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
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
sooner Informd him that I sought him vp and downe But he was gon in twinckling of an eye But I will after my delitious loue For well I wot though she desemble thus And cloake affection with hir modestie With loue of me her thoughts are ouer gone More then was Phillis with hir Demophon Exit Enter Philippo the Prince of Cipris with other Souldiours Phil. Braue prince of Cipris and our sonne in law Now there is little time to stand and talke The Turkes haue past our Gallies and are landed You with some men at armes shall take the Tower I with the rest will downe vnto the strane If we be beaten back wee le come to you And here in spight of damned Turkes wee le gaine A glorious death or famous victorie Cyp. About it then Exeunt Enter Brusor and his Souldiers Bru. Drum sound a parle to the Citttzens The Prince of Cypres on the walles Cyp. What parle craues the Turkish at our hands Bru. We come with mightie Solimans commaund Monarch and mightie Emperor of the world From East to Weast from South to Septentrion If you resist expect what warre affordes Mischiefe murther bloud and extremitie What wilt thou yeeld and trie our clemencie Say I or no for we are peremtorie Cyp. Your Lord vsurps in all that he posesseth And that great God which we do truly worship Shall strengthen vs against your insolence Bru. Now if thou plead for mercie t is to late Come fellow Souldiers let vs to the breach That 's made already on the other side Exeunt to the batel Phylippo and Cipris are both slaine Enter Brusor with Souldiers hauing Guelpio Iulio and Basilisco with Perseda and Lucina prisoners Bru. Now Rhodes is yoakt and stoopes to Soliman There lies the Gouernour and there his sonne Now let their soules tell sorrie tidings to their ancestors What millions of men opprest with ruine and scath The Turkish armies did in Christendome What say these prisoners will they turne Turke or no Iulio First Iulio will die ten thousand deaths Guel. And Guelpio rather then denie his Christ Bru. Then stab the slaues and send their soules to hell They stab Iulio and Guelpio Bas. I turne I turne oh saue my life I turne Bru. For beare to hurt him when we land in Turkie He shall be circumcised and haue his rites Bas. Thinke you I turne Turque For feare of seruile death that 's but a sport I faith sir no T is for Perseda whom I loue so well That I would follow her though she went to hell Bru. Now for these Ladies their liues priuiledge Hangs on their beautie they shall be preserued To be presented to great Soliman The greatest honour Fortune could affoord Perse. The most dishonour that could ere befall Exeunt Enter Chorus Lou. Now Fortune what hast thou done in this later passage For. I plast Erastus in the fauour Of Solyman the Turkish Emperour Loue Nay that was Loue for I coucht my selfe In poore Erastus eyes and with a looke Orespred with teares bewitched Solyman Beside I sat on valiant Brusors tongue To guide the praises of the herodian knight Then in the Ladies passions I showed my power And lastly Loue made Basiliscos tongue To countercheck his hart by turning Turke And saue his life in spight of deaths despight Death How chance it then that Loue and Fortunes power Could neither saue Philippo nor his sonne Nor Guelpio nor signior Iulio Nor rescue Rhodes from out the hands of Death For. Why Brusors victorie was Fortunes gift Death But had I slept his conquest had beene small Loue Wherfore stay we ther 's more behind which proues That though Loue winke Loues not starke blinde Exeunt Enter Erastus and Piston Pist. Faith maister me thinks you are vnwise That you weare not the high Sugerloafe hat And the gilded gowne the Emperour gaue you Erast. Peace foole a sable weede fits discontent Away be gon Pist. I le go prouide your supper A shoulder of mutton and neuer a Sallet Exit Piston Erast. I must confesse that Solyman is kinde Past all compare and more then my desart But what helps gay garments when the minds oprest What pleaseth the eye when the sence is altered My heart is ouer whelmd with thousand woes And melancholie leades my soule in triumphe No meruaile then if I haue little minde Of rich imbroderie or costly ornaments Of honors titles or of wealth or gaine Of musick viands or of dainty dames No no my hope full long agoe was lost And Rhodes it selfe is lost or els destroyde If not destroide yet bound and captiuate If captiuate then forst from holy faith If forst from faith for euer miserable For what is misery but want of God And God is lost if faith be ouerthrowne Enter Solyman Solim. Why how now Erastus alwaies in thy dumpes Still in black habite fitting funerall Cannot my loue perswade thee from this moode Nor all my faire intreats and blandishments Wert thou my friend thy minde would iumpe with mine For what are freends but one minde in two bodies Perhaps thou doubts my friendships constancie Then doost thou wrong