Jul. Because the virtue that inflicts the stroke
Dies with him, and the rank ignoble heads
Of plundering faction soon unite again,
And, prince-protected, share the spoil, at rest.
ACT I. SCENE 3.
Guard announces a Herald. Opas departs.
Guard. A messager of peace is at the gate,
My lord, safe access, private audience,
And free return, he claims.
Jul. Conduct him in.
[To Roderigo, who enters as Herald.
A messager of peace! audacious man!
In what attire appearest thou? a herald’s?
Under no garb can such a wretch be safe.
Rod. Thy violence and fancied wrongs I know,
And what thy sacrilegious hands would do,
O traitor and apostate!
Jul. What they would
They cannot: thee of kingdom and of life
’Tis easy to despoil, thyself the traitor,
Thyself the violator of allegiance.
O would all-righteous Heaven they could restore
The joy of innocence, the calm of age,
The probity of manhood, pride of arms,
And confidence of honour! the august
And holy laws, trampled beneath thy feet.
And Spain! O parent, I have lost thee too!
Yes, thou wilt curse me in thy latter days,
Me, thine avenger. I have fought her foe,
Roderigo, I have gloried in her sons,
Sublime in hardihood and piety:
Her strength was mine: I, sailing by her cliffs,
By promontory after promontory,
Opening like flags along some castle-towers,
Have sworn before the cross upon our mast
Ne’er shall invader wave his standard there.