_Angel._ Now hath thine eyes perus'd these heinous sins, Hateful unto the mighty Lord of hosts. The time is come, their sins are waxen ripe, And though the Lord forewarns, yet they repent not; Custom of sin hath harden'd all their hearts. Now comes revenge, armèd with mighty plagues, To punish all that live in Nineveh; For God is just, as he is merciful, And doubtless plagues all such as scorn repent. Thou shalt not see the desolation That falls unto these cursèd Ninevites, But shalt return to great Jerusalem, And preach unto the people of thy God What mighty plagues are incident to sin, Unless repentance mitigate His ire: Rapt in the spirit, as thou wert hither brought, I'll seat thee in Judaea's provinces. Fear not, Oseas, then to preach the word.
_Oseas._ The will of the Lord be done! [Oseas _is taken away by the_ Angel.
_Enter_ RASNI _with his_ Kings, Magi, Lords, _and_ Attendants; ALVIDA _and her_ Ladies; _to a banquet._
_Rasni._ So, viceroys, you have pleas'd me passing well; These curious cates are gracious in mine eye, But these borachios of the richest wine Make me to think how blithesome we will be.-- Seat thee, fair Juno, in the royal throne, And I will serve thee to see thy face, That, feeding on the beauty of thy looks, My stomach and mine eyes may both be fill'd.-- Come, lordings, seat you, fellow-mates at feast, And frolic, wags; this is a day of glee: This banquet is for brightsome Alvida. I'll have them skink[118] my standing bowls with wine, And no man drink but quaff a whole carouse Unto the health of beauteous Alvida: For whoso riseth from this feast not drunk, As I am Rasni, Nineveh's great king, Shall die the death as traitor to myself, For that he scorns the health of Alvida.
_K. of Cil._ That will I never do, my lord; Therefore with favour, fortune to your grace, Carouse unto the health of Alvida.
_Rasni._ Gramercy, lording, here I take thy pledge:-- And, Crete, to thee a bowl of Greekish wine, Here to the health of Alvida.
_K. of Crete._ Let come, my lord. Jack skinker, fill it full, A pledge unto the health of heavenly Alvida.
_Rasni._ Vassals, attendant on our royal feasts, Drink you, I say, unto my lover's health: Let none that is in Rasni's royal court Go this night safe and sober to his bed.