it soliciting
For vengeance on those cursed murtherers.
Madame, tis true, and now I find it so.
I found a letter, written in your name,
And in that letter, how Horatio died.
Pardon, O pardon, Bel-imperia,
My feare and care in not beleeuing it!
Nor thinke I thoughtles thinke vpon a meane
To let his death be vnreuenge'd at full.
And heere I vow, so you but giue consent
And will conceale my resolution,
I will ere long determine of their deathes
That causeles thus haue murderd my sonne.

BEL. Hieronimo, I will consent, conceale,
And ought that may effect for thine auaile,
Ioyne with thee to reuenge Horatios death.

HIER. On then, [and] whatsoeuer I deuise,
Let me entreat you grace my practice,
For-why the plots already in mine head.--
Heere they are!

Enter BALTHAZAR and LORENZO.

BAL. How now, Hieronimo?
What, courting Bel-imperia?

HIERO. I, my lord,
Such courting as, I promise you,
She hath my hart, but you, my lord, haue hers.

LOR. But now, Hieronmimo, or neuer we are to intreate
your helpe.

HIE. My help? why, my good lords, assure your-selues
of me;
For you haue giuen me cause,--I, by my faith, haue you!

BAL. It pleasde you at the entertainment of the
embassadour,
To grace the King so much as with a shew;
Now were your stuide so well furnished
As, for the passing of the first nights sport,
To entertaine my father with the like,
Or any such like pleasing motion,
Assure yourselfe it would content them well.

HIERO. Is this all?

BAL. I, this is all.

HIERO. While then ile fit you; say no more.
When I was yong I gaue my minde
And plide my-selfe to fruitles poetrie,
Which, though it profite the professor naught,
Yet is it passing pleasing to the world.

LOR. And how for that?

HIERO. Marrie, my good lord, thus.--
And yet, me thinks, you are too quick with vs!--
When in Tolledo there I studied,
It was my chaunce to write a tragedie,--
See heere, my lords,--

He showes them a book.

Which, long forgot, I found this other day.
Nor would your lordships fauour me so much
As but to grace me with your acting it,
I meane each one of you to play a part.
Assure you it will proue most passing strange
And wondrous plausi