Scena 1.
Enter Solymus alone.
Solem.Am I ſo poore in worth? ſtill kept ſo low?
Was I begot only to live and dye,
to fill a place, move idlely to and fro
like other naturalls? unmanly life,
the world ſhall take more notice of my fame,
els will I with the venom'd ſting of warre
deface the beauty, of the univerſo.
Poſteritie ſhall know, once there did breath
a Selymus, a mortall diety,
a man at whoſe bleſt birth the planets ſmil'd;
and ſpent their influence to create a boy
as brave as Greece e'r hatcht, or Rome, or Troy.
Enter Iſaack
Here's Iſaack Baſſa, hee's already mine,
he courts my father, but intends for mee,
and furthers all my counſells; Noble friend,
how ſtand our hopes?
Iſaack.Great Sir, moſt happily:
the Baſſaes murmure at Achmetes wrong:
ſeize on their wavering love, their breaſts are ope
to him that firſt will enter ther's free ſcope;
drop dowre thy franke affection in their hands,
to bribe is lawfull: and 'tis ſtrongly prov'd
41 by good examples: Otho ne'r was lov'd,
till he had bought the ſouldiers, that once done,
Galba grew out of faſhion; ſo muſt wee
addict them to us by a gaine-full fee:
Give freely, and ſpeak fairely. I'le be gone,
ſtay here, the Baſſaes will be here anon. Exit.
Enter Meſithes.
Sely.I ſhall obſerve thy precepts. Meſithes! welcome,
How fare you in theſe dayes of diſcontent?
my dutie bids me aske, and wiſh you well;
I have beene long a barren debtor to you,
At length I may prove thankfull: weare my love,
'tis yours without refuſal, a ſleight gift,gives him a ring aſide
Yet your lookes tel me 'twill helpe out my drift.
Meſi.This courteſie exceeds my weake deſerts,
ſweet Prince; but when occaſion calls me forth
to helpe you, I'me devoted to your worth.
Sely.Your kind acceptance of that recompence,
Binds me more ſtrictly to you.
Meſith.Sir, farewell,
Exit. and enter Muſtapha
Sely.So one hath tooke; ſee where another comes:
all health to Muſtapha. Muſta. Thankes gracious Prince,
your gentle pardon for my boldneſſe, Sir.
Sely.Command my pardon, and commend my love
to thy bright daughter: tell her; I admire
her vertuous perfection; let that chaine
gives him a chaine
make me remembred often in her mind.
Muſt.When my weak ſtrength, or wealth ſhall ſtretch ſo far,
as to continue —
Sely.No Cynicke complement, good Muſtapha.
Muſta.Then I returne you thankes
Exit.
Sely.Health follow you,
and Honour me. Here is a third at hand.
Enter Aſmehemides.
Selym.Continuance to your health Sir.
42Aſme.Thanks gentle Prince.
Pleaſe you to uſe my ſervice?
Sely.Yes, thus farre.
Spend me that purſe of gold.gives him a purſe.
Aſme.What means your Highneſs?
Selym.But to deſerve your kindneſs, and avoid
the hated cenſure of ingratitude.
Aſme.This is your liberal vertue, not my deeds;
but you ſhall find me thankfull. Exit.
Selym.So I hope;
three ſteps are trod already to a Throne,
and I am rich in friends; theſe proffer'd gifts
conjure obſervance from their ſervile breſts.
Oh powerfull gold, whoſe influence doth win
men, with deſire for to engender ſin!
Iſaak Baſſa?
IſaakEven the man you wiſht:
What, did the golden lure work good effect,
and make the Baſſaes ſtoop unto your mind?
Sely.Words are but empty ſhadows, but if deeds
anſwer their words, we cannot doubt their faith:
they ſtoop beneath my feet; I ſeem to be
as true as Jove, but ſlye as Mercurie. Enter Meſithes.
Here comes Meſithes muttering back again;
but ſtep aſide, and we ſhall know his mind.
