ALPHONSUS

Although deer father I have often vowed Near to unfold the secrets of my heart To any man or woman, who some ere Dwells underneath the circle of the kie: Yet do your words so conjure me deer sire, That needs I must fulfil that you require. Then so it is, amongst the famous tales Which you rehearsed done by our sire's in war, When as you came unto your father's days, With sobbing notes, with sighs & blubbering tears, And much ado, at length you thus began. Next to Alphonsus should my father come, For to possess the Diadem by right Of Aragon, but that the wicked wretch His younger brother, with aspiring mind, By secret treason robbed him of his life, And me his son, of that which was my endue. These words my sire, did so torment my mind, As had I be with Ixion in hell, The ravening bird could never plague me worse: For ever since my mind hath troubled be Which way I might revenge this traitorous fact, And that recover which is ours by right. Yet noble father, ere Carinus brood Shall brook his foe for to usum his seat, Heel 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, A I should fail in this my joust attempt: This sword deer father should the Author be, To make and end of this my Tragedy. Therefore sweet sire, remain you here a while, And let me walk my Fortune for to to e: I do not doubt but ere the time be long, I'll quite his cost, or else my self will die. And is he gone? then High Alphonsus High, 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. Villain sai to thou, nay villain in thy throat: What knowest ou skip ck whom thou villain callest? That shalt thou soon approve persuade thy self, Or else isle die, or thou shalt die for me. Rise up my f end, thy pardon soon is go But prithi ll me what the avie might be That in such S to thou e st m ? Have compassed the circle of the sky, I'll clog their tongues, since nothing else will serve To keep those vild and threatening speeches in. Farewell Belinus, look thou to thy self: Alphonsus means to have thy Crown ere night. Thanks worthy Miles, least all the world Should count Alphonsus thankless for to be, Laelius fit down, and Miles fit by him, And that receive, the which your swords have won. First, for because thou Laelius in these broils, By martial might, didst proud Belinus chase, From troop to troop, from side to side about, And never ceased from this thy swift pursuit, Until thou hadst obtained his royal Crown, Therefore I say, isle do thee nought but right, And give thee that which thou well hast won. Here does Alphonsus Crown thee Laelius, King Of Naples Town, with all dominions That erst belonged to our traitorous foe, That proud Belinus in his regiment. Miles, thy share the Milan Dukedom is, For well I wot thy sword deserved no less. The which Alphonsus frankly gives thee, In presen of his warlike men at arms. And if that any stomach this my deed, Alphonsus can revenge thy wrong with speed. Now to Albinius which in all my toils I have both faithful, yea and friendly found: Since that the Gods and friendly Fates assign This present time to me to recompense, The sundry pleasures thou hast done to me, Fit down by them, and on thy faithful head Receive the Crown of peerless Aragon. And nought is left for me but Aragon? Yes surely yes, my Fates have so decreed, That Aragon should be too base a thing, For to obtain Alphonsus for her King. What hear you not how that our scattered foes, Belinus, Fabius, and the Milan Duke, Are fled for succour to the Turkish Court? And think you not that Amurack their King, Will with the mightiest power of all his land, Seek to revenge Belinus overthrow? Then doubt I not but ere these broils do end, Alphonsus shall possess the Diadem That Amurack now wears upon his head. Fit down therefore and that receive of me: The which the Fates appointed unto thee. A rise Albinius King of Aragon, Crowned by me, who till my gasping ghost Do partly asunder from my breathless corpses, Will be thy shield against all men alive: That for thy kingdom any way do strive. Now since we have in such and happy hour Confirmed three kings, come let us march with speed Into the City, for to celebrate With mirth and joy, this blissful festival. Pagan I say, thou greatly art deceived, I clap up Fortune in a cage of gold, To make her turn her wheel as I think best. And as for Mars whom you do say will change, He moping sits behind the kitchen door, Pressed at command of every Skullians mouth Who dares not stir, nor once to move a whit For fear Alphonsus then should stomach it. And thou shalt die unless it come to pass. Now Laelius, take you Iphigina, Her mother Faustam, with these other Kings, And put them into prisons severally: For Amuracks stout