Enter Messenger.
Mes. Arm, arm, Sir,
Seek for defence, the Castle plays and thunders,
The Town Rocks, and the houses fly i' th' air,
The people dye for fear—Captain Ruy Dias,
Has made an oath he will not leave a stone here;
No, not the memory, here has stood a City,
Unless Armusia be deliver'd fairly.
King. I have my fears: what can our gods do now for us?
Gov. Be patient, but keep him still: he is a cure, Sir,
Against both Rage and Cannon: goe and fortifie,
Call in the Princess, make the Palace sure,
And let 'em know you are a King: look nobly;
And take [you[r] courage to ye; keep close the prisoner,
And under command, we are betraid else.
Ar. How joyfully I goe!
Quisar. Take my heart with thee.
Gov. I hold a Wolf by the ear now:
Fortune free me. [Exeunt.
Enter four Towns-men.
1. Heaven bless us,
What a thund'ring's here! what fire-spitting!
We cannot drink, but our Cans are mauld amongst us.
2. I wou'd they would mall our scores too:
Shame o' their Guns, I thought they had been bird-pots,
Or great Candle-cases, how devilishly they bounce,
And how the Bullets borrow a piece of a house here,
There another, and mend those up agen
With another Parish; here flies a poudring-tub,
The meat ready rosted, and there a barrel pissing vinegar,
And they two over-taking the top of a high Steeple,
Newly slic'd off for a Sallet.
3. A vengeance fire 'em.
2. Nay, they fire fast enough;
You need not help 'em.
4. Are these the Portugal Bulls—
How loud they bellow!
2. Their horns are plaguy strong, they push down Palaces
They toss our little habitations like whelps,
Like grindle-tails, with their heels upward;
All the windows i'th Town dance a new Trenchmore,
'Tis like to prove a blessed age for Glasiers,
I met a hand, and a Letter in't, in great haste,
And by and by, a single leg running after it,
As if the arm had forgot part of [his errand],
Heads flie like Foot-balls every where.
1. What shall we do?
2. I care not, my shop's cancell'd,
And all the Pots, and earthen Pans in't vanish't:
There was a single Bullet, and they together by the ears;
You would have thought Tom Tumbler had been there,
And all his troop of devils.
3. Let's to the King,
And get this Gentleman deliver'd handsomly:
By this hand, there's no walking above ground else.
2. By this leg—let me swear nimbly by it,
For I know not how long I shall owe it,
If I were out o'th' Town once, if I came in agen to
Fetch my breakfast, I will give 'em leave to cramm me
With a Portugal Pudding: Come; let's doe any thing
To appease this thunder. [Exeunt.
Enter Pyniero and Panura.
Py. Art sure it was that blind Priest?
Pan. Yes most certain,
He has provok'd all this; the King is merciful,
And wond'rous loving; but he fires him on still,
And when he cools, enrages him, I know it:
Threatens new vengeance, and the gods fierce justice
When he but looks with fair eyes on Armusia,
Will lend him no time to relent; my royal Mistriss,
She has entertain'd a Christian hope.
Py. Speak truly.
Pan. Nay, 'tis most true, but Lord! how he lies at her,
And threatens her, and flatters her, and damns her,
And I fear, if not speedily prevented,
If she continue stout, both shall be executed,
Py. I'll kiss thee for this news, nay more Panura,
If thou wilt give me leave I'll get thee with Christian,
The best way to convert thee.
Pan. Make me believe so?
Py. I will y'faith. But which way cam'st thou hither?
The Pallace is close guarded, and barricado'd.
Pan. I came through a private vault, which few there know of;
It rises in a Temple not far hence,
Close by the Castle here.
Py. How—To what end?
Pan. A good one:
To give ye knowledge of my new-born Mistriss;
And in what doubt Armusia stands,
Think any present means, or hope to stop 'em
From their fell ends: the Princes are come in too,
And they are harden'd also.
Py. The damn'd Priest—
Pan. Sure he's a cruel man, methinks Religion
Should teach more temperate Lessons.
Py. He the fire-brand?
He dare to touch at such fair lives as theirs are?
Well Prophet, I shall prophesie, I shall catch ye,
When all your Prophecies will not redeem ye?
Wilt thou do one thing bravely?
Pa. Any good I am able.
Py. And by thine own white hand, I'll swear thou art virtuous,
And a brave wench, durst thou but guide me presently,
Through the same vault thou cam'st, into the Pallace
And those I shall appoint, such as I think fit.
Pa. Yes I will do it, and suddainly, and truly.
Py. I wou'd fain behold this Prophet.
Pa. Now I have ye:
And shall bring ye where ye shall behold him,
Alone too, and unfurnish'd of defences:
That shall be my care; but you must not betray me.
Py. Dost thou think we are so base, such slaves, rogues?
Pa. I do not:
And you shall see how fairly I'll work for ye.
Py. I must needs steal that Priest,
Steal him, and hang him.
Pa. Do any thing to remove his mischief, strangle him—
Py. Come prethee love.
Pa. You'll offer me no foul play?
The Vault is dark.
Py. 'Twas well remember'd.
Pa. And ye may—
But I hold ye honest.
Py. Honest enough I warrant thee.
Pa. I am but a poor weak wench; and what with the place,
And your perswasions Sir—but I hope you will not;
You know we are often cozen'd.
Py. If thou dost fear me,
Why dost thou put me in mind?
Pa. To let you know Sir,
Though it be in your power, and things fitting to it,
Yet a true Gent—
Py. I know what he'll do:
Come and remember me, and I'll answer thee,
I'll answer thee to the full; we'll call at th' Castle,
And then my good guide, do thy Will; sha't find me
A very tractable man!
Pa. I hope I shall Sir. [Exeunt.
Enter Bakam, Syana, and Soldiers.
Bak. Let my men guard the Gates.
Syan. And mine the Temple,
For fear the honor of our gods should suffer,
And on your lives be watchful.
Ba. And be valiant;
And let's see, if these Portugals dare enter;
What their high hearts dare do: Let's see how readily,
The great Ruy Dias will redeem his Countrey-men;
He speaks proud words, and threatens.
Sy. He is approv'd, Sir,
And will put fair for what he promises;
I could wish friendlier terms,
Yet for our liberties and for our gods,
We are bound in our best service
Even in the hazard of our lives.
Enter the King above.
King. Come up Princes,
And give your counsels, and your helps: the Fort still
Plays fearfully upon us, beats our buildings,
And turns our people wild with fears.
Ba. Send for the prisoner,
And give us leave to argue. [Exit Ba. and Sy. then,