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.