ABDILM. Zareo, hear our resolution ;
And thus our forces we will first dispose.
Hamet, my brother, with a thousand shot
On horse-back, and choice harquebuziers all,
Having ten thousand with spear and shield,
Shall make the right wing of the battle up;
Zareo, you shall have in charge the left,
Two thousand argolets,* and ten thousand horse;
The main battle of harquebuze on foot,
And twenty thousand horsemen in their troops,
Myself, environ'd with my trusty guard
Of janisaries, fortunate in war;

And toward Arzil will we take our way.

If then our enemy will balk our force,

In God's name let him, it will be his best;

But if he level at Alcazar walls,

Then beat him back with bullets as thick as hail,

And make him know and rue his oversight,

That rashly seeks the ruin of this land.

[Exeunt.

Enter SEBASTIAN King of Portugal, the DUKE of AVERO, STUKELEY, and others.

SEB. Why, tell me, lords, why left ye Portugal,

And cross'd the seas with us to Barbary?

Was it to see the country and no more,

Or else to fly† before ye were assail❜d ?
I am asham❜d to think that such as you,
Whose deeds have been renowned heretofore,
tfly] Old copy "slay.”

argolets] See note
p. 95.

Should slack in such an act of

consequence:

We come to fight, and fighting vow to die,
Or else to win the thing for which we came.
Because Abdilmelec, as pitying us,

Sends messages to counsel quietness,

You stand amaz'd, and think it sound advice,
As if our enemy would wish us any good:
No, let him know we scorn his courtesy,
And will resist his forces whatsoe'er.
Cast fear aside, myself will lead the way,
And make a passage with my conquering sword,
Knee-deep in blood of these accursed Moors,
And they that love my honour, follow me.
Were you as resolute as is your king,
Alcazar walls should fall before your face,
And all the force of this barbarian lord

Should be confounded, were it ten times more. AVERO. So well become these words a kingly mouth,

That are of force to make a coward fight;

But when advice and prudent foresight

Is joined with such magnanimity,

Trophies of victory and kingly spoils

Adorn his crown, his kingdom, and his fame.

HERC. We have descried upon the mountain tops

A hugy company of invading Moors;

And they, my lord, as thick as winter's hail
Will fall upon our heads at unawares :
Best then betimes t'avoid this gloomy storm,
It is in vain to strive with such a stream.

Enter [the Moor] MULY MAHAMET.

MOOR. Behold, thrice noble lord, uncall'd I come,

To counsel where necessity commands;

And honour of undoubted victory

Makes me exclaim upon this dastard flight.
Why, king Sebastian, wilt thou now foreslow,*
And let so great a glory slip thy hands?
Say you do march unto Tariffa now,
The forces of the foe are come so nigh,
That he will let + the passage of the river,
So unawares you will be forc'd to fight.

But know, O king, and you, thrice valiant lords,
Few blows will serve! I ask but only this,
That with your power you march into the field;
For now is all the army resolute

To leave the traitor helpless in the fight,
And fly to me as to their rightful prince.
Some horsemen have already led the way,
And vow the like for their companions :
The host is full of tumult and of fear.
Then as you come to plant me in my seat,
And to enlarge your fame in Africa,
Now, now or never, bravely execute
Your resolution sound and honourable,
And end this war together with his life,

That doth usurp the crown with tyranny.

SEB. Captains, you hear the reasons of the king, Which so effectually have pierc'd mine ears,

That I am fully resolute to fight;

* foreslow] i. e. delay.

+ let] i. e. hinder.

And who refuseth now to follow me,

Let him be ever counted cowardly.

AVE. Shame be his share that flies when kings do fight!

Avero lays his life before your feet.

STUк. For my part, lords, I cannot sell my blood Dearer than in the company of kings.

[Exeunt.

Manet MULY MAHAMET [the Moor.]

MOOR. Now have I set these Portugals a work,
To hew a way for me unto the crown,
Or with your weapons here to dig your graves;
You dastards of the night and Erebus,

Fiends, fairies,* hags that fight in beds of steel,
Range through this army with your iron whips,
Drive forward to this deed this Christian crew,
And let me triumph in the tragedy,

Though it be seal'd and honour'd with my blood,
Both of the Portugal and barbarous Moor.

Ride, Nemesis, ride in thy fiery cart,

And sprinkle gore amongst these men of war,
That either party eager of revenge

May honour thee with sacrifice of death ;
And having bath'd thy chariot wheels in blood,
Descend and take to thy tormenting hell

The mangled body of that traitor king,

That scorns the power and force of Portugal :
Then let the earth discover to his ghost

Such tortures as usurpers feel below;
Rack'd let him be in proud Ixion's wheel,
*fairies] Qy. "furies."

Pin'd let him be with Tantalus' endless thirst,
Prey let him be to Tityus'* greedy bird,
Wearied with Sisiphus' immortal toil.
And lastly for revenge, for deep revenge,
Whereof thou goddess and deviser art,

Damn❜d let him be, damn'd, and condemn'd to bear
All torments, tortures, plagues, and pains of hell.

[Exit.

ACTUS V.t

Enter the PRESENTER before the last dumb show, and speaketh.

Ill be to him that so much ill bethinks;

And ill betide this foul ambitious Moor,

Whose wily trains with smoothest course of speech Havet tied and tangled in a dangerous war

The fierce and manly king of Portugal.

[Lightning and thunder.

Now throw the heavens forth their lightning flames, And thunder over Afric's fatal fields:

Blood will have blood, foul murder scape no scourge.

Enter FAME, like an angel, and hangs the crowns upon a tree.

At last descendeth Fame, as Iris
To finish fainting Dido's dying life;

Tityus'] Old copy "Tisons."

+ In the old copy the Act is not marked here. Have] Old copy "hath."