for her I would sacke the towne ere I would sound a parle The Drum soundes a parle Perseda comes vpon the walles in mans apparell Basilisco and Piston vpon the walles Per. At whose intreatie is this parle sounded Soli. At our intreaty therefore yeeld the towne Per. Why what art thou that boldly bids vs yeeld Soli. Great Soliman Lord of all the world Per. Thou art not Lord of all Rhodes is not thine Soli. It was and shall be maugre who saies no Per. I that say no will neuer see it thine Soli. Why what art thou that dares resist my force Per. A Gentleman and thy mortall enemie And one that dares thee to the single combate Soli. First tell me dooth Perseda liue or no Per. She liues to see the wrack of Soliman Soli. Then I le combate thee what ere thou art Per. And in Erastus name I le combat thee And heere I promise thee on my Christian faith Then will I yeeld Perseda to thy hands That if thy strength shall ouer match my right To vse as to thy liking shall seeme best But ere I come to enter single fight First let my tongue vtter my hearts despight And thus my tale begins thou wicked tirant Thou murtherer accursed homicide For whome hell gapes and all the vgly feends Do waite for to receiue thee in their iawes Ah periur'd and in humaine Soliman How could thy heart harbour a wicked thought Against the spotlesse life of poore Erastus VVas he not true would thou hadst been as iust VVas he not valiant would thou hadst bin as vertuous VVas he not loyall would thou hadst beene as louing Ah wicked tirant in that one mans death Thou hast betrayde the flower of Christendome Dyed he because his worth obscured thine In slaughtering him thy vertues are defamed Didst thou misdoe him in hope to win Perseda Ah foolish man therein thou art deceiued For though she liue yet will she neare liue thine VVhich to approoue I le come to combat thee Soli. Iniurious foule mouthd knight my wrathfull arme Shall chastise and rebuke these iniuries Then Perseda comes downe to Soliman and Basilisco and Piston Pist I but heere you are you so foolish to fight with him Bas. I sirra why not as long as I stand by Soli. I le not defend Erastus innocence But thee maintaining of Persedas beautie Then they fight Soliman kils Perseda Per. I now I lay Perseda at thy feete But with thy hand first wounded to the death Now shall the world report that Soliman Slew Erastus in hope to win Perseda And murtherd her for louing of hir husband Soli. What my Perseda ah what haue I doone Yet kisse me gentle loue before thou die Perse. A kisse I graunt thee though I hate thee deadly Soli. I loued thee deerelie and accept thy kisse VVhy didst thou loue Erastus more then me Or why didst not giue Soliman a kisse Ere this vnhappie time then hadst thou liued Basi. Ah let me kisse thee too before I die Then Soliman kils Basilisco Soli. Nay die thou shalt for thy presumption For kissing her whom I do hould so deare Pist. I will not kisse hir sir but giue me leaue To weepe ouer hir for while she liued Shee loved me deerely and I loued hir Soli. If thou didst loue hir villaine as thou saidst Then wait on her thorough eternall night Then Soliman kils Piston Ah Perseda how shall I mourne for thee Faire springing rose ill pluckt before thy time Ah heauens that hitherto haue smilde on me Why doe you vnkindly lowre on Soliman The losse of halfe my Realmes nay crownes decay Could not haue prickt so neere vnto my heart As doth the losse of my Persedaes life And with her life I likewise loose my loue And with her loue my hearts felicitie Euen for Erastus death the heauens haue plagued me Ah no the heauens did neuer more accurse me Then when they made me Butcher of my loue Yet iustly how can I condemne my selfe When Brusor liues that was the cause of all Come Brusor helpe to lift her bodie vp Is she not faire Bru. Euen in the houre of death Soli. Was she not constant Bru. As firme as are the poles whereon heauen lies Soli. VVas she not chast Bru. As is Pandora or Dianaes thoughts Soli. Then tell me his treasons set aside VVhat was Erastus in thy opinion Bru. Faire spoken wise curteous and liberall Kinde euen to his foes gentle and affable And all in all his deeds heroyacall Soli. Ah was he so how durst thou then vngratious Counseller First cause me murther such a worthy man And after tempt so vertuous a woman Be this therefore the last that ere thou speake Ianisaries take him straight vnto the block Off with his head and suffer him not to speake Exit Brusor. And now Perseda heere I lay me downe And on thy beautie still contemplate Vntill mine eyes shall surfet by my gasing But stay let me see what paper is this Then he takes vp a paper and reedes in it as followeth Tyrant my lips were sawst with deadly poyson To plague thy hart that is so full of poison What am I poisoned then Ianisaries Let me see Rhodes recouerd ere I die Souldiers assault the towne on euery side Spoile all kill all let none escape your furie Sound an alarum to the fight Say Captaine is Rhodes recouered againe Capt. It