FRANCISCO

You give too much to fortune, and your passion, Over which a wise man, if Religious, triumphs. That name fools worship, and those tyrants which We arm against our better partly, our reason, May add, but never take from our afflictions: I exact not from you A fortitude insensible of calamity, To which the Saint's themselves have bowde and shown They are made of flesh, and blood, all that I challenge Is manly patience. Will you that were trained up In a Religious School, where divine maxims Scorning comparison, with moral precepts Were daily taught you, bear your constancies trial Not Like Vitelli, but a Village nurse With curses in your mouth: Tears in your eyes? How poorly it shows in you? So shall you find me Most ready to assist you; Neither have I Slept in your great occasions since I left you I have been at the Viceroys Court and presde As far as they allow a Christian entrance. And something I have learnt that may concern The purpose of this journey. By the command of Asambeg, the Viceroy: The City swells with barbarous Pomp and Pride For the entertainment of stout Mustapha The Basham of Aleppo, who in person Comes to receive the niece of Amurah The fair Donusa for his bride. Pray you give me leave. Among the rest that wait upon the Viceroy, (Such as have under him command in Tunis. ) Who as you have often herd are all false Pirates, I saw the shame of Venice and the scorn Of all good men: The periurde Renegado Antono Grimaldy; Yet again? This debauchde villain: whom we ever thought (After his impious scorn done in Saint Marks To me as I stood at the holy Altar) The thief that ravished your fair sister from you, The virtuous Paulina not long since, (As I am truly given to understand) Sold to the viceroy a fair Christian Virgin, On whom, maugre his fierce and cruel nature Asambeg dotes extremely. You are not mad? Is this Religious? D'oe but give me hearing. And you shall soon grant how ridiculous This childish fury is. A wise man never Attempts impossibilities; it's as easy For any single arm to quell and Army. As to effect your wishes; we come hither To learn Paulina's faith, and to redeem her, (Leave your revenge to heaven) I oft have told you Of a Relic that I gave her, which has power (If we may credit holy men's traditions) To keep the owner free from violence: This on her breast she wears, and does preserve The virtue of it by her daily prayers. So if she fallen not by her own consent Which it were sin to think: I fear no force. Be therefore patient, keep this borrowed shape Till time and opportunity present us With some fit means to see her, which performed, I'll join with you in any desperate course For her delivery. And excuse it. Be cheerful man for know that good intents Are in the end Crowned with as fair events. Take heed I say, how ere it may appear Impertinent, I must express my love: My advise, and counsel. You are young And may be tempted, and these Turkish Dams Like English mastiffs that increase their fierceness By being chainde up, from the restraint of freedom If lust once fire their blood from a fair object Will run a course the fiends themselves would shake To enjoy their wanton ends. Be constant in That resolution, I'll abroad again, And learn as far as it is possible What may concern Paulina? Some two hours Shall bring me back. I think he's lost. I am troublde Peace, be not seen. 'Tis he, But strangely metamorphosed. You have made sir. A prosperous voyage, heaven grant it be honest, I shall rejoice then too. 'Tis strange. I am amazed, yet will nor blame, nor chide you, Till you inform me further. Yet must say They steer not the right course, nor traffic well, That seek a passage to reach Heaven, through Hell. I enjoin you not To go, but send. Go and prosper, Holy Saints guide and strengthen thee. Howsoever As my endeavours are, so may they find Gracious acceptance. Can this be possible? All wonders are not ceased then. Grows this dejection, From his disgrace do you say? Does that torment him? You'll be whipped sir, If you bridle not your tongue. Haste to the Palace Your Master looks for you. Out rascal. Hence. Dreadful! hear me, Thou miserable man. Let this stand For and example to you. I'll provide A lodging for him, and apply such cures To his wounded conscience, as heaven hath lent me. He's now my second care: and my profession Binds me to teach the desperate to repent As far as to confirm the innocent. 'Tis forgiven, I with his tongue (whom in these sacred vestments With impure hands thou didst offend) pronounce it, I bring peace to thee, see that thou deserve it In thy fair life hereafter. Purchase it By zealous undertakings, and no more Will be remembered. You will reap The comfort of it, live yet undiscovered, And with your holy meditations strengthen Your Christian resolution, ere long You shall hear further from me. This penitence is not counterfeit, howsoever Good actions are in themselves rewarded, My travails to meet with a double crown, If that Vitelli come off safe, and prove Himself the Master of his wild affections, I scarce have leisure, I am so wholly taken up with sorrow, For my lou'de pupil to inquire thy fate, Yet I will hear it. Is that all? You have made a saving voyage, we must think now, Though not to free, to comfort sad Vitelli, My grieved loule suffers for him. Think not on it. I am affrighted With this dismal preparation. Should the enjoying Of lose desires find ever such conclusions, All Women would be Vestals. I come not empty handed, I will purchase Your favour at what rate you please. There's gold. Now if you please, A little privacy. Oh my dearest pupil, Witness these tears of joy, I never saw you Till now look lovely; nor durst I ere glory In the mind of any man I had built up With the hands of virtuous, and religio S precepts, Till this glad minute. Now you have made good My expectation of you. By my order, All Roman Caesars, that led kings in chains Fast bound to their triumphant chariots, if Compared with that true glory, and full luster You now appear in, all their boast honours Purchased with blood, and wrong, would lose their names And be no more remembered. You do instr ct your teacher. Let the Sun Of your clear life (that lends to good men light) But set as gloriously, as it did rise, Though sometime clouded) you may write ill ultra To humane wishes. There's no contending, Be still thy self my son. You are wondrous brave, and jocund. I well understand you; And my full joy to see you so resolved Weak words cannot express. What is the hour Designed for this solemnity? What is't? A question in it self, with much ease answered; Midwives upon necessity perform to, And Knights that in he oly- and fought for The freedom of Jerusalem, when full Of sweat, and enemies blood, have made their Helmets The fount, out of which with their holy hands They drew that heavenly liquour, it was approved then By the Holy Church, nor must I think it now In you a work less pious. They shall ever Be present with you. And though now fallen, Rise a blessed Martyr. My good convert. I am full Of serious business which denies me leave To hold long conference with you: Only thus much Briefly receive; a day, or two, at the most Shall make me fit to take my leave of Tunis, Or give me lost for ever. Peace to you all. Prosper thou great Existence my endeavours, As they religiously are undertaken, And distant equally from servile gain, And who knows (Since w at above is purposed, is inscrutable) But that the Viceroys extreme dotage on you May be the parent of a happier birth Then yet our Hope's dare fashion. Longer conference May prove un afe for you, and me, however Perhaps for trial he allows you freedom. Be not lost In what you purpose. Discharge your parts, In mine I'll not be wanting; fear not Master, Something will come along to fraught your Bark, That you will have joust cause to say you never Made such a Voyage. What's the best hour? Enough; each to his charge. Oh best of men! he that gives up himself To a true religious friend, leans not upon A false deceiving read, but boldly builds Upon a rock, which now with joy I find In reverend Francisco. Whose good vows, Labors, and watchings in my hopd-for freedom Appear a pious miracle. I come, I come, good man, with confidence, though the descent Were steep as he l, I know I cannot slide Being called down, by such a faithful guide. I much thank you: In this small scroll you may in private read What my intents are, and as they grow ripe I will instruct you further. In the mean time Borrow your late distracted looks, and gesture; The more dejected you appear, the less The Viceroy must suspect you. Farewell sir, Be cheer full Master, something we will do That shall reward it self in the performance, And that's true prize indeed.