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Three Excellent Tragoedies. Viz.

THE RAGING TURK, OR, BAJAZET the Second.

THE COURAGEOUS TURK, OR, AMƲRATH the First.

AND THE TRAGOEDIE OF ORESTES.

WRITTEN, By THO. GOFF, Maſter of ARTS, and Student of Chriſt-Church in Oxford; and Acted by the Students of the ſame Houſe.

The ſecond Edition, carefully corrected by a friend of the Authors.

LONDON, Printed for G. BEDELL and T. COLLINS, at the middle Temple Gate Fleet-ſtreet. 1656.

THE RAGING TURK, OR, BAJAZET THE SECOND.

A Tragedie Written by THOMAS GOFF, Maſter of ARTS, and Student of Chriſt-Church in Oxford; and Acted by the Students of the ſame Houſe.

Monſtra fato, ſcelera moribus imputes,
Det ille veniam facilè cui venia eſt opus.

The ſecond Edition.

LONDON, Printed for G. BEDELL and T. COLLINS, at the middle Temple Gate Fleet-ſtreet. 1656.

TO THE No leſs ingenious then zelous favouorer of ingenuity, Sir RICHARD TICHBORNE Knight, and Baronet.

SIR:

THis Tragedy, a manuſcript, with another of the ſame Authors, came lately to my hands; He that gave them birth, becauſe they were his Nugae, or rather recreati­ons to his more ſerious and divine ſtudies, out of a nice modeſty (as I have learnt) allowed them ſcarce private foſtering. But I, by the conſent of his eſ­peciall friend, in that they ſhew him rather Omnium ſcenarum homo, to his glory then diſparagment, have publiſhed them, and do tender this to your moſt ſafe protection, leſt it wander a fatherleſſe Orphan, which every one in that reſpect will be apt to injure with calumnious cenſure. Now if you vouchſafe to receive and ſhelter it, you will not onely preſerve un­blemiſh'd the ever-living fame of the dead Author, but aſſure me that you kindly accept this humble ac­knowledgement of

Your moſt obliged and ready reall Servant, RICH. MEIGHEN.

The Names of the Actors.

  • Bajazet, Emperour.
  • his Sonnes.
    • Mahomates
    • Achomates
    • Corcutus
    • Selymus
    • Thrizham
    • Mahomet
  • Achments a Generall,
  • Cherſeogles Vizerory of Greece.
  • Baſſes.
    • Iſaack
    • Meſithes
    • Muſtapha
  • Solyman Selymus ſon.
  • Cajubus, Achmates ſon.
  • Alexander Biſhop of Rome.
  • Zemes, Bajazets brother.
  • Tartarian King.
  • Armeni•King.
  • Aſmehemedes Mahomets followers.
  • Hamon Bajazets Phyſician, Jewiſh Monks.
  • Herauld.
  • Dwarfe.
  • Nemeſis.
  • Cap•aines.
  • Ambaſſadors.
  • Janizaries.
  • Souldiers.
  • Nuncius.

THE RAGING TURKE, OR, the Tragedie of BAIAZET, the ſecond of that name.

Actus 1.

Scena 1.

Enter Baſſaes, Iſaack with a Crown in his hand, Mu­ſtapha with a Scepter, Meſithes with a Sword, they Crown Corcutus youngeſt ſon to Bajazet.
Iſaack.
LEt the world feel thee, and thoſe Demigods,
Proud with the name of Kings, debaſe themſelves
To honour thee; this Crowne commands as much
He crowns him.
Wherewith I do inveſt thy happy brow,
Happy indeed, if that ſucceeding times
Shall ſet up vertue, ſo to leſſen crimes.
Thus from the aſhes of dead Solyman
Is rais'd another Phoenix, great Corcutus;
Live equally adored: when Princes bend
To better courſes, all their ſubiects mend.
Muſt.
Crowns make not Kings, nor can that glittering ſhew
Perfect thine honour, take another ſigne
〈5 pages missing〉
6Of thy Imperiall dignity, tis thine.
Gives him the Septer.
That addes a God-like grace unto thy brow,
This binds due honour, that proſtrates every knee
Before thy throne: then live, and may that arme
Secure thy ſubjects from all forraigne harme.
Meſ.
What ſeaſoned knowledg, learnings prudent Queen
Hath bleſt thee with, muſt now initiate thee
In the pathes of warre. All ſtudied Arts
Are but degrees unto ſome wiſhed end,
And ſteps of hope whereby we do aſcend
Unto the top, and levell of our thoughts.
But Kings then prove moſt happy when they are
Watchfull in peace; and provident in warre.
Thoſe are their utmoſt ends, which that they may
O'retake, Art and the Sword make faireſt way.
The Muſes nours'd thee up, and thou didſt draw
The pleaſant juice of learning from their breſts
In thy firſt nonage; here then we beſtow
The ſecond help, to which good Princes owe
Much of their welfare; Swords are the firſt ground
Of peace and war; they both defend and wound.
Thus are we vow'd to thee, let thy dread fame
Thunder amazement through the ſpacious world
That when thou lifts thine arme, thy foes may ſay
Showts 3.
Not Jove, but great Corcutus rules the day.
Cor.
Which that applauſe hath crowned, and with it
Will ever, ſpight of traytors, joying ſit
As now we do; nor ſhall my watchfull care
Be wanting to you, whilſt this ſubtil ayre
Feedes mine induſtrious ſpirits; I ſhall fill
The good with joy, by cutting off the ill
Corrupted rags of men; Jove let me ſtand
An object in thine eye, when thy ſwift hand
Fails in the ſtroke of Juſtice: Vertue, returne
7 From thy ſad exile, I will purge the walls
From ſpotted vice, and make this city free
To entertaine ſo faire a Queene as ſhee.
Then (Baſſaes) I embrace what you have throwne
Upon me, and theſe ſignes of honour thus
Gives them back
We re-beſtow; their power ſtill ſtayes with us.
Could this vaſt body of the Common wealth
Stand faſt without a ſoule, each man ſhould ſee
I am not greedy of this dignity,
This burdenous weight which ſome muſt undergoe:
The gods are buſied with diviner things,
And put Earths care into the hands of Kings.

Actus 1. Scena 2.

After ſome clamors of applauſe. Enter Cherſogles, and Achmetes at ſeveral doores.
Ach.
And is Bajazet arriv'd?
Che.
So fame reports
Yet how he doth digeſt Corcutus Raigne,
That every Bird ſings not; but ſure with paine.
A Turkiſh Bajazet and ſuffer wrong,
May for a time conceale his griefe, not long.
Eagles ſoare high, and ſcorne that ſhorter Plumes
Should reach the clouds, which their proud wings can touch
Corcutus muſt not raign to keep the right
Due to his father, nor will he if he might:
Enter Iſaack
Hee's learned, therefore juſt; Arts not allow
To weare a Crown due to anothers hrow.
Iſa.
Dar'ſt thou oppoſe his greatneſſe? is not Greece
Already wrackt enough? have thy proud Towers
8 reard up their loftie ſpires? which ſteep'd in blood,
threw a reflex of red backe to the clouds,
and bluſh't at their owe ruins? are thy crude wounds
already ſtopt, and is that day forgot,
in which the Turkiſh Mavors Ottoman,
wielded a ſword of death within thy Walles?
Charon grew weary with hurrying ſouls to hell,
when threeſcore thouſand Greeks in one day fell.
Cherſ.
We know their force, and ſad experience ſays,
Move not again. Greece welters ſtil in blood,
and every crackling thunder of the heavens
ſpeaks the ſhrill eccho of the Turkiſh drums.
Then are we drawn by you, ſo let it be,
about theſe great affairs as you decree.
Ach.
This phraſe becomes the Greeks, ſubmiſſive ſtates
muſt bend, the Conqueror muſt rule the fates.
Cherſ.
And ſuch are you, our vanquiſht hearts muſt bend,
but bad beginnings have a fatal end.
Me thinks I ſee great Bajazet in armes,
ſpreading his fearful Enſignes in the ayre,
like ſome prodigious Comet: we may feare
ſpeedy revenge, unleſſe ſome quick advice
works a prevention of his future hate.
Tis he muſt ſway the Scepter, or we ſhall heare
a dreadful defiance ratled in our eare:
hee's ſtrong in friends, and power; we muſt deſcend
to our juſt duty, or our lateſt end.
Ach.
Renowned Vice-roy, thy perſwading thoughts
Have predivin'd moſt truly theſe effects,
and we applaud thy Counſel: let us three
joyn our beſt ſtrength, that theſe enſuing jarres
may be compos'd without the ſtroke of warrs:
Corcute is wiſe, and milde, and being ſo,
he hates the rumour of a publick foe.
Cher.
Nobly reſolv'd (Greece ſings) if the event
Pr•ve but ſo happy, as honeſt the intent.
9Enter Bajazet.
Baja.
Am I not Emperor? he that breaths a no,
damnes in that negative ſyllable his ſoul,
durſt any god gain-ſay it, he ſhould feel
the ſtrength of fierceſt Gyants in mine armes,
mine angers at the higheſt, and I could ſhake
the firm foundation of the earthly Globe:
Could I but graſp the Poles in theſe two hands,
Il'd pluck the world aſſunder; drop thou bright Sun,
from thy tranſparent Spheare, thy courſe is done,
great Bajazet is wrong'd, nor ſhall thine eye
be witneſſe to my hateful miſery.
Madneſſe and anger makes my tongue betray
the Chaos of my thoughts: under this breſt
an heape of indigeſted cares are preſt.
What is it that I doubt! through every joynt
dances a trembling ague, this dull blood,
that courſes through my veins, divines no good.
ſhouts of joy within.
Ha, ſhouts of joy, at dead mens obſequies?
I'me in a maze of woes: what thou wilt throw
on me, Jove, let it come. Ile ſtand thy blow.
Che.
Live happy Bajazet.
Baja.
Happy in my fear!
that word ſounds ſweet in my diſtracted eare.
He turns aſide to them.
Happy in what?
Ach.
In thy friends,
that grieve to ſee thy wrongs.
Baja.
My wrongs!
there ſticks the ſtring my thoughts did harp upon.
But who hath wrong'd me in this high content?
the fates do ſometime frown, yet bleſſe th' event
and ſequel of our woes; it cannot be,
I ſhould de thwarted in my jollity.
But if I can unfold it — for the more
I know them not, the greater is my ſore.
Cherſ.
In that read all thy woes, take there a brief
Contract of all thine ills, ſad lines of grief.
10He gives him a paper
Contract of all thine ills, ſad lines of griefe.
Baja.
How's this? my youngeſt ſon advanced to my ſeate?
Corcutus Imperator! ſure I dreame:
Theſe are but empty apparitions
Fain'd by the god of ſleepe to vex my ſoule:
Were they not ſo — ere this black night
Had throwne her fable mantle ore the heavens
To hide me from my ſhame-but is it ſo?
I do but flatter up my ſelfe, they are true
And reall griefes, my Paſſion ſayes they are.
Iſaack, Achmetes, are they not?
Ach.
Too true
Great Bajazet:
Baja.
Corcutus Imperator!
reades again
Would I had ſeene thy name writ in the booke
Of darke damnation, rather then theſe lines.
Crackt not mine eye-ſtrings when I view'd this text?
See how each letter ſpreads abroad in pompe,
As if they ſcorn'd my teares! how I could dwell
On theſe two words, Corcutus Imperator!
Hither repaire, the watchfull paper-wormes
That ſcan old records over to a line:
Here in two words imprinted ſhall you ſee,
The modell of a dolefull hiſtory;
Vertue diſhonoured, breach of filiall love,
Right ſhoulder'd out by wrong; nor can you faine,
A crime, which theſe two words do not contain.
But now I rayle, not grieve: O nimble ayre,
Let my plaints vaniſh as they ſpoken are.
Off with this womaniſh mildneſſe, I will find
A ſhorter tricke then this to eaſe my mind.
Pluto beware, I come to raigne in hell,
about to kill himſelfe.
Fates bid me rule, and birth-right to excell.
Cherſ.
Stay Bajazet, that arme can breake a path
Unto thy earthly monarch, ere thou come
11 To bleſſe the banks of ſweet Elyſium
With thy wiſht preſence: Mahomet forefend
That thou ſhould'ſt ſeale a Kingdome to thy ſon;
By this untimely death Corcutus raignes.
But at thy better pleaſure, when he ſhall heare
Thou art ariv'd, then hee'le twixt joy and griefe
Start from his throne, and nimbly run to meet
Thy pompe, and throw his Scepter at thy feet:
If he but ſlack that duty, here are by,
Achmetes ſtrong and bold, Iſaack and I,
Devoted to your ſervice. Yet the world ſtands,
On wavering doubts, ready to clap their hands.
Baja.
My deſires are crown'd,
And from the gate of Limbo, where I ſate,
I feele my ſpirits knock againſt the heavens.
Achmetes? In that name I hear an eaſe
Of all my griefs pronounc'd; he ſhall ſuffice
To baniſh uſurpation from my throne:
Did furyes guard it round, hee's able well
To reach my Kingdomes from the gripes of hell.
Ac.
My ſword & life, both which are vow'd to thee
Are ſtill at thy command: walk but along,
Corcutus ſhall reſigne, thou have no wrong.
Exeunt Bajazet, Cherſogles, and Achmetes: Manent Iſaack, and Muſtapha.

Actus 1. Scena 3.

Iſ.
Death, & the furies plunge the obſequious ſlaves,
Would he have joyn'd with us? we would have kept
Corcutus high, and honoured, where he ſits
In ſpight of a whole boaſt of Bajazets.
Muſt.
Me thinks your power might have bin greater ſarre
Over Achmetes, one adict to you
By no leſſe bond of duty, then the ſon
Is to the father:
Iſa.
Muſtapha, Ile tell you,
12 Had not my daughter been eſpouſed to him,
I had nam'd his death, and by ſome plot
work't him a quick deſtruction long e'r this.
Now let us temporize with Bajazet;
yet keep thy nature ever, and be true
to thine own profit; Fortune may advance
ſome other Prince, worth both thy love and mine.
Muſta.
Weel ſtay her leaſure.
Iſa.
See more Harpies gathered to catch a Crown,
O tis a charming bait!
Exit uterqueEnter Mahomet, Achmetes, Selimus.
Mah.
Me thinks theſe City walls ſmile on our entrance,
as if they knew great Bajazets three ſons
were come to grace their beautie.
Sel.
But We ſhould frown
on them which harbour ſuch black treaſons. Well,
were I great Bajazet, I'de ring a noyſe
of ſpightful horrour, that ſhould make the ground
tremble beneath their weight at ſuch a ſound;
A younger ſon enthron'd an Emperour!
Ach.
Brother, contain your ſelf, come lets away,
to ſee the end that waits on this ſad day.
Exeu. As they goe Trizham and Mahomet, two o­ther Sons of Bajazet goe to meet them.
Sel.
What Mahomet?
Ach.
And Trizham? here's a ſight
of one mans iſſue, Noble Bajazet:
brothers we have jumpt together.
Sel.
All ſave one,
and hees a great deal better ſo alone.
Tri.
Corcutus 'tis you mean, who though he raign
above us now, yet muſt fall back again
into our rank; 'tis Bajazet muſt riſe,
and he deſcend, ſuch a report there flyes.
Exeunt.

Actus 1. Scena. 4.

Enter Corcutus, Cherſeogles, Meſithes.
13Corcu.
Did not he frown, and ſtorm?
Cherſ.
It mov'd him much,
and wrought ſtrange paſſions in him, when he read
your name, and found your name ſo intituled.
Corcu.
Cling to my temples thou bleſt ornament,
be ever unremov'd, though all the gods
chide me in thunder for this inſolence.
Am I in heaven, in ſtate, plac'd on the ſphear
of eminence, but barely to appear
with faint and borrowed luſter, then deſcend,
rankt with the vulgar? heads firſt let me feel
the Titian vultur, or Ixions wheel,
and the worſt torture hell it ſelfe can bring,
to ſcourge my ſoul: ô let me die a King.
But ſtay, I muſt bethink me at what rate
I purchaſe theſe fair trappings: ha? the curſe
of him that got mee! ſtart my danted ſpirits,
ſhall I uſurp a throne and ſit above
my father, whilſt the gaping pit of hell,
with wide ſtretcht jawes, yawnes for my fall; O I
am ſtruck with horror, and the ſlaves of Stix
already ſting my wounded ſoul.
Cher.
Will you fair Prince reject all future hopes
of juſt ſucceſſion, and afflict your Sire,
by your unjuſt detainment of his Crown?
Corcu.
I am diſtracted, and me thinks I burn
under theſe robes of State, a boyling heat
runs from them through my veins, Joves hardy ſon,
when he bewrapt himſelfe in Neſſus ſhirt,
felt not more bitter agonies, then I,
cloath'd in the trappings of my majeſty.
I am reſolv'd; Baſſaes, go meet our father,
allure him home with this: I am begun
to be no King, but a repentant ſon.
Exeunt Meſithes and Cherſeogles.
Pallas, I aske thy pardon, I have ſtraied
14 A graceleſſe trewant from thy happy ſchooles,
Whither Ile now returne; there's not a ranke,
Place, or degree, can ſort us out true bliſſe
Without thy temple, there my dwelling is:
Amongſt the ſacred monuments of wit,
Which Claſſique authors carefully have writ
For our inſtruction, I will waſt my time;
So to waſh out the ſpots of this ſad crime.
Court honours, and you ſhadows of true joy
That ſhine like ſtarres, till but a greater light
Drowne your weake luſter, I adjure your ſight
Even from my meditations, and my thoughts
I baniſh your entiſing vanities,
And cloſely kept within my ſtudie walls,
As from a cave of reſt henceforth Ile ſee,
And ſmile, but never taſte your miſery.
I but as yet am floating on the waves
Of ſtormy danger, nor am ſure to ſcape
The violent blaſt of angry Bajazet.
Blow faire my hopes, and when I touch the ſhore,
Ile venture forth on this rough ſurge no more.
Enter Bajazet, Cherſeogles, Achmetes, Iſaack, Meſi­thes, Muſtapha, Mahomet, Achomates, Selymus, Trizham, Mahomet, Zem•s diſguiſed.
See where he comes, oh how my guilty blood
Starts to my face, and proves my cauſe not good!
Our dutie to our father,
kneeles.
Baja.
Ours to the Emperor.
kneeles.
Cor.
Why kneels great Bajazet? I am thy ſon
Thy ſlave; and if thy wrath but frowne, undone.
VVhy kneeles great Bajazet? heavens hide thy face
From theſe propoſterous doings.
Ba.
What, not aſham'd
To circle in thybrow with that bright crown,
Yet bluſh to ſee me kneel? though filiall rites,
And morall precepts ſay, the ſon muſt bend
Before the Father, yet your high degree
15 and power bids you riſe, commands my knee.
Corc.
Theſe ornaments be thine. Here Bajazet,
I Crowne thee Monarch of the ſpacious Weſt,
Aſia, and Affrica: if ought be mine,
greater then theſe, I here proclaim it thine.
Omnes.
Live Bajazet our mighty Prince,
live, rule, and flouriſh.
Baja.
Is this your zeale? is it? Did every voice
breath out a willing ſuffrage? I am crowned,
my joyes are fully perfect, and I feele
my lightned ſpirits caper in my breſt.
Riſe thou ſtarre-bright mirrour of thine age,
To Corcutus kneeling
by thee our iron daies prove full as good,
as when old Saturne thundred in the clouds.
Be an example to ſucceeding times,
how ſons ſhould uſe their Parents: and I vow
(when I ſhall faile) this honour to thy brow.
Attend us Baſſaes, Ile lead on to joy,
never was Father bleſt with ſuch a boy.
Exeunt omnes, manet Corcutus.
Corcu.
Freed from a princely burthen, I poſſeſs
A Kingly liberty, and am no leſſe
Princely; obſervance waite on him, on me
thoughts undiſturb'd, I ſhall then happy be.
Exit.

Actus 1. Scena 5.

Enter Zemes the brother of Bajazet alone.
Zemes.
Scarce had I ſet my foot within theſe walls
in expectation of a ſolemne hearſe,
due to the wandring Ghoſt of Mahomet;
but lowd alarmus of abundant joy
ring in mine eares, and every ſervile groome
Congratulates the coronation
A ſhowt within.
16of Bajazet: harke how they roare it out.
A cold diſturbance like a gelid froſt
ſettles my blood withinme, and I hate
his cheerefull triumphs, more then mine owne fate.
'Tis true, indeed, I prov'd not the firſt fruites,
an elder off-ſpring of my Fathers breed,
yet was it ſo that Bajazet and I
both tumbled in one wombe; perhaps the Queene
of womens labours doted at our birth,
and ſent him firſt abroad, or elſe I ſlept,
and he before me ſtole into the world;
muſt I then loſe my glory, and be hurld
A ſlave beneath his feet? no, I muſt be
An Emperor as full, as great as he.
Exit.

Actus 1. Scena 6.

Enter Iſaack alone.
Iſa.
Divorc'd my Daughter? fond and inſolent man
Ile cruſh thee into nothing: if I can
endure the noiſe of my diſgrace, I know
how to return it; I am a flame of fire,
a chafing heat diſtempers all my blood.
Achmetes, thou muſt cool it, when thy limbs
are emptied of that moyſture they ſucke in,
and thy ſtain'd blood inchanted from thy veins,
then ſhall I be appeaſed, meane while I live
thy mortall foe: But ſtay, let me contain
mine anger undiſcover'd. Friend, how is't?
Enter Meſithes.
Meſi.
Know you not Iſaack?
Iſa.
What?
Meſ.
The flight of Zemes hence to Armenia?
Iſa.
Of Zemes?
Meſ.

Yes, he walkt about the City diſguis'd, and unſeen till his eſcape.

Iſa.
'Tis ſtrange and full of fear.
Meſ.
We meet him frequent in the vulgar mouth.
Iſa.
Zemes is valiant, and Armenia ſtrong,
17 here's Bajazet, he muſt beware the wrong.
Enter Bajazet.
Ba.
What is't thou murmureſt? Bajazet & wrongd!
ſomething it is thou knoweſt concerning us:
Take thee faire leave and ſpeak it.
Iſa.
Yes, I know
matters of weight, ſuch as concern thy life.
Baja.
Such as concern my life! Speak out thy tale,
we are ſo fleſht in joy, bad news proves ſtrange,
and touch my ſenſe too harſhly.
Iſa.
But you muſt hear.
Your brother Zemes, when ſwift winged Fame
told him your father Mahomet was dead,
flew quickly hither, firſt to celebrate
his funeral pomp; then to aſſume his State,
his Crown, and Scepter: which he rightly knew,
unto your hand, and head both to be due.
But when applauſive joy, and peales of mirth
ſounded loud Muſick in his troubled eares,
of you enthron'd; then he began too late
to brawl at heaven, and wrangle with his Fate.
So he went hence and cryed, revenge be mine:
quake thou great City of proud Conſtantine
at my fierce anger: when I next return
with clouds of miſty powder, I ſhall choak
thy breath, and dul thy beauty with it's ſmoak.
Thus poſted he hence to Armenias King,
there to implore his ayde, which he will bring
to front thy power: nor doth he yet deſpair,
to diſpoſſeſs, and fright thee from thy chair.
Baja.
Firſt from my body ſhall he fright my ſoul,
and puſh me into duſt.
Iſaack,
make haſt
to muſter up our forces, ſtrike up our drums ▪
let them proclaim deſtruction through the world.
Clear up your duſty armour, let it caſt
ſuch an amazing luſtre on the Foe,
as if Belbona danc'd on every creſt.
The bright ſun of my glory is eclipſed,
18 till Zemes be extinct: he muſt not ſhine
to dull my beams, ſince the whole heaven is mine.
Call forth Achmetes, his unconquered arm
ſhall keep us ſafe from this intended harm.
Iſaac.
My Liege, you have forgot Achmetes oath,
in which he vow'd never to draw his ſword
in your defence.
Baja.
I had forgot it,
but now I remember, ſuch was the vain
heat of my youth: but I recall again
what ever I proteſted, tell him ſo.
Raſh words muſt be diſpens'd with.
Iſa.
Then Ile go.
Exit.
Baja.
My Father once in ordering of a Camp,
prefer'd me to be Captain of a wing,
ſo when the battails joyned, and life and death
where ſtrugling who ſhould win power of our breath,
our Armies prov'd the ſtronger; only my guide
fail'd, and a baſe repulſe fell on my ſide;
at which my Father ſtorm'd, and in my place
ſeated Achmetes, for which black diſgrace,
I vow'd a ſwift revenge, even by his ſhame
that wore mine honour, to redeem my fame;
which when Achmetes heard, he deeply ſwore,
never with wit and ſtrength to guide me more.
But now he muſt, ſee where he comes, and arm'd.
Enter Achmetes.
What ſtrange device is plotting in his brain?
Honoured Achmetes.
Achme.
Royal Emperour.
gives him a ſword.
Baja.
Thine arm muſt then uphold my Royalty.
VVhy lies thy valour proſtrate at our feet,
when like firce lightnings it ſhould run and meet
my harms, and like a rock unmov'd, oppoſe
the courſe, and headlong torrent of my foes?
Achm.
I am a man of peace; miſtake me not.
I made a vow, nor can it be forgot,
19 till you revoke your oath.
Baja.
VVhich here I do,
great Mahomet be witneſſe, that I mean
ſincerely what I ſpeak, Achmetes now
we're friends, and thus, I nullifie my vow;
gives him his ſword again.
heavens on this concord lend a gracious ſmile.
Achmetes I have plac'd thee in my boſom,
gave thee an honour'd title in my love;
and of as laſting conſtancy, as is
the ſun, which looks ſo chearfully on us.
Go fit the Janizaries to the warrs,
kindle new fire of valour in their breſts,
Thou art their Genius, even the breath they draw;
Raiſe then thy plumes, and keep thy foes in awe.
Achm.
Sood there a Pluto at thy city walls,
and with a band of furies had beſieg'd
thy people; I would conjure them away,
and ſend them back to hell: ſo thou ſhalt ſtand
as faſt as in the skyes, under mine hand.
Baja.
I am Crown'd in thee, nor can I fall,
whileſt ſuch a valour breaths within our wall.
Zemes depoſe me! he muſt be more ſtrong
then Mars, that can do Bajazet that wrong.
Exeunt.

Actus 1. Scena 7.

Enter Zemes, and the King of Armenia.
Arme.
We hate thy brother, therefore lend thee aide,
'tis not our duty to expoſtulate
thy right unto the Crown: on to your warrs,
thrive in your projects; I ſhall joy to ſee,
a quarrel fought twixt Bajazet and me.
Ile ſecond thy encounters, and we two
like the two Roman thunder-bolts of war,
will with the flaſhes of our fiery ſwords
20 keep their compoſed ranks, that they ſhall ſtand
agaſt, to ſee two Scipioes in one band.
Zemes.
Thanks great Armenian King, and when I am
wheel'd to that height, which now my brother holds,
I ſhall requite theſe benefits, and vow
that kindneſſe, which I can but promiſe now.
Arm.
Come let's away, our armies are well ſet,
ready to march: now tremble Bajazet.
Exeunt

Actus 1. Scena. 8.

Enter Achmetes in his Generals coate, and Caigubus his Sonne.
Ach.
Caigubus, publick dangers call me forth,
and I muſt leave thee now unto thy ſelf.
My ſon, thou ſeeſt unto what height of fame
we are aſcended, yet the ſun ſhines clear,
and not one dusky cloud of diſcontent
dimms the unſpotted brightneſſe of our joyes:
Not Bajazet is more belov'd than I.
Such ſtrict obſervance is there ſhew'd to me
by all that know my worth, and hear me nam'd,
as if I graſp't Joves thunder in mine hands.
By all my hopes I fear ſome tragick ſcene
will trouble our calm fortune. Son beware:
The top of honour is a narrow plot
of ground, whither we have already got:
'Tis brittle and uncertain, if thou tread
one careleſſe ſtep aſide, thou fall'ſt down dead;
the ſhute from thence is deep, and underneath,
ruine gapes wide, thy body to receive.
Stand firm Caigubus: though thou ſtart'ſt not away,
yet blaſts of envie often force aſide
the wearieſt footſtep: theſe, where e'r they ſhall
blow ſtrong, will make them ſtagger if not fall.
Caigu.
I ſhall forget to ſleep, to breath, to live,
21 ſooner than theſe thy precepts: they are fixt,
and printed in my thoughts.
Ach.
Enough, no more
That Iſaack Baſſa, truſt him not too much:
I have divorc'd his daughter from my bed,
for her adulterate looſeneſs, hence he hides
a maſſe of fretting rancor in his breſt,
which he hath varniſh't yet, & guilded o're
with coloured ſhews of love; but he is falſe,
and ſubtil as a Serpent, that will wind
into thy breſt, ſtinging thee ere thou find
or once ſuſpect his hatred: I muſt away,
Trumpets ſound. Exit. Exit.
haſty alarms call me hence, thus, farwel,
envie grows greater, as our ſtates excel.
Caig.
Father, adieu.

Actus 2.

Scena 1.

A dumb ſhew: Enter Zemes, and the Armenian King, Trumpets and Enſignes, Souldiers paſs over the ſtage, and in a ſolemn march. Exeunt.

Actus 2. Scena 2.

Enter Bajazet, and Trizham and Mahomet his two ſons
Baja.
Already marcht ſo near! Zemes makes haſt
to death, as if he long'd our wrath to taſt.
Trizham & Mahomet, it concerns you now,
to fly hence nimbly to your Provinces:
Zemes is come too neere us to eſcape,
he cannot flye the ground whereon he treads,
but through your countries: haſt then, if the wars
crack not his thred of life, his flight will be
when you may intercept it; if we preſume
only one bold Achmetes, and our ſelves
in beds of down ſupinely ſleep at home;
Zemes may ſcape the tempeſt of our wrath.
20〈1 page duplicate〉21〈1 page duplicate〉
22Then we hope beſt, when each event we ſee
thwarted with their preventing policie.
Trizh.
Doubt not our haſt and truth, he ſhall as ſoon
break through the fiery fabrick of the skies,
as through my Provinces.
Exit.
Maho.
Through hell as ſoon as mine.
Exit.
Baja.
Go, I have done my part; Mars and my fate
give faire ſucceſſe to my deſigned plot;
and Zemes is intrapt, already dead,
that hand ſecures me that ſtrikes off his head.

Actus 2. Scena 3.

Enter Achmetes, Cherſeogles, Muſtapha, Meſithes, Drums and Trumpets.
Achm.
The battel will prove great and dangerous:
but were their number double more then ours,
the juſtice of our cauſe bids us go on,
and like a chearful drum, ſtrikes painting fear
from every breſt. Father, lead you the vangard,
the rearward be your charge, the right wing yours,
my ſelf will guide the left: this day ſhall crown
your valour in full pride, Zemes muſt down.
Enter Zemes, Armenia, two Captains.
Zem.
Time hath out-ſtript our haſt, our foes do ſtand,
waving their golden plumes, as if the gods
were come to meet great Zemes in the field;
their armie's planted, and a diſtilling cloud
hovers about their heads, as if it wept
at their approaching fate. Armenia's King
lead you the vanguard; under your command
the reareward ſhall march on: the Phalance be
your care, brave Captains: as we are inform'd,
Achmetes rules the left wing of our foe,
Ile rule the right wing of ours: ſo when I meet
him in his pride, Ile proſtrate at his feet.
23Arme.
Our men are ordered, Zemes lead the way,
the skies look duskie black on this ſad day.
Exeunt.
Trumpets ſound to the battell, dumb ſhews in skirmiſhes, one of Zemes Captains and Cherſeogles meet, Zemes Captain prevailes; his ſecond and Meſithes meet, Me­ſithes retires; the King of Armenia and Muſtapha meet, Armenia prevailes, and purſues the battaile. Enter Achmetes with his ſword.
Ach.
Great Queen of chance; but do I call on this
unconſtant Stepdame? be thou propitious Mars,
rough god of warr: ſteel up this weary arm,
and put a ten fold vigor in my bones;
what ſhall Achmetes fall, and in his loſſe,
great Bajazet be wrong'd! it cannot be.
Death comes to wound thee Zemes, I am he!
As he goes out, the King of Armenia meets him, they fight, Achmetes makes him retire from the ſtage, and purſues him in his fury, enters again at the one door, Zemes at the other: they meet, drums and trumpets ſounding.
Ach.
Zemes!
Zem.
Achmetes! Opportunely met,
here ſtaggers all the fortune of the field;
this hour muſt bleſſe me, and a ſingle fight
purchaſe thee honour, and to me my right:
honour to thee, to die by Zemes hand,
my right to me, an Empire to command.
Ach.
Brave Prince, I more lament thy caſe then can thy ſelf
that runneſt with ſuch madneſſe on the edg
of deſperate ruin: thou art but young & weak,
manhoods ſoft bloſſoms are not fully ſpread
upon thy downy chin; but riper years
have ſetled the compacture of my joynts,
and they are ſtrongly knit: 'twill vex my ſoul
24 in the clear morn of thy up-riſing hopes,
to wrap thee in a fatal could of death.
Submit thee to thy brother, thou ſhalt find
me thy true friend, him merciful and kind.
Zem.
Submit! had I a right to Joves high Throne,
and ſtood in oppoſition of his power;
ſhould all the gods adviſe me to ſubmit,
I would reject their counſel: much more thine.
Guard thee, Achmetes, I thy ſtroke abide,
I cannot gore thy Prince but through thy ſide.
They fight and breath: fight again. Achmetes takes away Zemes ſword.
Zem.
The day be thine, and Zemes ſtand thy Fate;
ſtrike home, I've loſt the day: and life I hate.
Achm.
Have at thee then.
Offers to run at him with both ſwords.
not ſtirre! Now by my ſword
thou ſhalt have fayrer play before thy death:
take back thy ſword, in that I recommit
my forfeit to thy charge, thy life with it.
They fight again, and Achmetes wounds him on the head. Zemes falls.
Zem.
Oh! hold thy conquering hand, and give my ſoul
a quiet paſſage to her reſt; my blood
begins to waſt, and a benumming cold
freezes my vital ſpirits: Achmetes goe,
tell Bajazet that thou haſt ſlain his foe.
Ach.
Farwel brave ſon of Mars, thy fame ſhall ſtay
with us, although thy ſoul flit hence away.
Zemes.
I have not ly'd, Achmetes thou haſt ſlain
my hopes, and therefore me; my wounds are ſhallow,
but my ſtate deſperate: Ha! what ſhall I do?
Armenia's King is fled back to his home,
cold entertainment will attend me there;
the field is empty, every man retir'd,
only a few dead carcaſſes, and I;
then whither ſhall I bend my ſteps? to Rome!
25To Rome then let it be: Biſhop, I come;
th'art a religious thing, and I will truſt
my life to one ſo innocently juſt.
Exit.

Actus 2. Scena 4.

Enter Mahomates, Achomates, Selymus three of Bajazets ſonnes.
Sely.
Indeed we may be thought upon in time:
when there be countries more then there be men
we may get ſome preferment; ſit at home
and prove good boyes and pleaſe our father well.
Bajazet,
aſide
My thoughts are too unbridled,
I neither can nor will endure thy curbe;
my compreſt valor like the ſtrangled fire
breaks out in violent flames and I muſt rule.
Trizham and Mahomet are ſlipt in haſt
each to their ſeverall province, we muſt ſtay,
that are their Elders, for another day:
this Court will prove our ſcaffold, where we ſtand
plac't in the eye of angry Bajazet;
who thwarts him in his fury is but dead,
and in that paſſions heat off goes his head.
I muſt not live thus.
Maho.
I could be content.
He fears not death whoſe thoughts are innocent.
Sely.
I thank you brother; then belike ſome crimes
lie heavy on my conſcience, and I fear,
unleſſe I ſhift my ſtation, 'twill be known.
You think well of me kind Mahomates.
Maho.
As well as of a brother I can think:
if by a raſh applying to your ſelfe,
my words have been diſtaſtful, blam not me.
Sely.
Can I apply them then unto my ſelfe?
am I ſo looſe in manners? By heaven and earth
thou ſhalt repent this deeply.
Acho.
Stop that oath,
brothers agree, or walk hence but along
into my garden, where each ſpringing hearb
26 ſmiles on my fair content, there you ſhall ſee,
how flowers of one ſtock, ſo twiſted are,
one in the others twinings, that they ſhew,
one ſtands by th' others help, both joyntly grow;
theſe ſhall ſuffice your quarrels to remove,
and dumbe examples teach a lively love.
Maho.
Come let us go.
Exeunt Mahomates, and Achomates.
Sely.
Straight I will follow you.
Away fond wretches, ô that every breſt
were of ſo dull a temper as you two.
But who comes here?
Enter Corcutus
Brother Corcutus, whither are you bent?
what from the court ſo ſoon?
Corcu.
My father bids,
I go to undertake the charge his love
hath thrown upon me. That's rich Ionia.
Sely.
You go to rule there?
Cor.
Yes:
Sel.
Heavens ſpeed you well.
Cor.
Dear Selymus adieu.
Sel.
Brother farewell.
Exit Corcutus.
Revenge and you, three furious twinnes of night,
aſcend up to our theater of ill,
plunge my black ſoul twice in your Stygian flood,
that by it's vertue it may be congeal'd,
and hardned againſt remorſe: Pluto enrich
my breſt, with a diviner policie
then every trifling braine can reach unto;
Ile fill the world with treaſons, and my wit
ſhall put new tracts to death: Charon ſhall ſee,
his waftage ſtill in uſe, by company
ſent thither by my care: ô 'twill do well,
to blaſt the earth with want, and furniſh hell.
Exit

Actus 2. Scena 5.

