_Venus._ No sooner did Alphonsus with his troop Set on the soldiers of Belinus' band, But that the fury of his sturdy blows Did strike such terror to their daunted minds That glad was he which could escape away, With life and limb, forth of that bloody fray. Belinus flies unto the Turkish soil, To crave the aid of Amurack their king; Unto the which he willingly did consent, And sends Belinus, with two other kings, To know God Mahomet's pleasure in the same. Meantime the empress by Medea's help Did use such charms that Amurack did see, In soundest sleep, what afterward should hap. How Amurack did recompense her pain, With mickle more, this act shall show you plain. [_Exit._ SCENE I.--_Camp of_ ALPHONSUS, _near Naples._ _Enter one, carrying two crowns upon a crest;_ ALPHONSUS, ALBINIUS, LÆLIUS, _and_ MILES, _with their_ Soldiers. _Alphon._ Welcome, brave youths of Arragon, to me, Yea, welcome, Miles, Lælius, and the rest, Whose prowess alone hath been the only cause That we, like victors, have subdu'd our foes. Lord, what a pleasure was it to my mind, To see Belinus, which not long before Did with his threatenings terrify the gods, Now scud apace from warlike Lælius' blows. The Duke of Milan, he increas'd our sport, Who doubting that his force was over-weak For to withstand, Miles, thy sturdy arm, Did give more credence to his frisking skips Than to the sharpness of his cutting blade. What Fabius did to pleasure us withal, Albinius knows as well as I myself; For, well I wot, if that thy tirèd steed Had been as fresh and swift in foot as his, He should have felt, yea, known for certainty, To check Alphonsus did deserve to die. Briefly, my friends and fellow-peers in arms, The worst of you deserve such mickle praise, As that my tongue denies for to set forth The demi-parcel of your valiant deeds; So that, perforce, I must by duty be Bound to you all for this your courtesy. _Miles._ Not so, my lord; for if our willing arms Have pleasur'd you so much as you do say, We have done naught but that becometh us, For to defend our mighty sovereign. As for my part, I count my labour small, Yea, though it had been twice as much again, Since that Alphonsus doth accept thereof.