the measure of my loue Which hath no measure and shall neuer end Come Erastus sit thee downe by me And I le impart to thee our Brusors newes Newes to our honour and to thy content The Gouernour is slaine that sought thy death Erast. A worthy man though not Erastus friend Soli. The Prince of Cipris to is likewise slaine Erast. Faire blossome likely to haue proued good fruite Soli. Rhodes is taken and all the men are slaine Except some few that turne to Mahomet Erast. I there it is now all my freends are slaine And faire Perseda murtherd or deflowerd Ah gratious Solyman now show thy loue In not denying thy poore supplyant Suffer me not to stay here in thy presence But by my selfe lament me once for all Here if I stay I must suppresse my teares And teares supprest will but increase my sorrow Soli. Go then go spend thy mournings all at once That in thy presence Soliman may ioy Exit Erastus For hetherto haue I reaped little pleasure Well well Erastus Rhodes may blesse thy birth For his sake onely will I spare them more From spoile pillage and oppression Then Alexander spard warlike Thebes For Pindarus or then Augustus Sparde rich Alexandria for Arias sake Enter Brusor Perseda and Lucina Bru. My gratious Lord reioyce in happinesse All Rhodes is yoakt and stoopes to Solyman Soli. First thanks to heauen and next to Brusors valour Which I le not guerdon with large promises But straight reward thee with a bounteous largesse But what two Christian Virgins haue we here Bru. Part of the spoile of Rhodes which were preserued To be presented to your mightinesse Soli. This present pleaseth more then all the rest And were their garments turnd from black to white I should haue deemd them Junoes goodly Swannes Or Venus milke white Doues so milde they are And so adornd with beauties miracle
good counsell comes too late Yet say thy minde Bru. With secret letters woe her and with gifts Soli. My lines and gifts will but returne my shame Luci. Here me my Lord let me go ouer to Rhodes That I may plead in your affections cause One woman may do much to win another Soli. Indeede Lucina were her husband from her She happely might be woone by thy perswades But whilst he liues there is no hope in her Bru. Why liues he then to greeue great Soliman This onely remaines that you consider In two extreames the least is to be chosen If so your life depend vpon her loue And that her loue depends vpon his life Is it not better that Erastus die Ten thousand deaths then Soliman should perish Soli. I saist thou so why then it shall be so But by what meanes shall poore Erastus die Bru. This shall be the meanes I le fetch him backe againe Vnder couler of great consequence No sooner shall he land vpon our shore But witnes shall be ready to accuse him Of treason doone against your mightines And then he shall be doomd by marshall law Soli. Oh fine deuise Brusor get thee gone Come thou againe but let the lady stay To win Perseda to my will meane while Will I prepare the iudge and witnesses And if this take effect thou shalt be Viceroy And faire Lucina Queene of Tripolie Brusor be gone for till thou come I languish Exeunt Brusor and Lucina And now to ease my troubled thoughts at last I will go sit among my learned Euenukes And here them play and see my minions dance For till that Brusor bring me my desire I may asswage but neuer quench loues fire Exit Enter Basilisco Basi. Since the expugnation of the Rhodian I le Me thinkes a thousand yeares are ouerpast More for the lack of my Persedas presence Then for the losse of Rhodes that paltry I le Or for my friends that there were murthered My valour euery where shall purchase friends And where a man liues well there is his countrie Alas the Christians are but very shallow In giuing iudgement of a man at armes A man of my desert and excellence The Turkes whom they account for barbarous Hauing forehard of Basiliscoes worth A number vnder prop me with their shoulders And in procession bare me to the Church As I had beene a second Mahomet I fearing they would adore me for a God Wisely informd them that I was but man Although in time perhaps I might aspire To purchase Godhead as did Hercules I meane by doing wonders in the world A midst their Church they bound me to a piller And to make triall of my valiancie They lopt a collop of my tendrest member But thinke you Basilisco squicht for that Euen as a Cowe for tickling in the horne That doone they set me on a milke white Asse Compassing me with goodly ceremonies That day me thought I sat in Pompeyes Chaire And viewd the Capitoll and was Romes greatest glorie Enter Piston Pist. I would my maister had left Some other to be his agent here Faith I am wearie of the office alreadie What Seigniour Tremomundo That rid a pilgrimage to beg cakebread Bas. O take me not vnprouided let me fetch my weapons Pist. Why I meant nothing but a Basolus Manus Basi. No didst thou not meane to giue me the priuie stab Pist. No by my troth sir Bas. Nay if thou hadst I had