University of Virginia Library

Act. 5.

Srike vp Alarum. Enter Venus.
Fearce is the fight, and bloudie is the broyle,
No sooner had the roaring cannon shot
Spit forth the venome of their fiered panch,
And with their pellets sent such troupes of soules
Downe to the bottome of the darke Auerne,
As that it couered all the stigian fields.
But on a sudden, all the men at armes
Which mounted were on lustie coursers backes,
Did rush togither with so great a noyse,
As that I thought the giants one time more
Did scale the heauens, as erst they did before.
Long time dame Fortune tempred so her wheele,
As that there was no vantage to be seene
On any side, but equall was the gaine.
But at the length so God and Fates decreed,
Alphonsus was the victor of the field:
And Amuracke became his prisoner.
Who so remaind, vntill his daughter came:
And by her marying, did his pardon frame.
Exit Venus.

Strike vp alarum, flie Amuracke, follow Alphonsus, and take him prisoner: carrie him in. Strike vp alarum, flie Crocon and Faustus. Enter Fausta and Iphigina with their armie, and meete them, and say.
Fau.
You Turkish kings, what sudden flight is this?
What meanes the men which for their valiant prowes
Were dreaded erst, cleane through the triple world,
Thus cowardly to turne their backes and flie?
What froward fortune hapned on your side:
I hope your king in safetie doth abide?

Cro.
I noble madam, Amurack doth liue:
And long I hope he shall enioy his life.
But yet I feare, vnles more succour come,
We shall both loose our king and soueraigne.

Fau.
How so king Crocon, dost thou speak in iest?
To proue if Fausta would lament his death?
Or else hath any thing hapt him amis?
Speake quickly Crocon what the cause might be,
That thou dost vtter forth these words to me?

Cro.
Then worthie Fausta know, that Amuracke
Our mightie king, and your approued spowse,
Prickt with desire of euerlasting fame,
As he was pressing in the thickest rankes
Of Aragonians, was with much adoo
At length tooke prisoner, by Alphonsus hands.
So that vnles you succour soone do bring,
You loose your spowse, and we shall want our king.

Iphi.
Oh haples hap, oh dire and cruell fate!
What iniurie hath Amuracke my sire
Done to the Gods, which now I know are wrath?
Although vniustly and without a cause.
For well I wot, not any other king
Which now doth liue, or since the world begun
Did sway a scepter, had a greater care
To please the Gods, then mightie Amuracke.
And for to quite our fathers great good will,
Seeke they thus basely all his fame to spill.

Fau.
Iphigina, leaue off these wofull tunes,
It is not words can cure and ease this wound:
But warlike swords, not teares, but sturdie speares:
High Amuracke is prisoner to our foes.
What then? thinke you that our Amazones
Ioynd with the forces of the Turkish troupe,
Are not sufficient for to set him free?
Yes daughter yes, I meane not for to sleepe,
Vntill he is free, or we him company keepe.
March on my mates.

Exeunt omnes.
Strike vp alarum, flie Alphonsus, follow Iphigina and say.
Iphi.
How now Alphonsus, you which neuer yet
Could meete your equall in the feates of armes,
How haps it now that in such sudden sort
You flie the presence of a sillie maide?
What haue you found mine arme of such a force,
As that you thinke your bodie ouerweake
For to withstand the furie of my blowes?
Or do you else disdaine to fight with me:
For staining of your high nobilitie?

Alp.
No daintie dame, I wold not haue thee think
That euer thou or any other wight,
Shall liue to see Alphonsus flie the field
From any king or Keisar who some ere,
First will I die in thickest of my fo,
Before I will disbase mine honour so.
Nor do I scorne thou goddes for to staine
My prowes with thee, although it be a shame
For knights to combat with the female sect.
But loue sweete mouse hath so benumbd my wit,
That though I would, I must refraine from it.

