Scene II The Same
Enter Spencer.
Spencer.
This day the king ascends his royal throne.
The honest merchant, in whose ship I came,
Hath, by a cunning quiddit64 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.