 | The Seven Champions of Christendome |  |
ACTUS SECUNDUS.
Enter Emperour of Trebizond, Carinthia the Princesse, Ancetes a Lord, Violeta, & attendance.Emp.
The Gods are angry with us, and their arrowes
Sticke in our bosomes, though we have inhausted
The glory of our Isles, and paid oblations on their Altars,
We remaine regardlesse and forsaken.
Princesse.
O Sacred Pallas, protector of the Virgin votary;
Thou in whose well mixt soule
Iudgement and worth holds equall ballance;
From those Sphere-like eyes that shoot forth terrour
To the amazed world, send piercing lightning
To consume these Monsters that o're-whelme our kingdome.
Emp.
Ancetes are our Proclamations forth,
And a reward propos'd to those bold men
Dare undertake their ruine?
Ancet.
They are my Lord; and unto him, by whose
Unequal'd power the monstrous Dragon falls,
There is allotted the glorious shield,
Whose Verdge is studded round with Pearle,
Diamonds, Rubies, and Saphires, Carbuncles,
And other stones fetcht from the Orient:
That Shield which from the Indian Provinces
Was sent as tribute to abate your wrath,
And stay your army from invasion.
Empr.
Tis well.
Ancet.
And to his valour that shall quell the pride
That doth devoure the harmlesse passengers,
Great Mars his Armour, and his Ebon Lance,
A hot Barbarian Steed, whose fiery pace
Darts terrour through the trembling enemies,
With such majesticke footing strikes the earth,
As if he did disdaine the touch of it;
This as a donative is freely given
To him whose valour shall confound that beast.
Princess.
How many Knights, even in their spring of youth,
The pride and riches of this populous land,
Has his vast bowels made their Sepulcher?
Empr.
Teares not availe, but gives woes ballance waight,
Which of himselfe's too heavy: this last Edict
Will spurre our youthfull Gallants to the Chace
Of this untamed Monster: oh we want those
Gretian youths those former Ages bred;
A bold Alcides, whole unequal'd strength
Tyr'd a Step-mothers sharpe invention:
Deeds, whose relation frighted other men,
Were but his pleasure and his pastime then:
What Knights this morning are prepar'd
To incounter the dreadfull Dragon?
Ancet.
The sprightly youths, Niger, Pallemon, & Antigonus;
Niger well mounted on a sable horse,
His armour of the same resemblance,
Discover'd in him actions sterne, and high,
Past through the City with Magesticke pace:
His outward forme prefigur'd to the eye,
Future presages of bold victory.
Next Pallemon gave our eyes view
Of Knightly prowesse, his armour russet,
Round beset with flames; though artificiall,
Seem'd to consume the youthfull wearer,
True embleme of unpittied light braine pride;
A fiery Sorrell bore the noble youth,
Who chew'd the ringled bit, as in disdaine,
And as the Sunne forsooke his Mistresse lappe,
He left the City. Last of all appear'd
Antigonus, in a sure armour clad;
A milke white Courser bare him through the streetes:
His Plume agree'd with it, and at all poynts
White, like the cause he went for:
When he set forth, me thought he lookt like Iustice
Dropt from heaven, to take revenge on wrong
And cruelty, the peoples prayers
Went with him, and their eyes
Dropt teares, o're-masterd with their extasies.
Empr.
Oh be propitious heaven to their designes,
Give double vigour to their able nerves,
Inflame their hearts with matchlesse charity.
Ancetes haste you to the Temple strait,
Give order to Apollo's sacred Priests,
To make his Altars smoak with hallowed fumes,
Let neither prayers nor Sacrifice be scant,
To move the Gods to heare our just complaint,
Ancet.
I shall my Lord.
Empr.
Good daughter be it your charge to summon all
The Virgin Votaries of Dianaes traine,
Attir'd in all the choyce habiliments,
To gratulate these warlike youths returne,
'Tis our last hazard, and like Gamesters now,
We venture all at one uncertaine throw:
If we prevaile, immortall Verse shall crowne
And memorize their happy victory;
But if they fall, their ruines shall be song
In Elegiacke straines, recorded fit
For such untimely fatall overthrowes:
How ever, honour shall adorne their Herse,
And they still live by never dying Verse.
Exeunt.
Enter Country Swaines.
1 Sw.
Wit must not be advanc'd then?
2.
No, all's dust.
Must not the May-pole up?
What will this come to at length?
