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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Bas. For presumption for couering the Emperors Mare Pist. Marrie a foule fault but why are his eares cut Bas. For neighing in the Emperours Court Pist. Why then thy Horse hath bin a Colt in his time Bas. True thou hast said O touch not the cheeke of my Palphrey Least he dismount me while my wounds are greene Page run bid the surgion bring his incision Yet stay I le ride along with thee my selfe Exit Pist. And I le beare you companie Piston getteth vp on his Asse and rideth with him to the doore and meeteth the Cryer Enter the Cryer Pist. Come sirra let me see how finely you le cry this chaine Cryer Why what was it worth Pist. It was woorth more then thou and all thy kin are worth Cryer It may be so but what must he haue that findes it Pist. Why a hundred Crownes Cryer Why then I le haue ten for the crying it Pist. Ten Crownes and had but six pence For crying a little wench of thirty yeares old vpwards That had lost her selfe betwixt a tauerne a baw die house Cryer I that was a wench but this is Golde Shee was poore but this is rich Pist. Why then by this reckoning a Hackneyman Should haue ten shillings for horsing a Gentlewoman Where he hath but ten pence of a begger Cryer VVhy and reason good Let them paie that best may As the Lawyers vse their rich Clyents VVhen they let the poore go vnder Forma pauperis Pist. VVhy then I pray thee crie the Chaine for me Sub forma pauperis For money goes very low with me at this time Cryer I sir but your maister is though you be not Pist. I but hee must not know That thou cry cryest the Chaine for me I do but vse thee to saue me a labour That am to make inquirie after it Cry Well sir you le see me considered will you not Pist. I marry will I why what lighter paiment can there be then consideration Cryer O yes Enter Erastus Erastus How now sirra what are you crying Cryer A chaine sir a chaine that your man bad me crie Erastus Get you away sirra I aduise you Meddle with no Chaines of mine Exit Cryer You paltrie knaue how durst thou be so bould To crie the chaine when I bid thou shouldst not Did I not bid thee onely vnderhand Make priuie inquirie for it through the towne Least publike rumor might aduertise her Whose knowledge were to me a second death Pist. Why would you haue me runne vp and downe the towne and my shooes are doone Erast. What you want in shooes I le giue ye in blowes Pist. I pray you sir hold your hands And as I am an honest man I le do the best I can to finde your chaine Exit Piston Erast. Ah treacherous Fortune enemy to Loue Didst thou aduaunce me for my greater fall In dalying war I lost my chiefest peace In hunting after praise I lost my loue And in loues shipwrack will my life miscarrie Take thou the honor and giue me the chaine Wherein was linkt the sum of my delight When she deliuered me the Carkanet Keepe it quoth she as thou wouldst keepe my selfe I kept it not and therefore she is lost And lost with hir is all my happinesse And losse of happines is worse then death Come therefore gentle death and ease my griefe Cut short what malice Fortune misintends But stay a while good Death and let me liue Time may restore what Fortune tooke from me Ah no great losses sildome are restord What if my Chaine shall neuer be restord My innocence shall cleare my negligence Ah! but my loue is cerimonious And lookes for iustice at her louers hand Within forst furrowes of her clowding brow As stormes that fall amid a sun shine day I read her iust desires and my decay Exit Enter Solyman Haleb Amarath and Janesaries Soly. I long till Brusor be returnd from Rhodes To know how he hath borne him gainst the Christians That are assembled there to trie their valour But more to be well assured by him How Rhodes is fenc'd and how I best may lay My neuer failing siege to win that plot For by the holy Alcaron I sweare I le call my Souldiers home from Persia And let the Sophie breath and from the Russian broiles Call home my hardie dauntlesse Ianisaries And from the other skirts of Christendome Call home my Bassowes and my men of war And so beleager Rhodes by sea and land That Key will serue to open all the gates Through which our passage cannot finde a stop Till it haue prickt the hart of Christendome Which now that paltrie Iland keepes from scath Say