 | The Comicall Historie of Alphonsus, King of Aragon |  |
Act. 3.
Strike vp alarum, Enter Venus.No sooner did Alphonsus with his troupe,
Set on the souldiers of Belinus band,
But that the furie of his sturdie blowes,
Did strike such terror to their daunted mindes,
That glad was he which could escape away,
With life and limme, forth of that bloudie fray.
Belinus flies vnto the Turkish soyle,
To craue the aide of Amuracke their King:
Vnto the which he willingly did consent,
And sends Belinus with two other Kings,
To know god Mahomets pleasure in the same:
Meane time the Empresse by Medeas helpe,
Did vse such charmes, that Amuracke did see
In soundest sleepe, what afterward should hap:
How Amuracke did recompence her paine,
With mickle more, this Act shall shew you plaine.
Exit Venus.
Enter one, carrying two Crownes vpon a Crest, Alphonsus, Albinius, Lælius and Miles, with their souldiers.
Alph.
Welcome braue youthes of Aragon to me.
Yea welcome Miles, Lælius and the rest,
Whose prowesse alone hath bene the onely cause,
That we like victors haue subdued our foes.
Lord what a pleasure was it to my minde,
To see Belinus, which not long before,
Did with his threatnings terrefie the Gods,
Now scudde apace, from warlike Lælius blowes:
The Duke of Millaine he increast our sport,
When doubting that his force was ouerweake,
Did giue more credence to his frisking skippes
Then to the sharpnesse of his cutting blade,
What Fabius did to pleasure vs withall,
Albinius knowes as well as I my selfe:
For well I wot, if that thy tyred steed
Had bene as fresh and swift in foote as his,
He should haue felt, yea knowne for certaintie,
To checke Alphonsus, did deserue to die.
Breefly my friends and fellow peeres in armes,
The worst of you doo deserue such mickle praise,
As that my tongue denies for to set forth
The demie parcell of your valiant deeds,
So that perforce, I must by dutie be
Bound to you all, for this your curtesie.
Mi.
Not so my Lord, for if our willing armes
Haue pleasured you so much, as you do say,
We haue done nought but that becommeth vs:
For to defend our mightie soueraigne.
As for my part, I count my labour small,
Yea though it had bene twise as much againe,
Since that Alphonsus doth accept thereof.
Alphon.
Thankes worthie Miles, least all the world
Should count Alphonsus thanklesse for to be,
Lælius sit downe, and Miles sit by him,
And that receiue, the which your swords haue wonne.
Sit downe Lælius and Miles.
First, for because thou Lælius in these broyles,
By martiall might, didst proude Belinus chase,
From troupe to troupe, from side to side about,
And neuer ceast from this thy swift pursute,
Vntill thou hadst obtaind his royall Crowne,
Therefore I say, ile do thee nought but right,
And giue thee that which thou well hast wonne,
Here doth Alphonsus Crowne thee Lælius, King
Of Naples Towne, with all dominions
That earst belonged to our trayterous foe,
That proud Belinus in his regiment.
Sound Trumpets and Drummes.
Miles, thy share the Millaine Dukedome is,
For well I wot thy sword deseru'd no lesse.
Set the Crowne on his head.
The which Alphonsus frankly giueth thee,
In presence of his warlike men at armes.
And if that any stomacke this my deed,
Alphonsus can reuenge thy wrong with speed.
Sound Trumpets and Drummes.
Now to Albinius which in all my toyles
I haue both faithfull, yea and friendly found:
Since that the Gods and friendly Fates assigne
This present time to me to recompence,
The sundry pleasures thou hast done to me,
Sit downe by them, and on thy faithfull head
Take the Crowne from thy owne head.
Receiue the Crowne of peerlesse Aragon.
Albi.
Pardon deare Lord Albinius at this time,
It ill becomes me for to weare a Crowne,
When as my Lord is destitute himselfe:
Why high Alphonsus, if I should receiue
This Crowne of you, the which high Ioue forbid,
Where would your selfe obtaine a Diadem?
Naples is gone, Millaine possessed is,
And nought is left for you but Aragon.
Alphon.
And nought is left for me but Aragon?