Meſith.But he is cruel, bloody, and his pride
unſufferable great. —
MeſithesProud Bajazet,
Thou haſt uſurp'd a title thy deſcent
could never reach unto; thou wrongſt the world
ſince thou detain'ſt the Crown, which heavens decree
due to a better brow: thou art defam'd
with Tyranny and wrong; but Selymus
is void of blemiſhes, as truth of lyes:
bad ſtocks muſt be cut down, the good muſt riſe.
43Sely.He daunted me at firſt, but now I find
the golds bright luſtre made his judgment blind.
Mustapha comes. Enter Mustapha.
Musta.Fortune hath wheel'd me up above the ſtars,
under a Monarch; I'le not ſell my hopes.
Bold Selymus, I'le ſecond thy deſigns;
and thou ſhalt Queen my daughter; that being done,
with mine own ſplendor I'le eclipſe the Sunne.
Sely.Is't ſo? a while I'le feed thy airy hopes,
then daſh thee into nothing.
Here's a third. Enter Aſmehemides.
Aſm.A purſe of gold! I can untie the knot:
the cloſe aenigma ſayes, I would be King.
Brave Selymus, I like thy mounting thoughts;
work out thy projects; thou canſt never need
or ask my help, but thou art ſure to ſpeed. Exit.
Sely.What we reſolv'd, ſtands firm, but the event
be ſcan'd when leiſure ſerves: wee'l now prevent
my brothers hopes, and by a ſudden fate
unto their lives and dayes give equal date
to compaſs a bleſt end: now we begin
(Jove hath offended, if it be a ſin)
to throw a father down. Saturn did dwell
once in the heavens, Jove threw him down to hell.
Enter Bajazet and Achmetes, hand in hand, Cherſeogles, Meſithes, Mustapha, Mahometes, Achomates, Trizham, Mahomet, Aſmehemides.
SelyBut ſtay: Achmetes, and our fathers friends?
Bajaz.Achmetes, I have injur'd thy deſerts,
ſubborn'd accuſers, wrong'd my credulous ears,
and my raſh cenſure undervalued much
thy noble ſpirits, when it firſt condemn'd
them of intended treaſon, renſe thy ſoul
in the dull river of oblivion.
44 we halt beneath the burthen of thy hate,
thinke my mov'd anger made me hot and wild,
I cannot ſleepe till we be reconcil'd.
Achm.The gods neglect my welfare here on earth,
and when I ſhall put off this mortall load,
let me be out-law'd from the Court of heaven,
if in this boſome there lye hid one thought
that doth not honour Bajazet.
Baia.Wee know —
thy vertues make us happy: valiant Sir,
thy feete once more muſt tread a warlike march
under our fearefull banner, thou ſhalt pace
even to the walles of Rome, there dwels our foe;
where our halfe Moone, rear'd in the middle camp,
like a diſtempred Meteor in the ayre,
ſhall ſtrike amazement in the cloiſtred monkes,
and ſhake the Prelates Miter from his head,
till he yeeld Zemes up alive or dead.
When we have mov'd thee from thy Janizaries,
thou ſhalt not travell farre.aſide
IſaackA ſubtile tricke,
and well pretended, I admire thy wit.aſide
Achm.Let me march hence, and Bajazet ſhall know,
how little I befriend my Princes foe.
Ile caſt a ring of ſouldiers round about
The walles of Rome, if Zemes ſcape thence out,
cut of my breath: he that's deepe in blame,
Muſt hazard boldly to regaine his fame.
Triz.What meanes our father, noble Bajazet,
to worke untimely horrors through the world:
deſolate ruine, publike diſcontent
have printed deepe impreſſions in our path,
danger and feare ſcarce emptied from our towne,
the ſhaken members of our common wealth
yet ſtagger with their wounds; when diſcord ſhall
make but a ſecond breach, they faint and fall,
45Mah.Short peace hath charm'd your ſubjects all aſleepe,
and throwne a quiet ſlumber ore their eyes,
whileſt with a ſweete reſtorative ſhe heales
their Martyr'd joynts, and wipeth out their ſcarres
writ on their boſomes by the hand of warres.
