University of Virginia Library

Sce. 3a. et Vltima.

[Flourish.]
Enter at one dore the Souldan, Colactus, & Souldiers[OMITTED] at the other the Califfe, a Nobleman, Herald, & Souldier[OMITTED]
Califfe.
This is the time by either side præfix'd
to trie our royall titles. Both our armies
stand in a silent expectation of this acts issue, then ere day grow old[OMITTED]
(Souldan) let vs begin our plea, my fate
whether it turne to honour or to losse
shall finde my temper æqually præpard
to giue it [entertaine] a contented entertaine.

Souldan.
Lysander is my fate, and in his arme
I am assur'd of conquest. then begin.

Califfe.
Herald, first read the articles againe,
that what our selues in private haue allow'd,
Our subiects testimonies may confirme,
and bee our iury royall when the fight
has clear'd our claymes.

Herald
reads.

It is accorded between these two mighty princes, the
Souldan of Egypt, and the Califfe of Babilon, that to
avoyd the effusion of bloud, and depopulation of their [count]
countreys, the title of royaltie shall be decided by single
combat, and whose champion soeuer is ouercome, that side
to yeild as vanquished. If the Souldans champion [win[illeg.]]
winne the day, the Califfe shall yeild vp Babilon and all
his royall titles in Syria. And if the Califfes combatant
prevaile, then shall the Souldan surrender vp all the forts
he hath in Syria, renounce his claims of conquest, and
forsaking Babilon with his whole army, neuer returne to
offend these parts againe.

To these condicions you have both subscrib'd, and sworne.

Souldan & Califfe.
we haue.

Colactus.
Then bring the champions.

Souldan.
ffetch Lysander,

Califfe.
ffetch Armidan.

flourish. Enter Herald with Lysander in armour.
Souldan.
Lysander, on the fortune of thy arme
(which hitherto has led the fates in tryumph)
our glories rest, with thee they rise, or fall:
adde but this day to thy past victories,
and Babilon is added to our crowne.
but if this day thou loose (wc h cannot bee)
Our Syrian Conquests all with thee must die.
Then courage, conquer for thy selfe and vs.
what thou winn'st now, hereafter thine shall bee;
for wee'l elect no other heir but thee.

Lysander.
Thy promises great Souldan cannot raise
my courage higher then the scale of honour
hath lifted it allready. I'm præpar'd,
Nor will I weaken with superfluous words
my resolution. where's my opposite?
will hee loose so much honnour to be last,
that was the challenger?

Colactus.
we may beleeue
the Califfs conquer'd fortunes cannot arme
one that dares meet Lysander, but in words.

Lord of Babilon.
His slacknesse hee'l repaire [by] with his sound blows;
and then you'l say, the Califfe armes a man
dares meet, and beat the Souldans champion.

Flourish. Enter Herald, Miranda following him in her Owne Amazonian attire, an helmet on and the beavor down.
Colactus.
I cannot say the Califfe armes a man
If this outside speake truth: which I should know.

Souldan.
What spirit of illusion dares our eie!

Califfe.
This is not our elected champion,
we chose no woman; nor intend a maske.

Herald.
Sir, for some reasons to him selfe best known
he's thus disguisd, but this is Armidan.

Lysander.
Let not my courage melt away in wonder.
This [stature] stature, gesture, and this shape she own'd
that once was my Miranda. see by signes
it calls me on to combate. shall I fight
with one so like my loue? for her sake no[,]:
what ere you are graunt me to see your face.
before we fight.

[She lets him take of her helmet.]
Miranda.
Then shall Lysander see
he must be conquer'd by a woman.

She puts vp her beavor.
Lysander.
ha!
her voice; 'tis shee. a woman has indeed
orecome mee; dearest conqueresse I yeild.
this is the fight that best befits you sweet.

Miranda.
Thus Ladys strike their louers when they meet.
Lysander conquers mee; and thus I yeild.

Colactus.
How now! what kinde of combat call you this?

Lord of B.
This is fine fighting.

Califfe.
Traytrous Armidan.

Souldan.
Villaine Lysander.

Miranda.
Heare mee mightie princes.
To you great sir[,] I bend a daughters knee,
and beg at once your pardon and your blessing.

Souldan.
My daughter? o my shame!

Miranda.
yet heare mee sir.
Rage not to see Lysander yeild to mee;
Nor you to see mee yeild to my Lysander:
for thus you both are sauers, [neither] though both loose.
My yeilding giues the Califfs right to you,
his yeilding renders vp your right to him.
This offers an attonement [an atton] twixt you both[;]
if you accept it; and it was the end
I aim'd at in this challenge.

Souldan.
Rebellious wretch
thy oratory's odious as thy selfe.

Califfe.
Is Armidan a woman, and your daughter?

Souldan.
Califfe, what ere she was, I now disclayme her.
you tooke her for your champion,[s] now you see
her falshood merrits death, and so does his
[now] that I for my side chose. then doe to her
what I will to Lysander for revenge.