Yes surely yes, my Fates haue so decreed,
That Aragon should be too base a thing,
For to obtaine Alphonsus for her King.
What heare you not how that our scattered foes,
Are fled for succour to the Turkish Court?
And thinke you not that Amurack their King,
Will with the mightiest power of all his land,
Seeke to reuenge Belinus ouerthrow?
Then doubt I not but ere these broyles do end,
Alphonsus shall possesse the Diadem
That Amurack now weares vpon his head.
Sit downe therefore and that receiue of mee:
The which the Fates appointed vnto thee.
Albi.
Thou king of heauen, which by thy power diuine,
Dost see the secrets of each liuers heart,
Beare record now with what vnwilling mind,
I do receiue the Crowne of Aragon.
Albinius sit downe by Lælius & Miles, Alphonsus set the Crowne on his head, and say.
Alphon.
A rise Albinius King of Aragon,
Crowned by me, who till my gasping ghost
Do part asunder from my breathlesse corpes,
Will be thy shield against all men aliue:
That for thy kingdome any way do striue.
Sound Trumpets and Drummes.
Now since we haue in such an happie houre
Confirmd three kings, come let vs march with speed
Into the Citie, for to celebrate
With mirth and ioy, this blisfull festiuall.
Exeunt omnes.
Enter Amurack the great Turke, Belinus, Fabius, Areastus King of Moores. Claramount, King of Barbery. Baiazet a Lord, with their traine.
Amu.
Welcome Belinus to thy cosens Court,
Whose late arriuall in such posting pace,
Sorrow because the Fates haue bene so false,
To let Alphonsus driue thee from thy land:
And ioy, since that now mightie Mahomet
Hath giuen me cause to recompence at full,
The sundry pleasures I receiu'd of thee.
Therefore Belinus do but aske and haue:
For Amurack doth grant what ere you craue.
Beli.
Thou second sun which with thy glimsing beames
Doest clarifie each corner of the earth,
Belinus comes not, as earst Mydas did,
To mightie Bacchus, to desire of him,
That what so ere at any time he toucht,
Might turned be to gold incontinent.
Nor do I come as Iuppiter did erst
Vnto the Pallace of Amphitrion,
For any fond or foule concupiscence,
Which I do beare to Alcumenaes hew.
But as poore Saturne, forst by mightie Ioue
To flie his Countrey, banisht and forlorne,
Did craue the aide of Troos, King of Troy.
So comes Belinus to high Amurack.
And if he can but once your aide obtaine,
He turnes with speed to Naples backe againe.
Amu.
My aide Belinus, do you doubt of that?
If all the men at armes of Affrica,
Of Asia likewise, will sufficient be,
To presse the pompe of that vsurping mate:
Assure thy selfe, thy kingdome shalbe thine,
If Mahomet say I vnto the same:
For were I sure to vanquish all our foes,
And find such spoiles in ransacking their Tents,
As neuer any Keisar did obtaine,
Yet would I not set foote forth of this land:
If Mahomet our iourney did withstand.
Nor would Belinus for King Cræsus trash,
Wish Amurack to displease the Gods,
In pleasuring me in such a trifling toy.
Then mightie Monarch, if it be thy will,
Get their consents, and then the act fulfill.
Amu.
You counsel well, therefore Belinus haste,
And Claramount go beare him companie,
With King Arcastus, to the Citie walles.
Then bend with speed vnto the darksome groue,
Where Mahomet this many a hundred yeare
Hath prophesied vnto our auncesters,
Tell to his Priests, that Amurack your King
Is now selecting all his men at armes,
To set vpon that proud Alphonsus troupe.
The cause you know, and can enforme him well,
That makes me take these bloudie broyles in hand:
And say that I desire their sacred God,
That Mahomet which ruleth all the skies,
To send me word and that most speedely,
Which of vs shall obtaine the victory.
Exeunt omnes, preter Baiazet and Amurack.
You Baiazet go poste away apace,
To Siria, Scythia, and Albania,
To Babylon, with Mesopotamia,
Asia, Armenia, and all other lands
Which owe their homage to high Amurack.
