Additional Titles: Solimon and Perseda.
Author: Kyd, Thomas, 1558-1594,
Imprint: 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,
Date: 1592
Bib Name / Number: STC (2nd ed.) / 22894
Pages: [68] p.
Notes: Sometimes attributed to Thomas Kyd.
Publication date conjectured STC.
Running title reads: The tragedie of Soliman and Perseda.
With perpendicular chainlines.
Signatures: A-H4 I2 .
Reproduction of the original in the British Library.
Copy from: British Library
UMI Collection / reel number: STC / 1671:12
Author: Kyd, Thomas, 1558-1594,
Title: The tragedye of Solyman and Perseda Wherein is laide open, loues constancy, fortunes inconstancy, and deaths triumphs.
Date:
Bibliographic Name / Number: STC (2nd ed.) / 22894
No. of Pages: [68] p.
Copy From: British Library
Reel Position: STC / 1671:12
The tragedye of Solyman and Perseda 144Kb
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:
Twas 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. [...]
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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,
Ile 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, lets 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.
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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 tis well.
Per.
I watch you vauntages, thine be it then,
I haue forgot the rest, but thats 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 waterpits, 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,
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And ad fresh courage to my fainting limmes.
This day the eger Turke of Tripolis,
The Knight of Malta, hououred for his worth,
And he thats 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 Gnatamongst 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:
Ile be the glasse, and thou that heauenly Sun,
From whence Ile borrow what I do at chieue.
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 carryhonour 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?
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Messen.
She hath, and desires you to consort her to the triumphes.
Enter Piston.
Piston.
Who saw my Master?
O sir, are you heeere?
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 slaues.
Pist.
You shall haue your horses and two dosen of slaues.
Exit Piston.
Erast.
Wish me good hap Perseda and Ile 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 he ere in thirsty honors cause,
To be enrolled in the brasse leaued booke,
Of neuer wasting perpetuitie.
Put Lambe-like mildenes to your Lyons strength,
And be our tilting like two brothers sportes,
That exercise their war with friendly blowes.
Braue Prince of Cipris, and our sonne in law,
Welcome these worthies by their seuerall countries,
For in thy honor hither are they come,
To grace thy nuptials with their deeds at armes.
Cipris.
First welcome thrise renowned Englishman,
Graced by thy country, but ten times more
By thy approued valour in the field,
Vpon the onset of the enemy,
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What is thy motto when thou spurres thy horse.
Englishman.
In Scotland was I made a Knight at armes,
Where for my countries cause I chargde my Launce:
In France I tooke the Standard from the King,
And giue the flower of Gallia in my crest.
Against the light foote Irish haue I serued,
And in my skinne beare tokens of their skenes:
Our word of courage all the world hath heard,
Saint George for England, and saint George for me.
Cipris.
Like welcome vnto thee faire Knight of Fraunce,
Well famed thou art for discipline in warre,
Vpon the incounter of thine enemy,
What is thy mot renowned Knight of Fraunce.
French-man.
In Italie I put my knighthoode on,
Where in my shirt but with my single Rapier,
I combated a Romane much renownd,
His weapons point impoysoned for my bane,
And yet my starres did bode my victory,
Saint Denis is for France and that for me.
Cipris.
Welcome Castilian too amongst the rest,
Forfame doth sound thy valour with the rest:
Vpon thy first incounter of thy foe,
What is thy woord of courage braue man of Spaine?
Spaniard.
At fourteene yeeres of age was I made Knight,
When twenty thousand Spaniards were in field,
What time a daring Rutter made a challenge
To change a bullet with our swift flight shot,
And I with single heed and leuell hit,
The haughty challenger and strooke him dead.
The golden Fleece is that we cry vpon,
And Iaques, Iaques, is the Spaniards choice.
Cipris.
Next, welcome vnto thee renowned Turke,
Not for thy lay, but for thy worth in armes:
Vpon the first braue of thine enemy,
What is thy noted word of charge, braue Turke?
