English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Duke_. I say she is mine in spight of all deniall;
Bring me the Crowne.
_Fred_. To set upon her head?
Friends, draw your swords, first strike the strumpet dead.
_Duke_. My guard, my guard!
_Alfred_. For shame, put up your swords.
_Fred_. For shame, great Rulers, leave your flattering words.
_Albert_. 'Tis madnesse in the King and worse in you.
_Hat_. Though you prove traytors, we'll not prove untrue.
_Fred_. Will you dismisse this Strumpet to the stewes,
Or our allegance in this act refuse?
_Duke_. Doe what you dare, the election still shall stand.
_Fred_. Woe and destruction then must rule the land.
Come, Lord _Rinaldo_, valiant _Alberto_, come;
We have friends enough to grace a warlike Drum. [_A shout within_.
Hearke how the Commons doe applaud our cause.
Lascivious Duke, farewell, father, oh vilde!
Where Queanes are mothers, _Fredericke_ is no child.
[_Exeunt_.
_Duke_. My guard pursue them, and alive or dead
Cut off the cause by which these cries are bred.
Come, my faire Dutchesse; first unto the Church,
There sollemnize our nuptials; then unto our armes:
A little rough breath overbeares these stormes.
[_Exeunt. Manet Alfred & Hatto_.
_Alfred_. The Duke's besotted. Now we are secure;
This match makes well for us; we may command
And on them lay the abuses of the land.
_Hat_. Excellent good; we are like to have warres indeed,
But in the meane the poore will starve for bread.
Wee must share proffits, howsoere things goe.
Winner or looser, neither is our foe;
For mutually we'll beare our selues in all
Or taking part leane to the strongest wall.
[_Exeunt_.
[SCENE 2.]
_Enter Constantine and Euphrata_.
_Euph_. My father married to a Concubine!
Then he will pardon though I marry thee;
And howsoe'r, about it presently,
The rather for _Montano_ is repealde,
Because of his alliance to _Valentia_.
_Con_. I am ready, gentle love, and glad in mind
That my faire _Euphrata_ will prove so kind.
_Euph_. Come my deare _Constantine_, performe this right [_sic_],
And arme in arme thus will we sleepe to night.
[_Exeunt_.
[SCENE 3.]
_Enter Fredericke, Rinaldo, and Alberto, with Drum,
Colours, and Souldiers_.
_Fred_. You that are carefull of your countries weale,
Fellow compere, Supporter of the State,
Let us imbrace in steele, our cause is good.
What minde so base that would not shed his blood
To free his countrey from so great an ill
As now raignes in it by lascivious will?
Our[198] friends to warre and, for my part,
Ere lust beare sway, Ile gladly yeeld my heart.
_Alberto_. I heare the Duke is strong.
_Fred_. Suppose him so,
And be advis'd strongly to meete the foe.
I had rather, you should think him ten thousand strong
Then find it so to our destruction.
An enemy thought many and found few,
When our first courage failes, gives us a new.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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