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
life VVhat is thy hand to weake then mine shall helpe To send them downe to euerlasting night To waite vpon thee through eternall shade Thy soule shall not go mourning hence alone Thus die and thus for thus you murtherd him Then he kils the two Ianisaries that kild Erastus But soft me thinkes he is not satisfied The breath doth murmure softly from his lips And bids me kill those bloudie witnesses By whose treacherie Erastus dyed Lord Marshall hale them to the towers top And throw them headlong downe into the valley So let their treasons with their liues haue end 1. Witn. Your selfe procured vs 2. Witn. Is this our hier Then the marshall beares them to the tower top Soli. Speake not a word least in my wrathfull fury I doome you to ten thousand direfull torments And Brusor see Erastus be interd VVith honor in a kingly sepulcher VVhy when Lord marshall great Hectors sonne Although his age did plead for innocence VVas sooner tumbled from the fatall tower Then are those periurde wicked witnesses Then they are both tumbled downe VVhy now Erastus Ghost is satisfied I but yet the wicked Iudge suruiues By whome Erastus was condemnd to die Brusor as thou louest me stab in the marshall Least he detect vs vnto the world By making knowne our bloudy practises And then will thou and I hoist saile to Rhodes VVhere thy Lucina and my Perseda liues Bru. I wil my lord lord Marshal it is his highnes pleasure That you commend him to Erastus soule Then he kils the Marshall Soli. Heere ends my deere Erastus tragedie And now begins my pleasant Comedie But if Perseda vnderstand these newes Our seane will prooue but tragicomicall Bru. Feare not my Lord Lucina plaies her part And wooes apace in Solimans behalfe Soli. Then Brusor come and with some few men Le ts saile to Rhodes with all conuenient speede For till I fould Perseda in mine armes My troubled eares are deft with loues alarmes Exeunt Enter Perseda Lucina and Basilisco Perse. Now signior Basilisco which like you The Turkish or our nation best Basi. That which your ladiship will haue me like Luci. I am deceiued but you were circumcised Bas. Indeed I was a little cut in the porpuse Per. VVhat meanes made you to steale back to Rhodes Basi. The mightie pinckanied brand bearing God To whom I am so long true seruitour When he espyde my weeping flouds of teares For your depart he bad me follow him I followed him he with his fier brand Parted the seas and we came ouer drieshod Luci. A matter not vnlikely but how chance Your turkish bonet is not on your head Basi. Because I now am Christian againe And that by naturall meanes for as The old Cannon saies verie pretily Nihill est tam naturali quod eo modo colligatum est And so foorth so I became a Turke to follow her To follow her am now returnd a Christian Enter Piston Pist. O Lady and mistris weepe and lament And wring your hands for my Maister Is condemnd and executed Luci. Be patient sweete Perseda the foole but iests Perse. Ah ho my nightly dreames foretould me this Which foolish woman fondly I neglected But say what death dyed my poore Erastus Pist. Nay God be praisd his death was reasonable He was but strangled Perse. But strangled ah double death to me But say wherefore was he condemnd to die Pist. For nothing but hie treason Perse. What treason or by whom was he condemnd Pist. Faith two great knights of the post swore vpon the Alcaron that he would haue firde the Turkes Fleete Perse. VVas Brusor by Piston I Per. And Soliman Pist. No but I saw where he stood To heere and see the matter well conuaid Perse. Accursed Soliman prophane Alcaron Lucina came thy husband to this end To lead a Lambe vnto the slaughterhouse Hast thou for this in Solimans behalfe With cunning words tempted my chastitie Thou shalt abie for both your trecheries It must be so Basilisco dooest thou loue me speake Basi. I more then I loue either life or soule VVhat shall I stab the Emperour for thy sake Perse. No but Lucina if thou louest me kill her Then Basilisco takes a Dagger feeles vpon the point of it Basi. The point will marre her skin Perse, What darest thou not giue me the dagger then There 's a reward for all thy treasons past Then Perseda kils Lucina Basi. Yet dare I beare her hence to do thee good Perse. No let her lie a pray to rauening birds Nor shall her death alone suffice for his Rhodes now shall be no longer Solimans