Bruser.
Against the Sophy in three pitched fields,
Vnder the conduct of great Soliman,
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Haue I bene chiefe commaunder of an hoast,
And put the flint heart Perseans to the sword.
The desert plaines of Affricke haue I staind,
With blood of Moores, and there in three set battels fough[...],
Marcht conquerour through Asia,
Along the coasts held by the Portinguze,
Euen to the verge of golde, aboording Spaine
Hath Brusor led a valiant troope of Turkes,
And made some Christians kneele to Mahomet:
Him we adore, and in his name I crie,
Mahomet for me and Solyman.
Cip.
Now Signeur Basilisco you we know,
And therefore giue not you a strangers welcome,
You are a Rutter borne in Germanie,
Vpon the first encounter of your foe:
What is your braue vpon the enemy?
Basi.
I fight not with my tongue, this is my Oratrix.
Laying his hand vpon his sword.
Cip.
Why Signeur Basilisco is ita she sword?
Basi.
I, and so are all blades with me: beholde my instance
Perdie, each female is the weaker vessell,
And the vigour of this arme infringeth,
The temper of any blade, quoth my assertion,
And thereby gather, that this blade beeing arprooued weaker than this lim, may very wel bear a feminine Epitheton.
Cip.
Tis well proued, but whats the word that glories your Countrey?
Basi.
Sooth to say, the earth is my Countrey,
As the aire to the fowle, or the marine moisture,
To the red guild fish: I repute my selfe no coward:
For humilitie shall mount. I keepe no table
To character my fore-passed conflicts.
As I remember, there happened a sore drought
In some part of Belgia, that the iucie grasse,
Was seared with the Sunne Gods Element.
I held it pollicie, to put the men children
Of that climate to the sword,
That the mothers teares might releeue the pearched earth.
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The men died, the women wept, and the grasse grew,
Els had my Frize-land horse perished,
Whose losse would haue more grieued me,
Than the ruine of that whole Countrey.
Vpon a time in Ireland I fought,
On horsebacke with an hundred Kernes,
From Titans Easterne vprise, to his Westerne downe-fall:
Insomuch that my Steed began to faint:
I coniecturing the cause to be want of water, dismounted:
In which place there was no such Element,
Enraged therefore with this Semitor,
All on foote like an Herculian ofspring,
Endured some three or foure howers combat,
In which processe, my body distilled such dewy showers of swet,
That from the warlike wrinckles of my front,
My Palfray coold his thirst.
My mercy in conquest, is equall with my manhood in fight,
The teare of an infant, hath bin the ransome of a conquered cittie,
Whereby I purchased the surname of Pities adomant.
Rough wordes blowe my choller,
As the winde dooth Mulcibers worke house,
I haue no word, because no countrey,
Each place is my habitation,
Therefore each countries word mine to pronounce.
Princes, what would you?
I haue seene much, heard more, but done most,
To be briefe, hee that will try me, let him waft mee with his arme.
I am his, for some fiue launces.
Although it go against my starres to iest,
Yet to gratulate this beninge Prince,
I will suppresse my condition.
Phylip.
He is beholding to you greatly sir:
Mount ye braue Lordings, forwards to the tilt,
My selfe will censure of your chiualrie,
And with impartiall eyes behold your deedes,
Forward braue Ladies, place you to behold
The faire demeanor of these warlike Knights.
Exeunt.
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Manet Basilisco.
Basi.
I am melancholy: an humor of Venus belegereth me.
I haue reiected with contemptable frownes,
The sweet glances of many amorous girles, or rather ladies:
But certes, I am now captiuated with the reflecting eye
Of that admirable comet Perseda.
I will place her to behold my triumphes,
And do woonders in hir sight,
O heauens, she comes, accompanied with a child,
Whose chin beares no impression of manhood,
Not an hayre, not an excrement.