1.
God Pan will never endure it.
2.
He must endure it, an he were a god of Tustaffety:
I am in a fustian-fume to see't,
But all will doe no good.
Well fellow well-braine, doe I live to see,
The May-pole slighted, I could be drunke
By priviledge in those dayes, and had
A stay to leane on: now 'tis past,
And who can helpe it?
3.
That we shall presently know:
Here comes the Priest of Pan,
And hee'le dissolve us, 'tis all to nothing else.
Enter Priest.
Priest.
Lay by your idle sports and vanities,
And send up vowes and sad repentant teares:
These offend, and pull downe ruines on us,
To provoke the gods, ready to destroy us.
1.
What newes Baptisto there?
Enter Baptisto.
Bap.
Oh sir, I cannot speake and tell yee,
Let me weepe out mine eyes first,
And then I may chance finde the way too't.
Priest.
Prithee whither, out with it?
Bap.
Betimes this morning unfolding my sheepe,
Some halfe a mile off the Dragons denne:
For hee's no night-walker, take that by th'way,
And in the day time I'le keepe out of's company.
2.
Come forward.
Bap.
Comes me a Gentleman all in black armour,
To inquire of me where was the Dragons lodging:
I told him where he kept house, but wisht him,
If he would be welcome, to bring his stoole with him;
For he was very churlish, and as most
Of our great men now a dayes, devoure all his neighbours:
He smil'd, and on he rode; I followed to see
What would follow, and into a tree I got me:
And forth comes the devill out of his denne,
The Knight runnes at him with his Launce,
Pierc't through one of his ugly wings,
But by fatall chance his Courser stumbl'd,
And by unfortunate happe threw him betweene
The Monsters jawes, who in a trice
With his large devillish teeth crusht him in pieces.
All.
Alas poore Gentleman!
Bap.
He had not hardly breath'd himselfe a little,
When suddenly two gallant Knights assaild him,
Who long held combate with him, till the Lyon,
His devillish deare companion, came to helpe him;
Who presently then sent 'em
To accompany their fellows fate.
All.
Vnhappy chance!
Bap.
They having done their worke, went to their dens,
To licke their wounds, I thinke for want
Of better Surgeans: I tooke the opportunity,
And hither stole to relate the newes.
Loud Musick.
Priest.
But soft, what Musick's this? surely there are
Some great ones abroad, and here they come:
Let's stand aside awhile.
Flourish: Enter Emperour Ancetes, Andrew, and Anthony, his daughter, three other Virgins, Bowes, Arrows, and Quivers by their sides; attendants.
Emp.
Ancetes, thou hast told us deeds of wonder,
And, but our eyes convince our doubtfull thoughts,
We could not give beleefe too't: Now their deaths,
That ran on danger for their Countries good,
Have ample recompence: what power, for none
But a Celestiall one, could arme your hands,
And give your spirits vigor to o'recome
So much of danger?
Anth.
No other sir, but our true borne loves
And faire renowne, are all the spurtes
Should put on noble spirits to warlike actions,
And in that to fall, or rise with glory:
Who would not venture this weake peece
Of flesh, which every Ague beats?
Nor ever held I life at such a rate,
But to get fame, I dare and will tempt Fate.
Emp.
What a bold spirit he moves with!
Noble youths; we glory that our Countries earth
Now beares so much of man upon her.
Prin.
Sir, by my fathers leave I doe pronounce
Y'are freely welcome, not to us alone, but to all,
All faithfull subjects to my Father, and their loud joyes
Shall speake it; one worke of gratitude
We owe the gods, the other to your valours.
What remaines, but that you blesse our eyes
With the true figures of our deare lives preserver?
Therefore unarme your selves, your dangerous combate,
The heate and dust, and the fast closure of
Your Armours strictnesse may much impaire your healths;
Let me prevaile with you.
And.
Bright Lady, where necessity implies an act of duty,
Manly vertue should clap on spurres to hasten piety:
These goodly parts, they were not made alone to serve
Our selves, but like pure fountaines, freely to dispence
Our streames to others wants: and so faire Lady,
Vrgent affaires call on our swords and valours,
To revenge the wrongs of some few Virgins,
That have long expected our wisht for presence.
Anth.
This, I hope, may plead in our excuse,
And no way render us discourteous or unworthy
For departing unarmed, or else unman'd
From this faire presence, and so we take our leaves.
Emp.
