The Spanish Tragedy, 3.13.1-44


1 Vindicta mihi
Hieronimo quotes the Biblical injunction from Romans 12:19: "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Often invoked by Elizabethan writers, secular and religious, to support the contention that executing vengeance must be left to God, the sentiment is expanded upon in the next four lines.
3 Attend their will
await God's pleasure, the time he elects for vengeance.
6 Per scelus . . . iter

"The safe way for crimes is through [further] crimes," an adaption of a line from Seneca's Agamemnon. Hieronimo reads the line from the book he is holding. The Senecan tag makes him reflect that his enemy will probably add the crime of Hieronimo's murder to his original crime to ensure his own safety. Realizing that his own life is at risk prompts Hieronimo to abandon his resolution to leave vengeance to God.

9 death's . . . resolution
The worst result from acting boldly is death.
10 contend
strive, resist
12-13
Hieronimo again quotes Seneca, paraphrasing the Latin himself in the next four lines.
21 vulgar
common.
22-3
Obscure. Hieronimo may mean that "vulgar wits" (stupid men) may seek revenge by obvious (open), but effective, means, while he prefers subtlety.
22 inevitable
always successful
23 mean
plan of action
26 Closely
Subtlely
27-8
But here means only. Hieronimo means that only extremes (crises) preclude waiting for the right time advantage; revenge should be considered and deliberate, which demands that one wait for one's opportunity
29-33
Acting with stealth does not contradict Hieronimo's belief that Heaven endorses his revenge.
32 simplicity
seemingly purposeless behavior
35 Remedium . . . est.
is a useless remedy for evils. Hieronimo again quotes Seneca.