The Spanish Tragedy

Convinced that Hieronimo has truly befriended Lorenzo, Bel-Imperia berates him for dishonoring Horatio’s memory by failing to avenge him. She wants to send Horatio’s murderers to hell. Impressed at her anger, Hieronimo tells her that he received her letter naming Lorenzo and Balthazar as the murderers, and he begs her forgiveness. He will let her in on his plan, so long as she vows to keep it secret and do whatever he tells her. She agrees. 

Balthazar and Lorenzo enter. Balthazar jokingly asks if Hieronimo is courting Bel-Imperia, and Hieronimo replies that she has his heart, but Balthazar has hers. Lorenzo says that they are there to ask for Hieronimo’s help in devising entertainment for the court, given the success of the play he staged for the ambassador. Hieronimo readily agrees. When he was younger, he wrote poetry and drama—he has a tragedy that he thinks would be perfect for the occasion. Balthazar questions whether a comedy would be more appropriate, given the audience, but Hieronimo assures him that a tragedy is proper for the occasion. Lorenzo, Balthazar, and Bel-Imperia agree to act.