Enter Iſaack, Bajazet.
Iſaack.
Tuſh, vertue makes men fooles, Iſaack be wiſe,
27 ſhake off the tender fetters of remorſe:
and hug that chance, that opens thee the way
to ruinate Achmetes. Did he ſtand
on terms of conſcience, neighbor-hood or love,
when he caſhier'd my daughter from my houſe,
and to the worlds broad eye, open'd her crime?
No he was ſwift and bitter in his hate,
and ſo will I: he is but now return'd
in triumph from the field, as full of pride
as I of envy: hence Ile ground my hate.
When fierce Bellona ſmil'd on Bajazet,
amidſt the fiery tumults of the warre,
ſhe offered Zemes to Achmetes hand,
they fought, Achmetes conquered, at his foot
fell the proud rebell, wounded but not ſlain;
there might Achmetes with a blow of death
cut off our fears, continued in his breath:
this ſhall incenſe the angry Emperor:
and cruſh Achmates in his faireſt hopes.
True polititians work by others hands,
ſo I will by the Prince: my plot ſtands firme;
ſee where he comes, now ſly Mercurius, whet
my tongue, to kindle hate in Bajazet.
Enter Bajazet.
Baja.
Iſaack, how thriv'd Achmetes in his wars?
Fame is of late grown dumbe of his renown:
ſurely unwelcome news clogs her ſwift wings,
elſe had ſhe now bin frequent in our Court;
and we had fully known the chance of all.
Iſa.
We had: yet could not the event,
lie ſo conceal'd, but Iſaack found it out;
which when I firſt diſcovered, ſtraight it wrought
tempeſts of paſſions in me, joy and grief
reign'd at one inſtant in the ſelfe ſame breſt.
28Bajazet.
As how?
Iſa.
As thus. I joy'd that Zemes fell,
was ſorry he eſcap'd.
Baja.
Fell, and yet eſcap'd!
Iſa.
Beneath Achmetes feet the traytor fell.
Baja.
And yet eſcap'd! good Iove how may this be!
Iſa.
Thus it might be, and was ſo: when ſad death
was glutted with the ruine of each ſide,
when ſlaughtring Mars had ſtain'd the field with blood
and caſt a purple colour o'r the earth
at length ſome milder providence deſir'd;
an end of thoſe hot tumults that were ſeen,
to laſt in Zemes breath; ſo that their fire
would be extinct, when Zemes ſhould expire:
then from the middle skirmiſh forth were brought
he and Achmetes; being met they fought;
Zemes was vanquiſh't by a violent blow
which ſtruck him trembling lower then his knees:
now whether flattering, or preſent gifts
redeem'd him from his fate, I cannot ſhow;
ſomething they plotted, what, none yet can know.
Baj.
Canſt thou adviſe me (Iſaack) how to ſound
the depth of all his miſchief?
Iſa.
Thus you may,
He being come from Zemes overthrow,
and yet luke-warme in blood and full of joy,
you may in way of honour and free mind
call him this night to banquet: Then being ſet
when the hot ſpirits of carouſed healths
have ſpoyl'd his wit of ſmooth and painted tales,
and wine unlockt the paſſage for the truth,
bid him relate the manner of his war,
the chances and events; then when he comes
to Zemes, if he err about his flight,
his ends are bad, his boſome black as night.
Baja.
Thou art my good Angel, Iſack, I applaud
thy faithfull plot. Achmetes, were thy ſoule
as dark as hell and thy encloſed thoughts
as ſubtill as a winding Labyrinth,
by ſuch a guide as can remove each doubt,
29 and by a clue of thred I'd track them out.
But Iſack; if we trap him in his wiles
how ſhall we kill the traytor? we have a trick,
already ſtrange to catch him in the nick.
Iſa.
Eaſily, thus. Our laws allow a cuſtome:
not uſ'd of late, yet firme ſtill in effect
and thus it is: When there doth breath a man
direfully hated of the Emperour,
and he in ſtrickt ſeverity of right
cannot proceed againſt him, then he may
orewhelme him in a robe of mourning black,
which we have call'd deaths mantle: that thing done,
the man thus uſ'd, is forfeited to fate,
and a devoted ſacrifice to him
whom he had er'ſt offended, neither can
ſtrength or intreaty, wreſt him from his death,
both which are treaſon and inexpiable.
Thus then you may proceed, when banquets done.
and all their comick merriment run on
to the laſt ſcene, and every man expects
a ſolemne gift, due to Achmetes worth,
call for a robe therewith to deck your friend
and perfect all his glory, let that be
this robe of fate, in which ready at hand,
you may intombe the traytor and bewrap
his pampred body in a vaile of death;
ſo let him die, dream not on the event,
vice is rewarded in it's puniſhment.
Baj.
I will be fierce and ſudden, Iſaack invite
Achmetes to a feaſt; he dies this night.
Exit Baj.
Iſa.
I ſhall. Would not a private warning ſerve,
but open penance muſt correct my child,
and a ſevere divorcement quite degrade
her of her honour'd matrimoniall rights?
Were he as ſtrong, as ſteel-like joynted Mars,
as much applauded through our popular ſtreets,
30 as erſt Dictator Fabius was in Rome,
or geat Auguſtus: yet the ſlave ſhould feel
the wrath of an inflamed father light
heavy upon his ſoul: & that e'r the next ſun
appear, Achmetes all thy glorie's done.
Exit.

Actus 2. Scena 6.

Enter Achmetes, and Caigubus his ſon.
Caigu.
I fear'd your ſafety and devoutly prayed
the ſword of juſtice, which your hand did ſway
might be of conquering force.
Ach.
Thy prayers were heard
and I am here as ſafe as I went forth,
untouch'd by the rough hands of deſperate war.
Nor did I once ſpie danger in the field;
but when I fronted Zemes, then there met
two ſtreams of valor, ſith on us was ſet
the chance of the whole combat, others ſtood
expecting which of us ſhould loſe his blood:
but heaven was juſt, and to compoſe the ſtrife,
this ſword at one ſad blow took thence his life.
Cai.
The heavens were juſt indeed, but who coms here,
Iſaac, Meſithes, and Bajazets three ſons.
Enter Iſaak, Meſithes, Mahometes, Achomates, Selymus.
Ach.
They come to gratulate my late ſucceſs,
I ſee their errand foulded in their ſmiles,
how chearfully they look upon my joyes!
Omnes
All happineſſe attend Achmetes.
Ach.
Thanks Noble friends. How fares the Emperor?
Iſaack.
Well by your guard; and he hath ſent us now,
all to invite your preſence to a feaſt,
we muſt be frolick, and this following night,
ſhall Crown your joy with revels and delight;
or elſe deprive thy ſoul of that good light.
aſide.
Ach.
We muſt be frolick Captains, think not then
31 on my loud drums, and ſtaring trumpeters,
ſuch whoſe ſtrong lungs roar out a bellowing voice
would make a man daunce Antick in the fire:
weel have a choicer muſick, and my feet
ſhall tread a neater march, then ſuch harſh ſtrains
can teach them: with more pleaſure and leſſe pains,
ſince it hath pleas'd the Emperor to grace
our ſlender merits thus: we ſhall be there,
to taſt his bounty.
Meſ.
Weele lead on before.
Ach.
Ile follow you.
Iſa.
Ne'r to return more.
aſide. Exeunt omnes, Manent Achmetes and Caigubus.
Ach.
I am happy above envy, and my ſtate,
not to be thwarted with injurious fate,
I could disburden all my jealous thoughts,
and ſhake that curriſh vice ſuſpicion, off
from my ſincere affection: I have worng'd
ſure I have wrong'd thee Iſack, thy chaſt love
cloaks not intended miſchief; black deceit
cannot lie hid under ſo pure a white,
but it would caſt a coloured ſhadow out
through ſuch a ſlender vail; thy generous thoughts
nouriſh no baſe detraction; thy free love
thy profeſt actions ſay, t'were no juſt fate
that good mens deeds ſhould die by ill mens hate.
Cai.
Pray heaven they do not.
Ach.
Fear not, I am gueſt
to Bajazet, expected at the feaſt.
Exeunt.

Actus 2. Scena 7.

Enter Bajazet, and Cherſeogles.
Baja.
The day's far ſpent, is not Achmetes come?
Cherſ.
Not yet, great Emperor.
Baja.
Vice-roy of Greece, ſay now there were a man
whom my mind honored; and I ſhould command
to cloath his bodie in a ſuite of gold,
32 ſtudded with gems, worth all the Indian ſhore,
durſt any tongue gainſay it?
Cherſ.
Surely no.
Baja.
What if I hated him, and ſhould command
to wrap him in a ſable coloured black:
and ſentence him to death?
Cherſ.
Then he muſt die.
Baja.
My thoughts are troubled.
Cherſ.
What ſhould theſe queſtions mean,
abrupt demands, one to confound the other?
My liege your gueſts are come.
Enter Achmetes, Iſaack, Mahomates, Achomates Selymus, Meſithes, Caigubus.
Baja.
Bleſt be the hour in which I ſee Achmetes ſafe return'd,
Bring in our banquet, ſouldiers: boyes kneel round.
Enter a banquet, all kneel.
A ring of braver lads nere bleſt the ground:
ſupply us here with Nectar, give it me,
takes the cup.
Achmetes, noble warriour, here's to thee,
a health to thy bleſt fortunes, it ſhall run
a compleat circle ere the courſe be done.
Ach,
My duty bids me pledge it. I return
good health to Iſaack, and in this wee'l drown'd
all conceal'd enmities
drinks
Iſa.
Iove ſplit me with his thunder, if my breſt
harbour one bad thought when this draught is paſt.
and ſo I greet thy ſon: Health to Caigubus.
drinks
Caig.
Mahomates the turn lights next on you.
drinks
Mah
Ile pledge it freely, Viceroy her's to you.
drinks
Cherſ.
Achomates, to you I muſt commen
the welfare of Achmetes in this cup.
drinks
Ach.
To you Meſithes thus I prove my love.
drinks.
Meſ.
Young Prince, I do commit this health to you.
drinks.
Sely.
I am the laſt be prodigall in wine,
fill up my bowle with Nectar let it riſe
above the goblets ſide, and may it like
a ſwelling Ocean flow above the banks,
33 I will exhauſt it greedily, 'tis my due.
drinkes.
Omnes
Wee'l drink with Bacchus and his roaring crew.
Baj.
Already done, ſo quickly run about,
one health to me: faith, ſith you are ſet to't,
here's a carouſe to all.
Omnes,
wee'l pledg it round.
As they drink round, Bajazet riſeth and ſpeaks aſide.
Bajaz.
'Tis the laſt draught to ſome, or I ſhall fail
in mine intendments. Let a foe eſcape
when he was trampled down beneath his feet!
There muſt be treaſon in it: How my blood
boils in my breſt with anger! not the wine
could work ſuch ſtrong effect: my ſoul is vext.
A chafing heat diſtempers all my blood;
Achmetes, thou muſt cool it: when thy limbs
are emptied of that moiſture they ſuck in,
and thy ſtain'd bloud unchannel'd from thy veins;
then ſhall I be ſecure; a quiet reſt
ſhall rock my ſoul aſleep; 'tis thy laſt hour
muſt ſet a period to my reſtleſs fears.
What, are you merry friends? drink on your courſe,
then all ariſe: and now to conſummate
our happy meeting, And ſhut up our joyes,
diſcourſe Achmetes of your finiſht warrs;
After an age of woes, it proves at laſt
A ſweet content to tell of dangers paſt.
Let's know your whole events.
Achm.
Great Emperor,
Scarce had the roſie day-ſtar from the Eaſt
diſplay'd her ſilver colours through the heaven,
but all the watchful Souldiers ready arm'd
dim'd her pale cheeks with their tranſparent ſteel,
and added luſtre to the dull-ſight morne;
ſo ſtood we in full pride till the bright Sun
climing the glaſſie pavement of the skies;
rouz'd the ſlow ſpirits of the backward foe,
and urg'd them to the field; at length ſtept forth
Zemes, in all the trappings of his ſtate;
34 And like a well-taught Hector rang'd his troups
into their ſeveral orders; all prepar'd,
Tiran being fearful, ſtept behind a cloud,
leſt when he ſaw our limbs bath'd all in bloud,
and purple ſtreams guſh't from our wounded breſts
like water from their ſprings, he in fear
ſhould be eclipſ'd, or ſtartle from his ſphear.
The air was thick and dim; our armies joyn'd,
the skirmiſhes grew hot; and angry Mars
inthron'd upon the battlements of heaven,
left either ſide to tug with their own ſtrength
till their oppreſſing multitude bore down
the juſtice of our cauſe; and our whole ſide
not daring to withſtand, ſcorning to fly,
ſtood trembling on the utmoſt brink of hope;
then the propitious Gods ſingled me out
Zemes ▪ the life and ſpirit of our foes.
We met and fought: Such was my happy fate,
that at the firſt encounter Zemes fell,
and I diſarm'd him; when in proud contempt
he ſpit defiance in the face of death,
open'd his breſt, and dar'd me to the ſtroak,
whereby I might have ſent him hence to hell:
But I, in admiration of his worth,
arm'd his right hand once more and bad him fight.
Chance did direct my ſword upon his head:
he fell before me, and cry'd, Achmetes hold,
I'me wounded to the death; and Captain, go
tell Bajazet that thou haſt ſlain his foe.
I left the dying Prince; our warrs were done
and ceaſ'd with him by whom they were begun.
Iſaak.
The plot has took.
aſide.
Bajaz.
Treaſon, by Mahomet:
I left the dying Prince!
Iſaak
Purſue the project.
Bajaz.
Worthy Achmetes,
well we may give, but not reward by gifts;
35 and thank, but not requite thee. I would hate
that liberality which would abate
the worth of the receiver: thy true fame
out-ſtrips the length of titles; and a name
of weighty honour is a ſlender price
to grace thy merits with: as for a voice
to crown thee after death, thou art the choice
of everliving glory: on thy creſt
is her abode; and when the lateſt reſt
of nature hath betrai'd thee to thy grave,
then ſhall ſhe print in characters of gold
how brave a man thou waſt, how great, how bold:
though we be dumb, yet ſhall the world uplift
thy name, and thou ſhalt live without our gift:
Yet thy bleſt fates have not created thee
ſo clearly God-like, but ſome other chance
may croſs thy greatneſs, and thy high renown
the envy of ſome God may ſhoulder down:
then thus wee'l make thee happy; future events
ne're ſhall oppreſs thy worth; nor envious chance
blot thy enſuing fame. Achmetes know,
death, an immortal gift, we thus beſtow.
He caſts a gown of black velvet upon him, called the mantle of death.
Caigub.
Treaſon, treaſon, O my Father, treaſon:
Help Janizaries.
Excurrit.
Bajaz.
Stop the furious youth.
Exeunt Baſſaes.
Bring in an Heads-man. Traytor, Zemes dead!
He lives to ſee this hand untwine thy thread.
Enter ſeven or eight Janizaries with ſwords drawn.
What means this outrage?
Janiz.
  • 1. Cruel homicide.
  • 2. Ungrateful wretch.
  • 3. Tyrant.
  • 4. Meet hilts in's guts.
  • 5. Firſt let his own hands take that Mantle off.
    Circle him.
36Baj.

Help! Treaſon, I am ſlain!

6.
Help? why? From whom?
Is not thy Guard about thee?
Bajaz.
Hemn'd in with death! my friends beſet me round,
not to preſerve my life, but murder me!
Bluſh you pale heavens at this abhorred fact,
that they may ſee their crimes, and be aſham'd
of this unheard offence: Valiant Janizaries,
ſheat up theſe weapons of rebellion;
print not that ugly ſin upon your brow;
let my free pardon woe you to ſubmit.
Keep your allegeance firm.
Omnes

Ha, ha, ha, ha!

1

One word more damns thee.

2

How prettily he began to talk

3
Of ſin and pardon! Bajazet, behold
here ſtands a man milde, honour'd, gracious,
valiant and faithful, gentle in command,
at home belov'd, and fear'd amongſt our foes;
yet hath thy hand of cruelty aſſai'd
the hated murder of ſo dear a friend:
Bluſh, you pale heavens, at this abhorred fact,
that he may ſee his crimes, and be aſham'd
of this new bloudineſſe. Wicked Bajazet,
theſe admonitions fit the teacher well.
Bajaz.

But hear me ſpeak.

4

Firſt ſet Achmetes free, then ſpeak thy fill.

Bajaz.

What, ſhall I be compell'd?

5

And quickly too.

6

We cannot brook to ſee him ſtand thus cloath'd.

Takes of the Mantle.
Baj.
Your anger will have way: Achmetes go:
there take him: They have ſav'd thee from this woe.
Exeunt ſhowting and l•aping.
Pernicious villains, they have croſt my plot;
'twas intercepted ev'n in the laſt deed.
37What ſhould Achmetes meane thus to ingroſſe
The beſt affections of my Janizaries?
Will he defraud me of my Crowne and life?
My life I weigh not: but to loſe my Crowne,
were to be ſentenc'd to a hell of woes.
I am full ſtuft with choler. Slaviſh Peaſants,
held I a ſword of power in mine hand,
I would diſjoynt them peece-meale; can I not?
Am I not Emperour? men call me ſo:
A reverend title, empty attributes,
and a long page of words follow my name,
but no ſubſtantiall true prerogative.
Enter Iſaack.
Iſaack.

Good health to Bajazet.

Bajaz.

Indeed that's nothing, ſince your councell fail'd.

Iſaak.
Uſe your beſt patience, it may be regain'd.
Affection in your ſtubborne multitude
is a proud torrent not to be withſtood.
Were you as ſacred as their houſhold gods,
Yet when you thwart the current of their will,
they'le breake the bands of duty, and prophane
that holineſſe to which they bound their thoughts.
Mine eyes are witneſſe with what lively joy
They bore him through the ſtreetes upon their necks,
Offering the uſe of their beſt ſtrength.
Baja.
No more.
I am already gone. Why did not then
his proud ambitious tongue bid them goe fetch
My Crowne, and with quick ſpeede diſrobe a wretch?
't was in his power: we are diſtracted Iſaak,
lend us thy wholſome counſell to prevent
my ruine, and their dangerous intent.
Iſaack.
Mine is a blunt advice, and deepe in bloud,
to cut off thoſe baſe Peaſants that withſtood
the force of your decree.
Bajaz.
To cut them off?
Me thinkes I ſee my ſelfe yet circled in
38 with their revengeful ſwords. Ha? cut them off
Could I but curſe the Traytors from the earth,
or were my doom pronounc'd but of effect,
I'de rattle ſuch new torments in their ears
ſhould ſtagger their high courage; but my fears
ſtrangle my furies; and my envious fate
forceth my tongue to flatter where I hate.
Iſaak
Here lies the ſafeſt courſe to rid theſe griefs;
Give out you'l go to war, ſo to enlarge
your territories: and to this end fetch home
thoſe warlike Souldiers plac'd in Gariſon;
let them remain without the walls: at laſt,
when things ſhall fit your purpoſe, lead them all
by night into the City, and in one ſtroke
ſtrike off ſo many thouſand perjur'd heads
as ſhall amaze poſterity to hear
how many lives redeem'd thee from thy fear.
Baj.
The weight of all mine honour leans on thee:
that or ſome nearer courſe ſhall quell the pride
of ſtrong Achmetes, and confound his ſide.

Actus 2. Scena 8.

Enter Zemes and Alexander Biſhop of Rome
Biſhop
If your intents be vertuous, and deſire
of eminent place quite baniſht from your thoughts,
my houſe ſhall be your Caſtle: that I deny
my men and Arms to aid you in your broils,
think it kind uſage: Should my Holineſſe
feed your ambition, and make ſtrong your hand
againſt your brother? 'twere too light a brand
of flaming hot diſſention, and to ſet
the world in a combuſtion: all would then
quarrel by my example. No, ſweet Prince,
Romes holy Biſhop muſt not ſo tranſgreſs.
39If you will dwell within my ſacred roof,
ſettle irregular paſſions, and begin
a quiet life: repentance wipes out ſin.
Zemes
My waxen wings are melted: I will ſoare
againſt the Sun through ſuch thick clouds no more;
the middle Region ſhall contain my flight;
your counſell ſwayes my wiſhes; my late deeds
were full of ſin: now let my brother know
Zemes repents; (and that's the greateſt woe.)
Exit.
Biſh.
To mans aſpiring thoughts, how ſweet is hope
which makes them (like Camelions) live on air,
and hug their ſlender plots; till cool deſpair
doth ſo benum his thoughts, that he falls dead
from his ſublime height; and his lofty head
which level'd at the skies, doth drop below
his humble feet! this hath experience taught
in that mans head-long ruine, whoſe proud thoughts
aim'd at the Turkiſh Diadem: but now croſs fates
have forc'd his ſtubborn heart to bow.
Enter a Meſſenger.
What ſpeaks your entrance?
Meſſen.
Health to Romes Biſhop,
and peace from Bajazet, who commends his love
with this his Letter, and expects from you
a gracious anſwer.
Gives him a letter.
He reads the letter.
Biſh.
"Let Zemes die by an untimely death,
" elſe for our love you ſhal provoke our hate:
"Hee's not our brother, but our hated foe;
" and in his death you ſhall prevent our wo.
Return our ſervice back: tell Bajazet
what he hath given in charge, ſhall by my hand
be carefully diſpatcht.
Meſſen.

Good peace attend you.

Exit.
Biſh ▪
Imperious Turk,
Am I not Gods Vice-gerent here on earth?
40 and dar'ſt thou ſend thy letters of command?
or ſpeake to me in threatning menaces?
It grates my patience to obey this monſter,
yet muſt I murder Z•mes, what doe I know
whether my fathers ſoule did tranſ-migrate
into his breaſt or no? be dumbe remorſe,
the Turke is great and powerfull, if I winne
his love by this, t'will prove a happy ſinne.
Exit.

Actus 3.

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?
Iſaak
Even 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. —
Selymus

Ha!

Meſithes
Proud 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.
Sely

But 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
Iſaack
A 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.
Omnes

Hold, 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.
Selymus
Then we
aſide.
may 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.

Achom.

Father adieu;

Exit.
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.
Selymus
Wilt 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,

But oh indeed.

Caigub,

Why, what?

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.
Iſa.

Happy Selymus.

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.

Actus 3. Scena 5.

Enter Selymus, Meſithes, Muſtapha.
Sely.
Let not my abſence ſteal away my love,
or local diſtance weaken the reſpect
which you have ever born me; I muſt fly
55 to ſhake the yoake of bondage from my neck:
my Fathers eyes ſhall not ſcan out my life
in every action; then when I am gone,
our love like precious mettle ſhall not crack
in the protraction, but be gently fram'd
into a ſubtler thinneſſe, which ſhall reach
from either part, not craz'd by any breach.
Meſi.
Return with ruine painted in thy brow,
pale death triumphant in thy horrid creſt,
danger limn'd out upon thy threatning ſword,
the Turkiſh thraldom portrai'd on thy ſhield,
weel meet thee in thy horror, and unfold
our arms as wide as heaven to take thee in.
Sely.
We truſt you: if there lie unſpoken love
hid in your boſoms, we muſt bury it
in ſilent farwells.
Muſta.
Noble Prince adieu,
ſince thy frank deeds have printed in our hearts
ſo true a pattern of thee, we will feed
our contemplation with thy memory.
When thou art really departed thus,
a better part of thee ſhall ſtay with us.
Exeunt.
Sely.
So the ſwift wings of flight ſhall mount me up
above theſe walls into the open ayr,
and I will towre above thee Bajazet.
Farwel ſoft Court; I have been kept too long
within thy narrow walls, and am new born
to golden liberty; now ſtretch out you heavens,
ſpread forth the dewy mantle of the clouds
thou powerful Sun of Saturn, and remove
the terminating Poles of the fixt earth,
to entertain me in my ſecond birth.
Enter Iſaack Baſſa.
Iſa:
Not yet rid from our wals! Fair Prince take heed,
treaſon's a Race that muſt be run with ſpeed.
Aeolus beckons, and the flattering winds.
56 joyne all to help our project: quickly hence:
all's full of danger. Did your Father know
Hee'd ſtop your flight and breath at one deaths blow.
Exit.
Sely
Friend I am gone: thou hoary God of Seas,
ſmooth the rough boſome of thy wrinckled tide,
that my wing'd Boat may gently on it glide.

Actus 4.

Scena 1.

Enter Bajazet ſolus.
Baja.
How the obſequious duty of the world
hangs ſhivering on the skirts of Majeſty,
and ſmells out all her footſteps! I could yet
never ſteal leiſure to reform my thoughts,
ſince my pale brow was firſt hoop'd in with gold,
till this bleſt hour: and now great Bajazet
empty thy breſt of her impriſon'd joyes,
which, like the ſmothring winds, could with a blaſt
rip up a paſſage. I am crown'd in bliſſe,
plac'd on the rocks of ſtrong ſecurity,
without the reach of Fate ▪ Envy ſhall gnaſh
and pine at my full pleaſures; the ſoft feet
of labouring ambition ſhall quite tire,
ere touch the ſtarry-height on which I ſtand.
Achmetes and his ſon with my two boyes
are faln, to clear the ſun-ſhine of my joyes,
Achomates I fear not, Selymus
lives cag'd within the compaſſe of mine eye,
all that I doubt is of Mahomates,
that blaſing ſtar once darkned, I will throw
the luſter of my pomp from me, as clear
as if three Suns were orb'd all in one Spheare.
What news brings Iſaack?
Enter Iſaack Baſſa.
Iſa.

Unwelcome news.

57Baja.

Be quick in the delivery.

Iſa
Then thus.
Young Selymus is fled.
Baja.

Fled!

Iſa.

Fled this night to the Tartarian King.

Baja.
Would he had ſunk
to the Tartarian deep. Iſaack, th'art falſe,
and every hair dependant from thy head
is a twin'd ſerpent. Iſaack, I ſay th'art falſe,
I read it in thy brow.
Iſa.

By heaven I am not.

Baja.
Come; anſwer my demands, firſt, at what time
left he the Court?
Iſa.

I know not.

Baja.
Know he is fled,
and know not when he fled! how can this be!
Iſa.
After our ſtrict enquiry, 'twas our chance
to lite on one that ſaw him take a ſhip,
at the next haven.
Baja.
On one; bring forth that one,
Exit Iſaack.
i'le ſound the depth of theſe villanies.
Enter Iſaack with a dwarf.
What's here?
a barrel rear'd on end upon two feet?
Sirrah, you guts and garbage — did you ſee
Selymus leave the Court?
Dwarf

So pleaſe it your —

Baja.

Pleaſe it! thou monſter, are you now ſo pleaſing.

Iſa.
My Liege hold in your fury: ſpend not one drop
of your fierce anger, on ſo baſe a worm,
keep it entire and whole, within your breſt,
that with it's vigor it may cruſh the bulk
of him whoſe treaſons move it.
Baja.
So it ſhall,
Neptune reine back thy ſwelling Ocean,
invert the current of thy guilty ſtreames
58 which further treacherous plots, mild Aeolus,
(that when a peeviſh goddneſſe did intreat,
ſcattredſt a Trojan Navy through the ſeas:)
now Bajazet a Turkiſh Emperor,
bids thee ſend forth thy jarring priſoners
into the ſeas deep bowels: let them raiſe
tempeſts ſhall daſh againſt the firmament
of the vaſt heavens, and in their ſtormy rage,
either confound, or force the veſſel back,
in which the traitor ſayles; now, now begin
or I ſhall think thee conſcious of this ſin.
What would this Monk?
Enter a Monk.
Monk

Only your bleſſed almes.

Bajazet
I'me in a liberal vain —
Monk ſhootes of a dagge at Bajazet; Me­ſithes, and Iſaack, kill the Monk.
Traitor I'me ſlain!
I feel the bullet run quite through my ſides.
Iſa.
Great Mahomet hath kept you ſafe from harm:
it never toucht you.
Baja.
Oh — I am ſlain!
open the gates of ſweet Elyſium,
take in my wounded ſoul: Bring forth that Monk
ile make him my ſouls harbinger, he ſhall
fore-run my coming and provide a place
amongſt the gloomy banks of Acheron,
then ſhall he dwel with me in thoſe black ſhades,
and it ſhall be my bliſs to torture him.
Iſa.

Hee's gone already, I have ſent him hence.

Baja.
Fly then my ſoul, and nimbly follow him,
he muſt not ſcape my vengeance: Charon ſtay,
one waftage will ſerve both, I come away.
Iſa.

Let not conceit thus ſteal away your life.

Baja.
Me thinks I feel no blood ebbe from my heart,
my ſpirits faint but ſlowly.
Iſa.
Heare me Sir,
59 You are not wounded.
Baja.

Ha! not wounded!

Iſaack.
Untoucht as yet:
His quaking hand deceiv'd him of his aim,
and he quite miſt your body: here behold
the bullet yet unſtain'd with blood.
Baja.
Now I believe thee: oh the baleful fate
of Princes, and each eminent eſtate!
How every precious jewel in a Crown,
charms mad ambition, and makes envy dote
on the bewitching beauty of it's ſhine!
Indeed proud Majeſty is uſher'd in
by ſuperſtitious awful reverence;
but curſed miſchiefs follow; and thoſe are
treaſons in peace, black ſtratagems in war.
But wher's the dwarf? Iſaack, go ſend him in;
bid bold Meſithes, and ſage Muſtapha
quickly attend us. Go.
Exit Iſaack.
Iſa.

I ſhall.

Baja.
This hour,
hath hatcht a richer project in my brain,
whoſe wiſh't event ſhall ſtrangle envies breath,
and ſtrike ambition dead in every breſt.
Enter dwarf.
Sirrha, draw hence the body to the ditch,
whither the filth of the whole City runs,
there overwhelm't in blood; go, quickly doo't:
What doſt thou grin, thou viſage of an ape?
he ſtriks him.
Dwarf.

Ile rather hang my ſelf then endure this.

Baja.
Nay, come; be patient and Ile uſe thee well:
why — 'twas a Scepter ſtrook thee, and twill work
diviner operation in thy blood
then thou canſt dream of.
Dwarf.
I'de rather be ſtruck croſs the teeth with a pudding
then croſs the back with a Scepter.
60Ba.
A man would gueſs ſo, that over-views the dimen­ſions.
But to thy buſineſs.
he caries out the courſe.
Enter Baſſaes.
Baſſaes ſtand ye round,
Stay: who comes here? ſure I ſhould know that ſtature,
obſerve him nearely.
Enter Mahomates diſguiſed.
Baſſaes.

Tis no Courtier.

Mahom.
Mahomates 'tis time to look about,
Selymus fled! Achomates ador'd!
My name ſcarce heard of through the popular ſtreets!
had that unhappy arm of that damn'd Monk,
not ſtaggerd from the mark at which he aim'd,
who ever ſent him hither, I had leapt.
into the empty throne, and cropt the fruit
budding from treaſons root; but Ile return
back to my Province, this unknown diſguiſe,
ſhall ſearch my Fathers cloſeſt policies.
Exit
Iſa.

Mahomates diſguis'd!

Baja.
By heaven 'twas he.
He pryes into my counſels: let it be.
Wee'l forward in our buſineſſe, which being done,
weel cool the hot ambition of each ſon,
as mine already is, quick moving time
hath caſt a ſnowy whiteneſſe on my haires,
and froſty age hath quel'd the heat of youth;
mine intellectual eyes, which ever yet
gaz'd on the worlds rich guilded vanities,
are now turn'd inward, and behold within,
diſmal confuſion of unpardoned ſin.
E'r ſince I firſt was ſetled on this Throne,
my cares have clog'd the ſwiftneſſe of the hours,
and wrought a tedious irkſomeneſſe of life,
murders have mask'd the forehead of the Sun
with purple-coloured clouds, and he hath bluſht
at the blood-ſucking cruelty of ſtate.
61There's not one little angle of this Court,
whoſe guilty wals have not conceal'd a knot
of traitors, ſquaring out ſome hideous plot
againſt my ſafety; now at laſt I ſpie
the dangers of perplexed Majeſty.
And were it not for a religious fear
of after-harms, which wretchedly might tear,
and ſpoyl the body of this Monarchy,
here at this inſtant would I ſtrike the ſayl,
and proud top-gallant of mine eminence,
hurle up my ſcepter, diſ-inthrone my ſelf,
and let the green heads ſcramble for the Crown.
Age hath taught me a ſtayder providence
then my raſh youth could reach to; I intend
to place this glittering bable, on the head
of ſome ſucceſſor, e'r I yet am dead,
So give it out; thereby Ile try the love
and favour of the people: whom they ſeem
moſt to affect I'le raiſe to that eſteem.
How do you like the counſel?
Cherſ.
As we could like
a voice of health ſent from the careful gods.
This news will lay the fury of your ſons,
and breed low duty in them all, in hope
of the reward propos'd.
Exeunt Bajazet Cherſeogles. Manent Muſtapha, Iſaack, Meſithes, Aſhmehemides.
Iſa.
Awake preventions eyes, we muſt not ſleep
if we would ſee proud Bajazet diſplac't,
and Selymus elated to his height.
Name him the people favours! — he affects
Achomates: and knows, the multitude
wrapt with his heavenly wiſdom, cry for him,
we muſt be quick and wary, here are keyes
left, and lay'd up by Selymus, that ſtore
ſhall viſit empty, purſes and inchaunt
62 the needy ſort of men, that the ones wealth,
ſhall weigh up t'others wiſdom in the ſcale
of their light judgment; lend your beſt endeavours,
wee'le croſs thee Bajazet, and thy hopes ſhall dye
by thine own ill-contrived policy.
Exeunt

Actus 4. Scena 2.

Enter Bajazet, takes Aſmehemedes by the hand, a Cour­tier belonging to Mahomates.
Baja.
Leave us; we would be private with our friend,
'tis thou muſt doo't ſweet Aſmehemedes:
Mahomates and thou art two neare friends;
he will ſuſpect in others cloſe deceit;
thee, for thy generous vertues he will ſtand
with obvious embracements to receive
into his boſom; whither when thou art
wound in, be ſure to ſtrike him through the heart.
I am offended, 'tis juſt piety
to ſacrifice his body at the ſhrine
of my diſpleaſure: do it, I am thine.
Aſme.
Were he as deare to me, as the half part
of mine own body, as the breath I draw;
I'de do this charge: we mortals muſt obey
when gods command, and Emperors are they.
Exit.
Baja.
So willing to be damn'd! had I adjoyn'd
ſome vertuous office, ſurely he would then
have ſaid, that good deeds are not deeds of men.
But let them go; Mahomates muſt dye,
and for my other boy fierce Selymus,
the boyſtrous hand of war muſt ſnatch him hence,
my other Son Corcutus lives immur'd
within Minerua's cloiſter, thus I clear,
a path through which Achomates ſhall run
up to my throne when all their hopes are done.
Exit.
63

Actus 4. Scena 3.

Enter Achomates.
Acho.
The promiſe was direct and abſolute,
to bleſs my Temples with a ſacred Crown,
with proteſtations of a quick diſpatch,
ere his own right were cancelled by fate;
ſo to cut off all rivals in my joyes.
What intercedent chance hath made his care
ſo ſlack in the performance? by heaven, I fear,
delayes will prove deluſions of my hopes,
and that home-bred Mercurian Selymus
will ſplit the expectation of my bliſſe:
forefend it Mahomet, or I ſhall be
a ſad revenger of indignitie.
How now! What ſpeaks this bold intruſion?
Enter a Meſſenger.
Meſſen.

Health to Achomates from Bajazet.

Acho.
From Bajazet! unfold thy welcome newes:
How fares our Noble Father?
Meſſen.
In full health:
and wills you thus by me, to muſter up
your ſureſt forces: and with moderate haſt,
repair unto the Court, where you ſhall find
employments worthy of a valorous mind.
Acho.

To muſter arms! can'ſt thou ſurmiſe the cauſe?

Meſſen.
With confidence I dare not; but tis ſaid,
againſt that haughty Noble Selymus,
who of the Tartar King implored ayd,
to an uncertain end: himſelf gives out
to fight with Hungary, and ſtretch the bounds
of the old Turkiſh regiment: But fame
with panting voice bids Bajazet beware,
and whiſpers in his eare, he is the foe,
64 Proud Selymus intends to overthrow.
Acho.
Enough, regreet our Father with our love;
tell him we ſhall not ſleep to his command;
Exit.
Fly nimbly back. Dares the audacious boy
trouble the world with his tempeſtuous arms?
Ile chaſtiſe him with iron whips of war,
if either ſtrength or ſtratagems will ſerve
to ſpoyl the gaudy plumes of his high creſt,
Il'e uſe the ſtrongeſt violence of both;
I am ſwoln big with hate, and I could break
untimely paſſage with a wholeſom ſtab
to vent the monſter ſtrangled in my womb.
Father I come, he that detaines a Crown
bequeath'd to me, muſt thunder-ſtrike me down.
Enter Corcutus.
Corcu.
Buzzing reports have pierc't my ſtudy walls,
and clog'd my meditations airy wings,
by which I mount above the moving ſpheares
and ſearch the hidden cloſets of the heaven,
I cannot live retir'd, but I muſt hear
mine own wrongs ſounded in my troubled eare:
What! will my father falſifye that oath;
In which he vow'd ſucceſſions right to me?
When I reſign'd my honours up to him,
he deeply ſwore, when the uſurping Sun
of his bright-ſhining royalty had run
It's compleat courſe through the whole heaven of ſtate,
and fainting dropt into the Weſtern lapſe;
my brightneſs next ſhould throw it's golden beames,
upon the worlds wide face, and over-peer
the dusky clouds of hidden privacy:
and ſhall Achomates ſucceed! Shall he
ſhine in the ſpangled robes of Majeſty?
then Bajazet is falſe, let it be ſo
I am ſecur'd from a huge maſſe of woe.
65Yet Ile toth' Court, that when Achomates
ſhall ſpie mee, and remember but my due,
'twill ſtaine his luſtre with a bluſhing hue.
Enter Bajazet, Cherſeogles.
Baja.
My cares are grown too great to be compriz'd
within the narrow compaſſe of my breſt,
Vice-roy of Greece, Ile powre into thy heart
part of my ſecrets; which being entred in,
locke them as cloſe up, as thou wouldſt a ſinne
committed, yet not knowne: I muſt impart
things worth thy faithfull ſilence.
Cherſ.
Worthy Sir,
by the incloſure of my ſoule I ſweare —
Baja.
Ile not heare out thine oath, in briefe, 'tis thus,
the Baſſaes are all falſe, and love not us;
Nor doth my brain-ſicke fury prompt me thus,
I read it in their geſtures, conventicles,
actions, and counſells, my ſuſpitious eye
hath found a great breach in their loyalty.
Cherſ.

Surely this cannot bee.

Bajazet.
By — 'tis true,
each man that guards mine honour is my foe,
Ile ſhake theſe ſplendent robes of Majeſty
from my ore-burden'd ſhoulders, and to eaſe
my ſelfe, bequeath them to Achomates.
Cherſe.

Achomates?

Baja.
Even he, unleſſe the voyce
Of the whole Citie interdict my choice.
Enter Iſaacke, Meſithes, Muſtapha.
Cherſe.
Here comes the Baſſaes,
ſure I ſee bad newes
pourtrayed on the Index of their fronts.
Baja.
Bad newes? We have out-liv'd good dayes too long,
we can expect no other: come, unclaſpe
volumes of miſciefes, and make deafe my eares
with an infuſed multitude of cares.
66Baſſaes.
Young Selymus hath croſt Danubius floud
and ſeiz'd upon the Provinces of Thrace,
and with a Navie plow'd the Euxine Sea,
Baja.
Peace bellowing night-ravens; with how cheerefull noiſe
their puffing lungs croke out the balefull note?
Are theſe the warres 'gainſt Hungary? You powers
of heaven, bruſh off your cloddy patience;
If you but winke at theſe notorious crimes,
I'le ſay you dare not check our ſtubborne times.
Well, as yet I'le make uſe of his pretence.
Vize-roy of Greece, beare you this Embaſſie
to that ſuſpected Traytor Selymus;
Tell him, the warres' gainſt the Hungarian foe
are full of dangers, and approved harmes;
never attempted by our Anceſtors,
without repulſe or damage; bid him diſmiſſe
his rough Tartarian youths: then if he ſtand
Unmov'd and ſtiffe, feigne vengeance is at hand:
make thy beſt ſpeed.
Cherſe.
I ſhall. Twill be well done
to reconcile a Father and a Sonne,
Exit.
Baja.
Thought he tumultuous uprores could deſerve
the favours of his Prince? h'as troad awry,
and miſt the path that leades to Majeſtie.
Theſe bright Imperious ornaments ſhall grace
no rebell-monſter, nor baſe runne-away;
my reſolution's firme, it ſhall not be.
Baſſaes, this day an Herauld ſhall proclaime
in the worlds eare, my great ſucceſſours name,
are you content?
Baſſaes.

We are.

Bajaz.

Call forth an Herauld.

Iſaak.
As our alleageance bindes us wee'le obey.
Exit Muſtapha, calls in an Herauld.
But what we grant, the Souldiers will gaine-ſay.
Aſide:
Thou ſhalt not thrive in this, I dare be bold,
67 my golden hookes hove ta'ne a faſter hold.
Baja.
Herauld,
be my loud Eccho, ratifie my deede,
and ſay Achomates ſhall next ſucceede.
Herauld.