Iphi.
I though as much when first I came to wars,
Your noble acts were fitter to be writ
Within the Tables of dame Venus sun,
Then in God Mars his warlike registers.
When as your Lords are hacking helmes abroad,
And make their speares to shiuer in the aire,
Your mind is busied in fond Cupid toyes.
Come on I faith, ile teach you for to know
We came to fight, and not to loue I trow.

Alph.
Nay virgin stay, and if thou wilt vouchsafe
To entertaine Alphonsus simple sute,
Thou shalt ere long be Monarch of the world:
All christned kings, with all your Pagan dogs
Shall bend their knees vnto Iphigina.
The Indian soyle shalbe thine at command,
Where euery step thou settest on the ground,
Shall be receiued on the golden mines.
Rich Pactolus that riuer of account,
Which doth descend from top of Tiuole mount,
Shall be thine owne, and all the world beside:
If you will graunt to be Alphonsus bride.

Iphi.
Alphonsus bride? nay villain do not thinke
That fame or riches can so rule my thoughts,
As for to make me loue and fancie him
Whom I do hate, and in such sort despise,
As if my death could bring to passe his baine:
I would not long from Plutoes port remaine.

Alph.
Nay then proud pecock since thou art so stout,
As that intreatie will not moue thy minde
For to consent to be my wedded spowse,
Thou shalt in spite of Gods and Fortune too,
Serue high Alphonsus as a concubine.

Iphi.
Ile rather die then euer that shall hap.

Alphon.
And thou shalt die vnles it come to pas.

Alphonsus and Iphigina fight, Iphigina flie, follow Alphonsus. Strike vp alarum. Enter Alphonsus with his rapier, Albinius, Lælius, Miles, with their souldiers. Amurack, Fausta, Iphigina, Crocon and Faustus all bounde with their bands behind them, Amuracke looke angerly on Fausta.
Enter Medea, and say.
Med.
Nay Amurack this is no time to iarre,
Although thy wife did in her franticke moode
Vse speeches which might better haue bene sparde,
Yet do thou not iudge the same time to be
A season to requite that iniurie:
More fitteth thee with all the wit thou hast,
To call to mind which way thou maist release
Thy selfe, thy wife, and faire Iphigina,
Forth of the power of stout Alphonsus hands.
For well I wot, since first you breathed breath,
You neuer were so nie the snares of death.
Now Amurack, your high and kingly seate,
Your royall scepter, and your stately Crowne,
Your mightie Countrey, and your men at armes,
Be conquered all, and can no succour bring.
Put then no trust in these same paltrie toyes:
But call to mind that thou a prisoner art:
Clapt vp in chaines, whose life and deaths depends
Vpon the hands of thy most mortall foe.
Then take thou heed that what some ere he say,
Thou doest not once presume for to gainsay.

Amu.
Away you foole, thinke you your cursed charmes
Can bridle so the mind of Amuracke,
As that he will stand croaching to his foe?
No no, be sure that if that beggers brat
Do dare but once to contrary my will,
Ile make him soone in heart for to repent,
That ere such words gainst Amuracke he spent.

Med.
Then since thou dost disdaine my good aduise,
Looke to thy selfe, and if you fare amis
Remember that Medea counsell gaue,
Which might you safe from all those perils saue.
But Fausta you, as well you haue begun,
Beware you follow still your friends aduise.
If that Alphonsus do desire of thee
To haue your daughter for his wedded spowse,
Beware you do not once the same gainsay:
Vnles with death he do your rashnes pay.

Fau.
No worthie wight, first Fausta means to die,
Before Alphonsus she will contrarie.

Med.
Why then farwell, but you Iphigina,
Beware you do not ouersqueamish wax,
When as your mother giueth her consent.

Iphi.
The Gods forbid that ere I should gainsay
That which Medea bids me to obay.

