The comicall historie of Alphonsus, King of Aragon As it hath bene sundrie times acted. Made by R.G.

Act. I. (Book 1)

After you haue sounded thrise, let Venus be let downe from the top of the Stage, and when she is downe, say.

POets are scarce when Goddesses themselues Are forst to leaue their high and stately seates Placed on the top of high Olympus Mount, To seeke them out, to pen their Champions praise. The time hath bene when Homers sugred Muse, Did make each Eccho to repeate his verse, That euery coward that durst crack a speare, And Tilt and Turney for his Ladies sake, Was painted out in colours of such price As might become the proudest Potentate. But now a dayes so yrksome Idels slights, And cursed charmes haue witch'd each students mind, That death it is to any of them all, If that their hands to penning you do call: Oh Virgil, Virgil, wert thou now aliue, Whose painfull pen in stout Augustus dayes, Did daigne to let the base and silly flea To scape away without thy praise of her. I do not doubt but long or ere this time, Alphonsus fame vnto the heauen's should clime: Alphonsus fame that man of Ioue his seed, Sprung from the loines of the immortall Gods,

Whose sire although he habit on the earth, May claime a portion in the fierie Pole, As well as any one what ere he be. But setting by Alphonsus power diuine, What man aliue or now amongst the ghoasts Could counteruaile his courage and his strength? But thou art dead, yea Virgil thou art gon: And all his acts drownd in obliuion. And all his acts drownd in obliuion? No Venus no, though Poets proue vnkind, And loth to stand in penning of his deeds, Yet rather then they shall be cleane forgot, I which was wont to sollow Cupids games Will put in vre Mineruaes sacred Art, And this my hand which vsed for to pen The praise of loue, and Cupids peerles power, Will now begin to treat of bloudie Mars, Of doughtie deeds and valiant victories.

Enter Melpomine, Clio, Errato, with their sisters, playing all vp∣vpon sundrie Instruments, Calliope onely excepted, who com∣ming last, hangeth downe the head, and plaies not of her Instru∣ment.

But see whereas the stately Muses come, Whose harmony doth very far surpasse The heauenly musick of Appolloes pipe. But what meanes this Melpomine her selfe With all her sisters sound their Instruments, Onely excepted faire Calliope? Who comming last & hanging downe her head, Doth plainly shewe by outward actions What secret sorrow doth torment her heart.

Stands a side.

Mel.

Calliope thou which so oft didst crake, How that such clients clustred to thy Court By thick and threefold, as not any any one Of all thy sisters might compare with thee: Where be thy schollers now become I troe? Where are they vanisht in such suddain sort, That while as we do play vpon our strings, You stand still lazing, and haue nought to do?

Clio.

Melpomine make you a why of that? I know full oft you haue Authors red, The higher tree the sooner is his fall, And they which first do flourish and beare sway, Vpon the sudden vanish cleane away.

Cal.

Mocke on apace, my backe is broad enough To beare yout flouts as many as they be. That yeare is rare, that nere feeles winters stormes: That tree is fertile which nere wanteth frute. And that same Muse hath heaped well in store: Which neuer wanteth clients at her doore. But yet my sisters, when the surgent seas Haue ebde their fill, their waues do rise againe And fill their bankes vp to the very brimmes: And when my pipe hath easd her selfe a while, Such store of suters shall my seate frequent, That you shall see my schollers be not spent.

Errato.

Spent (quoth you) sister, then we were too blame If we should say your schollers all were spent: But pray now tell me when your painfull pen will rest enough?

Mel.

When husbandmen sheere hogs.

Ven.

Melpomine, Errato and the rest, From thickest shrubs dame Venus did espie The mortall hatred which you ioyntly beare Vnto your sister high Calliope. What do you thinke if that the tree do bend,

It followes therefore that it needs must breakes And since her pipe a litle while doth rest, It neuer shall be able for to sound? Yes Muses yes, if that she wil vouchsafe To ente•…•…tain Dame Venus in her schoole, And further me with her insti•…•…tions, She shall haue schollers which wil daine to be In any other Muses companie.

Calliope.

Most sacred Venus do you doubt of that? Cal•…•…ope would thinke her three times blest, For to receiue a Goddes in her schoole, Especially so high an one as you, Which rules the earth, and guides the heauens too.