Zemes is ſafely cloyſtred up at Rome,
the Prelate dares not ayde him, all the gods
ſmile on the entrance of triumphant peace,
war lies faſt bound, nor can ſhe worke our paines,
unleſſe we looſe the fury from her chaines.
Baja.Our ſonnes inſtruct us! muſt your pregnant wits
croſſe my command! Baſſaes prepare for warre;
and ſince your grave diſcourſe argues a will
to ſtay at home, you ſhall; weele lay you up,
where no loud ecchoing drums ſhall breake your ſleepe,
even in the bowels of your mother earth
I will entombe you: Put them both to death.
Omnes.What meanes great Bajazet?
Baja.To murder you, unleſſe you ſtrangle them.
Ambo.But heare us ſpeake.
Baja.Stop up the damned paſſage of their throat,
Or you are all but ghoſts. What! ſtare you friends?
Iſaack and Selymus, a garter;
twiſt me that fatall ſtring about his necke,
and either pull an end,ſtrangle Trizham.
Meſithes come,
joyne force with me, by heaven y' were beſt make haſt,
Or thou art ſhorter liv'd then is that bratt.
Tugge ſtrongly at it.ſtrangle Mahomet.
So; let the baſtard droppe,
we have out-liv'd our tutors: dunghill ſlaves,
durſt they breath out their Stoicke ſentences
in oppoſition of our ſtrickt command?
Selym.So: things run well along, and now I find
Jove heares my prayers, and the gods grow kind.
Baja.Did not I ſend theſe to their Provinces
46 to hinder Zemes flight? and did not they
dejected baſtards, give him open way?
Mine anger hath been juſt.
Cherſeo.None doth deny't;
you may proceed in your edict for warrs,
and make Achmetes General of the camp.
Baj.It is enough: Achmetes go to hell,ſtabs him.
the divels have rung out thy paſſing bell,
and look for thine arrival.
Shend me ſlaves. Exeunt omnes.
They fly before my breath like miſts of air,
and are of leſs reſiſtance; I'le purſue. Exit.
Achm.Oh I am ſlain! Tyrant, thy violent hand
hath done me pleaſure, though againſt thy will:
had I as many lives as drops of bloud,
I'de not outlive this hour: fly hence vain ſoul,
climb yonder ſacred mount, ſtrive upwards there,
there where a guard of ſtars ſhall hem thee round,
build thee a ſafe tribunal — I am gone. —
Oh tragick cruelty! — behold — the end
of two right Noble ſons — one faithful friend.moritur
Re-enter Bajazet in fury.
Baj.Have all forſaken me? and am I left
a prey unto my ſelf? did all their breath
paſs through his organs? and in his ſad death
have I abruptly crackt the vital thred
of all my Baſſaes? Achmetes groans.
Ha! where am I now?
In ſome Gebenna, or ſome hollow vault,
where dead mens ghoſts ſigh out their heavy groans?
Reſolve me, Mahomet, and rid me hence,
or I will ſpoil the fabrick of thy tomb,
and beat away the title of a God.
Doſt thou not move? a trunk? a ſtock? to die
is to put on your nature, ſo will I.
47Offering to ſtab himſelf, Cherſeogles, Meſithes, Mustapha, Mahomates, Achomates, Selymus, Aſmehemides interrupt him.
OmnesHold, hold, and live.
Baj.How come theſe bodies dead?
Filii.Father, it was your ſelf.
Bajaz.Let me revoke
my wandring ſenſe: Oh what a ſtream of blood
hath purg'd me of my black ſuſpition!
two ſons, one valiant Captain hence are wrought
by mine own hand, to cure one jealous thought.
