University of Virginia Library

Scena secunda.

Enter Miranda and Astorius.
Ast.
I knew ye lov'd her, vertuously ye lov'd her,
Which made me make that hast: I knew ye priz'd her
As all fair minds do goodnesse.

Mir.
Good Astorius,
I must confesse I do much honour her,
And worthily I hope still.

Ast.
Tis no doubt sir,
For on my life she is much wrong'd.

Mir.
Very likely:
And I as much tormented I was absent.

Ast.
You need not feare, Peter Gomera's Noble,
Of a tryd faith and valour.

Mir.
This I know too:
But whilst I was not there, and whilst she suffer'd;
Whilst vertue suffer'd, friend, oh how it loads me!
Whilst innocence and sweetnesse sunke together,
How cold it sits here? if my arme had fought her,
My truth, though naked, stood against all treasons,
My Sword here grasped, love on the edge, and honour,
And but a signall from her eye to seale it,
If then she had been lost; I brag too late,
And too much I decline the Noble Peter.
Yet some poor service I would do her sweetnesse,
Alas she needs it, my Astorius,
The gentle Lady needs it.

Ast.
Noble spirit.

Mir.
And what I can: prethee bear with this weaknes.
Often I do not use these womens weapons
But where true pitty is. I am much troubled,
And something have to do, I cannot forme yet.

Ast.
Ile take my leave, sir, I shall but disturb ye.

Mir.
And please you for a while: and pray to fortune
To smile upon this Lady.

Ast.
All my help sir.

Exit.
Mir.
Gomera's old and stiffe: and he may lose her,
The winter of his yeeres and wounds upon him:
And yet he has done bravely hithero;
Mountferrats fury, in his heat of summer,
The whistling of his Sword like angry stormes,
Renting up life by th'roots, I have seen him scale
As if a Falcon had run up a traine,
Clashing his warlike pynions, his steel'd curasse,
And at his pitch in mew the Town below him.
I must do something.

Enter Collonna.
Col.
Noble sir, for Heaven sake
Take pity of a poore afflicted Christian
Redeem'd from one affliction to another.

Mir.
Boldly you aske that, we are bound to give it.
From what affliction sir?

Col.
From cold, and hunger:
From nakednesse, and stripes.

Mir.
A prisoner?

Col.
A slave, sir, in the Turkish prize, new taken;
That in the heat of fight, when your brave hand
Brought the Dane succour, got my yrons off,
And put my selfe to mercy of the Ocean.

Mer.
And swom to Land?

Col.
I did sir, Heaven was gracious;
But now a stranger, and my wants upon me,
Though willingly I would preserve this life sir,
With honesty and truth; I am not look'd on;
The hand of pity, that should give for Heaven sake,
And charitable hearts are grown so cold, sir,
Never remembring what their fortunes may be.

Mir.
Thou sayst too true: of what profession art thou?

Col.
I have been better traind; and can serve truly,
Where trust is laid upon me.

Mir.
A hansome fellow;
Hast thou ere bore Armes?

Col.
I have trod full many a march, sir,
And some hurts have to shew: before me too, sir.

Mir.
Pity this thing should starve, or forced for want
Come to a worse end. I know not what thou mayst be.
But if thou thinkst it fit to be a servant,
Ile be a Master, and a good one to thee,
If ye deserve, sir.

Col.
Else I aske no favour.

Mir.
Then sir, to try your trust, because I like you,
Go to the Dane, of him receive a woman,
A Turkish prisoner; for me receive her,
I heare she is my prize: looke fairly to her,
For I would have her know, though now my prisoner,
The Christians need no Schoolmasters for honour.
Take this to buy thee clothes: this Ring, to help thee
Into the fellowship of my house: ye are a stranger,
And my servants will not know ye else; there keep her,
And with all modesty preserve your service.

Col.
A foule example finde me else: Heaven thank ye.
Of Captaine Norandine?

Mir.
The same.

Col.
Tis done sir:
And may Heavens goodnesse ever dwell about ye.

Mir.
Wait there till I come home.

Col.
I shall not faile, sir.

Exeunt.