Why lives he then to grieve great Soliman? This only remains, that you consider, In two extremes the least is to be chosen. If so your life depend upon her love, And that her love depends upon his life, Is it not better that Erastus die Ten thousand deaths, than Soliman should perish? SOLIMAN. Ay, say'st thou so? why, then, it shall be so: But by what means shall poor Erastus die? BRUSOR. This shall be the means: I'll fetch him back again Under colour of great consequence; No sooner shall he land upon our shore, But witness shall be ready to accuse him Of treason done against your mightiness, And then he shall be doom'd by martial law. SOLIMAN. O fine device! Brusor, get thee gone: Come thou again; but let the lady stay To win Perseda to my will: meanwhile, Will I prepare the judge and witnesses; And if this take effect, thou shalt be viceroy, And fair Lucina queen of Tripoli: Brusor, be gone; for, till thou come, I languish. [_Exeunt_ BRUSOR _and_ LUCINA. And now, to ease my troubled thoughts at last, I will go sit among my learned eunuchs, And hear them play, and see my minions dance; For till that Brusor bring me my desire, I may assuage, but never quench, love's fire. [_Exit._ _Enter_ BASILISCO. BASILISCO. Since the expugnation of the Rhodian isle, Methinks a thousand years are overpass'd, More for the lack of my Perseda's presence, Than for the loss of Rhodes, that paltry isle, Or for my friends that there were murdered. My valour everywhere shall purchase friends; And where a man lives well, there is his country.[415] Alas! the Christians are but very shallow In giving judgment of a man at arms-- A man of my desert and excellence: The Turks, whom they account for barbarous, Having foreheard of Basilisco's worth, A number underprop me with their shoulders, And in procession bear me to the church, As I had been a second Mahomet. I, fearing they would adore me for a god, Wisely inform'd them that I was but man, Although in time, perhaps, I might aspire To purchase godhead, as did Hercules; I mean, by doing wonders in the world. Amidst their church they bound me to a pillar, And to make trial of my valiancy, They lopp'd a collop off my tenderest member; But think you Basilisco squich'd[416] for that? Ev'n as a cow for tickling in the horn! That done, they set me on a milkwhite ass, Compassing me with goodly ceremonies. That day, methought I sat in Pompey's chair, And view'd the capitol, and was Rome's greatest glory. _Enter_ PISTON. PISTON.