is my Lord and stoopes to Soliman Soli. Yet that alayes the furie of my paine Before I die for doubtlesse die I must I fates iniurious fates haue so decreed For now I feele the poyson gins to worke And I am weake euen to the very death Yet some thing more contentedly I die For that my death was wrought by her deuise Who liuing was my ioy whose death my woe Ah Ianisaries now dyes your Emperour Before his age hath seene his mellowed yeares And if you euer loued your Emperour Affright me not with sorrowes and laments And when my soule from body shall depart Trouble me not but let me passe in peace And in your silence let your loue be showne My last request for I commaund no more Is that my body with Persedas be Interd where my Erastus lyes intombd And let one Epitaph containe vs all Ah now I feele the paper tould me true The poison is disperst through euery vaine And boiles like Etna in my frying guts Forgiue me deere Erastus my vnkindnes I haue reuengd thy deaths with many deaths And sweete Perseda flie not Soliman When as my gliding ghost shall follow thee With eager moode thorow eternall night And now pale Death sits on my panting soule And with reuenging ire dooth tyrannise And saies for Solimans too much amisse This day shall be the peryod of my blisse Exeunt Then Soliman dyes and they carry him forth with silence Enter Chorus Fortune I gaue Erastus woe and miserie Amidst his greatest ioy and iollitie Loue But I that haue power in earth and heauen aboue Stung them both with neuer failing loue Death But I bereft them both of loue and life Loue Of life but not of loue for euen in death Their soules are knit though bodies be disioynd Thou didst but wound their flesh their minds are free Their bodies buried yet they honour me Death Hence foolish Fortune and thou wanton Loue Your deedes are trifles mine of consequence Fortune I giue worlds happines and woes increase Loue By ioyning persons I increase the world Death By wastning all I conquer all the world And now to end our difference at last In this last act note but the deedes of death VVhere is Erastus now but in my triumph VVhere are the murtherers but in my triumph VVhere 's iudge and witnesse but in my triumph Where 's falce Lucina but in my triumph Where 's faire Perseda but in my triumph VVhere 's Basilisco but in my triumph VVhere 's faithfull Piston but in my triumph VVhere 's valiant Brusor but in my triumph And where 's great Soliman but in my triumph Their loues and fortunes ended with their liues And they must wait vpon the Carre of death Packe Loue and Fortune play in Commedies For powerfull death best fitteth Tragedies Loue I go yet Loue shall neuer yeeld to Death Exit Loue Death But Fortune shall for when I waste the world Then times and kingdomes Fortunes shall decay For. Meane time will Fortune gouerne as she may Exit Fortune Death I now will Death in his most haughtie pride Fetch his imperiall Carre from deepest hell And ride in triumph through the wicked world Sparing none but sacred Cynthias friend Whome Death did feare before her life began For holy fates haue grauen it in their tables That Death shall die if he attempt her end VVhose life is heauens delight and Cynthias friend FINIS Imprinted at London for Edward White and are to be sold at his shop at the little North doore of S. Paules Church at the signe of the Gunne
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
me more braue Souldiers Then all that I le will beare Brusor. Their fleete is weake Their horsse I deeme them fiftie thousand strong Their footemen more well exercised in war And as it seemes they want no needfull vittaile Soli. How euer Rhodes be fencd by sea or land It eyther shall be mine or burie me Enter Erastus What 's he that thus bouldly enters in His habite argues him a Christian Erast. I worthie Lord a forlorne Christian Soli. Tell me man what madnes brought thee hether Erast. Thy vertuous fame and mine owne miserie Soli. What miserie speake for though you Christians Account our Turkish race but barbarous Yet haue we eares to heare a iust complaint And iustice to defend the innocent And pitie to such as are in pouertie And liberall hands to such as merit bountie Bru. My gratious Soueraigne as this Knight Seemes by greefe tyed to silence So his deserts binds me to speake for him This is Erastus the Rhodian worthie The flower of chiualrie and curtesie Soli. Is this the man that thou hast so describde Stand vp faire knight that what my heart desires Mine eyes may view with pleasure and delight This face of thine should harbour no deceit Erastus I le not yet vrge to know the cause That brought thee hether Least with the discourse thou shouldst afflict thy selfe And crosse the fulnes of my ioyfull passion But that we are assurde Heauens brought thee hether for our benefit Know thou that Rhodes nor all that Rhodes containes Shall win thee from the side of Soliman If we but finde thee well inclind to vs Erast. If any ignoble or dishonourable thoughts Should dare