VVee le fortifie our walles and keepe the towne In spight of proud insulting Soliman I know the letcher hopes to haue my loue And first Perseda shall with this hand die Then yeeld to him and liue in infamie Exeunt Manet Basilisco Basi. I will ruminate Death which the poets Faine to be pale and meager Hath depriued Erastus trunke from breathing vitalitie A braue Cauelere but my aprooued foeman Let me see where is that Alcides surnamed Hercules The onely Club man of his time dead VVhere is the eldest sonne of Pryam That abraham couloured Troion dead VVhere is the leader of the Mirmidons That well knit Accill dead VVhere is that furious Aiax the sonne of Telamon Or that fraudfull squire of Ithaca Iclipt Vlisses dead VVhere is tipsie Alexander that great cup conquerour Or Pompey that braue warriour dead I am my selfe strong but I confesse death to be stronger I am valiant but mortall I am a with natures gifts A giddie goddesse that now giueth and anon taketh I am wise but quiddits will not answer death To conclude in a word to be captious vertuous ingenious Or to be nothing when it pleaseth death to be enuious The great Turque whose seat is Constantinople Hath beleagred Rhodes whose chieftaine is a woman I could take the rule vpon me But the shrub is safe when the Cedar shaketh I loue Perseda as one worthie But I loue Basilisco as one I hould more worthie My fathers sonne my mothers solace my proper selfe Faith he can doe little that cannot speake And he can doe lesse that cannot runne away Then sith mans life is as a glasse and a phillip may cracke it Mine is no more and a bullet may pearce it Therefore I will play least in sight Exit Enter Soliman Brusor with Janisaries Soli. The gates are shut which prooues that Rhodes reuolts And that Perseda is not Solimans Ah Brusor see where thy Lucina lies Butcherd dispightfullie without the walles Bru. Vnkinde Perseda couldst thou vse her so And yet we vs'd Perseda little better Soli. Nay gentle Brusor stay thy teares a while Least with thy woes thou spoile my commedie And all to soone be turnd to Tragedies Go Brusor beare her to thy priuate tent Where we at leasure will lament her death And with our teares be waile her obsequies For yet Perseda liues for Soliman Drum sound a parle were it not
in thirsty honors cause To be enrolled in the brasse leaued booke Of neuer wasting perpetuitie Put Lambe-like mildenes to your Lyons strength And be our tilting like two brothers sportes That exercise their war with friendly blowes Braue Prince of Cipris and our sonne in law Welcome these worthies by their seuerall countries For in thy honor hither are they come To grace thy nuptials with their deeds at armes Cipris. First welcome thrise renowned Englishman Graced by thy country but ten times more By thy approued valour in the field Vpon the onset of the enemy What is thy motto when thou spurres thy horse Englishman In Scotland was I made a Knight at armes Where for my countries cause I chargde my Launce In France I tooke the Standard from the King And giue the flower of Gallia in my crest Against the light foote Irish haue I serued And in my skinne beare tokens of their skenes Our word of courage all the world hath heard Saint George for England and saint George for me Cipris. Like welcome vnto thee faire Knight of Fraunce Well famed thou art for discipline in warre Vpon the incounter of thine enemy What is thy mot renowned Knight of Fraunce French-man In Italie I put my knighthoode on Where in my shirt but with my single Rapier I combated a Romane much renownd His weapons point impoysoned for my bane And yet my starres did bode my victory Saint Denis is for France and that for me Cipris. Welcome Castilian too amongst the rest For fame doth sound thy valour with the rest Vpon thy first incounter of thy foe What is thy woord of courage braue man of Spaine Spaniard At fourteene yeeres of age was I made Knight When twenty thousand Spaniards were in field What time a daring Rutter made a challenge To change a bullet with our swift flight shot And I with single heed and leuell hit The haughty challenger and strooke him dead The golden Fleece is that we cry vpon And Iaques Iaques is the Spaniards choice Cipris. Next welcome vnto thee renowned Turke Not for thy lay but for thy worth in armes Vpon the first braue of thine enemy What is thy noted word of charge braue Turke Bruser. Against the Sophy in three pitched