SOLIMAN

I long till Brusor be returned from Rhodes, To know how he hath born him gainst the Christians, That are assembled there to try their valour, But more to be well assured by him, How Rhodes is fenced, and how I best may lay, My never failing siege to win that plot, For by the holy Alcaron I swear, I'll call my Soldiers home from Persia, And let the Sophy breath, and from the Russian broils Call home my hardy, dauntless Janissaires, And from the other skirts of Christendom, Call home my Bassowes and my men of war, And so beleaguer Rhodes by sea and land. That Key will serve to open all the gates, Through which our passage cannot find a stop, Till it have pricked the heart of Christendom, Which now that paltry Island keeps from scathe. Say brother Amurath, and Haleb, say, What think you of our resolution? How long shall Soliman spend his time, And waste his days in fruitless obsequies, Adds but a trouble to my brother's ghost: Perhaps my grief and long continual moan, Which but for me would now have took their rest, Then farewell sorrow, and now revenge draw near. In controversy touching the I'll of Rhodes, My brother's died, on Rhodes isle he revenged, Now tell me Brusor whats the news at Rhodes? Hath the young prince of Cipris married Cornelia, daughter to the Governor. I that, or any thing thou shalt desire, Thou shalt be Captain of our Janissaires, And in our counsel shalt thou fit with us, And be great Solimans adopted friend. Must I give aim to this presumption? What dismal Planets guides this fatal hour, Villain, thy brother's groans do call for thee. To wander with them through eternal night. No Amurath, for murdering him thou diest: O Haleb how shall I begin to mourn, Or how shall I begin to shed salt tears. For whom no words nor tears can well suffice. Ah that my rich imperial Diadem, Could satisfy thy cruel destiny: Or that a thousand of our Turkish souls, Or twenty thousand millious of our foes, Could ransom thee from fell death's tyranny, To winthy life would Soliman be poor, And live in servile bondage all my days, Accursed Amurath, that for a worthless cause, In blood hath shortened our sweet Halebs days, Ah what is dearer bound then brotherhood, Yet Amurath thou Wertenberg my brother too, If wilful folly did not blind mine eyes, I, I, and thou as virtuous as Haleb, And I as deer to thee as unto Haleb, And thou as near to me as Haleb was, Ah Amurath: why Wertenberg thou so unkind to him For uttering but a that warting word? And Haleb, why did not thy hearts counsel, Bridle the found intemperance of thy tongue? Nay wretched Solyman, why didst not thou Withhold thy hand, from heaping blood on blood, Might I not better spare one joy then both, If love of Haleb forced me on to wrath, Cursed be that wrath that is the way to death, If justice forced me on, cursed be that justice That makes the brother, Butcher of his brother, Come Janissaires, and help me to lament, And bear my joys on either side of me: I, late my joys, but now my lasting sorrow, Thus, thus, let Soliman pass on his way, Bearing in either hand his hearts decay. What greater then at our coronation? At tilt, who won the honour of the day? These praises Brusor touch me to the heart, And makes me wish that I had been at Rhodes, Under the habit of some errant knight, Both to have seen and tried his valour. What ere he be, even for his virtues sake, I wish that fortune of our holy wars, Would yield him prisoner unto Soliman: We may our selves be famed for virtues. But let him pass, and Brusor tell me now, How did the Christians use onr Knights? What thinkest thou of their valour and demeanour? Then tell me Brusor, how is Rhodes fenced, For either Rhodes shall be brave Soliman's, Or cost me more brave Soldiers Then all that I'll will bear. How ever Rhodes be fenced by sea or land, It either shall be mine, or bury me: Whats he that thus boldly enters in? His habit argues him a Christian, Tell me man, what madness brought thee hither? What misery? speak, for though you Christians, Account our Turkish raze but barbarous, Yet have we ears to hear a joust complaint, And justice to defend the innocent, And pity, to such as are in poverty, And liberal hands to such as merit bounty, Is this the man that thou hast so describe? Stand up fair knight, that what my heart desires, Mine eyes may view with pleasure and delight, This face of thine should harbour no deceit. Erastus isle not yet urge to know the cause, That brought thee hither, Least with the discourse, thou shouldst afflict thy self, And cross the fullness of my joyful passion, But that we are assure, Heavens brought thee hither for our benefit, Know thou that Rhodes, nor all that Rhodes contains, Shall win thee from the side of Soliman, If we but find thee well inclined to us. Erastus, to make thee well assure, How well thy speech and presents liketh us, Ask what thou wilt, it shall be granted thee. Erastus, now thou hast obtained thy boon, Deny not Soliman this own request; A