 | The Two Noble Ladies |  |
Sce. 1.
Alarm, then Flourish and [Sh] Shout within.Enter Iustina flying, Doron wounded meets her.
Iustina.
O spare my life, seeke not a virgins bloud.
Doron.
O fly faire Lady, [co]flie the respectlesse sword
of this blood-stayn'd Ægyptian.
Iustina.
If my life
must need be forfited, [t]yet make my death
lesse fearfull by the mercie of a stroke
that with a suddain speed may make me earth.
Doron.
Collect your selfe deare Lady: violent feare
does much abuse you, you mistake your sight.
Iustina speakes not to an Egyptian
proudly pursuing conquest and his pray.
But to a Syrian, and your countreyman
of Antioch; distressed Antioch
that now is nothing but a flaming fier.
One rage consumes my countrey and your court.
The king is slayne; and braue Lysymachus
his valiant brother, and your princely father
is fall'n with him: so are my nearest frends.
each crie wee heare sends eccho's to our eares
of kinsmens gastly groanes, about vs fier
consumes the ancient honours of our land.
Iustina.
I did mistake thee frend: but thy report
of my deare fathers [death] fall, has chang'd my minde
from wishing life, to welcom fatall death.
send me some fierce Egyptian thirsting bloud,
that he may send mee to my fathers rest:
that foe shall be my frend, and while I fall
Ile blesse the weapon that I die withall.
Doron.
How fruitfull is fowle Mischeife! one ill fate
begets another quickly. princely maide,
you are the all that's left [of] o th'royall race
5
her glimpse of glorie, many yeares agoe
you know the kings young sonne was made away,
and you are now next in succession.
liue then a while a sparke of princely fier
rak'd vp in embers and conceald from sight.
Time may from you draw forth a [y] princely race
that may restore the state of Antioch.
Iustina.
what hope of honour, or what ioy of life
[that] can frendlesse sorrows giue mee? no, let death
[shorten] prevent my future miseries.
Doron.
Alas,
the wretched call for death, but when he comes
the strongest sorrow cannot brooke his lookes.
Lady, I Doron am that serv'd the king,
and for his sake receiv'd these wounds in fight.
I know not why I should escape with life
vnlesse [it weare to rescue you from] to saue Iustina from foule death.
And sure 'tis heau'ns decree, then put not by
such mercie offer'd, lest you greiue the saints.
Iustina.
Indeed I am a Christian, and must learne
not to despaire. but where's the way of life?
6
[I the road hard by, there lies a gall]
Wee'l flie to Babilon, and there vnknown
liue [till our] in obscuritie till clearer starres
shine our fortunes.
Shout within
harcke I heare at hand
the bloody foe fiercely pursues his chace.
ty vp our tongus and let our feet finde wings.
Iustina.
O fickle change ally'd to mortal things!
Exeunt.
| The Two Noble Ladies | |