Bajazet the ſecond by the appointment of our great Prophet Mahomet, the onely Monarch of the World, a mighty God on earth, an invincible Cae­ſar, King of all Kings, from the Eaſt unto the Weſt, Governour of Greece, Sultan of Babylon, Soveraigne of Perſia and Armenia, triumphant Tutor of Jeruſa­lem, Lord poſſeſſour of the Sepulcher of the Crucified God, ſubverter and ſworne enemie of the Chri­ſtians, and of all that call upon Chriſt, proclaimeth Achomates his ſecond ſon next and immediate ſucceſ­ſour.

An alarm of Trumpets
Within.

None but Bajazet, none but Bajazet.

Bajaz.
By heaven, they are corrupted: none but I?
'Tis no love borne to me that moves this cry.
Meſith.
Great Bajazet, the cauſe why they deny
this juſt propoſall, riſeth from an uſe
and cuſtomary licence long obſerv'd;
to wit, when their crown'd Emperour is dead,
the interpos'd vacation is a time
of lawleſſe freedome: then they dare to ſpoile
the Jewiſh Merchants of their traffick wares,
and prey upon all ſtrangers: ſo that ſhould
your Honour be conferr'd upon your ſonne
Whilſt you your ſelf yet breath, then ſhould they loſe
their long expected gaines; therefore refuſe
what you propos'd.
Bajaz.
If that be all the cauſe,
wee'le give them ſuch a Kingly donative
as doubly ſhall buy out thoſe ill-got ſpoiles:
five hundred thouſand Duckats, if they pleaſe
with my free choiſe to crowne Achomates,
Proclaim'd to be their due.
A flouriſh of Trumpets.
68Herauld.

Bajazet the ſecond, by the appointment of our great Prophet Mahomet, &c. proclaimeth, that hee'le attribute five hundred thouſand Duckats, if you yeeld alleageance to Achomates his ſucceſſor.

Trumpets ſound againe.
Within.

None but Bajazet, none but Bajazet.

Baja.
Achomates I ſent for, how hee'le digeſt
theſe groſſe illuſions, I may juſtly feare:
by this I had diſcourag'd Selymus,
and kill'd his hopes; by this I had cut off
the growth of hate, and choked diſcords ſeed.
Exit.
Enter Muſtapha with a Meſſenger to the other Baſſaes.
Muſtaph.

Beare this to Selymus with thy beſt care.

Meſith.

And this.

Give him Letters.
Iſaack.
And this: fly, let thy winged ſpeed
return a ſudden anſwer, elſe we bleed.

Actus 4. Scena 5.

Enter Selymus, Tartarian King, Attendants.
Tartar.
Goe on brave Prince; Lead on thy marſhal'd troups,
degrade the Turkiſh Monarch, let him faint
at the deepe wounds which thy revengefull hand
ſhall print upon the boſome of his land.
Goe on; Me thinks I ſee Victoria ſit
triumphant on thy ſteely Burganet.
Exit Tartarian King.
Selym.
Farewell: now I will meete thee Bajazet,
with a careere as free as if Heavens Jove
had bid me goe: Beſpeake the ſtouteſt gods
to take thy part; tell them that thou muſt meete
a Selymus, who when the warres are done,
69 will ſcale the Forts and Caſtles of the Sunne,
breake up the brazen gates of Acheron,
and bury Nature with the world together.
Captaines leade on; Now ſhall the ſword and fire
by publique ruines crowne my juſt deſire.
Sleepe Hungary, I'le not breake off thy reſt
with the unwelcome Muſick of my Drummes;
I'le turne the edge of my revengefull ſword
upon the boſome of my native ſoyle;
There dwels the motive of my Tragick wars,
whoſe ruthleſſe ſad Cataſtrophe ſhall wound
poſterity in us: Infants ſhall mourne
over their Fathers tombs as yet unborne.
But who comes here? I'le meete him.
Noble Vize-roy.
Enter Cherſeogles.
Cherſeo.

Peace and health to Selymus.

Selym.
Health, but not peace, whilſt yonder light can ſee
mortalls, whom Turkiſh force could ne're ſubdue.
Cherſeo.
Yet what if Bajazet, our honour'd Lord,
bid you roule up thoſe flaxen ſignes of warre,
and ſheath the ſword drawne forth againſt his foe?
when duty ſayes obey, what ſhall ſay no?
Selym.
My courage, and a proud contempt of all
corrivall Nations, could ſend back a no,
able to fright a Parlament of gods;
It could ſo: but if Bajazet gaine-ſay,
my plumy valour flags, my thoughts give way.
Cherſ.
Then thus; he wills you to diſcard your force,
and ſend the black Tartarians to their home;
withall averring, the Hungarian foe
(againſt whoſe power you have ſummon'd Armes)
is full of ſtrength and power, ne're oppos'd
without the bitter downefall of our ſide.
Nor would the worlds great Monarch Bajazet,
empaire his fame ſo much, as to be ſayd,
he tam'd a Foe by Tartars borrowed ayd.
70Sel.
Ha! I am vilely non-pluſt. Courteous Vize-roy,
returne our duty back to Bajazet,
even in the humbleſt termes wit can invent;
tell him, he hath a ſonne of that high ſpirit,
as doth deteſt a cowardly retreat.
Were all the dead Heroes of our foes,
All that are now, and all that are to come
met in one age, I'de face them drum to drum.
Bid our deare Father be ſecure of me
and my proceedings: then true valour ſhines
moſt bright, when buſied in the great'ſt deſignes.
Is not this anſweer faire?
Cherſ.
Moſt true: and yet
'twill prove diſtaſtfull.
Selym.
No, it cannot be:
If there be too much valour in this breſt,
blame him that plac't it there, even Bajazet.
My vertues and my bloud are both deriv'd
from his firſt influence, and I muſt either hate
diſgracefull calumn's, or degenerate.
Cherſ.
All this I'le tell your Father; yet hee'le reſt
as much unſatisfied as at the firſt,
he will expect the head-ſtrong pride of youth
ſhould ſtrike low ſayle to his grave providence.
Selym.
And ſo it ſhall: ſay Vize-roy, I obey,
and reverence his counſell more, then feare
an hoſt of armed foes: tell him I'le come
to his Court gates with neither man nor drum.
Cherſeo. I'le tell it him with joy, which when he heares,
hee'le be disburden'd of a thouſand feares.
Exit.
Selym.
Remember my juſt duty: 'tis no matter,
I will retaine that till I come my ſelfe.
I am not out-reach'd yet by all theſe trickes;
my hopes are farther ſtrong, I'le to the Court
with a cloſe march, in no ſubmiſſive ſort,
and ſteale upon them: Inſtantly I goe
71 to meete my Father, but a ſubtill foe.
As he goes out, a Meſſenger meetes him, gives him the Letters.
Meſſen.

Good health to Selymus.

Selym.

Good health! From whom?

Meſſen.

Iſaack, Meſithes, Muſtapha ſalute you.

Selym.

Thoſe good Trium-virj, what is't they ſpeake?

Opens the Letter•; Reads the firſt.
1.
[To feede on hopes is but a ſlender dyet.]
'Tis ſhort, but full of weight: To feede on hope
is but a ſlender diet! Let it be.
deſcants
I'le mend my table, though no feaſt with me.
Reades the ſecond.
2.
[Faire opportunity is bald behind.]
'Tis true indeed, Meſithes. Never feare,
I'le twiſt my fingers in her golden haire.
What ſpeakes the third? 'This writes more at large,
and comments on the prefixt principalls.
Reades the third.
3.
[Your Father did proclaim who ſhould ſucceed;
Publique denialls nullified his deede;
Your haſt will be convenient; things concurre
to bleſſe your hopes. Fate bids you not demur.]
Yours Iſaack Baſſa
Iſaack, I am thine,
and come to finiſh up our great deſigne.
Exit.

Actus 4. Scena 6.

Enter Achomates ſolus.
Achom.
Unquiet anguiſhments and jealous feare
fly from my thoughts, like night before the Sunne:
I'me lifted to the higheſt Spheare of joy,
My top invelopt in the azure cloud,
72 and ſtarry rich habiliments: my feete
ſet rampant on the face of Natures pride;
The rareſt worke weav'd by her handmayd Art
clothes my ſoft pleaſures; I'm as great as Jove,
Onely I rule below, he raignes above.
Oh! the unſpoken beauty of a Crowne,
whoſe empty ſpeculation mounts my ſoule
up to an heavenly Paradiſe of toughts!
Father, I come, that thou may'ſt crowne my head,
whilſt apprehenſive reaſon ſtands amaz'd,
amidſt the blisfull ſhades of ſweet conceit.
Then I'le call back my wandring intellect
from dreames, and thoſe imaginary joyes;
I'le teach my ſoule to twine about a Crowne,
to ſweat in raptures, to fill up a Throne
with the bigge-ſwelling lookes of Majeſtie;
I'le amble through a pleaſures Labyrinth,
and wander in the path of happineſſe,
as the true object of that faculty.
Great Bajazet, I come. Thou muſt deſcend
from Honours high Throne, and put off thy right
to build me up an heaven of choice delight.
Exit.

Actus 4. Scena 7.

Enter Meſithes, Muſtapha, Iſaack.
Meſith.
The Emperour begins to ſmell deceit;
I know by his ill lookes and ſparkling eye
that he affects us not.
Muſta.
I doubt as much.
Young Selymus ha's wrong'd our loyalty
in his ſo ſlack proceedings; we were raſh
and indiſcreetly-forward in conſent,
when we joyn'd on to raiſe his government.
73Iſaack.
Peace, 'tis too late to chide at what is done,
we have ſo deepely waded in the ſtreames
of thoſe procellous plots, nor can revoke
repentant footſteps, or ſecurely creepe
back to the Throne of ſafety: 'tis now good
to venture on, and ſwim quite through the flood.
Here comes the Emperour.
Enter Bajazet and Aſ­mehemedes
Baja.
Attend us Baſſaes.
Ar't ſure hee's dead?
Aſm.
Mahometes is dead.
There's nothing moving of him but his ſoule,
and that robd of his body by this hand.
Baja.
Enough. That ſoule revives to ſee him dead
that wrong'd the body; Oh! my bloudy heart,
Muſt in his frenzy act an horrid part.
Follow thy Prince to hell.
Stabs him.
Aſmeh.
To death! Oh divelliſh ingratitude:
I'm ſlaine. I dye.
Moritur.
Baja.
And juſtly: would each foe
and Traytor to my ſtate were thwarted ſo.
Baſſaes, convay this hated body hence,
the ſight of that damn'd villaine moves offence:
They carry him out.
Now pauſe a while my ſoule, and reckon up
what obſtacles are yet to be remov'd.
Achomates muſt ſtay the peoples leaſure.
Corcutus dally with Minervaes Nimphes.
The laſt and worſt, proud Selymus ſhall dye.
Thus I le compoſe a firme ſecurity.
Enter Baſſaes with Cherſeogles.
Baja.
Arriv'd already, noble Cherſeogles?
You'r carefull in our cauſe: but ſpeake the news
from our pert Souldier. What meanes Selymus!
Cherſeo.
To track the path backward from whence he came,
to ſtrip himſelfe of martiall ornaments,
74 and to fill up the duty of a Sonne,
come viſite you in low ſubmiſſion.
Baja.
Theſe are too fairely promis'd, to be meant,
ambition hath already chain'd his ſoule
too ſurely in the captive bonds of pride,
then that he now ſhould cloath his ſtately hopes
in the plaine ſordid weedes of penitence;
He doth but varniſh o're ſome treacherous plot
in this ſmooth anſwer: come, wee'le leade along
to our Imperiall ſeat of Conſtantine,
that's ſtrongly fortified, we need not feare
the weake attempts an home-bred foe can dare.
Exeunt Bajazet and Cherſeogles.
Meſith.
Ha! we are ſweetly plung'd, if cold deſpaire
benumme his youthfull courage, and he faint.
Muſtaph.

Would I were fairely rid of all theſe cares.

Iſaack.
Dejected Cowards: are you not aſham'd
thus to give up the goale of dignity
to heartleſſe feare? Here comes the Meſſenger.
What newes from Selymus?
Meſſen.
Even nothing certaine:
ambiguouſly he promiſ'd to be here
as ſoone as I.
Meſith.

I'ſt even ſo?

Muſta.

We are quite daſh't — undone.

Iſa.

Lift up your downe-caſt ſpirits. Who comes here?

Enter Selymus.
Meſith.

Who? Selymus?

Muſta.
Where? ſweete Iſaack, doe not tell him,
that we were ſending forth faith's lateſt breath.
Iſaac.

Enough, I will not. Happy Selymus.

Baſſaes

Long live great Selymus.

Sely.
We thanke you friends:
Your care hath foſtered up our infant hopes
beyond the pitch of expectation.
We heare that Bajazet is going now
75 from hence to Conſtantinople; my men
lie cloſely ambuſht in the middle way,
cloſe by a ruinous city, there expect
a ſudden on-ſet; but till then farewell,
When we meete next, our enſignes wav'd on high,
ſhall ſhine like Meteors blazing in the skie.
Exit
Iſaac.

Fortunes beſt care goe with thee.

Meſith.

Brave boy, y'faith.

Muſta.

I ſhall adore him whileſt I breath for this.

Iſaac.
Againe in heart?
Let's follow Bajazet, come lads, away,
the ſunne of all his glory ſets this day.
Exeunt
Enter Selymus with ſouldiers.
Selym.
Come on, the honored youth of Tartary,
my brothers, and joynt ſharers of my woe,
draw forth the weapons of inflam'd revenge
againſt this horrid monſters Tyranny;
I ſeeme like Romes great Caeſar, when, oppreſt
with Pompeys grating malice, he led forth
his noble French-men through the ſnowy Alpes.
I have my Curio Iſaack in the Court,
and Cherſeogles, like grim Catoes ghoſt,
ſoothes the rough humour of fierce Bajazet.
Theſe mens examples, were we faint and loath,
would ſet ſharpe ſpurs unto our ſlow pac'd wrath,
and whet our dull-edg'd anger: but I ſee
in your ſmooth brow perfect alacrity.
We ſtand to thwart the paſſage of a fiend,
through whoſe wide yawning throat hath coaſted downe
the blood of Princes, in continuall ſtreames;
ha's fed and pamper'd up his appetite
with the abhorr'd deſtruction of his owne,
and glutted on the blood of innocents.
Stood wee like marble ſtatues in his way,
and had no uſe of policy and wit,
our Irefull Prophet Mahomet would ſend
76 ſenſe, life, and valour through our ſtony joynts,
that we might ruinate this gaſtly bore,
made by ſome helliſh fury to confound
the order of this wondred Univerſe.
Ile grapple with the monſter, hee's at hand;
If you ſtand firme, the Common Wealth may bee
a ſlave to Bajazet; but Ile live free.
Enter Bajazet, Cherſeogles, Iſaack, Meſithes, Muſtapha.
Baja.
No Drumme nor Trumpet hath diſturb'd the ayre,
within the reach of mine attention.
Iſaac.
And I admire it; 'twere a miracle
if that ambitious boy intend no harme.
Omnes.

What noyſe is that?

A confuſed noyſe of exclamation within, arme, arme, arme.
Soldiers.
Helpe Bajazet, the vauntgard's almoſt ſlaine;
the Tartars lay in ambuſh.
Baja.
What? ſo neere?
Set up our ſtandard, Ile give battell here;
hang out defiance, ſcorne, and proud contempt
write in the blood-red colours of your plumes:
ſummon our Army
Enter a drum
from theſe skirmiſhes,
ſpeake out the traitors doome in thine alarmes.
Thought he to daunt our courage?
Drum ſounds. Enter ſouldiers ſeverally, drop­ping in ſweating, as from fight.
Valiant ſouldiers,
when I behold the manner of this warre,
when treaſon copes with awfull Majeſty,
a graceleſſe ſonne, with his owne aged Sire,
me thinks to bid you fight, were full as vaine
as to bid heavy clouds fall downe in raine:
77 but when I view the Chaos of the field,
and wild confuſion ſtriking valour dead,
I cald you, not (as Captaines doe to boyes)
to read a lecture of encouragement;
but that your ancient vertue may be ſhowne
in this my laſt defence: I wiſh to dye
reveng'd, that death ſorts beſt with Majeſty.
Drums ſounding; A confuſed noyſe, with claſhing of armour. Excurrunt Bajazet, and Sely­mus.
Baja.

Selymus?

Selym.

Bajazet?

Baja.
Jove lend me but a minutes patience.
Unnaturall ſonne!
Selymus.

Uncharitable Father!

Baja.
Father? My ſword ſhall hew that title off;
and cut in twaine kindreds continued line,
by which thou canſt derive thy blood from mine.
Abortive monſter — thou firſt breath of ſin,
we had but ſlender ſhadows of offence,
till thou creptſt forth to the offended light,
the very maſſe, and ſtocke of villanie.
Crimes in all others, are but thy influence.
Nature ha's planted viprous crueltie
In thy darke breſt, the ſcandall of her workes,
her error, and extract perfection
of vices; the firſt well-head of bad things
from whence the world of ills draw their weake ſprings.
Sel.
Then heare me ſpeake too: you have bin to me
no Father, but a ſowre Pedanticke wretch;
one that with froſty precepts ſtriv'd to kill
the flaming heate of my ambitious youth,
as vainely as to ſtrangle fire with ſtraw:
you ſit ſo dayly hovering on your Throne,
as if youl'd hatch new Monarchies to feed
78 the hungry gulfe of your unbridled pride;
Y'ave ſurfeited on titles, y'ave ingroſt
honor, you are the moth of eminence,
and liberall fortunes anſwered your deſires;
You had deflow'rd th'infinitie of Crownes
With your adulterate ambition;
Y'are Soveraignties horſe-leach, and have ſpild
the blood of State, to have your owne veines fild.
Baja.
Hold, hold thy venom'd tongue, if there be hid
more of this kind un-uttred; Ile rip up
thy full fraught boſome; and to ſave mine eare,
mine eyes ſhall overview what I'le not heare.
Darſt thou fight, Traitor?
Selym.
Dare I be call'd a King?
Dare I unſheath my ſword, or gather might?
If I dare ought of theſe, I dare to fight.
Baja.
Guard thee, I'de not omit the ſweete deſire
and pleaſure of revenge, were heaven my hyre.
They fight, Selymus is beaten off, Bajazet pur­ſues, reenters at another doore.
The ſlave has ſcap't the power of my wrath;
midſt the diſſever'd troups of ſcattered foes
I loſt him in a ſmoky cloud of duſt,
ſo thicke as if the tender Queene of Love,
had wrapt her brat Aeneas from my ſight.
Enter Iſaack, Meſithes, Muſtapha.
Iſaak.

Joy to my Liege, of his laſt victory.

Meſith.
The bold Tartarians flew like fearefull Harts
before the hunters rage.
Baja.
So let them fly;
heaven raine downe vengeance on their curſed heads;
it is our honour that the frighted ſlaves
owe their lives deereſt ſafeties to their heeles.
Enter a Dwarfe
How now, whence come you?
79Dwar.

From yonder hay-ricke, Sir.

Baja.

Didſt thou ſee Selymus when he fled the field?

Dwar.

No indeed, I was two farre crept in.

Baja.
O you are brave attendants.
Let's forward in our journey; theſe affaires
Achomates muſt know; his golden wiſh
the people have delayd; perhaps heele frowne,
and trample filiall duty under feete
as this hath done: but let them ſtorme their fill
Vertue's not ſhipwrackt in a ſea of ill.

Actus 5.

Scena 1.

Enter Achomates alone, with a bloody ſword in his hand.
Achom.
An honour'd Legate, an Ambaſſadour!
as if that title, like Medaeas charme,
could ſtay the untam'd ſpirit of my wrath!
Had he bin ſent a meſſenger from heaven,
and ſpoke in thunder to the ſlaviſh world;
If he had roar'd one voice, one ſyllable
croſſe to my humour, I'de a ſearcht the depth
of his unhallowed boſome, and turnd out
his heart, the prophane ſeate of ſawcy pride.
Slaine an Ambaſſador! no leſſe! 'tis done,
and 'twas a noble ſlaughter, I conceive
a joy ineffable to ſee my ſword
bath'd in a blood ſo rare, ſo precious
as an Ambaſſadours: muſt we be told
of times delayes, and opportunities?
that the baſe ſouldier hath gaine-ſayd our bliſſe?
80Thought Bajazet his ſon ſo cold, ſo dull,
ſo innocently blockiſh, as to heare
an Embaſſie moſt harſh and groſſely bad?
the people to deny me! We contemne
with ſtrange defiance Bajazet, and them.

Actus 5. Scena 2.

Enter Iſaacke, Meſithes, Muſtupha.
Meſith.
Miſchiefe on miſchiefe, all our hopes are dead,
ſlaine in the hapleſſe fall of Selymus.
Muſt.
I thinke the divells fought for Bajazet,
and all the infernall haggs; how could he elſe
with a confuſed army, and halfe ſlaine,
breake the well-ordered ranks of a ſtrong foe?
Meſith.
And unexpected too? — Now Iſaacke! what!
Sadly repenting for thy laſt miſdeeds!
Plots and conſpiracies againſt thy Prince!
Faith we muſt hang together —
Iſaack.
Good Meſithes,
'tis nothing ſo: they ſay, Achomates,
diſdaining to be mockt out of his hopes,
and moſt deſired poſſeſſion of the Crowne,
ha's in contempt of Bajazet and all,
ſlaine the Ambaſſador, and vowes revenge
on every guilty agent in his wrong.
Muſtaph.
I lookt for that, and therefore firſt ſhranke back,
when Bajazet made choyce of one to ſend
on ſuch a thankleſſe errand as that was.
Meſ.

Grant the report be true: what's that to us?

Iſa.
Fame in mine eare nere blab'd a ſweeter tale;
this ſhall redeeme our low dejected hopes
to their full height. No more; be it my charge,
to choſe out the event — Whats this comes here?
81Muſta.
Upon my life, the body of the ſlain
Ambaſſador.
Enter the Ambaſſadors followers with the dead body.
Meſi.

'Tis ſo.

Iſa.
We greet you friends,
and your ſad ſpectacle.
Followers.
Tis ſad enough
to baniſh peace and patience from each breſt
that owes true loyalty to Bajazet.
Iſa.
And ſo it ſhall; lay down the injur'd corps.
Achomates ha's wrong'd his Fathers love
too groſly, in the murder even of him
that bore his ſacred perſon, and ſhould ſtand
inviolably honor'd by the law
of men and nations.
But here comes Bajazet.
Enter Bajazet and Cherſeogl•
Baja.

A tragick ſpectacle! Whoſe trunk is this?

Follow.

The body of your ſlain Ambaſſador.

Baja.
Slain! by what curſed violence? what〈◊〉
durſt touch the man that repreſented me?
Follow.

Achomates.

Baja.

Achomates!

Follow.
The ſame:
Highly diſpleas'd with the unexpected newes
of a denyal from the peoples mouth,
his reaſon ſlipt in fury and contempt,
hath thus abus'd your gracious Majeſty.
Withall, he threatned to maintain this ſin
with force of armes, and ſo reſolv'd to win
your Crown, without ſuch tarriance —
Baja.
Oh! no more,
I am unfortunate in all my blood.
Hath he thus guerdon'd my fair promiſes,
my daily ſweat and care to further him,
82 and fix him in the Paradiſe of joy?
Nations cry out for vengeance of this fact,
I'le ſcourge this black impiety to hell.
Muſter our forces to the utmoſt man;
once more I'le bury this my aged corps
in ſteely armour, and my coloured creſt
like a bright ſtar ſhall ſparkle out revenge
before the rebels faint amazed eyes.
Loſe not a minute; Baſſaes hence, be gone,
muſter our men, ſtay not; that from the tide
of our fierce wrath, no drop may ebb away
by cauſeleſſe lingering.
Muſt.

Whom ſpeak you, General?

Baja.
Whom but my ſelf? whom doth the cauſe concern
more nearly then my ſelf?
Iſa.
My honoured Liege,
bear your beſt care about you; 'tis a time
of double danger; but remove the one,
the other ſtraight call'd forward: Selymus,
great in the favour of Tartaria's King,
is man'd afreſh with ſouldiers; his aſſault
threatnes as much as fierce Achomates,
and muſt be born off with your ableſt forces;
then if you leave the City to ſubdue
one of theſe two, expect e're you return,
tother poſſeſt and ſeated on your throne.
Baja.

Diſtraction rends my ſoul: what ſhall I do?

Iſa.
Force out one nayl with tother of theſe two,
chuſe him you moſt affect, and beſt dare truſt,
allure him farely home, wink at his crimes,
and then create him your high General,
to lead againſt his brother: ſince your ſelf
cannot at once oppreſſe two foes ſo ſtout,
trie if one heate can drive another out.
Baja.
Iſaack, we like thy counſel: but of theſe,
which can we pardon? either ſo deboiſt,
83 ſo guilty of rebellion, ſo divorc'd
from pious loyalty, that my ſoul even both
with bitter hatred equally may loath.
Iſa.
Firſt weigh their faults, the one a brain-ſick youth,
endeavour'd to ſupplant your Majeſty;
the other in defiance and contempt
of God and man, prophan'd the holy rites
of an Ambaſſador.
Meſi.
For which dire fact,
ſhould it ſlip up unpuniſhed, the name,
the feareful name of Bajazet would prove
the ſubject of each libel, and the ſcoffe
of petty Princes.
Baja.
Enough; we have decreed
Achomates ſhall quake beneath the ſtroke
of our fierce anger. Iſaack, ſpeed away
to Selymus, he ſhall confront the ſlave,
the beſt of two ſo bad; go, — ſtay, — yet go,
'tis hard when we beg ſuccour of a foe:
Begg! ſtay again — firſt will I drop before
the ſword of proud Achomates; — goe — tell him,
upon his low ſubmiſſion we will daigne
to make him Champion to his Soveraigne.
Exit Iſaack.
Enter Corcutus to his Father.
My deare Corcutus welcome.
Corcu.

Royall Father.

Kneeles.
Baja.
Ariſe thou onely ſolace of mine age:
it was a night of harmleſſe innocence,
of peace and reſt, in which kinde nature laid
thee in thy mothers womb: Right vertuous boy,
how haſt thou liv'd untainted with the breath
of that infectious vice, Rebellion!
Corcut.
Right noble Father, 'tis a faithful rule
in moral rites, that who deſires a good,
and moſt ſuſpects his right to it, is bold
84 and turbulent, and eager in purſuit;
whereas the man to whom this good is due,
reſts happily contented, till time fit
Crown him in the poſſeſſion of his wiſh.
Baja.
Well moraliz'd: I underſtand thee, Boy,
my grant ſhall melt thy prayers in ful joy.
Exeunt.

Actus 5. Scena. 3.

Enter Selymus and Souldiers.
Sely.
Once more (in hope to gain, and fear to loſe
a Crown and Kingdom) we have march'd thus neare
the ſeat of a dread Emperor, to try
the chance of war, or reſolutely die.
Feare no croſſe blow, for with this hand I move
the wheele of Fate: and each ſucceſſe ſhall run
even with our pleaſures, till our hopes are ſpun
up to their ful perfection: this dayes light
that looks ſo chearfully, ſhall ſee as bright
as it, my crown and glory.
Makes a ſtand.
As they march on, enter Iſaack Baſſa.
What ſtranger's this? my bleſſed Genius haunts me.
Iſaack! I take thee in with open love.
What ſpeaks thy Preſence?
Iſa.

Good newes to Selymus.

Sely.

From whom?

Iſa.

From Bajazet.

Sely.

'Tis ſtrange, if good.

Iſa.
And full as good as ſtrange. March quickly hence,
I'le tell you as we walk; if conſtant Chance
ſmile on our project. e're this Sun go down,
we may ſalute you with a glorious Crown.
Sely.
I follow even to death. Grand Mars to thee
I'le build an Altar, if thou proſper me.
Exeunt.
85

Actus 5. Scena 4.

Enter Achomates and Souldiers.
Acho.
Revenge my black impiety; each brow
ſeemes with a ſcornful laughter to deride
thoſe empty Menaces of Bajazet.
And Bajazet is not our Father now,
ſith he hath wrong'd the duty of a Son;
but a ſcorn'd Enemy, whoſe proſtrate ſoul
ſhall make a ſtep by which I will aſcend
up to the radiant throne of heavenly State,
if you but lend your help and free conſent.
Souldiers.
Lead us along the myſty banks of hell,
through Seas of danger, and the houſe of death,
we are reſolv'd to follow, one by one
to ſecond each ſtep of Achomates.
Acho.
This reſolution is as great as juſt,
continue it brave ſpirits: he's a ſlave,
that having ſinn'd, dares not defend his ſin.
The world ſhall know I dare: For though our cauſe
be wrong, yet wee'l make good the breach of laws.
Exeunt.

Actus 5. Scena 5.

Enter Bajazet and Corcutus.
Cor.
Would I had ſlept with Trizham, and that hand
that ſtrangled Mahomet had ſtopt my breath,
rather then live to ſee my ſelfe thus wrong'd.
Baja.
Deſpaire not ſweet Corcutus, what I promis'd,
I'le keep moſt true, and here again I vow
when I am dead, this honour to thy brow.
86I have call'd home that rebel Selymus,
only to tame a Traytor: And that done,
we have no other heire, no other ſon
beſide Corcutus, to whoſe free command
we do bequeath the duty of this land.
Enter Meſithes and Muſtapha.
Is Iſaack not return'd?
Meſi.

My Liege, he is.

Muſta.

And Selymus with him.

Baja.

Let them approach.

Enter Selymus and Iſaack, as they enter ſpeak.
Iſa.
Let your high ſpirit ſhrink below it ſelf
in a diſſembled ſhew of penitence.
Sely.
Tuſh, I can bow, as if my joynts were oyld,
and tumble at his feet.
Iſa.

Practiſe your skill.

Selymus fals at Bajazets feet.
Baj•.
Leſſe ſhew, and more good meaning, Selymus,
Ariſe: theſe crouching feates, give ſlender proofes
of inward loyalty.
Sely.
Right noble Father,
mine expedition to avenge your cauſe
upon the head of proud Achomates,
be my juſt trial.
Baja.
Haſt then: May thy arm
by breathleſs treaſon raiſe up a full joy,
and turn that monſter back unto the earth
from whence it leapt. A moſt prodigious birth!
Sely.
We flie to the performance; who both dare
and will correct his boldneſſe: now we tread
the path to honour, and methinks I heare
the peoples Vivat Eccho in mine eare.
Exit Selymus with the Baſſaes.
Baja.
New inſolence: The Baſſaes ſlipt away!
How the obſequious villaines honour him,
as if he were their Godhead!
87Cherſeogles.
I ſuſpect
ſome plotted miſchief, elſe they durſt not leave
your perſon thus unguarded.
Baja.
Plot and hang.
We weigh not all their treaſons at a ſtraw,
one muſt not rule too long, 'tis ſubjects law.
Exeunt.
Paſſe over the ſtage Baſſaes and Souldiers carry­ing Selymus aloft, and crying out, Long live Selymus, Vivat Selymus, Magnificent Em­peror of the Turks.
Exeunt.
Enter Bajazet and Cherſeogles.
Baja.
Hell and the furies vex their damned ſouls.
What people? Ha! what Nation is't we live in?
Is't our State and Monarchy? Good gods,
two Emperors at once! Live Selymus?
Can ſlaviſh vaſſals thus ſupplant their Prince?
What's this enſhrines my head? a type for fooles
to flear at, a divided ornament!
Faile not my ſenſe and courage, let me live
to finde my ſelf again. Vize-roy of Greece,
didſt thou not ſee a Bajazet withdraw
and vaniſh hence? tell thou moſt faithful man,
what is become of that forgetful name?
or who hath ſtole it from me? Selymus!
Oh that damn'd viliaine with his treacherous plot,
hath rob'd me of that glory, Death of ſenſe:
I have a ſoul of Adamant or Steel,
elſe had that hated noiſe reft it in twain.
Enter Meſithes.
What art thou? or whence com'ſt thou?
Meſi.

From a Prince.

Ba.

Yet I believe thee.

Meſi.

From thine enemy.

Ba.

Yet I believe thee.

88Meſith.

From the Emperour.

Baja.
And I beleeve thee ſtill; yet ſlave, thou lieſt,
theſe p•rts muſt know no Emperour but me,
unleſſe baſe uſurpation hath ſtept up
unto my chaire of honour. Right, 'tis ſo:
'tis ſo indeed. Wel then, what wil your Emperour?
Meſi.

That by my hand you yeeld him up his crown.

Baja
Traytor, his crown? ſo: now I am reſolv'd.
I have forgone my ſelfe, elſe had this hand
tore out thy ſpottedheart, and that one word
of yeelding, had been cauſe enough to ſpoyle
thee and thy generation. Heartleſſe ſlave,
why ſneak'ſt thou from our preſence? ſtay, behold,
here ▪ commend this gorgeous ornament,
theſe trappings to thy Emperour, as full
beſtead with curſes as my heart with woes,
that it my clogge his eares, and vex his head
with daily terrours. Hence thy prince is ſped.
Exit Meſithes.
Vize-roy of Greece, to thee our laſt farewell,
thou worthieſt, trueſt, beſt deſerving man
that ever made us happy: if thy faith
reſpect me, not my fortune, do this charge,
fly to Achomates, and rather aide
him then this faithleſſe Baſtard Selymus,
the ſcandall of our race, the mark for heaven
to ſhoot revenge. But all in vaine,
I ſtrive to word away my inward paine.
Cherſeo.
Nor this, nor that I'le favour; may I ſpeed,
Bajazet ſhall live to ſee both bleed.
Exit.
Baja.
Maske up thy brightheſſe Phoebus; lovely night,
hurle thy thick mantle over all the heavens,
let this black day for ever be forgot
in the eternall regiſters of time:
which of you ſacred powers are not aſham'd
to ſee a Prince ſo ſinfully abus'd
89 by his owne iſſue, and unreveng'd?
Enter Selymus and Baſſaes.
But ſtand we, who comes here? a face of braſſe,
elſe would it bluſh: now, thou Saturnine Jove,
thou God of great men, thunder, that the world
drench'd all in ſin, may ſhake and feare that noiſe,
that horrid ſcourge of villanies.
Sely.

Father!

Baja.
Slave,
avaunt: I feele a ſtrong Antipathy
t'wixt thee and me; thy ſight makes my dead heart
diſtill freſh drops of blood, and work new ſmart.
Exit.
Sely.
What, furious Bajazet, and raging hot?
I hugge the amorous pleaſure that I feel
creep through my joynts. Obſerve our Father,
Exeunt Baſſaes.
elſe by ſome wilfull murder hee'le prevent
my purpos'd project; I'de not loſe the guilt
of his deſtruction for a crown: heaven knows
I love him better then to let him digge
himſelf a grave, whilſt I may take the paines.
Now mount my ſoul, and let my ſoaring plumes
bruſh the ſmooth ſurface of the Azure skie.
Crown in his hand.
With this I charme obeyſance from the world:
thou golden counterfeit of all the heavens;
ſee how the ſhining ſtarres in careleſſe ranks
grace the compoſure; and the beauteous Moone
holds her irregular motion at the height
of the four poles; this is a compleat heaven,
and thus I weare it. But, methinks, 'tis fixt
but weakly on my brow, whilſt there yet breath
any whoſe envie once reflect on it;
and thoſe are three: the angry Bajazet,
puling Corcutus, proud Achomates:
90 One of theſe three is car'd for, that's Corcutus,
who, ere the bluſhing morn ſalutes the Sun,
ſhall be diſpatcht by two moſt hideous ſlaves,
whom I have bred a purpoſe to the fact.
The other rival, wiſe Achomates,
I'le bear a ſide by force of men and armes,
which ready Muſtred, but attend the ſtroke:
Then attend our Fathers.
Enter Hamon.
Here's one deales for him,
ſhall ſend him quick to hell. It is decreed,
he that makes leſſer greatneſs ſoon ſhall bleed.
Hamon draw near, moſt welcome, my dear Hamon,
what gueſſe you of your patient Bajazet?
Is he all healthful?
Ham.
No, my gracious prince:
Neither his body nor his mind is free
from miſerable anguiſh.
Sely.
A ſad caſe.
Hamon I love him, & would rid him from't,
were I ſo skill'd in naturals as you.
Ham.
All that my art can work to cure his grief
ſhall be applied.
Sely.
Unapprehending fool:
I muſt ſpeak broader. Hamon, is he ill
in minde and body both?
Ham.

Exceeding ill.

Sely.
Then ſhould I think him happier in his death,
then in ſo hateful life and ſo weak breath.
Ham.

And that's the readier way to cure his ill.

Sely.
(H'as found me now.) But Hamon, can thy Art
reach to the cure?
Ham.

With eaſie diligence.

Sely.

Then let it.

Ham.

I'me yours.

Exit Hamon.
Sely.
Walk, and thy paines
ſhall be rewarded highly, with the like
91 as thou beſtoweſt on Bajazet: the Court
makes it a faſhion now, firſt to bring the event
about, and then hang up the inſtrument.

Actus 5. Scena 6.

Enter Cherſeogles above diſguiſed like a common Soul­dier.
Cherſ.
Thus Cherſeogles haſt thou wound thy ſelf
out of thy ſelf, to act ſome fearful plot,
by which the Authors of this publick woe
ſhall skip into their graves. It is confirm'd
a deed of lawful valour, to defeat
thoſe of their lives, that rob'd the world of peace.
On this ſide the falſe hearted Selymus
with his confederate Baſſaes lie incampt,
juſt oppoſite the proud Achomates;
The Sun now ſunk into the VVeſtern lap,
bids either part unlace their warlike helmes
until to morrow light, where both intend
the hazard of a battel: but you powers,
that with propitious cares tender the world,
and us frail mortals, help me to prevent
a general ruine by the fall of ſome;
aſſiſt my ſpirits in a deed of blood,
cruel, yet honeſt and auſterely good.
VVho? Selymus? as I expected.
Enter Selymus.
Sely.
VVhat?
A ſouldier thus licentious in his walks?
a ſtranger? Ha! VVhat art thou?
Che.

A ſworn friend, a ſervant to thy greatneſs.

Sely.
Then return
back into thy ranks and orders, no edict
from me hath ratified this liberty,
92 to ſcout at randome from the ſtanding camp.
Cher.
'Tis true, my honour'd Lord, nor have I dared
for ſome poor trivial prey thus to remove
my ſelf, but for a cauſe of greater weight,
the ruine of our enemies.
Sely.
How's that?
The ruine of our enemies!
Cher.
No leſſe;
The quick fall of great Achomates
can work it.
Sely.
Souldier, as thou hop'ſt to live,
mock not my thoughts with falſe and painted tales
of a ſuppoſed ſtratagem.
Cher.

I ſweare —

Sely.

What wilt thou ſweare?

Cher.
By all the heavenly powers
I ſpeak the truth, and if I fail in ought,
grind mine accurſed body into duſt.
Sely.
Enough, unfold the meaning and the way
by which this happy project muſt be wrought.
Cher.
'Tis thus; at the 12th hour of this black night,
Achomates I have induc'd to walk
forth to this valley weapon'd, but unmand,
in expectation of your preſence there;
where being met, hee'l urge a ſingle fight
'twixt you and him: after a ſtroake or two,
I have ingag'd my ſelf cloſely to ſtart
from ambuſh, and againſt you take his part.
Sely.

Then thou art a traytor.

Cher.
Worſe then a divel, ſhould my heart
have made that promiſe with my tongue;
but heaven bear witneſs, that my inward thoughts
labour his welfare only, whom you powers
have prov'd moſt worthy, therefore only yours.
Meet but this foe, whom I have flattered thus,
to his deſtruction; and great Selymus
93 ſhall ſee my ſtrength imployed to offend
Achomates, and ſtand thy faithful friend.
Sely.