Exit Medea.
Rise vp Alphonsus out of his chaire, who all this while hath bene talking to Albinius, and say.
Al.
Now Amurack the proud blasphemous dogs
(For so you termed vs) which did brall and raile
Against God Mars, and fickle Fortunes wheele,
Haue got the gole for all your solemne praiers:
Your selfe are prisoner, which as then did thinke
That all the forces of the triple world,
Were insufficient to fulfill the same.
How like you this? is Fortune of such might,
Or hath God Mars such force or power diuine,
As that he can with all the power he hath,
Set thee and thine forth of Alphonsus hands?
I do not thinke but that your hopes so small,
As that you would with verie willing mind,
Yeeld for my spowse the faire Iphigina,
On that condition, that without delay,
Fausta and you may scotfree scape away.

Amu.
What thinkst thou vilain that high Amurack
Beares such a minde, as for the feare of death,
Heele yeeld his daughter, yea his onely ioy,
Into the hands of such a dunghill Knight?
No traytor no, for as now I lie
Clapt vp in Irons, and with bolts of steele:
Yet do there lurke within the Turkish soyle,
Such troupes of souldiers, that with small ado,
Theile set me scotfree from your men and you.

Alp.
Villain sayest thou, traitor & dunghil knight,
Now by the heauens, since that thou dost denie,
For to fulfill that which in gentle wise
Alphonsus craues, both thou and all thy traine
Shall with your liues requite that iniurie.
Albinius lay holde of Amuracke,
And carrie him to prison presently,
There to remaine vntill I do returne
Into my tent, for by high Ioue I vowe,
Vnles he waxe more calmer out of hand,
His head amongst his fellow Kings shall stand.

Albinius carrie Amuracke forth, who as he is a going, must say.
Amu.
No villaine, thinke not that the feare of death
Shall make me calmer while I draw my breath.

Alphon.
Now Lælius, take you Iphigina,
Her mother Fausta, with these other Kings,
And put them into prisons seuerally:
For Amuracke stout stomacke shall vndo,
Both he himselfe and all his other crew.

Fausta kneele downe.
Fau.
Oh sacred Prince, if that the salt-brine teares,
Distilling downe poore Faustas withered cheekes,
Can mollifie the hardnes of your heart.
Lessen this iudgement, which thou in thy rage,
Hast giuen on thy luckles prisoners.

Alphon.
Woman away, my word is gone and past,
Now if I would I cannot call it backe:
You might haue yeelded at my first demaund,
And then you need not to feare this hap.
Lælius make haste, and go thou presently,
For to fulfill that I commanded thee.

Rise vp Fausta, kneele downe Iphigina, and say.
Iphi.
Mightie Alphonsus, since my mothers sute
Is so reiected, that in any case
You will not grant vs pardon for her sake,
I now will trie, if that my wofull prayers
May plead for pittie at your graces feete.
When first you did amongest the thickest ranckes
All clad in glittering armes encounter me:
You know your selfe what loue you did protest,
You then did beare vnto Iphigina,
Then for that loue if any loue you had,
Reuoke this sentence which is too too bad.

Alp.
No damsel damsel, he that will not when he may,
When he desires, shall surely purchase nay.
If that you had when first I profer made,
Yeelded to me, marke what I promist you,
I would haue done, but since you did denie,
Looke for deniall at Alphonsus hands.
Rise vp Iphigina, and stand aside, Alphonsus talke with Albinius. Enter Carinus in his Pilgrims clothes, and say.
Oh friendly Fortune, now thou shewest thy power,
In raising vp my sonne from banisht state,
Vnto the top of thy most mightie wheele:
But what be these, which at his sacred feete
Do seeme to pleade for mercie at his hands?
Ile go and sift this matter to the full.
Go toward Alphonsus and speake to one of his soldiers.
Sir Knight, and may a Pilgrim be so bolde
To put your person to such mickle paine,
For to enforme me what great King is this,
And what these be, which in such wofull sort,
Do seeme to seeke for mercie at his hands?

Soul.
Pilgrim, the King that sits on stately throne,
Is cald Alphonsus, and this matron hight,
Fausta the wife to Amuracke the Turke:
That is their daughter faire Iphigina:
Both which togither, with the Turke himselfe,
He did take prisoners in a battle fought.

