LOR. Nay, if thou dally, then I am thy foe, And fear shall force what friendship cannot win. Thy death shall bury what thy life conceals. Thou die'st for more esteeming her than me! [Draws his sword.] PED. Oh stay, my lord! LOR. Yet speak the truth, and I will guerdon thee And shield thee from whatever can ensue, And will conceal whate'er proceeds from thee; But, if thou dally once again, thou diest! PED. If madame Bel-imperia be in love-- LOR. What, villain! ifs and ands? PED. Oh stay, my lord! she loves Horatio! BALTHAZAR starts back. LOR. What! Don Horatio, our knight-marshall's son? PED. Even him, my lord. LOR. Now say but how know'st thou he is her love, And thou shalt find me kind and liberal. Stand up, I say, and fearless tell the truth. PED. She sent him letters,--which myself perus'd,-- Full-fraught with lines and arguments of love, Preferring him before Prince Balthazar. LOR. Swear on this cross that what thou say'st is true, And that thou wilt conceal what thou hast told. PED. I swear to both, by him that made us all. LOR. In hope thine oath is true, here's thy reward. But, if I prove thee perjur'd and unjust, This very sword whereon thou took'st thine oath Shall be the worker of thy tragedy. PED. What I have said is true, and shall, for me, Be still conceal'd from Bel-imperia. Besides, your Honour's liberality Deserves my duteous service ev'n till death. LOR. Let this be all that thou shall do for me: Be watchful when and where these lovers meet, And give me notice in some secret sort. PED. I will, my lord. LOR. Then thou shalt find that I am liberal. Thou know'st that I can more advance thy state Than she: be therefore wise and fail me not. Go and attend her as thy custom is, Least absence make her think thou dost amiss. Exit PEDRINGANO. Why, so, Tam armis quam ingenio: Where words prevail not, violence prevails. But gold doth more than either of them both. How likes Prince Balthazar this stratagem?