not feard thee I I tell thee my skin holds out Pistoll proofe Pist. Pistoll proofe I le trie if it will hold out pin prooue Then he pricks him with a pin Bas. O shoote no more great God I yeeld to thee Pist. I see his skin is but pistol profe from the girdle vpward What suddaine agonie was that Ba. VVhy sawst thou not how Cupid God of loue Not daring looke me in the marshall face Came like a coward stealing after me And with his pointed dart prickt my posteriors Pist. Then here my opinion concerning that point The Ladies of Rhodes hearing that you haue lost A capitoll part of your Lady ware Haue made their petition to Cupid To plague you aboue all other As one preiuditiall to their muliebritie Now sir Cupid seeing you alreadie hurt before Thinkes it a greater punishment to hurt you behind Therfore I would wish you to haue an eye to the back dore Bas. Sooth thou saiest I must be fencd behinde I le hang my target there Pist. Indeede that will serue to beare of some blowes VVhen you run away in a fraye Bas. Sirra sirra what art thou That thus incrochest vpon my familiaritie VVithout speciall admittance Pist. VVhy do you not know me I am Erastus man Bas. VVhat art thou that pettie pigmie That chalenged me at Rhode VVhom I refusd to combat for his minoritie Where is Erastus I owe him chastisment in Persedas quarrel Pist. Do not you know that they are all friends And Erastus maryed to Perseda And Erastus made gouernour of Rhodes And I left heere to be their agent Bas. O coelum O terra O maria Neptune Did I turne Turke to follow her so far Pist. The more shame for you Bas. And is she linkt in liking with my foe Pist. That 's because you were out of the way Bas. O wicked Turque for to steale her hence Pist. O wicked turne coate that would haue her staye Bas. The trueth is I le be a Turke no more Pist. And I feare thou wilt neuer prooue good christian Bas. I will after to take reuenge Pist. And I le stay heere about my maisters busines Bas. Farewell Constantinople I will to Rhodes Exit Pist. Farewell counterfeit foole God send him good shipping T is noisd about that Brusor is sent To fetch my maister backe againe I cannot be well till I heare the rest of the newes Therefore I le about it straight Exit Enter Chorus Loue Now Fortune what hast thou done in this latter act Fort. I brought Perseda to the presence Of Soliman the Turkish Emperour And gaue Lucina into Brusors hands Loue And first I stunge them with consenting loue And made great Soliman sweete beauties thrall Humble himselfe at faire Persedas feete And made him praise loue and captiues beautie Againe I made him to recall his passions And giue Perseda to Erastus hands And after make repentance of the deed For. Meane time I fild Erastus sailes with winde And brought him home vnto his natiue land Death And I subornd Brusor with enuious rage To counsell Soliman to slay his friend Brusor is sent to fetch him back againe Marke well what followes for the historie Prooues me cheefe actor in this tragedie Exeunt Enter Erastus and Perseda Erast. Perseda these dayes are our dayes of ioy What could I more desire then thee to wife And that I haue or then to gouerne Rhodes And that I doe thankes to great Soliman Perse. And thankes to gratious heauens that so Brought Soliman from worse to better For though I neuer tould it thee
THE TRAGEDYE OF SOLYMAN AND PERSEDA VVherein is laide open Loues constancy Fortunes inconstancy and Deaths Triumphs AT LONDON Printed by Edward Allde for Edward White and are to be solde at the little North doore of Paules Church at the signe of the Gun THE Tragedie of Soliman and Perseda Actus primus Enter Loue Fortune Death Loue WHat Death and Fortune crosse the way of Loue For. Why what is Loue but Fortunes tenis-ball Death Nay what are you both but subiects vnto Death And I commaund you to forbeare this place For heere the mouth of sad Melpomene Is wholy bent to tragedies discourse And what are Tragedies but acts of death Here meanes the wrathfull muse in seas of teares And lowd laments to tell a dismall tale A tale wherein she lately hath bestowed The huskie humour of her bloudy quill And now for tables takes her to her tung Loue Why thinkes Death Loue knowes not the historie Of braue Erastus and his Rodian dame T was I that made their harts consent to loue And therefore come I now as fittest person To serue for chorus to this Tragedie Had not I beene they had not dyed so soone Death Had I not beene they had not dyed so soone For. Nay then it seemes you both doo misse the marke Did not I change long loue to sudden hate And then rechange their hatred into loue And then from loue deliuer them to death Fortune is chorus Loue and death be gone Death I tell thee Fortune and thee wanton Loue I will not downe to euerlasting night Till I haue moralliz'd this Tragedy Whose cheefest actor was my sable dart Loue Nor will I vp into the brightsome sphere From whence I sprung till in the chorus place I make it knowne to you and to the