Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 1 (nony, tailors, butler, mall, jesu, massinissa…). Matches are highlighted.
And Gentlemen, unmask ere you depart, That I may know to whom my thanks is endue, For this so courteous and unlooked for sport: No wilt not be, then sup with me tomorrow, Well then isle look for you, till then farewell. Accursed Chain, vnforrunate Lucina, My friend is gone, and I am desolate. Return him back fair heavens, or
Full speech
Nay valiant sir, we may not be denied, Fair Ladies should be coy to show their faces, Least that the sun should tan them with his beams, I'll be your page this once, for to disarm you. My words, my looks, my thoughts are all on thee. Ferdinando is Lucina's only joy. And oath, a hand, a kiss. And if I live this shall not be forgotten: But see Ferdinando where Perseda comes, Whom women love for virtue, men for beauty, All the world loves, none hates but envy. Heres none but friends, yet let me challenge you, For gracing me with a malignant style, That I was fairest, and yet Perseda fairer. We Ladies stand upon our beauty's much. Why then the mends is made, and we still friends, What ails you madam, that your colour changes. Weel bring you home, Why then farewell: Fernando lets away. I marry, this shows that Charleman is come, What shall we play here? content, Since Signior Ferdinand will have it so. I were it Cleopatra's union: Signior Fernando, I am sure 'tis you, And Gentlemen, unmask ere you depart, That I may know to whom my thanks is endue, For this so courteous and unlooked for sport: No wilt not be, then sup with me tomorrow, Well then isle look for you, till then farewell. Accursed Chain, vnforrunate Lucina, My friend is gone, and I am desolate. Return him back fair heavens, or let me die, For what was he but comfort of my life? But why was I so careless of the chain, Had I not lost it, my friend had not been slain. His death's my lives departing, And here my tongue doth stay, with swollen hearts grief, Ah, for Fernandos dying. Ah how unpleasant is mirth to melancholy. Here me my Lord, let me go over to Rhodes, That I may plead in your affections cause, One woman may do much to win another. And thanks to you Madame. And sweet Perseda I will stay with you, From Brusor my beloved, and I'll want him, Till he bring back Erastus unto you. I am deceived but you were circumcised, A matter not unlikely: but how chance, Your turkish bonnet is not on your head? Be patient sweet Perseda, the fool but jests, Full fraught with love, and burning with desire, I long have longed for light of Hymen's lights.
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.