ONAELIA That word revenge, Startles my sleepy soul, now thoroughly wakened By the fresh object of my hapless child Whose wrongs reach beyond mine.
ALANZO Wrongs, like great whirlwinds, Shake highest battlements. Few for heaven would care, Should they be ever happy. They are half gods Who both in good days, and good fortune share.
CARLO You shall in both, Can swords but cut the way.
ONAELIA I care not much, so you but gently strike him, And that my child escape the lightening.
MEDINA For that our nerves are knit; is there not here A promising face of manly princely virtues, And shall so sweet a plant be rooted out By him that ought to fix it fast in the ground? Sebastian, what will you do to him That hurts your mother?
SEBASTIAN The King my father shall kill him I trow.
DAENIA But sweet cousin, the King loves not your mother.
SEBASTIAN I'll make him love her when I am a King.
MEDINA La you, there's in him a king's heart already. As therefore we before together vowed, Lay all your warlike hands upon my sword, And swear.
SEBASTIAN Will you swear to kill me, Uncle?
SEBASTIAN Nay then draw and spare not, for I love fighting.
MEDINA Stand in the midst, sweet coz, we are your guard. These hammers shall for thee beat out a crown If all hit right. Swear therefore, noble friends, By your high bloods, by true nobility, By what you owe religion, owe to your country, Owe to the raising your posterity, By love you bear to virtue, and to arms, The shield of innocence, swear not to sheath Your swords, when once drawn forth.
ONAELIA Oh not to kill him For twenty thousand worlds.
MEDINA Will you be quiet? Your swords when once drawn forth, till they have forced Yon godless, perjurous, perfidious man...
MEDINA Art mad? You're idle Till they have forced him To cancel his late lawless bond he sealed At the high altar to his Florentine strumpet, And in his bed lay this his troth-plight wife.
MEDINA Our forces let's unite, be bold and secret, And lion-like with open eyes let's sleep, Streams smooth and slowly running are most deep.
Enter King, Queen, Malateste, Valasco, Lopez, [Roderigo and guards].
KING The presence door be guarded, let none enter On forfeit of your lives, without our knowledge. Oh you are false physicians all unto me, You bring me poison, but no antidotes.