 | The Two Noble Ladies |  |
Sce. 3.
Enter [Cyprian and] Lysander and Cyprian.Lysander.
Strong is thy loue (my frend) but counsell weake.
Cyprian.
Weake is thy iudgement that wants strength to sway
thy passions, which like ouerturned bells
can keep no tune nor time. come, let mee tell you,
It staynes the name of valour in a man
to wish for death because he would be freed
from sufferings in [t]his life. would you not scorne
him as a coward, that for smart of wounds
would runne out of the feild? I know you would.
troubles, are but the tryalls of our minde,
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wch make them relish better.
Lysander.
You speake trueth.
But speaking comforts seldome lessen woes.
Cyprian.
Then see Lysander, I will cheer the now
with actuall comforts. You haue often wish'd,
and wood my skill to make thee vnderstand
thy parentage.
Lysander.
True my deare Cyprian
and nothing sounds more pleasant in myne eares
then that relation.
Cyprian.
I haue brought thee now
here to the bancke of famous Euphrates
of purpose that this solitarie place
may feast thee with such pleasures as shall blunt
[as shall blunt] the sharpest edge of thy conceived sorrow.
fix well thyne eie vpon the sedgie shore
and marke what comes from thence.
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Dauntlesse Ile looke, what ere be thy attempt,
pleasures are sweet in sorrow, though but dream'[p]t.
Thunder. Enter a Spirit, Like a souldier in armour on his breast a sable sheild written on with [Golden] letters.
Cyprian.
what see'st thou now.
Lysander.
I see an armed man.
bearing before his breast a sable[r] sheild—
Fill'd full with [siluer] golden letters.
Cyprian.
[Th] In that plate
read and observe, for there is writ thy fate.
Lysander
reads.
The Souldan's father call'd Archimachus
when first the Syrian land he sought t'haue wonne;
His spies by chance surpriz'd Eugenius,
a childe of 2. yeares ould, the only sonne
of stout Archander, Antiochs king of late.
ffaire was the childe and got the Souldan's loue,
and with it life that reach'd to manly state.
The Souldan brought him vp like one aboue
com̄on nobilitie; but chang'd his name
into Lysander, who's now crownd with fame.
Recorders play. The Spirit vanishes.
It vanishes, and I can read no more.
Recorders still. Enter an Angell shaped like a patriarch vpon his breast a [[red] blew] table full of silver letters, in his right hand a red crossierstaffe, on his shoulders large [wings]
Cyprian.
whence comes this sound? this heau'nly harmonie?
what apparition's this rais'd without mee?
Angell.
Thou by whose skill [his] anothersfate was showne
shalt finde thy selfe ignorant of thine owne.
Read here, [her] and learn thyne owne catastrophe.
Cyprian
reads.
Cyprian borne at Antioch, bred in arts
of deep caldean learning, by whose skill
Wonders are wrought. since in him vertuous parts
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that now ere long, this learned heathen man
shall renounce Magicke, and turne Christian.
Lysander.
These are strange, and vnlikely auguries.
Cyprian.
whence art thou? or who sent thee with these news?
Angell.
I come not by the call of magicke spells;
but by that pow'r that in yond pallace dwells
am sent to tell these news. But when againe
I meet thee, thou'lt confesse thy learning vayne.
ffor such a light Ile bring shall make thee see,
thou to that houre liu'd'st in obscuritie.
Exit Angelus.
Cyprian.
Bring what thou wilt, thy presence is so full
of maiestie, that sure thou arte some god;
for I admire and tremble at thy sight.
Lysander.
Our fates are strange ones both; mȳeof things past
thyne yet to come. let me recall myne owne.
Archander King of Antioch my father!
My name Eugenius, heir vnto that Kingdom!
Thancks Cyprian for this discovery.
But how has ignorance misled my life,
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in myne owne bloud! ruine my countrey, ioy
at the last groanes of my deare kindred, see
Archander my deare father, and my vnckle
the braue Lysymachus fall by a pow[']r
led by my arme and counsell.
Cyprian.
This was that
wch I call'd madnesse in you, when you first
[cam] enter'd my study in lost Antioch.
but heau'n will pardon ignorant offences.
come cheer thy minde.
Lysander.
Then let vs cast about
to revenge Antioch on th'Egyptians,
and seat mee in myne owne inheritance.
Cyprian.
In that, as in your loue, time will befrend you;
Meane while be as you weare, the Souldans servant.
Crye within. help help. [Noise within.]
Lysander.
Harck, from the woods I here a pitious crie.
Cyprian.
Let's stay, and see th'euent.
Enter 2. Souldiers dragging Iustina. bound.
1. Souldier.
Come, now w'are allmost at our iourneys end;
This is swift Euphrates, here cast her in.
Iustina.
Are yee of flint? is there no pitty lodg'd
within your bruitish breasts to spare my life?
cannot my guifts, my teares, my innocence,
your conscience, feare of heauens vengeance hold
your bloody hands? o giue these wearie feet
a little rest, a little while vouchsafe
a truce 'till I may pray
2. Souldier.
Prate not of prayer.
1. Souldier.
Come let's cast her in.
Lysander.
O help to rescue yonder Innocent.
Cyprian.
Leaue that to mee Lysander, sit you still.
2. Souldier.
Come this way, this way, heare the streame is deepest.
1. Souldier.
I am enforc'd I know not by what pow'r
To hale her this way.
Thunder. Enter 2. Tritons with silver trumpets.
2. Souldier.
what strange noise is this?
1. Souldier.
dispatch, the tide swells high.
2. Souldier.
what feind is this?
The tritons ceaz the souldiers.
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what furie ceazes mee?
2. Souldier.
Alas, I'm hurried headlong to the streame.
The Tritons dragge them in sounding their trumpets.
1. Souldier.
And so am I, wee both must drowne and die.
Iustina.
What wondrous sight flatters my dying eies?
am I deliuer'd from the iaws of death?
Lysander.
Lady, you are, your ministers of death
haue met the punishment they meant for you.
Cyprian.
(asside.)
how faire her lookes! how sweet her woeful words!
Lysander.
Lady, (for by your habit so you seeme)
what countrey are you of, what birth and kinne?
Iustina.
Of Antioch, my father was a prince
by name Lysymachus, vnhappy brother
to the once great Archander Antiochs King;
till Egypts furie wrought our ruining,
Lysander.
my vnckles daughter! fortunate ill lucke
that made this meeting: I'm Archander's sonne
that in my childhood was stol'n into Egypt.
Iustina.
My ioys haue now the mastrie of my feares.
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My dearest cousin, [we] at a fitter time
Ile winne your credit by moste certain tokens.
Iustina.
Although with wonder, I beleeue and ioy in't.
Lysander.
you seem a harmelesse soule; what foule offence
had you the pow'r to doe to deserve this?
Cyprian.
That wee'l intreat her by the way relate.
Come lets away, great actions are in feild,
[Archimach] The Souldan is in danger to be taken.
Lady com̄it your safety to my trust.
Iustina.
I feare not man, since heau'n doth help the iust.
Exeunt.
| The Two Noble Ladies | |