Mountferrat. DARES she despise me thus? me, that with spoil

And hazardous exploits, full sixteen years
Have led (as hand-maids) Fortune, Victory,
Whom the Maltezi call my servitors?
Tempests I have subdued, and fought them
calm,

Out-lighten'd light'ning in my chivalry,
Rid (tame as Patience) billows that kick'd
Heav'n,

Whistled enraged Boreas 'till his gusts
Were grown so gentle, that he seem'd to sigh,
Because he could not shew the air my keel;
And yet I cannot conquer her bright eyes,
Which, tho' they blaze, both comfort and
[ear,

invite ;
Neither by force, nor fraud, pass thro' her
Whose guard is only blushing Innocence,
To take the least possession of her heart.
Did I attempt her with a thread-bare name,

my

suit:

Un-napt with meritorious actions,
She might with colour disallow
But, by the bonour of this Christian cross,
(In blood of infidels so often dyed,
Which mine own soul and sword bath fixed

here,

And neither favour, nor birth's privilege)
Oriana shall confess, (altho' she be
Valetta's sister, our Grand-master here)
The wages of scorn'd love is baneful hate,
And, if I rule not her, I'll rule her fate.

Enter Rocca.
Rocca, my trusty servant, welcome!
Rocca. Sir,

I wish my news deserv'd it! Hapless I,
That, being lov'd and trusted, fail to bring
The loving answer that you do expect.

Mountf. Why speak'st thou from me? thy pleas'd eyes send forth

Beams brighter than the star that ushers day; Thy smiles restore sick expectation. [inine. Rocca. I bring you, sir, her smiles, not

Mountf. Her smiles?

Why, they are presents for kings' eldest sons:
Great Solyman, that wearies his hot eyes
But to peruse his deck'd seraglio,
When from the number of his concubines
He chuseth one for that night, in bis pride
Of them, wives, wealth, is not so rich as I
In this one smile, from Oriana sent.

Rocca. Sir, fare you well!

Mountf. Oh, Rocca! thou art wise, And wouldst not have the torrent of my joy Ruin me headlong! Aptly thou conceiv'st, If one reviving smile can raise me thus, What trances will the sweet words which thou bring'st

Cast me into. I felt, my dearest friend,
(No more my servant) when I employ'd thee,
That knew'st to look and speak as lovers
should,

And carry faithfully thy master's sighs,
That it must work some heat in her cold heart;
And all my labours now come fraughted home
With ten-fold prize.

Rocca. Will you yet hear me?
Mountf. Yes:

But take heed, gentle Rocca, that thou dost
Tenderly by degrees assault mine ears

With her consent, now to embrace my love; For thou well know'st I've been so plung'd,

so torn

With her resolved reject, and neglect, That to report her soft acceptance now Will stupify sense in me, if not kill. Why shew'st thou this distemper? Rocca. Draw your sword,

[you,

And, when I with my breath have blasted
Kill me with it:

I bring you smiles of pity, not affection,
For such she sent.

Mountf. Oh! can she pity me?

Of all the paths lead to a woman's love,
Pity's the straightest.

Rocca. Waken, sir, and know

That her contempt (if you can name it so)
Continues still; she bids you throw your pearl
Into strong streams, and hope to turn them so,
Ere her to foul dishonour; write your plaints
In rocks of coral grown above the sea;
Them hope to soften to compassion,
Or change their modest blush to love-sick
pale,

Ere work her to your impious requests.
All your loose thoughts she chides you
again,

home

But with such calm behaviour, and mild looks,
She gentlier den.es than others grant,
For just as others love, so doth she hate.
She says, that by your order you are bound
From marrying ever, and much marvels then
You would thus violate her, and your own
faith,

That being the virgin you should now protect.
Hitherto, she professes, sh' has conceal'd
Your lustful batt'ries; but the next, she vows,
(In open hall, before the honour'd cross,

And her great brother) she will quite disclose, Calling for justice, to your utter shame.

Mount. Hence! find the Blackamoor that waits upon her,

Bring her unto me; she doth love me yet,
And I must her now, at least seem to do.
Cupid, thy brands that glow thus in my veins,
I will with blood extinguish!-Art not gone?
[Exit Rocca.

