We, with our peers, have cross'd Danubius' stream, To treat of friendly peace or deadly war.
Take which thou wilt; for, as the Romans us'd, I here present thee with a naked sword:
Wilt thou have war, then shake this blade at me;
If peace, restore it to my hands again, And I will sheathe it, to confirm the same.
ORCANES.Stay, Sigismund: forgett'st thou I am he That with the cannon shook Vienna-walls, And made it dance upon the continent, As when the massy substance of the earth Quiver[s] about the axle-tree of heaven?
Forgett'st thou that I sent a shower of darts, Mingled with powder'd shot and feather'd steel, So thick upon the blink-ey'd burghers' heads, That thou thyself, then County Palatine, The King of Boheme,<18> and the Austric Duke, Sent heralds out, which basely on their knees, In all your names, desir'd a truce of me?
Forgett'st thou that, to have me raise my siege, Waggons of gold were set before my tent, Stampt with the princely fowl that in her wings Carries the fearful thunderbolts of Jove?
How canst thou think of this, and offer war?
SIGISMUND.Vienna was besieg'd, and I was there, Then County Palatine, but now a king, And what we did was in extremity But now, Orcanes, view my royal host, That hides these plains, and seems as vast and wide As doth the desert of Arabia To those that stand on Bagdet's<19> lofty tower, Or as the ocean to the traveller That rests upon the snowy Appenines;
And tell me whether I should stoop so low, Or treat of peace with the Natolian king.
GAZELLUS.Kings of Natolia and of Hungary, We came from Turkey to confirm a league, And not to dare each other to the field.
A friendly parle<20> might become you both.
FREDERICK.And we from Europe, to the same intent;<21>
Which if your general refuse or scorn, Our tents are pitch'd, our men stand<22> in array, Ready to charge you ere you stir your feet.
ORCANES.So prest<23> are we: but yet, if Sigismund Speak as a friend, and stand not upon terms, Here is his sword; let peace be ratified On these conditions specified before, Drawn with advice of our ambassadors.
SIGISMUND.Then here I sheathe it, and give thee my hand, Never to draw it out, or<24> manage arms Against thyself or thy confederates, But, whilst I live, will be at truce with thee.
ORCANES.But, Sigismund, confirm it with an oath, And swear in sight of heaven and by thy Christ.
SIGISMUND.By Him that made the world and sav'd my soul, The Son of God and issue of a maid, Sweet Jesus Christ, I solemnly protest And vow to keep this peace inviolable!
ORCANES.By sacred Mahomet, the friend of God, Whose holy Alcoran remains with us, Whose glorious body, when he left the world, Clos'd in a coffin mounted up the air, And hung on stately Mecca's temple-roof, I swear to keep this truce inviolable!
Of whose conditions<25> and our solemn oaths, Sign'd with our hands, each shall retain a scroll, As memorable witness of our league.
Now, Sigismund, if any Christian king Encroach upon the confines of thy realm, Send word, Orcanes of Natolia Confirm'd<26> this league beyond Danubius' stream, And they will, trembling, sound a quick retreat;
So am I fear'd among all nations.
SIGISMUND.If any heathen potentate or king Invade Natolia, Sigismund will send A hundred thousand horse train'd to the war, And back'd by<27> stout lanciers of Germany, The strength and sinews of the imperial seat.
ORCANES.I thank thee, Sigismund; but, when I war, All Asia Minor, Africa, and Greece, Follow my standard and my thundering drums.
Come, let us go and banquet in our tents:
I will despatch chief of my army hence To fair Natolia and to Trebizon, To stay my coming 'gainst proud Tamburlaine:
Friend Sigismund, and peers of Hungary, Come, banquet and carouse with us a while, And then depart we to our territories.
[Exeunt.]
