Bethink thyself, Hieronimo,
Recall thy wits, recompt thy former wrongs
Thou hast receiv'd by murder of thy son,
And lastly, but not least, how Isabell,
Once his mother and my dearest wife,
All woe-begone for him, hath slain herself.
Behooves thee then, Hieronimo, to be
Reveng'd! The plot is laid of dire revenge:
On then, Hieronimo; pursue revenge,
For nothing wants but acting of revenge!
Exit HIERONIMO.
Enter SPANISH KING, VICEROY, the DUKE
OF CASTILE, and their train, to the gallery.
KING. Now, viceroy, shall we see the tragedy
Of Suleiman, the Turkish emperor,
Perform'd by pleasure by your son the prince,
My nephew Don Lorenzo, and my niece.
VICE. Who? Bel-imperia?
KING. Aye; and Hieronimo our marshall,
At whose request they deign to do't themselves.
These be our pastimes in the court of Spain.
Here, brother, you shall be the book-keeper:
This is the argument of that they show.
He giveth him a book.
[Gentlemen, this play of Hieronimo in sundry languages was thought
good to be set down in English more largely, for the easier
understanding to every publique reader.]
Enter BALTHAZAR, BEL-IMPERIA, and
HIERONIMO.
BALTHAZAR. [acting] Bashaw, that Rhodes is ours yield
Heav'ns the honour
And holy Mahomet, our sacred prophet!
And be thou grac'd with every excellence
That Suleiman can give or thou desire!
But thy desert in conquering Rhodes is less
Then in reserving this fair Christian nymph,
Perseda, blissful lamp of excellence,
Whose eyes compel, like powerful adamant,
The warlike heart of Suleiman to wait.
KING. See, viceroy, that is Balthazar your son,
That represents the Emperor Suleiman:
How well he acts his amorous passion!
VICE. Aye; Bel-imperia hath taught him that.
CASTILE: That's because his mind runs all on Bel-imperia.
HIERO. [acting] Whatever joy earth yields betide your Majesty!
BALT. [acting] Earth yields no joy without Perseda's love.
HIERO. [acting] Let then Perseda on your Grace attend.
BALT. [acting] 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,--
Erasto, dearer than my life to me,--
That he may see Perseda, my belov'd.
Enter ERASTO [LORENZO].
KING. Here comes Lorenzo: look upon the plot
And tell me, brother, what part plays he.
BEL. [acting] Ah, my Erasto! Welcome to Perseda!
LO. [acting] Thrice happy is Erasto that thou livest!
Rhodes' loss is nothing to Erasto's joy;
Sith his Perseda lives, his life survives.
BALT. [acting] Ah, bashaw, here is love between Erasto
And fair Perseda, sovereign of my soul!
HIERO. [acting] Remove Erasto, mighty Suleiman,
And then Perseda will be quickly won.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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