ACT THE SECOND

EnterBelinus, Albinius, FabiusandAlphonsuswithSoldiers;alarum, and then enterVenus.

Venus.Thus from the pit of pilgrim's povertyAlphonsus 'gins by step and step to climbUnto the top of friendly Fortune's wheel:From banish'd state, as you have plainly seen,He is transform'd into a soldier's life,And marcheth in the ensign of the kingOf worthy Naples, which Belinus hight;Not for because that he doth love him so,But that he may revenge him on his foe.Now on the top of lusty barbèd steedHe mounted is, in glittering armour clad,Seeking about the troops of Arragon,For to encounter with his traitorous niece.[39]How he doth speed, and what doth him befall,Mark this our act, for it doth show it all.[Exeunt.

Alarum. EnterFlaminiuson one side,Alphonsuson the other. They fight;AlphonsuskillsFlaminius.

Alphon.Go pack thou hence unto the Stygian lake,And make report unto thy traitorous sireHow well thou hast enjoy'd the diademWhich he by treason set upon thy head;And if he ask thee who did send thee down,Alphonsus say, who now must wear thy crown.

Alarum. EnterLælius.

Læli.Traitor, how dar'st thou look me in the face,Whose mighty king thou traitorously hast slain?What, dost thou think Flaminius hath no friendsFor to revenge his death on thee again?Yes, be you sure that, ere you 'scape from hence,Thy gasping ghost shall bear him company,Or else myself, fighting for his defence,Will be content by those thy hands to die.Alphon.Lælius, few words would better thee become,Especially as now the case doth stand;And didst thou know whom thou dost threaten thus,We should you have more calmer out of hand:For, Lælius, know that I Alphonsus am,The son and heir to old Carinus, whomThe traitorous father of FlaminiusDid secretly bereave his diadem.But see the just revenge of mighty Jove!The father dead, the son is likewise slainBy that man's hand who they did count as dead,Yet doth survive to wear the diadem,When they themselves accompany the ghostsWhich wander round about the Stygian fields.[Læliusgazes uponAlphonsus.Muse not hereat, for it is true I say;I am Alphonsus, whom thou hast misus'd.Læli.The man whose death I did so oft lament?[Kneels.Then pardon me for these uncourteous words,The which I in my rage did utter forth,Prick'd by the duty of a loyal mind;Pardon, Alphonsus, this my first offence,And let me die if e'er I flight[40]again.Alphon.Lælius, I fain would pardon this offence,And eke accept thee to my grace again,But that I fear that, when I stand in needAnd want your help, you will your lord betray:How say you, Lælius, may I trust to thee?Læli.Ay, noble lord, by all the gods I vow;For first shall heavens want stars, and foaming seasWant watery drops, before I'll traitor beUnto Alphonsus, whom I honour so.Alphon.Well then, arise; and for because I'll try[Læliusarises.If that thy words and deeds be both alike,Go haste and fetch the youths of Arragon,Which now I hear have turn'd their heels and fled:Tell them your chance, and bring them back againInto this wood; where in ambushment lie,Until I send or come for you myself.Læli.I will, my lord.[Exit.Alphon.Full little think Belinus and his peersWhat thoughts Alphonsus casteth in his mind;For if they did, they would not greatly hasteTo pay the same the which they promis'd me.

EnterBelinus, Albinius, Fabius,with theirSoldiers,marching.

Beli.Like simple sheep, when shepherd absent isFar from his flock, assail'd by greedy wolves,Do scattering fly about, some here, some there,To keep their bodies from their ravening jaws,So do the fearful youths of ArragonRun round about the green and pleasant plains,And hide their heads from Neapolitans;Such terror have their strong and sturdy blowsStruck to their hearts, as for a world of gold,I warrant you, they will not come again.But, noble lords, where is the knight becomeWhich made the blood be-sprinkle all the placeWhereas he did encounter with his foe?My friend, Albinius, know you where he is?Albi.Not I, my lord, for since in thickest ranksI saw him chase Flaminius at the heels,I never yet could set mine eyes on him.But see, my lord, whereas the warrior stands,Or else my sight doth fail me at this time.[Spies outAlphonsus,and shows him toBelinus.Beli.'Tis he indeed, who, as I do suppose,Hath slain the king, or else some other lord,For well I wot, a carcass I do seeHard at his feet lie struggling on the ground.Come on, Albinius, we will try the truth.[BelinusandAlbiniusgo towardsAlphonsus.Hail to the noble victor of our foes!Alphon.Thanks, mighty prince; but yet I seek not this:It is not words must recompense my pain,But deeds. When first I took up arms for you,Your promise was, whatever my sword did winIn fight, as his Alphonsus should it crave.See, then, where lies thy foe Flaminius,Whose crown my sword hath conquer'd in the field;Therefore, Belinus, make no long delay,But that discharge you promis'd for to pay.Beli.Will nothing else satisfy thy conquering mindBesides the crown? Well, since thou hast it won,Thou shalt it have, though far against my will.[Alphonsussits in the chair;Belinustakes the crown offFlaminius'head, and puts it on that ofAlphonsus.Here doth Belinus crown thee with his handThe King of Arragon.[Trumpets and drums sound within.What, are you pleas'd?Alphon.Not so, Belinus, till you promise meAll things belonging to the royal crownOf Arragon, and make your lordings swearFor to defend me to their utmost powerAgainst all men that shall gainsay the same.Beli.Mark, what belongèd erst unto the crownOf Arragon, that challenge as thine own;Belinus gives it frankly unto thee,And swears by all the powers of glittering skiesTo do my best for to maintain the same,So that it be not prejudicialUnto mine honour, or my country-soil.Albi.And by the sacred seat of mighty JoveAlbinius swears that first he'll die the death,Before he'll see Alphonsus suffer wrong.Fabi.What erst Albinius vow'd we jointly vow.Alphon.Thanks, mighty lords; but yet I greatly fearThat very few will keep the oaths they swear.But, what, Belinus, why stand you so long,And cease from offering homage unto me?What, know you not that I thy sovereign am,Crownèd by thee and all thy other lords,And now confirmèd by your solemn oaths?Feed not thyself with fond persuasions,But presently come yield thy crown to me,And do me homage, or by heavens I swearI'll force thee to it maugre all thy train.Beli.How now, base brat! what, are thy wits thine own,That thou dar'st thus abraid[41]me in my land?'Tis best for thee these speeches to recall,Or else, by Jove, I'll make thee to repentThat ere thou sett'st thy foot in Naples' soil.Alphon."Base brat," say'st thou? as good a man as thou:But say I came but of a base descent,My deeds shall make my glory for to shineAs clear as Luna in a winter's night.But for because thou bragg'st so of thy birth,I'll see how it shall profit thee anon.Fabi.Alphonsus, cease from these thy threatening words,And lay aside this thy presumptuous mind,Or else be sure thou shalt the same repent.Alphon.How now, sir boy! will you be prattling too?'Tis best for thee to hold thy tattling tongue,Unless I send some one to scourge thy breech.Why, then, I see 'tis time to look aboutWhen every boy Alphonsus dares control:But be they sure, ere Phœbus' golden beamsHave compassèd the circle of the sky,I'll clog their tongues, since nothing else will serveTo keep those vilde[42]and threatening speeches in.Farewell, Belinus, look thou to thyself:Alphonsus means to have thy crown ere night.[Exit.Beli.What, is he gone? the devil break his neck,The fiends of hell torment his traitorous corpse!Is this the quittance of Belinus' grace,Which he did show unto that thankless wretch,That runagate, that rakehell, yea, that thief?For, well I wot, he hath robb'd me of a crown.If ever he had sprung from gentle blood,He would not thus misuse his favourer.Albi."That runagate, that rakehell, yea, that thief"!Stay there, sir king, your mouth runs over-much;It ill becomes the subject for to useSuch traitorous terms against his sovereign.Know thou, Belinus, that Carinus' sonIs neither rakehell, [no], nor runagate.But be thou sure that, ere the darksome nightDo drive god Phœbus to his Thetis' lap,Both thou, and all the rest of this thy train,Shall well repent the words which you have sain.Beli.What, traitorous villain, dost thou threaten me?—Lay hold on him, and see he do not 'scape:I'll teach the slave to know to whom he speaks.Albi.To thee I speak, and to thy fellows all;And though as now you have me in your power,Yet doubt I not but that in little spaceThese eyes shall see thy treason recompens'd,And then I mean to vaunt our victory.Beli.Nay, proud Albinius, never build on that;For though the gods do chance for to appointAlphonsus victor of Belinus' land,Yet shalt thou never live to see that day;—And therefore, Fabius, stand not lingering,But presently slash off his traitorous head.Albi.Slash off his head! as though Albinius' headWere then so easy to be slashèd off:In faith, sir, no; when you are gone and dead,I hope to flourish like the pleasant spring.Beli.Why, how now, Fabius! what, do you stand in doubtTo do the deed? what fear you? who dares seekFor to revenge his death on thee again,Since that Belinus did command it so?Or are you wax'd so dainty, that you dareNot use your sword for staining of your hands?If it be so, then let me see thy sword,And I will be his butcher for this time.[FabiusgivesBelinushis sword drawn.Now, Sir Albinius, are you of the mindThat erst you were? what, do you look to see,And triumph in, Belinus' overthrow?I hope the very sight of this my bladeHath chang'd your mind into another tune.Albi.Not so, Belinus, I am constant still;My mind is like to the asbeston-stone,Which, if it once be heat in flames of fire,Denieth to becomen cold again:Even so am I, and shall be till I die.And though I should see Atropos appear,With knife in hand, to slit my thread in twain,Yet ne'er Albinius should persuaded beBut that Belinus he should vanquish'd see.Beli.Nay, then, Albinius, since that words are vainFor to persuade you from this heresy,This sword shall sure put you out of doubt.

