 | The Two Noble Ladies |  |
Sce. 2.
Alarm still.Crie within, Kill Kill Kill. Enter Barebones (a poore Scholler) running.
Barebones.
Alas, Alas; These Gypseys tell vs our fortune the worst way,
and threaten our throats cutting. All the Cittie of Antioch is
become a bonefire: theres nothing but cutting and killing, and
neuer a constable to part the fray. 'tis time for mee to runne
and I could tell whither: pray heau'n I haue not lost some of my
limbs in running away. Let mee see, how many wings has a goose?
I should haue so many armes if I durst stay to tell them; and my
leggs too:[,] I doubt for haste, I haue left one of them behinde me
at the cobblers pulling on a new soald shoo.
within, Kill Kill Kill.
What againe? good Gypseys, if there be any mercie in you, let
mee liue as I am, Bare-Bones. Much studdy (though to little
purpose) has stoll'n away so much of my flesh, that my bones
are not worth the picking.
Alas, more yet? Ile runne into my masters studdy, and hide mee
in his inckehorne. O Mr. Mr. Mr.
Ciprian discovered at his booke.
Cyprian.
How now? what's the buisnes?
«B»arebones.
O absurditie to a scholler! aske the buisnes when it beats his eares
into a fearfull deafnes! why the cittie is taken, houses fier'd,
folkes kill'd, men grouell on their bellys, while women are layd
on their backes; and I the poorest puppie that is left, liue but
to bawle out my owne feares sensibly, while you sit senslesse.
Peace[,] fearfull coward; know'st thou [[illeg.]] not my arte
can tame the dreadfull'st danger, and surprize
the proud surprizer.
Barebones.
I know you can coniure; and you know that Gypseys can iuggle too.
Now if they should iuggle away your coniuring sticke, where are we
then? Therfore Ile hide mee ouer head and eares among your bookes
for there lies moste of your arte.
Alas, they come. sweet learning shelter mee now, and let vs die
frends that haue all our life been mortall enimies.
Hides him vnder the table.
Enter Lysander and Miranda with they swords drawne.
Lysander.
Come bould Miranda, wonder of thy sex;
Now w'haue got towring conquest by the wing
let's plucke her nak'd, and with her golden feathers
plume our victorious helmes.
Miranda.
Make Antioch
our despis'd slaue, while through her wayling streets
wee dragge her citizens. But what dull coward
is this, that while the cittie flames about him
sits poaring on a booke?
[OMITTED]
Well then, by vs is Nicomedia wonne,
High towr'd Damasco, and this Antioch;
and those that weare too proud to feare our furie
are humbled by our anger, and their liues
made yeild to death that scorn'd to yeild to vs.
Miranda.
May thy foes still be humbled to thy foote,
and the great Souldan to the bounds of Nile
bynde all the nations in a captive chayne,
till Rome that now rules vs give place [and] to you [command the world]
in the fift Monarchy to rule the world.
Souldan.
Miranda, thy celestiall lips haue spoke
a blessing on thy father, which I take
religiously, as from an oracle.
Princes and captaines, now to make it known
the Souldan more regards [the] a victors name
then spoyles of warre, we giue this citties spoile
amongst the souldiers, houlding it greater honour
t'inrich our subiects then to make them poore.
Who suckes the lab'rers sweat from his toyld bosom
draws with't the sickly milke of discontent,
which feebles those firme honours fortune sent.
Miranda.
But as the base of honour must be firm'd
in bounty to the lowest; so the pillars
on which the tow'r of greatnesse is borne vp
by the same right must haue fit guerdon left
t'encourage, and confirme their loyalties:
These peers deserve as well as private men
by whose com̄aund, and counsell you haue sack'd
Antioch the eie of Syria.
Souldan.
Glorious girle,
high honour of the greate Egyptian line,
Pallas in prowesse and true iudging counsell:
first I admire, then follow thy advice.