brother Amurath and Haleb say What thinke you of our resolution Amura. Great Soliman heauens onely substitute And earths commander vnder Mahomet So counsell I as thou thy selfe hast said Haleb. Pardon me dread Soueraigne I hold it not Good pollicie to call your forces home From Persea and Polonia bending them Vpon a paltrie Ile of small defence A common presse of base superfluous Turkes May soone be leuied for so slight a taske Ah Soliman whose name hath shakt thy foes As withered leaues with Autume throwen downe Fog not thy glory with so fowle eclipse Let not thy Souldiers sound a base retire Till Persea stoope and thou be conquerour What scandall were it to thy mightinesse After so many valiant Bassowes slaine Whose bloud hath bin manured to their earth Whose bones hath made their deepe waies passable To sound a homeward dull and harsh retreate Without a conquest or a meane reuenge Striue not for Rhodes by letting Persea slip The one 's a Lyon almost brought to death Whose skin will counteruaile the hunters toile The other is a Waspe with threatning sting Whose Hunny is not worth the taking vp Amu. Why Haleb didst thou not heare our brother sweare Vpon the Alcaron religiously That he would make an vniuersall Campe Of all his scattered legions and darest thou Infer a reason why it is not meete After his Highnes sweares it shall be so VVere it not thou art my fathers sonne And striuing kindnes wrestled not with ire I would not hence till I had let thee know VVhat t were to thwart a Monarchs holy oath Haleb. Why his highnes gaue me leaue to speake my wil And far from flattery I spoke my minde And did discharge a faithfull subiects loue Thou Aristippus like didst flatter him Not like my brother or a man of worth And for his highnesse vowe I crost it not But gaue my censure as his highnesse bad Now for thy chastisment know Amurath I scorne them as a rechlesse Lion scornes The humming of a gnat in Summers night Amur. I take it Haleb thou art friend to Rhodes Haleb. Not halfe so much am I a friend to Rhodes As thou art enemy to thy Soueraigne Amur. I charge thee say wherein or else by Mahomet I le hazard dutie in my Soueraignes presence Haleb. Not for thy threats but for
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
store of Crownes haue you brought Guel. Feare not for money man I le beare the Boxe Iulio I haue some little replie if neede require Pist. I but heare you Maister was not he a foole That went to shoote and left his arrowes behinde him Erast. Yes but what of that Pist. Mary that you may loose your money And go without the chaine vnlesse you carrie false dice Guel. Mas the foole sayes true le ts haue some got Pist. Nay I vse not to go without a paire of false Dice Heere are tall men and little men Iulio Hie men and low men thou wouldst say Erast. Come sirs le ts go Drummer pray for me And I le reward thee and sirra Piston Mar not our sport with your foolery Pist. I warrant you sir they get not one wise word of me Sound vp the Drum to Lucinaes doore Enter Lucina Luci. I marrie this showes that Charleman is come What shall we play heere content Since Signior Ferdinand will haue it so Then they play and when she hath lost her gold Erastus pointed to her Chaine and then she sayd I were it Cleopatraes vnion Then Erastus winneth the Chaine and looseth his gould And Lucina saies Signior Fernando I am sure t is you And Gentlemen vnmaske ere you depart That I may know to whom my thankes is due For this so courteous and vnlookt for sport No wilt not be then sup with me tomorrow Well then I le looke for you till then farewell Exit Lucina Erast. Gentlemen each thing hath sorted to our wish She tooke me for Fernando markt you that Your gould shall be repairde with double thankes And fellow Drummer I le reward you well Pist. But is there no reward for my false dice Erast. Yes sir a garded sute from top to toe Enter Ferdinando Ferdi. Dasell mine eyes or i st Lucinas chaine False treacher lay downe the chaine that thou hast stole Erast. He lewdly lyes that cals me treacherous Fern. That lye my weapon shall put downe thy throate Then Erastus slaies Ferdinando Julio Flie Erastus ere the Gouernour haue any newes Whose neere alye he was and cheefe delight Erast. Nay Gentlemen flie you and saue yourselues Least you pertake the hardnes of my fortune Exeunt Guelpio and Iulio Ah fickle and