[Belinusoffers to strike offAlbinius'head: alarum; enterAlphonsusand hisMen;BelinusandFabiusfly, followed byAlphonsusandAlbinius.

EnterLælius, Miles,andServants.

Læli.My noble lords of Arragon, I knowYou wonder much what might the occasion beThat Lælius, which erst did fly the field,Doth egg you forwards now unto the wars;But when you hear my reason, out of doubtYou'll be content with this my rash attempt.When first our king, Flaminius I do mean,Did set upon the Neapolitans,The worst of you did know and plainly seeHow far they were unable to withstandThe mighty forces of our royal camp,Until such time as froward fates we thought,—Although the fates ordain'd it for our gain,—Did send a stranger stout, whose sturdy blowsAnd force alone did cause our overthrow.But to our purpose: this same martial knightDid hap to hit upon Flaminius,And lent our king then such a friendly blowAs that his gasping ghost to Limbo went.Which when I saw, and seeking to revenge,My noble lords, did hap on such a prizeAs never king nor keisar got the like.Miles.Lælius, of force we must confess to thee,We wonder'd all whenas you did persuadeUs to return unto the wars again;But since our marvel is increasèd muchBy these your words, which sound of happiness:Therefore, good Lælius, make no tarrying,But soon unfold thy happy chance to us.Læli.Then, friends and fellow soldiers, hark to me;When Lælius thought for to revenge his kingOn that same knight, instead of mortal foe,I found him for to be our chiefest friend.Miles.Our chiefest friend! I hardly can believeThat he, which made such bloody massacresOf stout Italians, can in any pointBear friendship to the country or the king.Læli.As for your king, Miles, I hold with you,He bare no friendship to Flaminius,But hated him as bloody Atropos;But for your country, Lælius doth avowHe loves as well as any other land,Yea, sure, he loves it best of all the world.And, for because you shall not think that IDo say the same without a reason why,Know that the knight Alphonsus hath to name,Both son and heir to old Carinus, whomFlaminius' sire bereavèd of his crown;Who did not seek the ruin of our hostFor any envy he did bear to us,But to revenge him on his mortal foe;Which by the help of high celestial JoveHe hath achiev'd with honour in the field.Miles.Alphonsus, man! I'll ne'er persuaded beThat e'er Alphonsus may survive again,Who with Carinus, many years ago,Was said to wander in the Stygian fields.Læli.Truth, noble Miles: these mine ears have heard,For certainty reported unto me,That old Carinus, with his peerless son,Had felt the sharpness of the Sisters' shears;And had I not of late Alphonsus seenIn good estate, though all the world should sayHe is alive, I would not credit them.But, fellow soldiers, wend you back with me,And let us lurk within the secret shadeWhich he himself appointed unto us;And if you find my words to be untroth,Then let me die to recompense the wrong.

Alarum: re-enterAlbiniuswith his sword drawn.

Albi.Lælius, make haste: soldiers of Arragon,Set lingering by, and come and help your king,I mean Alphonsus, who, whilst that he didPursue Belinus at the very heels,Was suddenly environèd aboutWith all the troops of mighty Milan-land.Miles.What news is this! and is it very so?Is our Alphonsus yet in human state,Whom all the world did judge for to be dead?Yet can I scarce give credit to the same:Give credit! yes, and since the Milan DukeHath broke his league of friendship, be he sure,Ere Cynthia, the shining lamp of night,Doth scale the heavens with her hornèd head,Both he and his shall very plainly seeThe league is burst that causèd long the glee.Læli.And could the traitor harbour in his breastSuch mortal treason 'gainst his sovereign,As when he should with fire and sword defendHim from his foes, he seeks his overthrow?March on, my friends: I ne'er shall joy at all,Until I see that bloody traitor's fall.[Exeunt.

Alarum;Belinusflies, followed byLælius; Fabiusflies, followed byAlbinius;theDuke of Milanflies, followed byMiles.

Alarum. EnterVenus.