As 'tis, they are the happier; I out-live
them whom I wiſht to fall: only to grave
bear forth their bodies. Baſſaes carry them out.
We were curſt in this,
and ſhall intomb with them much of our bliſs:
indeed we had reſolv'd to ſpend this day
in things of more ſolemnity, leſs wo.
Now our moſt wiſhed councel ſhall begin,
and bitter deeds weigh up the ſcales of ſin.
Amaſia is a province rich and ſtrong,
Mahomates ▪ it is thine, keep it as long
as I have power to give it; go, provide
for thy conveyance at the next fair tide.
Mahom.Farewell dear father.
Bajaz.Worthy ſon, adieu;
the love my dead ſons wanted falls to you
as an hereditary good.
Selymusmay vail our heads in black, no mourners be.
Baja.Achomates, thy worth
deſerves ſome trophies of our love,
which to let ſlip unmention'd, were to adde
to this black day a fourth offence as bad.
Governe Maneſia, now the people ſtand
diſhfurniſht of an head; let thy command
48 be great amongſt them, ſo; make ſpeedy haſt.
Honour ſtayes for thee.
Selym.Now the ſtormes are paſt.
Baja.Achomates, farewell.
Selym.Now to my lot, I thought 'twould ne'r a fell.
aſide
Baja.Now Selymus, wee know thy hopes are great,
and thine ambition gapes with open jawes
to ſwallow a whole Dukedome; but young Sir,
we dare not truſt the raines of government
into the hands of Phaeton. Deſire,
raſhly fullfild, may ſet the world on fire;
Greene youth, and raw experience are not fit
to ſhoulder up a Kingdomes heavie weight;
mixe wit with ſtay'd diſcretion, and ſpend
wild yeares in ſtudy, then we doe intend
to ſettle more preferment on thy head
then thou can'ſt hope for.
SelymusWilt thou envious dotard
Strangle my greatneſſe in a miching hole?
the world's my ſtudy, Bajazet, my name
Shall fill each angle of this round-built frame.Exit
Bajaz.I know he grumbled at it; 'tis good
To calme the rebell heat of youthfull blood
with ſharpe rebukes. Enter a Meſſenger•
Meſſen.Health to the Emperour.
Bajaz.What will your meſſage?
Meſſen.Duty firſt from Rome,
commended by the Biſhop to your ſervice,
with a firme promiſe to diſpatch your will
what ever it imply'd, and would but ſtay
till Times ſwift circle ſhould bring forth a day
ſecure for the performance. Exit.
Bajaz.'Tis enough.
Thanks for your care. This was to murder Zemes.
49 War with the Biſhop! 'thad been pretty ſport,
I knew my powerful word was ſtrong enough
to make him do my pleaſure: ſimple Prieſt!
only I vs'd it as a trick to ſend
Achmetes from the City and his friends;
but Fate ſo ſmil'd upon me, that I found
a ſhorter means, his life and hopes to wound
with my ſententious ſons, that when my foe
fled through their Province, finely let him goe;
which being wholy finiſh'd, ſtrait to pleaſe
my friends, I play'd a raging Hercules;
then to ſhut up the Scene, neatly put on
a paſſionate humour, and the worſt was done.
But who comes here? A dumb ſhow.
Enter Mahomates with ſtore of Turks, he as taking his leave, they as ceremoniouſly with great humbleneſs, taking their leavs, depart at ſeveral doors
I like not this, Mahomates belov'd
ſo dearly of the Comminalty: ha!
Hee's wiſe, fair-ſpoken, gently qualified,
powerful of tongue; why hee's the better ſon,
not to ſupplant his Father. I miſlike
the prodigal affection thrown on him
by all my ſubjects. I bely'd my hopes
when I preſum'd this day had freely rid
me of my worſt vexation: I was born
to be a jade to Fate, and fortunes ſcoff,
my cares grow double-great my cutting off. Exit.
