Enter MULLISHEG, Bashaw ALCADE, Bashaw JOFFER, Attendants, &c.
MULLISHEG.
But was she of such presence?
ALCADE.
To describe her
Were to make eloquence dumb.
MULLISHEG.
Well habited?[60]
ALCADE.
I ne’er beheld a beauty more complete.
MULLISHEG.
Thou hast inflamed our spirits.
In England born?
ALCADE.
The captain so reported.
MULLISHEG.
How her ship?
ALCADE.
I never saw a braver vessel sail.
And she is called the Negro.
MULLISHEG.
Ominous,
Perhaps, to our good fate: she in a Negro
Hath sailed thus far, to bosom with a Moor.
But for the motion made to come ashore,
How did she relish that?
ALCADE.
I promised to the captain large reward,
To win him to it, and this day he hath promised
To bring me her free answer.
MULLISHEG.
When he comes,
Give him the entertainment of a prince. [Enter a Moor.
The news with thee?
MOOR.
The captain of the Negro craves admittance
Unto your highness’ presence.
MULLISHEG.
A guard attend him, and our noblest bashaws
Conduct him safe where we will parley him.
Flourish. Enter Captain GOODLACK and
ROUGHMAN.
GOODLACK.
Long live the high and mighty King of Fez!
MULLISHEG.
If thou bring’st her, then dost thou bring me life.
Say, will she come?
GOODLACK.
She will, my lord; but yet conditionally,
She may be free from violence.
MULLISHEG.
Now, by the mighty prophet we adore,
She shall live lady of her free desires:
’Tis love, not force, must quench our amorous fires.
ROUGHMAN.
We will conduct her to your presence straight.
[EXEUNT ROUGHMAN AND
GOODLACK.
MULLISHEG.
We will have banquets, revels, and what not,
To entertain this stranger.
[HAUTBOYS. RE-ENTER CAPTAIN GOODLACK AND ROUGHMAN, WITH BESS BRIDGES, VEILED, FAWCETT, AND MOORS.]
A goodly presence!—Why’s that beauty veiled?
BESS.
Long live the King of Fez.
MULLISHEG.
I am amazed!
This is no mortal creature I behold,
But some bright angel, that is dropped from Heaven,
Sent by our prophet.—Captain, let me thus
Embrace thee in my arms.—Load him with gold,
For this great favour.
BESS.
Captain, touch it not.—
Know, King of Fez, my followers want no gold.
I only came to see thee for my pleasure,
And show thee, what these say thou never saw’st,
A woman born in England.
MULLISHEG.
That English earth may well be termed a Heaven,
That breeds such divine beauties. Make me sure
That thou art mortal by one friendly touch.
BESS.
Keep off: for, till thou swear’st to my demands,
I will have no commerce[61] with Mullisheg,
But leave thee as I came.
MULLISHEG.
Were’t half my kingdom,
That, beauteous English virgin, thou shalt have.
BESS.
[Hands GOODLACK a paper.] Captain, read.
GOODLACK.
[Reads.] “First, liberty for her and hers to leave the land at her pleasure. Next, safe-conduct to and from her ship, at her own discretion. Thirdly, to be free from all violence, either by the king or any of his people. Fourthly, to allow her mariners fresh victuals aboard. Fifthly, to offer no further violence to her person than what he seeks by kindly usage and free entreaty.”
MULLISHEG.
To these I vow and seal.
BESS.
These being assured,
Your courtship’s free, and henceforth we secured.
MULLISHEG.
Say, gentlemen of England, what’s your fashion
And garb of entertainment?
GOODLACK.
Our first greeting
Begins still on the lips.
MULLISHEG.
Fair creature, shall I be immortalized
With that high favour?
BESS.
’Tis no immodest thing
You ask, nor shame for Bess to kiss a king. [Kisses him.
MULLISHEG.
This kiss hath all my vitals ecstasied.
ROUGHMAN.
Captain,
This king is mightily in love. Well, let her
Do as she list, I’ll make use of his bounty.
GOODLACK.
We should be madmen else.
MULLISHEG.
Grace me so much as take your seat by me.
BESS.
I’ll be so far commanded.
