brood Shall brooke his foe for to vsurpe his seate Hee le die the death with honour in the field And so his life and sorrowes briefly end But did I know my froward fate were such As I should faile in this my iust attempt This sword deare father should the Author be To make an end of this my Tragedie Therefore sweet sire remaine you here a while And let me walke my Fortune for to trie I do not doubt but ere the time be long I le quite his cost or else my selfe will die Cari. My noble sonne since that thy mind is such For to reuenge thy fathers foule abuse As that my words may not a whit preuaile To stay thy iourney go with happie fate And soone returne vnto thy fathers Cell With such a traine as Iulius Cesar came To noble Rome when as he had atchiu'd The mightie Monarch of the triple world Meane time Carinus in this sillie groue Will spend his daies with praier and horizons To mightie Ioue to further thine intent Farewell deare sonne Alphonsus fare you well Exit Alphon. And is he gone then hie Alphonsus hie To trie thy fortune where thy fates do call A noble mind disdaines to hide his head And let his foes triumph in his ouerthrow Enter Albinius Alphonsus makes as though thou goest out Albinius Albi. What loytring follow haue we spied here Presume not villaine further her for to go Vnles you do at length the same repent Alphonsus comes towards Albinius Alphon. Villain saist thou nay vilain in thy throat What knowst thou skipnick whom thou vilain calst Albi. A common vassall I do villaine call Alphon. That shalt thou soone approoue perswade thy self Or else I le die or thou shalt die for me Albi. What do I dreame or do my dazeling eies Deceiue me I st Alphonsus that I see Doth now Medea vse her wonted charmes For to delude Albinius fantasie Or doth black Pluto king of darke Auerne Seeke to flout me with his counterfait His bodie like to Alphonsus framed is His face resembles much Alphonsus hewe His noble mind declares him for no les T is he indeed wo worth Albinius Whose babling tong hath causde his owne annoy Why doth not Ioue send from the glittring skies His Thunder bolts to chastice this offence Why doth dame Terra cease with greedie iawes To swallow vp Albinius presently What shall I flie and hide my trayterous head From stout Alphonsus whom I so misusde Or shall I yield Tush yeelding is in vaine Nor can I flie but he will follow me Then cast thy selfe downe at his graces feete Confesse thy fault and readie make thy brest To entertaine thy well deserued death Albinius kneels downe Alph. What newes my friend why are you so blanke That earst before did vaunt it to the skies Albi. Pardon deare Lord Albinius pardon craues For this offence which by the heauen I vowe Vnwittingly I did vnto your grace For had I knowne Alphonsus had bene here Ere that my tongue had spoke so trayterously This hand should make my very soule to die Alphon. Rise vp my friend thy pardon soon is got But prithi tell me what the cause might be That in such sort thou erst vpbraidedst me Albinius ryses vp Haue compassed the circle of the skie I le clog their toongs since nothing else will serue To keep those vilde and threatning speeches in Farwell Belinus loke thou to thy selfe Alphonsus meanes to haue thy Crowne ere night Exit Alphonsus Beli. What is he gone the diuel break his necke The fiends of hell torment his traiterous corpes Is this the quittance of Belinus grace Which he did shewe vnto that thankles wretch That runnagate that rachell yea that theefe For well I wot he hath robd me of a Crowne If euer he had sprung from gentle blood He would not thus misuse his fauourer Albi. That runnagate that rachel yea that theef Stay their sir King your mouth runnes ouer much It ill becomes the subiect for to vse Such trayterous termes against his soueraigne Know thou Belinus that Carinus sonne Is neither rachel nor runnagate But be thou sure that ere the darksome night Do driue God Phaebus to his Thetis lap Both thou and all the rest of this thy traine Shall well repent the words which you haue saine Beli. What traiterous villain dost thou threaten me Lay hold on him and see he do not scape I le teach the slaue to know to whom he speakes To thee I speake and to thy fellowes all And though as now you haue me in your power Yet doubt I not but that in litle space These eyes shall see thy treason recompenst And then I meane to vaunt of our victorie Beli. Nay proud Albinius neuer build on that For though the Gods do chance for to appoynt Alphonsus victor of Belinus land Yet shalt thou neuer liue to see that day And therefore Fabius stand not lingring But presently slash off his trayterous head Albi. Slash off his head as though Albinius head Were then so easie to be slashed off In faith sir no when you are gone and dead I hope to flourish like the pleasant spring Beli. Why how now Fabius what do you stand in doubt To do the deed what feare you who dares seeke For to reuenge