University of Virginia Library

Sce. 1.

Enter Souldan, Lysander, Colactus, Cyprian, 2. Eunuchs, and other attendants.
Souldan.
Miranda fled!

Colactus.
In mans disguise, about the dead of night.

Souldan.
how knewst that, and knewst not how to stay her?

Colactus.
These Eunuchs that attended on her person
report the news.

Souldan.
Caytives, improvident,
dull, sluggish, false, dissembling, traytorous,
where is Miranda?

1. Eunuch.
ffled great Emperour.

Souldan.
whither? how? when? doe y'put on staring lookes
to cloke a studdyed answer?

2. Eunuch.
About that houre
when all things are charm'd silent with dead sleep
the princesse left the camp and posted hence.

Souldan.
How knew yee this?

2. Eunuch.
At night when bed time came,
wee weare dismis'd, only Lycarion
her eunuch moste in grace might tend on her:
But in the morne, we found Lycarion slayne
in her apparell; she not to be found.
By which wee guesse she made him change attire
in seeming mirth, and then to stop his mouth
for blabbing, slew him, and so stole away.

Souldan.
She flies by night, you seeke her in the morning.
She slyly leaues her tent, you sleep secure.
Thus haue yee sould my solace by your sloath.
Away with them, and first cut out their tongues
the harsh relaters of this hated tale.
Next plucke their drouzie eies out that durst sleep
while shee was waking. then hew them in peeces
and set vp their dismembred limbs on poles
in eu'ry quarter of the camp. Away.

Both Eunuchs.
O mercy, mercie, mighty emperour.

Souldan.
Shall they haue time to liue, to see, and speake?

The Guard hurrys them away.
Colactus.
Your lenity, dread Lord, your matchlesse mildenesse
[makes them for] flatters them into these neglects of duty.

Souldan.
'Tis true my owne Colactus, I am slow
in punishing, which makes offence secure:
but my revenge shall quicken, and the flame
swifter then lightning shall flie ore the world
to finde this false Miranda, whyle the name [of daughter]
of daughter's buried in our deep displeasure.
Her beauty, and our high esteeme of it
makes her grow proud and carelesse of his loue
that must com̄aund the world. so should high Ioue
come downe and court her, she would slight his suite,
only because such greatenesse doates vpon her.
But by his thunder I'l confound her for't.
send out to euery region nere adioyning
swift scouts, and subtle spies to finde her out.
meane time to giue the furnace of our wrath
some vent, our selfe will lead our mighty hoste
with irefull terror to proud Babilon.
The Califfe at the [news] sight of vs shall quake,
and women suffer for Miranda's sake.

Colactus.
Gratious and iust, so handle your offenders,
and they will feare to crosse or iniure you.

[Lysander].
(asside to Cyprian.)
O Syren, o lust-daubing flatterie.

[Cyprian].
(asside to Lysander.)
Such fauning is best food for [flatt] tyranny.

Souldan.
All ground wheron in flight her foot hath trod
shall bee made [bee made] barren by ore flowing bloud;
ffor with her flight, flies all our loue and mercie.
Deep learned Cyprian, valiant Lysander.
assist vs with your counsells, help t'invent
some new vnheard of death t'inflict on her
that thus afflicteth vs.

Cyprian.
Dread soveraigne,
Wise men must calme and not encourage wrath.

Souldan.
She merrits death.

Lysander.
She did but saue her honour.

Souldan.
If thou wilt saue thy head, deffend her not.

Lysander.
Then I will pray the heau'ns to deffend her.

Souldan.
Dares any wish prosperitie to one
that to our will dares shew rebellion?

Lysander.
I am a souldier sworn to mayntayn right.

Souldan.
Hee lies that calls that right that likes not vs.

Colactus.
Shall subiects limit righteousnesse in Kings?
My Lord Lysander, you haue mou'd his highnesse.
Bee wise and humor him; see in his brow
a storme is threaten'd.

Lysander.
Shelter your selfe good Sir.
Trueth seeks no corners, Ile keep in the playne;
honesty needs no cloke to scape the rayne.

Cyprian.
(asside to Lysander.)
Resolue so still [good] Lysander, I will backe
thy righteous courage.

Colactus.
(asside to the Souldan.)
I doubt dread sir Lysander has a hand [in]
in faire Miranda's scape: for she was once
promis'd him by your highnesse, and you see
hee dares contest with you in her behalfe.

