In vain it is to strive against the stream:
The crown is lost, and now in hucksters' hands,
And all our hope is cast into the dust.
Bridle these thoughts, and learn the same of me,
A quiet life doth pass an empery.
ALPHON. Yet, noble father, ere Carinus' brood
Shall brook his foe for to usurp his seat,
He'll die the death with honour in the field,
And so his life and sorrows briefly end.
But did I know my froward fate were such,
As I should fail in this my just attempt,
This sword, dear father, should the author be
To make an end of this my tragedy.
Therefore, sweet sire, remain you here awhile,
And let me walk my fortune for to try.
I do not doubt but ere the time be long,
I'll quite his cost, or else myself will die.
CARI. My noble son, since that thy mind is such
For to revenge thy father's foul abuse,
As that my words may not a whit prevail
To stay thy journey, go with happy fate,
And soon return unto thy father's cell,
With such a train as Julius Cæsar came
To noble Rome, whenas he had atchiev'd
The mighty monarch of the triple world.
Meantime Carinus in this silly grove
Will spend his days with prayers and orisons
To mighty Jove to further thine intent.
Farewell, dear son, Alphonsus, fare you well. [Exit.
ALPHON. And is he gone? then hie, Alphonsus,
To try thy fortune where thy fates do call.
A noble mind disdains to hide his head,
And let his foes triumph in his overthrow.
Enter ALBINIUS. Alphonsus make as though thou goest out; Albinius say:
ALBI. What loitering fellow have we spied here?
Presume not, villain, further for to go,
Unless you do at length the same repent.
[Alphonsus comes towards Albinius. ALPHON. Villain, say'st thou? nay, villain, in thy [calls't? What, know'st thou, skipjack, whom thou villain ALBI. A common vassal I do villain call. ALPHON. That shalt thou soon approve, persuade thyself,
Or else I'll die, or thou shalt die for me.
ALBI. What, do I dream, or do my dazzling eyes Deceive me? Is't Alphonsus that I see?
Doth now Medea use her wonted charms
For to delude Albinius' fantasy?
Or doth black Pluto, king of dark Avern,
Seek to flout me with his counterfeit ?
His body like to Alphonsus' framed is,
His face resembles much Alphonsus' hue;
His noble mind declares him for no less;
"Tis he indeed. Woe worth Albinius,
Whose babbling tongue hath caus'd his own annoy
Why doth not Jove send from the glittering skies
His thunderbolts to chastise this offence?
Why doth dame Terra cease with greedy jaws
To swallow up Albinius presently?
What, shall I fly and hide my traitorous head,
From stout Alphonsus whom I so misus'd?
Or shall I yield? Tush, yielding is in vain,
Nor can I fly but he will follow me.
Then cast thyself down at his Grace's feet,
Confess thy fault, and ready make thy breast
To entertain thy well-deserved death.
ALPHON. What news, my friend? why are you so
That erst before did vaunt it to the skies?
ALBI. Pardon, dear lord! Albinius pardon craves For this offence, which, by the heavens I vow, Unwittingly I did unto your Grace:
For had I known Alphonsus had been here,
Ere that my tongue had spoke so traitorously,
This hand should make my very soul to die.
ALPHON. Rise up, my friend, thy pardon soon is But, prithee, tell me, what the cause might be, [got: That in such sort thou erst upbraided'st me?
[Albinius rises up.
ALBI. Most mighty prince, since first your father's
Did yield his ghost unto the sisters three,
And old Carinus forced was to fly
His native soil, and royal diadem;
I, for because I seemed to complain
Against their treason, shortly was forewarn'd
Ne'er more to haunt the bounds of Arragon
On pain of death. Then, like a man forlorn,
I sought about to find some resting place;
And at the length, did hap upon this shore,
Where shewing forth my cruel banishment,
By king Belinus I am succoured.
But now, my lord, to answer your demand :
It happens so, that the usurping king
Of Arragon makes war upon this land,
For certain tribute which he claimeth here;
Wherefore Belinus sent me round about
His country, for to gather up men,
For to withstand this most injurious foe;
Which being done, returning with the king,
Dispitefully I did so taunt your Grace,
Imagining you had some soldier been,
The which, from fear, had sneaked from the camp.
ALPHON. Enough, Albinius, I do know thy mind:
But may it be that these thy happy news
Should be of truth, or have you forged them?
ALBI. The gods forbid that e'er Albinius' tongue Should once be found to forge a feigned tale, Especially unto his sovereign lord :
But if Alphonsus think that I do feign,
Stay here a while, and you shall plainly see
My words be true, whenas you do perceive
Our royal army march before your face.
The which, if't please my noble lord to stay,
I'll hasten on, with all the speed I may.
ALPHON. Make haste, Albinius, if you love my life;
But yet beware whenas your army comes,
You do not make as though you do me know,
For I a while a soldier base will be,
Until I find time more convenient
To shew, Albinius, what is mine intent.
ALBI. Whate'er Alphonsus fittest doth esteem, Albinius for his profit best will deem.
[Exit. ALPHON. Now do I see both gods and fortune too
Do join their powers to raise Alphonsus' fame;
For in this broil I do not greatly doubt
But that I shall my cousin's courage tame.
But see, whereas Belinus' army comes,
And he himself, unless I guess awry:
Whoe'er it be, I do not pass* a pin ;
Alphonsus means his soldier for to be.
Enter BELINUS, king of Naples, ALBINIUS,
FABIUS, marching, with their Soldiers.
BELI. Thus far, my lords, we trained have our
For to encounter haughty Arragon,
[camp
Who with a mighty power of straggling mates
Hath traitorously assailed this our land,
And burning towns, and sacking cities fair,
Doth play the devil wheresome'er he comes.
pass] See note* vol. i. p. 154.
Now, as we are informed by our scouts,
He marcheth on unto our chiefest seat,
Naples, I mean, that city of renown,
For to begirt it with his bands about,
And so at length, the which high Jove forbid,
To sack the same, as erst he other did.
If which should hap, Belinus were undone,
His country spoil'd and all his subjects* slain :
Wherefore your sovereign thinketh it most meet,
For to prevent the fury of the foe,
And Naples succour, that distressed town,
By entering in, ere Arragon doth come,
With all our men, which will sufficient be,
For to withstand their cruel battery.
ALBI. The silly serpent, found by country swain,
And cut in pieces by his furious blows,
Yet if his head do 'scape away untouch'd,
As many write, it very strangely goes
To fetch an herb, with which in little time
Her batter'd corpse again she doth conjoin:
But if by chance the ploughman's sturdy staff
Do hap to hit upon the serpent's head,
And bruise the same, though all the rest be sound,
Yet doth the silly serpent lie for dead,
Nor can the rest of all her body serve
To find a salve which may her life preserve.
Even so, my lord, if Naples once be lost,
Which is the head of all your Grace's land,
Easy it were for the malicious foe
To get the other cities in their hand :
But if from them that Naples town be free,
I do not doubt but safe the rest shall be;
And therefore, mighty king, I think it best,
To succour Naples rather than the rest.
*subjects] The 4to. subject."
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