 | The Two Noble Ladies |  |
Sce. 2.
Alarm still.Enter Miranda with her sword drawn.
Miranda.
What squadron Leads Lysander? this keen sword
has digg'd my way through many a bleeding bulke
to finde him out; and yet we cannot meet.
Colactus I haue often singled out,
and though his basenesse weare not worth my wounds,
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this hand hath lent him some. Young Clitophon
fiercely pursues my father, whose distresse
can finde no rescue: weare Lysander there
would hee haue suffred it? no through the throng
hee like a whirlewinde would teare ope his way
to meet the fierce youth with amazing strokes.
he's absent sure: pray heau'n hee bee not slayne.
slayne did I say? fie, fie that cannot bee
surely that feare came from my sex, not mee.
flourish and Shout within.
Ha! then our day is lost, and wee haue wonne.
Our Souldan's fled, or slayne, or taken sure;
and wee of Babilon are conquerers.
What opposition of the heau'nly lights
was midwife to the birth of my crosse fate?
first change my contrey, and myne owne attire;
then charge my father as my greatest foe;
backe his moste enimies impugn his frends;
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ffor thee Lysander haue I done all this.
[Flourish.] & [Sennet.] Enter in state the Califfe, Clitophon leading the Souldan bound; noblemen, and souldiers.
Miranda.
[Tru] Too true was my suspicion; o my fate[,]!
that I a naturall childe should thus behold
My father thrall vnto his enimie,
and I a partner in the victorie!
Califfe.
Now art thou prisoner proud Egyptian.
Souldan.
what is my ransom, and it shall be payd.
Clitophon.
All Affricke shall not buy thee backe againe.
Souldan.
Death with redeem me then.
Califfe.
Proud Souldan know,
thou now shalt stoop to vs, and thy wilde pride
be turn'd to humble tamenesse.
Souldan.
Dost thou thincke [in]
Insulting Califfe, that the [li] Lyon trembles
at crowing of a cocke, because ould tales
so still'd the infant world? weare it a truth,
yet my contempt of thrall[,] shall make't appeare
I haue the Lions courage, not his feare.
Califfe.
Are you so stout? cast that ambitious beast
downe at our feet, [that I ma] leuell him with the ground,
that [I] wee may trample on his stubborn necke,
and as his pride has made him menace heau'n,
so let him proue the humblest on the earth.
Souldan.
Seeke not so basely to abuse a prince
of my Imperiall state; set downe my ransome
Clitophon.
What randsom can a beggar spoyl'd of all
render his lord? all that thou hadst is ours.
Souldan.
wee loose not all our fortunes in one feild.
Califfe.
Yes, and thy life, vnlesse thou stoop and kneele.
Souldan.
Ile stoop to none, but to the Roman Empire.
Califfe.
wee'l force thee stoop to vs, and grouell flat
whyle on thy backe we tread. throw down [our] my slaue:
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Shall I endure to see my father trod on?
Great prince desist from this vndecent force;
I should haue some share in this victory
Califfe.
Braue youth, thy valour shall be recompens'd
with honours and promotions: but in this
what canst thou aske? or what is this to thee?
Miranda.
My courage is not quickend with rewards,
nor will I serve but to a [valiant] vertuous prince.
I tell thee [mightie] cruell Califfe, I repent mee
that I haue fought, and ventur'd life for him
that houlds no measure in his happinesse.
This tyrannie staynes all thy victorie:
Califfe.
This to a tyrant is no tyrannie.
Miranda.
Tis tyrannie thus to abuse his age,
to tread that reverent body vnderfoote,
whose head has been impal'd with diamonds
as rich as thine.
Califfe.
How Armidan! so bould?
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My royall father; let this controversie.
by my Iustina be decided, shee
has by the Souldan suffer'd vtter ruine,
which makes her iustly hate him. if she say,
Let him be made your footstoole; he shall bow
mauger all pleading. but if she remitt,
your lesser iniuries may spare this spite.
Califfe.
She is vnfit to iudge, and farre to fetch.
Clitophon.
how! farre to fetch? I left her to your trust,
and in your safeguard I expect to finde her.
Then call her forth; here haue I brought your foe,
My promise is perform'd, let yours be so.
bring me my bride.
Califfe.
Thy bride has left thee sonne.
Clitophon.
Left me? it cannot be beleeu'd; good Sir,
let one right word vnriddle that same Left.
I know Iustina would not leaue my loue
till life left her.
Califfe.
Your selfe resolues the riddle.
Clitophon.
Is she then dead?
Califfe.
She is, and with her die
thy fond loue.
Clitophon.
O perfidious crueltie!