Oh wert thou faithful —

Cher.
If I ſhrink in ought
that I profeſs, death ſhall ſtrike me to the grave:
ſo thrive all falſhood, and each perjur'd ſlave.
Sely.
Th'aſt won our credit, bear a noble mind
about thee, then to find me forward truſt;
this night when ſleep triumphant hath ſubdu'd
her wakeful ſubjects, and the mid-night clock
ſounded full twelve, in this appointed place,
expect my preſence, and till then adieu,
our next ſhall be a tragick enterview.
Cherſ.
The firſt is car'd for — here a ſecond comes.
Enter Achomates.
Aſſiſt me thou quick iſſue of Joves brain,
and this one night ſhall make their labors vain.
Acho.
It ſhall be ſo, my fears are too to great,
to joyn all in one on-ſet: a ſtrong band
ſhall with a circle hem the traytor round,
and intercept the paſſage of their flight;
How now? from whence com'ſt thou? what art thou?
Cher.

A Liege-man to Achomates.

Acho.

To me?

Cher.
Yes noble Prince, and one whoſe life is vowd
to further your deſert, and therefore yours.
Acho.

We thank you, and pray you leave us.

Cher.
I can unfold an eaſie ſtratagem,
would crown the hopes of great Achomates.
Acho.

What means the fellow?

Cher.
to ſecure your ſtate
by Selymus his fall.
Acho.
What i'ſt thou breath'ſt?
ſpeak it again, for many careful thoughts
poſſeſſe my Soul, that every bleſſed voice
ſteales in the paſſage twixt my eare and haſte.
94By Selymus his fall, to ſecure my ſtate?
Cherſe.
I can.
Achom. Delude me not, and I will rain
ſuch an unmeaſured plenty in thy lap,
heap ſuch continuall honors on thy head
that thou ſhalt ſhrink, and ſtagger with the waight.
Cher.
Judge of the means: This night I have induc'd
young Selymus to walk forth in this grove,
at the twelfth hour, in hope to meet you here;
where having urg'd a combat and both met
in eager conflict, I have pawn'd my vow
to ruſh from yonder thicket, and with him
joyne againſt you.
Acho.

Villaine!

Cher.
And Divel, had
my heart made promiſe with my tongue;
but heaven bears witneſs that my ſoul affects
none but Achomates. Try but my faith,
and meet this foe, whom I have bayted thus
with golden hopes, and you will finde my deed
(in your defence) all promiſe ſhall exceed.
Acho.
I'm reſolv'd, ſouldier; when day is paſt
and the full fancies of mortality
buſie in dreames and playing viſions,
at the ſad melancholy hour of twelve,
Ile meet thee in this plaine.
Cher.
And you ſhall find
me here before you.
Achom.
Be ſo; who denies
to ſtrike in time, can ſeldome hope to riſe.
Exit.
Cher
Theſe two will meet, and I muſt take doth parts,
Now for a trick to ſend them both to hell
in the full growth of expectation;
Heavens know they have deſerv'd it; then 'twould be
an happy murder: and behold the men
Enter Baſſaes.
whom I have decreed ſhould do it. Once againe
I muſt betake me to my former note;
95 Health to the friends of our great Emperor,
the three ſtrong pillars that uphold true worth.
Iſa.

Sir, your intruſion is unſeaſonable.

Muſt.

And your ſalute, impardonably bold.

Che.
Perhaps the news I bring, may frame excuſe
for both theſe faults.
Meſi.

Speake out thy mind in brief.

Cher.
Then thus: to night here preſent on this plain,
you may encounter two fierce enemies,
Achomates, and Cherſeogles both
at the full ſtroak of twelve.
Iſa.

How (Meſithes) we're bleſt!

Muſt.

This night at twelve of the clock?

Cher.

Upon my life —

Omnes

VVhat ſhall we do?

Cher.
But meet me on this plain
at the appointed hour, and I will place
you three aſide, from whence you ſhall oppreſs
your foes at unawares.
Meſi.

Is it a match?

Iſa.

'Tis done, at twelve a clock.

Muſt.

See thou prove faithful.

Cher.
If I ſhrink in ought
that I profeſs, death ſtrike me to the grave:
So thrive all falſhood & each perjur'd ſlave.
Exeunt Baſſaes.
How eaſily baſe minds are drawn to ſtrike
their foes at leaſt advantage! — Beauteous moon,
pale witneſſe to a thouſand deeds of ſin,
vail up thy light, that darkneſſe may help on
theſe black ſtratagems, and unhallowed hands
ſtrike in miſtaken bodies, even the ſoul
themſelves adore, and cheerfully defend.
But time grows faſt upon me, hit all right,
two Princes, and three Baſſaes dye this night.
96

Actus 5. Scena 7.

Enter Corcutus with his Lute.
Cor.
Heaven, whither run theſe projects? is the thought
of man ſo ſenſleſſe, void of wit, yet fraught
with threatning ambition? to what end
doth this diſtempered madneſſe headlong bend?
Bleſſe me, my Genius, from theſe hated toyles
of murdering warfare, and theſe ſweating broyles
of watchfull policy; Phoebus, let it be
that I may know no other god but thee.
Learned experience ſaies, ambiguous fates
vex eminent fortunes, and he onely ſtands
without the beames of envy, whom the hands
of ſome propitious power hath rankt below
thoſe ſhort delights that troubled thoughts do know:
A Crown's a golden marke, which being hit,
falls not alone, but oft the head with it:
honors are ſmoaky nothings; then let the Queen
of learning, great Minerva, and the nine
chaſt ſiſters, that adorne the Grecian hill
devote me to themſelves; but let me ſtill
within Apollos ſacred Temple ſit,
and ſpend my body to encreaſe my wit;
Raigne Selymus, for I ſhall ne're thee hate,
thy ſupreame power, nor envy thy ſtate:
Corcutus ſtands divorced from a life
engag'd to vaine ambition, factious ſtrife,
and empty power of Kings. Hee's great in fame,
not who ſeekes after, but neglects the ſame.
Since thou haſt griev'd me Phoebus, free my wit,
that I may eaſe my griefe by ſpeaking it;
if thou deny'ſt, fond god, 'twill be in vaine,
ſorrow can ſing, though thou not tune the ſtraine.
97
Sings to his Lute.
Then thou ſweet Muſe, from whence there flows
words able to expreſſe our ill,
Teach me to warble out my woes,
and with a ſigh each accent fill:
Infuſe my breſt with doleful ſtraines,
Whoſe heavy note may ſpeak my paines.
O let me ſigh, and ſighing weep,
Till night deprives my woes with ſleep.
The pleaſing murmurs of the ayre,
that gently fan each moving thing,
I having heard, ſtraight do repayre,
and bear a burden, whilſt I ſing
An heavy burden, doleful ſong,
The fathers grief, the ſubjects wrong.
O let me ſigh, and ſighing weep,
Till night beguiles my woes with ſleep.
The grieved Flora hangs the head
of every youthful plant and tree,
And flowry pleaſures are ſtarke dead
at my lamenting melody;
Then all you Muſes help my ſtraine,
To reach the depth of bitter paine.
Oh let me ſigh, and ſighing weep,
Till night beguiles my woes with ſleep.
Me thinks I heare the ſinging ſpheares
tune their melodious ſtraines to mine,
The dewie clouds diſſolve in teares,
as if they griev'd to ſee me pine;
Thus each thing joynes to ſee my mone,
Thus ſeldome come true ſighs alone.
98Then let me ſigh, and ſighing weep,
Till night beguile my woes with ſleep.
He ſleeps: Then enter two murtherers who ſlay­ing him, bear him away. Exeunt.

Actus 5. Scena 8.

Enter Cherſeogles.
Cher.
A dark and heavy night, as if the gods
winckt at our projects, and had clad the heavens
in a propitious black, to bleſſe my plot!
Revenge, to thee I dedicate this work;
and I will pamper thy wild appetite
with blood and murther, thy dull, ſlow-pac't feet
ſhall caper to behold our fearful ſcenes
drencht in a ſcarlet Ocean.
Tis full twelve —
I hear a quiet foot-pace, and it beates
directly towards. 'Tis Selymus,
joy of expectation.
Enter Selymus.
Sely.
Thou Queen of ſhades,
bright Cynthia, and you ſtarry lampes of heaven,
what ſpheare hath told you? oh y'are envious all,
and therefore hate to grace the time, in which
I ruinate my lateſt foe: this is the ſand
on which I am to wreſtle for a Crowne,
and I am entred full of greedy luſt,
to meet my adverſe champion; here's my god
whom I adore with greater confidence
then all thoſe beauties, Sun, or Moon, or Starrs,
that with malicious abſence have disrob'd
this gracious houre of i'ts due reſpect.
Oh thou the ſilent darkneſſe of the night,
arme me with deſperate courage and contempt
of gods-lov'd men: now I applaud the guile
99 of our brave roarers, which ſelect this time
to drink and ſwagger, and ſpurn at all the powers
of either world. Bleſt mortals, had that mother
ſtrangled her other infant, white fac't day,
and brought forth only night! my limbs are ſtiff,
and I muſt bath them in my brothers blood;
Ile ſteep this graſſe in a red purple goare,
ſcatter the carcaſſe peecemeale, and that done,
Ile reare a laſting monument, Ile ſigne
a trophie, which inſcrib'd, ſhall ſpeak my deeds
to after ages, that's my chief intent:
Hee's coldly prays'd that's written innocent.
Whoſe there? my ſouldier?
Che.

Souldier and ſlave, great Prince at your command.

Sely.
I will enoble thee, place thee my ſecond ſelf
in all my power for thy rare faith.
Where's our Achomates?
Cher.
I heard one ſoftly track full hitherwards,
and think tis he; 'tis needful that I meet him,
and give ſome proof that I continue his,
elſe jealous of my faith, he will return,
and we be both deluded; when y'are met,
parley before you fight, till I prepare
my ſelf to run upon him unaware.
Mean while Ile go to meet him.
Exit.
Sely.
Goe make haſt.
But if this baſe raskal ſhould deceive
my truſt! a trifle — my nerves are plumped up,
and fil'd with vigor, ſtrong enough to fright
a million of ſuch big backt, drowſie ſlaves;
I hear them both approach.
Enter Cherſeogles and Achomates.
Cher.
See where he ſtands, I ſhall not be ſlow
to ſecond your encounter; being met,
parley before you fight, till I prepare
my ſelf to run upon him unaware,
100 meane while I'le withdraw — now for my Baſſaes.
Exit
Acho.
A time of diſmal blackneſſe, and my ſoul
is dull and heavy, as if envious night
ſtriv'd to ſubdue my fatal watchfulneſſe.
But I have ruſh'd upon my foe: whoſe there?
Sely.

Anſwer thy Prince firſt; I ſay, what art thou?

Acho.

He that uſurp's, hath title of a villaine.

Sely.

But he that weares it is a Saint, and ſuch am I.

Acho.

Th'art a treacherous ſlave.

Sely.
Achomates thou lyeſt, this night ſhall prove
I ſhrinke not to unmaske what I have done.
Acho.

Oh heavens, ſo impudently bad!

Sely.
Good brother, we know your vertues, one that
gains country, gods, and men;
ſlew an Ambaſſadour, which here we muſt revenge.
Acho.
Hearke in thine eare,
Ile whiſper forth thy miſchiefs, leſt the heavens
ſhould teare and ſnatch them hence from my revenge,
in greedineſſe of wrath —
They whiſper.
Enter Cherſeogles, Iſaack ▪ Meſithes, Muſtapha.
Cher.

See where they ſtand.

Iſaack.

Achomates and Cherſeogles?

Cher.
Both:
They are two; we ſoure lets run upon them;
'Tis very dark, be certain in your aime,
and all ſtrike home.
Omnes.

A match.

Meſi.

Iſaack and I will take the neareſt.

Muſta.

And we the other.

Cher.

Strike home, and ſure, and here's at them.

Stab him.
Sely.

I have the Crown, and I will, — Oh, oh, oh!

ſtab him.
Acho.

Oh, ô ô, O villaine, I am ſlain.

uterquemorit.
Cher.

It is not Cherſeogles we have ſlain.

101Iſa.

Not Cherſeogles, villaine! whom then? ſpeak.

They confer.
Cher.

Achomates and Selymus.

Iſa.

Ha!

Cher.

None other.

Iſa.

Haſt thou betray'd us ſo?

Cher.
Be ſilent, heare me.
There lie the Captaines of both Armies dead,
breathleſſe: and you ſo ſtupid to neglect
the uſe of opportunities!
Iſa.

What uſe?

Cher.
Are you not rich, wealthie in powerful gold?
go whilſt the Souldiers lye thus deſtitute
of any Leader, frankly bribe both parts,
buy their unſetled love at any rate,
and creep into their boſome; then in this
dead want and dearth of Princes, they will cleave
to Iſaack, and at length ſalute —
Iſa.

Me Emperor?

Cher.

You apprehend it right.

Iſa.

What bleſſed angel art thou?

Cher.

'Tis no time for idle complements.

Iſa.
Thy counſel's good.
I would not let ſlip this ſweet occaſion,
for all the pretious plenty of the world.
come let's away.
Cher.

Firſt make ſome quick diſpatch with theſe now rivalls.

Iſa.
True, they'le not endure my Soveraignty.
Haſt no ſuddain wits how to remove them both?
Cher.
No wile but ſtrength; are not we two?
They are no more; we muſt encounter them, 'tis man to man:
the match no whit unequal.
Iſa.
I am thine:
I hate to have co-partners in my ſtate:
There ſhall not breath a man whoſe envious eye
dares look a ſquint on my dread Majeſty.
Meſi.

They that bring news firſt, are ſtill moſt welcome.

Muſta.

Experience ſpeaks it true.

102Meſ.

Let us haſt. Now Selymus, we come to gratulate.

Iſaack.

Stay —

Cherſeo.

Stand.

Meſ.

How?

Muſtaph.

VVhat meanes this?

Iſaack.

Fate to your lives.

They fight, Iſaack is ſlaine.
Muſta.

Sweet doings!

Iſaack.
'Tis no leſſe Sir, witneſſe this,
traytor I'me ſlaine.
Moritur.
Cherſeog.
Croſſe fortune, wicked chance:
but I muſt make the beſt of it. Is he dead?
Meſ.
Villaine he is, and thy bad turne is next:
what devil did incite thee, to incite
Iſaack 'gainſt friends? Injurious ſlave.
Muſt.
Urge him to no confeſſion till the rack
force from his cloſeſt thought unwilling truth,
He ſhall be doom'd for this notorious fact
unto continuall paines,
hunger, oppreſſion, want and ſlavery.
Meſ.
That ſtruck me full. — Have at thee:
hold thou art victor I have met the price
of treaſon, death; and as I hop'd to riſe
by blood, I fall, ſo have I miſt my ſcope,
deluſion is the end of lawleſſe hope.
Moritur
Cherſe.
Meſithes ſtay one moment, art thou gone?
I am not far behinde I feele the blood
by ſlow degrees ebb from my fainting breſt,
I am heart ſtruck, and wounded even to death,
a Scene of ſlaughter this! — O juſt heavens!
ſtill I plighted faith to each of theſe,
I wiſht that if I fail'd in one, I vow'd
death ſhould thus ſtrike me. I have gain'd my wiſh,
Then you imperiall Fates that intercept
the brittle courſes of fraile mortality,
continue this firme juſtice, and enact
a conſtant law that all falſe meaning hearts
that think of oathes as of a puffe of wind,
103 may as I do, thus ſink into the grave,
my dying wiſh, ſo thrive each perjur'd knave.
Moritur.
Enter Souldiers.
Soul. 1
The night overblown, and five a clock!
I wonder at their abſence; what are theſe?
our Generalls murdered, our deere Selymus,
with his three Baſſaes, and Achomates!
Whoſe bloody hand is guilty of this fact?
Soul. 2.
A trembling ſhakes me, 'twas ſome power
that frown'd at our proceedings.
Soul. 3.

Bajazet is new borne to his Soveraignty.

Soul. 4.
Let's take their bodies, bear them hence in
unto their greatneſſe, and adviſe the foe
of their ſlaine Generall, ſterne Achomates:
ſound peacefull rumours; we muſt reſubmit.
to Bajazet, ſo heaven hath thought it fit.
Exeunt.

Actus 5. Scen 9.

Enter Bajazet and Haman with a book and candle.
Baja.
Set down the book and candle, go and provide
the Potion to prevent my Feaver-fit,
till when I meane to ſtudy: go make haſt.
Exit Haman
Fortune, I thank thee, thou'rt a gracious Whore,
thy happy anger hath immur'd a prince
within the walls of baſe ſecurity.
Farewell thou ſwelling ſea of Government,
on whoſe bright chriſtall boſom floates along
the gravell'd veſſell of proud Majeſty.
Ambition empty all thy bagge of breath,
ſend forth thy blaſt among the quiet waves,
and work huge tempeſts to confound the Art
of the uſurping Pilat Selymus.
104Treaſon and envy like two bickering windes,
ſhake the unſetled fabrick of his State,
that from my ſtudy windowes I may laugh,
to ſee his broken fortune ſwallowed up
in the quick-ſands of danger, and the ſayle
puft with the calm breath of a flattering chance,
by furious whirl-winds rended into rags,
and peece-meal ſcattered through the Ocean:
But peace my chiding ſpirit; come thou man
Takes the book.
of rare inſtinct, bleſt Author of a book
worthy the ſtudies of a reading God:
thou do'ſt preſent before my wearied eyes,
Tiberius ſweating in his policies,
dull Claudius gaged by dull flattery,
Nero unbowelling Nobility,
Galba undone by ſervants hardly good,
Otho o're-whelmd in love, and drencht in blood,
Vitellius ſleeping in the chaire of State,
Veſpatian call'd to government by Fate:
ſtill as my Muſe doth travel o're their age,
a Princes care is writ in every Page.
Thus I unfold the volume of thy writ,
the chiefeſt ſolace of my moving wit,
Caedes eo fuit nobilior, quia filius
He reads
Patrem interfecit. Tacit. Hiſt. lib. 20.
Avaunt thou damn'd wizard, did thy god
Apollo teach thee to divine my fall?
What hath thy curſed Genius tract my ſteps
through the Meanders of dark privacie?
and will he dwell with me in theſe cloſe ſhades
to vex my baniſht ſoul, baniſht from joy,
remov'd from the worlds eye? I am accurs'd,
and hated by the Synod of the gods,
a knot of envious deceits: the day will be
when they ſhall ſmart for this indignity.
105Enter ſolemn Muſick, the Ghoſt of Mahomates, Ze­mes, Trizham, Mahomet, Achmetes, Caigu­bus, Aſmehemides, with each a ſword and bur­ning Tapers, led in by Nemeſis with a ſword, they encompaſſe Bajazet in his bed.
Nem.
Triumph my Plantiffes, Nemeſis your Queen
is pierc'd quite through with your continual groanes.
See, ſee, the proſtrate body of a King,
clad in the weedes of pining diſcontent,
lieth open to your wrath, and doleful hate:
But I conjure you not to touch his skin,
nor hurt his ſacred perſon, thoſe three Fates
(thoſe frightful ſiſters) told me they decree
for Bajazet another deſtinie:
But vex his ſoul with your deluding blows,
and let him dream of direful anguiſhments,
each in the proper order of his Fate,
vent the compreſt confuſion of his hate
One after another ſtrike at Bajazet with their ſwords, Nemeſis puts by their blows. Exeunt in a ſolem dance.
Neme.
Awake, awake thou tortured Emperor,
look with the eye of fury on the heavens,
threaten a downfall to this mortal ſtage,
and let it crack with thee; thy life is run
to the laſt Scene, thy Tragick part is done.
Exit.
Bajazet awakes in fury; ariſeth.
You meager divels, and infernal haggs,
where are you? Ha! what, vaniſht? am I found?
Did I not feele them teare and rack my fleſh,
and ſcramble it amongſt them? Heaven and earth,
I am deluded; what thin ayrie ſhapes
durſt fright my ſoul? I'le hunt about the world,
ſearch the remoteſt angles of the earth,
till I've found out the clymate holds theſe fiends,
or build a bridg by Geometrick skill,
106 whom lineal extenſion ſhall reach forth
to the declining borders of the skie,
on which I'le lead mortality along,
and break a paſſage through the brazen walls,
from whence Jove triumphs o're this lower world:
then having got beyond the utmoſt ſphere,
beſiege the concave of this univerſe,
and hunger-ſtarve the gods till they confeſs
what furies did my ſleeping ſoul oppreſſe.
Ha! did it lighten? or what nimble flame
ha's crept into my blood? me thinks it ſteals
through my diſtemper'd joynts, as if it fear'd
to urge me to impatience.
Hamon, accurſed Hamon; ſtand my ſoul
above the power of theſe invenom'd drugs:
Am I in hell alive? the Stygian flames
could not produce an heat ſo violent
as burns within my body: Oh I feel
my heart drop into cinders, I am duſt;
Jove, for thine own ſake Jove, confine my ſoul
within theſe walls of earth: for in the skie
when I am there, none ſhall be Jove but I.
Still, ſtill I boyle, and the continued flames
are aggravated: He is done, ſubdu'd
(by the baſe Art of a damn'd Emperick)
whoſe empty name ſent terrour through the world:
Is not the heaven beſpangl'd all with ſtarrs,
and blazing Meteors, whoſe bright glimmering flames,
like ceremonial Tapers ſhould adorne
my ſolemne Hearſe? what, doth the golden Sun
ride with it's wonted motion? are the waves
bridled within their narrow Continent?
No deluge? not an earthquake? ſhall a Prince,
an Emperor, a Bajazet deceaſe
and make no breach in nature? fright the world
with no prodigious birth? Are you aſleep,
107 you thundring Beggards that ſo awe the world?
I'le haſten to revenge this ſtrong neglect
of my deceaſing ſpirits: mount my ſoul,
bruſh off this cloddy heavy element:
So Jove I come, excorporate, divine,
immortal as thy ſelf, I muſt conteſt
with thee, proud god, with thee to arme my mind,
only my ſoul aſcends, earth ſtayes behind.
Moritur.
Enter the Ghoſts as before, and bear him out.

Actus 5. Scena 10.

Enter Solymon as newly Crowned. Souldiers, Atten­dants, warlike Muſick.
Soly.

Is Selymus deceaſed?

Sould.

He is my Lord.

Soly.
Who Selymus? what Fate durſt be ſo bold:
Oh, I could act an holy frenzy now.
Selymus deceas'd? What did not Atlus tremble
at ſuch a burden? Can he ſupport the Orb
that holds up Selymus? is not yet the Pole
crackt with his weight? do not the heavens prepare
his funeral Exequies? Jove, I invoke thee now,
command the heavens that the prone Chandler ſhops
command that idle Phoebus, that he exhale
matter from earth to make thy Funeral Tapers:
Or I'le make Torches of the univerſe
in ſtead of Comets; flaming Countries, Cities
ſhall be thy ceremonial Tapers:
Or if not this; I'le ranſack Chriſtendome,
Kings Daughters I'le embowel for a Sacrifice,
their fat with veſtal fire will I refine,
and offer virgins wax unto thy ſhrine.
Start back bright Phoebus, let thy fiery Steeds
keep Holyday for Selymus. Tell thy hoſt,
108 proud Neptune now expects another deluge,
that all the earth may weep for Selymus.
What do you ſmile, you heavens? are ye conſcious,
and guilty of this execrable treaſon?
What, dare the fields to laugh to when I do mourn?
I'le dye your motly colour'd weedes in ſcarlet,
and cloath the world in black deſtruction.
Nemeſis, I'le nayl thee to my greedy ſword,
deſtruction ſhall ſerve under me a Prentiſhip.
Courage brave Selymus, with thy Princely boat
through Styx even all mortality ſhall float;
I'le leavy Souldiers through the Univerſe,
with which thou ſhalt begirt Elizeum;
Thus barren Nature ſhall repent thy fall,
grieving that ſhe did not the event fore-ſtall.
Death, I will hate thee: the world ſhall wear
thy ſable livery embroydred with fear:
Thy Trophies every where the world ſhall gaze on:
Thy Armes in ſable and in gules I'l blazon.
Soul.
My Lord, this Crown intreats, you leave off theſe
ground-creeping meditations, and to think
of Majeſty; wherefore we inveſt your brow
with this rich robe of glory, and do vow
to it our due alleageance: thus you ſhall
mount up aloft above your Fathers fall.
Soly.
Thus our deare Father, thoſe bright robes of ſtate
for which ſo lately thou haſt ſweat in blood,
thou wear'ſt upon my ſhoulders in thy ſtead:
thus are we crown'd, and thus our labours be
made gainful unto thine, though not to thee.
Sould.
Live then, and raign, moſt mighty Emperor,
whilſt that our care and watchful providence
ſhall fence thy ſafety, and keep Sentinel
over thy ſacred perſon; were black treaſons
hatcht in the Center of the darkeſt earth,
the maſſie element ſhould be proſpective
for all our piercing eyes; ſhould Pluto ſend
109 his black Apparator to ſummon thee
to appear before him, by that Mahomet,
we would confront him boldly, and excuſe
thy abſence unto Pluto, by our preſence;
death, we'le diſarm thee, if thou dar'ſt arreſt
thy fury on our Solymon; or we'le bale his perſon
with our impriſonment.
By our death thou ſhalt live; our City walls ▪
may with warlike ruine be battered,
but our alleageance, that European Bull
ſhall ne'r puſh from us with his golden hornes;
nor ſhall his guilded ſhowers quench our loves:
no golden Engineer ſhall undermine
the Caſtles of our faith, nor blow them up
with blaſts of hop'd preferment: were thy walls
but paper, were they made of brittle glaſſe,
our faiths ſhould make them marble, and as firm
as Adamant: Not walls, but ſubjects love,
do to a Prince the ſtrongeſt Caſtle prove.
Behold great Prince, alleageance mixt with love
lock'd in our breſts: thou art the living key
to ſhut, and to unlock them at thy pleaſure:
no golden pick-lock ſhall e're ſcrue it ſelf
into theſe faithful locks, whoſe only ſprings
can be no other then our own heart ſtrings.
Our greedy ſwords, which erſt imbru'd in blood,
did ſeem to bluſh at their own Maſters acts,
and us upbraid with our moſt bloody facts,
though peace hath now condemn'd to pleaſing ruſt,
yet at thy beck we'le ſheath them in the breſt
of daring Chriſtians: thus in war we'le fight
for thee, whil'ſt thou doſt ſtrive for victory.
Here to deſcribe ſuch Princely vertues, which
ſhould more adorn thy Crown then Orient pearles,
were but to ſhew a glaſſe, and to commend
thy ſelf unto thy ſelf. Be gracious,
110 magnificent, couragious, or mild,
or more compendiouſly, be more thy ſelf,
raigne then, and Mahomet grant that thou may'ſt paſſe
Neſtor in years, as much as now thou doſt
in wiſdom and in valour; Herauld proclaim
to the world his title, and let ſwift-winged Fame
ſecond thy trumpet. Her. Long live Solymon, &c.
Solym.
VVe thank you friendly Actors of our bliſſe,
our patience hath at length tired out the gods;
our Empire hath been rackt enough with treaſons,
and black ſeditions, as if no Chriſtians
were left to conquer; we weeld our Turkiſh blades
againſt our ſelves, embowelling the State
with bloody diſcord, by our ſtrength we fall
a ſcorn to Chriſtians, with our hands we ſhed
that blood which might have conquered Chriſtendome;
thus while we hate our ſelves, we love our enemies,
and heal them with our ſores, whil'ſt we lye weltring
in bloody peace: the dy of the publick ſafety
hath been already caſt by th'hand of war,
treaſons have made a blot, which may provoke
the enemy to enter, and bear our men
to dark Avernus. Envy might have bluſht,
though alwayes pale, at all our projects: now
this bloody deluge is quite paſt, return
ſweet peace with th'Olive branch, enough of wars,
'tis thou muſt poure oyl into our ſcarrs.
Fly hence Hereditary hate, diſcords dead,
let not ſucceeding enmities and hatred live,
let none preſume to cover private ſores
with publick ruines, nor let black diſcord
make an Anatomy of our too leane
Empire, let it wax fat again; when peace
hath knit herknots, then ſhal the wanton ſounds
of bells give place to thundering Bombardes,
and blood waſh out the ſmoothing oil of peace;
111 every Souldier I'le ordaine a Prieſt
to ring a fatal knell to Chriſtians,
and every minute unto earths wide womb
ſhall ſacrifice a Chriſtians Hecatomb:
Then ſhall we make a league with Aeolus,
the winds ſhall ſtrive to further our proceedings,
then will we load the ſeas, and fetter Neptune
with chaines that hold our Anchors; he ſhall quake,
leſt he to Pan reſigne his watry Empire,
and three fork'd-mace unto my awful Scepter;
The Whales and Dolphins ſhall amazed ſtand,
that they ſhall yeild their place to Bears and Lions,
Sylla ſhall howl for fear, when ſhe ſhall ſee
the Sea become a Forreſt, and her ſelf
mountainy; then let Syrens quake
for fear of Satyres, then let the Chriſtians think,
not that our Navy, but the Country it ſelf
is come to move them from the growing earth;
Comets, fiery ſwords ſhall be my Heraulds,
threatning to th'world ſudden combuſtion:
Let our armes be ſteely bowes, our arrowes
thunderbolts, and in ſtead of warlike Drumms,
thunder ſhall proclaim black deſtruction;
Vulcan I'le tax thee, exerciſe thy Forge,
prepare to me for all the world a ſcourge,
the Fates to me their powers ſhall reſigne,
which with this hand will rend the ſtrongeſt twine
of humane breath. Firſt for the Iſle of Rhodes,
deſtruction there ſhall keep his mournful Stage:
Th'inhabitants ſhall act a bloody Tragedy,
and perſonate themſelves; Then for Nayos Ile,
death there ſhall keep her Court: then I will make
Vienna all a Shambles: yea gaping Famine
ever devouring, alwayes wanting food,
ſhall gnaw their bowels, and ſhall leave them nothing,
beſides themſelves to feed on; their dead corps
112 ſhall be entombed in their neighbours bellies.
There, every one ſhall be a living Sepulcher,
an unhallowed Church-yard; famine ſhall feed it ſelf.
Then ſhall they envy beaſts, and wiſh to be
our Jades, our Mules; Matrons ſhall ſtrive to bring
into the hateful light abortive Brats;
the Infants ſhall return, and the lean womb
ſhall be unto the babes a ſuddain tomb.
Then ſhall they hoard up carcaſſes, and ſtrive
only to be rich in Funerals; I'de rejoyce
to ſee them ſtand like Screech-Owles, gaping when
their Parents ſhould expire, and bequeath
to hell their wretched ſouls, to them their death.
All.

Long live great Solymon our noble Emperour.

Soly.
All this, and more then this I'le doe, when peace
hath glutted our new greedy appetites,
when it hath fill'd the veines of the Empire full
with vigour; then, leſt too much blood ſhould cauſe
Armies of vices, not of men to kill us,
and ſtrength breed weakneſſe in our too great Empire,
then, then, and only then we ſhall think good,
with war to let the body politick blood.
Meane time we'le think on our Fathers Funeral:
Oh, I could be an holy Epicure,
in teares, and pleaſing ſighs, Oh I could now
refreſh my ſelf with ſorrow, I could embalm
thy corps with holy groanes from putrefaction:
Oh, I could powder up thy thirſty corps
with briniſh teares, and wipe them off with kiſſes:
and that I might more freely ſpeak my grief,
theſe eyes ſhould be ſtill ſilent Orators,
till blindneſſe ſhuts them up, were I a woman:
But I am Solymon, Emperor, the Turk,
blood ſhall be my teares, I'le think thee ſlain
amongſt the Chriſtians, and tranſlate my grief
to fury; every member of my body
113 ſhall execute the office of a weeping ſonne.
Thus in my teares an Argus will I bee,
my head, heart, hands, and all ſhall weepe for thee.
Oh that the cruell Fates were halfe ſo milde
as to drive ſtreames of teares from forth the ſprings,
great ſorrowes have no leaſure to complaine;
Leaſt ills vent forth; great griefes within remaine:
See Selymus, ſometimes a four-ſtring'd inſtrument
feeding his Souldiers with ſweet Harmony,
doth now tune nought to us but Lacrymae.
Could n' Aeſchulapiùs be found to tune
his diſagreeing elements? treaſons crackt
the ſtring; which elſe an head-ach would untune.
Every diſeaſe is a ragged fort
to weare theſe ſtrings aſunder; treaſon did lend
death, which both age, and ſickneſſe did intend;
What then remaines, but that his Funeral rites
with our Grand fathers, Uncles be ſolemnized,
that ſo black diſcord may be with them buried?
But noble Selymus, what Tombe ſhall I prepare
for thy memoriall? ſhall a heavy ſtone
preſſe thy innocent aſhes? Shall I confine
thy wandring ghoſt in ſome high marble priſon?
Or ſhall I hither fetch the flying Tombe
of proud Mauſolus the rich Carian King?
No; Religion ſhall cloake no ſuch injurie;
no hired Rhethorick ſhall adorne thy coarſe,
no pratling ſtone ſhall trumpet forth thy praiſe;
the world's thy tombe, thy Epitaph I'le carve
in Funerals; deſtruction is the booke
in which we'le write thy annalls, blood's the Inke,
our ſword the Pen. A Tragedy I intend,
Which with a Plangity, no Plaudity ſhall end ▪
FINIS.

THE COURAGEOUS TURK, OR, AMURATH THE FIRST.

A Tragedie, Written by THOMAS GOFF Maſter of Arts, and ſtudent of Chriſt-Church in OXFORD, and Acted by the Studens of the ſame houſe.

The ſecond Edition

LONDON, Printed for G. BEDELL and T. COLLINS, at the middle Temple Gate Fleet-ſtreet. 1656.

TO THE No leſſe honored, then deſerving, Sir WALTER TICHBORNE, Knight.

SIR,

THis with another Tragedy, intitu­led, The raging Turk, the iſſue of one mans braine; are now come forth together from the Preſſe, neerer allyed, even as Twins in this their ſecond birth; They are full of Glory, Strength, and indeed full of what not, that beautifies? The more apt to be ſoyled, oppoſed, and diſgra­ced; the rather, becauſe the Auther ha's made his Exit hence. The intent, and uſe of Dedication (as I have obſerved) is to no o­ther end, then that ignorance and ſpite, (ſworne Enemies to ingenuity) ſhould know upon their dull or envious diſlikes, whether to repayre and recieve reformation. The Fa­therleſſe fellow-Orphan to this work reſteth ſafe under the protection of your moſt noble Brother, my much honoured Friend, Sir Ri­chard Tichborne, Knight and Baronet; Now for theſe reaſons, and that I might not make them ſtrangers by remote foſterings, but eſpecially ſtanding to you (moſt worthy SIR) equally engaged, I this to you Preſent and Dedicate: Together tendring the Love and unfained acknowledgements, of

Your moſt embounden Servant, RICHARD MEIGHEN.

TO THE AUTHOR, In that, Tranſcribing his Book, without his knowledge, I was bound by promiſe to ſtand to his pleaſure to keepe it or burne it.

I Will not praiſe this Worke, 'twere loſt,
Rich Pearles beſt praiſe themſelves; nor will I boaſt
To be poſſeſt of more than India's wealth,
That were the way to loſe't, ſince I my ſelfe
Diſtruſt my ſelfe in keeping it, and ſtand
In feare of robbing by ſome envious hand:
Rob'd of it, ſaid I? Alas, that fate were juſt,
Since I am found firſt thiefe to you, who durſt
Unbidden thus, ranſacke your pretious ſtore;
This magazine of wit, ſo choyce; nay more,
Steale from the chariot of the glorious Sunne,
This heavenly fire. What ſhall I ſay, 'tis done;
I doe confeſſe the enditement, pity then
Muſt be my ſureſt Advocate 'mongſt men.
None can abate the rigor of the Law,
But the Law-giver; but me thoughts I ſaw,
(Or hop'd I ſaw) ſome watry beames of Mercy
Breake, glimpſing forth of your imperious eye.
O let me beg reprive, your pardon may
By due obſervance come another day.
Here loe, I tender't backe to bide the doom,
By promiſe bound to him, to him with whom
I would not breake for all rich Tagus ſands;
Now he the Priſoner at your mercy ſtands.
— Ergo ibit in ignes
Hoc opus aeternum ruet, & tot bella, tot Enſes
In Cineres dabit hora nocens. —

THE PROLOGUE.

VVEre not our preſent ſubject mixt with feare,
'Twould much affright us to ſee all you here.
One would ſuffice us, or no Auditor.
Each to himſelfe an ample Theater,
Let rude Plebeians thinke ſo, but we know
All judgements here from the ſame Spring doe flow;
All here have but one cenſure, all one breſt,
All ſonnes of the ſame Mother; but the reſt
We preoccupate their Cenſure, and fore-tell,
What after may be ſaid not to be well.
As in moſt decent Garments you may ſee.
Some gracious Ornaments inweaved bee;
Which ſerve for little uſe; but on ſome day
Deſtin'd to pleaſe himſelfe, the wearer may
Without a bluſh put on, when his beſt friends
Intend to viſit him. So our hope intends
The ſacred Muſes Progeny to greet,
Which under our Roofe, now the third time meet.
We will not ope the booke to you, and ſhow
A ſtory word by word, as it doth goe;
But give invention leave to undertake,
Of it's owne ſtraines, ſome benefit to make:
For though a Tragicke Pen may be confin'd
W thin a ſtudies private Walles, the mind
Muſt be unbounded, and with inventions ſteele,
121 Strike fire from the alient Flints —
So free we are from ſetting any price
On theſe our ſtudied Vanities, that advice
Almoſt diſdain'd the whispers of thoſe tongues
Which, private firſt, though vented, publike wrongs
To the Patient, Patient oft. We'il here begin
To be a litle peremptory. Oh that ſinne
Of willfull indiſcretion; 'tis no bayes
To make us Garlands of our owne mouthes praiſe.
Which who affect, may they ſo Lawrell lacke,
That ſlanders Thunders may behind their backe
Blaſt them with Calumny; for we vow, they deare
Pay for their paines, that give attention here.
And ſince it's ſuffered with kind indulgence,
We hope that Kingly Parent's our defence;
Who would not have his dandling love be knowne,
But unto thoſe had off-ſpring of their owne.
And (for we are aſſured that here be
No braines ſo curſt with blacke ſterilitie,
But of ſome nature they can frely call
Births more mature, and Caeleſtiall;
Their ſtudies iſſue) they, like kindeſt Mothers,
With tender hands will ſwath the limbes of others.

THE ARGUMENT.

A Suppo'd Victory by AMURETH
Obtain'd in Greece, where many captives tane,
One among the reſt, IRENE, conquers him,
For, taken with her love, he ſounds retreat
Eternally from Warre: but after, mov'd
With murmur of his Nobles, in her bed,
Before his Councils face, ſtrikes off her head.
Then ruminating former bloudy broyles,
He ſtraight o'recomes all Chriſtian Provinces,
Invades the Confines of his Sonne in Law,
Fires Caramania, and makes Aladin
With's Wife and Children ſuppliant for their lives:
At length appointed his great'ſt Field to fight
Upon Caſſanae's Plaines; where having got
A wondrous Conqueſt 'gainſt the Chriſtians,
Comes the next morne to overview the dead;
' Mongſt whom a Chriſtian Captaine, Cobelitz,
Lying wounded there, at ſight of Amurath,
Riſing and ſtaggering towards him, deſperately
With a ſhort dagger wounds him to the heart,
And then immediately the Chriſtian dyes.
The Turke expiring, Bajazet his Heyre
Strangles his younger brother: Thus ſtill ſprings
The Tragick ſport which Fortune makes with Kings.

