Now say , lord general : how fares our camp ? But what portends thy cheerful countenance And posting to our presence thus in haste ? Speak , man : hath fortune given us victory ? Our Portugals will pay us tribute then ? Then blest be Heav'n , and Guider of the heav'ns , From whose fair influence such justice flows ! Thanks to my loving brother of Castille . But , general , unfold in brief discourse Your form of battle and your war 's success , That , adding all the pleasure of thy news Unto the height of former happiness , With deeper wage and gentle dignity We may reward thy blissful chivalry . Thanks , good lord general , for these good news ! And , for some argument of more to come , Take this and wear it for thy sovereign 's sake . Give him his chain . But tell me now : hast thou confirm 'd a peace ? These words , these deeds become thy person well . But now , knight-marshall , frolic with thy king , For ‘ tis thy son that wins this battle 's prize . Nor thou nor he shall die without reward . What means this warning of this trumpet 's sound ? A gladsome sight ! I long to see them here . They enter and pass by . Was that the warlike prince of Portingal That by our nephew was in triumph led ? But what was he that on the other side Held him by th ’ arm as partner of the prize ? Go , let them march once more about these walls , That staying them we may confer and talk With our brave prisoner and his double guard . Hieoronimo , it greatly pleaseth us That in our victory thou have a share By virtue of thy worthy son 's exploit . Enter again . Bring hither the young prince of Portingal ! The rest march on , but , ere they be dismiss 'd , We will bestow on every soldier Two ducats , and on every leader ten , That they may know our largesse welcomes them . Welcome , Don Balthazar ! Welcome nephew ! And thou , Horatio , thou art welcome too ! Young prince , although thy father 's hard misdeeds In keeping back the tribute that he owes Deserve but evil measure at our hands , Yet shalt thou know that Spain is honourable . Aye , Balthazar , if he observe this truce , Our peace will grow the stronger for these wars . Meanwhile live thou , though not in liberty , Yet free from bearing any servile yoke ; For in our hearing thy deserts were great . And in our sight thyself art gracious . But tell me ,— for their holding makes me doubt : To which of these twain art thou prisoner ? Let go his arm , upon my privilege ! Let him go . Say , worthy prince : to whether didst thou yield ? Content thee , marshall ; thou shalt have no wrong , And for thy sake thy son shall want to right . Will both abide the censure of my doom ? Then by judgment thus your strife shall end : You both deserve and both shall have reward . Nephew , thou took'st his weapons and his horse : His weapons and his horse are thy reward . Horatio , thou did'st force him first to yield : His ransom therefore is thy valour 's fee ; Appoint the sum as you shall both agree . But , nephew , thou shalt have the prince in guard , For thine estate best fitteth such a guest ; Horatio 's house were small for all his train . Yet , in regard thy substance passeth his , And that just guerdon may befall desert , To him we yield the armour of the prince . How likes Don Balthazar of this device ? Horatio , leave him not that loves thee so . Now let us hence , to see our soldiers paid , And feast our prisoner as our friendly guest . See , lord ambassador , how Spain entreats Their prisoner Balthazar , thy viceroy 's son : We pleasure more in kindness than in wars . Put off your greetings till our feast be done ; Now come and sit with us , and taste our cheer . Sit to the banquet . Sit down , young prince , you are our second guest ; Brother , sit down ; and nephew , take your place . Signior Horatio , wait thou upon our cup , For well thou hast deserved to be honour 'd . Now , lordings , fall too : Spain is Portugal , And Portugal is Spain ; we both are friends ; Tribute is paid , and we enjoy our right . But where is old Hieronimo , our marshall ? He promis 'd us , in honour of our guest , To grace our banquet with some pompous jest . Enter HIERONIMO with a DRUM , three KNIGHTS , each with scutcheon ; then he fetches three KINGS ; they take their crowns and them captive . Hieronimo , this makes content mine eye , Although I sound not well the mystery . My lord of Portingal , by this you see That which may comfort both your king and you , And make your late discomfort seem the less . But say , Hieronimo : what was the next ? This is another special argument That Portingal may deign to bear our yoke , When it by little England hath been yok 'd . But now , Hieronimo , what were the last ? Hieronimo , I drink to thee for this device , Which hath pleas 'd both the ambassador and me : Pledge me , Hieronimo , if thou love the king ! Takes the cup of HORATIO . My lord , I fear we sit but over-long , Unless our dainties were more delicate ,— But welcome are you to the best we have . Now let us in , that you may be dispatch 'd ; I think our council is already set . Brother of Castille , to the prince 's love What says your daughter Bel-imperia ? Then , lord ambassador of Portingal , Advise