Page images
PDF
EPUB

Where Mars before had took possession.
That was no time to talk of Venus' games,
When all our fellows were press'd in the wars.
CARI. Well, let that pass: now can'st thou be

content

To love Alphonsus, and become his spouse ?

IPHI. Ay, if the high Alphonsus could vouchsafe To entertain me as his wedded spouse.

ALPHON. If that he could! What, do'st thou doubt of that?

Jason did jet whenas he had obtain❜d
The golden fleece by wise Medea's art;
The Greeks rejoiced when they had subdued
The famous bulwarks of most stately Troy;
But all their mirth was nothing in respect
Of this my joy, since that I now have got
That which I long desired in my heart.

CARI. But what says Fausta to her daughter's choice?

FAU. Fausta doth say, the Gods have been her friends,

To let her live to see Iphigena

Bestowed so unto her heart's content.

ALPHON. Thanks, mighty empress, for your gen

And if Alphonsus can at any time

With all his power requite this courtesy,

You shall perceive how kindly he doth take
Your forwardness in this his happy chance.
CARI. Albinius, go call forth Amurack :
We'll see what he doth say unto this match.

[tleness;

[Exit Albinius; bring forth Amurack. Most mighty Turk, I with my warlike son, Alphonsus, loathing that so great a prince As you should live in such unseemly sort,

VOL. II.

*jet] i. e. strut.

F

Have sent for you to proffer 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 Iphigena,

Have given consent that this my

warlike son

Should have your daughter for his bedfellow :
Now resteth nought but that you do agree,
And so to purchase sure tranquillity.

AMU. Now, Amurack, advise thee what thou sayest;
Bethink thee well what answer thou wilt make:
Thy life and death dependeth on thy words.
If thou deny to be Alphonsus' sire,

Death is thy share, but if that thou consent,
Thy life is sav'd. Consent! nay, rather die :
Should I consent to give Iphigena

Into the hands of such a beggar's brat?
What, Amurack, thou dost deceive thyself ;
Alphonsus is the son unto a king:

What then ? then worthy of thy daughter's love.
She is agreed, and Fausta is content;

Then Amurack will not be discontent.

[Take Iphigena by the hand, give her to Alphonsus. Here, brave Alphonsus, take thou at my hand

Iphigena, I give her unto thee;

And for her dowry, when her father die,
Thou shalt possess the Turkish empery.

Take her, I say, and live king Nestor's years:

So would the Turk, and all his noble peers.

ALPHON. Immortal thanks I give unto your Grace. CARI. Now, worthy princes, since by help of Jove On either side the wedding is decreed, Come, let us wend to Naples speedily, For to solemnize it with mirth and glee. AMU. As you do will, we jointly do agree.

[Exeunt omnes.

Enter VENUS, with the MUSES, and say:

VEN. Now, worthy Muses, with unwilling mind,
Venus is forc'd to trudge to heavens again,
For Jupiter, that God of peerless power
Proclaimed hath a solemn festival,

In honour of dame Danae's luckless death;
Unto the which, in pain of his displeasure,
He hath invited all the immortal gods
And goddesses, so that I must be there,
Unless I will his high displeasure bear.
You see Alphonsus hath, with much ado,
At length obtained fair Iphigena
Of Amurack her father, for his wife,

Who now are going to the temple wards,
For to perform dame Juno's sacred rites,
Where we will leave them, till the feast be done,
Which, in the heavens, by this time is begun.
Meantime, dear Muses, wander you not far
Forth of the path of high Parnassus' hill,
That when I come to finish up his life,

You may

be ready for to succour me :

Adieu, dear dames, farewell, Calliope.

[Exit Venus; or, if you can conveniently, let a chair come down from the top of the stage, and draw her up.

CAL. Adieu, you sacred goddess of the sky. Well, loving sisters, since that she is gone, Come, let us haste unto Parnassus' hill

As Cytherea did lately will.

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

[Exeunt omnes, playing on their instruments.

JAMES THE FOURTH.

« PreviousContinue »