THE ACTORS.

  • Amurath.
  • Lala Schahin. — Tutor to Amurath.
  • two Turkiſh Captaines.
    • Eurenoſes,
    • Chaſe Illibegge.
  • Cobelitz a Chriſtian Captaine.
  • Lazarus the Deſpot or Governour of Servia.
  • Saſmenos Governour of Bulgaria.
  • Aladin Sonne in Law to Amurath: and King of Caramania.
  • Two Lords with Aladin.
  • Two Embaſſadors.
  • Bajazet, Eldeſt Sonne to Amurath.
  • Jacyl, Youngeſt Sonne to Amurath.
  • Carradin Baſſa A Governour under the Turke.
  • For the Maske.
    • Jupiter
    • Juno
    • Mars
    • Ve•us
    • Hector
    • Achil
    • Apollo
    • Pallas
    • Alexander
    • Philoxenus
    • Neptune
    • Cupid
  • Women Actors.
    • Eumorphe, Concubine to Amurath.
    • Menthe, An attendant on Eumorphe.
    • Hatun, Daughter to the Lord of Phrygia, married to Bajazet.
    • Aldines Wife, Two little Boyes with her.
  • Mutes.
    • Men Christians taken, given to Amurath for Janizaries.
    • Sixe Chriſtian Maidens preſented to Hatun ſuppoſed to be Kings Daughters.

THE COURAGEOUS TURK, OR, AMURATH THE FIRST.

Actus 1.

Scena 1.

Enter as from Warre, Lala-Schahin at one doore, with warlike Muſicke, Souldiers, a March. Enter to him at the other doore, Amu­rath in State, with Eumorphe his Con­cubine, attendants, Lords and Ladies.
AMURATH.
BE dumb thoſe now harſh notes, our ſofter cares
ſhall never be acquainted with ſuch ſounds.
Peace (our grand Captain) ſee here Amurath,
that would have once confronted Mars himſelfe,
(Acknowledg'd for a better Deity)
Puts off ambitious burdens; and doth hate
126 through bloudy Rivers to make paſſages,
whereby his Soule might flote to Acheron.
Wrinckle your browes no more (ſterne fates) for we
ſcorne to be made the ſervile Miniſters
to cut thoſe threads, at which your ſelves have trembled,
eſteeming us the fiercer Deſtiny.
Yet muſt great Amurath thanke thoſe ſacred powers,
they have enricht our ſoules with ſuch a price,
as had thoſe Heroes, whoſe revengefull Armes
ſerv'd Mars a ten yeares Prentiſhip at Troy,
ere dream'd ſucceeding times ſhould be poſſeſt
with ſuch an unparallell'd, unprized beauty as my Saint,
they would not have prevented ſo their bliſſe,
but beene moſt humble Sutors to the Gods
to have protracted their then fond ſpent life
but to behold this object; which out-ſhines
their Helena, as much as doth the eye
of all the World dazle the leſſer fires.
Jove, Ile outbrave thee; melt thy ſelfe in Luſt,
embrace at once all ſtarre-made Concubines,
Ile not envie thee, know I have to ſpare
beauty enough, to make another Venus;
And for fond Gods, that have no reward in ſtore
to make me happier, here Ile place my Heaven.
And for thy ſake, this ſhall my Motto be,
I conquered Greece, one Grecian conquered me.
Eum.
But (gracious Lord) thoſe ſtreames (we ſee) ſoon ebb,
which with outragious ſwelling flow too faſt;
forbid (Lucina) this ſoone kindled fire,
ſhould ere burne out it ſelf. Tis a true Theame,
That nere laſts long, that ſeemeth moſt extreame.
Amur.
Can this rich price of nature, precious jem,
give entertainment to ſuſpecting gueſts?
Come, come, theſe armes are curious chaines of love,
with which thou link'ſt my heart aeternally,
127 thy cheeks the royall Paper interlined,
with Natures Rhetorique, and loves perſwaſion
ſtands there attracting ſtill my gazing eye:
This then Ile read, and here I now will faine,
that thoſe all antique fables of the Gods
are writ in flowing numbers; firſt thy lip,
was faire Europaes, which they ſay, made Jove
turne a wild Heyfer: next, this ſparkling eye
was the Aemonian Io's: then, this hand
Laedaes, faire Mother to thoſe Star-made Twins;
Thus, thus Ile Comment on this golden Booke:
Nature nor Art, have taught me how to faine;
Faireſt, 'twas you firſt brought me to this vaine:
In loving Combats, now I valiant prove,
let othets warre, great Amurath ſhall love.
Scha.
Brave reſolution! O the fond thoughts of man!
awake Euno! Ile find ſtratagems:
There ſhall be Phyſick, to purge this diſeaſe:
light ſores are gently us'd; but ſuch a part
muſt be cut off, left it infect the heart.
Amar.
Schahin, Our Tutor, we command this night
be ſolemniz'd with all delightfull ſports
thy learn'd invention beſt can thinke upon.
Prepare a Maske, which lively repreſents,
how once the Gods did love: that ſhall not teach
us by examples; but we'll ſmile to thinke,
how poore and weake their idle faining was
to our affection. Schahin, be free in wit,
and ſuddaine: now come my Kingdomes Bride:
Hymen would wed himſelfe to ſuch a Bride.
Exeunt all but Schahin.

Actus 1. Scena 2.

Schah.
Nature, and all thoſe univerſall powers,
which ſhew'd ſuch admirable Godlike skill,
130 in framing this true modell of our ſelves,
this Man, this thing cal'd man, why doe you thus,
make him a ſpectacle of ſuch laughter for you,
when in each man we ſee a Monarchy?
For, as in ſtates, all fortunes ſtill attend:
So with a Kingdome, with a compleat ſtate
will govern'd, and well manag'd in him ſelfe:
both each man beares, when that beſt part of man,
(Reaſon) doth ſway and rule each Paſſion.
Affections are good Servants: but if Will
makes them once Maſter, they'l prove Tyrants ſtill.
No more King now, poore Subject AMURATH;
whom I have ſeen, breake through a Troope of Men,
like lightning from a Cloud: and done thoſe Acts,
which 'ene the Furies would have trembled at:
Treading downe Armies, as if by them he meant
of dead mens backes to build up ſtaires to Heaven:
And now ly'th lurking in a womans armes,
drencht in the Lethe of Ignoble luſt,
appoints me for the wanton Engineer
to keepe his ſo looſe thoughts in ſmoothing tune.
Woman, enticing woman, golden hooke
to catch our thoughts, and when we once are caught
to drag's into the publike view of ſhame;
And there we lye bath'd in inceſtuous pleaſure
for all good men to laugh and ſcorne at once.
Bane to my ſenſes! I could eyther wiſh
our birth were like thoſe Creatures, which we ſay
Are bred from putrid and corrupted matter;
Then that we ſhould acknowledge our deare being
with graſſe and flowers: for what elſe is our ſtate
up to the top? But then the waight ſhall fall
upon their head that caus'd it. Worke (my braine)
tuſh, bloud, no•water muſt waſh off this ſtaine.
Exit.
129

Scena 3. Actus 1.

Enter Amurath in ſtate with Nobles: Eumorphe with attendant Ladies: while Amurath aſcends his Throne, and placeth Eumorphe by him.
Am.
Shine here (my beauty) and expell the night
more than a thouſand ſtarres that grace the Heavens:
Me thinkes, I ſee the Gods inventing ſhapes
in which they meane to court thee. Jove he frownes,
and is more jealous, more ſuſpitious
of thee, then all the painted Truls, whoſe eyes
bedeck the all ennamel'd Firmament.
Eum.
Beauty (my Lord) 'tis the worſt part of woman,
a weake poore thing, aſſaulted every hour
by creeping minutes of defacing time;
A ſuperficies which each breath of care
blaſts off: and every humerous ſtreame of griefe,
which flowes from forth theſe Fountaines of our eyes,
waſheth away, as raine doth Winters ſnow.
But thoſe bleſt guiders of all Nuptiall rites,
have wrought a better cement to make faſt,
the hearts of Lovers; the true name of Wife
guilds o're our thrones, with a more conſtant ſhape
than can be ſubject or to time, or care:
And in our ſelves; yea in our owne true breſts
we have obedience, duty, carefull Love;
And laſt and beſt of all, we may have Children,
Children are Hymens pledges, theſe ſhall be
perpetuall chaines, to linke my Lord and me.
Amur.
Art thou a Woman? Goddeſſe, we adore,
and Idolize what we but loved before.
What Divels have men beene, whoſe furious braines
have oft abus'd that Deity cald Woman:
130 dipping their Ravens quil in Stygian Inke,
to blaſt ſuch heavenly paper as your faces!
Were all the enticing luſts, damn'd policies,
prodigious faſcinations, unſearcht thoughts,
diſſembled teares, broke vowes, loath'd appetites,
luxurious and unſatiate deſires;
Were all theſe of women equally weighed,
that vertue in thy breſt 'twill out-balance all,
and recompence the ruine of all thy Sexe.
Enter a Servant and ſpeakes.
Serv.
So pleaſe your Majeſty, L. Schahin's ready
for entrance with his Maſque.
Am.
Tell him, we're wholly bent for expectation.
Exit Serv.
Sit, ſit (my Queene) Muſicke exceed your Spheares,
thinke I am Jove, and Godlike pleaſe our eares.

Scena 4. Actus 1.

A Maſque.
Enter from aloft two Torch-bearers, then Jupiter and Ju­no, and two Torch-bearers more, then Mars and Ve­nus, and two Torch-bearers more, then Apollo and Pallas ▪ and two more Torch-bearers, then Neptune and Diana. Whilſt they are deſcending, Cupid hanging in the Ayre, ſings to ſoft Muſicke this Song following.
Cupid
ſings.
Gaze you mortals, gaze you ſtill,
On the Gods now looke your fill.
Jove and Juno are deſcending,
Yet her Jealouſie's not ending,
Mars, ſterne Mars, he will not fight,
131 But with Venus when 'tis Night.
Daphne crownes Apollos head,
Whom ſhe would embrace in Bed;
Neptune ſwels his frothy cheeke,
Cauſe Diana is not meeke.
Gaze you mortals, &c.
Jup.
Come now my (Siſter and Wife) wee'l begin
to court afreſh! Nay, loure not (Heavens Queene)
here on this greene we'll a Lavalto dance;
What if our haires grow ſilver, yet our ſtrength
Is young, and vigorous. Say (fellow Gods)
(Since we are full of Nectar, and our cares
Lye drencht in our Nepenthe) take your Queenes, and be
All joviall; Mars for our Daughter Venus,
Apollo joyne with Pallas, Brother of Flouds
embrace Diana; Gods ſometimes merry be;
but in the night, when mortals may not ſee.
Each God as appointed by Jove, takes his Goddeſſe, they dance a Maſque dance, and in the dance Juno obſerves Joves glances to Eumorphe, and at the end of the dance, ſpeaketh thus.
Jup.
How now (wanton?) Can I no where goe,
for recreation, but you follow me?
Jun.
Is this your recreation? Fye! My Lord,
will you be wanton ſtill! For here you came
Points at Eumorphe.
For ſome new Harlot, ſome new Queene for you.
Jup.
Juno, Wife.
Juno.
Your Siſter, (thunderer,) and not your Wife!
Baniſht from Heaven I am; and your Bed:
reſigne them both to Strumpets, Concubines.
Points at Eumorphe.
And now you come to ſee a freſh new laſſe,
132 in which Pole now, or in what part of heaven
ſhall ſhe be ſtellified?
Jupit.
Shall ſtill ſiniſter thoughts wrong our intent?
wel (Juno) wel, you'le ever be a woman,
a very, very woman! But ſince ſhe ſcolds,
Let's hence (yee Gods) leſt her infectious breath
blaſt the ſucceeding day; and mortals curſe
her hel-bred jealouſie: Calumnious woman,
Come, ſcold in heaven; For if Gods liv'd on Earth,
ſuſpicious tongues would blame moſt innocent mirth.
Here all the Gods and Goddeſſes aſcend; at the top of the aſcent, Juno ſtops and ſpeakes.
Jun.
Wel, Jove lookt pale, I toucht him to the quick;
'tis ſome new Minion he came downe to ſee:
Harke (jealouſie) know Juno is a woman!
Am I not mad yet? Miſtris Bride, adieu,
Jove ſhall not ſteale a kiſſe; My curſe is paſt,
when thou ſleep'ſt firſt a Bride, mayſt ſleepe thy laſt.
Exit.
Cupid.
Faire Bride, I ſang thy Epithalamy,
and left Elyſium for thy Nuptials:
Juno here thundered 'againſt the Thunderer;
knowing how thy beauty dazles hers,
ſhe durſt not let heavens King once glance a looke,
but threatned with her helbred incantations,
to metamorphiſe thine unparall'ell'd
and moſt caeleſtial ſhape into worſe formes;
And more prodigious than ever poyſoned charmes
wrought on the fabled Concubines of Jove:
but know great Queene, my Mother Venus vowes
her everlaſting guard to ſave ſuch beauty;
Leſt if thou periſh, Nature her ſelfe
loſe her onely parterne of ſerenity.
But I muſt haſt, Love, which the Gods protect,
can never be indangered by neglect.
Aſcend't.
133Amur.
Schahin, thine Art is excellent but ſay,
doe Gods fall out for love amongſt themſelves?
Scah.
My Lord, theſe are but fables: yet to make
the ſhew more pertinent, and to grace your Queene,
conceipt tooke leave to put the frowne on Iuno.
Eum.
My Lords and friends, we ſhall be ever thankfull
and reſt a Debtor to your curteſie.
Schah.
Not ſo, faire Queen, but durſt I now entreat
the Kings detaining from the ſweets of Bed,
there yet remaines one thought upon conceipt,
which you would doubly grace me to behold.
Amur.
Our worthy Tutor ſhall obtaine a night,
a night of us, in any caſe we can!
Scah.
But then let me informe your Majeſty,
that 'tis a warriors ſhew, which once you loved,
but now are free from.
Amur.
'tis beſt of all, with greedineſſe we'l ſee it,
O how the ſoule doth gratulate it ſelfe
when ſafely it beholds the dangerous ſtate
of others, and it ſelfe ſecurity free!
Glad are we ſtill to ſtand upon the ſhore,
and ſee afarre off others toſt i'th' Sea:
or in a Gallery at a Fencers ſtage,
we laugh when mutually each one takes wounds;
Sit ſtill (Eumorphe:) Schahin, thy ſhew in haſt;
'Tis beſt delight, to thinke on troubles paſt.

Scena 5. Actus 1.

Enter in Maſque the Ghoſt of Hector and Achilles, to them Alexander the great ſtands gazing on t em, whilſt Fame ſpeakes from aloft.
Fame.
Stay you moſt worthy ſhades ▪ brave Hector, ſtay;
And proud Achilles, know your maſſie Tombes,
134 which have ſo long orewhelm'd your valiant bones,
yawnes wide to let the impriſoned coarſes forth.
I muſt afreſh imbalme your ſacred Trunkes,
and ſweet your memory with moſt happy oyle
of juſt report; the Gods awakt me Fame
from out the oblivious Sepulcher of ſleepe,
to drop that Inke into old Homers pen,
wherewith he curiouſly hath lin'd your names,
enfolding them in Everlaſting Cedar,
and make them live to all poſterity.
Vertue to valour hath his guift aſſign'd,
great men may dye, yet deeds ſtill reſt in mind.
Exeunt umbrae Hectoris & Achilis, Manet Alex­ander looking after them, reading in Homer.
Alexand.
〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
moſt fortunate young man, whoſe worth is crown'd
with everlaſting Trophies of renowne,
how hath he ſet thee on the wings of fame
which ſoare i'th middle region of high glory,
propos'd to all, a never dying ſtory!
Enter to Alexander, Philoxenus a Captaine.
Phil.
May it pleaſe thee (Sonne of Jupiter) to accept
a Preſent, which our fight enricht us with?
Alex.
Is it a Band of ſtubborn Souldiers, Captaine?
Philox.
O no (my Liege) of exquiſite form'd Ladies,
Darius his wife, the wonder of her Sexe;
Beſides a Troope of ſuch ſhap't Ganimedes,
that Love not equals.
Alex.
Philoxenus, We thanke thee. Yet harke,
there is a ſecret we would know of thee,
and you muſt tell Us: on your faith you muſt.
Phil.
My Leige —
Alex.
Nay, no Court oyle (by your leave) no flattery,
we are but man, this very trunke of ours,
Is but a Veſſell fild with humane blood,
135 and we truſt not that Paraſite like pen,
〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
All the deſtroying vices of fraile man,
I may be ſubject to; but what baſe looſeneſſe,
or ſupple Luxury, didſt thou ere obſerve
ſo to benumne our ſenſe, that thou ſhouldſt thinke
we could be pleas'd with ſuch effeminate Preſents?
Know ſir, our eyes ſhall have that abſtinence
that will not looke on them, on boyes, or women.
Hence then, and preſent ſome coward with them.
Exit Philoxenus
Give me a ſpectacle would pleaſe the Gods,
and make them bend their Ivorie browes to the Earth;
a man, a Souldier, ſtrong with his wounds;
'mongſt fate and ruine, upright and unſhap't,
his minde being all his guard, his wall, and armour ▪
and if he fall, ſtill noble wrath remaines
in his amaſed Trunke: not all the darts
ſtucke in his ſides, making him all one wound,
affright his courage; but wrath lending weapons,
himſelfe doth ſeeme a new and horrid Warre.
Nor are thoſe Milke-ſops which beguile the time,
with ſtealing minutes from their Ladies lips,
ſuch as the Gods doe love; for as the Winde
loſeth it's force, if it be not oppos'd
with woods of ſtrong and ſtubborne planted trees;
So Virtue, if it walke in troden paths.
That breakes up honours gap, and makes the way
through pathes of death: that flame burnes ſtrong
which is reſiſted: valor ſhines in wrong:
Of Alexanders Souldiers be this ſaid,
warre was as peace, when he the army led.
Exit.
Fame.
Brave Macedon, how truly haſt thou weighed
the reaſon of mans birth! who is equall borne,
for all the world, as well as for himſelfe.
the world's a field too narrow for thy worth,
136 and allthough Nature hath her enacted bounds
for Sea and earth, nay for the heavens themſelves,
nor Sea nor earth ſhall coope thy valour up:
Valour of Nature ever this attaines,
that it breakes forth, farre, and beyond her chaines,
and this Ile trumpet out; The whole worlds Ball,
in which thou art ſo great, to thee is ſmall.
When men want worlds to ſhew their vertue in,
that is the crime o'th Gods, and not their ſinne:
'Tis a decree of a true Souldiers mind,
to thinke nought done, when ought is leſt behind.
On (valiant youth) for, know I will appoint
a Grecian Prince, who ſo ſhall ſteepe his quill
to paint thy name in Wels of eloquence,
that this thy ſcorne of Luſt ſhall be propos'd
for Kings example to poſterity.
Know mortals, that the men the Gods moſt love,
in hard and dangerous Arts they alwayes prove
When men live brave at firſt, then fall to crimes,
their bad is Chronicle to future times:
For, who begins good Arts, and not proceeds
he but goeth backward in all noble deeds.
Death conſecrates thoſe men whoſe awfull end,
though moſt men feare, yet all men muſt commend.
aſcends.
Amurath ſeemes troubled, yet collecting himſelfe, diſſembles his Paſſion, ſpeakes.
Am.
Scahin, the Macedon's heholding to thee,
and hiſtory ſhall pay you thankes for this,
which we reſt Debtors for.
Scah.
Great Prince, ſuch kindneſſe of acceptance payes
For things which are but for a Kings delight:
in ſeeing them, he amply doth requite.
Am.
Eumorphe, Love, Queene, Wife, le'ts haſt to Bed,
and may we wiſh this night eternall time.
137Scahin, good night: good night, kind gentelmen.
Thus when we are dead ſhall we revive o'th' ſtage:
one houre can preſent a kings whole age.
Exeunt omnes.

Actus 2.

Scena 1.

Enter Schahin, Eurenoſes.
Schah.
Obſerv'd you not the Kings looks? Grew they not pale?
Euren.
O yes (Lord Schahin) you muſt be his Parent,
and ſnatch him out o'th' Gulph he's falling in.
That fayned ſpeech of Alexanders wrought
like to moſt purging Phyſicke; nights then blacke,
when 'tis compar'd with day: Boldneſſe is cleare,
when 'tis preſented before baſtard feare.
Schah.
Ile tell thee, Eurenoſes, thou art a Souldier,
and I am both a Souldier, and a Scholar;
And for theſe two Profeſſions am both moſt glorious,
and moſt meritorious; Pallas is for both:
O what Tyſiphon, what ſnaked ſcourge
can make a Scholar, that ſhould never ſleepe,
but 'twixt the Pillowes of Pernaeſſus Hils,
and dip his lips in ſprings of Helicon,
make him by ſnoaring on a wanton breſt,
and ſuck the adulterate and ſpiced breath
of a lewd famed woman?
Euren.
And for a Souldier (Schahin,) let me ſpeake:
We that doe know, the uſe of ſwords and fire,
we that doe know, halters can throatle us,
ſhall we ere venture on a Womans cruelty?
We that endure no Lords, ſhall we endure
a woman to overcome us? Moſt true Demophoon,
I reverence thy memory: no pewling phraſe
138 could ſo enchaine thee to thy Thracian Dame,
but thou wouldſt rather periſh than ſhe ſave thee.
Ile not declaime long on that common theame,
but they have luſt lye in their fingers ends,
and whilſt their ſweet-hearts breath ſtickes in their ſheets,
they will admit another Lucrece in the day,
to be a Thais, if the night will not gain-ſay.
Scah.
Why (Eurenoſes) why ſhould we endure
a new Queen now? this Kingdom wants not heires:
we know (ſhould we have more) 'twere dangerous.
But harke! The Queens for Bed-inticing ſleepe
ſoft Muſicke.
with charmes of Muſicke: wel, even ſuch a Night
may yet prove diſmall ere the following Light!
Eurenoſ.
Scahin, let's in:
the firſt degree to purge ſuch ils as theſe,
is to inſtruct the patient his diſeaſe:
that you have done.
Scah.
Yea, and wil yet once more
adventure a new ſtratagem. Juſt when the King
h'as rid his Chamber, and with covetous haſt
thinks for to clip Eliſium, and drinke deepe
of his long wiſh'd delight, I having skil
and uncontroul'd acceſſe, will in diſguiſe
ſeem his deceaſed Fathers apparition:
and by all tyes of children to their Parents,
bid him forſake that vile bewitching woman.
Euren.
An eaſie Medicine doth and ſure wil work,
to rub ſhrewd wounds, make them but feſter more,
Foule Med'cines we worſe brook, than a foule ſore.

Scena 2. Actus 2.

Enter Eumorphe as to Bed in her Night-robes, attended with Tapers and Ladies.
Menth.
Madam make haſt, The King will be impatient
139 if he be from you long. O Happineſſe!
Emorph.
Why Menthe! then thou deem'ſt us happy
thus to command a world of ſervices,
to have a King my ſubject; and attended
with theſe harmonious ſounds t'affect our eares?
Menthe.
Yes (truely Madam) 'tis a happineſſe.
Eumorph.
'Tis, were 't Eternal: but I feare a power,
a womans power, doth but make ſport with us.
Why, were we not once (Menthe) a Captive Wretch?
Menthe
Yes Lady! now your happineſſe's the more:
Riches pleaſe beſt, when there went want before.
Eum.
That power which rais'd us from ſo baſe, ſo high,
can throw us downe againe as ſuddenly:
Me thinks my life is but a Players Scaene
in the laſt Act: my part was then to play
a captive creature, and a Queene to day.
Menthe.
Your Morals (Madam) are too ſerious;
Me thinks theſe Ornaments ſhould elevate
your dumpiſh ſpirits. Thinke this Bed a place,
in which no Icie ſlipping chance hath power;
A Kings ſafe Bed is like a guarded Tower.
Eum.
No (Menthe) no, 'tis not the Bed of ſtate,
nor the free ſmile of a well pleaſed King:
'tis not the embracing Armes of Emperors,
nor all the Gemmes that ſo inwreath the browes
can ſo allure Fortune unto their gaze,
as ſhe ſhould ſtill be conſtant; O ſhe's blind,
nor doth ſhe know her ſelfe where ſhe is kind;
Thoſe, thoſe are Kings, and Queenes, whoſe breſt's ſecure,
like brazen walles, Luſt's entrance not endure;
Where impotent ambition not intrudes,
nor the unſtable talke of multitudes;
Fortune ſerves ſuch, they happineſs command
more than all Lybia's gold, all Tagus ſand;
as heaven hath given us no more conſpicuous things,
than forme or beaury: ſo like a forward ſpring,
140 Nothing more ſhort.
Menthe.
Madam, divine not of a change; Beliefe
is too too prone, in entertaining griefe!
Eum.
Our Lord attends, to enter in,
and ſurely ſleepe envyeth his delight,
for he ſits heavy on my drowſie lids,
draw all our Curtaines; ſleepe be guiles our eares.
Men.
Madam, good night, time helpes ſuſpicious fears!
Exit Menthe.
This Song is to be ſung in the Muſick roome to ſoft Muſicke, now when ſhe lookes, ſhe's dreaming ſent to Eliſium.
Drop golden ſhowers, gentle ſleepe,
And all the Angels of the Night,
Which doe us in protection keepe,
Make this Queene dreame of delight
Morpheus be kind a little, and be
Deaths now true Image, for 't will prove
To this poore Queene, that then thou art hee;
Her grave is made i'th Bed of love.
Thus with ſweet ſweets can Heaven mix gall,
And marriage turne to Funerall.

Scaena 3. Actus. 2.

Enter Amurath in his Night robes, a Taper in his hand, ſeemes much diſturbed, speakes.
Amur.
Turke, Amurath, ſlave, nay ſomething baſer,
King! For all airy titles which the Gods
have blaſted man withall, to make them ſwell
with puft up honour, and ambitious wind,
this name of King holds greateſt antipathy
141 with manly government: for if we waigh,
'Tis ſubjects, and not Kings beare all the ſway.
Each whiſpered murmur from their idle breath
condemnes a King to infamy, to death;
Were there a Metempſeucoſis of ſoules,
and nature ſhould a free Election grant
what things they afterwards would reinforme,
the vaine and haughtieſt minds the Sun ere ſaw,
Would chuſe it's Cottage in ſome Shepherds fleſh,
nay, be confin'd within ſome Dog or Cat,
than (Antique-like) pranck in a Kings gay-clothes ▪
Were I no King, and had no Majeſty,
I had more then all Kings, bleſt liberty;
And without rumor might enjoy my choyce,
not fearing Cenſure of each popular voyce.
Poore men may love, and none their wils correct:
but all turne Satyres of a Kings affect.
O my baſe greatneſſe! What diſaſterous ſtarre
profeſt it ſelfe a Midwife at my birth,
to ſhape me into ſuch prodigious States?
But hence regard of tongues! Were we a Saint,
ſome envious tongue would dare our names to taint:
and he from ſlander is at ſecureſt reſt,
not that hath none, but that regards it leaſt.
Open you envious Curtaines; here's a ſight,
Drawes the Curtain.
that might commend the act of Love ſo Chaſt.
Were now the chariot-guider of the Sunne
weary o's taske, and would intreat a day
of Heaven to reſt in, here's a radiant Looke,
that might be fixt ith' midſt oth' Axletree;
and in deſpight of darke conſpiring Clouds,
ſhe would out-ſhine Sunne, Moone and all the Stars.
O, I could court thee now (my ſweet) a freſh,
mixing a kiſſe with every period;
Telling the Lillies how they are but wanne,
142 earth in the vernant ſpring is dull, and darke,
compar'd with this aſpect! the Aeaſterne ayre,
fann'd with the wings of Mercury and Jove,
infectious, but compar'd with this perfume.
Hence then th' ambition of that furious * youth, Alexis
who knew not what a crime his raſhneſſe was!
I might orecome more Kingdomes, have more dominion,
enthrone my ſelfe an Emperor oth' world;
I might, I might; Amurath thou mightſt.
The Chriſtians now will ſcoffe at Mahomet;
Perchance they ſent this wretch thus to inchant me!
O my perplexed thoughts! Tuſh, Ile to bed,
ſhould the commanding Thunder of the Gods
prohibite me, or ſtrike me in the act.
Talke on (vaine rumor) fame I dare thy worſt!
Call me a Luſty, Lazy, wanton, coward!
ſhould I win all the world, my breath once fled,
my bad would ſtill ſurvive all good be dead.
Eumorphe, ſweet, I come! you ſacred powers
who have beſtowed ſome happensſſe on man,
to helpe to paſſe away this ſinful life,
Grant me a youthfull vigor yet a while,
full veines, free ſtrength, compleat and manly ſenſe,
to know, and take a beauty moſt immenſe!

Scena 4. Actus 2.

Amurath makes haſte to the Bed, on a ſuddaine enter Schahin diſguiſed like the Ghoſt of Orchanes, father to Amurath.
Scabin.
Amurath, Amurath.
Amurath.
Divel, Divel; what?
Dar'ſt thou appeare before an Angell (Fiend?)
Scah.
O Amurath, why doth intemperate Luſt,
raging within thy furious youthfull veines,
burſt through thy fathers Tombe? Diſturbe his ſoule?
143Know, all the torments that the fabulous age
dream't, did afflict deceaſed impious Ghoſts,
heartbiting-hunger, and ſoule-ſearching thirſt,
the ne're conſumed, yet ever eaten prey
that the devouring Vulture feeds upon,
are not ſuch tortures as our off-ſprings crimes:
They, they ſit heavy on us, and no date
Makes our compaſſionate affection ceaſe.
O thou hereditary Ulcer, hearke,
by the name of Father, and by all thoſe cares
which brought me to my grave, to make thee great:
Thou that haſt nothing of me but my crowne:
My enterprize ſurpaſt the boundleſſe Sea,
cutting the churliſh Waves of Helleſpont,
when the flood ſtood which wind for to obey!
Euxinum groan'd beneath my burdenous ſhips:
I was the firſt of all the Turkiſh Kings
that Europe knew, and the fond Chriſtians plague.
What coward blood ran flowing in my veines,
when thou wert firſt begot, who marreſt all
thy Fathers acts by thy untam'd deſires?
Wherefore with Stygian curſes I will lade thee:
Firſt, may ſhe prove a Strumpet to thy Bed,
be her lips poyſon, and let her looſe embraces ▪
be venemous as Scorpions: If ſhe conceive
a Generation from thee, let it be;
as ominous as thou haſt beene to me;
Rebellious to thy Praecepts, printing cares
upon thy aged browes. O may they prove,
as Faries for to laſh thee in thy reſt!
But Amurath, if thou canſt quench this flame,
if thou wilt cut this Gordian thred, and rend hence
that putrid Wenne which cleaves unto they fleſh,
be all thine actions proſperous. Mahomet
ſhall be auſpitious unto each deſigne;
Fortune to ſhew thee favour ſhall be proud,
144 Farewel. If what men doe ſpeake laſt before
they die take root, then dead mens ſhould take more.
Exit Schahin.
Amur.
What, art thou vaniſht? Know (thou carefull ſpright)
thou ſhalt no ſooner pierce the wandring clouds
with unperceived flight, than my reſolve
ſhall expiate my former Vanity.
Looke on thy ſonne, thou airy intellect,
and ſee him ſacrifice to thy command!
Now Titan turne thy breathing courſers backe,
ſtart hence bright day, a ſable Cloud invade
this univerſall Globe, breake every prop
and every hindge that doth ſuſtaine the Heavens:
For ſtraight muſt die a woman, I have nam'd
a crime, that may accuſe all Nature guilty.
The Sexe wiſely conſidered, deſerves a death;
For thinke this, Amurath, this woman may
proſtrate her delicate and Ivory limbes
to ſome baſe Page, or Scul, or ſhrunk up Dwarf,
Or let ſome Groome lye feeding on her lips,
ſhe may deviſe ſome miſhapen trick
to ſatiate her goatiſh Amurath;
and from her bended knees at Meditation,
be taken by ſome ſlave toth' deepe of Hell!
Th'art a brave Creature, wert thou not a woman.
Tutor! Come! thou ſhalt ſee my well-kept vow,
and know my hate, which ſaw me dote but now:
Schahin! Eurenoſes! Captaines, ho!

Scaenae. 5. Actus. 2.

Enter Schahin, Eurenoſes, Chaſe-Illibegge.
Our Tutor, Eurenoſes, Captaines, welcome.
Gallants, I call you to a ſpectacle:
My breſt's too narrow to hoard up my joy ▪
Nay, gaze here Gentlemen! give Nature thanks,
145 for framing ſuch an excellent ſence as Sight,
whereby ſuch obiects are injoyn'd as this ▪
Which of you now impriſon not your thoughts
in envious and ſilent policy.
Scah.
My Lord to whatſoever you ſhall propoſe,
my ſentence ſhall be free.
Euren And mine.
Chaſe-il.
And mine.
Am.
Which of you then dare challinge to himſelfe
ſuch a pathetical Praerogative,
ſo ſtoically ſevered from affection?
That, had he ſuch a Creature as lieth here,
one, at whom Nature her ſelf ſtood amazed,
one, whom thoſe lofty extaſies of poets,
ſhould they decay, here't muſt nor barely dump
their dull inventions with ſimilitudes,
taken from Sun, Moon, Violets, Roſes;
and, when their ruptures at a period ſtand,
a ſilent admiration muſt ſupply.
Onely name her, and ſhe is all diſcrib'd.
Hyperbole of women, Coulour it ſelfe
is not more pure, and incontaminate!
ſleep doates on her and graſpes her eye-lids cloſe?
the skie it ſelfe hath onely ſo much blew
as the azure in her veines lends by refluxe.
Here's breath that would thoſe vapors purifie,
which from Avernus choakes the flying Birds:
here's heat would tempt the numb'd Athenian,
though all his blood with age were conjeal'd yee!
Now, which of you all is ſo temperate,
that did he find this Jewel in his bed
(unleſſe an Eunuch) could refraine to grapple,
and dally with her? come! ſpeak freely all.
Sch.
Truly (my Lord) I came of mortal parents
and muſt confeſſe me ſubject to deſires;
freely injoy your Love!
that were ſhe mine, I ſurely would do no leſſe.
146Amur.
What ſayth Eurenoſes?
Euren.
My Lord, I ſay,
that they may raile at light, that nere ſaw day;
but had I ſuch a Creature by my ſide,
were the world twice enlarged, and all that world
orecome by me, all volumes writ,
made clean and fild up by Rhetorique ſtraines
of my great deeds, Hiſtorians ſhould ſpend
their Inke and Paper in my ſole Chronicle;
A thouſand ſuch alluring idle charmes
could not conjure me from betwixt her armes.
Amur.
Your ſentence Ch•ſ-Illebeg?
Chaſ.
What need your grace depend upon our breath?
I vow (my Lord,) if all thoſe ſcrupulous things
which burden us with precepts ſo preciſe,
thoſe parents, which when they are married once
and paſt their ſtrength of years, think their ſons ſtraight
ſhould be as old in every thing as they;
I ſay my Lord, did my head weare a crowne,
that Queen ſhould be the chiefeſt jem t'adorne it,
ſpite of all hate. That's an unhappy ſtate,
when Kings muſt feare to love leaſt ſubjects hate.
Amu.
Wel ſpoke, three Milkſops, Schahin. your ſword,
Scahin gives him a Sword.
Now, now be valour in this manly arme
to cut off troupes of thoughts that would invade me!
Think you my minde is waxie to be wrought
int'any faſhion? Orchanes, thy ſtrength!
Here do I wiſh, as did that Emperour,
that all the heads of that inticing Sexe
were upon hers, thus then ſhould one full ſtroake
mow them all off.
Amurath cuts off Eumorphes head, ſhewes it to the nobles.
there kiſſe now (Captaines) do, and clap her cheekes:
this is the face that did ſo captive me:
theſe were the lookes that ſo bewicht mine eyes:
here be the lips, that I but for to touch,
147 gave over fortune, victory, fame and all;
theſe were two lying mirrors where I lookt
and thought I ſaw a world of happineſſe.
Now tutor, ſhall our ſwords be excerciſed
in ripping up the breſts of Chriſtians?
Say Generals, Whither i'ſt firſt?
A.
For Thracia.
Amurath.
On then for Thracia, for he ſurely ſhall,
that conquers firſt himſelfe, ſoon conquer all.
Exeunt omnes.

Actus 3.

Scena 1.

Enter Cobelitz ſolus.
Cobelitz.
Thou ſacred guider of the arched Heavens,
who canſt collect the ſcattering ſtarres, and fixe
the Erratique planets in the conſtant pole!
O why ſhouldſt thou take ſuch ſolicitous care
to keep the ayre, and Elements in courſe?
That Winter ſhould uncloth our Mother Earth,
and wrap her in a winding ſheet of ſnow;
that then the ſpring duly revives her ſtill,
unbinds her ſinews, fils her cling'd up veynes
with living dew, and makes her young again.
Next that, the Nemean terror breathes her flames,
to parch her flaxie haires with furious heat;
which to allay too, thou op'ſt the Chataracts,
and water'ſt the worlds gardens with bleſt drops;
canſt thou, which canſt ſuſtain the ponderous world,
and keep it in true poize, ſecurely ſleepe,
letting a Tyrant (which with a fillip, thus;
thou mighteſt ſink to earth) to baffle thee?
A warrior in thy fields, I long have been
148 To ſee if in thy ſacred providence,
Thou meanſt to arm me with thy thunder-bolt,
Yet, yet, it ſtrikes not; now he Giant-wiſe,
Dares thee again; pardon our earneſt zeal
What ere's decreed for man, by thy beheſt,
He muſt perform, and in obedience reſt.
Thou, like Spectators when they do behold
an hardy youth encountring with a Bear,
or ſomthing terrible ▪ then they give a ſhout;
ſo doſt thou even applaud they ſelf to ſee
Religion ſtriving with Calamity.
Which while it often bears, and ſtill reſts true,
it's fence 'gainſt all that after ſhall enſue.
Turk, ile oppoſe thee ſtill; Heaven has decreed,
That this weak hand, ſhall make that tyrant bleed ▪
a man religious, firm, and ſtrongly good
cannot oth•ſuddain be, nor underſtood.
Exit.

Actus 3. Scena 2.

Enter Amurath in Arms, Schahin, Captains, Souldiers.
Amurath.
Riſe (Soul!) injoy the prize of thy brave worth:
Schahin, the Preſent that thou ſo profeſt,
ſhould from the City of Oreſtias,
make proud our eyes! then tell me, Haſt thou ſlain
a thouſand ſuperſtitious Chriſtian ſouls?
made them ſtoop to us: O, I would bath my hands
in their warm blood to make them ſupple (Schahin)
that they may weild more Spears: our hands are dull,
our furie's patient! Now will I be a Turk.
and to our Prophet's Altars do I vow,
that to his yoke I will all necks ſubdue,
or in their throats my bloody Sword imbrew.
149Schahin calls in his Souldiers, and each of them pre­ſents to Amurath the head of a dead Chriſtian.
Scha.
Then King, to adde freſh oyl unto thy hate,
and make it raiſe it ſelf a greater flame,
ſee here theſe Chriſtians heads; thus ſtill ſhall fall
before thy fatal hand, theſe impious ſlaves:
ſo long as numbers 's wanting to the ſand,
ſo long as day ſhall come with Sun, and night
be ſpangled with the twilight dawning ſtars,
whilſt floods ſhall fall into the Ocean,
ſhall Chriſtians tremble at Turks thundring ſtroaks.
Amurat.
So am I Amurath, the great King of Turks,
O how it glads me thus to paſh their brains,
to rend their locks, to tear theſe Infidels!
Who thundered when theſe heads were ſmitten off?
Stars I could reach you with my lofty hand,
'tis well, enough, enough, (great Amurath)
for now I ſit in Orchanes great Throne,
and ſacrifice due Rites to Mahomet;
yet why enough? Ile on, and dung the Earth,
with Chriſtians rotted trunks, that from that ſoyl,
may ſpring more Cadmean Monſters to orecome them.
Captains, what Countries next ſhall we make flow,
with Channels of their blood?
Euren.
To Servia (my Lord) there are troups of arms,
gathered to reſiſt Mahometan.
Chaſe.
At Bulgaria, there they ſet on fire,
the Countries as they paſs, 'twere good we haſte.
Amur.
VVhy they do well! we like of their deſire
to make the flame in which themſelves muſt fry!
Ruine, deſtruction, famine, and the ſword,
ſhall all invade them: Sun ſtay thou thy flight,
and ſee the ſneaks in their own River drencht,
whilſt with their blood our furious thirſt is quencht!
150

Scena. 3. Actus 3.