MULLISHEG.
Sweet, your age?
BESS.
Not fully yet seventeen.
MULLISHEG.
But how your birth? How came you to this wealth,
To have such gentlemen at your command,
And what your cause of travel?
BESS.
Mighty prince,
If you desire to see me beat my breast,
Pour forth a river of increasing tears,
Then you may urge me to that sad discourse.
MULLISHEG.
Not for Mamorah’s wealth, nor all the gold
Coined in rich Barbary. Nay, sweet, arise,
And ask of me, be’t half this kingdom’s treasure,
And thou art lady on’t.
BESS.
If I shall ask, ’t must be, you will not give.
Our country breeds no beggars; for our hearts
Are of more noble temper.
MULLISHEG.
Sweet, your name?
BESS.
Elizabeth.
MULLISHEG.
There’s virtue in that name.
The virgin queen, so famous through the world,
The mighty empress of the maiden isle,
Whose predecessors have o’errun great France,
Whose powerful hand doth still support the Dutch,
And keeps the potent king of Spain in awe,
Is not she titled so?
BESS.
She is.
MULLISHEG.
Hath she herself a face so fair as yours,
When she appears for wonder?
BESS.
Mighty Fez,
You cast a blush upon my maiden cheek,
To pattern me with her. Why, England’s queen,
She is the only phœnix of her age,
The pride and glory of the Western Isles.
Had I a thousand tongues, they all would tire,
And fail me in her true description.
MULLISHEG.
Grant me this:
To-morrow we supply our judgment seat,
And sentence causes; sit with us in state,
And let your presence beautify our throne.
BESS.
In that I am your servant.
MULLISHEG.
And we thine.
Set on in state, attendants and full train.
But find to ask, we vow thou shalt obtain.
[Exeunt all except
GOODLACK.
Enter
CLEM.
CLEM.
It is not now as when Andrea lived, or rather Andrew, our elder journeyman. What, drawers become courtiers! Now may I speak with the old ghost in Jeronimo—
When this eternal substance of my soul
Did live imprisoned in this wanton flesh,
I was a courtier in the court of Fez.[62]
GOODLACK.
Oh, well done, Clem! It is your mistress’ pleasure,
None come ashore that’s not well habited.
CLEM.
Nay; for mine own part, I hold myself as good a Christian in these clothes, as the proudest infidel of them all.
RE-ENTER ALCADE AND
JOFFER.
ALCADE.
Sir, by your leave, you’re of the English train?
CLEM.
I am so, thou great monarch of the Mauritanians.
JOFFER.
Then, ’tis the king’s command we give you all attendance.
CLEM.
Great Signior of the Saracens, I thank thee.
ALCADE.
Will you walk in to banquet?
CLEM.
I will make bold to march in towards your banquet, and there comfit myself, and cast all caraways down my throat, the best way I have to conserve myself in health; and for your country’s sake, which is called Barbary, I will love all barbers and barberries the better.
And for you Moors, thus much I mean to say,
I’ll see if more I eat, the more I may.
Enter two Merchants.
1ST
MERCHANT.
I pray, sir, are you of the English train?
CLEM.
Why, what art thou, my friend?
1ST
MERCHANT.
Sir, a French merchant, run into relapse,
And forfeit of the law. Here’s for you, sir,
Forty good Barbary pieces, to deliver
Your lady this petition, who, I hear,
Can all things with the king.
CLEM.
Your gold doth bind me to you.—You may see what it is to be a sudden courtier: I no sooner put my nose into the court, but my hand itches for a bribe already.—What’s your business, my friend?
2ND
MERCHANT.
Some of my men, for a little outrage done,
Are sentenced to the galleys.
CLEM.
To the gallows?
2ND
MERCHANT.
No; to the galleys. Now, could your lady purchase
Their pardon from the king, here’s twenty angels.[63]
CLEM.
What are you, sir?
2ND
MERCHANT.
A Florentine merchant.
CLEM.
Then you are, as they say, a Christian?
2ND
MERCHANT.
Heaven forbid, else!
CLEM.
I should not have the faith to take your gold, else.
