Anonymous · published 1592 · first performed or written 1592 [c.1589-1592] (Annals) tragedy · Unknown unassigned nearest T50 Fleets, armies and generals: war by sea · 517 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T50: sea, honour, general, soldiers, men, ship, fight, soldier, king, vittori.
Then this my gracious Lord is all I crave, That being banished from my native soil, I may have liberty to live a Christian. I that, or any thing thou shalt desire, Thou shalt be Captain of our janissaries, And in our counsel shalt thou sit with us, And be great Soliman's adopted friend. The least of these surpass my best desert, Unless true loyalty may seem desert. Erastus, now thou hast obtained thy boon, Deny not Soliman this own request; A virtuous envy pricks me with desire, To try thy valour, say art thou content? ay, if my Sovereign say content, I yield. Then give us Swords and Targets, And now Erastus think me thine enemy, But ever after thy continual friend, And spare me not, for then thou wrong'st my honour. Nay, nay Erastus, throw not down thy weapons, As if thy force did fail, it is enough That thou hast conquered Soliman by strength, By courtesy let Soliman conquer thee. And now from arms to counsel sir thee down: Before thy coming I vowed to conquer Rhodes, Say wilt thou be our Lieutenant there, And further us in manage of these wars? My gracious Sovereign, without presumption, If poor Erastus may once more entreat, Let not great Soliman's command, To whose behest I vow obedience, Enforce me sheath my slaughtering blade, In the dear bowels of my countrymen: And were it not that Soliman hath sworn, My tears should plead for pardon to that place: I speak not this to shrink away for fear, Or hide my head in time of dangerous storms, Employ me else where in thy foreign wars, Against the Persians or the barbarous Moore, Erastus will be foremost in the battle. Why favourest thou thy countrymen so much, By whose cruelty thou art exiled? 'tis not my country, but Phylippos wrath, It must be told, for Ferdinando's death, Whom I in honour's cause have reft of life, Nor suffer this or that to trouble thee, Thou shalt not need Phylippo nor his I'll, Nor shalt thou war against thy Countrymen, I like thy virtue in refusing it, But that our oath may have his currant course, Brusor, go levy men, Prepare a fleet, to assault and conquer Rhodes, Mean time Erastus and I will strive, By mutual kindness to excel each other. Brusor be gone, and see not Soliman, Till thou hast brought Rhodes in subjection. And now Erastus come and follow me. Where thou shalt see what pleasures and what sports, My Minions and my Eunuchs can devise, To drive away this melancholy mood. Oh master, see where I am, Say Piston what's the news at Rhodes, Cold and comfortless for you, Will you have them all at once? I. Why the Governor will hang you & he catch you. Ferdinando is buried, your friends commend them to you: Perseda hath the chain, and is like to die for sorrow. I that's the grief, that we are parted thus. Come follow me and I will hear the rest, For now I must attend the Emperor. Accursed Chain, unfortunate Perseda.
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Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Then this my gratious Lord is all I craue, That being banisht from my natiue soile, I may haue libertie to liue a Christian. I that, or any thing thou shalt desire, Thou shalt be Captaine of our Ianisaries, And in our counsell shalt thou sit with vs, And be great Solimans adopted freend. The least of these surpasse my best desart, Vnlesse true loyaltie may seeme desart. Erastus, now thou hast obtaind thy boone, Denie not Soliman this owne request; A vertuous enuie pricks me with desire, To trie thy valour, say art thou content? I, if my Soueraigne say content, I yeeld. Then giue vs Swords and Targets, And now Erastus thinke me thine enemie, But euer after thy continuall friend, And spare me not, for then thou wrongst my honour. Nay, nay Erastus, throw not downe thy weapons, As if thy force did faile, it is enough That thou hast conquered Soliman by strength, By curtesie let Soliman conquer thee. And now from armes to counsell sir thee downe: Before thy comming I vowd to conquer Rhodes, Say wilt thou be our Leiutenant there, And further vs in manage of these wars? My gratious Soueraigne, without presumption, If poore Erastus may once more intreat, Let not great Solimans commaund, To whose behest I vowe obedience, Inforce me sheath my slaughtering blade, In the deere bowels of my countrimen: And were it not that Soliman hath sworne, My teares should plead for pardon to that place: I speake not this to shrinke away for feare, Or hide my head in time of dangerous stormes, Imploy me else where in thy forraine wars, Against the Persians or the barbarous Moore, Erastus will be formost in the battell. Why fauourst thou thy countrimen so much, By whose crueltie thou art exylde? Tis not my countrey, but Phylippos wrath, It must be tould, for Ferdinandos death, Whom I in honours cause haue reft of life, Nor suffer this or that to trouble thee, Thou shalt not neede Phylippo nor his Ile, Nor shalt thou war against thy Countrimen, I like thy vertue in refusing it, But that our oath may haue his currant course, Brusor, goe leuie men, Prepare a fleete, to assault and conquer Rhodes, Meane time Erastus and I will striue, By mutuall kindnes to excell each other. Brusor be gon, and see not Soliman, Till thou hast brought Rhodes in subiection. And now Erastus come and follow me. Where thou shalt see what pleasures and what sports, My Minions and my Euenukes can deuise, To driue away this melancholly moode. Oh maister, see where I am, Say Piston whats the newes at Rhodes, Colde and comfortlesse for you, Will you haue them all at once? I. Why the Gouernour will hang you & he catch you. Ferdinando is buried, your friends commend them to you: Perseda hath the chaine, and is like to die for sorrow. I thats the greefe, that we are parted thus. Come follow me and I will heare the rest, For now I must attend the Emperour. Accursed Chaine, vnfortunate Perseda.