fields Vnder the conduct of great Soliman Haue I bene chiefe commaunder of an hoast And put the flint heart Perseans to the sword The desert plaines of Affricke haue I staind With blood of Moores and there in three set battels fought Marcht conquerour through Asia Along the coasts held by the Portinguze Euen to the verge of golde aboording Spaine Hath Brusor led a valiant troope of Turkes And made some Christians kneele to Mahomet Him we adore and in his name I crie Mahomet for me and Solyman Cip. Now Signeur Basilisco you we know And therefore giue not you a strangers welcome You are a Rutter borne in Germanie Vpon the first encounter of your foe What is your braue vpon the enemy Basi. I fight not with my tongue this is my Oratrix Laying his hand vpon his sword Cip. Why Signeur Basilisco is it a she sword Basi. I and so are all blades with me beholde my instance Perdie each female is the weaker vessell And the vigour of this arme infringeth The temper of any blade quoth my assertion And thereby gather that this blade beeing arprooued weaker than this lim may very wel bear a feminine Epitheton Cip. T is well proued but what 's the word that glories your Countrey Basi. Sooth to say the earth is my Countrey As the aire to the fowle or the marine moisture To the red guild fish I repute my selfe no coward For humilitie shall mount I keepe no table To character my fore-passed conflicts As I remember there happened a sore drought In some part of Belgia that the iucie grasse Was seared with the Sunne Gods Element I held it pollicie to put the men children Of that climate to the sword That the mothers teares might releeue the pearched earth The men died the women wept and the grasse grew Els had my Frize-land horse perished Whose losse would haue more grieued me Than the ruine of that whole Countrey Vpon a time in Ireland I fought On horsebacke with an hundred Kernes From Titans Easterne vprise to his Westerne downe-fall Insomuch that my Steed began to faint I coniecturing the cause to be want of water dismounted In which place there was no such Element Enraged therefore with this Semitor All on foote like an Herculian ofspring Endured some three or foure howers combat In which processe my body distilled such dewy showers of swet That from the warlike wrinckles of my front My Palfray coold his thirst My mercy in conquest is equall with my manhood in fight The teare of an infant hath bin the ransome of a conquered cittie Whereby I purchased the surname of Pities adomant Rough wordes blowe my choller As the winde dooth Mulcibers worke house I haue no word because no countrey Each place is my habitation Therefore each countries word mine to pronounce Princes what would you I haue seene much heard more but done most To be briefe hee that will try me let him waft mee with his arme I am his for some fiue launces Although it go against my starres to iest Yet to gratulate this beninge Prince I will suppresse my condition Phylip. He is beholding to you greatly sir Mount ye braue Lordings forwards to the tilt My selfe will censure of your chiualrie And with impartiall eyes behold your deedes Forward braue Ladies place you to behold The faire demeanor of these warlike Knights Exeunt Manet Basilisco Basi. I am melancholy an humor of Venus belegereth me I haue reiected with contemptable frownes The sweet glances of many amorous girles or rather ladies But certes I am now captiuated with the reflecting eye Of that admirable comet Perseda I will place her to behold my triumphes And do woonders in hir sight O heauens she comes accompanied with a child Whose chin beares no impression of manhood Not an hayre not an excrement Enter Erastus Perseda and Pystan Erast. My sweet Perseda Exeunt Erastus and Perseda Basi. Peace Infant thou blasphemest Pist. You are deceiued sir he swore not Basi. I tell thee Iester he did worse he cald that Ladie his Pist. Iester O extempore o flores Basi. O harsh vnedicate illiterate pesant Thou abusest the phrase of the Latine Pist. By gods fish friend take you the Latins part I le abuse you to Basi. What saunce dread of our indignation Pist. Saunce what languidge is that I thinke thou art a worde maker by thine occupation Basi. I tearmest thou me of an occupation Nay then this fierie humor of choller is supprest By the thought of loue Faire Ladie Pist. Now by my troth she is gon Basi. I hath the Infant transported her hence He saw my anger figured in my brow And at his best aduantage stole away But I will follow for reuenge Pist. Naye but here you sir
