till now His heart was purposd once to do thee wrong Erast. I that was before he knew thee to be mine But now Perseda le ts forget ould greefes And let our studies wholie be imploid To worke each others blisse and hearts delight Per. Our present ioyes will be so much the greater When as we call to minde fore passed greefes So singes the Mariner vpon the shore When he hath past the dangerous time of stormes But if my Loue will haue olde greefes forgot They shall lie buried in Persedas brest Enter Brusor and Lucina Erast. Welcome Lord Brusor Perse. And Lucina to Bru. Thankes Lord gouernour Luci. And thankes to you Madame Erast. What hastie news brings you so soone to Rhodes Although to me you neuer come to soone Bru. So it is my Lord that vpon great affaires Importuning health and wealth of Soliman His highnes by me intreateth you As euer you respect his future loue Or haue regard vnto his curtesie To come your selfe in person and visit him Without inquirie what should be the cause Erast. VVere there no ships to crosse the Seas withall My armes should frame mine oares to crosse the seas And should the seas turne tide to force me backe Desire should frame me winges to flie to him I go Perseda thou must giue me leaue Perse. Though loth yet Solimans command preuailes Luci. And sweete Perseda I will stay with you From Brusor my beloued and I le want him Till he bring backe Erastus vnto you Erast. Lord Brusor come t is time that we were gon Bru. Perseda farewell be not angrie For that I carry thy beloued from thee VVe will returne with all speede possible And thou Lucina vse Perseda so That for my carrying of Erastus hence She curse me not and so farewell to both Per. Come Lucina le ts in my heart is full Exeunt Enter Soliman Lord marshall the two witnesses and Ianisaries Soli. Lord marshall see you handle it cunningly And when Erastus comes our periurd friend See he be condemnd by marshall law Heere will I stand to see and not be seene Marshall Come fellowes see when this matter comes in question You stagger not and Ianisaries See that your strangling cordes be readie Soli. Ah that Perseda were not halfe so faire Or that Soliman were not so fond Or that Perseda had some other loue Whose death might saue my poore Erastus life Enter Brusor and Erastus See where he comes whome though I deerely loue Yet must his bloud be spilt for my behoofe Such is the force of morrow burning loue Marshall Erastus Lord Gouernour of Rhodes I arrest you in the Kings name Erast. What thinks Lord Brusor of this strange arrest Hast thou intrapt me to this tretcherie Intended well I wot without the leaue Or licence of my Lord great Soliman Bru. Why then appeale to him where thou shalt know And be assured that I betray thee not Soli. Yes thou and I and all of vs betray him Mar. No no in this case no appeale shall serue Era. Why then to thee or vnto any else I heere protest by heauens vnto you all That neuer was there man more true or iust Or in his deeds more loyall and vpright Or more louing or more innocent Than I haue bene to gratious Soliman Since first I set my feet on Turkish land Soli. My selfe would be his witnesse if I durst But bright Persedaes beautie stops my tongue Mar. Why sirs why face to face expresse you not The treasons you reueald to Soliman Witnesses That very day Erastus went from hence He sent for me into his Cabinet And for that man that is of my profession Eras. I neuer saw them I vntill this day Witnesse His Cabine dore fast shut he first began To question vs of all sorts of fire-workes Wherein when we had fully resolued him VVhat might be done he spredding on the boord A huge heape of our imperiall coyne All this is yours quoth he if you consent To leaue great Soliman and serue in Rhodes Mar. Why that was treason but onwards with the rest Enter Piston Pist. What haue we heer my maister before the marshall Witn. We said not I nor durst we say him nay Bicause we were already in his gallyes But seemd content to flie with him to Rhodes With that he purst the gould and gaue it vs The rest I dare not speake it is so bad Erast. Heauens heer you this and drops not vengeance on them The other wit The rest and worst will I discourse in briefe Will you consent quoth he to fire the fleete That lies hard by vs heere in Bosphoron For be it spoke in secret heere quoth he Rhodes must no longer beare the turkish yoake We said the taske might easilie be performd But that we lackt such drugs to mixe with powder As were not in his gallyes to be got At this he lept for ioy swearing and promising That our reward should be redoubled We came aland not minding for to returne And as our duty and aleageance bound vs We made all knowne vnto great Soliman But ere we could summon him a land His ships were past a kenning from the shore Belike he thought we had bewrayd his treasons Marsh. That all is true that heere you haue declard Both lay your hands vpon the Alcaron 1. Wit Foule