English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_King_. The spoyles they equally shall both divide;
The Generall chuse, 'tis his prerogative.
_Bellizarius_ be Viceregent over all
Those conquerd parts of _Affrick_ we call ours;
_Hubert_ the Master of my _Henricks_ Horse
And President of what the _Goths_ possesse.
Let this our last will stand.
_Bel_. We are richly paid.
_Hub_. Who earnes it must have wages.
_King_. Ile see you imbrac'd too.
_Hub_. With all my heart.
_King_. And _Bellizarius_
Make him thy Scholler.
_Hub_. His Scholler!
_King_. There's stuffe in him
Which temper'd well would make him a noble fellow.
Now for these Prisoners: 'tis my best sacrifice
My pious zeale can tender to the Gods.
I censure thus: let all be naked stript,
Then to the midst of the vaste Wildernesse
That stands 'twixt us and wealthy _Persia_
They shall be driven, and there wildly venture
As Famine or the fury of the Beasts
Conspires to use them. Which is that Bishop?
_Hub_. Stand forth: this is _Eugenius_.
_Eug_. I stand forth
Daring all tortures, kissing Racks and Wheeles
And Flames, to whom I offer up this body.
You keepe us from our Crownes of Martyrdomes
By this delaying: dispatch us hence.
_King_. Not yet, Sir:
Away with them, stay him; and if our Gods
Can win this Christian Champion, now so stout,
To fight upon their sides, give him reward;
Our Gods will reach him praise.
_Eug_. Your Gods! wretched soules!
_King_. My worke is done; and, Henricke, as thou lov'st
Thy Fathers soule, see every thing perform'd.
This last iniunction tyes thee: so, farewell.
Let those I hated in thy hate still dwell,
I meane the Christians.
(_Dyes_.)
_Hen_. Oh, what a deale of greatnesse
Is struck down at one blow.
_Hub_. Give me a battell:
'Tis brave being struck downe there.
_Anth_. _Henrick_, my Lord,
And now my Soveraigne, I am by office bound
To offer to your Royall hands this Crowne
Which on my knees I tender, all being ready
To set it on your head.
_Omnes_. Ascend your throne:
Long live the King of _Vandals_ and of _Goths_,
The mighty _Henrick_.
_Hen_. What must now be done?
_Anth_. By me each Officer of State resignes
The Patten that he holds his office by,
To be dispos'd as best shall please your Grace.
_Hen_. And I returne them back to all their trusts.
I rise in clouds, my Morning is begun
From the eternall set of a bright sunne.
[_Exeunt_.
(SCENE 2.)
_Drumnel flourish: Enter Victoria and Bellina with servants_.
To gratulate his safe and wisht Arrival.
Let Musick with her sweet-tongu'd Rhetorick
Take out those horrours which the loud clamoures
Of Warres harsh harmony hath long besieg'd
His tender sences with. Your Father's come, _Bellina_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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