English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Hen_. What?
_Buz_. Why there are fishes and shipps too in the sea; they were made
for that purpose.
_Ten_. The fellow doates? climbe quickly, sirra, and tell us
Whither any bend to this place: there's a fleete
Abroad; skud, rascall.
_Hen_. Villayne, away; and cast your eyes into the Sea.
_Buz_. Ile be hangd first; some wiser then some: mine Eyes into the Sea?
I see no reason for't.
_Ten_. Why stayest thou?--this slave is without sence.
Get up and see, and report the truth.
_Buz_. Thats another matter: I will orelooke you all presently.
[_Exit_.
_Jo_. What were I best to doe? I doe not like these Navyes.
_Hen_. 'Tis past question,
If they were kenn'd this way, that they intend
To make another meale of this Citty.
_Ten_. The first was but a Breakfast: they have shrewd stomakes.
Oh for a lusty storme to bury all
Their hopes in the waves now! one good swelling Gust
Would breake their ribbs in pieces.
_Jo_. No witches abroad?
_Buz_. I see, I see, I see!
_Enter Buzzano above_.
_All_. What?
_Buz_. Nay, I cannot tell what yet:
Something it is; I thinke it be a Towne.
_Hen_. Some Iland in the Sea!
_Buz_. It swims on the water.
_Jo_. 'Tis the fleete: come they this way?
_Buz_. Yes, th'are ships; I know 'em by their foule linen; now I see
them plainely; they come, they come, they come!
_Hen_. How far off?
_Ten_. Speake, sirra.
_Buz_. If you would peace I might heare what they say; the wind serves
to bring every word they speake: they make towards, yes, towards this
Citty. A great fleete! stay, stay, look to your selves, Don: they spitt
fire allready, and have hung up a thousand flaggs of defyance. They are
at the fort, the castle, at the castle: would I were pelted to death
with Oranges and Lymons.
_Ten_. Here comes _Don Fernando_. What newes?
_Enter Fernando with Eleonora_.
_Fer_. Assured danger, gentlemen, for all our men
Already are in a palsye and doe flye
They know not whither. They are _English_:
The Citty's allmost desperate.
_Ten_. _Don John_, come with me
And helpe to encourage the remayning soldiers.
_Fer_. New supply shall quickly cheare you hearts.--
_Henrico_!
_Hen_. Sir?
_Fer_. In this confusion, when a thousand feares
Present themselves & danger with full face
Lookes on the generall Towne, let me locke up
This Treasure in your armes; &, for you have
At least an equall interest with mee
In _Eleonora_, in your fathers house
She may hope more security, being of strength;
For this storme cannot last. But in your love
She hath a stronger guard.
_Hen_. This act of confidence
Binds me for ever to _Fernando_: come,
Halfe of my soule, for we two must not bee
In life devided. Though the Citty lye
At mercy of the Enemy, yet from
_Don Pedro Gusman's_ house not all mankind
Shall take thee from me.
_Enter Buzzano and Spanyards flying_.
_Buz_. They come, they come, they come!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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