virtuous envy pricks me with desire, To try thy valour, say art thou content? Then give us Swords and Targets, And now Erastus think me thine enemy, But ever after thy continual friend, And spare me not, for then thou wrongest my honour. Nay, nay Erastus, throw not down thy weapons, As if thy force did fail, it is enough That thou hast conquered Soliman by strength, By courtesy let Soliman conquer thee. And now from arms to counsel sir thee down: Before thy coming I vowed to conquer Rhodes, Say wilt thou be our Lieutenant there, And further us in manage of these wars? Why favourest thou thy countrymen so much, By whose cruelty thou art exylde? Nor suffer this or that to trouble thee, Thou shalt not need Phylippo nor his I'll, Nor shalt thou war against thy Countrymen, I Like thy virtue in refusing it, But that our oath may have his currant course, Brusor, go levy men, Prepare a fleet, to assault and conquer Rhodes, Mean time Erastus and I will strive, By mutual kindness to excel each other. Brusor be gone, and see not Soliman, Till thou hast brought Rhodes in subjection. And now Erastus come and follow me. Where thou shalt see what pleasures and what sports, My Minions and my Eunuchs can devise, To driven away this melancholy mood. The Prince of Cipris to, is likewise slain. Rhodes is taken, and all the men are slain. Except some few that turn to Mahomet. Go then, go spend thy mournings all at once, That in thy presence Soliman may joy. For hitherto have I reaped little pleasure, Well well Erastus, Rhodes may bless thy birth, For his sake only will I spare them more, From spoil, pillage, and oppression, Then Alexander spared warlike Thebes For Pindarus: or then Augustus Sparde rich Alexandria for Arias sake. First thanks to heaven, and next to Brusors valour, Which isle not guerdon with large promises, But straight reward thee with a bounteous largess: But what two Christian Virgins have we here? This present pleases more then all the rest, And were their garments turned from black to white, I should have deemed them Juno's goodly Swans, Or Venus milk white Doves, so mild they are, And so adorned with beauty's miracle. Here Brusor this kind Turtle shall be thine, Take her and use her at thy pleasure: But this kind Turtle is for Soliman, That her captivity may turn to bliss. Fair looks resembling Phœbus radiant beams, Smooth forehead Like the table of high Jove, Small pensild eye brows, Like to glorious rainbows, Quick lampelike eyes, Like heavens two brightest orbs, Lips of pure Coral breathing Ambrosie, Cheeks, where the Rose and Lily are incombate, Neck whiter then the Snowy Apenines, Breasts Like two overflowing Fountains, Betwixt which a vale leads to the Elisian shades, Where under covert lies the fount of pleasure, Which thoughts may guess, but tongue must not profane. A sweeter creature nature never made, Love never rainted Solyman till now, Now fair Virgin let me hear thee speak. The found is honey, but the sense is gall: The sweating bless me with a cheerful look. If tongue with grief, and eyes with tears be filled, Say Virgin, how doth thy heart admit, The pure affection of great Soliman? Nay then I see my stooping makes her proud, She is my vassal, and I will command, Coy Virgin knowest thou what offence it is, To thwart the will and pleasure of a king? Why thy life is done, if I but say the word. And die thou shalt, unless thou change thy mind. Then kneel thou down, And army hands receive the stroke of death, Domde to thy self by thine own wilfulness. Brusor hide her, for her looks withhold me, Oh Brusor thou hast not hid her lips, For there sits Venus with Cupid on her knee, And all the Graces smiling round about her, So craving pardon that I cannot strike. Why, so. Oh Brusor, seest thou not her milk white neck, That Alabaster tower, 'Twill break the edge of my keen Semitor, And pieces flying back will wound my self. Why now at last she die. Hark Brusor she calls on Christ, I will not send her to him, Her words are music, The self same music that in ancient days, Brought Alexander from war to banqueting, And made him fallen from skirmishing to kissing. No my deer Love would not let me kill thee, Though Majesty would turn desire to wrath, There lies my sword, humbled at thy feet, And I my self that govern many kings, Entreat a pardon for my rash misdeed. What ere it be, Perseda I grant it thee, My word is passed, and I recall my passion, What should he do with crown and Empery, That cannot govern private found affections, Yet give me leave in honest sort to court thee, To ease, though not to cure, my malady: Come fit thee down upon my right hand here, This seat I keepevoide for another friend: Go Janissaires call in your Governor, So shall I joy between two captive friends, And yet my self becaptiue to them both, If friendships yoke were not at liberty: See where he comes my other best beloved. What words in affection do I see? By this one accedent I well perceive, That heavens and heavenly