world What interest Loue hath in Tragedies For. Nay then though Fortune haue delight in change I le stay my flight and cease to turne my wheele Till I haue showne by demonstration What intrest I haue in a Tragedie Tush Fortune can doo more then Loue or Death Loue Why stay we then le ts giue the Actors leaue And as occasion serues make our returne Exeunt Enter Erastus and Perseda Erast. Why when Perseda wilt thou not assure me But shall I like a mastlesse ship at sea Goe euery way and not the way I would My loue hath lasted from mine infancie And still increased as I grew my selfe When did Perseda pastime in the streetes But her Erastus ouer-eied her sporte When didst thou with thy sampler in the Sunne Sit sowing with thy feres but I was by Marking thy lilly hands dexteritie Comparing it to twenty gratious things When didst thou sing a note that I could heare But I haue framde a dittie to the tune Figuring Perseda twenty kinde of waies When didst thou goe to Church on hollidaies But I haue waited on thee too and fro Marking my times as Faulcons watch their flight When I haue mist thee how haue I lamented As if my thoughts had bene assured true Thus in my youth now since I grew a man I haue perseuered to let thee know The meaning of my true harts constancie Then be not nice Perseda as women woont To hasty louers whose fancy soone is fled My loue is of a long continuance And merites not a strangers recompence Per. Enough Erastus thy Perseda knowes She whom thou wouldst haue thine Erastus knowes Erast. Nay my Perseda knowes and then t is well Per. I watch you vauntages thine be it then I haue forgot the rest but that 's the effect Which to effect accept this carkanet My Grandame on her death bed gaue it me And there euen there I vow'd vnto my selfe To keepe the same vntill my wandring eye Should finde a harbour for my hart to dwell Euen in thy brest doo I elect my rest Let in my hart to keepe thine company Erast. And sweet Perseda accept this ring To equall it receiue my hart to boot It is no boot for that was thine before And far more welcome is this change to me Then sunny daies to naked Sauages Or newes of pardon to a wretch condemde That waiteth for the fearefull stroke of death As carefull will I be to keepe this chaine As doth the mother keepe her children From water pits or falling in the fire Ouer mine armour will I hang this chaine And when long combat makes my body faint The sight of this shall shew Persedas name And ad fresh courage to my fainting limmes This day the eger Turke of Tripolis The Knight of Malta honoued for his worth And he that 's titled by the golden spurre The Moore vpon his hot barbarian horse The fiery Spaniard bearing in his face The empresse of a noble warriour The sudden Frenchman and the bigbound Dane And English Arthers hardy men at armes Eclipped Lyons of the westerne worlde Eche one of these approued combatants Assembled from seuerall corners of the world Are hither come to try their force in armes In honor of the Prince of Cipris nuptials Amongst these worthies will Erastus troupe Though like a Gnat amongst a hiue of Bees Know me by this thy pretious carkanet And if I thriue in valour as the glasse That takes the Sun-beames burning with his force I le be the glasse and thou that heauenly Sun From whence I le borrow what I do atchieue And sweet Perseda vnnoted though I be Thy beauty yet shall make me knowne ere night Per. Yong slippes are neuer graft in windy daies Yong schollers neuer entered with the rod Ah my Erastus there are Europes Knights That carry honour grauen in their helmes And they must winne it deere that winne it thence Let not my beauty prick thee to thy bane Better sit still then rise and ouer-tane Erast. Counsell me not for my intent is sworne And be my fortune as my loue deserues Per. So be thy fortune as thy features serues And then Erastus liues without compare Enter a Messenger Here comes a Messenger to haste me hence I know your message hath the Princesse sent for me Messen. She hath and desires you to consort her to the triumphes Enter Piston Piston Who saw my Master O sir are you heere The Prince and all the outlandish Gentlemen Are ready to goe to the triumphs they stay for you Erast. Goe sirra bid my men bring my horse and a dosen staves Pist. You shall haue your horses and two dosen of staves Exit Piston Erast. Wish me good hap Perseda and I le winne Such glory as no time shall ere race out Or end the period of my youth in blood Per. Such fortune as the good Andromache Wisht valiant Hector wounded with the Greekes I wish Erastus in his maiden warres Orecome with valour these high minded Knights As with thy vertue thou hast conquered me Heauens heare my harty praier and it effect Exeunt Enter Philippo the Prince of Cipris Basilisco and all the Knights Phil. Braue knights of Christendome and turkish both Assembled heere
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
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