SEBASTIAN
Why,
tell me, lords, why left ye Portugal,
And
cross’d the seas with us to Barbary?
Was
it to see the country and no more,
Or
else to fly before ye were assail’d?
I am
ashamed to think that such as you,
Whose
deeds have been renowned heretofore,
Shold
slack in such an act of consequence:
We
come to fight, and fighting vow to die,
Or
else to win the thing for which we came.
Because
Abdelmelec, as pitying us,
Sends
messages to councel quietness,
You
stand amazed, and think it sound advice,
As
if our enemy would wish us any good:
No,
let him know we scorn his courtesy,
And
will resist him his forces whatsoever.
Cst
fear aside: myself will lead the way,
And
make a passage with my conquering sword,
Knee-deep
in blood of these accused Moors;
And
they that love my honour, follow me.
Were
you as resolute as is your king,
Alcazar
walls should fall before your face,
And
all the force of this Barbarian lord
Should
be confounded, were it ten times more.
AVERO
So
well become these words a kingly mouth,
That
are of force to make a coward fight;
But
when advice and prudent forefight
Is
joined with such magnanimity,
Trophiesof
victory and kingly spoils
Adorn
his crown, his kingdom, and his fame.
[Enter
CHRISTOPHERO DE TAVERA, DON MENYSIS, and HERCULES.]
HERCULES
We
have descried upon the mountain-tops
A
hugy company of invading Moors;
And
they, my lord, as thick as winter’s hail,
Will
fall upon our heads at unawares:
Best,then,
bestimes t’ avoid this gloomy storm;
It
is in vain to strive with such a stream.
Enter
the MOOR, MULY MAHAMET.
THE
MOOR
Behold,
thrice-noble lord, uncall’d I come
To
councel where necessity commands;
And
honour of undoubted victory
Makes
me exlaim upon this dastard flight.
Why,
King Sebastian, wilt thy hands?
Say
you do march unto Larissa now,
The
forces of the foe are come so nigh,
That
he will let the passage of the river;
So
unwares you will be forced to fight.
But
know, O king, and you, thrice_valiant lords,
Few
blows will serve. I ask but only this,
That
with your power you march into the field;
For
now is all the army resolute
To
leave the traitor helpless in the fight,
And
fly to me as to their rightful prince.
Some
horseman have already led the way,
And
vow the like for their companions:
The
host is full of tumult and of fear.
Then
as you come to plant me in my seat,
And
to enlarge your fame in Africa,
Now,
now or never, bravely execute
Your
resolution sound and honourable,
And
end this war together with his life,
That
doth usurp the crown with tyranny.
SEBASTIAN
Captains, you hear
the reasons of the king,
Which so effectually have
pierced mine ears,
That I am fuuly rsolute to
fight;
And who refuseth now to follow
me,
Let him be ever counted
cowardly.
AVERO
Shame be his share that flies
when kings do fight!
Avero lays his life before your
feet.
STUKELEY
For my
part, lords, I cannot sell my blood
Dearer than
in the company of kings.
Exeunt.
Manet
the MOOR, MULY MAHAMET.
THE MOOR
Now have I set these Portugals
a_work
To hew a wy for me unto the
crown,
Or with their weapons here to
dig their graves.
You
bastards of the Night and Erebus,
Fiends, Furies, hags that fight
in beds of steel,
Range though this army with your
iron whips,
Drive forward to this deed this
Christian crew,
And let me triumph in the
tragedy,
Though it be seal’d and
honour’d with my blood,
Both of the Portugal and
barbarous Moor.
Ride, Nemesis, ride in thy
fierycart,
And sprinkle gore amongst these
men of war,
That either party, eager of
revenge,
May honour thee with sacrifice
of death;
And having bathed thy
chatiot_weels in blood,
Decend and take to thy
tormenting hell
The
mangled body of that traitor_king,
That scorns the power and force
of portugal:
Then let the earth discover to
his ghost
Such tortures as usuerpers feel
below;
Rack’d let him be in proud
Ixion’s weel,
Pined let him be with
Tantalus’ endless thirst,
Prey let him be to Tityus’
greedy bird,
Wearied with Sisyphus’
immortal toil:
And lasty for revenge, for deep
revenge,
Whereof thou goddess and deviser
art,
Damn’d let him be,
damn’d and condemned to bear
All torments, tortures, plagues
and pains of hell.
Exit