ble to that assembly.

BAL. What, would you haue vs play a tragedie?

HIERO. Why, Nero thought it no disparagement,
And kings and emperours haue tane delight
To make experience of their wit in plaies!

LOR. Nay, be not angry, good Hieronimo;
The prince but asked a question.

BAL. In faith, Hieronimo, and you be in earnest,
Ile make one.

LOR. And I another.

HIERO. Now, my good lord, could you intreat,
Your sister, Bel-imperia, to make one,--
For whats a play without a woman in it?

BEL. Little intreaty shall serue me, Hieronimo,
For I must needs be imployed in your play.

HIERO. Why, this is well! I tell you, lordings,
It was determined to haue beene acted,
By gentlemen and schollers too,
Such as could tell what to speak.

BAL. And now it shall be plaide by princes and courtiers,
Such as can tell how to speak,
If, as it is our country manner,
You will but let vs know the argument.

HIERO. That shall I roundly. The cronicles of Spaine
Recorde this written of a knight of Rodes;
He was betrothed, and wedded at the length,
To one Perseda, an Italian dame,
Whose beatuie rauished all that her behelde,
Especially the soule of Soliman,
Who at the marriage was the cheefest guest.
By sundry meanes sought Soliman to winne
Persedas loue, and could not gaine the same.
Then gan he break his passions to a freend,
One of his bashawes whome he held full deere.
Her has this bashaw long solicited,
And saw she was not otherwise to be wonne
But by her husbands death, this knight of Rodes,
Whome presently by trecherie his slew.
She, stirde with an exceeding hate therefore,
As cause of this, slew [Sultan] Soliman,
And, to escape the bashawes tirannie,
Did stab her-selfe. And this [is] the tragedie.

LOR. O, excellent!

BEL. But say, Hieronimo:
What then became of him that was the bashaw?

HIERO. Marrie thus: moued with remorse of his misdeeds,
Ran to a mountain top and hung himselfe.

BAL. But which of vs is to performe that part?

HIERO. O, that will I, my lords; make no doubt of it;
Ile play the murderer, I warrent you;
For I already haue conceited that.

BAL. And what shall I?

HIERO. Great Soliman, the Turkish emperour.

LOR. And I?

HIERO. Erastus, the knight of Rhodes.