Hieronimo in sundrie languages was thought good to be set downe in English more largely, for the easier vnderstanding to euery publique reader.]     

                 Enter BALTHAZAR, BEL-IMPERIA, and HIERONIMO. BALTHAZAR. [acting]  Bashaw, that Rhodes is ours yeeld Heauens the honor And holy Mahhomet, our sacred prophet! And be thou grac't with euery excelence That Soliman can giue or thou desire! But thy desert in conquering Rhodes is lesse Then in reseruing this faire Christian nimph, Perseda, blisfull lamp of excellence, Whose eies compell, like powerfull adamant, The warlike heart of Soliman to wait. KING. See, vice-roy, that is Balthazar your sonne, That represents the Emperour Solyman:     How well he acts his amorous passion! VICE. I; Bel-imperia hath taught him that. CASTILE:  That's because his mind runnes al on Bel-imperia. HIERO. [acting]  What-euer ioy earth yeelds betide your Maiestie! BALT. [acting]  Earth yeelds no ioy without Persedaes loue. HIERO. [acting]  Let then Peerseda on your Grace attend. BALT.  [acting]  She shall not wait on me, but I on her! Drawne by the influence of her lights, I yeeld. But let my friend, the Rhodian knight, come foorth,—     Erasto, dearer then my life to me,—     That he may see Perseda, my beloued. Enter ERASTO [LORENZO]. KING. Heere comes Lorenzo: looke vpon the plot And tell me, brother, what part plaies he. BEL. [acting]  Ah, my Erasto! Welcome to Perseda! LO. [acting]  Thrice happie is Erasto that thou liuest! Rhodes losse is nothing to Erastoes ioy; Sith his Perseda liues, his life suruiues. BALT. [acting]  Ah, bashaw, heere is loue betweene Erasto And faire Perseda, soueraigne of my soule! HIERO. [acting]  Remooue Erasto, mighty Solyman, And then Perseda will be quickly wonne. BALT. [acting]  Erasto is my friend; and, while he liues, Perseda neuer will remooue her loue. HIERO. [acting]  Let not Erasto liue to greeue great Soliman! BALT. [acting]  Deare is Erasto in our princely eye. HIERO. [acting]  But, if he be your riuall, let him die! BALT. [acting]  Why, let him die! so loue commaundeth me. Yet I greeve I that Erasto should so die. HIERO. [acting]  Erasto, Soliman saluteth thee, And lets thee wit by me his Highnes will, Which is, thou shouldst be thus imploid. Stab him. BEL. [acting]  Ay, me, Erasto! See, Solyman, Erastoes slaine! BALT. [acting]  Yet liueth Solyman to comfort thee. Faire queene of beautie, let not fauour die, Both with gratious eye behlde his griefe, That with Persedaes beautie is encreast, If by 

 Prev. P 54/58 next