Attend on me: I’ll speak in your behalf.—
Where be my bashaws? Usher us in state:
And when we sit to banquet, see you wait.
[Flourish. Exeunt.
ENTER
SPENCER.
SPENCER.
This day the king ascends his royal throne.
The honest merchant, in whose ship I came,
Hath, by a cunning quiddit[64] in the law,
Both ship and goods made forfeit to the king,
To whom I will petition. But no more;
He’s now upon his entrance.
[Hautboys.
ENTER MULLISHEG, BESS, CAPTAIN GOODLACK, ROUGHMAN, ALCADE, JOFFER, WITH ALL THE OTHER TRAIN.
MULLISHEG.
Here seat thee, maid of England, like a queen—
The style we’ll give thee, wilt thou deign us love.
BESS.
Bless me, you holy angels!
MULLISHEG.
What is’t offends you, sweet?
SPENCER.
I am amazed, and know not what to think on’t.
BESS.
Captain, dost not see? Is not that Spencer’s ghost?
GOODLACK.
I see, and, like you, I am ecstasied.
SPENCER.
If mine eyes mistake not,
That should be Captain Goodlack, and that
Bess.
But oh! I cannot be so happy.
GOODLACK.
’Tis he, and I’ll salute him.
BESS.
Captain, stay.
You shall be swayed by me.
SPENCER.
Him I well know; but how should she come hither?
MULLISHEG.
What is’t that troubles you?
BESS.
Most mighty king,
Spare me no longer time but to bestow
My captain on a message.
MULLISHEG.
Thou shalt command my silence, and his ear.
BESS.
[To GOODLACK.] Go wind about, and when you see least eyes
Are fixed on you, single him out, and see
If we mistake not. If he be the man,
Give me some private note.
GOODLACK.
This. [Making a sign.
BESS.
Enough.—What said your highness?
MULLISHEG.
Hark what I proffer thee. Continue here,
And grant me full fruition of thy love.——
BESS.
Good.
MULLISHEG.
Thou shalt have all my peers to honour thee,
Next our great prophet.
BESS.
Well.
MULLISHEG.
And when thou’rt weary of our sun-burnt clime,
Thy Negro shall be ballast home with gold.
BESS.
I am eternized ever!
Now, all you sad disasters, dare your worst;
I neither care nor fear: my Spencer lives!
MULLISHEG.
You mind me not, sweet virgin.
BESS.
You talk of love:
My lord, I’ll tell you more of that hereafter;
But now to your state-business.—Bid him do thus
No more, and not to be seen till then.
GOODLACK.
Enough.—Come, sir, you must along with me.
[EXEUNT GOODLACK AND
SPENCER.
BESS.
Now, stood a thousand deaths before my face,
I would not change my cheer, since Spencer’s safe.
Enter CLEM with the French and Italian Merchants; and a Preacher.
CLEM.
By your leave, my masters; room for generosity.[65]
1ST
MERCHANT.
Pray, sir, remember me.
2ND
MERCHANT.
Good sir, my suit.
CLEM.
I am perfect in both your parts, without prompting. Mistress, here are two Christen friends of mine have forfeited ships and men to the black-a-morian king: now, one sweet word from your lips might get their release. I have had a feeling of the business already.
MULLISHEG.
For dealing in commodities forbid,
You’re fined a thousand ducats.
BESS.
Cast off the burden of your heavy doom:
A follower of my train petitions for him.
MULLISHEG.
One of thy train, sweet Bess?
CLEM.
And no worse man than myself, sir.
MULLISHEG.
Well, sirrah, for your lady’s sake
His ship and goods shall be restored again.
1ST
MERCHANT.
Long live the King of Fez!
CLEM.
Mayst thou never want sweet water to wash thy black face in, most mighty monarch of Morocco.—Mistress, another friend; ay, and paid beforehand.
MULLISHEG.
Sirrah, your men, for outrage and contempt,
Are doomed unto the gallies.
BESS.
A censure too severe for Christians.
Great king, I’ll pay their ransom.
MULLISHEG.
Thou, my Bess!
Thy word shall be their ransom: they’re discharged.
What grave old man is that?
JOFFER.
