Page:Works of Sir John Suckling.djvu/191

] Ardellan. Ardellan.

Peridor. And thine?

Piramont. Piramont.

Peridor. Thy story?

Ardellan. What story?

Peridor. Thy life, thy life.

Ardellan. Hold, hold: you shall have it. [He sighs.] It was upon

The great defeat given by the Tamorens

Unto the Orsabrins, that the old prince,

For safety of the young, committed him

Unto the trust of Garradan, and some

Few servants more, 'mongst whom I fill'd a place.

Tamoren. Ha! Garradan?

Ardellan. Yes.

Tamoren. Speak out, and set me nearer.

So, void the place [to Attend.]. Proceed.

Ardellan. We put to sea, but had scarce lost the sight

Of land, ere we were made a prey to pirates:

There Garradan, resisting the first board,

Chang'd life with death; with him the servants too.

All but myself and Piramont.

Under these pirates ever since

Was Orsabrin brought up;

And into several countries did they carry him.

Tamoren. Knew Orsabrin himself?

Ardellan. Oh no, his spirit was too great: we durst

Not tell him anything, but waited for

Some accident might throw us on Francelia;

'Bout which we hover'd often, and we were near

It now; but Heaven decreed it otherwise.

Tamoren. Why dost thou sigh?

Ardellan. Why do I sigh indeed!

For tears cannot recall him: last night,

About the second watch, the winds broke loose,

And vex'd our ship so long, that it began

To reel and totter, and, like a drunken man,

Took in so fast his liquor, that it sunk

Down i' th' place.

Tamoren. How did you 'scape?

Ardellan. I bound myself unto a mast, and did

Advise my master to do so;

For which he struck me only, and said I did

Consult too much with fear.