[rack

AMU. What, think'st thou, villain, that high Amu-
Bears such a mind, as for the fear of death
He'll yield his daughter, yea, his only joy,
Into the hands of such a dunghill knight?
No, traitor, no, for as now I lie

Clapt up in irons, and with bolts of steel,
Yet do there lurk within the Turkish soil
Such troops of soldiers, that with small ado,
They'll set me scot-free from your men and you.
ALPHON. Villain, say'st thou? traitor and dung-
hill knight?

Now by the heavens, since that thou dost deny
For to fulfil that which in gentle wise

Alphonsus craves, both thou and all thy train
Shall with your lives requite that injury.
Albinius, lay hold of Amurack,
And carry him to prison presently,
There to remain until I do return

Into my tent, for by high Jove I vow,
Unless he wax more calmer out of hand,
His head amongst his fellow kings shall stand!
[Albinius carry Amurack forth, who as he is a
going, must say :

AMU. No, villain, think not that the fear of death Shall make me calmer while I draw my breath. ALPHON. Now, Loelius, take you Iphigena, Her mother Fausta, with these other kings, And put them into prison severally; For Amurack's stout stomach shall undo Both he himself, and all his other crew.

[Fausta kneel down. FAU. O sacred prince, if that the salt-brine tears, Distilling down poor Fausta's wither'd cheeks, Can mollify the hardness of your heart, Lessen this judgment, which thou in thy rage Hast given on thy luckless prisoners!

[past;

ALPHON. Woman, away, my word is gone and Now if I would I cannot call it back. You might have yielded at my first demand, And then you needed* not to fear this hap. Lælius, make haste, and go thou presently For to fulfil, that I commanded thee.

[Rise up Fausta; kneel down Iphigena and say: IPHI. Mighty Alphonsus, since my mother's suit Is so rejected, that in any case

You will not grant us pardon for her sake,
I now will try if that my woeful prayers
May plead for pity at your Grace's feet.
When first you did amongst the thickest ranks
All clad in glittering arms encounter me,
You know yourself what love you did protest
You then did bear unto Iphigena.

Then for that love, if any love you had,
Revoke this sentence, which is too, too bad.
ALPHON. No, damsel, damsel; he that will not
when he may,

When he desires shall surely purchase nay:
If that you had, when first I proffer made,
Yielded to me, mark, what I promis'd you,
I would have done; but since you did deny,
Look for denial at Alphonsus' hands.

Rise up Iphigena, and stand aside. Alphonsus talk with Albinius. Enter CARINUS in his pilgrim's clothes and

say:

CARI. O friendly Fortune, now thou shew'st thy In raising up my son from banish'd state

Unto the top of thy most mighty wheel!
But, what be these, which at his sacred feet

Do seem to plead for mercy at his hands?

I'll

go and sift this matter to the full.

[power,

[Go toward Alphonsus, and speak to one of his soldiers.

*needed] The 4to. "need."

Sir knight, and may a pilgrim be so bold
To put your person to such mickle pain,
For to inform me what great king is this,
And what these be, which, in such woeful sort,
Do seem to seek for mercy at his hands?

SOL. Pilgrim, the king that sits on stately throne
Is called Alphonsus; and this matron hight,*
Fausta, the wife to Amurack the Turk;
That is their daughter, fair Iphigena;

Both which, together with the Turk himself,
He did take prisoners in a battle fought

[Alphonsus] spy out Carinus, and say: ALPHON. And can the gods be found so kind to me, As that Carinus now I do espy?

"Tis he indeed. Come on, Albinius :

The mighty conquest which I have atchiev'd,
And victories the which I oft have won,

Bring not such pleasure to Alphonsus' heart,
As now my father's presence doth impart.

[Alphonsus and Albinius go toward Carinus;
Alphonsus stand looking on Carinus; Cari-

nus say:

CARI. What ne'er a word, Alphonsus? art thou
Or doth my presence so perturb thy mind, [dumb?
That for because I come in pilgrim's weed,
You think each word which you do spend to me
A great disgrace unto your name to be?

Why speak'st thou not? If that my place you crave,
I will begone, and you my place shall have.
ALPHON. Nay, father, stay; the Gods of heaven
That e'er Alphonsus should desire or wish
To have his absence, whom he doth account
To be the loadstone of his life!

[forbid

What though the Fates and Fortune both in one,
Have been content to call your loving son

From beggar's state unto this princely seat,
Should I therefore disdain my aged sire?
No, first both crown and life I will detest,
Before such venom breed within my breast.
What erst I did, the sudden joy I took
To see Carinus in such happy state,
Did make me do, and nothing else at all,
High Jove himself, do I to witness call.

CARI. These words are vain, I knew as much But yet, Alphonsus, I must wonder needs, [before. That whose you, * years are prone to Cupid's snares, Can suffer such a goddess as this dame

Thus for to shed such store of crystal tears.
Believe me, son, although my years be spent,
Her sighs and sobs in twain my heart do rent.
ALPHON. Like power, dear father, had she over me,
Until for love, I looking to receive

Love back again, not only was denied,
But also taunted in most spiteful sort:

Which made me loathe that which I erst did love,
As she herself, with all her friends shall prove.
CARI. How now, Alphonsus? You which have
so long

Been trained up in bloody broils of Mars,
What, know you not that castles are not won
At first assault, and women are not woo'd
When first their suitors proffer love to them?
As for my part, I should account that maid
A wanton wench, unconstant, lewd and light,
That yields the field before she venture fight;
Especially unto her mortal foe,

As you were then unto Iphigena.
But, for because I see you fitter are
To enter lists, and combat with your foes,

*prone] The 4to. " proue."

Than court fair ladies in God Cupid's tents,
Carinus means your spokesman for to be,
And if that she consent, you shall agree.

ALPHON. What you command Alphonsus must Though otherwise perhaps he would deny. [not fly, CARI. Then, dainty damsel, stint these trickling

tears,

Cease sighs and sobs, yea, make a merry cheer:
Your pardon is already purchased,

So that you be not over curious

In granting to Alphonsus' just demand.

IPHI. Thanks, mighty prince, no curioser I'll be Than doth become a maid of my degree.

CARI. The gods forbid that e'er Carinus tongue Should go about to make a maid consent Unto the thing which modesty denies. That which I ask, 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 lean unto that thing. And that is this: since first Alphonsus' eyes Did hap to glance upon your heavenly hue, And saw the rare perfection of the same, He hath desired to become your spouse: Now, if you will unto the same agree,

I dare assure you that you shall be free.

IPHI. Pardon, dear lord, the world goes very hard, When womenkind are forced for to woo;

If that your son had loved me so well,
Why did he not inform me of the same?

[forgot

CARI. Why did he not! What, have you clean What ample proffers he did make to you, When, hand to hand, he did encounter you?

IPHI. No, worthy sir, I have not it forgot,

But Cupid cannot enter in the breast,

* curious] i. e. scrupulous.