Py. You are wellcome Gentlemen, most worthy welcom,
And know there's nothing in our power may serve ye,
But you may freely challenge.
Arm. Sir we thank ye,
And rest your servants too.
Py. Ye are worthy Portugals,
You shew the bravery of your minds and spirits;
The nature of our Country too, that brings forth
Stirring, unwearied soules to seek adventures;
Minds never satisfied with search of honor
Where time is, and the Sun gives light, brave Countrymen,
Our names are known, new worlds disclose their riches,
Their beauties, and their prides to our embraces;
And we the first of Nations find these wonders.
Arm. These noble thoughts, Sir, have intic'd us forward,
And minds unapt for ease to see these miracles,
In which we find report a poor relater;
We are arriv'd among the blessed Islands,
Where every wind that rises blows perfumes,
And every breath of air is like an Incence:
The treasure of the Sun dwells here, each Tree
As if it envied the old Paradice,
Strives to bring forth immortal fruit; the Spices
Renewing nature, though not deifying,
And when that falls by time, scorning the earth,
The sullen earth should taint or suck their beauties,
But as we dreamt, for ever so preserve us:
Nothing we see, but breeds an admiration;
The very rivers as we float along,
Throw up their pearls, and curle their heads to court us;
The bowels of the earth swell with the births
Of thousand unknown gemms, and thousand riches;
Nothing that bears a life, but brings a treasure;
The people they shew brave too, civil manner'd,
Proportioned like the Masters of great minds,
The Women which I wonder at—
Py. Ye speak well.
Ar. Of delicate aspects, fair, clearly beauteous,
And to that admiration, sweet and courteous.
Py. And is not that a good thing? brave Armusia
You never saw the Court before?
Ar. No certain,
But that I see a wonder too, all excellent,
The Government exact.
Chr. Ye shall see anon,
That that will make ye start indeed, such beauties,
Such riches, and such form.
Enter Bakam, Syana, Governor.
Soz. We are fire already;
The wealthy Magazine of nature sure
Inhabits here.
Arm. These sure are all Ilanders.
Py. Yes, and great Princes too, and lusty lovers.
Ar. They are goodly persons; What might he be Signior
That bears so proud a state?
Py. King of Bakam,
A fellow that farts terror.
Em. He looks highly,
Sure he was begot o'th' top of a Steeple.
Chr. It may well be,
For you shall hear him ring anon.
Py. That is Syana,
And a brave temper'd fellow, and more valiant.
Soz. What rugged face is that?
Py. That's the great Governor,
The man surpriz'd our Friend, I told ye of him.
Ar. 'Has dangerous eyes.
Py. A perilous Thief, and subtile.
Chr. And to that subtilty a heart of Iron.
Py. Yet the young Lady makes it melt.
Ar. They start all,
And thunder in the eyes.
Ba. Away ye poor ones,
[A[m] I in competition with such bubbles?
My virtue, and my name rank'd with such trifles?
Sy. Ye speak loud.
Ba. Young-man, I will speak louder;
Can any man but I deserve her favor, [Princes flie at]
You petty Princes. [one another.]
Py. He will put 'em all in's pocket.
Sy. Thou proud mad thing be not so full of glory,
So full of vanity.
Ba. How? I contemn thee,
And that fort-keeping fellow.
Py. How the Dog looks,
The bandog Governor!
Gov. Ha, Why?
Ba. Away thing,
And keep your rank with those that fit your royalty;
Call out the Princess.
Gov. Dost thou know me bladder,
Thou insolent impostume?
Ba. I despise thee;
Gov. Art thou acquainted with my nature baby?
[With my] revenge for Injuries? darst thou hold me
So far behind thy file, I cannot reach thee?
What canst thou merit?
Ba. Merit? I am above it;
I am equal with all honors, all atchievements,
And what is great and worthy; the best doer
I keep at my command, fortune's my servant,
'Tis in my power now to despise such wretches,
To look upon ye slightly, and neglect ye,
And but she daines at some hours to remember ye,
And people have bestowed some Titles on ye,
I should forget your names—
Sy. Mercy of me;
What a blown fool has self affection
Made of this fellow! did not the Queen your Mother
Long for bellows, and bagpipes, when she was great with ye,
She brought forth such a windy birth?
Gov. 'Tis ten to one
She eat a Drum, and was deliver'd of alarum,
Or else he was swadled in an old saile when he was young.
Sy. He swells too mainly with his meditations;
Faith, talk a little handsomer, ride softly
That we may be able to hold way with ye, we are Princes,
But those are but poor things to you; talk wiser,
'Twill well become your mightiness; talk less,
That men may think ye can do more.
Gov. Talk truth,
That men may think ye are honest, and believe ye,
Or talk your self asleep, for I am weary of you.
Ba. Why? I can talk and do.