Ven.

Then sound your pipes, and let vs bend our steps Vnto the top of high Pernassus hill, And there togither do our best deuoyr For to describe Alphonsus warlike fame: And in the maner of a Comedie, Set downe his noble valour presently.

Calli.

As Venus wils, so bids Calliope.

Melpo.

And as you bid your sisters do agree.

Exeunt.

Enter Clarinus the Father, and Alphonsus his sonne.

Carinus.

My noble sonne, since first I did recount The noble acts your predecessors did In Aragon, against their war•…•…ke foes, I neuer yet could see thee ioy at all, But hanging downe thy head as malcontent: Thy youthfull dayes in mourning haue bene spent. Tell me Alphonsus what might be the cause That makes thee thus to pine away with care? Hath old Carinus done thee any offence In reckning vp these stories vnto thee?

What nere a word 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…mme? Alphonsus speake, Vnles your Fathers fatall day you seeke.

Alphon.

Although deare father I haue often vowde Nere to vnfold the secrets of my heart To any man or woman, who some ere Dwels vnderneath the circle of the •…•…kie: Yet do your words so coniure me deare sire, That needs I must fulfil that you require. Then so it is, amongst the famous tales Which you rehearst done by our sires in warre, When as you came vnto your fathers daies, With sobbing notes, with sighs & blubbring teares, And much ado, at length you thus began. Next to Alphonsus should my father come, For to possesse the Diadem by right Of Aragon, but that the wicked wretch His yonger brother, with aspiring mind, By secret treason robd him of his life, And me his sonne, of that which was my due. These words my sire, did so torment my mind, As had I bene with Ixion in hell, The rauening bird could neuer plague me worse: For euer since my mind hath troubled bene Which way I might reuenge this traiterous fact, And that recouer which is ours by right.

Cari.

Ah my Alphònsus neuer thinke on that, In vaine it is to sttiue against the streame, The Crowne is lost, and now in hucksters hands, And all our hope is cast •…•…to the dust: Bridle these thoughts, and learne the same of me, A quiet life doth passe an Emperie.

Alphon.

Yet noble father, ere Carinus brood Shall brooke his foe for to vsu•…•… his seate, Heele die the death with honour in the field, And so his life and sorrowes briefly end.

But did I know my froward fate were such, A•…•… I should faile in this my iust attempt: This sword deare father should the Author be, To make an end of this my Tragedie. Therefore sweet sire, remaine you here a while, And let me walke my Fortune for to t•…•…e: I do not doubt but ere the time be long, Ile quite his cost, or else my selfe will die.

Cari.

My noble sonne, since that thy mind is such For to reuenge thy fathers foule abuse, As that my words may not a whit preuaile To stay thy iourney, go with happie fate, And soone returne vnto thy fathers Cell, With such a t•…•…ne as Iulius C•…•…ar came To noble Rome, when as he had atchiu'd The mightie Monarch of the triple wo•…•…ld, Meane time Carinus in this sillie groue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Will spend his daies with praier and horizons, To mightie Ioue, to further thine intent: Farewell deare sonne Alphonsu•…•… fare you well.

Exit.

Alphon.

And is he gone? then hie Alphonsus hie, To trie thy fortune where thy fates do call: A noble mind disdaines to hide his head, And let his foes triumph in his ouerthrow.

Enter Albinius.

Alphonsus mal•…•… as though thou goest out, Albi•…•…s sa•…•…

Albi.

What loytring follow haue we spied here? Presume not vill•…•…ne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 her for to go, Vnles you do at length the same •…•…pent.

Alphonsus comes towards Albinius.

Alphon.

Villain sai•…•…t thou, nay vilain in thy throat: What knowst •…•…ou skip•…•…ck whom thou vilain calst?

Albi.

A common vassall I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 villaine call.

Alphon.

That shalt thou soone approoue perswade thy self, Or else ile die, or thou shalt die for me.

Albi.

