BELLA FRANCA

But father how can you endure a slave To triumph in your Fortune's; and here stand In soul deject, and banished from your land? Was that the cause you sent for my four brother's? See where my brother's are already come. Would you so brother? And leave me here alone? Farewell. If ye were born of women, aid a woman. O turn the edges of your swords against him, That in the Forest would have ravished me. To save my life from foul inch stity. For passing by these Countries on my way, To pay my zealous vows in Golgotha, Attended only by a little page: This villain with a crew of russian thiefs, Seized what we had first, haled my page from me: And after would have wracked my chastity. But being swift of foot, fear lent me wings Hither (I hope in happy time) to fly, Either to save mine honour, or to die, How Like is he to Charles by Shipwreck dead! And he to Eustace perished in the waves! But they are b h immortal Saints in heaven: Yet I am glad because these shapes are theirs. My happy coming hath taken up their strife, Preserving mine own honour and my life. Stay Gentlemen. I must do That which amongst you all best pleases you. I am a prisoner; prisoners must obey. You say I shall, and I must not say nay. Princes, what means this frenzy in your hearts? Or hath some Necromantic Conjurer Raised by his Art some ury in my shape, To work sedition in the Christian Camp? You have confirmed by general Parliament A Statute, that must stand inviolate; Namely, that mutiny in Prince or Peasant Is death, a Kingdom cannot save his life. Then whence proceed these strange contentions? Yet hear me Princes. He that best loves me, pierce me with his sword, Lest I become your general overthrow. I do conjure you by the love you bear me, Either to banish this hostility, Or all at once to act my Tragedy. A blow is death proclaimed by Parliament: Can you make Laws, & be the first that break them? Knew I that this my beauty bred this strife, With some black poison I would stain my cheeks, Till I looked fouler then and Ethiop. Still do you brandish your contentious swords? This night shall end my beauty, and to morrow Look to behold my Crystal eyes scratched out, My visage martyred, and my hair torn off: He that best loves it, ransom it with peace: I will preserve it, if your fury cease. But if you still persist, the heavens I call As my vows witness, I will hate you all. You have redeemed my beauty, your last jar Had made perfection with my face at war. Fair youth, why have you singled me along? Is it to share joy, or partake my moan? More then I wish I had: F st, the French General. The English Robert, County Palatine; Two Gentlemen that took me in the woods; One is now banished, but the other still Stays in the Army; the , the Bulloigne Duke, In-faith let me hear thy judgement. I see no such defects in that French Lord. Now fair youth, list to me, I will acquaint thee with a secrecy. These Lords so trouble me with their vain suits, That I am tired and wearied, and resolve To steal away in secret from the Camp. Wilt thou consort me, bear me company, And share with me in joy and misery? Then from their Tents this night we'll steal away, And through the wide woods and the Forests stray. Some of my father's spirit revives in me Give me thy weapon, boy, and thou shalt see, I for us both will win sweet liberty. Saving those Christian Lords that seek my love None living did I more desire to shun. I had a brother, had not the rude seas Worser prived me of him, with that manly look, That grace, that courage, I behold in you. A Prince, whom had the rude seas never seen, Even such another had young Eustace been. It is my brother Eustace. Brother! All Asia flows not with more plenteous treasure, Then I, to embrace my brother, my hearts pl ure. How did you escape the waves? Where are my brother's, Eustace? The lovely Princes. Nay pardon me, love comes not by constraint. But Princes, will you grant me patience, Before I partly, I mean to please you all. First holy Patriarch, tell me of all others, Whom in the world you most worser sire to see. Prince Godfrey, Charles and Eustace, whom say you? And whom you? Who's that? Nay, I'll make good the words that I have said. Father, I give a daughter to your hand: Brother's, behold, here does your sister stand. Tancred behold the Lady you once ceased, Only I leave Prince Robert here displeased. Sure he told me so, For if he be a maid, I made him one. If for King Williams sake now Conqueror, You lost your birthright and inheritance: How comes it that he sees you in this state, And lifts not up your Fortune's ruinate? Amen. Have you all left me amid a world of strangers, Here only to my self: not to protect me, Or to defend me from apparent wrong? Since it is so, I'll follow after you: In some disguise I will pursue their steps, And unto God and fortune yield my self. Towards sea they are gone, and unto sea must I, A Virgins unexpected fate to try. Tancred, of all, thy face best pleases me. Why though he do; it's for in a woman, If she can bear his imperfections. I never marked this Gallant half so much: He hath my brother's eye, my father's brow, And he is Eustace all from top to . Yet, my sweet brother, do not blame the youth, Full well he hath demeaned himself with me. He never, since we entered in these woods, Left me in my distress; when we alone Fit in these deserts never by rude force Did do me the least shame, or violence. But strip my brother from his Prentice coat, His cap, his common soldiers base disguise: Even such a Gallant as this seems to me, Such would my brother, my sweet Eustace be.