death betide me if I sweare not true 2. Wit And mischiefe light on me if I sweare false Soli. Mischiefe and death shall light vpon you both Mar. Erastus thou seest what witnes hath produced against thee What answerest thou vnto their accusations Erast. That these are Synons and my selfe poore Troy Mar. Now it resteth I appoint thy death Wherein thou shalt confesse I le fauour thee For that thou wert beloued of Soliman Thou shalt foorthwith be bound vnto that post And strangled as our Turkish order is Pist. Such fauour send all Turkes I pray God Erast. I see this traine was plotted ere I came What bootes complaining where 's no remedy Yet giue me leaue before my life shall end To moane Perseda and accuse my friend Soli. O vniust Soliman O wicked time Where filthie lust must murther honest loue Marsh. Dispatch for our time limited is past Erast. Alas how can he but be short whose tongue Is fast tide with galling sorrow Farewell Perseda no more but that for her Inconstant Soliman no more but that for him Vnfortunate Erastus no more but that for me Loe this is al thus I leaue to speake Then they strangle him Pist. Marie sir this is a faire warning for me to get me gon Exit Piston Soli. O saue his life if it be possible I will not loose him for my kingdomes worth Ah poore Erastus art thou dead already What bould presumer durst be so resolued For to bereaue Erastus life from him Whose life to me was dearer then mine owne VVast thou and thou Lord marshall bring them hether And at Erastus hand let them receiue The stroake of death whom they haue spoild of
ouer a yeelding foe Therefore be blithe sweete loue abandon feare I will forget thy former crueltie Perse. Ah false Erastus full of treachrie Bas. I alwaies told you that such coward knights VVere faithlesse swaines and worthie no respect But tell me sweete loue what is his offence That I with words and stripes may chastice him And bring him bound for thee to tread vpon Perse. Now must I find the meanes to rid him hence Go thou foorthwith arme thee from top to toe And come an houre hence vnto my lodging Then will I tell thee this offence at large And thou in my behalfe shalt worke reuenge Bas. I thus should men of valour be imployd This is good argument of thy true loue I go make reconing that Erastus dyes Vnlesse forewarnd the weakoning coward flies Exit Basilisco Per. Thou foolish coward flies Erastus liues The fayrest shape but fowlest minded man That ere sunne saw within our hemyspheare My tongue to tell my woes is all to weake I must vnclaspe me or my heart will breake But inward cares are most pent in with greefe Vnclasping therefore yeeldes me no releefe Ah that my moyst and cloud compacted braine Could spend my cares in showers of weeping raine But scalding sighes like blasts of boysterous windes Hinder my teares from falling on the ground And I must die by closure of my wound Ah false Erastus how had I misdoone That thou shouldst quit my loue with such a scorne Enter Erastus Here comes the Synon to my simple hart I le frame my selfe to his dissembling art Erast. Desire perswades me on feare puls me back Tush I will to her innocence is bould How fares Perseda my sweete second selfe Perse. Well now Erastus my hearts onely ioy Is come to ioyne both hearts in vnion Erast. And till I came whereas my loue did dwell My pleasure was but paine my solace woe Per. What loue meanes my Erastus pray thee tell Erast. Matchlesse Perseda she that gaue me strength To win late conquest from many victors hands Thy name was conquerour not my chiualrie Thy lookes did arme me not my coate of steele Thy beautie did defend me not my force Thy fauours bore me not my light foote Steed Therefore to thee I owe both loue and life But wherefore makes Perseda such a doubt As if Erastus could forget himselfe Which if I do all vengeance light on me Perse. Aye me how gracelesse are these wicked men I can no longer hould my patience Ah how thine eyes can forge alluring lookes And faine deepe oathes to wound poore sillie maides Are there no honest drops in all thy cheekes To check thy fraudfull countenance with a blush Calst thou me loue and louest another better If heauens were iust thy teeth would teare thy tongue For this thy periurde false disloialtie If heauens were iust men should haue open brests That we therein might read their guilefull thoughts If heauens were iust that power that forceth loue Would neuer couple Woolues and Lambes together Yes heauens are iust but thou art so corrupt That in thee all their influence dooth change As in the Spider good things turne to poyson Ah false Erastus how had I misdone That thou shouldst pawne my true affections pledge To her whose worth will neuer equall mine What is Lucinaes wealth exceeding mine Yet mine sufficient to encounter thine Is she more faire then I that 's not my fault Nor her desart what 's beauty but a blast Soone cropt with age or with infirmities Is she more