Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 12 (signor, sal, zelmane, handkerchief, absolon, dissemble…). Matches are highlighted.
wink, Loves not stark blind. Now Fortune what hast thou done in this latter act? And first I stunge them with consenting love, And made great Soliman sweet beauty's thrall, Humble himself at fair Persedas feet, And made him praise love and captives beauty: Again, I made him to recall his passion, And give Perseda to Erastus hands,
Full speech
WHat, Death and Fortune cross the way of Love? Why thinks Death, Love knows not the history? Of brave Erastus and his Rodian dame: It I that made their hearts consent to love, And therefore come I now as fittest person, To serve for chorus to this Tragedy. Had not I been, they had not died so soon. Nor will I up into the brightsome sphere, From whence I sprung, till in the chorus place, I make it known to you and to the world, What interest Love hath in Tragedies. Why stay we then, lets give the Actors leave. And as occasion serves, make our return. Now Death and Fortune which of all us three, Hath in the Actors shown the greatest power. Have not I taught Erastus and Perseda, By mutual tokens to seal up their loves? Why what is jewels, or what is gold but earth, And humour knit together by compression, And by the world's bright eye, first brought to light, Only to feed men's eyes with vain delight. Loves works are more then of a mortal temper, I couple minds together by consent. Who gave Rhodes Princes to the Cyprian Prince: but Love. I made those Knights of several sect and countries Each one by arms to honour his beloved, Beside, Love hath enforced a fool, The found Bragardo to presume to arms. Fortune thou madest Fernando find the chain, But yet by Loves instruction he was taught, To make a present of it to his Mistress, Nay rather Love, by whose suggisted power, Erastus used such dice, as being false, Ran not by Fortune, but necessity. But with my golden wings isle follow him, And give him aid and succour in distress. Nay that was Love, for I couched my self In poor Erastus eyes, and with a look Orespred with tears, bewitched Solyman, Beside I sat on valiant Brusors tongue, To guide the praises of the herodian knight. Then in the Ladies passion, I showed my power, And lastly Love made Basiliscos tougue, To counter check his heart by turning Turk, And save his life, in spite of death's despite. Wherefore stay we, the more behind, which proves That though Love wink, Loves not stark blind. Now Fortune what hast thou done in this latter act? And first I stunge them with consenting love, And made great Soliman sweet beauty's thrall, Humble himself at fair Persedas feet, And made him praise love and captives beauty: Again, I made him to recall his passion, And give Perseda to Erastus hands, And after make repentance of the deed. But I that have power in earth and heaven above, Stung them both with never failing love. Of life, but not of love, for even in death, Their souls are knit, though bodies be disjoined, Thou didst but wound their flesh, their minds are free, Their bodies buried, yet they honour me. By joining persons, I increase the world. I go, yet Love shall never yield to Death. Now Fortune, what hast thou done in this later passage
Plot summary
Plot — Soliman and Perseda (Zulziman)
Love, Fortune, and Death dispute which of them is the most appropriate chorus to the tragedy; they debate their roles in the choric passages that follow. Erastus proves his knightly prowess in a wedding-day tilt for the Prince of Cyprus, but loses a chain given to him by his love Perseda. Ferdinando finds it and gives it to his love, Lucina. Seeing her wearing it, Perseda believes Erastus has been unfaithful. Erastus visits Lucina in disguise and wins back the chain in a dice- game, but is confronted by Ferdinando, who is killed in the ensuing quarrel. In consequence, Erastus has to go into exile to the enemy state of Turkey, leaving the chain for Perseda as a token of his misunderstood constancy. Rhodes is strategically important, the key to the conquest of Christendom. One of the knights at the wedding tilt, Brusor, was a Turkish spy sent to investigate the island’s defences prior to an attack. He also tells Suleiman about Erastus’ magnificent tiltyard performance, so the Emperor is pleased when Erastus arrives at his court, and allows him to demonstrate his worth in a friendly bout of swordplay. He accepts and honours Erastus, allows him to remain a Christian, and spares him the task of conquering his native Rhodes, which is successfully undertaken by Brusor. . Erastus is appointed the Governor of conquered Rhodes. Prisoners of war are brought to Turkey, including the island’s women, and also the cowardly knight Basilisco, who escapes execution by converting to Islam. Suleiman falls in love with Perseda, but she refuses him for Erastus’ sake, even before she knows that he is now an honoured courtier. Suleiman gives her to Erastus, but later regrets the decision and has him recalled and executed on a false charge of treason. Perseda takes command of Rhodes and resists Suleiman’s army. Not recognizing her at first in her male clothing, Suleiman kills her. On realizing her identity, he kisses her dead lips, but they are poisoned. Rhodes is conquered, but all the principal characters are dead. Accordingly, Death claims primacy over Love and Fortune in the closing chorus.