ALVA

Set down and let me light, I would not hear my self again so railed on, Not for half Belgia. Zounds the dogs bark at me, a plague upon them all, I think they do ot hate the Devil so; Dalua is never named but with a curse, Think but these ro ges, this is a time to die, And hear these damned dogs revile me thus: Well I am dead, but Alva's spirit (ere long) Shall haunt your ghosts, and with a fatal troop, Come in the dreadful night about your walls, Grim death did never affright the fearful martial, As I will fright these Bouzing Begians: Whose that above? Lord Danila? Marks do Hauurie stay, thou canst not escape. War takes ho le on all advantages. Nor you Count Egmont? Hold when I bid you; strike ye all at me? Because I will, honour incites me to it, The honour of this worthy Nobleman, And his high spirit even in the face of death. Yield thee brave Egmont, Alva does entreat thee, In pity of thy bold adventurous youth, And hopeful Fortune's shining in thine eyes, Thou seest these slain, yet will save thy life: Thou seest me wounded to preserve thy life. I that was never pitiful before, Am forced to pity thee, what wouldst thou more? Strike not I chargeue: come Egmont come, Is wear that thou shalt yield; strike, spare me not, Alas thou art too faint; come, yield thee now, I faith I will not hurt thee: So, have done, Nay, no more weapons, thou art my prisoner. And I will use thee very honorably. Not for the world, prisoner thou shalt to Spain, And there be entertained to thy deserts. Now pity, pack from Alva's heart again, Against my nature once I looked on thee, For this C unts sake: now to the deserts fly, For havoc, spoil and murder now I cry. So valiant Lords, this Music likes me well, Now may we boldly say the town is ours: Yet sheath not your victorious Swords awhile, Till you have reaped the Harvest of your pain, In which pursuit, torture, exact and kill, No less then in your fury you have done. If the proud Antwerpers (that do survive) Lay not their treasure at your conquering feet. Can any here report the certain number, Of those that have been slain during the conflict? Well thought upon Verdugo: thus it shall be. The Burse, the Statehouse, and the Market place, Belongs to me: the Castle and that side, To Sancto Danila: on the other hand The key, and water-port (Verdugo) is yours. Saint Georges port, and Kibdop, we assign To Lord Romeso: and for you Van End, The North partly of the City, Venus street, Remains the subject of desired spoil: So Lords, if I have well divided, speak; If not, you shall be pleased before we partly? About it then, be every one as quick, In rifling of these rich Burghers, as he was In the assault: the world may talk of us, As well for vallor as our quick dispatch. Of England are you what although you be, Back slaves unto the door from whence you came, And on your knees solicit Alva's greatness: If you do look for mercy at his hands. Verdugo, drag him by the long tailed beard, Alva does scorn to wait upon their leisure. Tax you me then with cruelty so soon? You shall have cause. Why left you not the City then, perceiving We meant to call their duty to account? Shift as you can, I vow to have no less, And at the appointed time. And is not plate Good boot for Soldiers? have you that And dare ye yet plead needy poverty? Go fetch it me, or presently I'll send A crew of such sharp carvers to your gate, As shall anotamize your panting hearts, To fill their conquering hands with wished spoils. Talk nor of league nor England, nothing found In our wars music, that can please the sense; Unless it have the cheerful found of gold. What's he? examine him: if he bring gold, Free passage have he; but if empty be The hollows of his hands; or cannot point By Demonstration, or express by speech, Where it is fled, in this tempestuous storm, That we by hugging it, may banish fear, And burnish her pale cheeks with firmer read, Let him have that belongs, the torturing Cord. Why not as much to me? How art thou free, when Alva is not feed? That ransom let me see. That which he hath is his, and none of mine, unless thou canst transform us, and of two Make but one person: go to, trifle no , But show me how I may be satisfied, Or bide the peril that ensues thereon. That will we try, if rope and Gibbet hold, Let him endure the punishment, he needs Will wilfully impose upon himself. So, let him down, stand off and give him air, Speak now, and tell us where thy coin is hid? So it be truth which thou intends to speak. Lie there and pine then, for deluding me. For those three hundred, let ten thousand more, Of this subjected City lose their lives, Chain them together in the Market place, By hundreds and two hundreds and with shot, Ring them about until they all be slain, Spare neither widow, matron, not young maid, Gray-bearded Father's, nor the babe that sucks. One Spaniards blood, I valve better worth, Then many hundreds of these drunken Dutch. What will Verdugo? Who are you? speak, that Like unbidden guests, Dare tempt the patience of incensed Alva? Think ye to purchase freedom at this rate? Some thriftless prodigal bestows in wine, Or spends in dalliance on his Courtesan, Five thousand crowns: Like your store affords No greater plenty either from your chests, That swell with surfeit of your avarice, Rain down a larger shewer of fruitful gold, Or tender flowering pity, never will spring. What can they say to shield the ̄ selves from death? Why what art thou that standest upon the league? Sirrah, you challenge the virtue of the league, Yet understand not how the league is made. So long as you converse not with the foes Of royal Philip, nor withstand his right, You are exempt the rigour of his scourge; But being here, in this rebellious town, You must partake the punishment they feel. You cannot so be quit nor so excused, Therefore provide before to morrow night, To bring unto us forty thousand Crowns, For ransom of your house; or if you fail, Both goods and lives shall all be forfeited: So much we are content to yield unto, Because we will not seem to break the league. What are those villains gone that railed upon me?