Gov. That wou'd do excellent.
Ba. And tell you, only I deserve the Princess,
And make good only I, if you dare, you sir,
Or you Syanas Prince.
Py. Heres a storm toward,
Methinks it sings already, to him Governor.
Gov. Here lies my proof. [Draw.
Sy. And mine.
Gov. I'll be short with ye,
For these long arguments I was never good at.
Py. How white the boaster looks!
Enter Ruy Dias, Quisara, Quisana, Panura.
Ar. I see he lacks faith.
Ru. For shame forbear great Princes, rule your angers,
You violate the freedom of this place,
The state and Royalty—
Gov. He's well contented
It seems, and so I have done.
Ar. Is this she Signior?
Py. This is the Princess Sir.
Ar. She is sweet and goodly,
An admirable form, they have cause to justle.
Quisar. Ye wrong me and my court, ye forward Princes;
Comes your Love wrapt in Violence to seek us?
Is't fit though you be great, my presence should be
Stain'd, and polluted with your bloody rages?
My privacies affrighted with your Swords?
He that loves me, loves my command; be temper'd,
Or be no more what ye profess, my Servants.
Omnes. We are calme as peace.
Ar. What command she carries!
And what a sparkling Majesty flies from her!
Quisar. Is it ye love to do? ye shall find danger,
And danger that shall start your resolutions,
But not this way; 'tis not contention,
Who loves me to my face best, or who can flatter most
Can carry me, he that deserves my favor,
And will enjoy what I bring, love and Majesty,
Must win me with his worth; must travel for me;
Must put his hasty rage off, and put on
A well confirmed, a temperate, and true valor.
Omnes. But shew the way.
Quisar. And will, and then shew you
A will to tread the way, I'll say ye are worthy.
Py. What task now
Will she turn 'em to? these hot youths,
I fear will find a cooling card, I read in her eyes
Something that has some swinge must flye amongst 'em;
By this hand I love her a little now.
Quisar. 'Tis not unknown to you
I had a royal Brother, now miserable,
And Prisoner to that Man; if I were ambitious,
Gap'd for that glory was n're born with me,
[There he should lie his miseries] upon him:
If I were covetous, and my heart set
On riches, and those base effects that follow
On pleasures uncontrol'd, or safe revenges,
There he should die, his death [would] give me all these;
For then stood I up absolute to do all;
Yet all these flattering shews of dignity,
These golden dreams of greatness cannot force
To forget nature and my fair affection.
Therefore that Man that would be known my lover,
Must be known his redeemer, and must bring him
Either alive or dead to my embraces.
For even his bones I scorn shall feel such slavery,
Or seek another Mistriss, 'twill be hard
To do this, wondrous hard, a great adventure,
Fit for a spirit of an equal greatness;
But being done, the reward is worthy of it.
Chr. How they stand gaping all!
Quisar. Ruy [Dias cold]?
Not flye like fire into it? may be you doubt me,
He that shall do this is my husband Prince;
By the bright heavens he is, by whose justice
I openly proclaim it; if I lye,
Or seek to set you on with subtilty,
Let that meet with me, and reward my falshood.
No stirring yet, no start into a bravery?
Ruy. Madam, it may be, but being a main danger,
Your Grace must give me leave to look about me,
And take a little time, the cause will ask it.
Great Acts require great counsels.
Quisar. Take your pleasure,
I fear the Portugal.
Ba. I'll raise an Army
That shall bring back [h]is] Island, Fort and all,
And fix it here.
Gov. How long will this be doing?
You should have begun in your Grandfather's days.
Sy. What may be,
And what my power can promise noblest Lady,
My will I am sure stands fair.
Quisar. Faire be your fortune,
Few promises are best, and fair performance.
Gov. These cannot doe,
Their power and arts are weak ones.
'Tis in my will, I have this King your brother,
He is my prisoner, I [accept your proffer],
And bless the fair occasion that atchiev'd him:
I love ye, and I honor ye, but speak;
Whether alive or dead he shall be rendred,
And see how readily, how in an instant,
Quick as your wishes Lady—
Quisar. No, I scorn ye,
You and [your courtesie]; I hate your love Sir;
And ere I would so basely win his liberty,
I would study to forget he was my brother;
By force he was taken; he that shall enjoy me,
Shall fetch him back by force, or never know me.
Py. As I live, a rare Wench.
Ar. She has a noble spirit.
Gov. By force?
Quisar. Yes Sir, by force, and make you glad too
To let him goe.
Gov. How? you may look nobler on me,
And think me no such Boy; by force he must not,
For your love much may be.
Quisar. Put up your passion,
And pack ye home, I say, by force, and suddenly.
He lies there till he rots else, although I love him
Most tenderly and dearly, as a brother,
And out of these respects would joy to see him;
Yet to receive him as thy courtesie,
With all the honor thou couldst add unto him
From his hands that most hate him, I had rather,
Though no condition were propounded for him,
See him far sunke i'th earth, and there forget him.
