Act the Fifth
Scene I Morocco. The Court
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 commerce61 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.