Charge all their Kings with expedition
To gather vp the cheefest men at armes
Which now remaine in their dominions,
And on the twentie day of the same month,
To come and wait on Amurack their King,
At his chiefe Citie Constantinople.
Tell them moreouer, that who so doth faile,
Nought else but death, from prison shall him baile.
Exit Baiazet.
What heauenly Musicke soundeth in my eare?
Peace Amurack and hearken to the same.
Sound musicke, hearken Amurack, and fall a sleepe.
Enter Medea, Fausta the Empresse, Iphigina her daughter.
Medea.
Now haue our charmes fulfild our minds full well,
High Amurack is lulled fast asleepe,
And doubt I not, but ere he wakes againe,
You shall perceiue Medea did not gibe,
When as she put this practise in your mind:
Sit worthie Fausta at thy spowse his feete.
Fausta and Iphigina, sit downe at Amuracks feete.
Iphigina, sit thou on the other side:
What ere you see be not agast thereat,
But beare in mind what Amurack doth chat.
Medea do ceremonies belonging to coniuring, and say.
Thou which wert wont in Agamemnons dayes
To vtter forth Apolloes Oracles
At sacred Delphos, Calchas I do meane,
I charge thee come, all lingring set aside,
Vnles the pennance you thereof abide.
I coniure thee by Plutoes loathsome lake,
By all the hags which harbour in the same,
By stinking Stix, and filthie Plegeton,
To come with speed, and truly to fulfill
That which Medea to thee streight shall will.
Cal.
Thou wretched witch, when wilt thou make an end
Of troubling vs with these thy cursed Charmes?
What meanst thou thus to call me from my graue?
Shall nere my ghost obtaine his quiet rest?
Me.
Yes Calchas yes, your rest doth now approch
Medea meanes to trouble thee no more,
When as thou hast fulfild her mind this once.
Go get thee hence to Pluto backe againe,
And there enquire of the Destinies,
How Amurack shall speed in these his warres:
Peruse their bookes, and marke what is decreed
By Ioue himselfe, and all his fellow Gods:
And when thou knowst the certaintie thereof,
By fleshlesse visions shewe it presently
To Amuracke, in paine of penaltie.
Cal.
Forst by thy charme though with vnwilling minde:
I hast to hell, the certaintie to finde.
Calchas sinke downe where you came vp.
Me.
Now peerles Princes I must needs be gon,
My hastie businesse calls me from this place.
There resteth nought, but that you beare in minde,
What Amuracke in this his fit doth say.
For marke what dreaming madam he doth prate:
Assure your selfe, that that shalbe his fate.
Fau.
Though very loth to let thee so depart,
Farewell Medea, easer of my hart.
Exit Medea.
Sound Instruments within, Amurack as it were in a dreame, say.
Amu.
What Amurack doest thou begin to nod?
Is this the care that thou hast of thy warres?
To egge thy souldiers forward in thy warres:
Thou sittest moping by the fire side?
See where thy Viceroies grouell on the ground.
Looke where Belinus breatheth forth his ghost.
Behold by millions how thy men do fall
Before Alphonsus like to sillie sheepe.
And canst thou stand still lazing in this sort?
No proud Alphonsus, Amurack doth flie
To quaile thy courage, and that speedilie.
Sound Instruments a while within, and then Amuracke say.
And doest thou think thou proud iniurious God,
Mahound I meane, since thy vaine prophesies
Led Amurack into this dolefull case,
To haue his Princely feete in irons clapt,
Which erst the proudest kings were forst to kisse,
That thou shalt scape vnpunisht for the same?
No no, assoone as by the helpe of Ioue,
I scape this bondage, downe go all thy groues.
Thy alters tumble round about the streets.
And whereas erst we sacrifisde to thee:
Now all the Turks thy mortall foes shall bee.
Sound Instruments a while within, Amuracke say.
Behold the Iemme and Iewel of mine age,
See where she comes, whose heauenly maiestie
Doth far surpasse the braue and gorgeous pace
Which Cytherea daughter vnto Ioue,
Did put in vre when as she had obtaind.
The golden Apple at the shepheards hands.
See worthie Fausta where Alphonsus stands,
Whose valiant courage could not daunted be,
See now he stands, as one that lately sawe
Medusaes head, or Gorgons hoarie hue.