Enter Erastus, Perseda, and Pystan.
Erast.
My sweet Perseda.
Exeunt Erastus and Perseda.
Basi.
Peace Infant thou blasphemest.
Pist.
You are deceiued sir, he swore not,
Basi.
I tell thee Iester he did worse, he cald that Ladie his,
Pist.
Iester: O extempore, o flores!
Basi.
O harsh vnedicate, illiterate pesant,
Thou abusest the phrase of the Latine.
Pist.
By gods fish friend, take you the Latins part, ile abuse you to.
Basi.
What saunce dread of our indignation?
Pist.
Saunce: what languidge is that?
I thinke thou art a worde maker by thine occupation.
Basi.
I, tearmest thou me of an occupation,
Nay then this fierie humor of choller is supprest,
By the thought of loue. Faire Ladie,
Pist.
Now by my troth she is gon.
Basi.
I, hath the Infant transported her hence,
He saw my anger figured in my brow,
And at his best aduantage stole away,
But I will follow for reuenge.
Pist.
Naye, but here you sir,
I must talke with you before you goe.
Then Piston gets on his back, and puls him downe.
Basi.
O if thou beest magnanimious, come before me.
Pist.
Naye, if thou beest a right warrior, get fro~ vnder me.
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Bas.
What wouldst thou haue me a Typhon,
To beare vp Peleon or Ossa?
Pist.
Typhon me no Typhons,
But sweare vpon my Dudgin dagger,
Not to go till I giue thee leaue,
But stay with me, and looke vpon the tilters.
Bas.
O thou seekst thereby to dim my glory.
Pist.
I care not for that, wilt thou not sweare?
Bas.
O I sweare, I sweare.
He sweareth him on his Dagger.
Pist.
By the contents of this blade,
Bas.
By the contents of this blade,
Pist.
I the aforesaid Basilisco,
Bas.
I the aforesaid Basilisco,
Knight good fellow, knight, knight.
Pist.
Knaue good fellow, knaue, knaue.
Will not offer to go from the side of Piston.
Bas.
Will not offer to go from the side of Pyston,
Pist.
Without the leaue of the said Piston obtained,
Bas.
Without the leaue of the said Piston,
Licensed, obtayned and granted.
Pist.
Inioy thy life and liue, I giue it thee.
Bas.
I inioy my life at thy hands, I confesse it,
I am vp, but that I am religious in mine oath,
Pist.
What would you do sir, what would you do,
Will you vp the ladder sir, and see the tilting.
Then they go vp the ladders, and they sound within to the first course.
Bas.
Better a Dog fawne on me, then barke,
Pist.
Now sir, how likes thou this course.
Bas.
Their Launces were coucht to hie,
And their Steedes ill borne.
Pist.
It may be so, it may be so,
Sound to the second course.
Now sir, how like you this course.
Bas.
Prettie, prettie, but not famous,
Well for a learner, but not for a warriour.
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Pist.
By my faith, me thought it was excellent.
Bas.
I in the eye of an infant, a Peacocks taile is glorious.
Sound to the third course.
Pist.
O well run, the baye horsse with the blew taile,
And the siluer knight, are both downe,
By Cocke and Pie, and Mouse foote,
The English man is a fine Knight.
Bas.
Now by the marble face of the Welkin,
Hee is a braue warriour.
Pist.
What an oath is there, fie vpon thee extortioner.
Bas.
Now comes in the infant that courts my mistresse,
Sound to the fourth course.
Oh that my launce were in my rest,
And my Beauer closd for this encounter.
Pist.
O well ran, my maister hath ouerthrown the Turke.
Bas.
Now fie vpon the Turke,
To be dismounted by a Childe it vexeth me.
Sound to the fift course.
Pist.
O wel run Maister, he hath ouerthrown the Frenchman.
Bas.
