And tell ‘em, ‘tis a Work of Piety To follow your Example. The giddy Rout are guided by Religion, More than by Justice, Reason, or Allegiance. —The Crown which I as a good Husband keep, I will lay down upon the empty Throne; Marry you the Queen, and fill it—and for me, I’ll ever pay you Duty as a Subject. [Bows low.

Card. On these Conditions all I am is yours; Philip we cannot fear, all he can do Is to retire for refuge into Portugal.

Abd. That wou’d be dangerous— Is there no Arts to get him in our Power?

Card. Perhaps by Policy, and seeming Friendship, For we have reason yet to fear his Force; And since I’m satisfy’d he’s not my lawful Prince, I cannot think it an Impiety To sacrifice him to the Peace of Spain, And every Spirit that loves Liberty: First we’ll our Forces join, and make ‘em yours, Then give me your Authority to arrest him; If so we can surprize him, we’ll spare the hazard Of a second Battel.

Abd. My Lord, retire into my inner Tent, And all things shall be instantly perform’d.

[Exeunt all.