SCENE II.--_Another Part of the Field.
_Enter_ LÆLIUS, MILES, _and_ Servants.
_Læli._ My noble lords of Arragon, I know You wonder much what might the occasion be That Lælius, which erst did fly the field, Doth egg you forwards now unto the wars; But when you hear my reason, out of doubt You'll be content with this my rash attempt. When first our king, Flaminius I do mean, Did set upon the Neapolitans, The worst of you did know and plainly see How far they were unable to withstand The mighty forces of our royal camp, Until such time as froward fates we thought,-- Although the fates ordain'd it for our gain,-- Did send a stranger stout, whose sturdy blows And force alone did cause our overthrow. But to our purpose: this same martial knight Did hap to hit upon Flaminius, And lent our king then such a friendly blow As that his gasping ghost to Limbo went. Which when I saw, and seeking to revenge, My noble lords, did hap on such a prize As never king nor keisar got the like.
_Miles._ Lælius, of force we must confess to thee, We wonder'd all whenas you did persuade Us to return unto the wars again; But since our marvel is increasèd much By these your words, which sound of happiness: Therefore, good Lælius, make no tarrying, But soon unfold thy happy chance to us.
_Læli._ Then, friends and fellow soldiers, hark to me; When Lælius thought for to revenge his king On that same knight, instead of mortal foe, I found him for to be our chiefest friend.
_Miles._ Our chiefest friend! I hardly can believe That he, which made such bloody massacres Of stout Italians, can in any point Bear friendship to the country or the king.
_Læli._ As for your king, Miles, I hold with you, He bare no friendship to Flaminius, But hated him as bloody Atropos; But for your country, Lælius doth avow He loves as well as any other land, Yea, sure, he loves it best of all the world. And, for because you shall not think that I Do say the same without a reason why, Know that the knight Alphonsus hath to name, Both son and heir to old Carinus, whom Flaminius' sire bereavèd of his crown; Who did not seek the ruin of our host For any envy he did bear to us, But to revenge him on his mortal foe; Which by the help of high celestial Jove He hath achiev'd with honour in the field.
_Miles._ Alphonsus, man! I'll ne'er persuaded be That e'er Alphonsus may survive again, Who with Carinus, many years ago, Was said to wander in the Stygian fields.
_Læli._ Truth, noble Miles: these mine ears have heard, For certainty reported unto me, That old Carinus, with his peerless son, Had felt the sharpness of the Sisters' shears; And had I not of late Alphonsus seen In good estate, though all the world should say He is alive, I would not credit them. But, fellow soldiers, wend you back with me, And let us lurk within the secret shade Which he himself appointed unto us; And if you find my words to be untroth, Then let me die to recompense the wrong.
_Alarum: re-enter_ ALBINIUS _with his sword drawn._
_Albi._ Lælius, make haste: soldiers of Arragon, Set lingering by, and come and help your king, I mean Alphonsus, who, whilst that he did Pursue Belinus at the very heels, Was suddenly environèd about With all the troops of mighty Milan-land.
_Miles._ What news is this! and is it very so? Is our Alphonsus yet in human state, Whom all the world did judge for to be dead? Yet can I scarce give credit to the same: Give credit! yes, and since the Milan Duke Hath broke his league of friendship, be he sure, Ere Cynthia, the shining lamp of night, Doth scale the heavens with her hornèd head, Both he and his shall very plainly see The league is burst that causèd long the glee.
_Læli._ And could the traitor harbour in his breast Such mortal treason 'gainst his sovereign, As when he should with fire and sword defend Him from his foes, he seeks his overthrow? March on, my friends: I ne'er shall joy at all, Until I see that bloody traitor's fall. [_Exeunt._
_Alarum;_ BELINUS _flies, followed by_ LÆLIUS; FABIUS _flies, followed by_ ALBINIUS; _the_ DUKE OF MILAN _flies, followed by_ MILES.
ACT THE THIRD
PROLOGUE
_Alarum. Enter_ VENUS.
_Venus._ No sooner did Alphonsus with his troop Set on the soldiers of Belinus' band, But that the fury of his sturdy blows Did strike such terror to their daunted minds That glad was he which could escape away, With life and limb, forth of that bloody fray. Belinus flies unto the Turkish soil, To crave the aid of Amurack their king; Unto the which he willingly did consent, And sends Belinus, with two other kings, To know God Mahomet's pleasure in the same. Meantime the empress by Medea's help Did use such charms that Amurack did see, In soundest sleep, what afterward should hap. How Amurack did recompense her pain, With mickle more, this act shall show you plain. [_Exit._