It is the fury of his horse, not the strength of his arme
I would thou wouldst remit my oath,
That I might assaile thy maister.
Pist.
I giue thee leaue, go to thy destruction,
But syrra wheres thy horse?
Bas.
Why my Page stands holding him by the bridle.
Pist.
Well goe mount thee, goe.
Bas.
I go, and Fortune guide my Launce.
Exit Basilisco.
Pist.
Take the braginst knaue in christendom with thee:
Trulie I am sorrie for him,
He iust like a knight, heele iustle like a Iade.
It it a world to heere the foole prate and brag,
He will iet as if it were a Goose on a greene:
He goes many times supperles to bed,
And yet he takes Phisick to make him leane.
Last night he was bidden to a Gentlewomans to supper,
And because he would not be put to carue,
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He wore his hand in a scarfe, and said he was wounded:
He weares a coloured lath in his scabberd,
And when twas found vpon him, he said he was wrathfull,
He might not weare no iron. He weres Ciuet,
And when it was askt him, where he had that muske,
He said, all his kindred smelt so:
Is not this a counterfet foole?
Well ile vp and see how he speedes.
Sound the sixt course,
Now by the faith of a squire, he is a very faint knight,
Why my maister hath ouerthrowne him
And his Curtall, both to the ground,
I shall haue olde laughing,
It will be better then the Fox in the hole for me.
Sound: Enter Phylippo, Erastus, Ferdinando, Lucina, and all the Knights.
Cypr.
Braue Gentlemen, by all your free consents,
This Knight vnknowne, hath best demeand himselfe,
According to the proclimation made,
The prize and honor of the day is his,
But now vnmaske thy selfe, that we may see,
What warlike wrinckles time hath charactered,
With ages print vpon thy warlike face.
English.
Accord to his request, braue man at armes,
And let me see the face that vanquished me.
French.
Vnmaske thy selfe, thou well approoued knight.
Turke.
I long to see thy face braue warriour.
Luci.
Nay valiant sir, we may not be denide,
Faire Ladies should be coye to showe their faces,
Least that the sun should tan them with his beames,
Ile be your page this once, for to disarme you.
Pist.
Thats the reason, that he shall helpe
Your husband to arme his head,
Oh the pollicie of this age is wonderfull.
Phyllyp.
What young Erastus, is it possible?
Cipr.
Erastus be thou honoured for this deed.
English.
So yong, and of such good accomplishment,
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Thriue faire beginner as this time doth promise,
In vertue, valour, and all worthinesse:
Giue me thy hand, I vowe my selfe thy friend.
Erast.
Thanks worthie sir, whose fauourable hand,
Hath entred such a youngling in the warre,
And thanks vnto you all, braue worthy sirs,
Impose me taske, how I may do you good,
Erastus will be dutifull in all.
Phyl.
Leaue protestations now, and let vs hie,
To tread lauolto, that is womens walke,
There spend we the remainder of the day,
Exeunt. Manet Ferdinando.
Ferdi.
Though ouerborne, and foyled in my course,
Yet haue I partners in mine infamie.
Tis wondrous, that so yong a toward warriour,
Should bide the shock of such approoued knights,
As he this day hath matcht and mated too,
But vertue should not enuie good desert,
Therefore Erastus happy, and thy fortune,
But my Lucina, how she changed her couler,
When at the encounter I did loose a stirrop,
Hanging her head as partner of my shame,
Therefore will I now goe visit her,
And please her with this Carcanet of worth,
Which by good fortune I haue found to day,
When valour failes, then gould must make the way.
Exit.
Enter Basilisco riding of a Mule.
Bas.
O cursed Fortune enemy to Fame,
Thus to disgrace thy honoured name,
By ouerthrowing him that far hath spred thy praise,
Beyond the course of Titans burning raies,
Enter Piston.
Page set a side the iesture of my enemie,
Giue him a Fidlers fee, and send him packing.
Pist.