Enter in armes, Lazarus Deſpot of Servia, Seſmenos Governor of Bulgaria.
La.
Whither (Bulgaria) whither muſt we flye?
the Butcherous Turk's at hand. Bleſt Sanctity!
if thou didſt ere guard goodneſſe, wall our towers,
bring ſtrength into our Nerves. For in thy cauſe
our Breſts upon their Rapiers we will run;
we'll with juſt hope confront the tyrants rage,
meet him i'the face, fury will find us armes,
there is a power can guard us from all harmes.
Seſ.
Let us be ſuddain: for we'l not find ſcope,
to ſee our haps. Who moſt doth fear, may hope.
Enter to them Cobelitz.
Cob.
Governor, Captains, haſt unto your arms:
the dangers imminent, and the Turk's at hand.
Laz.
- (Cobelitz) muſt we ſtill wade thus deep
in blood and terror?
Cob.
Yes (Servia) we muſt, we ſhould, we ought,
Eaſe and lucreſſe keeps baſeneſs company.
Shall we not bluſh to ſee the regiſter
of thoſe great Romans, and Heroick Greeks,
which did thoſe acts, at which our hearts are ſtruck
beneath all credence, only to win fame?
and ſhall not we for that Eternal name?
To live without all credence, even to win fame,
is not to know life's chief, and better parts:
To us of future hopes: calamity
muſt help to purchaſe immortality.
Seſ.
Well ſpoke (trueChriſtian) they who ſtil live high,
and ſnoare in prais'd applauſe nere know to bear,
a contumely, or check, or fate.
Wiſely to ſteare a Ship, or guide an Army,
151 undaunted hardineſſe is requiſite;
O then lets to our weapons! make him yeild;
they which deny all right, oft give't ith'Field.
Enter Chriſtian Souldiers falling out among them-fighting confuſedly.
Cob.
Why (Gentlemen) we want no foes to fight,
nor need we turn our weapons on our ſelves.
One Souldier ſpeaks as drunk.
1.
You lazy rogue, what come in my Cabinet?
anſwer the other.
2.
Conſpiring ſlave, you murmur'd gan'ſt th'allowance,
and wouldſt perſwade upon a larger pay,
to betray all Garriſons, and turn Turk.
Thou half Can-carouſing raſcal, Ile teare thee,
and thoſe treacherous veines of thine. Will you ſee,
They all fall by the eares.
Blew-Jackets, will you ſee your Corporal wrong'd?
well, ſince I fight for victuals, for company.
Uſe now your ſwords and Bucklers.
La.
Treaſon, the next man that ſpeaks or ſtrikes a blow.
Sold.
Then ſhall our Laundreſſes fight for us?
2.
Why, Amazons! Baudicans, come help to ſcratch.
Enter ſome Truls on both ſides, they fight and ſcratch.
Seſm.
O Cobelitz, what way ſhall we appeaſe them?
Truls ſcold confuſedly: Thus
1. Trul.
Out, thy Corporal (huſwife) hath the itch,
you now will have foul waſhing. Drab, Ile tear your mouth:
2.
An inch or two yet wider.
Cob.
What, ſouldiers! think you each diſtaſteful word,
given 'mongſt your ſelves ſo ſtrong an obloquie,
that revenge ſpurs you to each others death?
The General parts them with his ſword.
And will not ſeek to waſh thoſe blaſphemies,
in Seas of their foul blood, which are belcht out
by our approaching foes, againſt the Eſſence
of the Eternal!
152Laz.
Leave, leave, theſe factions; ceaſe theſe mutinies
A Drum from the Turk's Camp.
Hark, their Drums take advantage of theſe ſtirs:
let us oppoſe our ſtrength againſt our foe;
and in our Camp let not one Souldier be,
who will not finde, and ſtrike his Enemie.
Cob.
Now (bleſt guider and great ſtrength of arms)
if in thy ſecret and hidden decree,
thou haſt not yet appointed the full time
wherein thou meaneſt to tame this Tyger,
who dare murmur againſt thine hidden will?
Be we ſlain now, there's victory in ſtore,
which when thou pleaſeſt thou 't give, and not before.
Give us ſtill ſtrength of patience, not to wiſh,
a funeral honour unto all the world,
when we are periſhing, we'l ſtill believe,
thoſe dangers worth our death we undergo,
whilſt he, who's ours, is alike thy foe.
Should Fortune loſe this day, when we are ſlain,
thou canſt give hands, and ſtrength, and men again;
on thee we truſt then, and on thee bear,
ſcorning for Heaven's ſake to ſhed a tear.
Exeunt.

Actus 3. Scena 4.

A March within, excurſions, alarums. Enter as Conquerors, Cairadin Baſſa, Schahin, leading young men Chriſtians, Priſoners.
Schah.
Baſſa, we thank thy valour and diſcretion,
in finding fit occaſion to invade
the mutinous Chriſtians! theſe Captives here
ſhall be good Preſents to our worthy Maſter.
Baſſa.
General, now truſt me theſe young ſlaves,
be full of Valor, they have metal in them.
Schuh.
Yes: and to his Highneſs ſhall perform
153 a Service which I long have thought upon,
and when his Turkiſh Majeſty requires;
they'l fit to be a near attendant Guard,
on all occaſions to the Emperour;
therefore they ſhall be called Janizaries,
by me firſt inſtituted, for our Princes ſafeties ſake.
Baſſ.
Their vigor & ſtrong hearts becomes ſuch ſervice,
for to orecome them made our Souldiers ſweat
much Turkiſh blood: the Servians kept the Fight
with ſtubborn hard reſiſtance, The Bulgarians
left the right wing; there ſet I forward firſt,
and like a torrent roll'd deſtruction on,
raiſing huge ſtorms of blood, as doth the Whale
puffe up the waves againſt a mighty Ship;
me thinks, I ſee the Rivers of their gore:
their Leaders trampled on by Turkiſh Horſe,
the Body of their Army quite diſperſt,
themſelves all floating in Vermillian pools,
with their own weapons haſting to their death,
and ſuch a ſlaughter did we make of them,
as Nature ſcarce can ere repair again.
One haſtning t'others death, pulling to ground
him that held up, ſo they each other drown'd.
Schah.
Still are they confident upon a power,
they know not what, who (as they think) can ſnatch
their preciſe ſouls from out the jaws of death.
Baſſ.
Yes, ſuch a ſuperſtition doth poſſeſs them;
for when they lookt for nothing but their fate,
and danger ſtood in ſweat upon their brows:
they yet ſcorn'd Mahomet, and prophan'd his Rites,
and nought but horror made them to believe
ſo many men were fighting on his ſide,
as might have chang'd my ſeat, and part ith' world,
(though Nature ſtood againſt) to a new place:
or carry Seſtos whereby Abydos ſtands,
or pull down Atlas with ſo many hands.
154

Actus 3. Scena 5.

Enter Amurath with Embaſſadors from German Ogly, concerning Bajazet, Amurath's Eldeſt ſon, and the Mahometans Daughter. Cairadin Baſſa pre­ſents Amurath with his Captives for Ianizaries. &c.
Amurath.
How like our Captaines the laſt Victory?
(if any can propheſie of future things)
me thought I did dream of this bleſſed hap.
How fortune did involve them in their ruin!
and flight from danger, brought them in their ruine.
each one aſtonied with a ſuddaine feare,
knew not the danger that was then moſt neare.
Baſſa & Schahin preſents Amurath with Captives for Ianizaries
Baſſa.
To adde more tryumph, I preſent my Liege,
with theſe young Rebels, which you may bring up
in all the praecepts of our Mahomet.
Scah.
And, (for great Emperor, your perſon wants
a thing which much ore-Clouds your light of ſtate,
attendant Ianizaries to a Prince:)
theſe may be ſo trained up, as to ſupply
the duty fit for ſuch a Majeſty.
Am.
Baſſa, we thank thy ſtrength, Schahin your counſaile
and to that end, let them have ſafe protection.
But we muſt treat now of a marriage (Lords)
the German Ogly, he whoſe Scepter ſwaies
the Phrygian confines in ſtrong Aſia,
by Embaſſie intreats that he may joyne
his Daughter Hatum to our Bajazet.
Embaſſador, here to our Counſell ſpeak
your Maſters Meſſage.
155Emb.
Pleaſe then your Maj. and theſe reverend heads
to be inform'd my maſters will by me?
In wedlock if your prince may be combin'd
to the faire princeſſe his ſole daughter,
he freely gives the Phrygian territories,
and Bythinia to you for your dowry;
Cutas, Simon, Egregios, Sanſale,
Abbettingon, the Ottomans eſtate;
which Ottomans, becauſe he not endures,
the Noble Zelzucciom family proteſts,
to joyn with you in quelling their ambition
Sca.
May't pleaſe your majeſty to like mine advice,
it's good to have alliance with ſuch friends;
Kings that combine themſelvs are like to ſhafts,
the ancient Sage propos'd unto his ſonnes;
which whilſt together they were cloſe compact,
armes, knees, and his whole ſtrength, could never break;
take one by one, they with a touch were crack'd:
ſo Kings may be orecome that ſtand alone;
but two ſuch princes, knit thus hand in hand,
ſhould Nations totter they would firmely ſtand.
Am.
Yes Schahin, we'll approve what thou ſaieſt,
then from us carry the great Aſiaes Monarch
this our kindeſt greeting:
tell him, the gates of Pruſa ſhall ſtand ope,
and the glad ayre ſhall Eccho notes of joy ▪
to entertaine her who ſhall bleſſe our Land
with hopefull iſſue; greedy thoughts expect
her ſoon arrivall; and ſo (Embaſſador)
enforme thy princeſſe, when ſhe ſhall appear,
A laſting Starr ſhall ſhine within our ſpheare.
156

Scen 6. Actus 3.

Enter Saſmenos, Lazarus, Cobelitz.
Saſ.
O Servia, our Cities are turn'd flames;
each ſtrives to haſt his own and others death:
And as though heaven conſpir'd deſtruction too,
that rains down ſcalding Sulphure on our heads,
here one that lyes thick gaſping for his breath
is choakt with blood that runs from's fellows wounds;
whilſt others for the dead are making graves,
themſelves are made the corps that do fill them.
Nobles, and baſe, together periſh all,
and a drawn ſword ſticks faſt in every rib;
our ſtones are dy'd Vermillion with our blood:
old creatures that are creeping to the grave,
are thruſt on faſter.
Infants, but in the threſhold of their lives,
are thus kickt off: Oh moſt diſaſtrous times,
to love our deaths, and make our life our crimes!
Laz.
See, ſee, the ruins of our goodly Walls,
our Cities ſmoak hinder the ſight of heaven:
The conqueror yet amaz'd meaſures out our Towns,
with eyes of terror, and doth ſcarce believe
he hath overcome us, yet among theſe fires,
our dead men are denyed their funeral flames:
And thoſe infectious carkaſſes do perform,
a ſecond murder on the reſt that live;
and all the hope of ſafety that we have,
is now to fix our flattering lips at's feet:
mercy (perhaps) may wearied ſlaughter meet.
Saſ.
Will you do ſo? ſpeak, for I am determin'd —
Cob.
No (worthy General) heaven avert
and arm you with the proof of better thoughts!
What though a Tyrant ſtrives to terrifie
157 all Chriſtendome, and would not be beloved;
let not your feares give impious rage ſuch ſcope,
as for to bring Religion to prophaneneſſe:
fortune and heaven will ſcorn to try a man,
that hurles his weapons hence and runs away:
How is he worthy of heavens victory,
that, when it frownes, dares not look up and ſee?
Me thinks we three are now inviron'd round,
with hoſts of Angels, and our powerful Mars
is putting bows of ſteel into our hands:
he doth ſuggeſt our wrath, and bids us on.
O what an army 'tis to have a cauſe
holy and juſt; there, there's our ſtrength indeed!
— Tu mente Labantes,
Direge nos, dubios, et certo Robore firma.
If we muſt dye, the narrow way to bliſſe
ſhall be made wide for us: the gate's wide ope,
and the ſpread Palace entertaines with joy.
Mean time, let's look like men upon our grief,
our frown fate Deſpot, Bulgaria, come.
Turk, once more at thee (Tyrant) mortals muſt
command heavens favour in a caſe ſo juſt.
Exeunt.

Actus 4.

Scena 1.

Enter Aladin King of Caramania, ſon in Law to A­murath, with Nobles, Embaſſadors from Amurath.
Alad.
Sends our proud father-in-law this greeting to us?
was our ſword ſheath'd ſo ſoon to heare this anſwer?
Emb.
My Lord, he bad me tell you that 'twas you
have made him leave off this great Prophets wars,
158 when he was hewing down the Chriſtians;
therefore ſubmiſſion ſhould not now appeaſe him,
no, though your wife, his daughter, ſhould her ſelf,
upon her penitent knees be ſupplyant.
No ſooner ſhall the Tycian ſplendid Sol
open heavens Caſements, and inlarge the day,
but his horſe hoofs ſhall beat your treacherous earth;
and that you may be warn'd of his approach,
murder and flames ſhall be his Prodromo's!
Alad.
Confederate Princes, and my kind allyes,
ſhall his proud noſtrils breath thoſe threats on us?
Emb.
Moreover, my Lord will, or win, or raze,
Iconium and Larenda.
Alad.
Iconium and Larenda? I? No more?
had beſt look firſt, how ſafe his Pruſa ſtands.
Lords, I am mov'd, and will forget my Queen
was ere the iſſue of his hated blood:
My ſplene is toſt within, mine entrailes pant,
as, when the Sea is rais'd with Southern guſts,
the wind allay'd, yet ſtill the waves will tremble,
Princes, now binde your ſelves with ſuch ſtrong chaines,
your faith and breaths can make; ſwear to me all,
to be as firm to me 'gainſt Amurath,
as is the skin and fleſh unto the Nerves;
They all kneel, and ſwear upon his ſword.
Nobles.
We all ſweare we will.
Alad.
Then all here kiſſe my ſword,
which ſhall be ſteept within the head-mans throat:
We'l make him know thoſe will not flie in war,
which may in policie intreat a peace!
Haſt thy courſe (time) and ſoon reduce the year!
Lucan: — Infeſtique obvia Signis
Signa, pares aquilas, & pila minantia pilis.
Enſignes may Enſignes meet, Carmania's King,
great Aladin, ſcorns to avoyd a Turk.
Princes, and Neighbours, muſter up your ſtrength,
159 that we may meet him on his full Cariere;
and let it be Carmanian's pride to ſay,
to o'recome him we ask no ſecond day.

Scena 2. Actus 4.

Enter Amurath at one door with Nobles, Bajazet; En­ter at th'other, Hatum, richly attended, they meet, ſa­lute in dumb ſhews; Amurath joynes the hands of the Prince and Princeſſe; whilſt this is ſolemnizing, is ſung to ſoft Muſick, this Song following.
SONG.
Thine O Hymen, thine is ſhe,
Whoſe Beauties verſe Calliope,
Sing to Marriage ties an Io;
Io to Hymen.
Chorus.
To thee Apollo is my ſute,
Lend me a while thy ſilver Lute,
O what a woe it is to bring,
A Bride to Bed and never ſing,
Io to Hymen.
Ambo.
When ſhe's old, ſtill ſeemes ſhe yong,
When ſhe's weake, to her be ſtrong!
Be Cyprus, both, and Paphos here,
Love, ſing with merry cheere,
Io to Hymen.
Amur.
You Gods of Marriage, ſacred Protectoreſs
of lawful propagations, and bleſt Love,
be moſt propitious to theſe grafted ſtemmes;
drop dewing ſhowers of generation on them.
160Think (Son) this day ſo prodigal of bleſſing,
as, that had Juno taskt thee (like Alcides)
to grapple with Stymphallides, or cleanſe
Augean ſtables: or like the Trojan Boy,
ſit like a Shepheard on Dardanias hills,
ſuch a reward as this fair Queen repayes.
O thou hop'd future off-ſpring, ſpare thy Parent!
Hurt not this tender womb, theſe Ivory worlds,
in which a pritty people yet ſhall live
when you are born; O be within your limbs
the Granſire, Amurath, and fathers ſtrength;
line their faces (Nature) with their mothers dye:
And let the deſtinies make the enſuing night
in their Eternal Books, with notes moſt white.
All.
Grant it great Mahomet.
Hat.
Moſt awful father, and my honored Prince,
although it be enacted by the heavens,
that in theſe bonds of marriage, ſuch curſe
attends on Princes above private men,
that no affection, nor home-nouriſht Love
but ſtate and policy muſt elect their wives,
which muſt be fetcht from Countries far remot;
yet the protecting Powers have ſuch a care,
both of their off-ſprings and their Kingdoms ſtate.
That to what they ordain, they work in us
a ſuddain willingneſſe to make's obey;
for in this breſt, I do already feel
that there's a kindling a Diviner heat,
which diſobedience never ſhall extinguiſh.
And if there be any felicity
from theſe united Loves to be derived
from the weak ſex unto the husbands ſoul,
then may my Lord make his affection ſure,
to be repaid with an untainted Love.
With ſoft and yeilding courteſie in all
he ſhall command, my willing arms ſhall ſtill
161 be ope t'enfold within a wives embrace,
if any comfort elſe there be in ſtore,
(which modeſty keeps ſilent to it ſelf
cauſe only husbands and the night muſt know't)
my Loyalty ſhall ever all perform:
and though my Lord ſhould frown, Ile be the ſame,
green wood will burn with a continued flame:
Baja.
Princeſſe, our ardour is already fired,
yet with no violent temerity;
ſuch as might feare it's ſhort and ſoon decaying:
thy vertue ſeems ſo to exceed thy Sex,
and wiſdome ſo far to out-pace thy yeares,
that, ſurely (Princeſs) ſoon maturity,
argues in them hidden Divinity.
Expected Hymen here hath bound our hands
and hearts, with everlaſting ligaments:
Fortunate both we are, and have one bliſſe,
the want of which for ever doth infect
with anxious cares the ſweets of marriage beds:
our parents benediction and conſent,
they are the trueſt Hymens, and ſhould be
to children the beſt marriage Deity.
Thus then attended with ſuch ſacred charmes
our laſt day of content ſhall never come;
till we muſt part by th'unreſiſted doome,
with a pleas'd error we will age beguile,
all ſtars on us, an equal yoke, muſt ſmile,
Amu.
Now (Lords) who'le dance
a Turkiſh meaſure? Ladies our nerves are ſhrunk;
and you now fix the ſign of age on me,
you, who have blood ſtill flowing in your veines,
be nimble as an Hart: Caper t' the Sphaeres:
O you are light, that want the weight of years!
Muſick
Here Amurath aſcends his Throne, the reſt ſet down to dance, Bajazet with Hatum, &c. the end of the dance, all kneel, Amur. begins an health, a flouriſh with Cornets.
162Amu.
And health to our Bride and her father:
O (Nobles) would this wine were Chriſtians blood,
but that it would Phrenetique humours breed,
and ſo infect our braines with Superſtition!
Enter Eurenoſes with ſix Chriſtian Maidens, richly attyred, their Haire hanging looſe, in their hands Cups of Gold with Jewels, &c.
Eure.
Auſpicious fortunes to great Amurath:
to ope more ſprings to this full-tide of joy,
know (potent Emperor) I from Europe bring
ſix daughters of ſix ſeveral Kings,
whoſe Cities we have equall'd to the ground;
and of their Palaces did torches make,
to light their ſouls through the black cave of death.
Am.
Deſcribe (good Captain) how the dogs were wea­ried.
Eure.
So weary were they to indure our ſwords,
that by impetuous mutiny themſelves
turn'd on each other, ſlew their Maſters;
Childrens own hands tore out their fathers throats,
and each one ſtrove who ſhould be ſlaughtered firſt;
Here did a brother paſh out a brothers braines,
ſome in ſtinking Quagmires, and deep Lakes
(which they had made t'avoide their excrements)
ran quick, and in the lake lay buryed.
Am.
Good Executioner of our moſt juſt wrath!
Eur.
Nor did it leave till death it ſelf was wearie,
murder grew faint, and each ſucceeding day
ſhew'd us the ſlaughter of the day before.
'Mongſt carcaſſes and funerals we ſtood,
denying thoſe that liv'd ſuch Ceremonies
as in their Temples to the Indian gods,
with prayers and vowes they daily offred:
Nor deſtiny, nor cruelty ere left,
till they had nothing for to work upon;
163 for, of ſo many ſouls that breath'd of late,
theſe ſix are all remain: which as a Pledge
of my beſt ſervice to your Majeſty,
I here am bold to yeild an offer.
Amu.
Nor ſhall this preſent be unrecompenced;
for thy true ſervice, on thee Ile beſtow
all the rich gifts, which all theſe Aſian Lords
brought to adorn theſe happy Nuptials;
on you faire Bride, great Princeſſe, and our Daughter
do we beſtow theſe Virgins (daughters to Kings)
for your attendance.
Hat.
We are two much bound unto our Princely Fa­ther
Amu.
No (Daughter) no, we hope thou art the ſpring
from whence ſhall flow to all the world a King.
Captaines and Lords, to morrow we muſt meet,
to think of our rebellious ſon in Law.
Be this time all for comfort and delight,
ſhort wedding dayes make it ſeem long to night.
Exeunt omnes.

Scena 3. Actus 4.

Enter Lazartis and Cobelitz, bringing the dead body of Saſmenos.
Laz.
Here ſet we down our miſerable load,
O Cobelitz, with whom is't that we fight?
VVith Lybian Lyons? Or Hyrcanian Beares,
which grinde us daily in their ravenous teeth?
The Tyrant (as it were deſtructions Engineer)
helps Nature to deſtroy the worlds frame quickly.
Cob.
Alas, my Lord, that needs not, every day
is a ſufficient helper to decay:
Great workman, who art ſparing in thy ſtrength
to bring things to perfection: and to oreturn
all thy beſt works, thou uſeſt ſuddaine force.
164 when mans an Embrio and firſt conceived,
how long 'tis ere he ſees his native light?
Then born, with expectation for his growth,
tenderly nouriſht, carefully brought up:
grown to perfection, what a little thing
ſerves to call on his ſuddain ruining?
Laz.
Come Cobelitz, 'mongſt thoſe demoliſht ſtones
we'll ſit as Hecuba, at thoſe Trojan walls:
our teares ſhall be falſe glaſſes to our eyes,
through theſe we'l look, and think we yet may ſee
our ſtately Pinacles, and ſtrong founded holds:
that which one hour can delapidate,
one age can ſcarce repaire.
Col.
No ſir, for nothing's hard
to Nature, when ſhe meanes for to conſume:
A thouſand Oakes (which time hath fixt i'th earth,
as Monuments of laſting memory)
are in a moment turn'd to aſhes; all
things that riſe ſlowly, take a ſuddain fall.
Laz.
What courſe now, Cobelitz? muſt we ſtil be yoakt
to miſery, and murder? We ſcarce have room
upon our bodyes to receive more wounds,
and muſt we ſtill oppoſe our ſelves to more?
Cob.
Yes! We are ready ſtill; a ſolid mind
muſt not be ſhak't with every blaſt of wind.
Pollux, nor Hercules, had none other art,
to get them Manſions in the Spangl'd heavens
then a true firm reſolve; th' Adriatike Sea,
ſhall from his currents with tempeſtuous blaſts
be ſooner mov'd, than vertue from its aime.
Let us but think (when we ſo many ſee
enjoying greater quiet than our themſelves)
how many have endur'd more miſery;
Ilion, Ilion, what a fate hadſt thou?
How fruitful wert thou in matter for thy foe?
Thus we'll delude our grief, make our ſelf glad,
165 to think of miſeries that others had.
Laz.
Ay, (Captain) ay; they that furniſh thee
with ſentences of comfort, never ſaw,
their Cities burnt, their Countries deſolate.
'Tis eaſie for Phyſicians for to tell
advice to others, when themſelves are well.
Cob.
Tuſh, tuſh (my Lord) there's on our ſide we know,
one that both can, and will our weake hands guide,
one that will ſtrike and thunder; Gyant then,
look for a dart! we muſt not appoint when;
mean while help to convey this burden hence.
Turk, though thy tyranny deny us graves,
corruption will give them ſpite of thee:
Nor do our corps, ſuch Tombs and Cavernes need:
for our own fleſh, ſtill our own graves do breed:
And, whom the earth receives not when they die,
heavens vault overwhelms them, ſo their tomb's ith'skie.
Exeunt with a dead Trunk.

Actus 4. Scena 4.

Enter Aladin as flying, an arrow through his arm, wounded in his forehead, his ſhield ſtuck with darts: With him two Nobles.
Alad.
Beſieged on every ſide? Iconium taken?
Entrencht within my foes my ſelf muſt lie
wrapt in my Cities ruine. Turks come on.
1. Nob.
Nay but my Lord, mean you to meet your death?
let's haſt our flight, and truſt more to our feet
then words, or hands —
Alad.
Why ſo much of our blood
is already ſpilt, as ſhould the glittering Sun
exhale it upward, 'twould obnubulate
It's luſter, elſe to fiery Metors turn.
ſome counſel (Lords) he that's amidſt the Sea,
166 when every curled wave doth threat his death,
yet truſts upon the oares of his own armes,
and ſometime the ſalt fome doth pity him.
A VVolf, or Lion, that hath fild his gorge
with bloody prey, at laſt will lie to ſleep,
and the unnaturalſt creatures not forget
their love to thoſe whom they do know their own:
My wife's his daughter; ſince we cannot ſtand
his fury longer, ſhe ſhall ſwage his wrath.
The boyſterous Ocean when no winds oppoſe,
grows calm: revenge is loſt, when't hath no foes.
2. Nob.
VVhy then (my Lord) array your ſelf in weeds
of a Petitioner: take the Queen along,
and your two children; they may move his eyes;
for, deſperate ſores aske deſperate remedies.
Ala.
Go (Lords) go: fetch ſome ſtraight. O heavens!
O fortune, they that leane on thy crackt wheel,
and truſt a Kingdomes power, and domineer
in a wall'd Palace, let them look on me,
and thee (Carmania;) greater inſtances
the world affords not to demonſtrate
the frail eſtate of proudeſt Potentates,
of ſturdieſt Monarchies: high Pinacles
are ſtill invaded with the prouder winds;
they muſt endure the threats of every blaſt;
the tops of Caucaſus and Pindus ſhake
with evey crack of thunder; humble Vaults
are nere toucht with a bolt: ambiguous wings
hath all the ſtate, that hovers over Kings.
Enter the 2. Nobles with a winding ſheet, A­ladin puts it on.
I, I, this veſture ſits my miſery!
this badge of poverty muſt now prevaile,
where all my Kingdomes power and ſtrength doth fail.
Why ſhould not a prophetick ſoul attend
on great mens perſons, and forewarn their ills?
167Raging Bootes doth doth not ſo turmoile
the Lybian ford, as Fortune doth great hearts.
Bellona and Erynnis ſcourge us on;
ſhould wars and treaſons ceaſe, why our own weight
would ſend us to the earth, as ſpreading armes
make the huge trees in tempeſt for to ſplit.
For as the ſlaughter-man to paſture goes,
and drags that Oxe home firſt, whoſe Bulk is greateſt,
the leane he ſtill lets feed: diſeaſe takes hold
on bodies that are pampered with beſt fare;
ſo doth all ruine chuſe the faireſt markes,
at which it bends, and ſtrikes it full of ſhafts;
ambition made me now that eminent Butt:
And I that fell by mine own ſtrength, muſt riſe
by profeſt weakneſſe; Buckets full ſink down,
whilſt th'empty dance i'th' ayre and cannot drown.
Come (Lords) he out of's way can never range,
who is at furtheſt; worſt nere finds ill change.

Actus 5.

Scena 1.

Enter at one door Amurath, with attendants; at the o­ther door Aladin, his Wife, two Children, all in white ſheets, kneel down to Amurath.
Am.
Our hate muſt not part thus; I'le tell thee (Prince)
thou 'aſt kindled violent Aetna in our breſt,
and ſuch a flame is quencht with nought but blood:
His blood whoſe haſty and rebellious blaſt ▪
gave life unto the fire; ſhould heaven threat us;
know, we dare menace it; are we not Amurath?
(whoſe awful name is even trembled at)
ſo often dar'd by Pigmy Chriſtians;
which we will cruſh to ayre? what haughty thought
buzz'd thy preſumtuous eares with ſuch vain blaſts,
168 to puffe thee into ſuch impetuous acts?
or what, durſt prompt thee with a thought ſo frail,
as made thee covetous of ſo brave a death,
as this known hand ſhould cauſe it? know, that throat
ſhall feel it ſtrangled with ſome ſlave brought up
to nought but for an Hangman: thy laſt breath,
torn from thee by a hand that's worſe than death.
Alad.
Why then, Ile (like the Roman Pompey) hide
my dying ſight, ſcorning imperious looks
ſhould grace ſo baſe a ſtroke with ſad aſpect;
thus will I muffle up and choke my grones,
leſt a griev'd teare ſhould quite put out the name
of laſting courage in Carmanias fame.
Am.
What? ſtill ſtiffe necked? Is this the truce you beg?
Sprinkled before thy face thoſe Rebel Brats,
ſhall have their braines, and their diſſected limbes,
hurld for a prey to Kites; for (Lords) 'tis fit
no ſpark of ſuch a mountain threatning fire,
be left as unextinct, leaſt it devoure,
and prove more hot unto the Turkiſh Empier,
then the Promethean blaze did trouble Jove!
firſt ſacrifice thoſe Brats. —
All. Wife.
(Deare father) let thy fury ruſh on me;
within theſe entrailes ſheath thine unſatiate ſword,
and let this ominous, and too fruitful womb
be torn inſunder, for from thence thoſe Babes,
took all their crimes; error made them guilty,
'twas Natures fault, not theirs: O if affection
can work, then now ſhew a true fathers love;
if not, appeaſe thoſe murdering thoughts with me:
For as Jocaſta pleaded with her ſons
for their deare Father, ſo to a Father I
for my dear babes and husband; husband, father,
Which ſhall I firſt embrace? Victoriors father,
be blunt thoſe now ſharp thoughts, lay down thoſe threats,
unclaſp that impious Helmet; fix to earth
169 that monumental Speare, look on thy child
with pardoning looks, not with a warriers eye:
Elſe ſhall my breſt cover my husbands breſt,
and ſerve as buckler to receive thy wounds.
Why doſt thou doubt? Feareſt thou thy daughters faith?
Amu.
I feare, for after Daughters perjury,
all Lawes of Nature ſhall diſtaſteful be;
nor will I truſt thy children or thy ſelf.
Wife.
No Father, 'tis I: fear you him, he you,
I both, but for you both, for both you war;
ſo that 'tis beſt with him that's overcome.
O let me kiſſe (kind father) firſt the earth
on which you tread, then kiſſe mine husbands cheek.
Great King embrace theſe babes, you are the ſtock
on which theſe Grafts were planted —
Amu.
True, and when ſprouts do rob the tree of ſap,
they muſt be prun'd.
Wife.
Dear Father, leave ſuch harſh ſimilitudes:
By my deceaſed Mother, (to whoſe womb
I was a ten moneths burden:) By your ſelf,
(to whom I was a pleaſing Infant once)
pitty my husband, and theſe tender Infants.
Amu.
Yes, to have them collect a manly ſtrength,
and their firſt leſſon that their Dad ſhall teach them
ſhall be to read my miſery.
All.
Stern Conqueror: but that thy daughter ſhews,
there once dwelt good in that obdurate breſt,
I would not ſpend a teare to ſoften thee.
Thou ſeeſt my Countries turn'd into a grave:
my Cities ſcare the Sun with fiercer flames,
which turn them into aſhes, and my ſelf
ſo flickt and carved, that my amazed blood
knows not through which wound firſt to take it's way;
if not on me, have mercy on my babes, —
which, with thy mercy thou mayſt turn to Love.
Amu.
No ſir, we muſt root out malicious ſeed:
170 nothing ſprouts faſter, than an envious weed!
We ſee a little Bullock, 'mongſt an Herd
(whoſe horns are yet ſcarce crept from out his front)
grows on a ſuddain tall, and in the Field,
frolicks ſo much, he makes his Father yield.
A little Twig left budding on an Elm,
ungratefully bars his Mother ſight from Heaven!
I love not future Aladins.
Alad.
Threat all a Conquerour can, canſt threat but death,
and I can die: but if thou wouldſt have mercy! —
Wife.
Let's ſee your feet, we're proud with this hands kiſs!
The higher thoſe great powers have rais'd you,
preſs that which lyes below with gentler weight:
to pardon miſeries is Fortunes height:
alas, theſe infants, theſe weak ſinewed hands
can be no terror to theſe Hectors arms!
Beg (Infants) beg, and teach theſe tender joynts
to ask for mercy; learn your liſping tongues
to give due accent to each ſyllable:
nothing that Fortune urgeth to, is baſe;
put from your thoughts all memory of deſcent:
forget the Princely Titles of your Fathers:
if your own miſery you cannot feel,
learn thus of me to weep, of me to kneel.
Al.
Do (boys) and imitate your Parents tears,
which I (like Priam) ſhed, when he beheld,
Hector thrice dragg'd about the Trojan Walls.
He that burſt ope the Gates of Erebus,
and rouz'd the yelling Monſter from his Den,
was conquer'd with a tear. Great Monarch learn,
To know how dear a King doth weeping earn.
1. Ch.
Good Grandſire ſee, ſee how my Father cries!
2. Ch.
Good Mother take my napkin for your eyes!
Wife.
(Good father) hear, hear how thy daughter prays!
Thou that know'ſt how to uſe ſtern Warriers arms,
learn how to uſe mild VVarriers pity too.
171Alas? Can ere theſe ungrown ſtrengths repair
their Fathers battered Cities? Or can theſe,
theſe orethrown Turrets? (Iconium) what ſmall hopes
haſt thou to lean upon? If theſe be all?
Not half ſo mild hath our misfortune been
that any can ere fear us: Be pleaſed —
Am.
Riſe (my dear Child) as Marble againſt rain,
ſo I at theſe obedient ſhowers, melt;
thus I do raiſe thy Husband: thus thy Babes:
freely admitting you to former State.
But Aladin, wake not our wrath again;
"Patience grows fury that is often ſtirred;
when Conquerours wax calm, and ceaſe to hate,
the conquer'd ſhould not dare to reiterate.
Be thou our Son and Friend.
Alad.
By all the Rites of Mahomet, I vow it.
Am.
Then, for to ſeal unto you this our love,
your ſelf ſhall lead a wing in Servia,
in our immediate VVars; we are to meet
the Chriſtians in Caſſanoe's Plains with ſpeed:
Great Amurath nere had time to breath himſelf,
ſo much as to have warring with new Foes;
no day ſecurely to his Scepter ſhone,
but one VVars end, ſtill brought another on.
Exeunt.

Actus 5. Scena 2.

Enter Lazarus, Cobelitz, Souldiers, all armed.
Cob.
Let now victorious wreathes ingirt our brows,
let Angels 'ſtead of Souldiers wield our arms
' gainſt him, who that our Cities might be his,
ſtrives to depopulate, and make them none!
But look, look in the air (me thinks) I ſee
an Hoſt of Souldiers brandiſhing their Swords;
each corner of the Heaven ſhoots thunderbolts,
172 to nail theſe impious forces to the Earth.
Laz.
Souldiers ſtand to't, though fortune bandy at's,
let's ſtand her ſhocks, like ſturdy Rocks ith' Sea,
on which the angry foaming Billows beat,
with frivolous ruſh, and break themſelves, not them;
ſtand like the undaunted countenance oth' sky,
or, like the Sun, which when the fooliſh King,
thought to obſcure with a cloud of darts,
out lookt them all, our lives are all inchanted,
and more invulnerate than Thetis Son.
We ſhall have hands and weapons: if the ſtone
of Fortune glide from under our weak feet,
and we muſt fall, yet, let all Chriſtians ſay,
'Tis She, and not the Cauſe, that wins the day.
We muſt believe Heaven hath a greater care
of them, whom Fortune doth ſo oft out dare!
Cob.
Gentlemen, Brothers, Friends, Souldiers, Chri­ſtians,
we have no reaſon to command of Heaven
a thing denied to all mortality.
Nor ſhould we be ſo impudently proud,
as in this weak condition to repute
our ſelves above the ſtroak of Lady Chance,
a caution muſt divine it, ever fixt,
that whilſt her checks equally fall out,
community ſhould eaſe their bitterneſs.
I could afreſh now ſhed thoſe Princely tears,
to think ſuch ſuddain ruine ſhould attend
Heroick ſpirits glittering in bright arms!
But if the Graecian (when he heard the dreams
diſputed ſubtilly by Philoſophers,
to prove innumerable extant worlds)
was ſtruck with penſiveneſs, and wept to think
he had not yet obtain'd one for himſelf;
what terror can affright a Chriſtians thoughts
who knows there is a world, at liberty
to breath in, when this glaſs of life is broke?
173 our Foes with circling fury are intrencht;
Pelions of Earth and darkneſs ſhall orelade them,
whilſt we ſhall mount, and theſe our ſpirits light,
ſhall be yet ponderous to depreſs them lower.
Nay, my Enthuſiaſtick ſoul divines,
That ſome weak hand ſhall from the blazing Zone
ſnatch Lightning, which ſhall ſtrike the ſnarling Cur
with horror and amazement to the Earth,
which Hell cannot oppoſe! Turk, Tyrannize,
ſtand, yet at length to fall my ſacrifice.
Super Olympick vigor will (no doubt).
ſqueez all thy ſupercilious rancor out!
Exeunt in a March.

Scena 3. Actus 5.