Make me not so unworthy by your absence,
To my owne subjects, and to forraigne Nations,
VVho shall read the story of your deeds,
Can you maintaine the good of charity
In your owne actions, yet tye mine in bonds,
When she should stretch her silver wings,
And pay back thanks for so large benefits:
No, take the meed your valours have deserv'd,
And let us crowne our hopes, in that we long
Have wisht your faire aspects:
Nor shall your stay exceed our one nights welcome,
And then a faire farewell.
And.
Where Majesty and beauty both command,
In vaine were our resistance: Brother, your hands
And mine shall be imployd; to unbuckle yours
I'le quickly ease your shoulders of a burden.
Omn.
Nay, wee'le be helpers all.
Vnarmes them.
Emp.
You make sure worke sirs,
Every light justle leaves you not defencelesse,
And I commend your care in it.
Anth.
He that encounters danger, must not thinke
His skin of Armour proofe: tho but young schollers,
We have learn'd that discipline.
Prin.
Of goodly presence both, and farre exceeds
The youths our Countrey breeds, in forme and stature;
Speake my Carintha, what judge yee of them?
Car.
Madam, so well, that had I leave to wed,
One of these Knights should blesse my Marrige-bed.
Prin.
Then you are indifferent, your love is equall?
Car.
In troth it is.
Prin.
So is not mine; but thoughts a while conceale,
What passion might unwisely now reveale.
Ance.
They are both unarm'd.
Emp.
Now worthy Knights, mine eye is pleas'd
In viewing your faire presence,
I would gladly know what Countrey owes yee,
For the place is happy that first gave yee beeing.
And.
Not one my Lord:
We owe our lives first light to severall Nations,
VVhose lovely waste proud Neptune circles round,
Her craggy clifts ambitiously threat Heaven,
And strikes pale terrour to the Mariner,
VVhen unadvisedly he falls on them.
The inhabitants proportion'd like our selves,
Well skill'd in Science, and all humane Arts;
A government of peace and unity,
For plenty, farre exceeding all the Isles
Europes vast bounds or wealthy Asia yeelds,
The name Britannia, which includes within it
Faire England, Wales, and Scotland;
The last of which I fetcht my birth from.
Thus have you heard at full
What I can give you of relation.
Emp.
It pleases us: but now sir we must crave
The like from you, and then to Court we hie
To gratulate your welcome.
Anth.
Then know my Lord, Italian earth I claime,
Mother of Arts, and Nurse of noble spirits;
And in that Countrey, Rome, my place of birth,
Great Mistris of the world, whose large-stretcht armes
O're Land and Sea holds domination:
Renown'd for government in peace or warre
Even to the shoare of scorching India,
Their armes strike terrour through the world:
Kings were their vassals, and their awfull swords
Brought the knowne world to their subjection.
Nor wonder not great King, that we should leave
A Court that's fraughted with such happinesse,
For Christians glory and our Countries fame
We have adventur'd life and honour too.
Emp.
And both are lost I feare, unhappy men:
Whom in my piety I should respect,
The gods in justice causes me reject.
Lay hands on 'em.
Both.
On us? for what?
Performe our will, in the delay is death.
Both.
Is this your welcome, love, and gratitude?
Emp.
Your honour or your valour now will be of small assurance:
What ill-fated starre guided your haplesse feete
Into this land? these eyes that shot forth welcome,
Now must send Embassadours of death to your cold hearts,
No acclamations now must fill your eares
With joyfull conquest: Apollos Garland,
That should grace your browes,
Must decke your Coffins, the grave your chambers,
And the wormes must be
The sad companions of your destiny.
Boldly then prepare,
For in your journey you have equall share.
Anton.
We mist your aimes in this;
'Tis a strange turning from courteous welcome,
To blacke threats of death.
Empr.
Ile ease your doubts, though not your misery:
You both are Christians?
Both.
We are.
Empr.
In being so, you post to your owne ruine:
The holy Gods, whom piety commands us to obey,
Have from their Oracles sent this decree,
What ever Christian sets his haplesse foote
On this forbidden ground unlesse he instantly
Recant his faith, let him be made
A bloody sacrifice to appease our wrath:
Now here lies before yee the riches
Of our kingdome, glory, and honour,
The benefits of sweete and happy life,
All the most choyce delights, that with our love
May be propos'd to you; even these our beauties,
Turne your amorous eyes, please your owne fancies,
And inrich your selves where you best affect,
Onely relinquish the religion which now you hold,
And turne unto our Gods; that done,
As we are Emperour of Trebizon,
Pride and hated wilfulnesse, you shall refuse
Our proffer, a present death attends you.