powers do manage love, I love them both, I know not which the better, They love each other best, what then should follow, But that I conquer both by my deserts, And join their hands, whose hearts are knit already, Erastus and Perseda come you hither, And both give me your hands, Erastus, none but thou couldst win Perseda, Perseda, none but thou couldst win Erastus From great Soliman, so well I love you both: And now to turn late promises to good effect, Be thou Erastus Governor of Rhodes, By this thou shalt dismiss my garrison. Give me a crown, to crown the bride withal, Perseda, for my sake wear this crown: Now is she fairer then she was before, This title so augments her beauty as the fire, That lay with honours hand racked up in ashes, Revies again to flames, the force is such, Remove the cause, and then the effect will die, They must depart, or I shall not be quiet, Erastus and Perseda, marvel not, That all in hast I wish you to depart, There is and urgent cause, but privy to my self, Command my shipping for to waft you over. Farewell Erastus, Perseda farewell to. Me thinks I should not partly with two such friends, The one so renowned for arms and courtesy, The other so adorned with grace and modesty: Yet of the two Perseda moves me most, I and so moves me, that I now repent, That ere I gave away my hearts desire, What was it but abuse of Fortune's gift, And therefore Fortune now will be revenged. What was it but abuse of loves command, And therefore mighty Love will be revenged: What was it but abuse of heavens that gave her me, And therefore angry heavens will be revenged: Heavens, Love, and Fortune, all three have decreed, That I shall love her still, and lack her still, Like ever thirsting wretched Tantalus: Foolish Soliman, why did I strive, To do him kindness, and undo my self? Well governed friends do first regard themselves. To one passed cure, good counsel comes too late, Yet say thy mind. My lines and gifts will but return my shame. Indeed Lucina were her husband from her, She happily might be won by thy persuades, But while he lives there is no hope in her. I sayest thou so? why then it shall be so, But by what means shall poor Erastus die? O fine devise, Brusor get thee gone, Come thou again, but let the lady stay, To win Perseda to my will, mean while, Will I prepare the judge and witnesses, And if this take effect, thou shalt be Viceroy, And fair Lucina Queen of Tripoli, Brusor be gone, for till thou come I languish. And now to ease my troubled thoughts at last, I will go fit among my learned Eunuchs, And here them play, and see my minions dance, For till that Brusor bring me my desire, I may assuage, but never quench loves fire. Lord marshal, see you handle it cunningly, And when Erastus comes our perjured friend, See he be condemned by marshal law, Here will I stand to see and not be seen. Ah that Perseda were not half so fair, Or that Soliman were not so found, Or that Perseda had some other love, Whose death might save my poor Erastus life, See where he comes, whom though I dearly love, Yet must his blood be spilled for my behoof, Such is the force of morrow burning love. Yes, thou, and I, and all of us betray him. My self would be his witness if I durst, But bright Perseda's beauty stops my tongue. Mischief and death shall light upon you both. Oh unjust Soliman, Oh wicked time, Where filthy lust must murder honest love. Oh save his life, if it be possible, I will not lose him for my kingdoms worth, Ah poor Erastus art thou dead already, What bold presumer durst be so resolved, For to bereave Erastus life from him, Whose life to me was dearer then mine own, Wast thou and thou, Lord marshal bring them het her, And at Erastus hand let them receive, The stroke of death, whom they have spoiled of life: What is thy hand to weak? then mine shall help, To send them down to everlasting night, To wait upon thee through eternal shade, Thy soul shall not go mourning hence alone: Thus die and thus, for thus you murdered him, But soft me thinks he is not satisfied, The breath does murmur softly from his lips, And bids me kill those bloody witnesses, By whose treachery Erastus died: Lord Marshal, hale them to the towers top, And throw them headlong down into the valley, So let their treasons with their lives have end. Speak not a word, least in my wrathful fury, I doom you to ten thousand direful torments: And Brusor see Erastus be interred, With honour in a kingly sepulcher, Why when Lord marshal? great Hector's son, Although his age did plead for innocence: Was sooner tumbled from the fatal tower. Then are those periurde wicked witnesses. Why now Erastus Ghost is satisfied: I, but yet the wicked Judge survives, By whom Erastus was condemned to die, Brusor, as thou love me stab in the marshal, Least he detect us unto the world, By making known our bloody practises, And then will thou and I hoist sail to Rhodes, Where thy Lucina and my Perseda lives. Here ends my deer Erastus tragedy, And