The Heavens ſeem on fire, Comets and blazing Stars appear, Amurath ſpeaks.
Am.
Who ſet the world on fire?
How now (ye Heavens) grow you
ſo proud, that you muſt needs put on curl'd locks,
and cloth your ſelves in Periwigs of fire?
Mahomet (ſay not but I invoke thee now!)
command the puny-Chriſtians demi-God
put out thoſe flaſhing ſparks, thoſe Ignes fatui,
or i'le unſeat him, or with my Looks ſo ſhake
the ſtaggring props of his weak ſeated Throne,
that he ſhall finde he ſhall have more to do
to quell one Amurath, than the whole Gyant brood
of thoſe ſame Sons of Earth, than ten Lycaons.
Do the poor ſnaks ſo love their miſery
that they would ſee it by theſe threatning lights?
Dare ye blaze ſtill? I'le toſs up Buckets full
of Chriſtians blood to quench you: by thoſe hairs
drag you beneath the Center: there put out
174 all your preſaging flames in Phlegeton.
Can you outbrave me with your pidling Lights?
Yawn earth with Caſements as wide as hell it ſelf.
Vault opens.
Burn heaven as ardent as the Lemnian flames,
wake pale Tiſiphon, ſpend all thy ſnakes;
Be Eacus, and Minos, as ſevere
as if the Goale delivery of us all
were the next Seſſions. Ile pull Radamant
by his flaming furres from out his Iron Chaire.
Whilſt he is in his fury, ariſe four Fiends, framed like Turkiſh Kings, but black, his ſuppoſed Predeceſſors daunce about him; to a kind of hideous noyſe, ſing this Song following.
1. Fiend.
Horror, diſmal cryes, and yells
Of theſe thy Grandſires thee fore-tels,
Furies ſent of thee to learn
Crimes, which they could nere diſcern.
All.
Furies ſent, &c.
2. Fiend.
O Amurath thy Father's come,
To warn thee of a ſuddain doome,
Which in Caſſanoe's fields attends
To bring thee to thy helliſh friends.
All.
Which in Caſſanoes, &c.
3. Fiend.
Megaera and Ennio both do ſtand
Trembling leſt when thou art damn'd,
Chief of Furies thou ſhouldſt be,
And they their ſnakes reſigne to thee.
All.
Chief of Furies, &c.
1754. Fiend.
Terror, we a while will leave thee,
Till Cocytus Lake receive thee.
Cerberus will quake for feare
Where he a new Turks fate ſhall heare.
All.
Cerberus will, &c.
Amu.
Now who the divel ſent my Grandſires hither?
Had Pluto no task elſe to ſet them too?
He ſhould have bound them to Ixions wheel,
or bid them roule the ſtone of Syſiphus:
Beſhrew me, but their ſinging did not pleaſe me!
Have they not been ſo drunk with Lethe yet,
as to forget me? They can portend no ill;
for, ſhould the fates be twining my laſt thread,
yet none durſt come from hell to tell me ſo.
Shall I be ſcar'd with a Night-walking Ghoſt;
or what my working fancy ſhall preſent?
Why, I can look more terrible then night,
and command darkneſſe in the unwilling day:
Make Hecate ſtart, and draw back her head
to wrap it in a ſwarthy vaile of clouds.
Drop ſheets of Sulphure, you prodigious skyes,
Cyclops, run all thy Bullets into Aetna,
then vomit them at once; ſhould Chriſtians
couch to the bottomleſſe abyſſe of Styx,
or hide themſelves under Avernaes ſhade,
this arm ſhould fetch them out. Day muſt perform
what I intend, wrath raines a bloody ſtorm:
And now, 'gins riſe the Sun, which yet not knows
the miſery it ſhall ſee on Amuraths Foes!
Lords, Leaders, Captaines —
Enter Schahin and others.
Scha.
Your Highneſſe up ſo ſoon?
Amu.
He ſmall reſt takes,
that dreames on nought but bloody broyles and death.
176Schah.
Your Grace ſeems much diſtempered: Beds of ſweat
bedew your brows with never-wonted paleneſs
Am.
Why; ſee you not? The heavens are turn'd Court Ladies,
and put on other Hair beſides their own:
canſt gueſs (learn'd Schahin) what theſe flames portend?
Schah.
My Lord, ſuch things as theſe, we men muſt ſee,
and wonder at, and yet not ſearch the reaſon;
perchance unwholſom fogs exhailed by th' Sun
are ſet a blazing by his too neer heat:
but 'tis not lawful that a mortal eye
ſhould dare to penetrate Heavens ſecrecy.
Am.
Doth it not bode a Conqueſt?
Schah.
Yes, 'gainſt the Chriſtians:
for, unto them it bends ſiniſter looks,
and frowns upon their Army more than ours.
Amur.
So, ſo: come on, ere Phoſphorus appear
let's too't, and ſo prevent that ſluggard Sol.
If we want Light, we'll from our Whinyards
ſtrike fire enough to ſcorch the Univerſe;
Mine Armour there!
Some go for his Armour.
Now (Mahomet) I implore
thy promiſt Aid for this auſpicious day:
toſs me aloft, and make me ride on Clouds:
If my Horſe fail me, thoſe fire breathing jades,
(which the boy Phaëthon knew not how to guide)
will I pluck out from out the flaming Team,
and hurle my ſelf againſt thoſe condenſe Spheares,
on which I'le ſit, and ſtay their turning Orbs;
the whole vertigious Circle ſhall ſtand ſtill,
but to behold me: Mine Armour, ho!
They bring his Armour.
So, help on here; now like Alcides do I girt my ſelf
with well knit ſinewes, able to ſtagger Earth,
and threaten Nature with a ſecond Chaos:
If one impetuous broyl remain to come
177 in future ages, ſet on foote this houre.
How well this weight of ſteele bents my ſtrength!
Me thinks the Gods ſtand quivering, and doe feare
(when I am arm'd) another Phlege•'s neare.
Chiron ſhall ſee his Piadus at my feet;
And ile climbe up to heaven, and pull it downe
and kick the weighty burden of the world,
from off the Babies ſhoulders that ſupports it.
for I am ſafer Buckled 'gainſt my foe,
then ſturdy Jaſon, who by th' inchanted charmes
Medea gave, encountred Unicornes,
Queld Lyons, ſtruggl'd with fire-belching Buls,
obtain'd a glorious prize, a Fleece. A Fleece
dipt deepe in tincture of the Chriſt'ans bloud
ſhall be my ſpoyle; nay ſhould they hide their heads
in their Gods boſome, here's a ſword ſhall reach them.
Come they ſhall know no place is free from wrath,
when boyling bloud is ſtirr'd in Amurath.
Exeunt.
An alarme, excurſions: fight within. Enter at one doore a Chriſtian, at another a Turke; fight, both kild, ſo a new charge, the Turkes kill moſt. Enter Lazarus, Schahin kils him. Enter Eureno­ſes, Cobelitz, they fight, Cobelitz faints, falls for dead. A ſhowt within, a token of Victory on the Turkes ſide, a Retrait ſounded.

Scena 4. Actus 5.

Enter above Amurath, Bajazet, Nobles, to ſee the ſpoyle.
Schah.
Here, mighty Prince, take view of Victory,
and ſee the field too narrow for thy ſpoyles.
Erynnus hides her head as if afraid,
178 to ſee a ſlaughter ſhe durſt never hope for.
Earth hath the Carkaſſes: and denies them Graves,
and lets them ly and rot, and fat her wombe,
ſcorning to be unto the ſlaves a Tombe.
Am.
Where are become thoſe ominous Comets now?
What? are thoſe piſſing Candles quite extinct?
leave their diſacterous ſnuffes no ſtench behind them?
'tis ſomething yet, that their God ſeeth their ſlaughter,
lending ſulphurious Meteors to behold
the bleſt deſtruction of theſe Paraſites.
I knew the Elements would firſt untye
the Nerves of th' Univerſe, then let me dye.
Here Cobelitz riſeth as awakt, amazed, lea­ning on his Sword, ſtumbling ore the dead bo­dies, lookes towards Amurath.
Euren.
See (King) heres's one worme yet that dare confeſſe
he breaths and lives, which once this hand cruſht downe.
Amur.
Ha, ha, by Mahomet, and we are weary now:
Some Mercy ſhall lay Victory aſleepe.
It will a Lawreat prove to this great ſtrife,
'mongſt all theſe murdred to give one his life,
ſo we'll deſcend.
He goeth from aloft.
Cob.
From what a diſmall grave am I awak'd,
entomb'd within a Golgatha of men!
Have all theſe Soules prevented me in bleſſe,
and left me in a dreame of happineſſe?
But ſoft! me thoughts he ſayd he would deſcend!
Then, Heavens, one minutes breath, that's all I aske,
and then I ſhall performe my lifes true taske.
Amurath deſcends on the Stage, Cobelitz ſtaggers towards him.
Amur.
Poore ſlave, wouldſt live?
Here Cobelitz is come to him, ſeeming to kneele, ſtabs him with a pocket Dagger.
179Cob.
Yes Turke to ſee thee dye.
Howle, howle, grim Tartar, yel (thou griſly Wolfe)
force forth the bloud from out thy gaping Wound!
Dii tibi non mortem, quae cunctis poena paratur,
Sed ſenſum poſt fata, tuae dent (impie) morti.
Amur.
My ſpirit makes me not to feele thy weapon!
Hold, you crackt Organs, of my ſhattered life,
I 'm not toucht yet; can I not mocke my death,
and thinke 'tis but a dreame tells me I 'm hurt?
Dar'ſt thou then leave me (bloud?) Canſt be ſo bold
as to forſake theſe veynes to flow on Earth?
And muſt I, like th'unhappy Roman, dye
by a ſlaves hand?
Cob.
Tyrant, 'tis knowne
He's Lord of others lives that ſcornes his owne.
Am.
I that could ſcarce ere ſleepe, can I ere die?
And will none feare my life when I am dead;
Tortures and torments for the murderer.
Cob.
Ha, ha, ha!
Leaning on his ſword.
I thanke thee (great omnipotent) that I
ſhall here laugh out the lag end of my life!
Am.
Villaine, thy laugh wounds worſe then did thy Dagger.
Are you Lethargick (Lords) in cruelty?
Cob.
Nay, heare me (Turke) now will I prompt their rage:
Locke me up in the Bull of Phalaris,
cut off theſe eye-lids, bid me then out-gaze
the parching Sunbeames; flea this tender skin,
ſet neſts of Hornets on my raweſt fleſh,
let the Siconian Clouds drop brimſtone on me,
powre boyling Lemnos on my greeneſt wounds,
put on my ſhoulder Neſſus poyſon'd ſhirt,
bind all theſe bloudy faces to my face,
Racke me, Procraſtes like —
The Lord that holds up Amurath offers to touch his wounds.
Amur.
Hell, oh! I cannot brooke your ſmalleſt touch.
180Cob.
Ha, Ha! each groane is Balſome to my wounds:
I am perfect well.
Bajazet offers to kill Gobelitz; a Nobleman holds his hand.
Schah.
Raſcall, dar'ſt deride us?
Cob.
Yea? and while your witty furies ſhall invent
for me ſome never heard of puniſhment;
I ſee a guard of Saints ready to take me hence.
Take then free flight my new rewarded ſoule,
and ſeate thee on the winged Seraphims,
haſt to the Empyreum, where thy welcome
ſhall be an Haleluia, anthem'd forth
By the Chorus of the Angell-Hierarchy.
Pierce with ſwift plumes, the concave paths oth' Moone
Where the black aire enlightened is with ſtarres.
Stay not to wonder there at wandring Signes,
at bi-horn'd Gemini, or Amphions Harpe,
at Arctos, or Bootes, or the Beare,
(Which are to pleaſe wizard Aſtrologers:)
Soare higher with thy pitch, and then looke downe
to laugh at the hard trifles of the world;
Perchance ſome oft have knowne a better life,
Never did one ere leav 'it more willingly.
Am.
Feare your death (Gods!) for I have loſt my life,
and what, I moſt complaine, my tyranny.
Cob.
Soule, to detaine thee from thy wiſhed reſt!
were but an envious part! ariſe, farewell:
To ſtay thee to accuſe or fate or man,
would ſhew I were unwilling yet to leave thee.
But deare companion hence: cut through the ayre
let not the groſeneſſe of my Earth ore-lime
thy ſpeedy wings, fly without weight of crime.
He dyes.
Am.
O, now have I and Fortune try'd it out.
With all her beſt of favours was I crown'd
and ſuffred her worſt threats, when moſt ſhe frown'd.
Stay (Soule! a King, a Turke, commands thee ſtay.
181Sure I am but an actor, and muſt ſtrive
to perſonate the Tragicke ends of Kings.
And ſo (to winne applauſe unto the Scene)
with fained paſſion thus muſt graſpe at death.
O but I ſee pale Nemeſis at hand:
Art thou dull, fate, and doſt not overſpread
Cimmerian wings of death throughout the world;
What? Not one Earthquake? One blazing Comet
T'accompany my ſoule t' his Funerall?
Is not this hour the generall period
to nere returning time! Laſt breath command
a new Deacalions deluge, that with me
the world may ſwim to his Eternall Grave.
Cracke hindge that holds this globe, and welcome death.
Wilt thou not ſtay Soule? Friend, not ſtay with Kings?
Sinke then, and ſink beneath the Thracian Mount.
Sinke beneath Athos, be the Brackiſh Waves
Of Acheron thy Tombe; Ile want a Grave;
So all parts feare, which firſt my Corps ſhall have;
For in my Grave, Ile be the Chriſtians foe,
here like a maſſie pyramide ile fall,
Ile ſtrive to ſinke all the whole fabricke with me:
quake pluto, for 'tis I that come
a turke, tyrant, and a conquerour.
and with this groane, like thunder will I cleave,
the timerous earth, whilſt thus my laſt I breath.
He dyes.
Bajaz.
O eaſie powers, to give us all at firſt,
but in their loſſe, they make us moſt accurſt.
Here all the Nobles kneele to Bajazet.
Schah.
The Taper of your Fathers life is ſpent;
We muſt have light ſtill and adore a Sunne.
that next is riſing; therefore mighty Prince,
upon your ſhoulders muſt the pondrous load
of Empire reſt.
182Bajaz.
Why (Lords) we have a Brother,
who, as in the ſame bloud he tooke a ſhare,
ſo let him beare his part in Government.
Sch.
My Lord, within the ſelfe-ſame Hemiſpheare
It's moſt prodigious when two Sunnes appeare.
One body by one ſoule muſt be inform'd.
Kingdomes like (marriage beds) muſt not indure
any corrivall. Rome was nere ſecure
whilſt ſhe contain'd a Pompey; and a Caeſar.
Like as one Prophet we acknowledge now,
ſo of one King in ſtate we muſt allow.
You know the Turkiſh Lawes, Prince be not nice
to purchaſe Kingdomes, whatſoe'er the price.
He muſt be lopt, ſend for him he muſt dye.
Bajazet.
O happy Bajazet, that he was borne
to be a King when thou waſt Counſeller.
Call in our Brother Jacup.
Some goe for him.
Here ſixe men take up Amuraths Trunke on their ſhoulders.
Baj.
Why (Lords!) is Amurath ſo light a weight?
Is this the Trunk oth' Turkiſh Emperor?
Oh what a heape of thoughts are come to naught?
What a light weight is he unto ſixe men,
who durſt ſtand under Oſſa, and ſuſtaine 't?
Euren.
My Lord, theſe Meditations fit not you:
You are to take the honour he hath left,
and thinke you of his riſing, not his fall!
Enter Jacup.
Let your decree be ſuddaine, here's your Brother.
Baj.
Brother, I could have wiſhed we might have met
at times of better greeting! Our father hath
bequeath'd to the Grave theſe aſhes, to us his State.
Nor have we leyſure (yet) to mourne for him.
Brother, you know our ſtate hath made a Law,
that, he that ſits in a Majeſtick Chayre,
183 muſt not endure the next ſucceeding heyre.
Jac.
Yes, we doe:
And, Brother, doe you thinke 'tis crime enough
to dye, becauſe I am ſonne to an Emperour?
Scah.
My Lord, we know there breathes in him that ayre
of true affeſtion, that he doth much deſire
you ſhould be equall in his Kingdome with him:
But ſtill when two great evils are propos'd;
the leſſe is to be choſen.
Euren.
My Lord, your life 's but one:
Kings are the threads whereto there are inweaved
millions of lives, and he that muſt rule all
muſt ſtill be one that is ſelect from all.
Although we ſpeake, yet thinke them not our words,
But what the Land ſpeakes in us! Kings are free;
And muſt be impatient of equality.
Jac.
And is't eene ſo?
How have theſe Dogs fawn'd on me, lickt my feet
when Amurath yet lived! Felt all my thoughts,
and ſoothed them to the ſight of Empyrie!
And now the firſt would ſet their politique hands
to ſtrangle up that breath, a blaſt of which
their noſtrils have ſuckt up like perfum'd ayre.
Well brother well, by all men this is ſpoke,
that heart that cannot bow, may yet be broke.
Bajazet.
Brother, you muſt not now ſtand to upbraid;
They which doe feare the vulgars murmuring tongue,
Muſt alſo feare th' authority of a King;
For rulers muſt eſteeme it happineſſe,
that with their gov'rnment they can hate ſuppreſſe:
they with too faint a hand the Scepters ſway,
Who regard love, or what the people ſay:
To Kindred we muſt quite put off reſpect,
when 't is ſo neare it may our Crowne affect.
Jac.
Then name of Brother doe I thus ſhake off,
for 't is in vaine their mercy to implore,
184 when impious Statiſts have decreed before.
Yet King, although thou take my life away
ſee how Ile dye in better ſtate then thou!
Who like (my Father) after his greateſt glory
May fall by ſome baſe hand: The Miniſter.
'To take my breath, ſhall be thy ſelfe a King.
Here Jacup takes a Scarfe from his Arme, and putting it about his neck gives one end to Bajazet.
Yet give me leave a while to Propheſie.
You that ſo Puppet-like delude your hopes,
and Wyer-draw the anceſtry from Kings,
thinking, that fates dare not aproach your bloud
till they doe ſeize you, then you leave this Earth,
Not as you went, but by compulſion dragg'd;
Still begging for a morrow from your Grave,
and with ſuch ſhifts you doe deceive your ſelves,
as if you could deceive mortality,
No (Brother King) not all the Glow-worme ſtate,
which makes thee be a Horſe-leach to thy bloud,
Not all the Paraſiteſt 'Minions thou maintainſt,
nor the reſtorative Diſhes that are found out.
Not all thy ſhifts and trickes can cheat mortality,
or keepe thee from a death that's worſe then mine.
Should all this faile, age would profeſſe it ſelfe
a ſlow, but a ſure Executioner.
O 'tis a hard thing well to temperate
decaying happineſſe in great eſtate.
But this example by me may you gaine,
that at my death! not of Heaven complaine.
Pull then, and with my fall pull on thy ſelfe
Mountaines of burdenous honor, which ſhall curſe thee.
Death leades the willing by the hand
But ſpurs them headlong on, that dare command.
Here himſelfe pulls one end, Bajazet the other, Jacup. dyes.
185Bajazet.
Take up this Trunke; and let us firſt appoint
our Fathers, and our Brothers Funerals.
the ſenſe leſſe body of that Caitiffe ſlave,
hurle to a Ditch. Poſterity ſhall heare
Our leſſe ill Chronicled, but time ſhall heare
theſe minutes rather, then repeate their woe.
Now Primacy, on thee Ile mediate,
Which who enjoy thee, are in bleſt eſtate.
Whoſe age in ſecure ſilence fleets away,
Without diſturbance to his funeral day;
Nor ponderous nor unquiet honours can
Vexe him, but dyes a primare ancient man.
What greater powers threaten inferiour men,
a greater power threatens him agen:
And like to waſted Tapers Kings muſt ſpend
their lives to light up others: So all end.
Exeunt bearing out ſolemnely the bodies of Amurath and Jacup.
FINIS.

THE TRAGEDY OF ORESTES, Written by THOMAS GOFF Maſter of Arts, and ſtudent of Chriſt-Church in OXFORD, AND Acted by the STUDENTS of the ſame houſe.

The ſecond Edition

LONDON, Printed for G. BEDELL and T. COLLINS, at the middle Temple Gate Fleet-ſtreet. 1656.

The Prologue.

THe huſh'd contentment of two ſilent howres,
Breath pleaſing ayres on theſe attentive eares;
And ſince wee ſee in this well furniſh'd roome,
All our beſt neighbours are ſo kindely met,
Wee would deviſe ſome pleaſing talke, to ſpend
The lazie houres of the tedious night:
But for our owne invention, 'twas too weake,
Whereon our young Muſe durſt not wholly leane.
We here preſent for the revive a tale,
Which once in Athens great Eurypedes
In better phraſe, at ſuch a meeting told
The learn'd Athenians with much applauſe:
The ſame we will retell unto your eares;
Whoſe Atticke judgement is no leſſe then theirs,
We here as builders which doe oft take ſtones,
From out old buildings, then muſt hew and cut,
To make them ſquare, and fitting for a new;
So from an old foundation we have ta'n,
Stones ready ſquar'd for our aedifice,
Which if in pleaſing our weake skill offends
In making corners diſproportionate,
Some roome too narrow or ſome loft to a high;
Yet we well hope, if the whole ſtructure fall.
Your hands, like props, will ſerve to beare up all.
Spoken by the Authour himſelfe:

The Names of the Actors.

  • Agamemnon, King of Greece.
  • Clytemneſtra, The Queene.
  • Tyndarus Clytemneſtra's father.
  • Strophius; Father to Pylades.
  • Two deare friends.
    • Oreſtes, ſoon to Agam.
    • Pylades, ſoon to Stroph.
  • Electra Daughter to Agamemnon.
  • Aegyſtheus, Adulterer with Clytemneſtra.
  • Myſander, A Favorite; and Paraſite.
  • Ajoung Childe of Aegyſtheus.
  • Nurſe.
  • Two Lords.
  • Chamberlaine.
  • A Boy.
  • Attendants.
191

THE TRAGEDIE. OF ORESTES.

Actus 1.

Scena 1.

Enter as from warre, Agamemnon, Clytemneſtra, Oreſtes, Pylades, Aegyſteus, cum caeteris.
Agam.
NOw a faire bleſſing bleſſe my deareſt earth,
and like a Bride adorne thy royall brow,
with fruits rich Garland; a new married Bride
Unto thy King and Husband, who too long
Hath left thee widdowed: O, me thinks I ſee
Turnes to the ſpectators:
how all my Grecians with unſatiate lookes
and greedy eyes doe bid mee welcome home:
Each eare that heares the clamour ſeemes to grieve,
it cannot ſpeake, and give a (welcome King:
Come Clytemneſtra, let not anger make,
his wrinkled ſeat upon my loves faire brow;
I have too long beene abſent from thy bed,
Chide me for that anon, when arme in arme
192 I ſhall relate thoſe projects in love termes,
which when they firſt were acted, made Mars feare
to ſee each man turn'd to a God of warre.
Clyt.
O my deare Lord, abſence of things wee love,
thus intermixt, makes them the ſweeter prove:
That your departure pierc'd my tender ſoule,
witneſſe thoſe Chriſtall floods which in my eyes
did make a ſea, when you ſhould goe to ſea,
thoſe ſtreames, which then flow'd from the veines of greife.
at your returne doe overflow the banks.
But 'tis with joy.
Agam.
Now theſe eares indeed
have chang'd their place: they which were wont to heare
no muſique but the ſummoning of warre
blowne thorow diſcords brazen inſtrument,
are bleſſed now with accents that doe fill
my age-dry'd veynes with youthfull blood againe.
Theſe eyes which had no other object once,
but Hector twixt the armes of Greece and Troy,
hewing downe men, and making every field
Flow with a ſea of blood, now ſee's blood flow.
In my Oreſtes cheekes: heaven bleſſe this plant
Oreſtes kneeles.
ſprung from the ſap of this juiceleſſe oake;
Now be thy branches greene, under whoſe ſhade
I may be ſhadowed from the heat of warre.
Riſe young Oreſtes, Oh how it glads my ſoule,
to ſee my Queene and Sonne, my Sonne and Queene.
Clyt.
But come my Lord, true love ſtill hates delayes,
let no eares firſt be bleſſed with your breath,
till on my breſt reſting your wearied head,
You tell your warre, where that the field's your bed.
Aga.
My Queen ſhal have her wil, ſee how times change.
I that laſt night thought all the world a ſea,
As if our common mother earth, had now
ſhot her ſelfe wholly into Neptunes armes,
and the ſtrong hindges of the world had crackt,
193 letting the moone fall into th' ſwelling waves,
ſuch watry mountaines oft did ſeeme to riſe,
and quite o'rwhelme us, all the winds at warre,
banded the ſea on to the others coaſts,
Jove thinking Neptune gan to ſtrive for heaven,
ſent a new ſea from thence, and with his thunder,
bad ſilence to the waves; they uncontrold,
kept on their noyſe, and let their fury ſwell,
turning heaven, earth, ſea, clouds, and all to hell.
Each Trojan that was ſaved then 'gan cry,
happy were they that did with Priam die.
It glads mee now to thinke, that that night was
no ſtarre, no, not Orion there appear'd;
But this night's turnd to day, and here doth ſhine,
for a good Omen, my embraced Queene.
With whom her Agamemnon ſtill will ſtay,
till age and death ſhall beare him quite away.
Exeunt Agamemnon, Clytemneſtra, cum caeteris.

Scena 2.

Manet Egyſteus.
Aegyſt.
And that ſhal be ere long. Tuſh, ſhall be'sſlow,
my vengefull thoughts tell mee thou now art dead.
Fie faint Apollo, weakling infant-God,
why wouldſt thou let lame Vulcan's hammers beat
downe thoſe brave Turrets which thou help'dſt to build?
Venus, I ſee thou art a woman now,
which here are like to take a double foyle;
for we, that whilome revel'd in thy campe
in the ſweet pleaſures of inceſtuous ſheets,
muſt leave our lov'd unſatiate deſires:
But now begin, thou blacke Eumenides,
You hand-mayds of great Dis, let ſuch a flame
of anger burne mee, as doth Etnas forge,
194 on fury, on, our hate ſhall not die thus:
I'll draw my poyſonous arrow to the length,
that it may hit the mark and fly with ſtrength.
Exit

SCEN. 3.

Enter Oreſtes: Pylades.
Oreſt.
Come now my deareſt friend, my other ſelf,
my empty ſoul is now fild to the top,
brimful with gladneſſe, and it muſt run o'r
into my deare friends heart: thoſe ſilver haires,
which time hath crown'd my Fathers brow withal,
do ſhine within mine eyes, and like the Sun,
extract all droſſie vapors from my ſoul.
Like as the earth, whom froſt haſt long benumb'd,
and brought an Icie drineſſe on her face,
her veines ſo open, at a ſudden thaw,
that all plants, fruits, flowers, and tender grafts,
kept as cloſe priſoners in their mothers womb,
ſtart out their heads, and on a ſudden doth
the ſad earth count'nance with a ſummer look.
So in this breſt, here in this breſt deare friend,
whiles Annus ten times circled in the world
ten clumzie winters, and ten lagging ſprings
hath (with my fathers abſence) frozen beene
all thoughts of joy, which now ſhall make a ſpring
in my refreſhed ſoul.
"Things that we daily ſee th'affections cloy,
" hopes long deſired bring the greateſt joy.
Pyl.
Nay, but dear Couſin, give not the reines too much
to new received joyes, leſt that they run
with ſo much ſpeed, that they out-breath themſelves:
your Father is come home; but being come,
ſhould now ſome woful afterclap of fate
(which Omen Jove forbid ſhould come to paſſe)
195 but take him hence again, and croſſe your joy;
each ſpark of gladneſs which you now conceive,
would turn a flame for grief: ſtill one extreame,
altering his courſe, turns to the diverſe theame.
Oreſt.
Tuſh Pylades, talk not of what may be,
we may, indeed i'th' cleareſt afternoone
expect a ſtorm.
Pyl.
Yes, and ſuch ſtormes oft come,
and wet ſhrewd too, before we get at home.
Oreſt.
O, but I'll be above all fatal power:
I that have ſuch a Father new come home,
I that have ſuch a friend, ſuch too rare gifts;
who gave me theſe gifts, thought, no ſcowling frown
of angry fortune e'r ſhould throw me down.
Pyl.
Call them not gifts Oreſtes, th'are but lent,
meere lendings friend, and lendings we muſt pay,
when e'r the owner ſhall appoint his day.
Oreſt.
True, Pylades, but owners uſe to warn
their debtors when they muſt bring in their ſumms:
but heavens tell me with favouring aſpects,
I ſtill muſt keep their lendings, and poſſeſs,
with frolick joy, all their lent happineſs.
Pyl.
Truſt not the heavens too much, although they ſmile,
good looks do mortal hearts too oft beguile:
the heavens are uſurers; and as oft 'tis ſeen
a full poucht churle give a moſt faire good e'en
to his poor Creditor: who, truſting that,
hath ſlackt this payment: on the morrow next
he hath been rooted out by th' tuskey boare,
which gave the faire good e'en the day before:
The heavens can do thus too —
Oreſt.
Tuſh: mortals muſt
lean on the ſacred heaven with greater truſt;
but it grows far in night, come let us in
to morrow ſhall our joyes afreſh begin.
Exeunt.
196

Scen. 4.

Enter Aegyſtheus, Clytemneſtra; with naked daggers: Agamemnon lying in his bed.
Egyſt.
O Night, now only ſpread thy ſable wings
over this climate, gather all thy fogs
that they may meet, and make thy face more black:
let horrid murder take thee by the hand
and come along: I have a prodigie
equall to all the murders, all the blood
that hath been ſhed in all Troyes ten yeeres ſiege.
He draws the curtain.
So, ſnore returned King; good Morpheus hang
thy leaden weight upon his drowſie eyes,
let him not wake till he ſhall ſee himſelf
drencht in a ſea of his vermilion goare:
Thou do'ſt no Trojan, now, no Hector feare,
but yet I'll ſhew thee a new Hector here.
Clyt.
See, I'll turn man too now, and to the hate
which women beare, I'll add a manly ſtrength:
my minde does tremble, what I meane to do.
Breath forth your vapor's, O ye Stygian powers!
and liſten to a hateful womans prayers.
Pluto ſtand by me for to aide my hand,
I may ſtrike home now, and perform an act
may make Medea bluſh ſhe thought not of:
Could the old dry bon'd dotard ever dreame,
now he had drawn forth all his ſtrength abroad,
he could be welcome to lie bed-rid here,
and ſupple his numb'd joynts in my freſh armes?
Egyſt.
Spoke like a queene, ſpoke like Aegyſtheus love!
Now great Thyeſtes Genius, which didſt prompt
me to this act; Come, be ſpectator now!
and ſee revenge for Athens bloody feaſt.
197And thou wrong'd Clytemneſtra call to mind,
how his unſatiate, luſtful loath'd deſire,
doted on every female face he ſaw,
rap't the Prieſts daughter, and ſo brought a plague
on all the Grecian hoaſt:
Clytem.
Yes, yes,
Egyſt.
yes.
And rap't young Briſeis from Achilles bed.
Crowd all revengful thoughts into this houre,
now let thy ſword let out that luſtful blood.
Egiſtheus ſtabs him.
Wound him Egyſtheus, kill him not at once,
wee'll be true Tyrants, let him feel he dies.
Aga.
Help Clytemneſtra, help me, my deare Queen.
Clyt.
Yes dotard, I will help thee, thus, yes thus:
She ſtabs him.
Remember the Prieſts daughter: this for her,
and this for Briſeis:
Agam.
See, my Grecians, ſee,
your King which you ſo gladly entertain'd.
Sol, hide thy ſelf in everlaſting night,
or when thou riſeſt, let thy bluſhing face
make theſe to bluſh.
Clytem.
Ay, ſo, curſe on, curſe on:
Agam.
O Clytemneſtra, O my once deare wife,
is this the entertainment that thou giv'ſt
thy new come husband? gratulates thou thus
my ten yeares abſence? See theſe froſty haires
would even move Hecuba to pity me;
Look on theſe aged armes which in this bed,
thought to have been bleſſ'd with thy kind imbrace.
Clytem.
Yes, mine or Caſſandra's, old adulterer.
Agam.
Kinſman Aegyſtheus; O my deareſt wife
whom ſhall I call? me thinks you both are mine.
What Titius, what Megaera hath put on
Aegyſtheus and my Clytemneſtra's ſhapes?
Aegyſt.
Calſt thou us friends?
Stabs him againe.
Agam.
O be not ſo, and I'll not call you ſo:
Let not your coward weapons wound this head,
198 that earſt did ſcorne to ſhrink at Priams blow.
O hew me not down thus for my ſons ſake,
deare Clytemneſtra, for Oreſtes ſake.
Is this the Trojan tale! how I ſhould tell,
that here great Hector ſlew Antiochus,
and here that Meontiades was ſlaine,
and poor Protheſilaus deare to Lacdamie:
I thought to tell how theſe men loſt their blood;
and ſee my blood is thus let forth at home.
Aegy.
Is your hot blood yet cold!
Clyt.
breath dotard, do.
you ſhall have gaps enough to let your ſoul
finde a free paſſage to his deſerved flames.
Agam.
No pitty yet? O then, no pitty light
on you, nor yours; but let dire revenge
come learn how ſhe may after handle you:
O, I am drown'd in blood, and now muſt yeild
to murderers weapons; treaſon win's the field.
Alas this coming home hath had ſmall joy;
Argos hath worſer foes then ever Troy.
Moritur,
Clyt.
Now I am Clytemneſtra right, now I deſerve
to add one more to the three Furies, now
do I count this more then my nuptial night;
'Tis mine, tis thine, Egyſtheus, and none elſe
ſhall ſhare a minute of this right, but we.
Egyſt.
Me thinks I now go equal with the ſtarrs,
and my proud head toucheth the higheſt pole;
Hark, hell applauds me, and me thinks I heare
A noiſe
Thyeſtes tell me, I have done enough:
And now I kiſſe my hands, whilſt yet they beare
this tincture on them, and embrace my Queen,
now made my love; lets in, this night the Fates
have amply fed us with revengeful cates.
Exeunt
199

Scen. 5.

Enter Oreſtes, as from his Bed, unbutton'd in ſlippers, a Torch in his hand.
What horrid dreams affright me? I ſee nought
that I ſhould fear, and yet me thinks I fear.
Mine eyes ſcarce clos'd, my buſie Fancy ſaw
a ſight that daſht all comforts of the day:
me thought my Father lying in his Tent,
hateful Achylles, for his wronged love
comes in with Briſeis, and they two let forth
ſtreams of freſh blood from out his aged ſide,
with that his Eccho'd ſchrich did make me wake;
but I remembred then he was come home,
and yet I'll ſee him, ſtill me thinks I quake.
Do I ſtill dream? Are not mine eyes unclos'd?
He draws the Curtain.
Is this a Torch? yea, 'tis, it burns, I ſee
I am awake, do not delude me Night!
Now ſtand on tip-toes Atlas, lift heaven higher,
I may have air enough to breath my woes in,
O let me yet recal thy poſting Soul!
if Charon have not hurried thee too faſt,
if yet thou haſt not drunk on Lethes Pool,
come back, and tell me who it is this night,
hath done this deed far blacker than the night?
Ah! Art thou fled paſt call? Why, thou wert old,
me thinks thou ſhouldſt not haſte ſo faſt away!
VVas it for this thou ſwe'tſt ſo oft in Arms!
Was it for this that the froth ſwelling foam,
when thy Ships top toucht heaven, and deep plac'd hell;
that thou muſt yet eſcape curl'd Neptune's waves,
to be a Palinurus in thy ſhoar,
there drown thy aged locks in Crimſon gore?
200O, if one ſpark yet of thy Princely Soul
remaine within this trunk, now let it ſhine
and light mine ignorant eyes to reade the names
of theſe night vultures, whoſe devouring bills
have made a Titius of thy royall corps:
who did not feare great Agamemnons ſleep?
Arm, arm your ſelves all you all-potent Gods,
you which we term juſt Miniſters of heaven!
ſhoot forked lightning from the marble poale,
let the all-ſeeing eye of heaven ſhoot flames
which may parch up the marrow from their bones,
ſhould they lie coucht i'th breſt o'th' Thunderer,
or be entrencht with guards of furies fierce,
heaven, earth nor hell, ſhould keep them from my ſword.
Doſt thou ſleep Jove! O, couldſt thou ſnore ſo faſt,
and let thy great vicegerent thus be torn?
Some of th'immortal powers have had fathers,
and know what 'tis to have them murdered thus.
But I turn woman now: O, I rave out
my paſſions; do, grief, pour out thy ſelf,
that thou mayſt make room in my empty heart,
to fill it with revenge.

Scena 6.

Enter Clytemneſtra, Aegyſtheus, in night-robes.
Clyt.
How now? what ayles our ſon, how now Oreſtes!
Oreſt.
O ſome are come now to help me to grieve:
See, mother, ſee, your husband and my father,
the King of Greece, great Shephard of his Land,
ſee, ſee him here:
She faines her ſelfe to ſwoun, Egy. catcheth her falling.
Clyt.
O help me now good heaven to keep my ſex,
let me diſſemble.
Aegyſt.
Help (my Lords) the Queen.
Clyt.
Why hinder'd you my ſoul, that whilſt he liv'd,
201 was linkt to his, and would too now have fled
with wing'd deſire to have been with him!
What doe I live for! Agamemon ſlain!
My Lord, my King, husband, wake my Lord,
what bloody Trojan followed thee from thence
to kill thee here? could he not one night
have let me reſted in thy ſweet embraces?
Muſt he for ſureneſſe make ſo many holes,
for thy ſweet ſoul to fly to be a God?
O let my teares be balm to theſe thy wounds,
let my lips kiſſe, and warm thy gellid lips;
let my haire wipe theſe clots of blood away
from thy age-honor'd ſide: O dry your teares,
joyn knees and prayers with me, awake ye Gods,
They both kneele.
and ſend our vows, ſince we can ſend no wounds:
Come ſon, we women ſtill know how to curſe.
Let him that did it be an Adulterer.
Aegyſt.
Faith ſhe begins well, ſure ſhe knows the man.
aſide.
Clyt.
Let him be conſcious, he hath don a deed
deſerves revenge, whether it fall or no:
Let him for ever beare in mind this night,
and who 'twas helpt him in this bloody act.
Aegiſt.
Yes, hee'll remember how you curſe him now.
aſide.
Orſt.
If ever he have children, let them be
murdered before his face, that they may know
how nature binds a father and a ſon.
Aegyſt.
Now hands I thank you, now my ſoul grows glad,
had not he griev'd thus, I had loſt revenge.
Clyt.
But come my ſon, now let us talk of graves,
of Epitaphs, and tombs, and's ſoul being fled,
Draw the curtaine and carry him away.
let's lap his Trunk up in a ſheet of lead.
Exeunt Clytemnestra, and Aegyſtheus. Manent Oreſt.
202Oreſt.
Methinks I ſee a Tragedy at hand,
to which this night hath as a Prologue bin;
I'll make a prayer now worthy Atreus grandchild,
let the foul Adder ſting me as I walk,
the poyſonous toad belch her black venom forth
in my deſpiſed face, let it be thought
I never had a father, but ſome monſter
bred by a ſlimy exhalation,
If my revenge fly not with ample wing:
till then reſt ſoul, hate told, may loſe his ſting.

Actus 2.

Scena 1.

Enter Caſſandra ſola as a mad Propheteſſe.
Caſſ.
O ye dead Trojans leape within your graves!
O mother that thou hadſt lived this night!
Now thou'ldſt be glad t'have loſt ſo many ſons:
the Grecians are reveng'd upon themſelves,
I thank thee ſoul, that thou keeptſt here till now
to let me ſee Greece overcome it ſelf;
I live, I live, I'm here, I live to ſee't:
I do not dream on't, no, I ſaw the blood
run from his ſide, whole Cataracts, all Greece.
Apollo, how am I bound now for this
that I do only ſee this happineſſe?
Hecuba, Priam, young Aſtianax.
Look Hecuba, Greece now doth act your woes,
laugh Hecuba, for now Electra weeps:
and Tyndarus he knows not what to do:
Come little Cuz, come my Aſtianax,
Oreſtes is in a worſe caſe then thou.
Still I had others for to weep with me,
but none are left to laugh now, but my ſelf:
203 What ſhould he feare at home? A conqueror feare!
Tis done, 'tis done, leave fighting Hector, leave,
the Grecians meane to fight againſt themſelves,
from Tyndarus the firſt brand took fire
which burnt down Troy: and now an other here
kindles from him, to ſet a fire Greece,
Graia juvenca venit, quae ſe, patremque virumque
Perdidit, Io laetor, Graja juvenca venit.
Hellen, thy ſiſter Hellen, nay ſhee's thine:
who could have thought that Hector being ſlaine,
old Priam made a ſacrifice to death,
Troy turn'd to cinders, poor Andromacha
dragg'd by her hair to death; Aſtianax
ſent out o'th world before he well came in,
Ha, ha, who could have thought after all this
Caſſandra ſhould have ever laught againe?
One hour of laughter following many yeares
of diſcontent, doth help to ſweeten teares
Exit.