Lysander our Leiftenant generall
to thee wee giue the land of Antioch
Leiftenant of Damasco. But for thee
kingdomes are poore rewards; thou must haue better
for with thy sword the world will conquer'd bee;
and with thine eies the Conqueror of the world.
Lysander.
(asside.)
These are a louers, not a fathers words.
Miranda.
What meanes my father by these prayse-full tearmes.
Souldan.
When I my rare Miranda looke on thee,
Wonder of [Nature] beautie, wit, and haughty courage!
Mee thinckes, but wonder, nothing can reward thee.
Nature made thee so rich, fortune so greate
that but a greatnesse greater then them both
I may not offer thee, nor thou receive.
Miranda.
A fathers loue express'd to his owne childe
can beare no name of wonder, and that loue
is the full height of all my hope and merrit.
Souldan.
That Loue A[[illeg.]]pollo vnto Daphne bare
that loue the blushing Morne to Memnō faire
bequeath'd by earnest of her balmy kisse
that loue the Souldan will bestow on thee.
Kisses her.
That loue to Lord Lysander's only due
Lysander.
(asside.)
And who vsurps on that, loues not to liue.
Miranda.
Great sir, your words are wondrous as your power,
What issue has this vnaccustom'd courting?
Souldan.
This, that th'Egyptian Souldan (being too poore
by fortune to reward thy matchlesse merrit)
intends to honour thee my liues sole honour
wth hymens holy bands, make thee my Queen.
Lysander.
(asside.)
ffirst will I quench those marriage brands in bloud.
Miranda.
(asside ... )
Mightie amazement meets me, and but I know
my fathers disposition; I could hope [this we]
this weare not cerious ernest.— ( ... asside)
Mightie Sir.
Is this the wondrous wages of my merrit?
speakes highest honour in the tone of shame?
Souldan.
To bee the Queen of Egypt, is this shame?
Miranda.
To glorifie with incest, is this honour?
Souldan.
Thou shalt agree Miranda, we must wed.
Miranda.
Agree with death, not with a fathers bed.
Colactus.
Beware faire princesse to displease your father.
Miranda.
Beware great father to displease the gods.
Souldan.
[Beware] Hah!
Colactus.
See hee beares the gods vpon his brows.
All thing are lawfull that a prince allows.
Lysander.
ffalse flattrie makes a foule glosse on the text.
And though such purchase fauour from ill men,
the good gods store them vengeance.
Colactus.
Lysander, this is worse thē sacriledge.
Lysander.
Better Colactus then thy flatterie.
Souldan.
No more. Though we can pause ere wee take fire,
being kindled we consume. who dares oppose vs?
Miranda.
Our laws oppose you sir.
Souldan.
why what are laws?
Cyprian.
Laws, are the fruites of reason, and who giues
a penaltie for crimes, must feare to sinne:
Is there a law for him that ruleth law?
Colactus.
No, mighty Souldan there's no other law
then the decree of your imperiall will.
[Miranda]. [Souldan]
Tis true, the royall priviledge of Kings
ought [to not] not to be eclips'd by com̄on laws.
Therfore our will shall sway. and we com̄aund
on payne of death, let no man argue further;
but all submit to our determination.
Lysander.
(asside.)
my tongue shall keep his scabberd; but at need
[s] my sword shall speake such langage as shall speed.
Cyprian.
(asside.)
I am a [captive,] stranger, and must keep farr of
from taking notice of these tyrannies:
but ere Lysander shall so loose his loue,
my arte shall make the depths of hell to moue.
Souldan.
Thy modestie Myranda warrs against vs:
But thy consent in circle of thyne eie
appeares obedient. 'tis wee wills it so.
Thy [vestall vows chayn'd] loue to vs linckd in a Hymens knot
shall make thee nerer to vs. Lords march on
Wee'l try if Loues God like propitious bee.
Exeunt.
| The Two Noble Ladies | |