wise her yeares are more then mine What ere she be my loue was more then hers And for her chastitie let others iudge But what talke I of her the fault is thine If I were so disgratious in thine eye That she must needes inioy my interest Why didst thou deck her with my ornament Could nothing serue her but the Carcanet Which as my life I gaue to thee in charge Couldst thou abuse my true simplicitie Whose greatest fault was ouer louing thee I le keepe no tokens of thy periury Heere giue her this Perseda now is free And all my former loue is turnd to hate Erast. Ah stay my sweete Perseda heare me speake Perse. What are thy words but Syrens guilefull songs That please the eare but seeke to spoile the heart Erast. Then view my teares that plead for innocence Perse. VVhat are thy teares but Circes magike seas VVhere none scape wrackt but blindfould Marriners Erast. If words teares displease then view my lookes That plead for mercy at thy rigorous hands Perse. VVhat are thy lookes but like the Cockatrice That seekes to wound poore silly passengers Erast. If words nor teares nor lookes may win remorse VVhat then remaines for my perplexed heart Hath no interpreters but words or teares or lookes Perse. And they are all as false as thou thy selfe Exit Perseda Erast. Hard doome of death before my case be knowne My iudge vniust and yet I cannot blame her Since Loue and iealousie mislead her thus My selfe in fault and yet not worthie blame Because that Fortune made the fault not Loue The ground of her vnkindnes growes because I lost The pretious Carcanet she gaue to me Lucina hath it as her words import But how she got it heauens knowes not I Yet this is some aleagement to my sorrow That if I can but get the Chaine againe I bouldly then shall let Perseda know That she hath wrongd Erastus and her frend Ah Loue and if thou beest of heauenly power Inspire me with some present stratagem It must be so Lucinas a franke Gaimster And like it is in plaie shee le hazard it For if report but blasen her aright Shee s a franke gaimster and inclinde to play Ho Piston Enter Piston Pist. Heere sir what would you with me Era. Desire Guelpio signior Iulio come speake with me And bid them bring some store of crownes with them And sirra prouide me foure Visards Foure Gownes a boxe and a Drumme For I intend to go in mummery Pist. I will sir Exit Piston Erast. Ah vertuous Lampes of euer turning heauens Incline her minde to play and mine to win Nor do I couet but what is mine owne Then shall I let Perseda vnderstand How iealousie had armd her tongue with malice Ah were she not Perseda whom my heart No more can flie then iron can Adamant Her late vnkindnes would haue chaunged my minde Enter Guelpio and Iulio and Piston Guelp. How now Erastus wherein may we pleasure thee Erast. Sirs thus it is we must in mummerie Vnto Lucina neither for loue nor hate But if we can to win the chaine she weares For though I haue some interest therein Fortune may make me maister of mine owne Rather then I le seeke iustice gainst the Dame But this assure your selues it must be mine By game or change by one deuise or other The rest I le tell you when our sport is doone Iulio VVhy then le ts make vs ready and about it Erast. VVhat
Heere Brusor this kinde Turtle shall be thine Take her and vse her at thy pleasure But this kinde Turtle is for Soliman That her captiuitie may turne to blisse Faire lookes resembling Phoebus radiant beames Smooth forhead like the table of high Ioue Small pensild eye browes like to glorious rainbowes Quicke lampelike eyes like heauens two brightest orbes Lips of pure Corall breathing Ambrosie Cheekes where the Rose and Lillie are in combate Necke whiter then the Snowie Apenines Brests like two ouerflowing Fountaines Twixt which a vale leads to the Elisian shades Where vnder couert lies the fount of pleasure Which thoughts may gesse but tongue must not prophane A sweeter creature nature neuer made Loue neuer tainted Solyman till now Now faire Virgin let me heare thee speake Perse. What can my tongue vtter but greefe and death Soli. The sound is hunnie but the sence is gall The sweeting blesse me with a cheerefull looke Perse. How can mine eyes dart foorth a pleasant looke When they are stopt with flouds of flowing teares Soli. If tongue with griefe and eyes with teares be fild Say Virgin how dooth thy heart admit The pure affection of great Soliman Perse. My thoughts are like pillers of Adamant Too hard to take an new impression Soli. Nay then I see my stooping makes her proud She is my vassaile and I will commaund Coye Virgin knowest thou what offence it is To thwart the will and pleasure of a king Why thy life is doone if I but say the word Perse. Why that 's the period that my heart desires Soli. And die thou shalt vnlesse thou change thy minde Perse. Nay then Perseda growes resolute Solimans thoughts and mine resemble Liues paralise that neuer can be ioyned Soli. Then kneele