blind guidresse of the world What pleasure hast thou in my miserie Wast not enough when I had lost the Chaine Thou didst bereaue me of my dearest loue But now when I should reposesse the same To crosse me with this haplesse accedent Ah if but time and place would giue me leaue Great ease it were for me to purge my selfe And to acuse fell Fortune Loue and Death For all these three conspire my tragedie But danger waites vppon my words and steps I dare not stay for if the Gouernour Surprise me heere I die by marshall law Therefore I go But whether shall I go If into any stay adioyning Rhodes They will betray me to Phyllippos hands For love or gaine or flatterie To Turkie must I go the passage short The people warlike and the king renownd For all heroyicall and kingly vertues Ah hard attempt to tempt a foe for ayde Necessitie yet sayes it must be so Or suffer death for Ferdinandos death Whom honors title forst me to misdoe By checking his outragious insolence Piston heere take this chaine and giue it to Perseda And let her know what hath befallen me When thou hast deliuered it take ship and follow me I will be in Constantinople Farewell my countrie dearer then my life Farewell sweete friends dearer then countrey soyle Farewell Perseda dearest of them all Dearer to me then all the world besides Exit Erastus Pist. Now am I growing into a doubtfull agonie What I were best to do to run away with this Chaine Or deliuer it and follow my maister If I deliuer it and follow my maister I shall haue thanks But they will make me neuer the fatter If I run away with it I may liue vpon credit All the while I weare this chaine Or dominere with the money when I haue sold it Hetherto all goes well but if I be taken I marry sir then the case is altered I and haltered to Of all things I do not loue to preach With a haulter about my neck Therefore for this once I le be honest against my will Perseda shall haue it but before I go I le be so bolde As to diue into this Gentlemans pocket for good luck sake If he deny me not how say you sir are you content A plaine case Qui tacet consentire videtur Enter Phylippo and Iulio Iulio See where his body lyes Philip. I I I see his body all to soone What barbarous villaine i st that rifles him Ah Ferdinand the stay of my old age And cheefe remainder of our progenie Ah louing cousen how art thou misdone By false Erastus ah no by treacherie For well thy valour hath beene often tride But whilst I stand and weepe and spend the time In fruitlesse plaints the murtherer will escape VVithout reuenge sole salue for such a sore Say villaine wherefore didst thou rifle him Pist. Faith sir for pure good will Seeing he was going towards heauen I thought to see if he had a pasport to S. Nicholas or no Philip. Some sot he seemes to be t were pittie to hurt him Sirra canst thou tell who slew this man Pist. I sir very well it was my maister Erastus Philp. Thy maister and whether is he gone now Pist. To fetch the Sexten to burie him I thinke Phil. T were pittie to imprison such a sot Pist. Now it fits my wisdome to counterfeit the foole Phil. Come hether sirra thou knowest me For the Gouernour of the cittie doost thou not Pist. I forsooth sir Phil. Thou art a bondman and wouldst faine be free Pist. I forsooth sir Phil. Then do but this and I will make thee free And rich wiihall learne where Erastus is And bring me word and I le reward thee well Pist. That I will sir I shall finde you at the Castle shall I not Phil. Yes Pist. Why I le be here as soone as euer I come againe Exit Piston Phil. But for assurance that he may not scape VVee le lay the ports and hauens round about And let a proclamation straight be made That he that can bring foorth the murtherer Shall haue three thousand Duckets for his paines My selfe will see the body borne from hence And honored with Balme and funerall Exit Enter Piston Pist. God sends fortune to fooles Did you euer see wise man escape as I haue done I must betraie my maister I but when can you tell Enter Perseda See where Perseda comes to saue me a labour After my most hearty commendations This is to let you vnderstand That my maister was in good health at the sending hereof Yours for euer and euer and euer In most humble wise Piston Then he deliuered her the Chaine Perse. This makes me thinke that I haue
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