Py. Your hopes are gelt good Governor.
Arm. A rare Woman.
Gov. Lady,
I'll pull this pride, I'll quench this bravery,
And turne your glorious scorn to tears and howlings;
I will proud Princess; this neglect of me
Shall make thy brother King most miserable;
Shall turn him into curses 'gainst thy cruelty:
For where before I us'd him like a King,
And did those Royal Offices unto him:
Now he shall lie a sad lump in a dungeon,
Loden with chains and fetters, colds and hunger,
Darkness, and lingring death for his companions;
And let me see who dare attempt his rescue,
What desperate fool? look toward it; farewel,
And when thou know'st him thus, lament thy follies,
Nay I will make thee kneel to take my offer:
Once more farewel, and put thy trust in puppits. [Exit.
Quisar. If none dare undertake it, I'll live a mourner.
Ba. You cannot want.
Sy. You must not.
Ru. 'Tis most dangerous,
And wise men wou'd proceed with care and counsel,
Yet some way would I knew—
Walke with me Gentlemen— [Exeunt. Manent, Arm. and his Comp.
Ar. How do you like her spirit?
Soz. 'Tis a clear one,
[Clog'd with] no dirty stuff, she is all pure honor.
Em. The bravest Wench I ever look'd upon,
And of the strongest parts, she is most fair,
Yet her mind such a mirrour—
Arm. What an action
Wou'd this be to put forward on, what a glory,
And what an everlasting wealth to end it!
Methinks my soul is strangely rais'd.
Soz. To step into it,
Just while they think, and ere they have determin'd
To bring the King off.
Ar. Things have been done as dangerous.
Em. And prosper'd best when they were least consider'd.
Ar. Bless me my hopes,
And you my friends assist me.
None but our companions.
Soz. You deale wisely,
And if we shrink the name of slaves dye with us.
Em. Stay not for second thoughts.
Ar. I am determin'd;
And though I lose, it shall be sung, I was valiant,
And my brave offer shall be turn'd to story,
Worthy the Princess tongue. A Boat, that's all
That's unprovided, and habits like to Merchants,
The rest wee'l councel as we goe.
Soz. Away then,
Fortune looks fair on those, make haste to win her. [Exeunt.
Actus Secundus. Scæna Prima.
Enter Keeper, and 2 or 3 Moores.
Kee. I Have kept many a Man, and many a great one,
Yet I confess, I nere saw before
A Man of such a sufferance; he lies now
Where I would not lay my dog, for sure 'twould kill him.
Where neither light or comfort can come near him;
Nor air, nor earth that's wholsome; it grieves me
To see a mighty King with all his glory,
Sunk o'th' sudden to the bottome of a dungeon.
Whether should we descend that are poor Rascals
If we had our deserts?
1. Mo. 'Tis a strange wonder,
Load him with Irons, oppress him with contempts,
Which are the Governors commands, give him nothing,
Or so little, to sustain life, 'tis [next nothing];
They stir not him, he smiles upon his miseries,
And beares 'em with such strength, as if his nature
Had been nurs'd up, and foster'd with calamities.
2. He gives no ill words, curses, nor repines not,
Blames nothing, hopes in nothing, we can hear of;
And in the midst of all these frights, fears nothing.
Kee. I'll be sworne
He fears not, for even when I shake for him,
As many times my pitty will compell me,
When other souls, that bear not half his burthen,
Shrink in their powers, and burst with their oppressions;
Then will he Sing, wooe his afflictions,
And court 'em in sad airs, as if he wou'd wed 'em.
1. That's more than we have heard yet, we are only
Appointed for his Guard, but not so near him,
If we could hear that wonder—
Kee. Many times
I fear the Governor should come to know it;
For his voice so affects me, so delights me,
That when I find his hour, I have Musick ready,
And it stirs me infinitely, be but still and private,
And you may chance to hear.
[King appears loden with chains, his head, [and] armes only above.
2. We will not stir, Sir;
This is a sudden change, but who dares blame it.
Kee. Now hark and melt, for I am sure I shall;
Stand silent, what stubborn weight of chains—
1. Yet he looks temperately.
2. His eyes not sunk, and his complexion firm still,
No wildness, no distemper'd touch upon him,
How constantly he smiles, and how undanted!
With what a Majesty he heaves his head up! [Musick.
Kee. Now marke, I know he will sing; do not disturb him.
Your allowance from the Governor, wou'd it were more sir,
Or in my power to make it hansomer.
Kin. Do not transgress thy charge, I take his bounty,
And fortune, whilst I bear a mind contented
Not leaven'd with the glory I am falen from,
Nor hang upon vain hopes, that may corrupt me.
Enter Governor.