my selfe I say It is not meete that one so base as thou Shouldst come about the person of a King Soli. Must I giue aime to this presumption Amur. Your Highnesse knowes I speake in dutious loue Haleb. Your Highnes knowes I spake at your command And to the purpose far from flattery Amu. Thinks thou I flatter now I flatter not Then he kils Haleb. Soli. What dismall Planets guides this fatall hower Villaine thy brothers grones do call for thee Then Soliman kils Amurath To wander with them through eternall night Amu. Oh Soliman for louing thee I die Soli. No Amurath for murthering him thou dyest Oh Haleb how shall I begin to mourne Or how shall I begin to shed salt teares For whom no wordes nor teares can well suffice Ah that my rich imperiall Diadem Could satisfie thy cruell destinie Or that a thousand of our Turkish soules Or twenty thousand millious of our foes Could ransome thee from fell deaths tirannie To win thy life would Soliman be poore And liue in seruile bondage all my dayes Accursed Amurath that for a worthlesse cause In bloud hath shortned our sweet Halebs dayes Ah what is dearer bond then brotherhood Yet Amurath thou wert my brother too If wilfull folly did not blind mine eyes I I and thou as vertuous as Haleb And I as deare to thee as vnto Haleb And thou as neere to me as Haleb was Ah Amurath why wert thou so vnkind to him For vttering but a thwarting word And Haleb why did not thy harts counsell Bridle the fond intemperance of thy tongue Nay wretched Solyman why didst not thou Withhould thy hand from heaping bloud on bloud Might I not better spare one ioy then both If loue of Haleb forst me on to wrath Curst be that wrath that is the way to death If iustice forst me on curst be that iustice That makes the brother Butcher of his brother Come Ianisaries and helpe me to lament And beare my ioyes on either side of me I late my ioyes but now my lasting sorrow Thus thus let Soliman passe on his way Bearing in either hand his hearts decay Exeunt Enter Chorus Loue Now Death and Fortune which of all vs three Hath in the Actors showne the greatest power Haue not I taught Erastus and Perseda By mutuall tokens to seale vp their loues Fortune I but those tokens the Ring and Carkanet Were Fortunes gifts Loue giues no gould or iewels Loue Why what is iewels or what is gould but earth An humor knit together by compression And by the worlds bright eye first brought to light Onely to feed mens eyes with vaine delight Loues workes are more then of a mortall temper I couple minds together by consent Who gaue Rhodes Princes to the Ciprian Prince but Loue For. Fortune that first by chance brought them together For till by Fortune persons meete each other Thou canst not teach their eyes to wound their hearts Loue I made those Knights of seuerall sect and countries Each one by armes to honor his beloued For. Nay one alone to honor his beloued The rest by turning of my tickle wheele Came short in reaching of faire honors marke I gaue Erastus onely that dayes prize A sweete renowne but mixt with bitter sorrow For in conclusion of his happines I made him loose the pretious Carcanet Whereon depended all his hope and ioy Death And more then so for he that found the chaine Euen for that Chaine shall be depriued of life Loue Besides Loue hath inforst a foole The fond Bragardo to presume to armes For. I but thou seest how he was ouerthrowne By Fortunes high displeasure Death I and by Death had beene surprisd If Fates had giuen me leaue But what I mist in him and in the rest I did accomplish on Haleb and Amurath The worthie brethren of great Soliman But wherefore stay we let the sequele prooue Who is greatest Fortune Death or Loue Exeunt Enter Ferdinando and Lucina Fer. As fits the time so now well fits the place To coole affection with our woords and lookes If in our thoughts be semblance simpathie Luci. My words my lookes my thoughts are all on thee Ferdinando is Lucinaes onely ioy Ferdi. What pledge thereof Luci. An oath a hand a kisse Ferdi. O holy oath faire hand and sugred kisse Oh neuer may Fernando lack such blisse But say my deare when shall the gates of heauen Stand all wide ope for celestiall Gods With gladsome lookes to gase at Hymens robes When shall the graces or Lucinas hand With Rosie chaplets deck thy golden tresses And