thou downe And army hands receiue the stroake of death Domde to thy selfe by thine owne wilfulnes Per. Strike strike thy words pierce deeper then thy blows Soli. Brusor hide her for her lookes withhould me Then Brusor hides her with a Lawne O Brusor thou hast not hid her lippes For there sits Venus with Cupid on her knee And all the Graces smiling round about her So crauing pardon that I cannot strike Bru. Her face is couerd ouer quite my Lord Soli. Why so O Brusor seest thou not her milke white neck That Alablaster tower T will breake the edge of my keene Semitor And peeces flying back will wound my selfe Bru. Now she is all couered my Lord Soli. Why now at last she dyes Perse. O Christ receiue my soule Soli. Harke Brusor she cals on Christ I will not send her to him Her wordes are musick The selfe same musick that in auncient dayes Brought Alexander from warre to banquetting And made him fall from skirmishing to kissing No my deare Loue would not let me kill thee Though Maiestie would turne desire to wrath There lyes my sword humbled at thy feete And I my selfe that gouerne many kings Intreate a pardon for my rash misdeede Perse. Now Soliman wrongs his imperiall state But if thou loue me and haue hope to win Graunt me one boone that I shall craue of thee Soli. What ere it be Perseda I graunt it thee Perse. Then let me liue a Christian Virgin still Vnlesse my state shall alter by my will Soli. My word is past and I recall my passions What should he do with crowne and Emperie That cannot gouerne priuate fond affections Yet giue me leaue in honest sort to court thee To ease though not to cure my maladie Come sit thee downe vpon my right hand here This seate I keepe voide for another friend Go Ianisaries call in your Gouernour So shall I ioy betweene two captiue friends And yet my selfe be captive to them both If friendships yoake were not at libertie See where he comes my other best beloued Enter Erastus Perse. My sweete and best beloued Erast. My sweete and best beloued Perse. For thee my deare Erastus haue I liued Erast. And I for thee or els I had not liued Soli. What words in affection doo I see Erast. Ah pardon me great Soliman for this is she For whom I mourned more then for all Rhodes And from whose absence I deriued my sorrow Perse. And pardon me my Lord for this is he For whom I thwarted Solimans intreats And for whose exile I lamented thus Erast. Euen from my childhood haue I tendred thee Witnesse the heauens of my vnfeined loue Soli. By this one accedent I well perceiue That heauens and heauenly powers do manage loue I loue them both I know not which the better They loue each other best what then should follow But that I conquer both by my deserts And ioyne their hands whose hearts are knit already Erastus and Perseda come you hether And both giue me your hands Erastus none but thou couldst win Perseda Perseda none but thou couldst win Erastus From great Soliman so well I loue you both And now to turne late promises to good effect Be thou Erastus Gouernour of Rhodes By this thou shalt dismisse my garison Brus. Must he reape that for which I tooke the toile Come enuie then and sit in friendships seate How can I loue him that inioyes my right Soli. Giue me a crowne to crowne the bride withall Then he crownes Perseda Perseda for my sake weare this crowne Now is she fairer then she was before This title so augments her beautie as the fire That lay with honours hand rackt vp in ashes Reuies againe to flames the force is such Remooue the cause and then the effect will die They must depart or I shall not be quiet Erastus and Perseda meruaile not That all in hast I wish you to depart There is an vrgent cause but priuie to my selfe Commaund my shipping for to waft you ouer Era. My gratious Lord whē Erastus doth forget this fauor Then let him liue abandond and forlorne Perse. Nor will Perseda slacke euen in her praiers And still solicite God for Soliman Whose minde hath proued so good and gratious Soli. Farewell Erastus Perseda farewell to Exeunt Me thinks I should not part with two such friends The one so renownd for armes and curtesie The other so adornd with grace and modestie Yet of the two Perseda mooues me most I and so mooues me that I now repent That ere I gaue away my hearts desire What was it but abuse of Fortunes gift And therefore Fortune now will be reuengde What was it but abuse of loues commaund And therefore mightie Loue will be reuengd What was it but abuse of heauens that gaue her me And therefore angrie heauens will be reuengd Heauens Loue and Fortune all three haue decreed That I shall loue her still and lack her still Like euer thirsting wretched Tantalus Foolish Soliman why did I striue To do him kindnes and vndoe my selfe Well gouernd friends do first regard themselues Bru. I now occasion serues to stumble him That thrust his sickle in my haruest corne Pleaseth your Maiestie to heare Brusor speake Soli. To one past cure