Spie out Carinus and say.
Alph.
And can the gods be found so kind to me,
As that Carinus now I do espie:
Tis he indeed, come on Albinius,
The mightie conquest which I haue atchieu'd
And victories the which I oft haue haue wonne,
Bring not such pleasure to Alphonsus hart,
As now my fathers presence doth impart.

Alphonsus and Albinius go toward Carinus, Alphonsus stand looking on Carinus, Carinus say.
Cari.
What nere a word Alphonsus, art thou dumb?
Or doth my presence so perturbe thy minde,
That for because I come in Pilgrims weed,
You thinke each word which you do spend to me
A great disgrace vnto your name to be?
Why speakest thou not? if that my place you craue,
I will be gone and you my place shall haue.

Alph.
Nay father stay, the Gods of heauen forbid,
That ere Alphonsus should desire or wish
To haue his absence whom he doth account
To be the Loadstone of his life.
What though the fates and fortune both in one,
Haue bene content to call your louing sonne,
From beggers state, vnto this princely seate,
Should I therefore disdaine my aged sire?
No first both Crowne and life I will detest,
Before such venome breed within my brest.
What erst I did, the sudden ioy I tooke,
To see Carinus in such happie state,
Did make me do, and nothing else at all,
High Ioue himselfe do I to witnes call.

Cari.
These words are vaine, I knew as much before:
But yet Alphonsus I must wonder needs,
That you whose yeares are proue to Cupids snares,
Can suffer such a Goddes as this dame,
Thus for to shead such store of Christall teares.
Beleeue me sonne, although my yeares be spent,
Her sighes and sobs in twaine my heart do rent.

Alph.
Like power deare father had she ouer me,
Vntill for loue, I looking to receiue
Loue backe againe, not onely was denied,
But also taunted in most spightfull sort:
Which made me loathe that which I erst did loue,
As she her selfe, with all her friends shall proue.

Cari.
How now Alphonsus, you which haue so lōg
Bene trained vp in bloudie broyles of Mars,
What know you not, that Castles are not wonne
At first assault, and women are not wooed
When first their suters profer loue to them:
As for my part, I should account that maide
A wanton wench, vnconstant lewde and light,
That yeelds the field, before she venture fight,
Especially vnto her mortall foe,
As you were then vnto Iphigina.
But for because I see you fitter are
To enter Lists and combat with your foes,
Then court faire Ladyes in God Cupids tents,
Carinus meanes, your spokesman for to bee,
And if that she consent, you shall agree.

Alphon.
What you commaund,
Alphonsus must not flie:
Though otherwise perhaps he would denie.

Cari.
Then daintie damsell stint these trickling teares,
Cease sighes and sobs, yea make a merrie cheare,
Your pardon is already purchased:
So that you be not ouer curious
In granting to Alphonsus iust demand.

Iphi.
Thankes mightie Prince, no curioser ile bee,
Then doth become a maide of my degree.

Cari.
The Gods forbid that ere Carinus tongue
Should go about to make a mayd consent
Vnto the thing which modestie denies:
That which I aske, is neither hurt to thee,
Danger to parents, nor disgrace to friends,
But good and honest, and will profit bring,
To thee and those which leane vnto that thing.
And that is this, since first Alphonsus eyes,
Did hap to glaunce vpon your heauenly hew,
And saw the rare perfection of the same,
He hath desired to become your spowse.
Now if you will vnto the same agree,
I dare assure you, that you shall be free.

Iph.
Pardon deare Lord, the world goes very hard,
When women kinde are forced for to wooe,
If that your sonne had loued me so well,
Why did he not informe me of the same?

Ca.
Why did he not? what haue you clean forgot
What ample profers he did make to you,
When hand to hand he did encounter you?

Iphi.
No worthy sir, I haue not it forgot,
But Cupid cannot enter in the brest,
Where Mars before had tooke possession:
That was no time to talke of Venus games,
When all our fellowes were pressed in the warres.

Cari.
Well, let that passe, now canst thou be content
To loue Alphonsus, and become his spowse?