What do I dreame, or do my dazeling eies Deceiue me? Ist Alpho•…•…sus that I see? Doth now Medea vse her wonted charmes For to delude Albinius fantasie? Or doth black Pluto king of darke Auerne, Seeke to flout m•…•… with his cou•…•…rfait? His bodie like to Alphonsus framed is: His face resembles much Alphonsus hewe: His noble mind declares him for no les. Tis he indeed, wo worth Albinius, Whose babling tong hath causde his owne annoy. Why doth not Ioue send from the glittring skies His Thunder bolts to chastice this offence? Why doth dame Terra cease with greedie iawes To swallow vp Albinius presently? What •…•…ll I flie and hide my trayterous head, From •…•…out Alphonsus whom I so misusde? Or shall I •…•…eld Tush yeelding is in vaine: Nor can I flie, but he will follow me. Then •…•…ast thy selfe downe at his graces seete, Confesse thy fault, and readie make thy brest, To entertaine thy well de•…•…ued death.

Albinius knee•…•…s do•…•…ne.

Alph.

What newes my friend? why are you so blanke That earst before did vau•…•… it to the skies?

Albi.

Pardon deare Lord, Albinius pardon craues For this offence, which by the heaue•…•… I vowe, Vnwittingly I did vnto your grace. For had I knowne Alphonsus had bene here, Ere that my tongue had spoke so trayterously, This hand should make my very •…•…uie to •…•…ie.

Alphon.

Rise vp my f•…•…end, thy pardon soon is go•…•… But prithi•…•… •…•…ll me what the •…•…auie might be•…•… That in such s•…•…t thou e•…•…st 〈◊〉〈◊〉 m•…•…?

Albinius •…•…ses vp.

Haue compassed the circle of the skie, Ile clog their toongs, since nothing else will serue To keep those vilde and threatning speeches in. Farwell Belinus, loke thou to thy selfe: Alphonsus meanes to haue thy Crowne ere night.

Exit Alphonsus.

Beli.

What is he gone, the diuel break his necke, The fiends of hell torment his traiterous corpes: Is this the quittance of Belinus grace, Which he did shewe vnto that thankles wre•…•…ch? That runnagate, that rachell, yea that theefe, For well I wot he hath robd me of a Crowne. If euer he had sprung from gentle blood, He would not thus misuse his fauourer.

Albi.

That •…•…nnag, that rachel, yea that theef? Stay their sir King, your mouth runnes ouer much, It ill becomes the subiect for to vse Such trayterous termes against his soueraigne. Know thou Belinus, that Carinus sonne, Is neither rachel nor runnagate, But be thou sure, that ere the darksome night Do driue God Phaebus to his Thetis lap, Both thou and all the rest of this thy traine, Shall well repent the words which you haue saine.

Beli.

What traiterous villain dost thou threaten me? Lay hold on him, and see he do not scape, Ile teach the slaue to know to whom he speakes. To thee I speake, and to thy fellowes all: And though as now you haue me in your power, Yet doubt I not but that in litle space, These eyes shall see thy treason recompenst: And then I meane to vaunt of our victorie.

Beli.

Nay proud Albinius, neuer build on that,

For though the Gods do chance for to appoyn•…•… Alphonsus victor of Belinus land, Yet shalt thou neuer liue to see that day, And therefore Fabius stand not lingring, But presently slash off his trayterous head.

Albi.

Slash off his head, as though Albinius head Were then so easie to be slashed off. In faith sir no, when you are gone and dead, I hope to flourish like the pleasant spring.

Beli.

Why how now Fabius, what do you stand in doubt, To do the deed? what feare you? who dares seek•…•… For to reuenge his death on thee againe, Since that Belinus did commaund it so? Or are you waxt so daintie, that you dare Not vse your sword for staining of your hands? If it be so, then let me see thy sword, And I will be his butcher for this time.

Fabius giue Belinus thy sword drawne, Belinus say as follow∣eth.

Now sir Albinius, are you of the minde That erst you were? what do you looke to see And triumph in Belinus ouerthrow? I hope the very sight of this my blade, Hath chaungde your minde into an other tune.

Albi.

Not so Belin•…•…s, I am constant still, My minde is like to the Abeston stone, Which if it once be heat in flames of fire, Deineth to becommen colde againe. Euen so am I, and shall be till I die, And though I should see Attropos appeare, With knife in hand, •…•…o slit my threed in twaine, Yet nere Albinius should perswaded be, But that Belinus he should vanquisht see.

Beli.