his death on thee againe Since that Belinus did commaund it so Or are you waxt so daintie that you dare Not vse your sword for staining of your hands If it be so then let me see thy sword And I will be his butcher for this time Fabius giue Belinus thy sword drawne Belinus say as followeth Now sir Albinius are you of the minde That erst you were what do you looke to see And triumph in Belinus ouerthrow I hope the very sight of this my blade Hath chaungde your minde into an other tune Albi. Not so Belinus I am constant still My minde is like to the Abeston stone Which if it once be heat in flames of fire Deineth to becommen colde againe Euen so am I and shall be till I die And though I should see Attropos appeare With knife in hand to slit my threed in twaine Yet nere Albinius should perswaded be But that Belinus he should vanquisht see Beli. Nay then Albinius since that words are vaine For to perswade you from this heresie The sword shall sure put you out of doubt Belinus offers to strike off Albinius head strike vp alarum ener Alphonsus and his men flie Belinus and Fabius follow Alphonsus and Albinius Enter Laelius Milos and his seruants Laeli. My noble Lords of Aragon I know You wonder much what might the occasion be That Laelius which earst did flie the field Doth egge you forwards now vnto the warres But when you heare my reason out of doubt Yow le be content with this my rash attempt When first our King Flaminius I do meane Did set vpon the Neapolitans The worst of you did know and plainly see How farre they were vnable to withstand The mightie forces
guiltlesse childe But what of that the mother loathd in heart For to commit so vile a massacre Yea Ioue did liue and as the fates did say From heauenly seate draue Saturne cleane away What did auaile the Castle all of Steele The which Acrisius caused to be made To keepe his daughter Danae clogged in She was with childe for all her Castles force And by that child Acrisius her sire Was after slaine so did the fates require A thousand examples I could bring hereof But Marble stones needs no colouring And that which euery one doth know for truth Needs no examples to confirme the same That which the fates appoint must happen so Though heauenly Ioue and all the Gods say no Fau. Iphigina she sayth nought but truth Fates must be followed in their iust decrees And therefore setting all delayes aside Come let vs wend vnto Amazone And gather vp our forces out of hand Iphi. Since Fausta wils and fates do so command Iphigina will neuer it withstand Exeunt omnes Act. 3. Enter Venus THus haue you seene how Amuracke himselfe Fausta his wife and euery other King Which holds their scepters at the Turke his hands Are now in armes entending to destroy And bring to nought the Prince of Aragon Charmes haue bene vsde by wise Medeas art To know before what afterward shall hap And King Belinus with high Claramount Ioynd to Alphonsus which with Princely pompe Doth rule and gouerne all the warlike Moores Are sent as Legats to god Mahomet To know his counsell in these high affaires Mahound prouokte by Amurackes discourse Which as you heard he in his dreame did vse Denies to play the Prophet any more But by the long intreatie of his Priests He prophesies in such a craftie sort As that the hearers needs must laugh for sport Yet poore Belinus with his fellow Kings Did giue such credence to that forged tale As that they lost their dearest liues thereby And Amuracke became a prisoner Vnto Alphonsus as straight shall appeare Exit Venus Let there be a brazen Head set in the middle of the place behind the Stage out of the which cast flames of fire drums rumble within Enter two Priests 1. Pr. My fellow Priests of Mahounds holy house What can you iudge of these strange miracles Which daily happen in this sacred seate Drums rumble within Harke what a rumbling ratleth in our cares Cast flames of fire forth of the brazen Head See flakes of fire proceeding from the mouth Of Mahomet that God of peereles power Nor can I tell with all the wit I haue What Mahomet by these his signes doth craue 2. Pr. Thrise ten times Phoebus with his golden beames Hath compassed the circle of the skie Thrise ten times Ceres hath her workemen hir'd And fild her barnes with frutefull crops of corne Since first in Priesthood I did lead my life Yet in this time I neuer heard before Such feareful sounds nor saw such wondrous sights Nor can I tell with all the wit I haue What Mahomet by these his signes doth craue Speake out of the brazen Head Ma. You cannot tell nor will you seeke to know Oh peruerse Priest how carelesse are you waxt As when my foes approach vnto my gates You stand still talking of I cannot tell Go packe you hence and meete the Turkish kings Which now are drawing to my Temple ward Tell them from me God Mahomet is dispos'd To prophesie no more to Amuracke Since that his tongue is waxen now so free As that it needs must chat and