Both.
We are prepar'd.
Emp.
Then in your death this favour we will shew,
Because your valour hath so shew'd you both,
To be borne High and Noble, we give this priviledge,
To chuse your executioners.
Andr.
Thou hast redeem'd thy honour, and this sentence
Speakes thee a royall Tyrant: Come my friend,
We two, like Travellers that are inforc'd
To venture on a lodging fild with horrors in outward shew,
Threatning no way but ruine, the blacke preparatives
Of sad decay, being Vshers to the entrance;
But once being in, then thinke, my constant partner,
What endlesse welcome followes; pleasures unspeakable,
Beyond the sublimary thoughts of our poore natures:
If but the thought of this advance the soule,
And drives our sence to admiration:
Oh then how glorious is that wisht for seat,
Where all these benefits shall be compleat.
Anthon.
I need no armour, but my constant heart,
And thou hast given new life to't
In our deaths; our innocence shall make our
After story be worth all knowing judgements:
Nor shall our bloods be shed by vulgar hands,
Since we have power in the disposing it.
Come beauteous Ladies, now expresse your arts,
Make your Apollo wonder at your skill,
And with more glory than he did ascend
Olimpus top, after blacke Pythons fall:
With more shall you salute your peoples eyes,
Rejoycing in our haplesse Tragedies.
Princesse.
Vnhappy Violeta.
Car.
Lost Carintha.
Emp.
Bind them fast: Now Violeta arme thy feeble hand,
Strike sure and fearelesse, for thou sendst the gods
Prin.
O unhappy mayd, lost in my best of wishes!
Was I borne to ruine vertue, and gaine by it a name
Hatefull to all posterity? Royall Sir,
Have you no other to imploy, than her
That you gave life too? must I become an executioner?
Or doe you thinke me Marble? oh that I were,
That I might ever weepe for your injustice:
For ever may my hand forget its motion
If it give way to this: Know I dare dye,
Rather than act this mischiefe.
Emp.
Are you of that opinion too Carintha?
Car.
Sir I am, and rather will I chuse a noble death,
Than live with such dishonour.
Emp.
Oh my unbounded passions, give 'em vent,
The flame will else consume me:
Fall from me all respects of nature;
I will forget that I had such a thought,
As to beleeve thee mine: farewell the houres
I often spent in contemplation of thy beauty,
Youth, and breeding; thou and these shall be like things
Forgotten, and if thy hand refuse to act our will,
Expect the utmost of all sad afflictions
Our hate can cast upon thee.
Princesse.
I am prepar'd, and glory in my suffrings.
Emp.
Binde them then, since you are so resolv'd,
Wee'le give you cause to expresse your fortitude:
They shall suffer first.
Anthon.
Give us a hearing Sir:
We doe not wish to pull on others ruines
With our owne; nor would we make you guilty
Of a crime so foule, least after ages should traduce
Your name for this impiety; give us then
Your first and voluntary promise that your
Tongue alowd, and we will quit these
Ladies from the act.
Emp.
We agree to't, and by our Gods I sweare my promise
Anton.
Vnbinde us then, and give us in our hands
Our well try'd swords, and you shall see how quickly
We will charme a passage to our wisht
For expirations, we will embrace in steele:
And worthy friend, doe but strike home,
And thou shalt soone perceive how quickly weele have
Freedome; thou shalt see how I will meet thy wishes,
And woe thy backward sword to give to me
A passage to yon blessed Kingdome.
Emp.
Vnbinde 'em strait, and arme 'em.
Princesse.
This is cruell; sinke mine eyes into your
Hollow cavernes, doe not see an act so full of horrour.
Emp.
Are yee prepar'd?
Both.
Yes, for your eternall ruines.
Anthon.
We are free, and like untamed Lyons,
We now will forrage, and bath us in your bloods.
And.
So, they are all disperst and fled; never before
Stood life on such a fickle poynt with us:
Lets leave this cursed Kingdome,
Mount our Steeds, which through negligence,
Our enemies have faild to sieze on;
Leave them to curse their starres;
And still be sure, in all our actions,
That heavens mighty hand,
Can mens devices easie countermand.
Exeunt.
| The Seven Champions of Christendome | |