Nay, evil news fly[60] faster still than good.
Viceroy.
Tell me no more of news; for he is dead.
Villuppo.
My sovereign, pardon the author of ill-news,
And I'll bewray the fortune of thy son.
Viceroy.
Speak on, I'll guerdon thee, whate'er it be:
Mine ear is ready to receive ill-news;
My heart grown hard 'gainst mischief's battery.
Stand up, I say, and tell thy tale at large.
Villuppo.
Then hear that[61] truth, which these mine eyes have seen:
When both the armies were in battle join'd,
Don Balthazar, amidst the thickest troops,
To win renown did wondrous feats of arms:
Amongst the rest I saw him, hand to hand,
In single fight with their lord-general;
Till Alexandro, that here counterfeits
Under the colour of a duteous friend,
Discharg'd his pistol at the prince's back,
As though he would have slain their general:
But therewithal Don Balthazar fell down;
And when he fell, then we began to fly:
But, had he liv'd, the day had sure been ours.