 | Cinthia's revenge : Or Maenanders extasie |  |
Scœn. 11.
Lelio, Sovldiers, Amilcar, Lvcilla, Sacerdos, &c.Me.
We reade large conquest in our Captaines face,
Stand forth some sober nuntius, relate
The maner of this notable de-signe,
Amil.
Brontes, nor did Pyragmon euer shake
The Anuile of that Iron-munger God
Uulcan, with blowes so vnsupportable,
In hammering the thunderbolts of Ioue,
As did the courage of our Generall
(By animating souldiers to attempt)
Shatter the weake array of Cassius.
He faint (for faintnesse euer doth attend
On such designes) being faint before the time
Of on-set, he withdrew so speedily,
As, that retinue of his rebell-slaues,
Beg'd noble mercy of the Conquerour.
But wee, like some fierce Gyant giu'n to spoyle,
Enrag'd with a remembrance of their act,
Their too contemptuous vp-rore; did reply,
With anger vnappeas'd in bloody phrase,
That no compassion should redeeme their liues
From famine of our faulchions: for indeed,
Rebellion must be scourg'd vntill it bleed.
Then flew the common Souldier with such speed,
To enterprise in rigor the new spoyle,
As neuer did a hungry Woolfe insult
With more vnsatisfied reuenge, then they.
Grim Slaughter in a Chariot of dead sculs,
Rode vp and downe triumphing, till darke night
Shooke off the fetlocke from her sleepy iades,
Troad in contempt vpon the scattred foe,
Vntill my fortune, rather then exploit,
Slue the once owner of this vn-ioyn'd scull,
Then euery man gaue backe, with blood being full.
Me.
Magnanimous Amilcar, I account
Thy courage beyond apprehension; swell,
Swell my Pheudippe with aboundant ioy,
Reioyce in thy coragious sonne; like mee,
Who vaunt the rather, euen because thy sonne
Doth so behaue himselfe, thou being my friend,
Whom I esteeme aboue all earthly good.
Stand forth Pheudippe, honour doth attend
To cast a gracious smile vpon thee, friend;
And thee Amilcar, let vs magnifie.
Malindo sleepes (Amilcar) I aduance
Thee through the ruine of his dignity,
Possesse both place and goods.
Ami.
Without desert
As hitherto; but I will endeuour.
Me.
We haue a sister, where is she? Lucilla?
Let some attendant vrge her company:
Bring hither likewise an appointed Priest,
(Be not amaz'd my sober Magistrates)
Pheudippe, you shall be espous'd to her:
Her Il'e bestow, and without preiudice
On thee alone, my noble Bed-fellow.
Phev.
Pardon (deere Liege) least worthy I of all
To be a Monarchs kinsman, lesse, to be calld
The brother of a Greekish King, your selfe.
Me.
Do not refuse, for (noble friend) my loue
Onely admits thee as a friend and brother,
And for a witnesse that I make this league
Of loue and friendship; let's embrace each other.
Phe.
Euer obeisance to your Maiesty.
Me.
My sister doth approch, let groomes make way
For beauty able to obscure the day.
Sister, behold thy husband; friend, thy wife,
You (Priest) the Hymeneall rites may offer:
Acceptance is experienc'd by proffer.
Sace.
Let Hymen triumph, and vnite your soules.
Me.
Now liue in peace, and brother aske a boone:
Aske what you list, for grant I will what-euer,
Which henceforth may commemorate the time
Of an espousall so remarkeable.
Phe.
Your deuine Maiesty accumulates
Honour, aboue the trite capacity
Of all contemptuous age; that auncestors
(Before thy hallowed birth-day) did approue:
(Great King) I haue a kinsman, though obscure,
Yet wealthy, whom (because obscure) I begge
A small part of your high magnificence,
But to enroule amid the Catalogue
Of those you least remember: Kings be wise,
Their bounty will prouoke a slaue to rise.
Me.
To deifie the worth of whom wee loue,
Aduancement Il'e impouerish, compell
Honour to hugge thy kinsman, till a warmth
Quicken his humble bloud without controule.
Enuy, (the scourge of Kings) be henceforth dumbe,
Thus will I treason euermore entombe.
And thus exault our loue beyond all merit,
Birth may do much, loue makes the low inherit.
| Cinthia's revenge : Or Maenanders extasie | |