thy king to make this marriage up For strengthening of our late-confirmed league ; I know no better means to make us friends . Her dowry shall be large and liberal ; Besides that she is daughter and half heir Unto our brother here , Don Ciprian , And shall enjoy the moiety of his land , I 'll grace her marriage with an uncle 's gift , And this is it : in case the match go forward , The tribute which you pay shall be releas 'd ; And , if by Balthazar she have a son , He shall enjoy the kingdom after us . Do so , my lord ; and , if he give consent , I hope his presence here will honour us In celebration of the nuptial day ,— And let himself determine of the time . Commend me to the king ; and so , farewell ! But where 's Prince Balthazar , to take his leave ? Amongst the rest of what you have in charge , The prince 's ransom must not be forgot : That 's none of mine , but his that took him prisoner ,— And well his forwardness deserves reward : It was Horatio , our knight-marshall 's son . Then once again farewell , my lord ! Now , brother , you must make some little pains To win fair Bel-imperia from her will ; Young virgins must be ruled by their friends . The prince is amiable , and loves her well ; If she neglect him and forgo his love , She both will wrong her own estate and ours . Therefore , whiles I do entertain the prince With greatest pleasure that our court affords , Endeavor you to win your daughter 's thought . If she give back , all this will come to naught . Now show , ambassador , what our viceroy saith : Hath he receiv 'd the articles we sent ? Who is he that interrupts our business ? Brother , how like you this our viceroy 's love ? And well remember 'd , thank his Majesty ! Here , see it given to Horatio . Who is that ? Hieronimo ? What means this outrage ? Will none of you restrain his fury ? What accident hath happ 'd to Hieronimo ? I have not seen him to demean him so . Believe me , nephew , we are sorry for ‘ t ; This is the love that fathers bear their sons . But , gentle brother , go give to him this gold , The prince 's ransom ; let him have his due ; For what he hath , Horatio shall not want . Haply Hieronimo hath need thereof . We shall increase his melancholy so . ‘ Tis best that we see further in it first ; Till when , ourself will hold exempt the place . And , brother , now bring in the ambassador , That he may be a witness of the match ‘ Twixt Balthazar and Bel-imperia , And that we may prefix a certain time Wherein the marriage shall be solemniz 'd , That we may have thy lord the viceroy here . Go , brother , ‘ tis the Duke of Castile 's cause ; Salute the viceroy in our name . And now to meet these Portuguese ; For , as we now are , so sometimes were these , Kings and commanders of the western Indies . Welcome , brave viceroy , to the court of Spain ! And welcome , all his honourable train ! ‘ Tis not unknown to us for why you come , Or have so kingly cross 'd the seas . Sufficeth it , in this we note the troth And more than common love you lend to us . So is it that mine honourable niece , For it beseems us now that it be known , Already is betroth 'd to Balthazar ; And , by appointment and our condescent , Tomorrow are they to be married . To this intent we entertain thyself , Thy followers , their pleasure , and our peace . Speak , men of Portingal , shall it be so ? If aye , say so ; if not , say so flatly . See , brother , see , how nature strives in him ! Come , worthy viceroy , and accompany Thy friend , to strive with thine extremities : A place more private fits this princely mood . Now , viceroy , shall we see the tragedy Of Suleiman , the Turkish emperor , Perform 'd by pleasure by your son the prince , My nephew Don Lorenzo , and my niece . Aye ; and Hieronimo our marshall , At whose request they deign to do't themselves . These be our pastimes in the court of Spain . Here , brother , you shall be the book-keeper : This is the argument of that they show . He giveth him a book . See , viceroy , that is Balthazar your son , That represents the Emperor Suleiman : How well he acts his amorous passion ! Here comes Lorenzo : look upon the plot And tell me , brother , what part plays he . Well said , old marshall ! this was bravely done ! But now what follows for Hieronimo ? O hearken , viceroy ; hold Hieronimo ! Brother , my nephew and thy son are slain ! Speak , traitor ! damned , bloody murd'rer , speak !— For , now I have thee , I will make thee speak ! Why hast thou done this undeserving deed ? Why speak'st thou not ? Fetch forth the tortures ! Traitor as thou art , I 'll make thee tell ! O monstrous resolution of a wretch ! See , Viceroy , he hath bitten forth his tongue Rather than reveal what we require 'd . And if in this he satisfy us not , We will devise th ’ extremest kind of death That ever was invented for a wretch . Then he makes signs for a knife to mend his pen . What age hath ever heard such monstrous deeds ? My brother and the whole succeeding hope That Spain expected after my decease . Go bear his body hence , that we may mourn The loss of our beloved brother 's death , That he may be entomb 'd . Whate'er befall , I am the next , the nearest , last of all .