And now, to ease my troubled thoughts at last,
I will go sit among my learned eunuchs,
And hear them play, and see my minions dance;
For till that Brusor bring me my desire,
I may assuage, but never quench, love's fire. [Exit.
Enter Basilisco.
Basilisco.
Since the expugnation of the Rhodian isle,
Methinks a thousand years are overpass'd,
More for the lack of my Perseda's presence,
Than for the loss of Rhodes, that paltry isle,
Or for my friends that there were murdered.
My valour everywhere shall purchase friends;
And where a man lives well, there is his country.[415]
Alas! the Christians are but very shallow
In giving judgment of a man at arms—
A man of my desert and excellence:
The Turks, whom they account for barbarous,
Having foreheard of Basilisco's worth,
A number underprop me with their shoulders,
And in procession bear me to the church,
As I had been a second Mahomet.
I, fearing they would adore me for a god,
Wisely inform'd them that I was but man,
Although in time, perhaps, I might aspire
To purchase godhead, as did Hercules;
I mean, by doing wonders in the world.
Amidst their church they bound me to a pillar,
And to make trial of my valiancy,
They lopp'd a collop off my tenderest member;
But think you Basilisco squich'd[416] for that?
Ev'n as a cow for tickling in the horn!
That done, they set me on a milkwhite ass,
Compassing me with goodly ceremonies.
That day, methought I sat in Pompey's chair,
And view'd the capitol, and was Rome's greatest glory.
Enter Piston.
Piston.
I would my master had left
Some other to be his agent here:
'Faith, I am weary of the office already—
What, signor Tremomundo,
That rid a pilgrimage to beg cake-bread?
Basilisco.
O, take me not unprovided; let me fetch my weapon.
Piston.