Ay, now I lay Perseda at thy feet; But with thy hand first wounded to the death: Now shall the world report that Soliman Slew Erastus in hope to win Perseda, And murder'd her for loving of her husband. SOLIMAN. What, my Perseda! all that have I done: Yet kiss me, gentle love, before thou die. PERSEDA. A kiss I grant thee, though I hate thee deadly. SOLIMAN. I lov'd thee dearly, and accept thy kiss. Why didst thou love Erastus more than me? Or why didst thou not give Soliman a kiss Ere this unhappy time? Then hadst thou liv'd. BASILISCO. Ah! let me kiss thee too, before I die. SOLIMAN. Nay, die thou shalt for thy presumption, For kissing her whom I do hold so dear. [_Then_ SOLIMAN _kills_ BASILISCO. PISTON. I will not kiss her, sir; but give me leave To weep over her; for, while she liv'd, She lov'd me dearly, and I loved her. SOLIMAN. If thou didst love her, villain, as thou sayest,[430] Then wait on her thorough eternal night. [_Then_ SOLIMAN _kills_ PISTON. Ah, Perseda! how shall I mourn for thee? Fair-springing rose, ill-pluck'd before thy time! Ah, heav'ns! that hitherto have smil'd on me, Why do you unkindly low'r on Soliman? The loss of half my realms, nay, crown's decay, Could not have prick'd so near unto my heart, As doth the loss of my Perseda's life. And with her life I likewise lose my love; And with her love my heart's felicity: Ev'n for Erastus' death the heav'ns have plagued me; Ah, no, the heav'ns did never more accurse me, Than when they made me butcher of my love. Yet justly how can I condemn myself, When Brusor lives that was the cause of all?-- Come, Brusor, help to lift her body up: Is she not fair? BRUSOR. Ev'n in the hour of death. SOLIMAN. Was she not constant? BRUSOR. As firm as are the poles whereon heav'n lies. SOLIMAN. Was she not chaste? BRUSOR. As is Pandora's or Diana's thoughts. SOLIMAN. Then tell me, his treasons set aside, What was Erastus in thy opinion? BRUSOR. Fair-spoken, wise, courteous, and liberal; Kind even to his foes, gentle, and affable; And, all in all, his deeds heroical. SOLIMAN.