Venus.No sooner did Alphonsus with his troopSet on the soldiers of Belinus' band,But that the fury of his sturdy blowsDid strike such terror to their daunted mindsThat glad was he which could escape away,With life and limb, forth of that bloody fray.Belinus flies unto the Turkish soil,To crave the aid of Amurack their king;Unto the which he willingly did consent,And sends Belinus, with two other kings,To know God Mahomet's pleasure in the same.Meantime the empress by Medea's helpDid use such charms that Amurack did see,In soundest sleep, what afterward should hap.How Amurack did recompense her pain,With mickle more, this act shall show you plain.[Exit.

Enter one, carrying two crowns upon a crest;Alphonsus, Albinius, Lælius,andMiles,with theirSoldiers.

Alphon.Welcome, brave youths of Arragon, to me,Yea, welcome, Miles, Lælius, and the rest,Whose prowess alone hath been the only causeThat we, like victors, have subdu'd our foes.Lord, what a pleasure was it to my mind,To see Belinus, which not long beforeDid with his threatenings terrify the gods,Now scud apace from warlike Lælius' blows.The Duke of Milan, he increas'd our sport,Who doubting that his force was over-weakFor to withstand, Miles, thy sturdy arm,Did give more credence to his frisking skipsThan to the sharpness of his cutting blade.What Fabius did to pleasure us withal,Albinius knows as well as I myself;For, well I wot, if that thy tirèd steedHad been as fresh and swift in foot as his,He should have felt, yea, known for certainty,To check Alphonsus did deserve to die.Briefly, my friends and fellow-peers in arms,The worst of you deserve such mickle praise,As that my tongue denies for to set forthThe demi-parcel of your valiant deeds;So that, perforce, I must by duty beBound to you all for this your courtesy.Miles.Not so, my lord; for if our willing armsHave pleasur'd you so much as you do say,We have done naught but that becometh us,For to defend our mighty sovereign.As for my part, I count my labour small,Yea, though it had been twice as much again,Since that Alphonsus doth accept thereof.Alphon.Thanks, worthy Miles: lest all the worldShould count Alphonsus thankless for to be,Lælius, sit down, and, Miles, sit by him,And that receive the which your swords have won.[LæliusandMilessit down.First, for because thou, Lælius, in these broils,By martial might, didst proud Belinus chaseFrom troop to troop, from side to side about,And never ceas'd from this thy swift pursuitUntil thou hadst obtain'd his royal crown,Therefore, I say, I'll do thee naught but right,And give thee that which thou well hast won.[Sets the crown on his head.Here doth Alphonsus crown thee, Lælius, KingOf Naples' town, with all dominionsThat erst belongèd to our traitorous foe,That proud Belinus, in his regiment.[Trumpets and drums sounded.Miles, thy share the Milan Dukedom is,For, well I wot, thy sword deserv'd no less;[Sets the crown on his head.The which Alphonsus frankly giveth thee,In presence of his warlike men-at-arms;And if that any stomach[43]this my deed,Alphonsus can revenge thy wrong with speed.[Trumpets and drums sounded.Now to Albinius, which in all my toilsI have both faithful, yea, and friendly, found:Since that the gods and friendly fates assignThis present time to me to recompenseThe sundry pleasures thou hast done to me,Sit down by them, and on thy faithful head[Takes the crown from his own head.Receive the crown of peerless Arragon.Albi.Pardon, dear lord, Albinius at this time;It ill becomes me for to wear a crownWhenas my lord is destitute himself.Why, high Alphonsus, if I should receiveThis crown of you, the which high Jove forbid,Where would yourself obtain a diadem?Naples is gone, Milan possessèd is,And naught is left for you but Arragon.Alphon.And naught is left for me but Arragon!Yes, surely, yes, my fates have so decreed,That Arragon should be too base a thingFor to obtain Alphonsus for her king.What, hear you not how that our scatter'd foes,Belinus, Fabius, and the Milan duke,Are fled for succour to the Turkish court?And think you not that Amurack their king,Will, with the mightiest power of all his land,Seek to revenge Belinus' overthrow?Then doubt I not but, ere these broils do end,Alphonsus shall possess the diademThat Amurack now wears upon his head.Sit down therefóre, and that receive of meThe which the fates appointed unto thee.Albi.Thou King of Heaven, which by Thy power divineDost see the secrets of each liver's heart,Bear record now with what unwilling mindI do receive the crown of Arragon.[Albiniussits down byLæliusandMiles; Alphonsussets the crown on his head.Alphon.Arise, Albinius, King of Arragon,Crownèd by me, who, till my gasping ghostDo part asunder from my breathless corpse,Will be thy shield against all men aliveThat for thy kingdom any way do strive.[Trumpets and drums sounded.Now since we have, in such an happy hour,Confirm'd three kings, come, let us march with speedInto the city, for to celebrateWith mirth and joy this blissful festival.[Exeunt.

EnterAmurack, Belinus, Fabius, Arcastus, ClaramontandBajazet,with their train.

Amu.Welcome, Belinus, to thy cousin's court,Whose late arrival in such posting paceDoth bring both joy and sorrow to us all;Sorrow, because the fates have been so falseTo let Alphonsus drive thee from thy land,And joy, since that now mighty MahometHath given me cause to recompense at fullThe sundry pleasures I receiv'd of thee.Therefore, Belinus, do but ask and have,For Amurack doth grant whate'er you crave.Beli.Thou second sun, which with thy glimpsing beamsDost clarify each corner of the earth,Belinus comes not, as erst Midas didTo mighty Bacchus, to desire of himThat whatsoe'er at any time he touch'dMight turnèd be to gold incontinent.Nor do I come as Jupiter did erstUnto the palace of Amphitryon,For any fond or foul concupiscenceWhich I do bear to Alcumena's hue.But as poor Saturn, forc'd by mighty JoveTo fly his country, banish'd and forlorn,Did crave the aid of Troos, King of Troy,So comes Belinus to high Amurack;And if he can but once your aid obtain,He turns with speed to Naples back again.Amu.My aid, Belinus! do you doubt of that?If all the men-at-arms of Africa,Of Asia likewise, will sufficient beTo press the pomp of that usurping mate,Assure thyself, thy kingdom shall be thine,If Mahomet say ay unto the same;For were I sure to vanquish all our foes,And find such spoils in ransacking their tentsAs never any keisar did obtain,Yet would I not set foot forth of this land,If Mahomet our journey did withstand.Beli.Nor would Belinus, for King Crœsus' trash,Wish Amurack to displease the gods,In pleasuring me in such a trifling toy.Then, mighty monarch, if it be thy will,Get their consents, and then the act fulfil.Amu.You counsel well; therefore, Belinus, haste,And, Claramont, go bear him company,With King Arcastus, to the city walls:Then bend with speed unto the darksome grove,Where Mahomet, this many a hundred year,Hath prophesied unto our ancestors.Tell to his priests that Amurack, your king,Is now selecting all his men-at-armsTo set upon that proud Alphonsus' troop:(The cause you know, and can inform them well,That makes me take these bloody broils in hand?)And say that I desire their sacred god,That Mahomet which ruleth all the skies,To send me word, and that most speedily,Which of us shall obtain the victory.[Exeunt all exceptBajazetandAmurack.You, Bajazet, go post away apaceTo Syria, Scythia, and Albania,To Babylon, with Mesopotamia,Asia, Armenia, and all other landsWhich owe their homage to high Amurack:Charge all their kings with expeditionTo gather up the chiefest men-at-armsWhich now remain in their dominions,And on the twentieth day of the same monthTo come and wait on Amurack their king,At his chief city Constantinople.Tell them, moreover, that, whoso doth fail,Naught else but death from prison shall him bail.[ExitBajazet.Music within.What heavenly music soundeth in my ear?Peace, Amurack, and hearken to the same.[Hearkening to the musicAmurackfalls asleep.