Actus 3. Scena 3.
Enter Caigubus Achmetes Son.
Caig.If ever man lov'd ſorrow, wiſht to grieve,
Father I do for thee. Could I deprive
my ſenſes of each object, but thy death,
50 then ſhould I joy to ſigh away my breath:
be Godhead to my griefe: then ſhall theſe eyes
with tributary tears bedeck thy ſhrine:
and thus I do invoke the: nimble Ghoſt
what ever or be of Heaven, what ever coaſt
affords thee preſent manſion, quickly thence
flit hither, and preſent unto my ſenſe
thy ſelfe a feeling ſubſtance: let me ſee,
acknowledge and admire thy majeſty.
Put off that ayry thinneſſe which denies
me to behold thee with theſe duller eyes,
then ſhall they, ſending down a powerfull flood,
rence thy cold members from each drop of blood;
and ſo return thee back, that thou mai'ſt ſoare
up to the skies, much purer then before.
Had the juſt courſe of nature wrought thee hence,
I would have made the gods know their offence,
and back reſtore thy ſoul; but thou art dead,
and 'twas a fiercer hand that clipt thy thread,
fiercer and boulder, which did ever thrive
by miſchiefe, and once coffind thee alive
up in deaths mantle, but then would not uſe
ſuch open violence, nor durſt abuſe
one of ſuch ſacred worth, till furie ſtruck
his reaſon dead, and made his treacherous hand
creepingly ſtab thee, both unſeen and foul,
as if he would have ſtoln away thy ſoul.
But oh!
Enter Iſaack.
Jſaack.As bad
a ſtroke attends thee as thy Father had:
Princes ſuſpicion is a flame of fire,
exhal'd firſt from our manners, and by deſire
51 of rule is nouriſh'd, fed, and rores about
till the whole matter dye, and then goes out?
Cai.Unfold a ſcene of murders: Fates work on
wee'l make a path to Heaven: and being gon,
Down from the lofty towers of the skies
throw thunder at the Tyrant; will he preſſe
the earth with weight of ſlaught'red carcaſſes?
Let him grow up in miſchief, ſtill ſhall her wombe,
gaping, reſerve for him an empty tombe.
We do but tread his path; and Baſſa, ſince
it ſtands upon thee now to cure thy prince
of his diſtemper'd lunacy, go fetch
the inſtrument of death, whilſt I a wretch
expect thy ſad return.
Iſaack.I go; and could
it ſtand with mine alleageance, ſure I ſhould
imply my ſervice to a better end,
then to diſrobe the Court of ſuch a friend.Exit
Cai.He that is judg'd down from a ſteepy hill
to drop unto his death, and trembling ſtill
expects one thence to puſh him, ſuch a ſlave
doth not deſerve to live, nor's worth a grave
Then Lacheſis, thou that divid'ſt the threed
of breath, ſince this dayes Sun muſt ſee me dead;
thus Ile prevent thy paine, thus Ile out-run
my fate; and in this ſtroke thy work is done.
Stabs himſelfe.
Eternall mover, thou that whirlſt about
the skies in circular motion, heare me out
what I command, ſee that without controule
thou make Heaven clear, to entertain my ſoule,
and let the nimble ſpirits of the ayre
Print me a paſſage hence up to thy chaire,
there will I ſit, and from the Azure sky,
laugh at obſequious baſe mortality.
Vaniſh my ſoule, enjoy, embrace thy fate
52 thus, thus thou mount'ſt above a Tyrates hate.
Stabs himſelf. dyes.
Enter Iſaack with Executioners.
Iſa.We are prevented; ſee the fates command
falſe deeds muſt dye, though by the Actors hand.
Return to Bajazet, and bear that corps. Exeunt
So now I am alone, nor need I fear
to breath my thoughts out to the ſilent ayre;
my conſcience will not hear me, that being deaf
I may joy freely. Firſt thy hated breath
Achmetes vaniſht, next Caigubus fell,
thus we clime Throans, whilſt they drop down to hell.
