A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Xiv Part 73

KNIGHTS. Farewell, inconstant ladies.

LADIES. Adieu, constant Acteons.

[_Exeunt omnes, the Ladies ushered in by their Confidants._

ACT III., SCENE 1.

_Enter_ TWO CITIZENS.

1ST CIT. Is it for certain that the duke's voyage holds for Salamanca?

2D CIT. No doubt on't; his resolution is so firmly fixed no motion can decline it; and if we may credit Fame (which seldom errs in all, though it exceed in many), never was fleet more bravely rigged, better prepared, nor with more military strength furnished, nor more virile spirits accompanied, nor by more expert commanders at any time since the battle of Lepanto conducted.

1ST CIT. It was thought he would not personally have engaged himself in this adventure, but have deputed some experienced general for perfecting this grand design, and imposing a final period to an action of such high consequence.

2D CIT. 'Tis true: but those many aggrievances, aggravated with numerous pet.i.tions presented by our Seville merchants, wrought such strong effects upon the sweet, compa.s.sionate nature of the good duke, as endeared that[141] resentment, which he retained upon those merchants' relation, touching the infinitely surcharging losses which they had suffered through the hostile piracy of the Salamancans, as he made a solemn vow to engage himself in their quarrel, and either revenge the injuries and indignities they had sustained, or seal his just desires with the sacrifice of his dearest life.

1ST CIT. Were the merchant-losses great?

2D CIT. In s.h.i.+pping infinite, and by accomptants of approved trust computed to many millions; for, besides vessels of lesser burthen in one sea-voyage being driven by contrary winds upon the coasts of Calabria, they lost at one time The Panther, Libbard,[142] Bugle, Antelope, caracts[143] of great and formidable sail, such as would have made their party good against all a.s.sailants, had they not been dispersed and weakened by violent tempests, besides the unexpected hurricane, which dashed all the endeavours of the best pilots that all their fleet afforded: yet, reduced to this strait and sad exigent, they found no islander so compa.s.sionate as to pity their deplorable condition, but rather such as were ready to add fresh affliction to their late suffering, by seizing on whatsoever remained estimable in their freeborn vessels, and exposing them, without the least remonstrance of humanity or civil hospitality, to the mercy of the winds. This it was which winged the duke to this expedition, choosing, as report goes, the Revenge for his s.h.i.+p-of-war, and that only man-of-war wherein he means to steer his course, return his errand, and requite his quarrel.

1ST CIT. The duke's a person of a gallant spirit.

2D CIT. I dare affirm it, sir, that the state of Seville was never with more prowess, prudence, nor martial policy at any time managed, which not only his prosperous exploits abroad (than which none were more successive[144]), but likewise his vigilant care and command at home, may sufficiently manifest. For his late declaration under his great seal has discovered the incomparable zeal he had of serving both court and city, in commanding all such useless and incommodious weeds as trepanners, tarpaulins, with all our abusively ent.i.tled Hectors, that they should by a peremptory day depart the city and line of communication in relation to the court: since which time they have resolved, for want of better supplies, to hazard the remainder of their broken fortunes upon a desperate adventure for Tunis.

1ST CIT. In such glorious designs, levelling at honour, they declare themselves really Hectors.

_Enter a_ MARINER.

2D CIT. What news, Segasto?

MAR. The duke's upon his march, and near approaching.

1ST CIT. How quick's his spirit to redress our wrongs!

[CITIZENS _stand aside_.[145]

SCENE II.

_Trumpets and kettle-drums sounding, with other martial music usually observed in that country._

_Enter_ DUKE EUGENIO, _Officers, and Soldiers with colours displayed_.

DUKE. Thus far on our address![146] May prosperous gales Breathe on our sails: sails, on our just designs In vindicating of our country's fame, Too long impair'd by suffering injuries; Till which redress'd, our honour lies at stake, And we made aliens to our own estate.

March on then bravely, that it may appear "Our courage can revenge as well as bear."

[_They march over the stage with trumpets, fifes, drums, and colours, and go out; manentibus civibus._

1ST CIT. This gallant resolve of the duke, pursued with such alacrity, can never be sufficiently admired; and to engage his person, too, in so perilous adventure!

2D CIT. And all this in vindication of the merchants' honour, and their interest.

1ST CIT. Trust me, he appears bravely.

2D CIT. His disposition from his youth foretold What's manhood would a.s.say----whence comes this noise?

_Enter_ BOY.

BOY. Room for our bravoes, cadets! they march along in ranks and files; their pockets grow shallow; the taverns and ordinaries they vow to be infidels, so as they have enlisted themselves soldiers of fortune.

1ST CIT. These be those trepanners whom the duke Has proscribed, or I mistake it.

Let us observe their posture.

SCENE III.

_Enter_ CAPTAIN, TREPANNERS, TARPAULINS, _with other runagadoes, orderly marching, and in the rear_, BENHADAD, _a Quaker, with tobacco-pipes_.

1ST TRE. Rouse, buckets and tubs! Hey for Tunis and Argiers.[147]

CAPT. Keep your ranks, my comrades, and fight valiantly.

2D TRE. What else, captain? We cheated before for nothing, and now, having nothing, we mean to fight for something.

3D TRE. 'Slid, bullies, I think the duke has done us a pleasure.

1ST TRE. Pray thee, how, boy?

3D TRE. I'll tell thee the short and long on't. Before, if any of us had been so valiant (as few of us were) as to borrow money on the highway, we were sometimes forced to repay it at the gibbet: but the world is turned upside down; if we get it, we may keep it, and never answer for it.

1ST TRE. Hey, boy, art thou in that lock?[148] But, n.o.ble lance-presado,[149] let us have a sea-sonnet, before we launch forth in our adventure-frigate. They say the syrens love singing.

CAPT. Agreed, wags. But which shall we have?

1ST TRE. That old catch of Tunis and Argiers; good captain, it suits best with our voyage.

CAPT. To't then, my Hectors; and keep your _elas_[150] as you do your march. The syrens will not relish you, if you sing out o'

tune.[151]

THE SEA-SONG.[152]

CAPT. _To Tunis and to Argiers, boys!

Great is our want, small be our joys.