now begins my pleasant Comedy, But if Perseda understand these news, Our seane will prove but tragicomical. Then Brusor come, and with some few men, Lets sail to Rhodes with all convenient speed, For till I fouled Perseda in mine arms, My troubled ears are deft with loves alarms. The gates are shut, which proves that Rhodes re uolts, And that Perseda is not Solimans. Ah Brusor see where thy Lucina lies Butchered dispightfullie without the walls. Nay gentle Brusor stay thy tears a while, Least with thy woes thou spoil my comedy, And all to soon be turned to Tragedies. Go Brusor, bear her to thy priuatetent, Where we at leisure will lament her death, And with our tears be wail her obsequies: For yet Perseda lives for Soliman. Drum sounda parley, were it not for her, I would sack the town ere I would found a parley. At our entreaty, therefore yield the town. Great Soliman, Lord of all the world. It was, and shall be maugre who says no. Why what art thou that dares resist my force? First tell me, doth Perseda live or no? Then isle combat thee what ere thou art. Injurious foul mouthed knight, my wrathful arm Shall chastise and rebuke these injuries. I'll not defend Erastus innocence, But thee, maintianing of Persedas beauty, What my Perseda, ah what have I done, Yet kiss me gentle love before thou die. I loved thee dearly and accept thy kiss, Why didst thou love Erastus more then me, Or why didst not give Soliman a kiss Ere this unhappy time, then hadst thou lived: Nay die thou shalt for thy presumption, For kissing her whom I do hold so deer, If thou didst love his villain as thou saidst, Then wait on her through eternal night. Ah Perseda, how shall I mourn for thee? Fair springing rose, ill plucked before thy time. Ah heavens that hitherto have smiled on me, Why do you unkindly lower on Soliman? The lose of half my Realms, nay crowns decay, Could not have pricked so near unto my heart, As does the lose of my Perseda's life: And with her life, I likewise lose my love, And with her love my hearts felicity, Even for Erastus death, the heavens have plagued me. Ah no the heavens did never more accurse me, Then when they made me Butcher of my love, Yet justly how can I condemn my self, When Brusor lives that was the cause of all. Come Brusor, help to lift her body up, Is she not fair? Was she not constant? Was she not chased? Then tell me? his treasons set aside, What was Erastus in thy opinion? Ah, was he so? how durst thou then ungracious Counseller, First cause me murder such a worthy man, And after tempt so virtuous a woman, Be this therefore the last that ere thou speak: Janissaires, take him straight unto the block, Off with his head, and suffer him not to speak. And now Perseda here I lay me down, And on thy beauty still contemplate, Until mine eyes shall surfeit by my gazing: But stay let me see what paper is this. Tyrant my lips were sawest with deadly poison, To plague thy heart that is so full of poison. What am I poisoned? then Janissaires, Let me see Rhodes recovered ere I die, Soldiers, assault the town on every side, Spoil all, kill all, let none escape your fury, Say Captain, is Rhodes recovered again. Yet that alleys the fury of my pain, Before I die, for doubtless die I must, I fates, injurious fates, have so decreed, For now I feel the poison begins to work, And I am weak even to the very death, Yet some thing more contentedly I die, For that my death was wrought by her devise, Who living was my joy, whose death my woe. Ah Janissaires now die your Emperor, Before his age hath seen his mellowed years, And if you ever loved your Emperor, Affright me not with sorrows and laments, And when my soul from body shall depart, Trouble me not but let me pass in peace, And in your silence let your love be shown: My last request for I command no more, Is that my body, with Persedas be, Interred, where my Erastus lies intombd, And let one Epitaph contain us all: Ah now I feel the paper told me true, The poison is dispersed through every vain, And boils Like Etna in my frying guts, Forgive me deer Erastus my unkindness: I have revenged thy death's with many death's, And sweet Perseda fly not Soliman, When as my gliding ghost shall follow thee, With eager mood, thorough eternal night: And now pale Death sits on my panting soul, And with revenging ire doth tyrannise: And says for Solimans too much amiss, This day shall be the peryod of my bliss. Why how now Erastus, always in thy dumps? Still in black habit fitting funeral? Cannot my love persuade thee from this mood, Nor all my fair intreats and blandishments, Wertenberg thou my friend, thy mind would jump with mine, For what are Friends, but one mind in two bodies. Perhaps thou doubts my friendships constancy, Then dost thou wrong the measure of my love, Which hath no measure, and shall never end, Come Erastus fit thee down by me, And isle impart to thee our Brusors news, News to our honour, and to thy content: The Governor is slain that sought thy death.