Cuts with his vent'rous feathers through the sky, From whence (through fear) for safeguard of his life Suppose you see him brought to Babylon; And that the sun (clothed all in fire) hath rid One quarter of his hot celestial way With the bright morning; and that in this instant Enter the SOLDAN, his NOBLEMEN, and FORTUNATUS. Sol. Art thou that Fortunatus, whose great name, Art thou that Jove that in a shower of gold Fort. I am that Fortunatus, mighty Soldan. [Exil. Sol. Where is that purse which threw abroad such treasure? Fort. I gave it to the Turkish Solomon ; A second I bestowed on Prester John; A third the great Tartarian Cham received; For with these monarchs have I banqueted, And rid with them in triumphs through their courts, In crystal chariots drawn by unicorns : England, France, Spain, and wealthy Belgia, To see the glory of fair Babylon. Is Fortunatus welcome to the Soldan? For I am like the sun, if Jove once chide, My gilded brows from amorous heaven I hide. Sol. Most welcome; and most happy are mine arms In eircling such an earthly deity : But will not Fortunatus make me blessed By sight of such a purse? Fort. Ere I depart, The Soldan shall receive one at my hands, For I must spend some time in framing it; And then some time to breathe that virtuous spirit By a most sacred inspiration. Sol. Welcome, most welcome, to the Soldan's court; There shalt thou see the scarf of Cupid's mother, To wrap about Adonis' wounded thigh; There shalt thou see a wheel of Titan's car, Which dropp'd from heaven when Phaeton fir'd the world: Who (as they fly) shall clap their silver wings, Fort. Hath ever mortal eye beheld these wonders? So thou wilt give the Soldan such a purse. Fort. By Fortune's blessed hand, (who christened me), The mighty Soldan shall have such a purse, Provided I may see these prizeless wonders. Sol. Leave us alone. (Exeunt Nobles.) Never was mortal ear Acquainted with the virtue of a jewel, Which now I'll show, (out-valuing all the rest). Fort. It is impossible. Sol. Behold this casket, Fettered in golden chains; the lock pure gold; The key of solid gold, which myself keep; [Draws a cartain. And here's the treasure that's contain'd in it. [Takes out the hat. Fort. A coarse felt hat: Is this the precious jewel? Sol. I'd not exchange this for ten diadems. On pain of death, none listen to our talk! Fort. What needs this solemn conjuration? Sol. Oh, yes; for none shall understand the worth But you; and yet not you, but that you swear Fort. What I have sworn I will not violate; Sol. I think none listen; if they do, they die. Though when the dreadful Alvarado* sounds, I am distant from the place a thousand leagues. The Soldan were, of all, most fortunate! Fort. Oh, had I such a hat, then were I brave! Where's he that made it? Sol. Dead: and the whole world Yields not a workman that can frame the like. Fort. None does? (aside). By what trick shall I make this mine? Methinks, methinks, when you are borne o'er seas And over lands, the heaviness thereof Should weigh you down; drown you, or break your Your hand shall peise it. Fort. Oh, 'tis wondrous heavy. Sol. Fie, you're deceived; try it upon your head. neck. Fort. (Puts the hat on.) Would I were now in Cyprus with my sons. Sol. Stay, Fortunatus, stay! I am undone. This word, which is evidently Spanish, I could not find in the dictionaries, but understand, although on no very good authority, that it is a term used amongst the Spanish soldiery for the parade call.-Note by Mr. Dilke. Treason, lords! treason! get me wings, I'll fly Enter NOBLES. Nobles. Who wrongs the mighty king of Babylon? He'll ride through all the courts of earthly kings. Andelocia has squandered all the gold that his father gave him. He comes to Ampedo to borrow, and is thus received : still liv'd poor; Want would make wisdom rich; but when your coffers [Gives him a bag. Fortunatus arrives, having "cut through the air like a falcon." He tells his sons that desire to see them brought him to Cyprus―he 'll leave them more gold, and go visit other countries. Ampedo reproves him :— The frosty hand of age now nips your blood, And gives you warning that within few years, Death needs must marry you; those short-lived minutes In these two hands do I gripe all the world. In progress will I now go through the world; I'll crack your shoulders, boys, with bags of gold, And now sit in the height of human pride. Fortune appears, with the three Destinies, and cuts short his boastings For. Now, fool, thou liest; where thy proud fect do tread, These shall throw down thy cold and breathless head. [Fortunatus and the others kneel. Fort. O sacred deity! what sin is done, For. Thou art no son of Fortune, but her slave. And down amain it comes! From beggary Fort. Forgive me! I will be more provident. For. And now take I most pride to cast thee down. Fort. Take this again: (offering the purse) give wisdom to my sons. So shall their ends sudden and wretched be. Jove's daughters (righteous Destinies) make haste! Fortunatus droops. He tells his sons how he became possessed of the purse and the cap-bequeaths his treasures to both equally, not to be divided, and exhorts them never to betray their virtues. He then dies. Andelocia disregards his injunctions, and persuades his brother to let him have the purse for a year, and to be content with the cap; for he says, "having this mint, he shall want no wishing-cap, for gold is an |