Ho, God saue you sir, haue you burst your shin,
Bas.
I villaine, I haue broke my shin bone,
My back bone, my channell bone, and my thigh bone,
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Beside two dossen small inferior bones.
Pist.
A shrewd losse by my faith sir,
But wheres your coursers taile.
Bas.
He lost the same in seruice.
Pist.
There was a hot piece of seruice, where he lost his taile
But how chance his nose is slit.
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 ile ride along with thee my selfe.
Exit.
Pist.
And ile 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 youle 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 ile 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,
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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 est the Chaine for me,
I do but vse thee to saue me a labour,
That am to make inquirie after it,
Cry.
Well sir, youle 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, ile giue ye in blowes.
Pist.
I pray you sir hold your hands,
And as I am an honest man,
Ile 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.
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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,
Ile 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.
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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 beleuied 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 ones 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 laegions: 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 twere to thwart a Monarchs holy oath.
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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,
Ile hazard dutie in my Soueraignes presence.
Haleb.
Not for thy threats, but for 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,
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Could ransome thee from fell deaths tirannie,
To winthy 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 th warting 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,
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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 onealone 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.
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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 bliffull 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 fe ele the rigour of my Sword and Launce.
Ferdi.
O Sir, not I.
Luci.
Heres none but friends, yet let me chalenge you,
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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.
Weele bring you home,
Perse.
No, I shall soone get home.
Luci.
Why then farewell: Fernando lets 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 ile proue coye,
Oh be assur'd tis far from noble thoughts,
To tyrannise ouer a yeelding foe.
Therefore be blithe, sweete loue abandon feare,
I will forget thy former crueltie.
Perse.
Ah false Erastus full of treachrie.
Bas.
I alwaies told you that such coward knights,
VVere faithlesse swaines and worthie no respect,
But tell me sweete loue, what is his offence?
That I with words and stripes may chastice him,
And bring him bound for thee to tread vpon.
Perse.
Now must I find the meanes to rid him hence,
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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,
Ile 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:
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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? thats not my fault,
Nor her desart: whats 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,
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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,
Ile 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 missead 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,
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Inspire me with some present stratagem,
It must be so, Lucinas a franke Gaimster,
And like it is, in plaie sheele hazard it,
For if report but blasen her aright,
Shees 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 ile 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 ile tell you when our sport is doone.
Iulio.
VVhy then lets make vs ready and about it,
Erast.
VVhat store of Crownes haue you brought?
Guel.
Feare not for money man, ile beare the Boxe,
Iulio.
I haue some little replie, if neede require.
Pist.
I but heare you Maister, was not he a foole?
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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, lets 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 lets go, Drumsler pray for me,
And ile reward thee: and sirra Pistrn,
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 tis 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 ile 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 Drumsler, ile 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 ist Lucinas chaine,
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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?
Ifinto any stay a dioyning Rhodes,
They will betray me to Phyllippos hands,
Forloue, 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,
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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, ile be honest against my will,
Perseda shall haue it, but before I go, ile 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, Quitacet consitiri videtur.
Enter Phylippo and Iulio.
Iulio.
See where his body lyes.
Philip.
I, I, I see his body all to soone,
What barbarous villaine ist 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?
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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, twere 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.
Twere 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 ile reward thee well.
Pist.
That I will sir, I shall finde you at the Castle, shall I not?
Phil.
Yes.
Pist.
Why ile be here, as soone as euer I come againe.
Exit Piston.
Phil.
But for assurance that he may not scape,
VVeele 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,
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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 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,
An poore Erastus how thy starres maling:
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, ile 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.
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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 thats flat,
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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,
Ile 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:
Ile 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 ile 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.
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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 Ile of Rhodes,
My brothers dyde, on Rhodes ile he reuengd,
Now tell me Brusor whats 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:
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We may our selues be famd for vertues.
But let him passe, and Brusor tell me now,
How did the Christians vse onr 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 me more braue Souldiers
Then all that Ile will beare.