Sound Instruments a while within, Amurack say:
And can it be that it may happen so?
Can Fortune proue so friendly vnto me,
As that Alphonsus loues Iphigina?
The match is made, the wedding is decreed.
Sound trumpets haw, strike drums for mirth & glee:
And three times welcome sonne in lawe to mee.
Fausta rise vp as it were in a furie, wake Amuracke and say.
Fau.
Fie Amurack, what wicked words be these?
How canst thou looke thy Fausta in her face,
Whom thou hast wronged in this shamefull sort?
And are the vowes so solemnely you sware
Vnto Belinus my most friendly neece,
Now washt so clearly from thy traiterous heart?
Is all the rancor which you earst did beare
Vnto Alphonsus, worne so out of mind,
As where thou shouldest pursue him to death,
You seeke to giue our daughter to his hands?
The Gods forbid that such a hainous deed,
With my consent should euer be decreed.
And rather then thou shouldst it bring to passe,
If all the armie of Amazones
Will be sufficient to withhold the same,
Assure thy selfe that Fausta meanes to fight
Against Amuracke, for to maintaine the right.
Iphi.
Yea mother, say, which Mahomet forbid,
That in this conflict you should haue the foyle,
Ere that Alphonsus should be cald my spowse,
A readier meanes to finish that decree.
Amuracke rise in a rage from thy chaire.
Amu.
What threatning words thus thunder in mine eares?
Or who are they amongst the mortall troupes,
That dares presume to vse such threats to me?
The prowdest Kings and Keisers of the land
Are glad to feed me in my fantasie:
And shall I suffer then, each pratling dame
For to vpbraide me in this spightfull sort?
No by the heauens, first will I loose my Crowne,
My wife, my children, yea my life and all:
And therefore Fausta, thou which Amuracke
Didst tender erst, as the apple of mine eye,
Auoyd my Court, and if thou lou'st thy life,
Approach not nigh vnto my regiment.
As for this carping gyrle Iphigina,
Take her with thee to beare thee company,
And in my land, I reed be seene no more,
For if you do, you both shall die therefore.
Exit Amurack.
Fau.
Nay then I see, tis time to looke about,
Delay is dangerous, and procureth harme,
The wanton colt is tamed in his youth,
Wounds must be cured when they be fresh and greene:
And plurisies when they begin to breed,
With little ease are driuen away with speed.
Had Fausta then when Amuracke begunne,
With spightfull speeches to controll and checke,
Sought to preuent it by her martiall force,
This banishment had neuer hapt to me,
But the Echinus fearing to be goard,
Doth keepe her younglings in her paunch so long,
Till when their prickes be waxen long and sharpe,
They put their damme at length to double paine:
And I because I loathed the broyles of Mars,
In recompence of which my good intent,
I haue receiu'd this wofull banishment.
Wofull said I? nay happie I did meane,
If that be happie, which doth set one free:
For by this meanes, I do not doubt ere long,
But Fausta shall with ease, reuenge her wrong.
Come daughter come, my minde foretelleth me:
That Amuracke shall soone requited be.
Make as though you were a going out, Medea meete her and say.
Me.
Fausta, what meanes this sudden flight of yours?
Why do you leaue your husbands princely Court,
And all alone passe through these thickest groues,
More fit to harbour brutish sauadge beasts,
Then to receiue so high a Queene as you?
Although your credit would not stay your steps,
From bending them into these darkish dennes,
Yet should the daunger which is imminent,
To euery one which passeth by these pathes,
Keepe you at home with fayre Iphigina.
What foolish toy hath tickled you to this?
I greatly feare some hap hath hit amis.
Fau.
No toy Medea, tickled Faustaes head,
Nor foolish fancie ledde me to these groues,
But earnest businesse egges my trembling steps,
To passe all dangers what so ere they be.
I banisht am Medea, I which erst
Was Empresse ouer all the triple world,
Am banisht now from pallace and from pompe,
But if the gods be fauourers to me,
Ere twentie dayes, I will reuenged be.
Me.
I thought as much, when first from thickest leaues,
I saw you trudging in such posting pace.
But to the purpose, what may be the cause,
Fau.
