PED. It shall be done, my lord; it shall be done;
And I'll go arm myself to meet him there.
LOR. When things shall alter, as I hope they will,
Then shalt thou mount for this, thou knowest my mind.
Exit PEDRINGANO.
Che le Ieron!
Enter PAGE.
PAGE. My lord.
LOR. Go, sirrah,
To Serberine, and bid him forthwith meet
The prince and me at S. Luigi's Park,
Behind the house, this evening, boy.
PAGE. I go, my lord.
LOR. But, sirrah, let the hour be eight o'clock.
Bid him not fail.
PAGE. I fly, my lord.
Exit.
LOR. Now to confirm the complot thou hast cast
Of all these practices, I'll spread the watch,
Upon precise commandment from the king
Strongly to guard the place where Pedringano
This night shall murder hapless Serberine.
Thus must we work that will avoid distrust,
Thus must we practice to prevent mishap,
And thus one ill another must expulse.
This sly enquiry of Hieronimo
For Bel-imperia breeds suspicion;
And this suspicion bodes a further ill.
As for myself, I know my secret fault,
And so do they, but I have dealt for them.
They that for coin their souls endangered
To save my life, for coin shall venture theirs;
And better 'tis that base companions die
Than by their life to hazard our good haps.
Nor shall they live for me to fear their faith;
I'll trust myself, myself shall be my friend;
For die they shall,--
Slaves are ordain'd to no other end.
Exit.
[ACT III. SCENE 3.]
[San Luigi's Park.]
Enter PEDRINGANO with a pistol.
PED. Now, Pedringano, bid thy pistol hold;
And hold on, Fortune! Once more favour me!
Give but success to mine attempting spirit,
And let me shift for taking of mine aim.
Here is the gold! This is the gold propos'd!
It is no dream that I adventure for,
But Pedringano is posses'd thereof.
And he that would not strain his conscience
For him that thus his liberal purse hath stretch'd,
Unworthy such a favour, may he fail,
And, wishing, want, when such as I prevail!
As for the fear of apprehension,
I know, if need should be, my noble lord
Will stand between me and ensuing harms.
Besides, this place is free from all suspect.
Here therefore will I stay and take my stand.
Enter the WATCH.
I WATCH. I wonder much to what intent it is
That we are thus expressly charg'd to watch.
II WATCH. This by commandment in the king's own
name.
III WATCH. But we were never wont to watch and ward
So near the duke his brother's house before.
II WATCH. Content yourself, stand close, there's somewhat
in't.
Enter SERBERINE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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