Draws his sword.
Califfe.
My wrongs invite me to it; she's a spie,
and in my court has liu'd an enimie.

Draws his sword.
Miranda.
'Tis kindely done yet that you'l kill vs both,
for one would not out liue the others death.

Alarme within
Souldan.
what meanes this? Califfe thou art treacherous.

Califfe.
Souldan 'tis thou. guard [th] vs, there's treason towards.

[OMITTED]ouldan.
To armes, the Babilonians would entrap vs.

Califfe.
To armes, th'Egyptians haue betray'd our liues.

Miranda.
what euer haps, I will not stirre from thee.

Lysander.
In life and death our loues vnited bee.

Enter Claudius with Souldiers at one dore, surpriseth the Califfe; Clitophon with souldiers, at the other, he seazeth the Souldan. enter Cyprian and Iustina.
Souldan.
now Califfe, what's this but thy treacherie?

Califfe.
Thou play'st the traitor, and accusest mee.

Clitophon.
Yeild Souldan, once againe thou art my prisoner.

Claudius.
In Romes great name I charge yee both to yeild.
princes your too ambitious discords here
with a displeasing voyce haue reach'd to Rome,
and call'd vs thence to stint this bloudy strife.
How dares the Souldan thus vsurp on kingdomes?
Thincke you in time to breake the dutious yoake
great Rome has cast about your stubbern neckes?

«o»uldan & Califfe.
No[w], wee submit to Romes supremacie.

Claudius.
Tis well; goe not about then to destroy
your neighbour kingdomes, nor to rayse your selues
to single monarchies; which Souldan, you
are playnly guilty of. for which wee double
your tribute for ten yeares, and charge you straight
deliuer vp your claymes in Syria:
Return to Egypt, and content your selfe
with your owne royalties. Say Cyprian,
is your Lysander here?

Cyprian.
This is the man.

«Cla»udius.
Souldan, this is the heir of Antioch.

Souldan.
I know it, and his names Eugenius;
At 2. years ould by spies he was surpriz'd,
and brought my father who did change his name,
and kept him from the knowledge of himselfe.

Lysander.
As you haue likewise done; and made me spoyle
my countrey, kill my kinred; heau'n forgiue me.

Claudius.
Twas too much wrong; therfore restore to him
his kingdome Souldan.

Souldan.
Since it must be so,
Eugenius take thy kingdom backe againe;
and with it (as a recompence of wrong
done to thee) take this iewell of thy life,
and the sole heir of Egypts diadem,
Miranda. let my faults be all forgot

[OMITTED]sander & Miranda.
Great sir, our voyce of thanckes shall drown their crie.

Claudius.
[Why this is] Souldan in this thou hast done [[illeg.]] worthyly.

Colactus.
The Gods be prays'd that the victorious faire
Miranda is thus fortunately found.

Miranda.
O, Lord Colactus, though you found me not
in way of search, you felt me in the feild.

Colactus.
I blesse my wounds since from your hand they came.

Miranda.
y'had been more blessed, had you mist the same.
The Gods graunt that phlebotomie may cure
you of the fauning sicknes.

This while Clitophon presents Iustina to the Califfe, & they whisper, kindly embracing.
Califfe.
pardon [sweet] fair one.
And [now] Clitophon, now take her once againe
with my vnfayned loue.

Iustina.
No mightie Sir,
my virgin life is vow'd to heauen now
which hath so oft preserv'd it.
All this is[OMITTED] private disc[OMITTED] betwixt Lys[OMITTED] Clitophon, I[OMITTED] and Cyprian[OMITTED] The rest [[illeg.]][OMITTED] to minde[OMITTED]

Clitophon.
Happy maide,
[asside while[OMITTED]]
Thy vow displeases not, and thy strange story
hath wonne my heart to lay hould on thy faith.

Lysander.
Cyprian turn'd Christian!

Cyprian.
Yes Eugenius.

Lysander.
You and Iustina shall along with mee
to Antioch: while I haue pow'r, you both
Shall there be safe from rage of persecution.

Clitophon.
Where ere Iustina goes, thither will I;
but not at once. Ile follow secretly.

Iustina.
Then heau'n has heard my pray'r and Clitophon
Is happyly become a Christian.

Claudius.
Souldan of Egypt, Califfe of Babilon,
And King of Antioch, ioyne your princely hands.
Thus in Romes name I knit a frendly league
twixt you three princes: may this gordian knot
nere be vntied[,] againe, nor by warre cut.

All three.
We wish the same.

Califfe.
Then princes since to loue
our quarrells are converted, ere wee part
enter the wondrous walls of Babilon,
and taste our entertaine.

Claudius.
Califfe content,
I oft haue wish'd to see faire Babilon,
whose mighty walls are reckon'd vp by ffame
for one of the [nine worth] seau'n wonders. Ope thy gates
thou happie towne, and entertayne thy frends;
such are all these now; enmitie here ends.

Exeunt.