Cupid bring me to thy nuptiall bed Where thou in ioy and pleasure must attend A blissfull war with me thy chiefest friend Lucina Full fraught with loue and burning with desire I long haue longd for light of Hymens lights Ferdi. Then that same day whose warme pleasant sight Brings in the spring with many gladsome flowers Be our first day of ioy and perfect peace Till when receiue this pretious Carcanet In signe that as these linkes are interlaced So both our hearts are still combind in one Which neuer can be parted but by death Enter Basilisco and Perseda Luci. And if I liue this shall not be forgot But see Ferdinando where Perseda comes Whom women loue for vertue men for bewty All the world loues none hates but enuie Bas. All haile braue Cauelere God morrow Madam The fairest shine that shall this day be seene Except Persedas beautious excelence Shame to loues Queene and Empresse of my thoughts Ferdi. Marry thrise happy is Persedas chance To haue so braue a champion to hir Squire Bas. Hir Squire her Knight and who so else denies Shall feele the rigour of my Sword and Launce Ferdi. O Sir not I Luci. Here 's none but friends yet let me chalenge you For gracing me with a malignant stile That I was fairest and yet Perseda fayrer We Ladies stand vpon our beauties much Perse. Herein Lucina let me buckler him Bas. Not Mars himselfe had eare so faire a Buckler Perse. Loue makes him blinde And blind can iudge no coulours Luci. Why then the mends is made and we still friends Perse. Still friends still foes she weares my Carcanet Ah false Erastus how am I betraid Luci. What ailes you madam that your coulor changes Perse. A suddaine qualme I therefore take my leaue Luci. Wee le bring you home Perse. No I shall soone get home Luci. Why then farewell Fernando le ts away Exeunt Ferdinando and Lucina Bas. Say worlds bright starre Whence springs this suddaine change Is it vnkindnes at the little praise I gaue Lucina with my glosing stile Perse. No no her beautie far surpasseth mine And from my neck her neck hath woone the praise Bas. What is it then if loue of this my person By fauour and by iustice of the heauens At last haue percst through thy tralucent brest And thou misdoubts perhaps that I le proue coye Oh be assur'd t is far from noble thoughts To tyrannise
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
been to cruell How got he this from of Lucinas arme Pist. Faith in a mummery and a paire of false dice I was one of the mummers my selfe simple as I stand here Perse. I rather thinke it cost him very deare Pist. I so it did for it cost Ferdinando his life Perse. How so Pyst. After we had got the chaine in mummery And lost our box in counter cambio My maister wore the chaine about his necke Then Ferdinando met vs on the way And reuild my maister saying he stole the chaine With that they drew there Ferdinando had the prickado Perse. And whether fled my poore Erastus then Pist. To Constantinople whether I must follow him But ere he went with many sighes and teares He deliuered me the chaine and bad me giue it you For perfect argument that he was true And you too credulous Perse. Ah stay no more for I can heere no more Pist. And I can sing no more Perse. My hart had armd my tongue with iniury To wrong my friend whose thoughts were euer true Ah poore Erastus how thy starres malign Thou great commander of the swift wingd winds And dreadfull Neptune bring him backe againe But Eolus and Neptune let him go For heere is nothing but reuenge and death Then let him go I le shortly follow him Not with slow sailes but with loues goulden winges My ship shall be borne with teares and blowne with sighes So will I soare about the Turkish land Vntill I meete Erastus my sweete freend And then and there fall downe amid his armes And in his bosome there power foorth my soule For satisfaction of my trespasse past Enter Basilisco armde Basi. Faire Loue according vnto thy commaund I seeke Erastus and will combate him Perse. I seeke him finde him bring him to my sight For till we meete my hart shall want delight Exit Perseda Basi. My petty fellow where hast thou hid thy maister Pist. Marrie sir in an Armorours shop Where you had not best go to him Basi. Why so I am in honour bound to combat him Pist. I sir but he knowing your fierce conditions Hath planted a double cannon in the doore Ready to discharge it vppon you when you go by I tell you for pure good will Basi. In