SCENE II.--_The Camp of_ BELINUS.

_Enter_ BELINUS, ALBINIUS, FABIUS, _marching with their_ Soldiers; _they make a stand._ ALPHONSUS _discovered at one side._

_Beli._ Thus far, my lords, we trainèd have our camp For to encounter haughty Arragon, Who with a mighty power of straggling mates Hath traitorously assailèd this our land, And burning towns, and sacking cities fair, Doth play the devil wheresome'er he comes. Now, as we are informèd of our scouts, He marcheth on unto our chiefest seat, Naples, I mean, that city of renown, For to begirt it with his bands about, And so at length, the which high Jove forbid, To sack the same, as erst he other did. If which should hap, Belinus were undone, His country spoil'd, and all his subjects slain: Wherefore your sovereign thinketh it most meet For to prevent the fury of the foe, And Naples succour, that distressèd town, By entering in, ere Arragon doth come, With all our men, which will sufficient be For to withstand their cruel battery.

_Albi._ The silly serpent, found by country swain, And cut in pieces by his furious blows, Yet if her head do 'scape away untouch'd, As many write, it very strangely goes To fetch an herb, with which in little time Her batter'd corpse again she doth conjoin: But if by chance the ploughman's sturdy staff Do hap to hit upon the serpent's head, And bruise the same, though all the rest be sound Yet doth the silly serpent lie for dead, Nor can the rest of all her body serve To find a salve which may her life preserve. Even so, my lord, if Naples once be lost, Which is the head of all your grace's land, Easy it were for the malicious foe To get the other cities in their hand: But if from them that Naples town be free, I do not doubt but safe the rest shall be; And therefore, mighty king, I think it best, To succour Naples rather than the rest.

_Beli._ 'Tis bravely spoken; by my crown I swear, I like thy counsel, and will follow it. But hark, Albinius, dost thou know the man, That doth so closely overthwart us stand? [_Pointing towards_ ALPHONSUS.

_Albi._ Not I, my lord, nor never saw him yet.

_Beli._ Then, prithee, go and ask him presently, What countryman he is, and why he comes Into this place? perhaps he is some one, That is sent hither as a secret spy To hear and see in secret what we do. [ALBINIUS _and_ FABIUS _go toward_ ALPHONSUS.

_Albi._ My friend, what art thou, that so like a spy Dost sneak about Belinus' royal camp?

_Alphon._ I am a man.

_Fabi._ A man! we know the same: But prithee, tell me, and set scoffing by, What countryman thou art, and why you come, That we may soon resolve the king thereof?

_Alphon._ Why, say I am a soldier.

_Fabi._ Of whose band?

_Alphon._ Of his that will most wages to me give.

_Fabi._ But will you be Content to serve Belinus in his wars?

_Alphon._ Ay, if he'll reward me as I do deserve, And grant whate'er I win, it shall be mine Incontinent.

_Albi._ Believe me, sir, your service costly is: But stay a while, and I will bring you word What King Belinus says unto the same. [_Goes towards_ BELINUS.

_Beli._ What news, Albinius? who is that we see?

_Albi._ It is, my lord, a soldier that you see, Who fain would serve your grace in these your wars, But that, I fear, his service is too dear.

_Beli._ Too dear, why so? what doth the soldier crave?

_Albi._ He craves, my lord, all things that with his sword He doth obtain, whatever that they be.

_Beli._ [_To_ ALPHONSUS]. Content, my friend; if thou wilt succour me, Whate'er you get, that challenge as thine own; Belinus gives it frankly unto thee, Although it be the crown of Arragon. Come on, therefóre, and let us hie apace To Naples town, whereas by this, I know, Our foes have pitch'd their tents against our walls.

_Alphon._ March on, my lord, for I will follow you; And do not doubt but, ere the time be long, I shall obtain the crown of Arragon. [_Exeunt._

ACT THE SECOND

PROLOGUE

_Enter_ BELINUS, ALBINIUS, FABIUS _and_ ALPHONSUS _with_ Soldiers; _alarum, and then enter_ VENUS.

_Venus._ Thus from the pit of pilgrim's poverty Alphonsus 'gins by step and step to climb Unto the top of friendly Fortune's wheel: From banish'd state, as you have plainly seen, He is transform'd into a soldier's life, And marcheth in the ensign of the king Of worthy Naples, which Belinus hight; Not for because that he doth love him so, But that he may revenge him on his foe. Now on the top of lusty barbèd steed He mounted is, in glittering armour clad, Seeking about the troops of Arragon, For to encounter with his traitorous niece.[39] How he doth speed, and what doth him befall, Mark this our act, for it doth show it all. [_Exeunt._