The cause aske you, a simple cause god wot:
Twas neither treason, nor yet felonie,
But for because I blamde his foolishnes.
Me.
I heare you say so, but I greatly feare,
Ere that your tale be brought vnto an end,
Youle proue your selfe the author of the same:
But pray be briefe, what follie did your spowse?
And how will you reuenge your wrong on him?
Fau.
What follie quoth you? such as neuer yet
Was heard or seene, since Phœbus first gan shine,
You know how he was gathering in all haste,
His men at armes, to set vpon the troupe
Of proude Alphonsus, yea you well do know,
How you and I did do the best we could,
To make him shew vs in his drowsie dreame,
What afterward should happen in his warres:
Much talke he had, which now I haue forgot.
But at the length, this surely was decreed,
How that Alphonsus and Iphigina
Should be conioynd in Iunoes sacred rites,
Which when I heard, as one that did despise,
That such a traytor should be sonne to me,
I did rebuke my husband Amuracke.
And since my words could take no better place,
My sword with helpe of all Amazones,
Shall make him soone repent his foolishnes.
Me.
This is the cause then of your banishment,
And now you goe vnto Amazone,
To gather all your maydens in array,
To set vpon the mightie Amuracke?
Oh foolish Queene, what meant you by this talke?
Those pratling speeches haue vndone you all.
Do you disdaine to haue that mightie Prince,
I meane Alphonsus, counted for your sonne?
The ruler of a mightie Monarchie:
I must confesse the powers of Amuracke
Be great, his confines stretch both far and neare,
Yet are they not the third part of the lands,
Which shall be ruled by Alphonsus hands,
And yet you daine to call him sonne in law:
But when you see his sharpe and cutting sword
Piercing the heart of this your gallant gyrle,
Youle curse the houre wherein you did denay,
To ioyne Alphonsus with Iphigina.
Fau.
The gods forbid, that ere it happen so.
Me.
Nay neuer pray, for it must happen so.
Fau.
And is there then no remedie for it?
Me.
No none but one, & that you haue forsworn,
Fau.
As though an oath can bridle so my minde,
As that I dare not breake a thousand oathes,
For to eschew the danger imminent.
Speake good Medea, tell that way to me,
And I will do it, what so ere it be.
Me.
Then as already you haue well decreed,
Packe to your countrey, and in readinesse,
Select the armie of Amazones,
When you haue done, march with your female troupe
To Naples Towne, to succour Amuracke,
And so by marriage of Iphigina,
You soone shall driue the danger cleane away.
Iphigi.
So shall we soone eschew Caribdis lake,
And headlong fall to Syllaes greedie gulph,
I vowd before, and now do vow againe:
Before I wedde Alphonsus, Ile be slaine.
Me.
In vaine it is, to striue against the streame,
Fates must be followed, and the gods decree
Must needs take place in euery kinde of cause.
Therfore faire maide, bridle these brutish thoughts,
When Saturne heard, that Iuppiter his sonne
Should driue him headlong from his heauenly seat,
Downe to the bottome of the darke Auarne,
He did command his mother presently,
To do to death, the young and guiltlesse childe:
But what of that, the mother loathd in heart,
For to commit so vile a massacre.
Yea Ioue did liue, and as the fates did say,
From heauenly seate, draue Saturne cleane away.
What did auaile the Castle all of Steele,
The which Acrisius caused to be made,
To keepe his daughter Danae clogged in?
She was with childe for all her Castles force,
And by that child, Acrisius her sire,
Was after slaine, so did the fates require.
A thousand examples, I could bring hereof.
But Marble stones needs no colouring,
And that which euery one doth know for truth,
Needs no examples to confirme the same.
That which the fates appoint must happen so,
Though heauenly Ioue, and all the Gods say no.
Fau.
Iphigina, she sayth nought but truth,
Fates must be followed in their iust decrees:
And therefore setting all delayes aside,
Come let vs wend vnto Amazone,
And gather vp our forces out of hand.
Iphi.
Since Fausta wils, and fates do so command,
Iphigina will neuer it withstand.
Exeunt omnes.
| The Comicall Historie of Alphonsus, King of Aragon | |