Could you doe this? the panthers breath is sweet,
but hee nere to be tam'd; with words perfum'd
You gaue her hand to myne, and made her gird
my sword on whyle your vnrelenting heart
forg'd daggers gainst her life. Could you doe this?
and could that innocent sweetnesse that would tempt
Iove to transforme his godhead to some beast
to faune [vp]on her, [[illeg.]] persuade no pitty from [thee] you?
When Iove appear'd a beast, his minde was milde;
When beasts weare human shapes, they'r fierce and wilde.
Would you my loue should die to my Iustina?
No, it shall euer liue; but die to thee
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The name of father shall both die and rot;
and Babilon[,] for euer be forgot.
Come hither Souldan.
Califfe.
What intends my sonne?
Clitophon.
Sweare by thy gods to doe what I enioyne thee,
and ransomlesse I here will set thee free.
Califfe.
The Gods looke on thy madnesse.[, Clitophon]
Souldan.
Clitophon,
By lion form'd Isis, on whose altars
Virgins are yearly sacrific'd; by Apis;
hawkebill'd Osiris; th'vnknowne head of Nile;
Dogfac'd Anubis; Cow-converted Io:
By Memnons halfe [face] shape that sends forth a sound
[that] charm[es]ing the eare with wonder and affright:
By all the Gods of Egypt, whatsoere[r]
I may with honour [graunt,] doe shall be [effect] perform'd.
Clitophon.
Then freely goe; but speedyly returne[,]
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Sacke mee this Cittie, leaue not a tow'r vncast;
revenge mee on this Califfe, race his name
out of the royall list of Kings.
Califfe.
Art madde?
thou shalt not free him.
Clitophon.
Hee's my prisoner,
and Ile dispose of him.
Souldan.
Is this my ransome?
Clitophon.
This only.
Souldan.
By the solemne oath I tooke
thy wish shall be effected; tyrant, now
[remember] thincke on a footstooles place; 'tis [now] thy turne next.
Califfe.
Shall we so loose him? [Kill him] Souldiers, kill him first.
Clitophon.
who ere resist the Souldans passage, this
his sword.
shall be theyr passe to hell.
Miranda.
(asside.)
happy dissention
that frees my royall father from base thrall.
Souldan.
Califfe farewell; adue braue Clitophon;
thanckes for this noble kinde condition.
Exit Souldan.
Clitophon.
Depart in peace, and keep thy promise Souldan.
Califfe.
Vngracious youth, what has thy madnesse done?
fetch backe the Souldan, or by all the gods
Ile curse thee, disinherit thee of raigne,
and—
Clitophon.
Tush, distribute thy inheritance,
give me instead of it thy cruell curse;
Thou hast depriv'd me of my l[ife]oue, thats worse.
ffarewell vnworthy of so kinde a sonne;
farewell my countrey, frends and all farewell;
farewell good Armidan, braue gentleman;
farewell my souldiers; for Iustina's losse
farewell all ioy: greife-conquerd I depart
Leauing my fortunes here with her my hart.
Exit Clitophō.
Califfe.
Stay Clitophon, forget not duty thus.
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had you remembred mercie to [your] his loue,
you had prevented this ill threatning anger.
Califfe.
Wretched'st of men! Lords call him backe againe.
The Souldiers drop away.
What, will my souldiers follow Clitophon
and leaue me singly to oppose the Souldan?
O stay, and pitty Babilons distresse
in travaile with extremities of warre.
Like Autumne leaues the glories of my state
fall so fast from mee, that [like] as a winters tree[s]
I naked stand subiect to eu'ry storme.
What counsell lords? is there no way to safety?
Miranda.
I haue a proiect if it rightly hit,
and be by you approv'd that doubtlesse shall
either make you the victor, or at least
saue the great hazard of much bloud and daunger.
Califfe.
What proiect noble Armidan can proue
so able as thy words would warrant?
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This:
Send straight a challenge to th'Egyptian camp,
dare the proud Souldan to make choyse of one
of his cheife leaders, in a single fight
to be his champion, and maintaine his right;
By name Lysander his cheife generall.
If hee consent, Ile meet him in the feild,
And either die, or make that champion yeild.
Califfe.
The Topaze has the vertue to stop bloud,
and appease furie; both these precious pow'rs
thy counsaile brings with it, couragious Knight.
Thou hast recomforted my fainting minde;
and art to mee my sonne, my ioy, my hope.
Call straight a herald, let him be dispatch'd
vpon this message. Ile vp to the walls,
and see them strongly man'd: then to the temple
to woe the gods to send thee from aboue
successefull victorie to crown thy loue.
Exit with Lords.
Miranda.
Now if this challenge take, I haue my wish.
I shall behould Lysander once againe;
and hope this enterview shall worcke a peace
betwixt our Egypt and this Babilon.
This time of absence sure hath qualified
My fathers foule desire; and then I trust
Lysanders loue shall end a fathers lust.
Exit.
| The Two Noble Ladies | |