University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

Enter King, Governour, like a Moor Priest.
King.
So far and truly you have discovered to me
The former currents of my life and fortunes,
That I am bold to acknowledge you most holy,
And certainly to credit your predictions,
Of what are yet to come.

Gov.
I am no lyer,
'Tis strange I should, and live so near a Neighbour;
But these are not my ends.

King.
I pray you sit, good Father,
Certain a reverend Man, and most Religious.

Gov.
I; that belief's well now, and let me work then,
I'll make ye curse Religion before I leave ye;
I have liv'd a long time, Son, a mew'd up Man,
Sequestred by the special hand of Heaven.
From the World's vanity, all to find out knowledge,
Which I have now attained to, thanks to Heaven,
All for my Countries good too, and many a Vision,
Many a Mystick Vision, have I seen Son.
And many a sight from Heaven, which has been terrible,
Wherein the goods and evils of these Islands,
Were lively shadowed; many a charge have I had too,
Still as the time grew ripe, to reveal these,
To travel and discover, now I am come, Son,
The hour is now appointed,
And now I speak.

King.
Do holy man, I'll hear ye.

Gov.
Beware these Portugals, I say, beware 'em,
These smooth-fac'd strangers, have an Eye on 'em,
The cause is now the Gods; hear and believe, King.

King.
—I do hear, but before I give rash credit,
Or hang too light on belief, which is a Sin, Father;
Know I have found 'em gentle, faithful, valiant,
And am in my particular bound to 'em,
I mean to some for my most strange deliverance.

Gov.
O Son, the future aims of men! observe me,
Above their present actions, and their glory,
Are to be looked at, the Stars show many turnings
If you could see, mark but with my eye, Pupil;
These men came hither, as my Vision tells me,
Poor, weather-beaten, almost starved, feebled,
Their Vessels like themselves, most miserable,
Made a long sute for Trafique, and for comfort,
To vend their Childrens toys, cure their diseases:
They had their sute, they landed and to the rate,
Grew rich and powerful, suck'd the Fat and Freedom
Of thy most noble Isle, taught her to tremble,
Witness the Castle here, the Citadel,
They have clapt up the neek of your Tidore,
This happy Town, till that she knew these strangers;
To check her, when she is Jolly.

King.
They have so, indeed Father.

Gov.
Take heed, take heed, I find your fair delivery,
Though you be pleased to glorifie that Fortune,
And think these strangers Goods, take heed, I say,
I find it but a handsome preparation,
A fair fac'd Prologue to future mischief:
Mark but the end, good King, the pin he shoots at,
That was the Man delivered ye; the Mirrour.
Your Sister is his due, what's she, your heir, Sir?
And what's he a kin then to the Kingdom?
But heirs are not Ambitious, who then suffers?
What Reverence shall the Gods have? and what Justice?
The miserable People, what shall they do?

King.
He points at Truth directly.

Gov.
Think of these, Son:
The Person, nor the manner I dislike not
Of your Preserver, nor the whole Man together,
Were he but season'd in the Faith we are,
Or our Devotions learned.

King.
You say right, Father.

Gov.
To change our worships now, and our Religion;
To be Traytor to our God.

King.
You have well advis'd me,
And I will seriously consider, Father,
In the mean time you shall have your fair access
Unto my Sister, advise her to your purpose,
And let me still know how the Gods determine.

Gov.
I will, but my main end is to advise
The Destruction of you all, a general Ruine,
And when I am reveng'd, let the Gods whistle.

[Exeunt.