raile at me Kneele downe both 1. Pr. Oh Mahomet if all the solemne prayers Which from our childhood we haue offered thee Can make thee call this sentence backe againe Bring not thy Priest into this dangerous state For when the Turke doth heare of this repulse We shall be sure to die the death therefore Ma. Thou sayest truth go call the Princes in I le prophesie vnto them for this once But in such wise as they shall neither boast Nor you be hurt in any kinde of wise Enter Belinus Claramont Arcastus go both the Priests to meet him the first say 1. Pr. You Kings of Turkie Mahomet our God By sacred science hauing notice that You were sent Legats from high Amuracke Vnto this place commaunded vs his Priests That we should cause you make as mickle speed As well you might to heare for certaintie Of that shall happen to your King and ye Beli. For that intent we came into this place And sithens that the mightie Mahomet Is now at leisure for to tell the same Let vs make haste and take time while we may For mickle daunger hapneth through delay 2. Pri. Truth worthy king and therfore you your selfe With your companions kneele before this place And listen well what Mahomet doth say Kneele all downe before the brasen Head Beli. As you do will we ioyntly will obey Ma. Princes of Turkie and Embassadors Of Amuracke to mightie Mahomet I needs must muse that you which erst haue bene The readiest souldiers of the triple world Are now become so slacke in your affaires As when you should with bloudie blade in hand Be hacking he'mes in thickest of your foes You stand still loytering in the Turkish soyle What know you not how that it is decreed By all the gods and chiefly by my selfe That you with triumph should all Crowned bee Make haste Kings least when the fates do see How carlesly you do neglect their words They call a Counsell and force Mahomet Against his will some other thing to set Send Fabius backe to Amuracke againe To haste him forwards in his enterprise And march you on with all the troupes you haue To Naples ward to conquer Aragon For if you stay both you and all your men Must needs be sent downe straight to Lymbo den 2. Pri. Muse not braue kings at Mahomets discourse For marke what he forth of that mouth doth say Assure your selfe it needs must happen so Therefore make hast go mount you on your steeds And set vpon Alphonsus presently So shall you reape great honor for your paine And scape the scourge which els the Fates ordaine Rise all vp Beli. Then proud Alphonsus looke thou to thy Crowne Belinus comes in glittring armor clad All readie prest for to reuenge the wrong Which not long since you offred vnto him And since we haue God Mahound on our side The victorie must needs to vs betide Cla. Worthie Belinus set such threats away And let vs haste as fast as horse can trot To set vpon presumptuous Aragon You Fabius hast as Mahound did commaund To Amuracke with all the speed you may Fabi. With willing mind I hasten on my way Exit Fabius Beli. And thinking long till that we be in fight Belinus hastes to quaile Alphonsus might Exeunt omnes Strike vp alarum a while Enter Carinus Cari. No sooner had God Phebus brightsome beames Both Millaine land and all the parts thereof Cari. Why then I doubt not but
THE COMICALL HISTORIE OF Alphonsus King of Aragon As it hath bene sundrie times Acted Made by R. G. LONDON Brinted by Thomas Creede 1599 The Comicall Historie of Alphonsus King of Arragon Act. I. After you haue sounded thrise let Venus be let downe from the top of the Stage and when she is downe say POets are scarce when Goddesses themselues Are forst to leaue their high and stately seates Placed on the top of high Olympus Mount To seeke them out to pen their Champions praise The time hath bene when Homers sugred Muse Did make each Eccho to repeate his verse That euery coward that durst crack a speare And Tilt and Turney for his Ladies sake Was painted out in colours of such price As might become the proudest Potentate But now a dayes so yrksome Idels slights And cursed charmes haue witch'd each students mind That death it is to any of them all If that their hands to penning you do call Oh Virgil Virgil wert thou now aliue Whose painfull pen in stout Augustus dayes Did daigne to let the base and silly flea To scape away without thy praise of her I do not doubt but long or ere this time Alphonsus fame vnto the heauen's should clime Alphonsus fame that man of Ioue his seed Sprung from the loines of the immortall Gods Whose sire although he habit on the earth May claime a portion in the fierie Pole As well as any one what ere he be But setting by Alphonsus power diuine What man aliue or now amongst the ghoasts Could counteruaile his courage and his strength But thou art dead yea Virgil thou art gon And all his acts drownd in obliuion And all his acts drownd in obliuion No Venus no though Poets proue vnkind And loth to stand in penning of his deeds Yet rather