Souldan.
(asside to Colactus.)
Thou prompst me right Colactus, sure he was
her counsell, and contriver of her flight,
and (weare he soundly sifted) can reveale
[w]her[e] gests, and place of residence. [L]

Colactus.
(asside.)
Lysander,
now shall I [power] fling the scornes you cast on me
in your owne face.

Souldan.
Lysander you stand by,
and witnesse our displeasure at the flight
of false Miranda; yet you will not tell vs
wch way she's gone.

Lysander.
[I hope your Maiestie] Great Sir, would I did know[,]:
not to reveale it, but to visit her[:].
It is my burden that she made so light
of my true faith, as not to trust me with
a plot so noble, and so much concerning [her]
her owne [sweet] safety.

Souldan.
abusive impudence!
while hee denys the art of treacherie
he yeilds him selfe a traytor in desire.
Lay hands on him: [weare] by heau'n Ile haue his head.

Cyprian.
By heau'n and hell you shall not.

The guard stands fixed, their eys rowling from the King[OMITTED] to Cyprian, and so too & fro[OMITTED] beats them.
Souldan.
yee dull slaues.
why doe you stand amaz'd? must I awake you?

Cyprian.
They cannot stirre, you weare best bid Colactus.

Souldan.
what are you iuggling? though thy traytrous [arte] skill
in hellish charmes haue thus benumb'd our guard,
yet wee'r aboue thy spells, and ere hee fall
with our owne hands [you] wee[ll] will dissolue your charme
and life together.

He stands fixed in a posture of running at him with his sword.
Cyprian.
Ha ha ha ha.
Now Souldan, if thy picture should be drawne
It would expresse fierce Aiax in his fury
fighting with his owne shaddow.

Colactus.
help yee gods.

Lysander.
What is braue fflattery turn'd a coward now?

Cyprian.
[Now] Shew me one master peece of [policie] flatterie
[to fflatter] now to divert my charme that's falling on thee.

Colactus.
O, mercy Cyprian.

Kneeles with a fearfull countenance and so is fixed.
Cyprian.
Yes: now claw the Souldan,
tell him how gloriously these lookes become him.

Lysander.
ffaith princely to this fooles face. hast no plot[,]?
No tricke of witty mischief to set free
thy charmed body? is it possible
that such a noddle should be made an asse!
ha ha ha ha.

Cyprian.
well [mighty] Souldan, on condition you no more
ayme at our liues, I first will set you free.
your mouing faculty receives her vse
in eu'ry part, while thus we craue your pardon
Both Kneele.
beseeching you no more to wrong your selfe
by iniuring your servants.

Souldan.
Hum. Alas.
beg you of vs? wee must learne to intreat
pardon and fauour from you, that can force
the operations of our faculties
[to against their] into vnnaturall obstructions.
we dare not but forgiue you. let this man
be what he was, and wee'l learne to be pleas'd.

Cyprian.
Enioy your wish in him, and all the rest.

Souldan.
O my Colactus, art thy selfe againe?

Colactus.
I thincke I am.

Souldan.
Thou arte. how weare we lost
to all but our owne sense, [wee] I could both heare
and see, and feele; but could not moue a ioynt.

[Colactus.]
nor speake a sound.

Colactus.
'Twas so with mee great sir.

Guard.
And so with vs we could not moue at all
but see, and heare, and felt your angrie blows,
which we [still] now groane for.

Souldan.
Ile see to your safetys.
[Valiant] Noble Lysander, and good Cyprian,
we dare not say we banish you our presence;
but we intreat you leaue vs, and the camp;
but be not out of call when we shall need you,
and yet returne not till we send for you.

Cyprian.
With all our harts wee goe.

Lysander.
And leaue be hinde
false flatterie to feed a bloody minde.

Exeunt Cyprian and Lysander.
Souldan.
Wee brooke not our superiors; nor will yeild
them way to take our adversarys part.
let them be closely watch'd they doe not start
further then we can reach them at our need.
Come they are gone Colactus; recollect
thy selfe againe.

Colactus.
O my dread soueraigne.
when you are aw'd, how can I choose but feare?
Lysander for Miranda's loue hates vs,
And Cyprian for Lysanders sake opposes
hell and his arte against vs.

Souldan.
'Tis most true.
But wee'l revenge it on Miranda's head.
Advance our ensignes, March to Babilon:
and be't proclaim'd that who ere findes Miranda
disguise, and mangle her enticing face,
seare vp her tempting breasts, teare wide her mouth,
and slit her nose, that thus defac'd, my hate
neither by loue nor pitty may abate.

fflourish: Exeunt.