stomach shall undo, Both he himself and all his other crew. What you command, Alphonsus must not fly: Though otherwise perhaps he would deny. If that he could? what dost thou doubt of that Jason did jet when as he had obtained, 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 God, That which I long desired in my heart. Thanks mighty Empress for your gentleness, And if Alphonsus can at any time With all his power requite this courtesy, You shall perceive how kindly he does take Your forwardness in this his happy chance. Immo tall thanks I give unto your grace. What news my friend? why are you so blank That erst before did vau it to the skies? Welcome brave youths of Aragon to me. Yea welcome Miles, Lali S and the rest, Whose prowess alone hath be the only cause, That we Like victor's have subdued our foes. Lord what a pleasure was it to my mind, To see Bel S, which not long before, Did with his threatenings terrify the Gods, Now scud apace, from warlike L lius blows: The Duke of Milan he increased our sport, When doubting that his force was ouerweake, For to withstand Miles, thy sturdy arm Did give more credence to his frisking skippes Then to the sharpness of his cutting blade, What Fabius did to pleasure us withal, Albinius knows as well as I my self: For well I wot, if that thy tired steed Had be as fresh and swift in foot as his, He should have felt, yea known for certainty, To check Alphonsus, did deserve to die. Briefly my friends and fellow peers in arms, The worst of you do deserve such much praise, As that my tongue denies for to set forth The demi parcel of your valiant deeds, So that perforce, I must by duty be Bound to you all, for this your courtesy. Thou Pagan dog how darest thou be so bold To set thy foot within Alphonsus land? What art thou come to view thy wretched kings, Whose traitorous heads bedecked my tents so well? Or else thou hearing that on top thereof, There is a place left vacant, art thou come To have thy head possess the highest seat? If it be so, lie down, and this my sword Shall presently that honour thee afford. If not, pack hence, or by the heavens I vow, Both thou and thine shall very soon perceive, That he that seeks to move my patience, Must yield his life to thee for recompense. Nay virgin stay, and if thou wilt vouchsafe To entertain Alphonsus simple suit, Thou shalt ere long be Monarch of the world: All christened kings, with all your Pagan dogs Shall bend their knees unto Iphigina. The Indian soil shall be thine at command, Where every step thou settest on the ground, Shall be received on the golden mines. Rich Pactolus that river of account, Which does descend from top of Tiuole mount, Shall be thine own, and all the world beside: If you will grant to be Alphonsus bride. Nay then proud peacock since thou art so stou , As that intreaty will not move thy mind For to consent to be my wedded spouse, Thou shalt in spite of Gods and Fortune too, Serve high. Alphonsus as a concubine. Nay father stay, the Gods of heaven forbid, That ere Alphonsus should desire or wish To have his absence whom he does account To be the Loadstone of his life. What though the fates and fortune both in one, Have be content to call your loving son, From beggars 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. Like power deer 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 her self, with all her friends shall prove. No dainty dame, I would not have thee think That ever thou or any other wight, Shall live to see Alphnosus fly the field From any king or Caesar who some ere, First will I die in thickest of my foe, Before I will disbase mine honour so. Nor do I scorn thou gods for to stain My prowess with thee, although it be a shame For knights to combat with the female sect. But love sweet mouse hath so benumbed my wit, That though I would, I must refrain from it. Villain sayest thou, traitor & dunghill 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 Amuracke, 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. Now Amurack the proud blasphemous dogs (For so ou termed us) which did brall and rail Against God Mars, and fickle Fortune's wheel, Have God the goal for all your solemn prayers: Your self are prisoner, which as then did think That all the forces of the triple world, Were insufficient to fulfil the same. How Like you this? is Fortune of such might, Or hath God Mars such force or power divine, As that he can with all the power he hath, Set thee and thine forth of Alphonsus hands? I do not think but that your Hope's so small, As that you would with very willing mind, Yield for my spouse the fair Iphigina, On that condition, that without delay, Faustam and you may scotfree escape away.