attempt or but creepe neere my heart Honour should force disdaine to roote it out As ayre bred Eagles if they once perceiue That any of their broode but close their sight When they should gase against the glorious Sunne They straight way sease vpon him with their talents That on the earth it may vntimely die For looking but ascue at heauens bright eye Soli. Erastus to make thee well assurde How well thy speach and presents liketh vs Aske what thou wilt it shall be graunted thee Erast. Then this my gratious Lord is all I craue That being banisht from my natiue soile I may haue libertie to liue a Christian Soly. I that or any thing thou shalt desire Thou shalt be Captaine of our Ianisaries And in our counsell shalt thou sit with vs And be great Solimans adopted freend Erast. The least of these surpasse my best desart Vnlesse true loyaltie may seeme desart Soli. Erastus now thou hast obtaind thy boone Denie not Soliman this owne request A vertuous enuie pricks me with desire To trie thy valour say art thou content Erast. I if my Soueraigne say content I yeeld Soli. Then giue vs Swords and Targets And now Erastus thinke me thine enemie But euer after thy continuall friend And spare me not for then thou wrongst my honour Then they fight and Erastus ouer comes Solyman Nay nay Erastus throw not downe thy weapons As if thy force did faile it is enough That thou hast conquered Soliman by strength By curtesie let Soliman conquer thee And now from armes to counsell sir thee downe Before thy comming I vowd to conquer Rhodes Say wilt thou be our Leiutenant there And further vs in manage of these wars Erast. My gratious Soueraigne without presumption If poore Erastus may once more intreat Let not great Solimans commaund To whose behest I vowe obedience Inforce me sheath my slaughtering blade In the deere bowels of my countrimen And were it not that Soliman hath sworne My teares should plead for pardon to that place I speake not this to shrinke away for feare Or hide my head in time of dangerous stormes Imploy me else where in thy forraine wars Against the Persians or the barbarous Moore Erastus will be formost in the battell Soli. Why fauourst thou thy countrimen so much By whose crueltie thou art exylde Erast. T is not my countrey but Phylippos wrath It must be tould for Ferdinandos death Whom I in honours cause haue reft of life Soli. Nor suffer this or that to trouble thee Thou shalt not neede Phylippo nor his I le Nor shalt thou war against thy Countrimen I like thy vertue in refusing it But that our oath may haue his currant course Brusor goe leuie men Prepare a fleete to assault and conquer Rhodes Meane time Erastus and I will striue By mutuall kindnes to excell each other Brusor be gon and see not Soliman Till thou hast brought Rhodes in subiection Exit Brusor. And now Erastus come and follow me Where thou shalt see what pleasures and what sports My Minions and my Euenukes can deuise To driue away this melancholly moode Exit Soliman Enter Piston Pist. Oh maister see where I am Erast. Say Piston what 's the newes at Rhodes Pist. Colde and comfortlesse for you Will you haue them all at once Erastus I Pist. Why the Gouernour will hang you he catch you Ferdinando is buried your friends commend them to you Perseda hath the chaine and is like to die for sorrow Erast. I that 's the greefe that we are parted thus Come follow me and I will heare the rest For now I must attend the Emperour Exeunt Enter Perseda Lucina and Basilisco Perse. Accursed Chaine vnfortunate Perseda Luci. Accursed Chaine unfortunate Lucina My friend is gone and I am desolate Perse. My friend is gone and I am desolate Returne him backe faire starres or let me die Luci. Returne him back faire heauens or let me die For what was he but comfort of my life Perse. For what was he but comfort of my life But why was I so carefull of the Chaine Luci. But why was I so carelesse of the chaine Had I not lost it my friend had not beene slaine Perse. Had I not askt it my friend had not departed His parting is my death Luci. His deaths my liues departing And here my tongue dooth stay with swolne harts greefe Per. And here my swolne harts greef doth stay my tongue Basi. For whom weepe you Luci. Ah for Fernando 's dying Basi. For whom mourne you Perse. Ah for Erastus flying Basi. Why Lady is not Basilisco here Why Lady dooth not Basilisco liue Am not I worth both these for whom you mourne Then take one halfe of me and cease to weepe Or if you gladly would inioy me both I le serue the one by day the other by night And I will pay you both your sound delight Luci. Ah how vnpleasant is mirth to melancholy Perse. My heart is full I cannot laugh at follie Exeunt Ladies Basi. See see Lucinae hates me like a Toade Because that when Erastus spake my name Her loue Fernando died at the same So dreadfull is our name to cowerdice On the otherside Perseda takes it vnkindly That ere he went I brought not bound vnto her Erastus that faint hearted run away Alasse how could I for his man no