Brusor.
Their fleete is weake:
Their horsse, I deeme them fiftie thousand strong,
Their footemen more, well exercised in war,
And as it seemes, they want no needfull vittaile.
Soli.
How euer Rhodes be fencd by sea or land,
It eyther shall be mine, or burie me:
Enter Erastus.
Whats he that thus bouldly enters in?
His habite argues him a Christian,
Erast.
I worthie Lord a forlorne Christian.
Soli.
Tell me man, what madnes brought thee hether?
Erast.
Thy vertuous fame, and mine owne miserie.
Soli.
What miserie? speake, for though you Christians,
Account our Turkish race but barbarous,
Yet haue we eares to heare a iust complaint,
And iustice to defend the innocent,
And pitie, to such as are in pouertie,
And liberall hands to such as merit bountie,
Bru.
My gratious Soueraigne, as this Knight,
Seemes by greefe tyed to silence,
So his deserts binds me to speake for him.
This is Erastus the Rhodian worthie,
The flower of chiualrie and curtesie,
Soli.
Is this the man that thou hast so describde?
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Stand vp faire knight, that what my heart desires,
Mine eyes may view with pleasure and delight,
This face of thine should harbour no deceit.
Erastus ile not yet vrge to know the cause,
That brought thee hether,
Least with the discourse, thou shouldst afflict thy selfe,
And crosse the fulnes of my ioyfull passion,
But that we are assurde,
Heauens brought thee hether for our benefit,
Know thou that Rhodes, nor all that Rhodes containes,
Shall win thee from the side of Soliman,
If we but finde thee well inclind to vs.
Erast.
If any ignoble or dishonourable thoughts,
Should dare attempt, or but creepe neere my heart:
Honour should force disdaine to roote it out,
As ayre bred Eagles, if they once perceiue,
That any of their broode but close their sight,
When they should gase against the glorious Sunne,
They straight way sease vpon him with their talents,
That on the earth it may vntimely die,
For looking but a scue at heauens bright eye.
Soli.
Erastus, to make thee well assurde,
How well thy speach and presents liketh vs,
Aske what thou wilt, it shall be graunted thee.
Erast.
Then this my gratious Lord is all I craue,
That being banisht from my natiue soile,
I may haue libertie to liue a Christian.
Soly.
I that, or any thing thou shalt desire,
Thou shalt be Captaine of our Ianisaries,
And in our counsell shalt thou sit with vs,
And be great Solimans adopted freend.
Erast.
The least of these surpasse my best desart,
Vnlesse true loyaltie may seeme desart.
Soli.
Erastus, now thou hast obtaind thy boone,
Denie not Soliman this owne request;
A vertuous enuie pricks me with desire,
To trie thy valour, say art thou content?
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Erast.
I, if my Soueraigne say content, I yeeld.
Soli.
Then giue vs Swords and Targets,
And now Erastus thinke me thine enemie,
But euer after thy continuall friend,
And spare me not, for then thou wrongst my honour.
Then they fight, and Erastus ouer comes Solyman.
Nay, nay Erastus, throw not downe thy weapons,
As if thy force did faile, it is enough
That thou hast conquered Soliman by strength,
By curtesie let Soliman conquer thee.
And now from armes to counsell sir thee downe:
Before thy comming I vowd to conquer Rhodes,
Say wilt thou be our Leiutenant there,
And further vs in manage of these wars?
Erast.
My gratious Soueraigne, without presumption,
If poore Erastus may once more intreat,
Let not great Solimans commaund,
To whose behest I vowe obedience,
Inforce me sheath my slaughtering blade,
In the deere bowels of my countrimen:
And were it not that Soliman hath sworne,
My teares should plead for pardon to that place:
I speake not this to shrinke away for feare,
Or hide my head in time of dangerous stormes,
Imploy me else where in thy forraine wars,
Against the Persians or the barbarous Moore,
Erastus will be formost in the battell.