EnterMedea, FaustaandIphigena.

Medea.Now have our charms fulfill'd our minds full well;High Amurack is lullèd fast asleep,And doubt I not but, ere he wakes again,You shall perceive Medea did not gibeWhenas she put this practice in your mind.Sit, worthy Fausta, at thy spouse his feet.Iphigena, sit thou on the other side:[FaustaandIphigenasit down atAmurack'sfeet.Whate'er you see, be not aghast thereat,But bear in mind what Amurack doth chat.[Does ceremonies belonging to conjuring.Thou, which wert wont, in Agamemnon's days,To utter forth Apollo's oraclesAt sacred Delphos, Calchas I do mean,I charge thee come; all lingering set aside,Unless the penance you thereof abide:I cónjure thee by Pluto's loathsome lake,By all the hags which harbour in the same,By stinking Styx, and filthy Phlegethon,To come with speed, and truly to fulfilThat which Medea to thee straight shall will![Calchasrises up,[44]in a white surplice and a cardinal's mitre.Calc.Thou wretched witch, when wilt thou make an endOf troubling us with these thy cursèd charms?What mean'st thou thus to call me from my grave?Shall ne'er my ghost obtain his quiet rest?Medea.Yes, Calchas, yes, your rest doth now approach;Medea means to trouble thee no more,Whenas thou hast fulfill'd her mind this once.Go, get thee hence to Pluto back again,And there inquire of the DestiniesHow Amurack shall speed in these his wars:Peruse their books, and mark what is decreedBy Jove himself, and all his fellow-gods;And when thou know'st the certainty thereof,By fleshless visions show it presentlyTo Amurack, in pain of penalty.Calc.Forc'd by thy charm, though with unwilling mind,I haste to hell, the certainty to find.[Sinks down where he came up.Medea.Now, peerless princess, I must needs be gone;My hasty business calls me from this place.There resteth naught, but that you bear in mindWhat Amurack, in this his fit, doth say;For mark, what dreaming, madam, he doth prate,Assure yourself that that shall be his fate.Fausta.Though very loth to let thee so depart,Farewell, Medea, easer of my heart. [ExitMedea.[Instruments sound within.Amu.[speaking in a dream].What, Amurack, dost thou begin to nod?Is this the care that thou hast of thy wars?As when thou shouldst be prancing of thy steed.To egg thy soldiers forward in thy wars,Thou sittest moping by the fire-side?See where thy viceroys grovel on the ground;Look where Belinus breatheth forth his ghost;Behold by millions how thy men do fallBefore Alphonsus, like to silly sheep;And canst thou stand still lazing in this sort?No, proud Alphonsus, Amurack doth flyTo quail thy courage, and that speedily.[Instruments sound within.And dost thou think, thou proud injurious god,Mahound I mean, since thy vain propheciesLed Amurack into this doleful case,To have his princely feet in irons clapt,Which erst the proudest kings were forc'd to kiss,That thou shalt 'scape unpunish'd for the same?No, no, as soon as by the help of JoveI 'scape this bondage, down go all thy groves,Thy altars tumble round about the streets,And whereas erst we sacrific'd to thee,Now all the Turks thy mortal foes shall be.[Instruments sound within.Behold the gem and jewel of mine age,See where she comes, whose heavenly majestyDoth far surpass the brave and gorgeous paceWhich Cytherea, daughter unto Jove,Did put in ure whenas she had obtain'dThe golden apple at the shepherd's hands.See, worthy Fausta, where Alphonsus stands,Whose valiant courage could not daunted beWith all the men-at-arms of Africa;See now he stands as one that lately sawMedusa's head, or Gorgon's hoary hue.[Instruments sound within.And can it be that it may happen so?Can fortune prove so friendly unto meAs that Alphonsus loves Iphigena?The match is made, the wedding is decreed:Sound trumpets, ho! strike drums for mirth and glee!And three times welcome son-in-law to me!Fausta.[rising up in a fury and wakingAmurack].Fie, Amurack, what wicked words be these?How canst thou look thy Fausta in her face,Whom thou hast wrongèd in this shameful sort?And are the vows so solemnly you swareUnto Belinus, my most friendly niece,Now wash'd so clearly from thy traitorous heart?Is all the rancour which you erst did bearUnto Alphonsus worn so out of mindAs, where thou shouldst pursue him to death,You seek to give our daughter to his hands?The gods forbid that such a heinous deedWith my consent should ever be decreed:And rather than thou shouldst it bring to pass,If all the army of AmazonesWill be sufficient to withhold the same,Assure thyself that Fausta means to fight'Gainst Amurack for to maintain the right.Iphi.Yea, mother, say,—which Mahomet forbid,—That in this conflict you should have the foil,Ere that Alphonsus should be call'd my spouse,This heart, this hand, yea, and this blade, should beA readier means to finish that decree.Amu.[rising in a rage].What threatening words thus thunder in mine ears?Or who are they, amongst the mortal troops,That dare presume to use such threats to me?The proudest kings and keisars of the landAre glad to feed me in my fantasy;And shall I suffer, then, each prattling dameFor to upbraid me in this spiteful sort?No, by the heavens, first will I lose my crown,My wife, my children, yea, my life and all.And therefore, Fausta, thou which AmurackDid tender erst, as the apple of mine eye,Avoid my court, and, if thou lov'st thy life,Approach not nigh unto my regiment.As for this carping girl, Iphigena,Take her with thee to bear thee company,And in my land I rede[45]be seen no more,For if you do, you both shall die therefóre. [Exit.Fausta.Nay, then, I see 'tis time to look about,Delay is dangerous, and procureth harm:The wanton colt is tamèd in his youth;Wounds must be cur'd when they be fresh and green;And pleurisies, when they begin to breed,With little care are driven away with speed.Had Fausta then, when Amurack begunWith spiteful speeches to control and check,Sought to prevent it by her martial force,This banishment had never hapt to me.But the echinus, fearing to be gor'd,Doth keep her younglings in her paunch so long,Till, when their pricks be waxen long and sharp,They put their dam at length to double pain:And I, because I loath'd the broils of Mars,Bridled my thoughts, and pressèd down my rage;In recompense of which my good intentI have receiv'd this woful banishment.Woful, said I? nay, happy I did mean,If that be happy which doth set one free;For by this means I do not doubt ere longBut Fausta shall with ease revenge her wrong.Come, daughter, come: my mind foretelleth meThat Amurack shall soon requited be.

