I will ruminate: Death, which the poets Feign to be pale and meagre, hath depriv'd Erastus' trunk from breathing vitality: A brave cavalier, but my approved foeman. Let me see: where is that Alcides, surnam'd Hercules, The only clubman of his time? Dead. Where is the eldest son of Priam, That Abraham-colour'd Trojan? Dead. Where is the leader of the myrmidons, That well-knit Achilles? Dead. Where is that furious Ajax, the son of Telamon, Or that fraudful squire of Ithaca, i-clipp'd Ulysses? Dead. Where is tipsy Alexander, that great cup-conqueror, Or Pompey, that brave warrior? Dead. I am myself strong, but I confess Death to be stronger: I am valiant, but mortal; I am adorn'd with nature's gifts, A giddy goddess, that now giveth, and anon taketh; I am wise, but quiddits will not answer death: To conclude in a word: to be captious, virtuous, ingenious, Are[428] to be nothing, when it pleaseth Death to be envious. The great Turk, whose seat is Constantinople, Hath beleaguer'd Rhodes, whose chieftain is a woman. I could take the rule upon me; But the shrub is safe when the cedar shaketh. I love Perseda, as one worthy; But I love Basilisco, as one I hold more worthy-- My father's son, my mother's solace, my proper self. 'Faith, he can do little, that cannot speak; And he can do less, that cannot run away: Then, sith man's life is as a glass, and a filip may crack it, Mine is no more, and a bullet may pierce it; Therefore I will play least in sight. [_Exit._ _Enter_ SOLIMAN _and_ BRUSOR, _with Janissaries_. SOLIMAN. The gates are shut; which proves that Rhodes revolts, And that Perseda is not Soliman's. Ah, Brusor! see where thy Lucina lies, Butcher'd despitefully without the walls. BRUSOR. Unkind Perseda, couldst thou use her so? And yet we us'd Perseda little better. SOLIMAN. Nay, gentle Brusor, stay thy tears a while, Lest with thy woes thou spoil my comedy, And all too soon be turn'd to tragedies. Go, Brusor, bear her to thy private tent, Where we at leisure will lament her death, And with our[429] tears bewail her obsequies; For yet Perseda lives for Soliman.-- Drum, sound a parley.--Were it not for her I would sack the town, ere I would sound a parley. [_The drum sounds a parley._ PERSEDA _comes_ _upon the walls in man's apparel._ BASILISCO _and_ PISTON [_also_] _upon the walls_. PERSEDA. At whose entreaty is this parley sounded? SOLIMAN. At our entreaty; therefore yield the town. PERSEDA.