The glorious eye of the all-ſeeing ſun,
ſhall not behold (when all our plots are done)
a greater Prince then Selymus; 'tis he
muſt ſhare with Jove an equal Majeſty.
But for my ſelf his Engineer, I'le ſtand
above mortality, and with a hand
of power daſh all beneath me into duſt,
if they but croſſe the currant of my luſt.
What I but ſpeak, 'tis Oracle and Law,
thus I will rule and keep the world in awe.
Sely.Noble aſſiſtant.
Enter Selymus Meſithes. Muſtapha, Aſmehemedes.
Sely.'Tis thou muſt make me ſo, for ſhould I ſtay
waiting my Fathers pleaſure, I might ſtand
gazing with envy at my Brothers pride,
my ſelf lying proſtrate even beneath their feet.
Towns, Cities, Countries, and what elſe ſoever
can give high thoughts content, are freely theirs,
•, only like a ſpend-thrift of my yeares,
Idle my time away, as if ſome god
had raz'd my name out of the role of Kings,
which if he have, then Iſaack be thy hand
•s great as his, to print it in again,
though Bajaz•t ſay nay.
53Iſaack.No more: I will;
an Empire be our hopes; that to obtaine
wee'l watch, plot, fight, ſweat, and be cold again.Exeunt
Actus 3. Scena 4.
Enter Zemes and Alexander Biſpop of Rome.
Biſh.Cannot my words add ſolace to your thoughts?
oh! you are gulft too deep in a deſire
of ſoveraigne pompe, and your high thoughts aſpire.
All the unſhadowed plaineneſſe of my life
doth but contract thick wrinckles of miſlike
in your Majeſtick brow, and you diſtaſt
morall receipts, which I have miniſtred
To cool Ambitions Feaver.
Zemes.Pardon Sir,
your holineſſe miſtakes my malady,
another ſickneſſe grates my tender breſt,
and I am ill at heart: alas I ſtand
an abject now as well in Natures eye,
as erſt I did in Fortunes: is my health
fled with mine honour? and the common reſt
of man grown ſtranger to me in my grief?
ſome unknown cauſe hath bred through all my blood
a colder operation, then the juice
of Hemlock can produce: O wretched man!
look down propitious Godheads on my woes.
Phoebus infuſe into me the ſweet breath
of cheerefull health, or elſe infectious death.
If there an Angel be whom I have croſt
in my tormented boldneſſe, and theſe griefes
are expiatory puniſhments of ſin?
now, now repentance ſtrike quite through my heart
enough of paines, enough of bitter ſmart
have ty'd me to't. I have already bin
bolted from joy, content can enter in,
54 not at the open paſſage of my heart,
I neither hear, nor ſee, nor feel, nor touch
with pleaſure; my vexation is ſo much,
my grave can only quit me of annoy;
that prevents miſchief, which can bring no joy.
Exit.
Biſh.Now I could curſe what mine own hand hath don,
and wiſh that he would vomit out the draught
of direful poyſon, which infects his blood.
Ambitious fire! why 'tis as clean extinct,
as if his heart were ſet beneath his feet,
grief hath boil'd out the humours of vain pride,
and he was meer contrition. Enter a meſſenger.
What's the news?
Meſſen.Zemes, as now he left you pale and wan,
dragging his weake leggs after him, did fall
dead on the ſtony pavement of the Hall,
not by unhappy chance, but as he walkt,
folding his arms up in a penſive knot,
and railing at his Fate, as if he ſtag'd
the wounded Priam, or ſome falling King,
ſo he, oft lifting up his cloſing eye,
ſunk faintly down, groan'd out, I dye, I dye.
Biſh.It grieves my ſoul: let Bajazet know this;
could our own ſhortned life, but lengthen his,
by often ſighs I would transfuſe my breath
into his breſt, and call him back from death. Exit.