Iphi.
I if the high Alphonsus could vouchsafe
To entertaine me as his wedded spowse.

Alphon.
If that he could? what dost thou doubt of that
Iason did iet when as he had obtaind,
The golden fleece by wise Medeas art,
The Greekes reioyced when they had subdued
The famous bulwarkes of most stately Troy,
But all their mirth was nothing in respect
Of this my ioy, since that I now haue got,
That which I long desired in my heart.

Ca.
But what sayes Fausta to her daughters choice?

Fau.
Fausta doth say, the Gods haue bin her friends
To let her liue to see Iphigina
Bestowed so vnto her hearts content.

Alphon.
Thankes mightie Empresse for your gentlenes,
And if Alphonsus can at any time
With all his power requite this curtesie,
You shall perceiue how kindly he doth take
Your forwardnesse in this his happie chance.

Cari.
Albinius go call forth Amuracke,
Weele see what he doth say vnto this match.
Exit Albinius, bring forth Amuracke.
Most mightie Turke, I with my warlike sonne
Alphonsus, loathing that so great a Prince
As you should liue in such vnseemly sort,
Haue sent for you to profer life or death:
Life, if you do consent to our demand,
And death if that you dare gainsay the same,
Your wife, high Fausta, with Iphigina,
Haue giuen consent that this my warlike sonne
Should haue your daughter for his bedfellow,
Now resteth nought but that you do agree,
And so to purchase sure tranquilitie.

Amu.
Now Amurack aduise thee what thou sayest,
Bethinke thee well what answere thou wilt make:
Thy life and death dependeth on thy words,
If thou denie to be Alphonsus sire,
Death is thy share: but if that thou consent,
Thy life is sau'd, consent? nay rather die.
Should I consent to giue Iphigina
Into the hands of such a beggers brat?
What Amuracke thou dost deceiue thy selfe,
Alphonsus is the sonne vnto a King:
What then? the worthy of thy daughters loue
She is agreed, and Fausta is content:
Then Amuracke will not be discontent.
Take Iphigina by the hand, giue her to Alphonsus.
Heere braue Alphonsus, take thou at my hand,
Iphigina, I giue her vnto thee:
And for her dowrie, when her father die,
Thou shalt possesse the Turkish Emperie.
Take her I say, and liue King Nestors yeeres,
So would the Turke and all his Noble Peeres.

Alphon.
Immortall thanks I giue vnto your grace.

Cari.
Now worthy Princes, since by helpe of Ioue
On either side the wedding is decreed,
Come let vs wend to Naples speedily,
For to solemnize it with mirth and glee.

Amu.
As you do will, we ioyntly do agree.

Exeunt omnes.
Enter Venus with the Muses, and say.
Ve.
Now worthy Muses with vnwilling mind,
Venus is forst to trudge to heauens againe:
For Iuppiter that God of peerles power,
Proclaimed hath a solemne festiuall,
In honour of dame Danaes luckles death:
Vnto the which, in paine of his displeasure
He hath inuited all the immortall Gods
And Goddesses, so that I must be there,
Vnlesse I will his high displeasure beare:
You see Alphonsus hath with much ado,
At length obtaind fayre Iphigina
Of Amuracke her father, for his wife.
Who now are going to the Temple wards,
For to performe dame Iunoes sacred rites,
Where we will leaue them till the feast be done:
Which in the heauens by this time is begun,
Meane time deare Muses, wander you not farre
Foorth of the path of high Pernassus hill:
That when I come to finish vp his life,
You may be readie for to succour me.
Adieu deare dames, farwell Calliope.

Exit Venus. Or if you can conueniently, let a chaire come downe from the top of the stage, and draw her vp.
Calli.
Adieu you sacred Goddes of the skie.
Well louing sisters, since that she is gone,
Come let vs haste vnto Pernassus hill,
As Citherea did lately will.

Melpom.
Then make you haste her mind for to fulfill.

Exeunt omnes, playing on their Instruments.