BELI. 'Tis he indeed, who, as I do suppose, Hath slain the king, or else some other lord, For well I wot a carcase I do see Hard at his feet lie struggling on the ground. [Belinus and Albinius go towards Alphonsus. Come on, Albinius, we will try the truth. [Belinus say to Alphonsus: Hail to the noble victor of our foes! ALPHON. Thanks, mighty prince, but yet I seek not It is not words must recompense my pain, [this; But deeds. When first I took up arms for you, Your promise was, whate'er my sword did win In fight, as his Alphonsus should it crave. [Shew Belinus Flaminius, who lieth all this while dead at his feet. See then where lies thy foe Flaminius, Whose crown my sword hath conquer'd in the field; [mind BELI. Will nothing else satisfy thy conquering Besides the crown? Well, since thou hast it won, Thou shalt it have, though far against my will. [Alphonsus sit in the chair; Belinus takes the Here doth Belinus crown thee with his hand BELI. Mark, what belonged erst unto the crown Of Arragon, that challenge as thine own; * nothing] Qy."nought." Belinus gives it frankly unto thee, * And swears by all the powers of glittering skies Unto mine honour, or my country soil. ALBI. And by the sacred seat of mighty Jove Albinius swears, that first he'll die the death Before he'll see Alphonsus suffer wrong. FABI. What erst Albinius vow'd we jointly vow. ALPHON. Thanks, mighty lords, but yet I greatly That very few will keep the oaths they swear. [fear But what, Belinus, why stand you so long, And cease from offering homage unto me? What, know you not that I thy sovereign am, Crowned by thee and all thy other lords, And now confirmed by your solemn oaths? Feed not thyself with fond persuasions, But presently come yield thy crown to me, And do me homage, or by heavens I swear I'll force thee do it maugre all thy train. BELI. How now, base brat? what, are thy wits That thou dar'st thus upbraid me in my land? ALPHON. Base brat, say'st thou? as good a man But say I came but of a base descent, [as thou: My deed shall make my glory for to shine As clear as Luna in a winter's night. But for because thou bragg'st so of thy birth, FABI. Alphonsus, cease from these thy threatening And lay aside this thy presumptuous mind, [words, Or else be sure thou shalt the same repent. [too? ALPHON. How now, sir boy, will you be prattling * swears] The 4to. "swear." "Tis best for thee to hold thy tattling tongue, I'll clog their tongues, since nothing else will serve Alphonsus means to have thy crown ere night. [Exit. BELI. What, is he gone? the devil break his neck, The fiends of hell torment his traitorous corps ! Is this the quittance of Belinus' grace, Which he did show unto that thankless wretch, That runnagate, that rakehell, yea, that thief? For, well I wot, he hath robb'd me of a crown. If ever he had sprung from gentle blood, He would not thus misuse his favourer. ALBI. That runnagate, that rakehell, yea, that thief! Such traitorous terms against his sovereign: But be thou sure, that ere the darksome night [me? *To thee, &c.] The 4to. gives these five lines to Belinus. Yet doubt I not but that in little space BELI. Nay, proud Albinius, never build on that; For though the gods do chance for to appoint Alphonsus victor of Belinus' land, Yet shalt thou never live to see that day: ALBI. Slash off his head! as though Albinius' head Were then so easy to be slashed off: In faith, sir, no; when you are gone and dead, in doubt you stand To do the deed? what fear you? who dares seek Since that Belinus did command it so? Or are you wax'd so dainty, that you dare Not use your sword for staining of your hands? [Fabius give Belinus thy sword drawn; Belinus Now, sir, Albinius, are you of the mind I hope the very sight of this my blade, My mind is like to the Asbeston stone, With knife in hand, to slit my thread in twain, Yet ne'er Albinius should persuaded be BELI. Nay then, Albinius, since that words are For to persuade you from this heresy, [vain Belinus offers to strike off Albinius' head; strike up alarum, enter ALPHONSUS and his Men; fly Belinus and Fabius; follow Alphonsus and Albinius; enter LæLIUS, MILES,* and his Servants. LELI. My noble lords of Arragon, I know The worst of you did know and plainly see, And lent our king then such a friendly blow, MILES. Lælius, of force we must confess to thee, * MILES] Here, but only here, the 4to. "MILOS." |