[Aside.
1 Witness.
We said not ay, nor durst we say him nay,
Because we were already in his gallies;
But seem'd content to fly with him to Rhodes:
With that he purs'd the gold, and gave it us.
The rest I dare not speak, it is so bad.
Erastus.
Heav'ns, hear you this, and drop[422] not vengeance on them?
2 Witness.
The rest and worse will I discourse in brief—
Will you consent, quoth he, to fire the fleet,
That lies hard by us here in Bosphorus?
For be it spoke in secret here, quoth he,
Rhodes must no longer bear the Turkish yoke.
We said the task might easily be perform'd,
But that we lack'd such drugs to mix with powder,
As were not in his gallies to be got.
At this he leap'd for joy, swearing and promising,
That our reward should be redoubled.
We came a-land, not minding to return,
And as our duty and allegiance bound us,
We made all known unto great Soliman;
But ere we could summon him a-land,
His ships were past a-kenning[423] from the shore:
Belike he thought we had betray'd his treasons.
Marshal.
That all is true, that here you have declar'd,
Both lay your hands upon the Alcoran.
1 Witness.