Knightly curtesie I thanke thee But hopes the coystrell to escape me so Thinkes he bare cannon shot can keepe me back Why wherfore serues my targe of proofe but for the bullet That once put by I roughly come vpon him Like to the wings of lightning from aboue I with a martiall looke astonish him Then fals he downe poore wretch vpon his knee And all to late repents his surquedry Then do I take him on my fingers point And thus I beare him thorough euery streete To be a laughing stock to all the towne That done I lay him at my mistres feete For her to giue him doome of life or death Pist. I but heere you sir I am bound In paine of my maisters displeasure To haue about at cuffes afore you and I part Basi. Ha ha ha Eagles are chalenged by paltry flyes Thy folly giues thee priuiledge begon begon Pist. No no sir I must haue about with you sir that 's flat That for retaining one so vertuous Least my maister turne me out of seruice Basi. Why art thou wearie of thy life Pist. No by my faith sir Basi. Then fetch thy weapons and with my single fist I le combat thee my body all vnarmd Pist. Why lend me thine and saue me a labour Basi. I tell thee if Alcides liued this day He could not weild my weapons Pist. Why wilt thou stay till I come againe Basi. I vpon my honour Pist. That shall be when I come from Turkey Exit Pist. Basi. Is this little desperate fellow gon Doubtlesse he is a very tall fellow And yet it were disgrace to all my chiualrie To combate one so base I le send some Crane to combate with the Pigmew Not that I feare but that I scorne to fight Exit Basilis Enter Chorus Loue Fortune thou madest Fernando finde the chaine But yet by Loues instruction he was taught To make a present of it to his Mistris For. But Fortune would not let her keepe it long Loue Nay rather Loue by whose suggisted power Erastus vsde such dice as being false Ran not by Fortune but necessitie Fort. Meane time I brought Fernando on the way To see and chalenge what Lucina lost Death And by that chalenge I abridgde his life And forst Erastus into banishment Parting him from his loue in spight of Loue Loue But with my goulden winges I le follow him And giue him aide and succour in distresse Fort. And doubt not to but Fortune will be there And crosse him too and sometimes flatter him And lift him vp and throw him downe againe Death And here and there in ambush Death will stand To marre what Loue or Fortune takes in hand Exeunt Enter Solyman and Brusor with Fanisaries Soly. How long shall Soliman spend his time And waste his dayes in fruitlesse obsequies Ads but a trouble to my brothers ghost Perhaps my greefe and long continuall moane Which but for me would now haue tooke their rest Then farewell sorrow and now reuenge draw neere In controuersie touching the I le of Rhodes My brothers dyde on Rhodes I le he reuengd Now tell me Brusor what 's the newes at Rhodes Hath the yong prince of Cipris married Cornelia daughter to the Gouernour Bru. He hath my Lord with the greatest pompe That ere I saw at such a festiuall Soli. What greater then at our coronation Bru. Inferiour to that onely Soli. At tilt who woone the honor of the day Bru. A worthie Knight of Rhodes a matchlesse man His name Erastus not twentie yeares of age Not tall but well proportioned in his lims I neuer saw except your excellence A man whose presence more delighted me And had he worshipt Mahomet for Christ He might haue borne me through out all the world So well I loued and honoured the man Soli. These praises Brusor touch me to the heart And makes me wish that I had beene at Rhodes Vnder the habit of some errant knight Both to haue seene and tride his valour Brusor. You should haue seene him foile and ouerthrow All the Knights that there incountred him Soli. What ere he be euen for his vertues sake I wish that fortune of our holy wars Would yeeld him prisoner vnto Soliman We may our selues be famd for vertues But let him passe and Brusor tell me now How did the Christians vse our Knights Bru. As if that we and they had beene on sect Soli. What thinkst thou of their valour and demeanor Bru. Braue men at armes and friendly out of armes Courteous in peace in battell dangerous Kinde to their foes and liberall to their friends And all in all their deedes heroicall Soli. Then tell me Brusor how is Rhodes fenst For eyther Rhodes shall be braue Solymans Or cost
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