The illustration to 'Hieronimo' here shown is taken from the edition whose title runs: 'The Spanish Tragedie, containing the lamentable end of Don Horatio and Belimperia: with the pittiful death of old Hieronimo. (London, Printed by Augustine Mathewes, and are to bee sold by Iohn Grismand at his shop in Pauls Alley.)' The original cut is very 'mealy' (a characteristic quite successfully reproduced in the accompanying facsimile of it), and the design has not many artistic merits; but in point of faithfulness it is probably all that could be desired. It will be remembered that as Horatio and Belimperia are toying in an arbour in Hieronimo's garden, the lady hears footsteps. 'Lorenzo, Balthazar, Cerberim, and Pedringano enter, disguised.' Lorenzo, the jealous brother, bids his minions 'Quickly despatch, my Masters,' and according to the stage direction, 'they hang him in the Arbour' (_i.e._, Horatio, not Lorenzo), and, despite Belimperia's entreaties, stab him to death.
[Illustration: FROM THE 'SPANISH TRAGEDIE']
'Murder, murder, help, Hieronimo, help!' cries Belimperia, as in the picture, and though at Lorenzo's bidding, 'Come stop her mouth; away with her,' she is dragged off, the old man hears. The stage direction, 'Enter Hieronimo in his shirt,' has been interpreted liberally, for Hieronimo has nether garments in addition; but he is duly coatless and provided with a torch with which to see the 'murdrous spectacle.'
'_Hier._ What outcry calls me from my naked bed, And chills my throbbing heart with trembling fear, Which never danger yet could daunt before? Who calls Hieronimo? speak, here I am. I did not slumber; therefore 'twas no dream. No, no; it was some woman cried for help. And here within the garden did she cry, And in this garden must I rescue her. But stay, what murdrous spectacle is this? A man hang'd up, and all the Murderers gone; And in my Bower, to lay the guilt on me? This place was made for pleasure, not for death: [_He cuts him down._ These garments that he wears I oft have seen: Alas, it is Horatio, my sweet son!'----
and so he makes his discovery and devotes himself henceforth to revenge. The labels issuing from the actors' mouths show that the artist had studied his text, and I cannot resist remarking on how admirably he has caught the pose of the straw dummy, which must have been left hanging to personate Horatio, in place of the actor, who had doubtless slipped behind the arbour during the scuffle and was now resting after his exertions.