[_Sound a Signet,[288] and pass over the Stage. Enter at one door the King of Spain, Duke of Castile, Duke Medina_, LORENZO, _and_ ROGERO; _at another door_, ANDREA, HORATIO, _and_ JERONIMO. JERONIMO _kneels down, and the King creates him Marshal of Spain_; LORENZO _puts on his Spurs,[289] and_ ANDREA _his sword. The King goes along with_ JERONIMO _to his House; after a long Signet is sounded, enter all the Nobles, with covered dishes, to the Banquet. Exeunt omnes. That done, enter all again as before._]
SPAIN. Frolic, Jeronimo! thou art now confirmed Marshal of Spain by all the dues And customary rights unto thy office.
JER. My knee sings thanks unto your highness’ bounty.-- Come hither, boy Horatio; fold thy joints; Kneel by thy father’s loins, and thank my liege, By honouring me, thy mother, and thyself, With this high staff of office.
HOR. O my liege, I have a heart thrice stronger than my years, And that shall answer gratefully for me. Let not my youthful blush impair my valour: If ever you have foes, or red field-scars, I’ll empty all my veins to serve your wars; I’ll bleed for you; and more, what speech affords, I’ll speak in drops, when I do fail in words.
JER. Well spoke, my boy; and on thy father’s side.-- My liege, how like you Don Horatio’s spirit? What! doth it promise fair?
SPAIN. Ay, And no doubt his merit will purchase more. Knight Marshal, rise, and still rise Higher and greater in thy sovereign’s eyes.
JER. O fortunate hour! bless’d minute! happy day! Able to ravish even my sense away! Now I remember too--O sweet remembrance!-- This day my years strike fifty, and in Rome They call the fifty year the year of jubilee, The merry year, the peaceful year, [the] jocund year, A year of joy, of pleasure and delight; This shall be my year of jubilee, for ’tis my fifty. Age ushers honour; ’tis no shame; confess: Beard, thou art fifty full, not a hair less.
SPAIN. How now? what news for[290] Spain? tribute returned?
EMB. Tribute in words, my liege, but not in coin.
SPAIN. Ha! dare he still procrastinate with Spain? Not tribute paid! not three years paid! ’Tis not at his coin, But his slack homage, that we most repine.
JER. My liege, if my opinion might stand firm Within your highness’ thoughts----