A Christian preacher; one that would convert
Your Moors, and turn them to a new belief.
MULLISHEG.
Then he shall die, as we are king of Fez.
BESS.
For these I only spake; for him I kneel,
If I have any grace with mighty Fez.
MULLISHEG.
We can deny thee nothing, beauteous maid.
A kiss shall be his pardon.
BESS.
Thus I pay’t.
CLEM.
Must your black face be smouching my mistress’ white lips with a moorian![66] I would you had kissed her a—
ALCADE.
Hah! how is that, sir?
CLEM.
I know what I say, sir; I would he had kissed her a—
ALCADE.
A—what?
CLEM.
A thousand times, to have done him a pleasure!
RE-ENTER SPENCER AND CAPTAIN
GOODLACK.
MULLISHEG.
That kiss was worth the ransom of a king.—
What’s he, of that brave presence?
BESS.
A gentleman of England, and my friend.
Do him some grace, for my sake.
MULLISHEG.
For thy sake what would not I perform?
He shall have grace and honour.—Joffer, go
And see him gelded to attend on us:
He shall be our chief eunuch.
BESS.
Not for ten worlds! Behold, great king, I stand
Betwixt him and all danger.—Have I found thee?—
Seize what I have; take both my ship and goods;
Leave nought that’s mine unrifled: spare me him.—
And have I found my Spencer?
CLEM.
Please your majesty, I see all men are not capable of honour: what he refuseth, may it please you to bestow on me.
MULLISHEG.
With all my heart. Go, bear him hence, Alcade,
Into our Alkedavy: honour him,
And let him taste the razor.
CLEM.
There’s honour for me!
ALCADE.
Come, follow.
CLEM.
No, sir; I’ll go before you, for mine honour.
[EXEUNT CLEM AND
ALCADE.
SPENCER.
Oh! show yourself, renownèd king, the same
Fame blazons you. Bestow this maid on me:
’Tis such a gift as kingdoms cannot buy.
She is a precedent of all true love,
And shall be registered to after-times,
That ne’er shall pattern her.
GOODLACK.
Heard you the story of their constant love,
’Twould move in you compassion.
ROUGHMAN.
Let not intemperate love sway you ’bove pity.
That foreign nation, that ne’er heard your name,
May chronicle your virtues.
MULLISHEG.
You have wakened in me an heroic spirit:
Lust shall not conquer virtue.—Till this hour,
We graced thee for thy beauty, English woman;
But now we wonder at thy constancy.
BESS.
Oh! were you of our faith, I’d swear great Mullisheg
To be a god on earth.—And lives my Spencer?
In troth I thought thee dead.
SPENCER.
In hope of thee,
I lived to gain both life and liberty.
Re-enter CLEM, running.
CLEM.
No more of your honour, if you love me! Is this your Moorish preferment, to rob a man of his best jewels?
MULLISHEG.
Hast thou seen our Alkedavy?
CLEM.
Davy do you call him? he may be called shavy; I am sure he hath tickled my current commodity. No more of your cutting honour, if you love me.
MULLISHEG.
[To SPENCER.] All your strange fortunes we will hear discoursed,
And after that your fair espousals grace,
If you can find a man of your belief
To do that grateful office.
SPENCER.
None more fit
Than this religious and brave gentleman,
Late rescued from death’s sentence.
PREACHER.
None more proud
To do you that poor service.
MULLISHEG.
Noble Englishman,
I cannot fasten bounty to my will
Worthy thy merit: move some suit to us.
SPENCER.
To make you more renowned, great king, and us
The more indebted, there’s an Englishman
Hath forfeited his ship for goods uncustomed.—
MULLISHEG.
Thy suit is granted ere it be half begged:
Dispose them at thy pleasure.
SPENCER.
Mighty king,
We are your highness’ servants.
MULLISHEG.
Come, beauteous maid; we’ll see thee crowned a bride.
At all our pompous banquets these shall wait.
Thy followers and thy servants press with gold;
And not the mean’st that to thy train belongs,
But shall approve our bounty. Lead in state,
And, wheresoe’er thy fame shall be enrolled,
The world report thou art a Girl worth Gold.
[Exeunt.