No, proud Alphonsus, Amurack doth fly
To quail thy courage, and that speedily.

[Sound instruments awhile within, and then
Amurack say:

And dost thou think, thou proud injurious God,
Mahound I mean, since thy vain prophecies
Led Amurack into this doleful case,

To have his princely feet in irons clapt,

Which erst the proudest kings were forc'd to kiss,
That thou shalt 'scape unpunish'd for the same?
No, no, as soon as by the help of Jove

I 'scape this bondage, down go all thy groves,
Thy altars tumble round about the streets,
And whereas erst we sacrific'd to thee,

Now all the Turks thy mortal foes shall be.

[Sound instruments awhile within; Amurack say: Behold the gem and jewel of mine age,

See where she comes, whose heavenly majesty
Doth far surpass the brave and gorgeous pace,
Which Cytherea, daughter unto Jove,

*

Did put in ure, whenas she had obtain❜d
The golden apple at the shepherd's hands.
See, worthy Fausta, where Alphonsus stands,
Whose valiant courage could not daunted be
With all the men at arms of Africa;

See now he stands, as one that lately saw
Medusa's head, or Gorgon's hoary hue.

[Sound instruments awhile within; Amurack
And can it be that it may happen so ?
Can fortune prove so friendly unto me,
As that Alphonsus loves Iphigena?

The match is made, the wedding is decreed,

say:

Sound trumpets, hah! strike drums for mirth and glee! And three times welcome son in law to me!

[Fausta rise up as it were in a fury; wake Amurack, and say:

*ure] See note + p. 6.

FAU. Fie, Amurack, what wicked words be these?
How can'st thou look thy Fausta in her face,
Whom thou hast wronged in this shameful sort?
And are the vows so solemnly you sware
Unto Belinus my most friendly niece*

Now wash'd so clearly from thy traitorous heart?
Is all the rancour which you erst did bear
Unto Alphonsus worn so out of mind,

As where thou shouldest pursue him to death,
You seek to give our daughter to his hands?
The gods forbid that such a heinous deed
With my consent should ever be decreed :
And rather than thou should'st it bring to pass,
If all the army of Amazones

Will be sufficient to withhold the same,
Assure thyself that Fausta means to fight
'Gainst Amurack for to maintain the right.

IPHI. Yea, mother, say, which Mahomet forbid,
That in this conflict you should have the foil,
Ere that Alphonsus should be call'd my spouse,
This heart, this hand, yea, and this blade, should be
A readier means to finish that decree.

[Amurack rise in a rage from thy chair. AMU. What threatening words thus thunder in mine ears?

Or who are they amongst the mortal troops,
That dare presume to use such threats to me?
The proudest kings and keisars of the land
Are glad to feed me in my fantasy;

And shall I suffer, then, each prattling dame
For to upbraid me in this spiteful sort?

No, by the heavens, first will I lose my crown,

My wife, my children, yea, my life and all.
And therefore, Fausta, thou which Amurack
Did* tender erst as the apple of mine eye,
Avoid my court, and if thou lov'st thy life,
Approach not nigh unto my regiment.+
As for this carping girl, Iphigena,

Take her with thee to bear thee company,
And in my land I rede be seen no more,

For if you do, you both shall die therefore. [Exit.
FAU. Nay then, I see 'tis time to look about,
Delay is dangerous, and procureth harm:
The wanton colt is tamed in his youth;

Wounds must be cur'd when they be fresh and green;
And pluresies, when they begin to breed,
With little ease are driven away with speed.
Had Fausta then, when Amurack begun
With spiteful speeches to control and check,
Sought to prevent it by her martial force,
This banishment had never hapt to me.
But the Echinus, fearing to be goar'd,
Doth keep her younglings in her paunch so long,
'Till when their pricks be waxen long and sharp,
They put their dam at length to double pain:
And I, because I loath'd the broils of Mars,
Bridled my thoughts, and pressed down my rage;
In recompense of which my good intent,
I have received this woeful banishment.
Woeful, said I? nay, happy I did mean,
If that be happy which doth set one free;
For by this means I do not doubt ere long
But Fausta shall with ease revenge her wrong.
Come, daughter, come: my mind fortelleth me,
That Amurack shall soon requited be.

[Make as though you were a going out; Medea
meet her and say:

MEDEA. Fausta, what means this sudden flight of yours?

Why do you leave your husband's princely court,
And all alone pass through these thickest groves,
More fit to harbour brutish savage beasts
Than to receive so high a queen as you?
Although your credit would not stay your steps
From bending them into these darkish dens,
Yet should the danger, which is imminent
To every one which passeth by these paths,
Keep you at home with fair Iphigena.
What foolish toy hath tickled you to this?
I greatly fear some hap hath hit amiss.

FAU. No toy, Medea, tickled Fausta's head,
Nor foolish fancy led me to these groves,
But earnest business eggs my trembling steps
To pass all dangers, whatsoe'er they be.
I banish'd am, Medea, I, which erst
Was Empress over all the triple world,
Am banish'd now from palace and from pomp.
But if the gods be favourers to me,

Ere twenty days I will revenged be.

[est leaves MEDEA. I thought as much when first from thick

I saw you trudging in such posting pace.

But to the purpose; what may be the cause

Of this strange and sudden banishment?

FAU. The cause, ask you? A simple cause, God wot; "Twas neither treason, nor yet felony, But for because I blam'd his foolishness. MEDEA. I hear you say so, but I greatly fear, Ere that your tale be brought unto an end, You'll prove yourself the author of the same. But pray, be brief; what folly did your spouse, And how will you revenge your wrong on him?

FAU. What folly, quoth you? Such as never yet Was heard or seen since Phoebus first 'gan shine. You know how he was gathering in all haste

His men at arms,

to set upon the troop
Of proud Alphonsus; yea, you well do know
How you and I did do the best we could
To make him show us in his drowsy dream
What afterward should happen in his wars.
Much talk he had, which now I have forgot,
But at the length this surely was decreed,
How that Alphonsus and Iphigena
Should be conjoin'd in Juno's sacred rites;
Which when I heard, as one that did despise
That such a traitor should be son to me,
I did rebuke my husband, Amurack.

And since my words could take no better place,
My sword with help of all Amazones
Shall make him soon repent his foolishness.
MEDEA. This is the cause, then, of

And now you go unto Amazone,
To gather all your maidens in array,
To set upon the mighty Amurack?

your

banish[ment?

O foolish queen, what meant you by this talk?
Those prattling speeches have undone you all.
Do you disdain to have that mighty prince,
I mean Alphonsus, counted for your son?
I tell you, Fausta, he is born to be
The ruler of a mighty monarchy.

I must confess the powers of Amurack

Be great, his confines stretch both far and near,
Yet are they not the third part of the lands
Which shall be ruled by Alphonsus' hands;
And yet you 'dain* to call him son in law.
But when you see his sharp and cutting sword
Piercing the heart of this your gallant girl,
You'll curse the hour wherein you did denay
To join Alphonsus with Iphigena.