Scene I
Enter SIGISMUND, FREDERICK, and BALDWIN, with their train
SIGISMUND. Now say, my lords of Buda and Bohemia,What motion is it that inflames your thoughts,And stirs your valours to such sudden arms?
FREDERICK. Your majesty remembers, I am sure,What cruel slaughter of our Christian bloodsThese heathenish Turks and pagans lately madeBetwixt the city Zula and Danubius;How through the midst of Varna and Bulgaria,And almost to the very walls of Rome,They have, not long since, massacred our camp.It resteth now, then, that your majestyTake all advantages of time and power,And work revenge upon these infidels.Your highness knows, for Tamburlaine’s repair,That strikes a terror to all Turkish hearts,Natolia hath dismiss’d the greatest partOf all his army, pitch’d against our powerBetwixt Cutheia and Orminius’ mount,And sent them marching up to Belgasar,Acantha, Antioch, and Caesarea,To aid the kings of Soria 63 and Jerusalem.Now, then, my lord, advantage take thereof, 64And issue suddenly upon the rest;That, in the fortune of their overthrow,We may discourage all the pagan troopThat dare attempt to war with Christians.
SIGISMUND. But calls not, then, your grace to memoryThe league we lately made with King Orcanes,Confirm’d by oath and articles of peace,And calling Christ for record of our truths?This should be treachery and violenceAgainst the grace of our profession.
BALDWIN. No whit, my lord; for with such infidels,In whom no faith nor true religion rests,We are not bound to those accomplishmentsThe holy laws of Christendom enjoin;But, as the faith which they profanely plightIs not by necessary policyTo be esteem’d assurance for ourselves,So that we vow 65 to them should not infringeOur liberty of arms and victory.
SIGISMUND. Though I confess the oaths they undertakeBreed little strength to our security,Yet those infirmities that thus defameTheir faiths, 66 their honours, and religion, 67Should not give us presumption to the like.Our faiths are sound, and must be consummate, 68Religious, righteous, and inviolate.
FREDERICK. Assure your grace, ’tis superstitionTo stand so strictly on dispensive faith;And, should we lose the opportunityThat God hath given to venge our Christians’ death,And scourge their foul blasphemous paganism,As fell to Saul, to Balaam, and the rest,That would not kill and curse at God’s command,So surely will the vengeance of the Highest,And jealous anger of his fearful arm,Be pour’d with rigour on our sinful heads,If we neglect this 69 offer’d victory.
SIGISMUND. Then arm, my lords, and issue suddenly,Giving commandment to our general host,With expedition to assail the pagan,And take the victory our God hath given.[Exeunt.]