Why, what art thou, that boldly bidd'st me yield? SOLIMAN. Great Soliman, lord of all the world. PERSEDA. Thou art not lord of all: Rhodes is not thine. SOLIMAN. It was and shall be, maugre who says no. PERSEDA. I, that say no, will never see it thine. SOLIMAN. Why, what art thou, that dar'st resist my force? PERSEDA. A gentleman and thy mortal enemy, And one that dares thee to the single combat. SOLIMAN. First tell me, doth Perseda live or no? PERSEDA. She lives to see the wreck of Soliman. SOLIMAN. Then I will combat thee, whate'er thou art. PERSEDA. And in Erastus' name I'll combat thee; And here I promise thee on my Christian faith, Then will I yield Perseda to thy hands, That, if thy strength shall overmatch my right, To use as to thy liking it shall seem best. But ere I come to enter single fight, First let my tongue utter my heart's despite; And thus my tale begins: Thou wicked tyrant! Thou murderer! accursed homicide! For whom hell gapes, and all the ugly fiends Do wait for to receive thee in their jaws! Ah, perjur'd and inhumane Soliman! How could thy heart harbour a wicked thought Against the spotless life of poor Erastus? Was he not true? would thou hadst been as just! Was he not valiant? would thou hadst been as virtuous! Was he not loyal? would thou hadst been as loving? Ah, wicked tyrant! in that one man's death Thou hast betray'd the flower of Christendom. Died he, because his worth obscured thine? In slaught'ring him thy virtues are defam'd: Didst thou misdo him in hope to win Perseda? Ah, foolish man! therein thou art deceiv'd: For though she live, yet will she ne'er live thine; Which to approve I'll come to combat thee. SOLIMAN. Injurious, foul-mouth'd knight, my wrathful arm Shall chastise and rebuke these injuries. [_Then_ PERSEDA _comes down to_ SOLIMAN, [_with_] BASILISCO _and_ PISTON. PISTON. Ay, but hear you, are you so foolish to fight with him? BASILISCO. Ay, sirrah; why not, as long as I stand by? SOLIMAN. I'll not defend Erastus' innocence, But thee in maintaining Perseda's beauty. [_Then they fight._ SOLIMAN _kills_ PERSEDA. PERSEDA.