Nay then Albinius, since that words are vaine For to perswade you from this heresie: Th•…•… sword shall sure put you out of doubt.

Belinus offers to strike off Albinius head strike vp alarum, en∣er Alphonsus and his men, flie Belinus and Fabius, follow Alphonsus, and Albinius. Enter Laelius, Milos, and his seruants.

Laeli.

My noble Lords of Aragon, I know You wonder much what might the occasion be, That Laelius which earst did flie the field, Doth egge you forwards now vnto the warres, But when you heare my reason, out of doubt Yowle be content with this my rash attempt. When first our King, Flaminius I do meane, Did set vpon the Neapolitans, The worst of you did know and plainly see, How farre they were vnable to withstand The mightie forces of our royall Campe, Vntill such time as froward fates we thought, Although the fates ordaind it for our gaine, Did send a straunger stout, whose sturdie blowes And force alone, did cause our ouerthrow. But to our purpose, this same martiall knight Did hap to hit vpon Flaminius, And lent our King then such a friendly blow, As that his gasping ghost to Lymbo went: Which when I sawe, and seeking to reuenge, My noble Lords, did hap on such a prize: As neuer King nor Keisar got the like.

Mi.

Laelius, of force we must confesse to thee, We wondred all, when as you did perswade Vs to returne vnto the warres againe, But since our maruell is increased much

By these your words, which sound of happinesse, Therefore good Laelius make no tarrying, But soone vnfolde thy happie chaunce to vs.

Lae.

Then friends and fellow souldiers, hark to me. When Laelius thought for to reuenge his king, On that same knight, in steed of mortall foe, I found him for to be our cheefest friend.

Mi.

Our cheefest friend, I hardly can beleeue, That he which made such bloudie massacres Of stout Italians, can in any poynt Beare friendship to the countrey or the King.

Lae.

As for your king Miles, I hold with you, He beare no friendship to Flaminius, But hated him as bloudie Attropos, But for your countrey, Laelius doth a•…•…owe, He loues as well as any other land: Yea sure he loues it best of all the world: And for because, you shall not thinke that I Do say the same without a reason why, Know that the knight Alphonsus hath to name, Both sonne and heire to olde Carinus, whom Flaminius sire bereaued of his Crowne: Who did not seeke the ruine of our host, For any enuie he did beare to vs, But to reuenge him on his mortall foe, Which by the helpe of high celestiall Ioue, He hath atchieu'd with honour in the field.

Mi.

Alphonsus man, ile nere perswaded be, That ere Alphonsus may suruiue againe, Who with Carinus many yeares agoe, Was said to wander in the stigian fieldes.

Laeli.

Truth Noble Miles, these mine eares haue heard, For certaintie reported vnto me, That olde Carinus with his peerlesse sonne, Had felt the sharpnesse of the sisters sheeres,

And had I not of late Alphonsus seene In good estate, though all the world should say He is aliue, I would not credit them: But fellow souldiers wend you backe with me, And let vs lurke within the secret shade, Which he himselfe appointed vnto vs: And if you find my words to be vntroth, Then let me die to recompence the wrong.

Strike vp alarum, Enter Albinius with his sword drawne, and say.

Albi.

Laelius make haste, souldiers of Aragon, Set lingring by, and come and helpe your King. I meane Alphonsus, who whilest that he did Pursue Belinus at the very heeles, Was suddenly enuironed about, With all the troupes of mightie Millain land.

Mi.

What newes is this, and is it very so? Is our Alphonsus yet in humane state, Whom all the world did iudge for to be dead. Yet can I scarce giue credit to the same. Giue credit, yes, and since the Millain Duke, Hath broke his league of friendship, be he sure, E•…•…e Cynthia, the shining lampe of night, Doth scale the heauens with her horned head, Both he and his shall very plainly see, The league is burst, that caused long the glee.

L•…•….

And could the traytor harbor in his brest Such mortall treason gainst his soueraigne, As when he should with fire and sword defend Him from his foes, he seekes his ouerthrow? March on my friends, I nere shall ioy at all, Vntill I see that bloudie traytors fall.

Exeunt.

Strike vp alar•…•…, flie Belinus, follow Laelius: flie Fabius, foll•…•… Albinius: flie the Duke of Millaine, follow Miles.