CASTILE. That's because his mind runs all on Bell'-Imperia. HIERONIMO. Whatever joy earth yields, betide[308] your majesty. BALTHAZAR. Earth yields no joy without Perseda's love. HIERONIMO. Let then[309] Perseda on your grace attend. BALTHAZAR. She shall not wait on me, but I on her, Drawn by the influence of her lights, I yield: But let my friend the Rhodian knight come forth, Erastus, dearer than my life to me, That he may see Perseda my belov'd. _Enter_ ERASTUS. KING. Here comes Lorenzo. Look upon the plot, And tell me, brother, what part plays he? BELL'-IMPERIA. Ah, my Erastus, welcome to Perseda. LORENZO. Thrice happy is Erastus, that thou liv'st: Rhodes' loss is nothing to Erastus' joy; Sith his Perseda lives, his life survives. BALTHAZAR. Ah, bashaw, here is love between Erastus And fair Perseda, sovereign of my soul. HIERONIMO. Remove Erastus, mighty Solyman, And then Perseda will be quickly won. BALTHAZAR. Erastus is my friend; and, while he lives, Perseda never will remove her love. HIERONIMO. Let not Erastus live to grieve great Solyman. BALTHAZAR. Dear is Erastus in our princely eye. HIERONIMO. But if he be your rival, let him die. BALTHAZAR. Why, let him die; so love commandeth me: Yet grieve I that Erastus should so die. HIERONIMO. Erastus, Solyman saluteth thee, And lets thee wit by me his highness' will, Which is, thou shouldst be thus employed. [_Stabs him._ BELL'-IMPERIA. Ay me, Erastus! See, Solyman, Erastus slain! BALTHAZAR. Yet liveth Solyman to comfort thee: Fair queen of beauty, let not favour die, But with a gracious eye behold his grief, That with Perseda's beauty is increas'd, If by Perseda's grief be not releas'd. BELL'-IMPERIA. Tyrant, desist soliciting vain suits; Relentless are mine ears to thy laments, As thy butcher is pitiless and base, Which seiz'd on my Erastus, harmless knight: Yet by thy pow'r thou thinkest to command; And to thy power Perseda doth obey: But, were she able, thus she would revenge Thy treacheries on thee, ignoble prince: [_Stabs him._