Soli.
Why fauourst thou thy countrimen so much,
By whose crueltie thou art exylde?
Erast.
Tis not my countrey, but Phylippos wrath,
It must be tould, for Ferdinandos death,
Whom I in honours cause haue reft of life,
Soli.
Nor suffer this or that to trouble thee,
Thou shalt not neede Phylippo nor his Ile,
Nor shalt thou war against thy Countrimen,
I like thy vertue in refusing it,
But that our oath may haue his currant course,
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Brusor, goe leuie men,
Prepare a fleete, to assault and conquer Rhodes,
Meane time Erastus and I will striue,
By mutuall kindnes to excell each other.
Brusor be gon, and see not Soliman,
Till thou hast brought Rhodes in subiection.
Exit Brusor.
And now Erastus come and follow me.
Where thou shalt see what pleasures and what sports,
My Minions and my Euenukes can deuise,
To driue away this melancholly moode.
Exit Soliman.
Enter Piston.
Pist.
Oh maister, see where I am,
Erast.
Say Piston whats the newes at Rhodes,
Pist.
Colde and comfortlesse for you,
Will you haue them all at once?
Erastus.
I.
Pist.
Why the Gouernour will hang you & he catch you.
Ferdinando is buried, your friends commend them to you:
Perseda hath the chaine, and is like to die for sorrow.
Erast.
I thats the greefe, that we are parted thus.
Come follow me and I will heare the rest,
For now I must attend the Emperour.
Exeunt.
Enter Perseda, Lucina, and Basilisco.
Perse.
Accursed Chaine, vnfortunate Perseda.
Luci.
Accursed Chaine, vnforrunate Lucina,
My friend is gone, and I am desolate.
Perse.
My friend is gone, and I am desolate,
Returne him backe faire starres or let me die.
Luci.
Returne him back faire heauens, or let me die,
For what was he but comfort of my life?
Perse.
For what was he but comfort of my life?
But why was I so carefull of the Chaine.
Luci.
But why was I so carelesse of the chaine,
Had I not lost it, my friend had not beene slaine.
Perse.
Had I not askt it, my friend had not departed,
His parting is my death.
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Luci.
His deaths my liues departing,
And here my tongue dooth stay, with swolne harts greefe,
Per.
And here my swolne harts greef doth stay my tongue.
Basi.
For whom weepe you?
Luci.
Ah, for Fernandos dying.
Basi.
For whom mourne you?
Perse.
Ah, for Erastus flying,
Basi.
Why Lady is not Basilisco here?
Why Lady dooth not Basilisco liue?
Am not I worth both these for whom you mourne:
Then take one halfe of me, and cease to weepe,
Orif you gladly would inioy me both,
Ile serue the one by day, the other by night,
And I will pay you both your sound delight.
Luci.
Ah how vnpleasant is mirth to melancholy.
Perse.
My heart is full, I cannot laugh at follie.
Exeunt Ladies.
Basi.
See, see, Lucinae hates me like a Toade,
Because that when Erastus spake my name,
Her loue Fernando died at the same,
So dreadfull is our name to cowerdice.
On the otherside, Perseda takes it vnkindly,
That ere he went I brought not bound vnto her,
Erastus that faint hearted run away:
Alasse how could I, for his man no 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,
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You with some men at armes shall take the Tower,
I with the rest will downe vnto the strane:
If we be beaten back weele come to you,
And here in spight of damned Turkes, weele 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, tis to late:
Come fellow Souldiers, let vs to the breach,
Thats 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.
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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 thats but a sport,
I faith sirno:
Tis 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 tougue,
To counter check 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, thers 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.
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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.
Ile 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 ile 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,
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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 ile not guerdon with large promises,
But straight reward thee with a bounteous largesse:
But what two Christian Virgins haue we here?
Bru.