FaustaandIphigenadiscovered; enterMedea,meeting them.[46]

Medea.Fausta, what means this sudden flight of yours?Why do you leave your husband's princely court,And all alone pass through these thickest groves,More fit to harbour brutish savage beastsThan to receive so high a queen as you?Although your credit would not stay your stepsFrom bending them into these darkish dens,Yet should the danger, which is imminentTo every one which passeth by these paths,Keep you at home with fair Iphigena.What foolish toy hath tickled you to this?I greatly fear some hap hath hit amiss.Fausta.No toy, Medea, tickled Fausta's head,Nor foolish fancy led me to these groves,But earnest business eggs my trembling stepsTo pass all dangers, whatsoe'er they be.I banish'd am, Medea, I, which erstWas empress over all the triple world,Am banish'd now from palace and from pomp.But if the gods be favourers to me,Ere twenty days I will revengèd be.Medea.I thought as much, when first from thickest leavesI saw you trudging in such posting pace.But to the purpose: what may be the causeOf this strange and sudden banishment?Fausta.The cause, ask you? A simple cause, God wot;'Twas neither treason, nor yet felony,But for because I blam'd his foolishness.Medea.I hear you say so, but I greatly fear,Ere that your tale be brought unto an end,You'll prove yourself the author of the same.But pray, be brief; what folly did your spouse?And how will you revenge your wrong on him?Fausta.What folly, quoth you? Such as never yetWas heard or seen, since Phœbus first 'gan shine.You know how he was gathering in all hasteHis men-at-arms, to set upon the troopOf proud Alphonsus; yea, you well do knowHow you and I did do the best we couldTo make him show us in his drowsy dreamWhat afterward should happen in his wars.Much talk he had, which now I have forgot;But at the length this surely was decreed,How that Alphonsus and IphigenaShould be conjoin'd in Juno's sacred rites.Which when I heard, as one that did despiseThat such a traitor should be son to me,I did rebuke my husband Amurack:And since my words could take no better place,My sword with help of all AmazonesShall make him soon repent his foolishness.Medea.This is the cause, then, of your banishment?And now you go unto AmazoneTo gather all your maidens in array,To set upon the mighty Amurack?O foolish queen, what meant you by this talk?Those prattling speeches have undone you all.Do you disdain to have that mighty prince,I mean Alphonsus, counted for your son?I tell you, Fausta, he is born to beThe ruler of a mighty monarchy.I must confess the powers of AmurackBe great; his confines stretch both far and near;Yet are they not the third part of the landsWhich shall be rulèd by Alphonsus' hands:And yet you dain to call him son-in-law.But when you see his sharp and cutting swordPiercing the heart of this your gallant girl,You'll curse the hour wherein you did denayTo join Alphonsus with Iphigena.Fausta.The gods forbid that e'er it happen so!Medea.Nay, never pray, for it must happen so.Fausta.And is there, then, no remedy for it?Medea,No, none but one, and that you have forsworn.Fausta.As though an oath can bridle so my mindAs that I dare not break a thousand oathsFor to eschew the danger imminent!Speak, good Medea, tell that way to me,And I will do it, whatsoe'er it be.Medea.Then, as already you have well decreed,Pack to your country, and in readinessSelect the army of Amazones:When you have done, march with your female troopTo Naples' town, to succour Amurack:And so, by marriage of Iphigena,You soon shall drive the danger clean away.Iphi.So shall we soon eschew Charybdis' lake,And headlong fall to Scylla's greedy gulf.I vow'd before, and now do vow again,Before I wed Alphonsus, I'll be slain.Medea.In vain it is to strive against the stream;Fates must be follow'd, and the gods' decreeMust needs take place in every kind of cause.Therefore, fair maid, bridle these brutish thoughts,And learn to follow what the fates assign.When Saturn heard that Jupiter his sonShould drive him headlong from his heavenly seatDown to the bottom of the dark Avern,He did command his mother presentlyTo do to death the young and guiltless child:But what of that? the mother loath'd in heartFor to commit so vile a massacre;Yea, Jove did live, and, as the fates did say,From heavenly seat drave Saturn clean away.What did avail the castle all of steel,The which Acrisius causèd to be madeTo keep his daughter Danaë clogg'd in?She was with child for all her castle's force;And by that child Acrisius, her sire,Was after slain, so did the fates require.A thousand examples I could bring hereof;But marble stones need no colouring,And that which every one doth know for truthNeeds no examples to confirm the same.That which the fates appoint must happen so,Though heavenly Jove and all the gods say no.Fausta.Iphigena, she sayeth naught but truth;Fates must be follow'd in their just decrees;And therefore, setting all delays aside,Come, let us wend unto Amazone,And gather up our forces out of hand.Iphi.Since Fausta wills and fates do so command,Iphigena will never it withstand.[Exeunt.

EnterVenus.

Venus.Thus have you seen how Amurack himself,Fausta his wife, and every other kingWhich hold their sceptres at the Turk his hands,Are now in arms, intending to destroy,And bring to naught, the Prince of Arragon.Charms have been us'd by wise Medea's art,To know before what afterward shall hap;And King Belinus, with high Claramont,Join'd to Arcastus, which with princely pompDoth rule and govern all the warlike Moors,Are sent as legates to God Mahomet,To know his counsel in these high affairs.Mahound, provok'd by Amurack's discourse,Which, as you heard, he in his dream did use,Denies to play the prophet any more;But, by the long entreaty of his priests,He prophesies in such a crafty sortAs that the hearers needs must laugh for sport.Yet poor Belinus, with his fellow kings,Did give such credence to that forgèd taleAs that they lost their dearest lives thereby,And Amurack became a prisonerUnto Alphonsus, as straight shall appear.[Exit.

Let there be a Brazen Head set in the middle of the place behind the stage, out of the which cast flames of fire; drums rumble within. Enter twoPriests.