Shall my desires, like beggars, wait at door,
Whilst any others revel in her breast?
Sweat on, my spirits! Know, thou trick'd-up

tov,

My love's a violent flood, where thou art fall'n; Playing with which tide th' hadst been gently toss'd,

But, crossing it, thou art o'erwhelin'd and lost. Enter Astorius and Castriot.

Cast. Monsieur, good day!

Asto. Good morrow, valiant knight! What, are you for this great solemnity This morn intended?

Mountf. What solemnity?

Asto. Th'investing of the martial Spaniard, Peter Gomera, with our Christian badge.

Cast. And young Miranda, the Italian; Both which, with wondrous prowess and great Juck,

Have dar'd and done for Malta such high feats,

That not one fort in it but rings their names
As loud as any man's.

Mountf. As any man's ?
Why, we have fought for Malta.

Asto. Yes, Mountferrat,

No bold knight ever past you; but we wear The dignity of Christians on our breasts, And have a long time triumph'd for our conquests:

[yet.

These conquer'd a long time, not triumph'd Mounts. Astorius, you're a most indul

gent knight,

Detracting from yourself, to add to others. You know this title is the period

To all our labours, the extremity

Of that tall pyramid, where honour hangs;
Which we with sweat and agony have reach'd,
And should not then so easily impart
So bright a wreath to every cheap desert.
Cust. How is this Frenchman chang'd,
Astorius!

Some sullen discontent possesses him,
That makes him envy what he heretofore
Did most ingenuously but emulate.

Mount. Oh, furious desire, how like a
whirlwind

Thou hurriest me beyond mine honour's point! Out of my heart, base lust! or, heart, I vow Those flames that heat me thus, I'll burn

thee in.

Asto. Do you observe him? Mountf. What news of the Dane? That valiant captain Norandiae ? Cast. He fights still,

[Aside.

memory

'Would one of ye would leave me! [Aside. Asto. Six fresh gallies

I in St. Angelo from the promontory
This morn descried, making a girdle for him;
But our Great-master doth intend relief
This present meeting. Will you walk along?
Mountf. Hum-I have read, ladies enjoy'd
have been
[names,

The gulphs of worthiest men, buried their
Their former valour, bounty, beauty, virtue,
And sent them stinking to untimely graves.
I that cannot enjoy, by her disdain,
Am like to prove as wretched. Woman then
Checking, or granting, is the grave of men.
[Aside.

[ported

Asto. He's saying of his prayers surc. Cast. Will you go, sir? Mountf. I cry you mercy! I am so trans(Your pardon, noble brothers) with a business That doth concern all Malta, that I am (Anon you'll hear it) almost blind and deaf(Lust neither sees nor hears aught but itself)— But I will follow instantly. Your cross. Asto. Not mine. [Cross dropt.

Cast. Nor mine; 'tis yours.
Asto. Cust. Good morrow, brother. [Ere.
Mountf. White innocent sign, thou dost
[breast,

abhor to dwell

So near the dim thoughts of this troubled And grace these graceless projects of my heart!

Enter Zanthia, alias Abdella.

Yet I must wear thee, to protect my crimes,
If not for conscience, for hypocrisy;
Some churchmen so wear cassocks. Oh, my
Zanthia,

My pearl, that scorns a stain! I much repent
All my neglects; let me, Ixion like,

Embrace my black cloud, since my Juno is So wrathful, and averse: Thou art more soft And full of dalliance than the fairest flesh, And far more loving.

Zant. Ay, you say so now; But, like a property, when I have serv'd Your turns, you'll cast me off, or hang me up For a sign somewhere.

