SCENE II.

_Enter_[49] Governor, MARTIN DEL BOSCO, _and_ Knights.

_Gov._ Now, captain, tell us whither thou art bound? Whence is thy ship that anchors in our road? And why thou cam'st ashore without our leave?

_Bosc._ Governor of Malta, hither am I bound; My ship, the Flying Dragon, is of Spain, And so am I: Del Bosco is my name; Vice-admiral unto the Catholic King.

_1 Knight._ 'Tis true, my lord, therefore entreat him well.

_Bosc._ Our fraught is Grecians, Turks, and Afric Moors. For late upon the coast of Corsica, 10 Because we vailed[50] not to the Turkish[51] fleet, Their creeping galleys had us in the chase: But suddenly the wind began to rise, And then we luffed and tacked,[52] and fought at ease: Some have we fired, and many have we sunk; But one amongst the rest became our prize: The captain's slain, the rest remain our slaves, Of whom we would make sale in Malta here.

_Gov._ Martin del Bosco, I have heard of thee; Welcome to Malta, and to all of us; 20 But to admit a sale of these thy Turks We may not, nay, we dare not give consent By reason of a tributary league.

_1 Knight._ Del Bosco, as thou lov'st and honour'st us, Persuade our governor against the Turk; This truce we have is but in hope of gold, And with that sum he craves might we wage war.

_Bosc._ Will Knights of Malta be in league with Turks, And buy it basely too for sums of gold? My lord, remember that, to Europe's shame, 30 The Christian Isle of Rhodes, from whence you came, Was lately lost, and you were stated[53] here To be at deadly enmity with Turks.

_Gov._ Captain, we know it, but our force is small.

_Bosc._ What is the sum that Calymath requires?

_Gov._ A hundred thousand crowns.

_Bosc._ My lord and king hath title to this isle, And he means quickly to expel you hence; Therefore be ruled by me, and keep the gold: I'll write unto his majesty for aid, 40 And not depart until I see you free.

_Gov._ On this condition shall thy Turks be sold: Go, officers, and set them straight in show. [_Exeunt Officers._ Bosco, thou shall be Malta's general; We and our warlike Knights will follow thee Against these barb'rous misbelieving Turks.

_Bosc._ So shall you imitate those you succeed: For when their hideous force environed Rhodes, Small though the number was that kept the town, They fought it out, and not a man survived 50 To bring the hapless news to Christendom.

_Gov._ So will we fight it out; come, let's away: Proud daring Calymath, instead of gold, We'll send thee bullets wrapt[54] in smoke and fire: Claim tribute where thou wilt, we are resolved, Honour is bought with blood and not with gold. [_Exeunt._