First Pr.My fellow priest of Mahound's holy house,What can you judge of these strange miraclesWhich daily happen in this sacred seat?[Drums rumble within.Hark, what a rumbling rattleth in our ears![Flames of fire are cast forth of the Brazen Head.See flakes of fire proceeding from the mouthOf Mahomet, that god of peerless power!Nor can I tell, with all the wit I have,What Mahomet, by these his signs, doth crave.Sec. Pr.Thrice ten times Phœbus with his golden beamsHath compassèd the circle of the sky,Thrice ten times Ceres hath her workmen hir'd,And fill'd her barns with fruitful crops of corn,Since first in priesthood I did lead my life;Yet in this time I never heard beforeSuch fearful sounds, nor saw such wondrous sights;Nor can I tell, with all the wit I have,What Mahomet, by these his signs, doth crave.Mahomet[speaking out of the Brazen Head].You cannot tell, nor will you seek to know:O perverse priests, how careless are you wax'd,As when my foes approach unto my gates,You stand still talking of "I cannot tell!"Go pack you hence, and meet the Turkish kingsWhich now are drawing to my temple ward;Tell them from me, God Mahomet is dispos'dTo prophesy no more to Amurack,Since that his tongue is waxen now so free,As that it needs must chat and rail at me.[ThePriestskneel.First Pr.O Mahomet, if all the solemn prayersWhich from our childhood we have offer'd thee,Can make thee call this sentence back again,Bring not thy priests into this dangerous state!For when the Turk doth hear of this repulse,We shall be sure to die the death therefóre.Mahomet[speaking out of the Brazen Head].Thou sayest truth; go call the princes in:I'll prophesy unto them for this once;But in such wise as they shall neither boast,Nor you be hurt in any kind of wise.

EnterBelinus, Claramont, ArcastusandFabius,conducted by thePriests.

First Pr.You kings of Turkey, Mahomet our god,By sacred science having notice thatYou were sent legates from high AmurackUnto this place, commanded us, his priests,That we should cause you make as mickle speedAs well you might, to hear for certaintyOf that shall happen to your king and ye.Beli.For that intent we came into this place;And sithens that the mighty MahometIs now at leisure for to tell the same,Let us make haste and take time while we may,For mickle danger happeneth through delay.Sec. Pr.Truth, worthy king, and therefore you yourself,With your companions, kneel before this place,And listen well what Mahomet doth say.Beli.As you do will, we jointly will obey.[All kneel down before the Brazen Head.Mahomet[speaking out of the Brazen Head].Princes of Turkey, and ambassadorsOf Amurack to mighty Mahomet,I needs must muse that you, which erst have beenThe readiest soldiers of the triple world,Are now become so slack in your affairsAs, when you should with bloody blade in handBe hacking helms in thickest of your foes,You stand still loitering in the Turkish soil.What, know you not how that it is decreedBy all the gods, and chiefly by myself,That you with triumph should all crownèd be?Make haste, kings, lest when the fates do seeHow carelessly you do neglect their words,They call a council, and force MahometAgainst his will some other things to set.Send Fabius back to Amurack again,To haste him forwards in his enterprise;And march you on, with all the troops you have,To Naples ward, to conquer Arragon,For if you stay, both you and all your menMust needs be sent down straight to Limbo-den.Sec. Pr.Muse not, brave kings, at Mahomet's discourse,For mark what he forth of that mouth doth say,Assure yourselves it needs must happen so.Therefore make haste, go mount you on your steeds,And set upon Alphonsus presently:So shall you reap great honour for your pain,And 'scape the scourge which else the fates ordain.[All rise up.Beli.Then, proud Alphonsus, look thou to thy crown:Belinus comes, in glittering armour clad,All ready prest[47]for to revenge the wrongWhich, not long since, you offer'd unto him;And since we have God Mahound on our side,The victory must needs to us betide.Cla.Worthy Belinus, set such threats away,And let us haste as fast as horse can trotTo set upon presumptuous Arragon.—You, Fabius, haste, as Mahound did command,To Amurack with all the speed you may.Fabi.With willing mind I hasten on my way.[Exit.Beli.And thinking long till that we be in fight,Belinus hastes to quail Alphonsus' might. [Exeunt.

Alarum awhile. EnterCarinus.

Cari.No sooner had God Phœbus' brightsome beamsBegun to dive within the western seas,And darksome Nox had spread about the earthHer blackish mantle, but a drowsy sleepDid take possession of Carinus' sense,And Morpheus show'd me strange disguisèd shapes.Methought I saw Alphonsus, my dear son,Plac'd in a throne all glittering clear with gold,Bedeck'd with diamonds, pearls, and precious stones,Which shin'd so clear, and glitter'd all so bright,Hyperion's coach that well be term'd it might.Above his head a canopy was set,Not deck'd with plumes, as other princes use,But all beset with heads of conquer'd kings,Enstall'd with crowns, which made a gallant show,And struck a terror to the viewers' hearts.Under his feet lay grovelling on the groundThousands of princes, which he in his warsBy martial might did conquer and bring low:Some lay as dead as either stock or stone,Some other tumbled, wounded to the death;But most of them, as to their sovereign king,Did offer duly homage unto him.As thus I stood beholding of this pomp,Methought Alphonsus did espy me out,And, at a trice, he leaving throne alone,Came to embrace me in his blessèd arms.Then noise of drums and sound of trumpets shrillDid wake Carinus from this pleasant dream.Something, I know, is now foreshown by this:The gods forfend that aught should hap amiss![Carinuswalks up and down.

Enter theDuke of Milanin pilgrim's apparel.

Duke of M.This is the chance of fickle Fortune's wheel;A prince at morn, a pilgrim ere't be night;I, which erewhile did dain for to possessThe proudest palace of the western world,Would now be glad a cottage for to find,To hide my head; so Fortune hath assign'd.Thrice Hesperus with pomp and peerless prideHath heav'd his head forth of the eastern seas,Thrice Cynthia, with Phœbus' borrow'd beams,Hath shown her beauty through the darkish clouds,Since that I, wretched duke, have tasted aught,Or drunk a drop of any kind of drink.Instead of beds set forth with ebony,The greenish grass hath been my resting-place,And for my pillow stuff'd with down,The hardish hillocks have suffic'd my turn.Thus I, which erst had all things at my will,A life more hard then death do follow still.Cari.[aside]. Methinks I hear, not very far from hence,Some woful wight lamenting his mischance:I'll go and see if that I can espyHim where he sits, or overhear his talk.Duke of M.O Milan, Milan, little dost thou think,How that thy duke is now in such distress!For if thou didst, I soon should be releas'dForth of this greedy gulf of misery.Cari.[aside]. The Milan Duke! I thought as much before,When first I glanc'd mine eyes upon his face.This is the man which was the only causeThat I was forc'd to fly from Arragon.High Jove be prais'd which hath allotted meSo fit a time to quite that injury.—Pilgrim, God speed.Duke of M.Welcome, grave sir, to me.Cari.Methought as now I heard you for to speakOf Milan-land: pray, do you know the same?Duke of M.Ay, aged father, I have cause to knowBoth Milan-land and all the parts thereof.Cari.Why, then, I doubt not but you can resolveMe of a question that I shall demand.Duke of M.Ay, that I can, whatever that it be.Cari.Then, to be brief: not twenty winters past,When these my limbs, which wither'd are with age,Were in the prime and spring of all their youth,I, still desirous, as young gallants be,To see the fashions of Arabia,My native soil, and in this pilgrim's weed,Began to travel through unkennèd lands.Much ground I pass'd, and many soils I saw;But when my feet in Milan-land I set,Such sumptuous triumphs daily there I sawAs never in my life I found the like.I pray, good sir, what might the occasion be,That made the Milans make such mirth and glee?Duke of M.This solemn joy whereof you now do speak,Was not solémnisèd, my friend, in vain;For at that time there came into the landThe happiest tidings that they e'er did hear;For news was brought upon that solemn dayUnto our court, that Ferdinandus proudWas slain himself, Carinus and his sonWas banish'd both for e'er from Arragon;And for these happy news that joy was made.Cari.But what, I pray, did afterward becomeOf old Carinus with his banish'd son?What, hear you nothing of them all this while?Duke of M.Yes, too-too much, the Milan Duke may say.Alphonsus first by secret means did getTo be a soldier in Belinus' wars,Wherein he did behave himself so wellAs that he got the crown of Arragon;Which being got, he dispossess'd alsoThe King Belinus which had foster'd him.As for Carinus he is dead and gone:I would his son were his companion.Cari.A blister build upon that traitor's tongue!But, for thy friendship which thou showed'st me,Take that of me, I frankly give it thee.[Stabs theDuke of Milan,who dies.Now will I haste to Naples with all speed,To see if Fortune will so favour meTo view Alphonsus in his happy state.