Mountf. May my life then forsake me, Or, from my expected bliss, be cast to hell! Zant. My tongue, sir, cannot lisp to meet

Doth mend me up; and yet, Mountferrat, know,

I am as full of pleasure in the touch
As e'er a white-fac'd puppet of 'em all,
Juicy, and firm; unfledge them of their tires,
Their wires, their partlets, pins, and perriwigs,
And they appear like bald-cootes, in the nest:
I can as blithly work in my love's bed,
And deck thy fair neck with these jetty chains,
Sing thee asleep, being wearied; and, refresh'd,
With the same organ, steal sleep off again.
Mounty. Oh, my black swan, sleeker than
cygnet's plush',

Sweeter than is the sweet of pomander,
Breath'd like curl'd Zephyrus, cooling limon-

trees,

[grove! Straight as young pines, or cedars in the Quickly descend, lovers' best canopy, Still Night, for Zanthia doth enamour me Beyond all continence! Perpetrate, dear wench,

What thou hast promis'd,and I vow by Heav'n,
Malta, I'll leave in it my honours here,
And in some other country, Zanthia make
My wife, and my best fortune.

Zunt. From this hope,

Here is an answer to that letter, which
I lately show'd you, sent from Tripoly,
By the great basha, which importunes her
Love unto him, and treachery to the island;
Which will she undertake, by Mahomet
The Turk there vows, on his blest Alcoran,
Marriage unto her: This the Master knows,
But is resolv'd of her integrity,

As well he may, sweet lady; yet, for love, For love of thee, Mountferrat, (oh! what chains

Of deity, or duty can hold love?)

I have this answer fram'd, so like her hand
As if it had been moulded off, returning
The basha's letter safe into her pocket.
What you will do with it, yourself best knows.
Farewell! keep my true heart, keep true your
[Exit.

VOWS.

Mountf. Till I be dust, my Zanthia, be confirin'd. [lips.— Sparrows, and doves, sit coupling 'twixt thy It is not love, but strong libidinous will That triumphs o'er me; and to satiate that, What diff'rence 'twist this Moor, and her fair dame?

Night makes their hues alike, their use is so; Whose hand's so subtle he can colours name, If he do wink, and touch 'em? Lust being blind,

Never in women did distinction find. [Exit.

SCENE II.

Enter two Gentlewomen.

1 Gent. But i'faith dost thou think my lady Was never in love?

2 Gent. I rather think she was ever

2 Gent. As thus; there is no wife (if she Be good and true, will honour and obey) Bat must reflect the true countenance of Her husband upon him: If he look sad upon her,

She must not look merrily upon him; if he
Look merrily, she must not sorrowfully;
Else she is a false glass, and fit for
Nothing but breaking: His anger must be
Her discontent, his pleasure her delight :
If he weep, she must cry;

If he laugh, she must show her teeth;
If he be sick, she must not be in health;
If he eat candles, she must eat pottage; she
Must have no proper passion of her own!
And is not this a tyranny?

1 Gent. Yes, i'faith! [then Marriage may well be call'd a yoke! Wives Are but like superficial lines in geometry, That have no proper motion of their own,

[off

2 Gent. That's because the moon Governs 'em; which hath most light and shines Brightest, the more remote it is from the sun; And, contrary, is more sullen, dim, and shews Least splendor, when it is nearest.

1 Gent. But if I were to marry,

I would marry a fair effeminate fool.
2 Gent. Why?

1 Gent. Because I would lead the blind
whither I list.
[for money,

2 Gent. And I the wisest man I could get Because I had rather follow the clear-sighted Bless me from a husband that sails by his 1 Gent. Why? [wife's compass!

2 Gent. Why, 'tis ten to one but she Breaks his head in her youth; and, when she ftoo!

is old,

She'll never leave 'till she has broke his back 1 Gent. But what scurvy koights have we bere in Malta3, [allegiance That when they are dub'd take their oath of To live poor, and chastly, ever after?

2 Gent. 'Faith,

Many knights in other nations (I have heard)
Are as poor as ours; marry, where one of 'em
Has taken the oath of chastity, we want
A new Columbus to find out.

Enter Zanthia.

Zant. Hist, wenches!

My lady calls; she's entering the terrace, To see the show.

1 Gent. Ob. black pudding!

2 Gent. My little labour in vain! [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Enter above, Oriana, Zanthia, and two Gentlewomen; beneath, Valetta, Mountferrut, Astorius, Castriot, Gomera, Miranda, Attendants of Knights, &c.

Mountf. Are you there, lady?