then they shall be cleane forgot I which was wont to follow Cupids games Will put in vre Mineruaes sacred Art And this my hand which vsed for to pen The praise of loue and Cupids peerles power Will now begin to treat of bloudie Mars Of doughtie deeds and valiant victories Enter Melpomine Clio Errato with their sisters playing all vpon sundrie Instruments Calliope onely excepted who comming last hangeth downe the head and plaies not of her Instrument But see whereas the stately Muses come Whose harmony doth very far surpasse The heauenly musick of Appolloes pipe But what meanes this Melpomine her selfe With all her sisters sound their Instruments Onely excepted faire Calliope Who comming last hanging downe her head Doth plainly shewe by outward actions What secret sorrow doth torment her heart Stands a side Mel. Calliope thou which so oft didst crake How that such clients clustred to thy Court By thick and threefold as not any any one Of all thy sisters might compare with thee Where be thy schollers now become I troe Where are they vanisht in such suddain sort That while as we do play vpon our strings You stand still lazing and haue nought to do Clio. Melpomine make you a why of that I know full oft you haue Authors red The higher tree the sooner is his fall And they which first do flourish and beare sway Vpon the sudden vanish cleane away Cal. Mocke on apace my backe is broad enough To beare your flouts as many as they be That yeare is rare that nere feeles winters stormes That tree is fertile which nere wanteth frute And that same Muse hath heaped well in store Which neuer wanteth clients at her doore But yet my sisters when the surgent seas Haue ebde their fill their waues do rise againe And fill their bankes vp to the very brimmes And when my pipe hath easd her selfe a while Such store of suters shall my seate frequent That you shall see my schollers be not spent Errato Spent quoth you sister then we were too blame If we should say your schollers all were spent But pray now tell me when your painfull pen will rest enough Mel. When husbandmen sheere hogs Ven. Melpomine Errato and the rest From thickest shrubs dame Venus did espie The mortall hatred which you ioyntly beare Vnto your sister high Calliope What do you thinke if that the tree do bend It followes therefore that it needs must breakes And since her pipe a litle while doth rest It neuer shall be able for to sound Yes Muses yes if that she wil vouchsafe To entertain Dame Venus in her schoole And further me with her instructions She shall haue schollers which wil daine to be In any other Muses companie Calliope Most sacred Venus do you doubt of that Calliope would thinke her three times blest For to receiue a Goddes in her schoole Especially so high an one as you Which rules the earth and guides the heauens too Ven. Then sound your pipes and let vs bend our steps Vnto the top of high Pernassus hill And there togither do our best deuoyr For to describe Alphonsus warlike fame And in the maner of a Comedie Set downe his noble valour presently Calli. As Venus wils so bids Calliope Melpo. And as you bid your sisters do agree Exeunt Enter Clarinus the Father and Alphonsus his sonne Carinus My noble sonne since first I did recount The noble acts your predecessors did In Aragon against their warlike foes I neuer yet could see thee ioy at all But hanging downe thy head as malcontent Thy youthfull dayes in mourning haue bene spent Tell me Alphonsus what might be the cause That makes thee thus to pine away with care Hath old Carinus done thee any offence In reckning vp these stories vnto thee What nere a word but mumme Alphonsus speake Vnles your Fathers fatall day you seeke Alphon. Although deare father I haue often vowde Nere to vnfold the secrets of my heart To any man or woman who some ere Dwels vnderneath the circle of the skie Yet do your words so coniure me deare sire That needs I must fulfil that you require Then so it is amongst the famous tales Which you rehearst done by our sires in warre When as you came vnto your fathers daies With sobbing notes with sighs blubbring teares And much ado at length you thus began Next to Alphonsus should my father come For to possesse the Diadem by right Of Aragon but that the wicked wretch His yonger brother with aspiring mind By secret treason robd him of his life And me his sonne of that which was my due These words my sire did so torment my mind As had I bene with Ixion in hell The rauening bird could neuer plague me worse For euer since my mind hath troubled bene Which way I might reuenge this traiterous fact And that recouer which is ours by right Cari. Ah my Alphònsus neuer thinke on that In vaine it is to striue against the streame The Crowne is lost and now in hucksters hands And all our hope is cast into the dust Bridle these thoughts and learne the same of me A quiet life doth passe an Emperie Alphon. Yet noble father ere Carinus