EnterAmurack, Crocon, FaustusandFabius,with theProvostand TurkishJanissaries.

Amu.Fabius, come hither: what is that thou sayest?What did God Mahound prophesy to us?Why do our viceroys wend unto the warsBefore their king had notice of the same?What, do they think to play bob-fool with me?Or are they wax'd so frolic now of late,Since that they had the leading of our bands,As that they think that mighty AmurackDares do no other than to soothe them up?Why speak'st thou not? what fond or frantic fitDid make those careless kings to venture it?Fabi.Pardon, dear lord; no frantic fit at all,No frolic vein, nor no presumptuous mind,Did make your viceroys take these wars in hand:But forc'd they were by Mahound's prophecyTo do the same, or else resolve to die.Amu.So, sir, I hear you, but can scarce believeThat Mahomet would charge them go before,Against Alphonsus with so small a troop,Whose number far exceeds King Xerxes' troop.Fabi.Yes, noble lord, and more than that, he saidThat, ere that you, with these your warlike men,Should come to bring your succour to the field,Belinus, Claramont, and Arcastus tooShould all be crown'd with crowns of beaten gold,And borne with triumph round about their tents.Amu.With triumph, man! did Mahound tell them so?—Provost, go carry Fabius presentlyUnto the Marshalsea;[48]there let him rest,Clapt sure and safe in fetters all of steel,Till Amurack discharge him from the same;For be he sure, unless it happen soAs he did say Mahound did prophesy,By this my hand forthwith the slave shall die.[They lay hold ofFabius,and make as though to carry him out.

Enter aMessenger.

Mess.Stay, Provost, stay, let Fabius alone:More fitteth now that every lusty ladBe buckling on his helmet, than to standIn carrying soldiers to the Marshalsea.Amu.Why, what art thou, that darest once presumeFor to gainsay that Amurack did bid?Mess.I am, my lord, the wretched'st man alive,Born underneath the planet of mishap;Erewhile, a soldier of Belinus' band,But now—Amu.What now?Mess.The mirror of mishap;Whose captain's slain, and all his army dead,Only excepted me, unhappy wretch.Amu.What news is this! and is Belinus slain?Is this the crown which Mahomet did sayHe should with triumph wear upon his head?Is this the honour which that cursèd godDid prophesy should happen to them all?O Dædalus, an wert thou now alive,To fasten wings upon high Amurack,Mahound should know, and that for certainty,That Turkish kings can brook no injury!Fabi.Tush, tush, my lord; I wonder what you mean,Thus to exclaim against high Mahomet:I'll lay my life that, ere this day be past,You shall perceive his tidings all be waste.Amu.We shall perceive, accursèd Fabius!Suffice it not that thou hast been the manThat first didst beat those baubles in my brain,But that, to help me forward in my grief,Thou seekest to confirm so foul a lie?Go, get thee hence, and tell thy traitorous kingWhat gift you had, which did such tidings bring.—[StabsFabius,who dies.And now, my lords, since nothing else will serve,Buckle your helms, clap on your steelèd coats,Mount on your steeds, take lances in your hands;For Amurack doth mean this very dayProud Mahomet with weapons to assay.Mess.Mercy, high monarch! it is no time nowTo spend the day in such vain threateningsAgainst our god, the mighty Mahomet:More fitteth thee to place thy men-at-armsIn battle 'ray, for to withstand your foes,Which now are drawing towards you with speed.[Drums sounded within.Hark, how their drums with dub-a-dub do come!To arms, high lord, and set these trifles by,That you may set upon them valiantly.Amu.And do they come? you kings of Turkey-[land],Now is the time in which your warlike armsMust raise your names above the starry skies.Call to your mind your predecessors' acts,Whose martial might, this many a hundred year,Did keep those fearful dogs in dread and awe,And let your weapons show Alphonsus plain,That though that they be clappèd up in clay,Yet there be branches sprung up from those trees,In Turkish land, which brook no injuries.Besides the same, remember with yourselvesWhat foes we have; not mighty Tamburlaine,Nor soldiers trainèd up amongst the wars,But fearful boors, pick'd from their rural flock,Which, till this time, were wholly ignorantWhat weapons meant, or bloody Mars doth crave.More would I say, but horses that be freeDo need no spurs, and soldiers which themselvesLong and desire to buckle with the foe,Do need no words to egg them to the same.

EnterAlphonsus,with a canopy carried over him by threeLords,having over each corner a king's head crowned; with himAlbinius, LæliusandMileswith crowns on their heads, and theirSoldiers.

Besides the same, behold whereas our foesAre marching towards us most speedily.Courage, my lords, ours is the victory.Alphon.Thou pagan dog, how dar'st thou be so boldTo set thy foot within Alphonsus' land?What, art thou come to view thy wretched kings,Whose traitorous heads bedeck my tent so well?Or else, thou hearing that on top thereofThere is a place left vacant, art thou comeTo have thy head possess the highest seat?If it be so, lie down, and this my swordShall presently that honour thee afford.If not, pack hence, or by the heavens I vow,Both thou and thine shall very soon perceiveThat he that seeks to move my patienceMust yield his life to me for recompense.Amu.Why, proud Alphonsus, think'st thou Amurack,Whose mighty force doth terrify the gods,Can e'er be found to turn his heels, and flyAway for fear from such a boy as thou?No, no, although that Mars this mickle whileHath fortified thy weak and feeble arm,And Fortune oft hath view'd with friendly faceThy armies marching victors from the field,Yet at the presence of high AmurackFortune shall change, and Mars, that god of might,Shall succour me, and leave Alphonsus quite.Alphon.Pagan, I say thou greatly art deceiv'd:I clap up Fortune in a cage of gold,To make her turn her wheel as I think best;And as for Mars whom you do say will change,He moping sits behind the kitchen-door,Prest at command of every scullion's mouth,Who dares not stir, nor once to move a whit,For fear Alphonsus then should stomach it.Amu.Blasp-hém-ous dog, I wonder that the earthDoth cease from renting underneath thy feet,To swallow up that canker'd corpse of thine.I muse that Jove can bridle so his ireAs, when he hears his brother so misus'd,He can refrain from sending thunderboltsBy thick and threefold, to revenge his wrong.Mars fight for me, and fortune be my guide!And I'll be victor, whatsome'er betide.Albi.Pray loud enough,[49]lest that you pray in vain:Perhaps God Mars and Fortune are asleep.Amu.An Mars lies slumbering on his downy bed,Yet do not think but that the power we have,Without the help of those celestial gods,Will be sufficient, yea, with small ado,Alphonsus' straggling army to subdue.Læli.You had need as then to call for Mahomet,With hellish hags to perform the same.Faustus.High Amurack, I wonder what you mean,That, when you may, with little toil or none,Compel these dogs to keep their tongues in peace,You let them stand still barking in this sort:Believe me, sovereign, I do blush to seeThese beggar's brats to chat so frolicly.Alphon.How now, sir boy! Let Amurack himself,Or any he, the proudest of you all,But offer once for to unsheath his sword,If that he dares, for all the power you have.Amu.What, dar'st thou us? myself will venture it.—To arms, my mate!

[Amurackdraws his sword;Alphonsusand all the otherKingsdraw theirs. Alarum;Amurackand his company fly, followed byAlphonsusand his company.

Alarum. EnterVenus.

Venus.Fierce is the fight, and bloody is the broil.No sooner had the roaring cannon shotSpit forth the venom of their firèd paunch,And with their pellets sent such troops of soulsDown to the bottom of the dark Avern,As that it cover'd all the Stygian fields;But, on a sudden, all the men-at-arms,Which mounted were on lusty coursers' backs,Did rush together with so great a noiseAs that I thought the giants one time moreDid scale the heavens, as erst they did before.Long time dame Fortune temper'd so her wheelAs that there was no vantage to be seenOn any side, but equal was the gain;But at the length, so God and Fates decreed,Alphonsus was the victor of the field,And Amurack became his prisoner;Who so remain'd, until his daughter came,And by her marrying did his pardon frame. [Exit.

Alarum:Amurackflies, followed byAlphonsus,who takes him prisoner and carries him in. Alarum: asCroconandFaustusare flying, enterFaustaandIphigena,with their army, meeting them.

Fausta.You Turkish kings, what sudden flight is this?What mean the men, which for their valiant prowessWere dreaded erst clean through the triple world,Thus cowardly to turn their backs and fly?What froward fortune happen'd on your side?I hope your king in safety doth abide?Cro.Ay, noble madam, Amurack doth live,And long I hope he shall enjoy his life;But yet I fear, unless more succour come,We shall both lose our king and sovereign.Fausta.How so, King Crocon? dost thou speak in jest,To prove if Fausta would lament his death?Or else hath anything hapt him amiss?Speak quickly, Crocon, what the cause might be,That thou dost utter forth these words to me.Cro.Then, worthy Fausta, know that AmurackOur mighty king, and your approvèd spouse,Prick'd with desire of everlasting fame,As he was pressing in the thickest ranksOf Arragonians, was, with much ado,At length took prisoner by Alphonsus' hands.So that, unless you succour soon do bring,You lose your spouse, and we shall want our king.Iphi.O hapless hap, O dire and cruel fate!What injury hath Amurack, my sire,Done to the gods, which now I know are wroth,Although unjustly and without a cause?For well I wot, not any other king,Which now doth live, or since the world begunDid sway a sceptre, had a greater careTo please the gods than mighty Amurack:And for to quite our father's great good-will,Seek they thus basely all his fame to spill?Fausta.Iphigena, leave off these woful tunes:It is not words can cure and case this wound,But warlike swords; not tears, but sturdy spears.High Amurack is prisoner to our foes:What then? Think you that our Amazones,Join'd with the forces of the Turkish troop,Are not sufficient for to set him free?Yes, daughter, yes, I mean not for to sleepUntil he is free, or we him company keep.—March on, my mates. [Exeunt.

Alarum: enterAlphonsusin flight, followed byIphigena.

Iphi.How now, Alphonsus! you which never yetCould meet your equal in the feats of arms,How haps it now that in such sudden sortYou fly the presence of a silly maid?What, have you found mine arm of such a forceAs that you think your body over-weakFor to withstand the fury of my blows?Or do you else disdain to fight with me,For staining of your high nobility?Alphon.No, dainty dame, I would not have thee thinkThat ever thou or any other wightShall live to see Alphonsus fly the fieldFrom any king or keisar whosome'er:First will I die in thickest of my foe,Before I will disbase mine honour so.Nor do I scorn, thou goddess, for to stainMy prowess with thee, although it be a shameFor knights to combat with the female sect:[50]But love, sweet mouse, hath so benumbed my wit,That, though I would, I must refrain from it.Iphi.I thought as much when first I came to wars;Your noble acts were fitter to be writWithin the tables of Dame Venus' son,Than in God Mars his warlike registers:Whenas your lords are hacking helms abroad,And make their spears to shiver in the air,Your mind is busied in fond Cupid's toys.Come on, i' faith, I'll teach you for to knowWe came to fight, and not to love, I trow.Alphon.Nay, virgin, stay. An if thou wilt vouchsafeTo entertain Alphonsus' simple suit,Thou shalt ere long be monarch of the world:All christen'd kings, with all your pagan dogs,Shall bend their knees unto Iphigena;The Indian soil shall be thine at command,Where every step thou settest on the groundShall be receivèd on the golden mines;Rich Pactolus,[51]that river of account,Which doth descend from top of Tmolus Mount,Shall be thine own, and all the world beside,If you will grant to be Alphonsus' bride.Iphi.Alphonsus' bride! nay, villain, do not thinkThat fame or riches can so rule my thoughtsAs for to make me love and fancy himWhom I do hate, and in such sort despise,As, if my death could bring to pass his bane,I would not long from Pluto's port remain.Alphon.Nay, then, proud peacock, since thou art so stoutAs that entreaty will not move thy mindFor to consent to be my wedded spouse,Thou shalt, in spite of gods and fortune too,Serve high Alphonsus as a concubine.Iphi.I'll rather die than ever that shall hap.Alphon.And thou shalt die unless it come to pass.[AlphonsusandIphigenafight.Iphigenaflies followed byAlphonsus.

Alarum. EnterAlphonsuswith his rapier,Albinius, Lælius, Miles,with theirSoldiers;Amurack, Fausta, Iphigena, Crocon,andFaustus,all bound, with their hands behind them.Amuracklooks angrily onFausta.EnterMedea.

Alarum. EnterAlphonsuswith his rapier,Albinius, Lælius, Miles,with theirSoldiers;Amurack, Fausta, Iphigena, Crocon,andFaustus,all bound, with their hands behind them.Amuracklooks angrily onFausta.

EnterMedea.

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