Actus 2. Scena 2.

Enter Aegyſtheus, Clytemneſtra.
Aegy.
Fair morning to my Queen, nay more, my love,
how likes my ſweet her change of bed-fellow?
Clyt.
Look as an hallow leafeleſſe failing oake,
to whom, for that h'hath bin her weight too long,
the earth denies to lend him moyſture, ſo
his ſap failes, and he ſtands on a green
'mongſt ſprouting Elms, that they may ſeeme more freſh
whilſt hee's but held a monument of years.
Such one ſeem'd Agamemnon; a dry tree:
thou like a ſprouting Elme, whom I embrace
like twining Ivy, with theſe now bleſt armes,
bleſt whilſt this treaſure in them they hold lockt:
204Aegyſt.
O who'd not do a murder for a woman!
Heaven had but two things for the Gods reſerv'd,
fire, and women: when with Giant ſtrength
Promotheus had tane one, Jove in his rage
threw him the to'ther, bad him keep 'em both.
O th'are rare creatures, they have ſuch Meanders,
Their teares will come and go with ſuch brave art!
Come now my Queen, one ſweet Ambroſian kiſſe;
O Nectar! prethee hadſt thou taught thy teares
how they ſhould flow before?
Clyt.
No, truſt me love,
I knew my teares would ſoon be at command,
and faith the boy had almoſt made me weep
really once. Were not my curſes rare?
Aegyſt.
Yes, all was woman-like: but yet that boy
he took it deeply; would he were with his father,
ſo gon, it skills not how; were he away,
we would act freely all our luſtful play.
Clyt.
O but my love! hee's mine: Nor can the raven
dig her ſharp beake into her own birds breſt:
He will forget his father: woe will breake;
'tis not the greateſt griefe that moſt doth ſpeake.
Aegyſt.
O, but hee'll beare ſtill a ſuſpicious eye;
and who in bloody Scenes doth act a part,
thinks every eye doth penetrate his heart.
Nor can we ere be free, or I enjoy
true pleaſures; we muſt be but theeves at moſt,
cloſe in delights, and have a Pander ſtill
to be a Factor 'twixt thy bed and mine:
this we could have before, what now we do,
the world ſhould ſee done, and applaud us too.
Clyt.
Why my deare Love, I that would ſet my hand
to ſtain my marriage ſheets with husbands blood,
would let theſe hands, inſtructed now in ill,
not leave one arm of that uprooted tree;
Could but Aegiſtheus give me any hope,
that from this top there ſhould one ſpreading branch
205 grow up and flouriſh.
Aegyſt.
Now thou art thy ſelf;
yes, yes my love, there ſhall one ſpring from us
ſhall be a lofty Pine, let this be cropt;
murder muſt murder guard, guilt add to guilt,
after one drop, whole ſtreams of blood be ſpilt.
walks away.

Scen. 3.

Enter Pylades, Oreſtes, Electra, Strophius.
Pyl.
Dear friend, what mean you, to o'rwhelm your ſelf
in ſuch a ſea of grief?
Oreſt.
Father! deare Agamemnon!
Pyl.
Nay ceaſe this tempeſt, thou haſt loſt a father,
why, 'tis but change, my father ſhall be thine,
I'll be thy brother, nay, I'll be thy ſelfe,
weep when thou weep'ſt, and where thou go'ſt I'll goe,
and bring thee on thy pilgrimage of woe.
Elect.
Brother, look up; have not I loſt a father?
yes, yes, and would a river of freſh teares
turne Lethes ſtream, and bring him from the wharf,
with a North gale of windy blowing ſighs,
I would expire my ſoul, become all teares.
Stro.
Come, you have loſt a father, I a brother,
the Queen a Husband, all the Land a King;
yet all this but a man; therefore muſt dye:
Our woes may all be in one balance poys'd.
His book of life the Fates had over-read,
and turn'd the leafe where his laſt period ſtood.
Now an immortal wreath circles his brow,
and makes him King in heaven, who was before
at moſt a God on earth: Hence difference ſprings,
Kings are earths Gods, and Gods are heavenly Kings.
Oreſt.
Let us joyne words then now, and Swan-like ſing
the doleful dirge to a departed King:
Thou friend didſt of this miſery divine,
206 therefore the burthen of the ſong is mine:
words Orators for woe, which plead the cauſe,
when griefe's the judge, and ſighs are all the laws,
each one a ſob for Diapaſon beares,
our tunes ſhall drown the muſick of the ſpheares:
O what Hirudo with unſatiate thirſt,
could draw the blood from out thoſe Princely veines,
from whence flow'd comfort to ſo many ſouls!
Spies his mother, goes to her.
Mother, when wept you laſt? here take a ſcarf
dry your eyes: now by — you need none,
what ſhine of comfort hath dry'd up your teares?
Clyt.
Our ſon's too ſawcie with his mother Queen:
Why, Sir, ſhall you tell us a time to weep?
Oreſt.
Us? good: Who is't makes the plurality?
'Twas wont to be my father: does he live?
Clyt.
Sir, curb this laviſh ſpeech, or I'll forget
you are my ſon, and make you but a ſubject.
Aegyſt.
Good Couſin add not diſobedience
unto your mothers griefs.
Oreſt.
My mother, no,
ſhe is not here, no, ſhe hath hid her ſelf
in ſome odd nooke, or angle unperceiv'd,
ſhe might not ſee this impious ſtygian world.
Cly.
Aegyſtus, canſt thou ſtill ſuffer thy dull ſword i'th ſheath?
Take the rank head from this o'r-growing weed.
Stro.
Remember Clytemneſtra, he's your ſon.
Clyt.
He is ſo, and I'll learn him to be ſo:
Had I a brazen bull, it ſhould be heat
hotter then for the Tyrant: Diſobedient!
More harſh then Adders hiſſes is thy voyce,
Sir, you ſhall dye, but with a living death,
he ſtill ſhall live, but live to know he dies;
who ſtrait threats death, knows not to Tyranize.
Exeunt Aegyſtheus, Clytemneſtra.
Stro.
What temper's grown on the diſtracted Queen?
Hath grief, conceiv'd for her late husbands death,
207 brought her ſo far, ſhe hath forgot her ſelf?
Oreſt.
No Uncle, no, by — I do ſuſpect.
O, my prophetick ſoul divines much ill!
Well, I will flie. But hear this ſtratagem,
it ſhall be rumor'd i'th eare of the Court
I was found dead, I'll put a new ſhape on,
and live alone, to heare how things go here.
Pyl.
Nay, not alone Oreſtes, whilſt I live,
ſhouldſt make thy bed upon the rigid Alps,
or frozen Caucaſus, wrapt in ſheets of ſnow,
I'd freeze unto thy ſide; we will tell tales
of Trojan warriers, and depoſed Kings.
Tell of ſtrange ſhipwrack, of old Priams fall,
how mad Andromacha did teare her hayre,
when the wild horſes tore brave Hectors limbs:
Wee'l think they all do come, and weep with us;
grief loves companions, and it helpeth woe,
when it heares every one groane forth his, Oh!
it eaſeth much, and our plaints fall more ſweet,
when a whole conſort in one tune do meet.
The half-dead ſhip-man, which hath ſhipwrack borne,
ſeeing many drown'd, it makes him leſſe to mourn:
It made Deucalion care the leſſe to die,
when he had all the world in company.
Thus we will ſit, and our teares turnes ſhall keep,
thou for thy father, I for thee will weep:
If actors on the Stage having no cauſe,
but for to win an hearers hands applauſe,
can let fall teares, wee'l think we Actors be,
and only do but play griefs Tragedie.
Oreſt.
O, but deare friend, ſhould we but act a part,
the play being ended, paſſion left the heart,
and we ſhould ſhare of joy: but my whole age
muſt never move from off this woful Stage:
But we muſt take our leave; Uncle, farwel,
remember what I ſpake; and Siſter, you
208 muſt tarry here, my thoughts ſhall buſied be,
to finde the man that let my father blood.
Can I but finde Aegyſtheus did conſent,
to ſpill one drop, O, I would pierce his heart
with venom'd daggers, and ſo butcher him,
that all Apollos skill in phyſicke hearbs,
nor Aeſculapius th' Epidaurian God,
ſhould keepe his ſoule out of Enio's hand;
Come my deare friend; to all the reſt farewell;
If heaven relate it not, I'll know't from hell.
Exeunt Pylades, Oreſtes.

Scena 4.

Enter Aegyſteus, Clytemneſtra, Myſander, Strophius, Electra another way.
Aegyſt.
What, is Oreſtes fled? ſure there's ſome plot,
if you deare Queen, but ſearch Electra well,
you'll finde ſhe knowes whither her brothers gone.
Clyt.
If in her heart there be but lodg'd a thought
unknown to mee, this hand ſhall rip her breſt,
and ſearch her inparts, but I'll finde it out.
Myſander, call Electra.
Aegiſt.
O, were that moat tane from our comforts beams,
no cloud e'r then could overſhade our joyes,
his life muſt be cut off without delay,
miſchiefe, by miſchiefe findes the ſafeſt way:
But here's Electra.
Cly.
Why! how now Minion! what a blubbering ſtill!
Huſwife, pray where's your brother, wher's my ſonne?
Elect.
Mother, pray where's my father, wher's your husband?
Enter Stropheus, and ſpeaks.
Haile to my my gracious Queene, here's one at doore.
brings you a meſſage, hee will not relate
to any, but your ſelfe, he ſaies tis ſad.
209Clyt.
Why, the more diſmal, the more welcome 'tis.
But as for you —
Elect.
Good mother do your worſt,
no plague can ever make me more accurſt,
nothing is worſe then death, that I'll not flie.
Clyt.
Yes, life is worſe to thoſe that faine would die.
But where's the meſſenger?

Scena 5.

Enter Nuncius.
What whirlwinde riſing from the womb of earth
doth raiſe huge Pelion unto Oſſa's top,
that both being heapt, I ſtand upon them both
and with an hundred Stentor-drowning voice,
relate unto the world the ſaddeſt tale
that ever burdned the weak jaws of man?
Aegyſt.
Why, what portentous newes? Amaze us not,
tell us what e'r it be.
Nun.
Were my mind ſettled, would the gellid feare,
that freeſeth up my ſenſe, ſet free my ſpeech,
I would unfold a tale which makes my heart
throb in my intrals, when I ſeem to ſee't.
Clyt
Relate it quickly, hold's not in ſuſpence.
Nun.
Upon the mount of yonder riſing cliffe,
which th'earth hath made a bulwark for the ſea,
whoſe peareleſſe head is from the ſtreams ſo high,
that whoſoe'r looks down, his brain will ſwim
with a vertigo: The ſpace remov d ſo far
the object from the eye, that a tall ſhip
ſeem'd a ſwift flying bird: upon this top
ſaw I two men making complaints to heaven,
one's voyce diſtinctly ſtill cry'd, Father, King,
great Agamemnon, whoſe diviner ſoul
fled from thy corps, exil'd by butchers hands:
his friend ſtill ſought to keepe his dying life
210 with words of comfort, that it ſhould not ruſh
too violently upon the hands of Fate.
He deafe as ſea, to which he made his plaints,
ſtill cryed out, Agamemnon, I will come,
and find thy bleſſed ſoul where e'r it walk;
in what faire Temple of Elyſium
ſo e'r it be, my ſoul ſhall find it out.
With that his friend knit him within his arms,
ſtriving to hold him, but when twas no boot,
they hand in hand, thus plung'd into the maine;
ſtrait they aroſe, and ſtriv'd (me thought) for life,
but ſwelling Neptune not regarding friends,
wrapt their embraced limbs in following waves:
Until at laſt their deare departing ſouls
haſtned to Styx, and I no more could ſee.
Stro.
O 'twas Oreſtes, 'twas my Pylades,
which arm in arm did follow him to death.
Elect.
O my Oreſtes, O my deareſt brother!
'Tis he, 'tis he, that thus hath drown'd himſelf.
Aegyſt.
Why, then if Agamemnon and his ſon
have brought their leaſe of life to the full end:
I am Thyeſtes ſon, and the next heire,
to ſit in Argos Throne of Majeſty.
Thanks to our Alpheus ſea, who as 't'ad ſtriv'd
to gratifie Aegyſtheus, rais'd his force,
and gathered all his waters to one place,
they might be deep enough to drown Oreſtes:
But come my Queen, let us command a feaſt.
To get a kingdome, who'ld not think it good,
to ſwim unto it through a ſea of blood?
211

Actus 3.

Scena 1.

Enter Tyndarus, Miſander.
Tynd.
Our daughter ſends for us? how fares ſhe? well?
ſhe mournes I'm ſure for her husbands death.
Miſ.
My Lord, ſhe took it ſadly at the firſt:
But time hath leſſen'd it.
Tind.
I, grief ſoon ends
that flows in teares; they ſtill are womens friends:
But how is't rumord now in Argos, though,
that Agamemnon died?
Miſ.
Why, he was old,
and death thought beſt to ſeize on him at home.
Tynd.
'Twas a long home, he got by coming home:
Well, well, Miſander, I like not the courſe,
the peoples murmure makes my cheeks to bluſh.
Miſ.
My gracious Lord, who truſts their idle murmur,
muſt never let the bluſh go from his cheek;
They are like flags growing on muddy banks,
whoſe weak thin heads blown with one blaſt of winde,
they all will ſhake, and bend themſelves one way:
Great minds muſt not eſteem what ſmall tongues ſay.
All things in ſtate muſt ever have this end,
the vulgar ſhould both ſuffer, and commend,
if not for love, for feare; great Majeſty
ſhould do thoſe things which vulgars dare not fee.
Tynd.
O, Sir, but thoſe that do commend for feare,
do in their hearts a ſecret hatred beare.
Ever learn this; the trueſt praiſe indeed,
muſt from the heart, and not from words proceed.
I feare ſome ſoul play: doth Aegyſtheus meane,
then totally for to inveſt himſelf
in Agamemnons ſeate? Where's young Oreſtes?
Miſ.
Why my Lord, he for the great grief conceiv'd
212 being young, not knowing well to rule himſelfe
with ſway of reaſon, ranne upon his death
and threw himſelfe with my lord Strophius ſonne,
into the midſt of Alpheus, ſo was drown'd,
Ty.
How took my daughter that?
Myſ.
Why, wiſely too,
and like her ſelfe; not being in deſpaire:
her royal wombe will bring forth many more,
ſhall be as deare as e'r Oreſtes was.
Tynd.
I feare heaven cannot look with equall eyes
upon ſo many deaths, but meanes to ſend
plague after plague; for in a wretched ſtate,
one ill begets another diſmal Fate:
But go and tell my daughter I will come,
and help to ſolemnize her nuptial night:
Her haſty wedding, and the old Kings neglect,
makes my conjectural ſoul ſome ill ſuſpect.
Exeunt.

Scen. 2.

Enter Oreſtes, and Pylades.
Oreſt.
If ever God lent any thing to earth,
whereby it ſeem'd to ſympathize with heaven,
it is this ſacred friendſhip: Gordian knot
which Kings, nor Gods, nor Fortune can undoe.
O what Horoſcopus, what conſtellation,
held in our birth ſo great an influence,
which one affection in two minds unites?
How hath my woe been thine, my fatal ill
hath ſtill been parted, and one ſhare been thine!
Pyl.
Why, deareſt friend, ſuppoſe my caſe were thine,
and I had loſt a father, wouldſt not thou
in the like ſort participate my grief?
Oreſ.
Yes, witneſſe heaven I would.
213Pyl.
So, now thou haſt loſt a father.
Oreſt.
True, Pylades, thou putſt me well in mind,
I have loſt a father, a dear, dear father,
a King, a brave old King, a noble ſouldier,
and yet he was murdered! O my forgetful ſoul!
Why ſhould not I now draw my vengeful ſword,
and ſtrait-way ſheath it in the murderers heart?
Minos ſhould never have vacation,
whilſt any of our progeny remain'd.
Well, I will go, and ſo maſſacre him,
I'll teach him how to murder an old man,
a King, my father, and ſo daſtardly
to kill him in his bed.
Pyl.
Alas, Oreſtes!
Grief doth diſtract thee: who is't thou wilt kill?
Oreſt.
Why, he, or ſhe, or they that kill'd my father.
Pyl.
I, who are they?
Oreſt.
Nay, I know not yet,
but I will know.
Pyl.
Stay thy vengeful thoughts,
and ſince thus long we have eſtrang'd our ſelves
from friends and parents, let's think why it is,
and why we had it noiſed in the Court,
we both were dead; the cauſe was thy revenge,
that if by any ſecret private meanes,
we might but learn who 'twas that drench'd their ſwords
in thy deare fathers blood, we then would rouze
black Nemeſis in flames from out her cave,
and ſhe ſhould be the umpire in this cauſe.
Mans ſoul is like a boiſtrous working ſea,
ſwelling in billows for diſdain of wrongs,
and tumbling up and down from day to day,
grows greater ſtill in indignation,
turns male-content, in pleaſeleſſe melancholy,
ſpending her humours in dull paſſion, ſtill
locking her ſenſes in uncloſed gins,
till by revenge ſhe's ſet at liberty.
Oreſt.
O, now my thirſty ſoul expects full draughts
of Ate's boyling cup: O, how twoul'd eaſe
214 my heart to ſee a channel of his blood
ſtreaming from hence to hell, that kill'd my father.
Pyl.
I, but deare friend, thou muſt not let rage looſe,
and like a furious Lion, from whoſe den
the forreſter hath ſtole away his young,
he miſſing it, ſtraight runs with open jaws
on all he meets, and never hurting him
that did the wrong: Wiſe men muſt mix revenge
with reaſon, which by providence will prompt,
and tell us where's the mark, whereat we aym.
Till then, in Cinders wee'l rake up our grief:
fire thus kept, ſtill lives, but opened dies;
from ſmalleſt ſparks great flames may one day riſe.
Oreſt.
True, friend, but, O, who ever will reveale
this hideous act! what power ſhall we invoke?
Pyl.
Yes, harken friend, I have bethought a meanes;
not diſtant far from this place where we live,
there ſtands a cave hard by a hollow oake,
in a low valley, where no Sun appeares,
no muſick ever was there heard to ſound;
but the harſh voyce of croking ominous ravens,
and ſad Nyctimine the bird of night:
There's now a ſhed, under whoſe ancient roofe
there ſometimes ſtood an Altar for the Gods,
but now ſlow creeping time, with windy blaſts
hath beaten down that ſtately Temples walls,
defac't his rich built windows, and until'd
his battlemented roofe, and made it now
a habitation, not for God, nor men:
Yet an old woman, who doth ſeem to ſtrive
with the vaſt building for antiquity,
in whoſe rough face time now hath made ſuch holes,
as in thoſe uncouth ſtones ſhe there hath made
her ſelf a cell, wherein to ſpend her age.
Her name's Canidia; great in Magick ſpells,
at whoſe dire voice, the gods themſelves would quake
215 to heare her charm the ſecond time pronounc't.
One that can know the ſecrets of the heavens,
and in the ayre hath flying miniſters,
to bring her news from earth, from ſea, from hell:
which, when thick night hath compaſs'd in the world,
then doth ſhe go to dead mens graves and tombs,
and ſucks the poyſonous marrow from their bones,
then makes her charm, which ſhe nere ſpent in vaine:
Nor doth ſhe come as ſupplyant to the gods,
but making Erebus, and heaven to quake,
ſhe ſends a ſpell drowning infernal thunder,
by which all ſecrets that were ever done,
in faire white parchment writ in lines of blood,
lockt in the inmoſt room of hell it ſelf
is brought unto her: and by her we may
have leave to look in Pluto's regiſter,
and reade the names of thoſe moſt loathed furies,
which rent thy Fathers ſoul from out his trunk:
But ſhe muſt ſee thy fathers dead bones firſt,
them we muſt bring her, for by them ſhe works:
This if thou dar'ſt aſſay, I'll go along.
Oreſt.
If I dare aſſay! yes, yes, deare friend,
were it to burſt my fathers ſepulcher,
and wake his Manes, ſhew them Radamanth;
their iterated ſight will burn my ſoul
with ſuch a ſparkling flame of dire revenge,
as Neſſus ſhirt did burn great Hercules:
If that the ſcrowle which did conteine their names,
were in a lake of flaming brimſtone drencht,
I'de take it out, or fech't from Pluto's arms:
But come; if earth hath ſuch a creature as can tell,
twill ſave a journey (for this once) from hell.
216

Scena. 3.

Enter Aegyſtheus, Clytemneſtra, Tyndarus, Myſan­der, Strophius, Electra, cum caet. with a crown. Ae­gyſtheus aſcends the throne, Myſander crowns him: Clytemneſtra great with child.
Myſ.
All years of happy dayes, all hours of joy
ſo circle in thy ſtate, as doth this crown
wreath and combine thy princely temples in,
All ſpeak, Jove ſtill protect Aegyſtheus.
Aegyſt.
Thanks to my fathers ſubjects:
Now Argos ſwell up to the brim with joy,
and ſtreams of gladneſſe flow on Tyndarus,
Now made our father; ſee old King, ſee here's
my Queen doth mean to make thee a grandfather,
ſee how thy royal blood ſhall propagate,
whoſe Kingly drops like heaven diſtilling dew,
ſhall add freſh life unto thy withered root.
Tynd.
Yes, but Aegyſtheus, there were armes before
grew on this tree; but the Fates envious axe
hath cut them off before th'ad time to ſprout.
Clyt.
O Sir, the Fates needs muſt have leave to make
wayes for themſelves to manage what they do:
Had Agamemnon and Oreſtes liv'd,
they could not then have bleſt me with theſe gifts:
Still when the heavens and Fates do work their will,
they intend good, though ſometimes there come ill.
Tynd.
O but pray Jove the Fates now were not forc't,
but deeds like words no man can e'r recal,
be't good or ill; once done, we muſt bear all.
Aegyſt.
Come father ſit we down, and make a feaſt,
They ſet to the feaſt.
to glad our hearts; Heaven ſtill doth for the beſt.
217Stro.
O let my latter age not live to ſee
Aegyſtheus wear great Argos diadem.
Elect.
Feare not good uncle, there will be a time,
to pull him down, although he yet doth climbe.
Tynd.
Who ever truſted much on fortunes gifts,
on wife, on ſtate, on health, on friends, on lands,
may look on Agamemnons coming home:
Fortune me thinks ne're ſhew'd her power more;
how quickly could ſhe turne her Fatall ſword
upon his breſt, that thought himſelfe paſt harme?
ſhe that had us'd death like an angry dogge,
holding him up, when that he ſhould have bit,
when all the game was paſt, and's fury laid,
the king being paſt all danger, ſafe at home,
then he ſlip's coller, never untill then,
and fortune ſhe ſtood hiſsing of him on,
till he had torne the good kings ſoule away.
Clytemneſtra ſeemes to weep.
Aegyſt.
Nay but good father let paſſe elegies,
you draw freſh teares now from your daughters eyes,
who ſhed enough before at's funeral:
let's talk who are to live, not who are dead;
and think what progeny ſhall ſpring from us
may beare your Image ſtampt upon the face,
this we muſt talk of now, not what griefs paſt
but of the joy to come. My Queen not well!
Clytemneſtra riſeth from the table.
Now good Electra look unto your mother,
Lucina be propitious to the birth;
why, will not now a young Aegyſtheus be,
as grateful as an old Oreſtes was?
Thou times good lengthener, age, poſterity,
ſpread thy ſelf ſtill upon Aegyſtheus line,
help me to treaſure up antiquity,
and from Thyeſtes loynes let ſpring an heire,
ſhall ever ſit in great Thyeſtes chaire.
Exeunt.
218

SCEN. 4.

Enter Pylades and Oreſtes, with his arms full of a dead mans bones, and a ſcull.
Pyl.
Neare to this ſhady grove, where never light
appeares, but when 'tis forced with ſome charm,
Canidia dwells, in ſuch a dusky place,
that the night goblins feare to come too neare it.
Here let us knock.
Oreſt.
Nay, Pylades, ſee here,
O give me leave to diſcant on theſe bones:
This was my Fathers ſcull; but who can know
whether it were ſome ſubjects ſcull, or no?
Where be theſe Princely eyes, commanding face,
the brave majeſtick look, the Kingly grace?
Where's the imperious frown, the God-like ſmile,
the graceful tongue, that ſpoke a ſouldiers ſtile?
Ha, ha, worms eate them! could no Princely looke,
no line of eloquence writ in this booke,
command, nor yet perſwade the worms away?
Rebellious worms! could a King beare no ſway?
Injurious worms! what could no fleſh ſerve
but Kings for you? By — you all ſhould ſterve,
had I but known't: What muſt my father make
a feaſt for you? O ye devouring creatures!
Pyl.
Now ſome Archilocus to help him make
vengeful Iambicks, that would make theſe worms
to burſt themſelves: Paſſion muſt pleaſe
it ſelf by words, grief told, it ſelf doth eaſe.
Ore.
You cowardly bones, would you be thus uncloth'd
by little crawling worms! by — I never thought
my fathers bones could e'r have been ſuch cowards:
O you ungrateful worms! how have you us'd him?
See their ingratitude! O ambitious creatures,
219 how they ſtill domineere o're a Kings carcaſſe!
Py.
How could they think when thou cam'ſt to'the crown
that thou ſhouldſt bear, that theſe ſhould eat thy father?
Oreſt.
True, Pylades, ſhould I not rend their maws,
deviſe new tortures? O moſt horrible treaſon,
that worms ſhould come unto a great Kings face,
and eate his eyes! why, I would undertake
but at one ſtamp to kill a thouſand of'em:
and I will kill theſe:
Stamps upon them.
Goe you King-eating creatures: I will mar
all your digeſtion.
Pyl.
Alas, where be his wits?
He ſtands declaming againſt ſenſeleſſe worms,
and turns more ſenſeleſſe then the worms themſelves:
where's now the oracle you ſhould conſult?
The great Magician? now the Centaurs thought
ſhall be example to all future years;
and now tranſcend Proſerpina's invention.
Ha, haſt thou found them out? ha, were they worms?
Oreſt.
O prethee laugh not at me, call her, call her;
Pylades knock
whilſt I ſtand gathering up my fathers bones,
his deare diſſected bones; O, I remember, here
ran the ſtrong ſinews, 'twixt his knitting joynts,
here to this bone was joyn'd his princely arme,
here ſtood the hand that bare his warlike ſhield,
and on this little joynt was plac't the head,
that Atlas-like bare up the weight of Greece:
here, here betwixt theſe hollow yawning jaws
ſtood once a tongue, which with one little word
could have commanded thouſand ſouls to death:
Good hands indure this your weighty task,
and good eyes ſtrive not to make moiſt his bones
with weeping teares:
What Scinis or Procuſtes ever could
have hackt a King into ſuch things as theſe?
220Alas here's every part now ſo deform'd,
I know not which was his, yet all was his.
Sound infernal Muſick.

Scena 5.

Enter Canidia, like an Enchauntreſſe.
Oreſt.
Protect us O ye Miniſters of heaven,
ſtand neare me my good Genius, my ſoul hath loſt
his humane function, at this helliſh ſight.
Can.
Who is't diſturbs our cave? what meſſenger
hath Pluto ſent, that would know ought from us?
what are you? ſpeak, Canidia cannot ſtay.
Pyl.
Prompt us ſome Ghoſt.
Great feare of earth, and governeſſe of nature,
in whoſe deep cloſet of that ſacred heart
are writ the characters of future Fate;
and what is done, and what muſt be thou knowſt:
Whoſe words make burning Acheron grow cold,
and Jove leave thundring, when he hears thy name:
to thee we come: O turn thy ſecret book,
and look whoſe names thou there ſhalt ſee inſcrib'd
for murderers, reade o'r all the catalogue,
untill thou findeſt there engraven thoſe
which kill'd the King of Greece, great Agamemnon.
Oreſt.
Yes, he that did owe theſe bones which worms have eate;
it is not now one of the meaner ſort
that craves this boone, but 'tis the heire of Greece,
heire only now but to my fathers grave;
I not command, but my aſtoniſht ſoul
entreats to know.
If in thy book it be not yet put down,
command the gods t' unlock the gates of heaven,
and fetch forth death, command him to relate
who 'twas put Agamemnon in his hands,
221 this is our buſineſſe, this, great propheteſſe,
made us approach to thy moſt hallowed cell.
Can.
Ho, ho, ho, I tell thee fond young prince,
a leſſer power thou mightſt have implor'd,
which might have urg'd th'unwilling fiends to this;
our dire enchantments carry ſuch a force,
that when the ſtars, and influence of heaven,
have ſuckt the lively blood from out mens veines,
I at my pleaſure bring it back again;
I knew each hour in the Trojan fight,
what Grecian, or what Phrygian ſhould die,
and fierce Achilles had no ſooner pierc't
great Hectors ſide, but Fate did ſend me word:
Earth, Sea, deep Chaos, all the ſtony hills,
will ope themſelves to ſhew me prodigies;
Night will unmask her brow, to let me ſee
what black conceptions reem within her womb.
Oreſt.
O then relate, great Miſtreſſe of thy Art,
the things we crave:
Can.
What time of night is't?
Pyl.
Upon the ſtroke of twelve.
Can.
Strait when a cloudy even clappeth the Ayre,
and all light's drench't in miſty Acheron,
when the black palpheries of the full cheekt moon,
have got behind this part o'th' Hemiſpheare,
and dark Aldebor, and is mounted high
into the ſable Caſſiopeias chaire,
and night full mounted in her ſeate of jet,
ſits wrapt within a cabinet of clouds,
when ſerpents leave to hiſſe, no dragons yell,
no birds do ſing, no harſh tun'd toads do croake,
the Armenian Tyger, and the ravenous woolf,
ſhall yeild up all their tyranny to ſleep,
and then none walk but hells diſturbed ſpirits,
children of night, ſuch as belong to me,
I'll ſhew thee thy deſire; give me theſe bones.
Oreſt.
Here, take them Mother, uſe them gently,
222 they were a Kings bones once. O not ſo hard.
Can.
Why ſenſeleſſe boy, doſt think that I reſpect
a Kings dead bones, more then another mans?
O they ſmell rankly; I, this ſent doth pleaſe,
Smells to them.
but I muſt now to work: why Sagana.
Pyl.
Looke here thou King of Greece, fond Menelaus,
thou which didſt bring ſo many goodly ſhapes
into ſuch things as theſe, and all for Helen:
Takes up the ſcull.
Which when the worms bred of her dainty fleſh,
ſhall have knaw'd off her tender rubie lips,
and left her gumleſſe, looke upon her then;
and thou wouldſt even diſgorge thy ſelf to ſee,
ſuch putrid vermine to lie kiſſing her.
Oreſt.
This head had once a royall diadem,
now knock it, beat it, and 'twill ne'r cry treaſon.
Can.
Why Sagana.
Oreſt
There was a player once upon a ſtage,
who ſtriving to preſent a drecry paſſion,
brought out the urn of his late buried ſon,
it might the more affect him, and draw tears:
But I, as if I had no paſſion left,
not acting of a part, but really
in a true cauſe having my fathers bones,
his hollow ſcull, yet crawling full of worms,
I cannot weep, no not a teare will come.
Can.
Why Sagana, Veia, Erictho, know you not your time?
223

Scen. 6.

Enter Sagana, Veia, Erictho, three witches.
Sag.
What would you, Beldam?
Can.
Hath not triform'd Hecate put on
her Styx-dyed mantle, is't not now fit time
to work our charms in?
Veia.
We here are ready 'gainſt thy ſacred charm.
Can.
You two, ſit by, and beare in minde this charge;
Who e'r you ſee, who ever I preſent,
let your tongues be perculiſs'd in your jaws;
ſtir not, nor ſpeak not, till the charm be done.
Pyl.
Fear not, it ſhall be chain'd with ſilence.
Can.
Night, and Diana ſacred Queen,
Which ever hath ſpectator been
Unto our baleful hideous rights,
Ne're acted but in darkeſt nights,
Now in this fatal hearſ-bred hour,
Shew to my rites the greateſt power.
Erictho when my torch ſhall twinkle,
A vernal water thou ſhalt ſprinkle
About the room, now let us kneele,
Our heavy burthen hell ſhall feele:
Lets all coyn words, now we may ſee
Who 'twas did work this prodigie.
Omnes. Pluto, great Pluto, we command,
Thou ſend unto us out of hand,
The ſhapes of them that kill'd the King,
Great Agamemnon.
Infernal Muſick. Enter in a dumb ſhew, Aegiſtheus and Clytemneſtra, with their bloody daggers, look upon the bed, go to it, and ſtab, and then make a ſhew of gladnes and depart.
Or.
O'tis above my bearing! were I linkt here with chains,
224 I would like Cerberus draw Alcides back:
Stay, ſtay, by — revenge ſhall take you here;
nay, I will follow you, ſhould they take their cave,
where Etna vomits fire, I would in:
my mother! Clytemneſtra! Aegyſtheus! was it they?
Nay, I will o'rtake them.
Can.
O ſon, remember what I told you, ſon,
many a rockie hill and ſtoney mount,
many a ſea, and vaſt Charybdis gulf,
ſtands betwixt them and thee, though they ſeem near.
Oreſt.
O piety! O moſt prodigious nature!
What creatures haſt thou made to live on earth?
How haſt thou cloath'd black darkneſſe with a ſcarf
of unſtain'd purity, and put a godly face
upon portentous devils? Oh, how my mother wept!
How Clytemneſtra! how that Hyena wept!
No more my mother, I abjure the name,
ſhe did not bring me forth, I know ſhe did not:
But I'll o'rtake 'em; ſhew me (Canidia) where,
which way they went, where have they hid themſelves.
Should they mount up to the chariot of the Sun,
and in his Car fly to the Antipodes,
or in the fartheſt nook of yonder ſphear,
get up and place themſelves 'twixt Taurus horns,
the fire-breathing bull, or Lerna's Hydra,
were there no entrance but ten Lions jaws,
I'd run through all, and make my way my ſelf:
I'd fix them to the Axel-tree of heaven,
where their infectious carcaſſes ſhould hang
a bait for flying ſpirits in the Ayre.
Canidia, I thank thee for thy pains,
ſtill may thy ſacred Art reveale ſuch deeds,
ſtill keep the gates of Orcus yawning ope,
make the dark powers ready at command.
Pyl.
But let us haſt deare friend, this vaſt worlds roome
allows us none, but thy dead fathers Tombe:
225 here's nought but ayres of death, no bed but ſtones,
〈◊〉pillow's a dead ſcull, companions bones,
•••s's all our comfort, if we needs muſt die,
〈◊〉have a Grave prepar'd wherein to lie.
Oreſt.
Now pale Tiſiphone, O for thy Snakes!
〈◊〉that renowned ſpirit, that more than man,
•hom all the Trojan hoſt could not o'rwhelm,
murdred! But what brave warrier wore a crown,
by guilding a dire ſword in his dear blood?
Hector, nor Priam, no, nor Mars himſelf,
onely his Wife was his Bellona now.
O miſerable valour, to ſcape foes,
and come for to be murdred of his friends!
O ſhameful conqueſt! O moſt coward Fate!
that a weak Woman was competitor
in Agamemnons death: had it been any, yet
it ſhould have been a Goddeſs at the leaſt;
and yet ſhe's but a Queen, a mortal Woman.
Were ſhe a Goddeſs, I would make her mortal.
Dull coward that I am, and worſe than all,
after ſo many wrongs, yet unreveng'd:
their Palace now ſhould fire o'r their heads,
and the huge beams daſh out their guilty brains:
The roof, ſhould fall on me, ſo't fell on them.
Begin revenge, and now perform an act,
may give a theam to all poſterity.
ever to talk of, fraught ſo full of horrour:
Aegyſtheus and my Mother, may wiſh their's,
yet none was ever greater: yes, my deed.
Revenge is loſt, unleſs we do exceed.
Pyl.
But a bad mother, friend, thou ſhouldſt not hurt,
the Law of Nature doth forbid ſuch thoughts.
Oreſt:
Nor Gods, nor Nature, ſhall keep me in awe:
why towards my mother, by heavens Parliament,
who is moſt guilty, is moſt innocent.
Can.
Shall I thus by ſome Magick Art, my ſon,
226 take both their pictures in pure virgin wax?
And wound the place where that the hurt ſhould ſtand,
and ſo wound them?
Oreſt.
Tuſh, this is too little.
Can.
Shall I breed them hate?
Oreſt.
Too little too.
Can:
Shall I conſume their children?
Oreſt.
All this too little:
Hell and the Furies ſhall ſtand all amaz'd,
Alecto ſhall come there for to behold
new kinds of murthers, which ſhe knew not yet:
and Nature learn to violate her ſelf.
I'll inſtantly to th'Court, and what I do,
my ſelf will ſee done, yes, and act it too.
Thanks great Canidia, this black night being done,
Revenge now knows her game whereat to run.
Exeunt omnes.

Actus 4.

Scena 1.

Enter in ſtate, Aegyſtheus, Clytemneſtra, Tyndarus, Strophius, Electra, Nutrix; cum novo partu.
Aegyſt.
NEver but when a royal off-ſpring comes
from a Kings loyns, can he be truly King.
Then doth he ſit firm, rooted in his ſtate,
then is he truly man, and then the gods
he knows do love him, which when Kings do want,
the curſe of Nature doth deny them fruit,
and brands their bed with loath'd ſterility.
Tynd.
Aegyſtheus, ſince the gods have bleſs'd you ſo,
have care their bleſſings turn not to your wo.
Your joy, my daughters joy, and my joy too,
have care it be preſerv'd, and brought up well:
And take heed, ſon, of Agamemnon's blood,
Pierce not with envie the Babes tender heart.
Aegyſt.
Tuſh Father, now, not without grief I ſpeak,
227 all brooks which from the Princely Ocean ran,
are quite dry'd up, only Electra here,
our dear Electra, whoſe great weight of love
is in our balance equally ſo poys'd,
that ſhe ſhall ever think her Father lives,
our heart ſhall be ſo parallel with hers.
El.
Yes, great Aegyſtheus, wer't but our mothers will,
what ſhe thinks good of, I muſt not think ill:
Beſides, your love e'r ſince my fathers death,
as if it came from his departing ſoul,
and forth-with had reviv'd again in you,
hath held a proſpective for me, to ſee
his care redoubled, though the objects chang'd:
And, for I loſt a brother, if you pleaſe,
that I may challenge in your royal blood,
here do I tie with all affections bands,
my ſelf unto this Babe, which is as dear
unto my ſoul, as were Oreſt•s here.
Clyt.
Daughter, your heart now with obedience ſtrung,
makes a ſweet muſick ſounding from your tongue.
Nurſe, Bring the Babe. Give it Electra; ſo,
you daughter ſhall have overſight of it.
Nutr.
O, ſhall I part from't then?
Cly.
No good Nurſe, no,
Electra with her care, you with your pains.
Nutr.
Now by Lucina, had it gone away,
I ſhould have ſit, and ſob'd away my heart;
'Tis the ſweeteſt Babe that ever Nurſe did kiſs.
Aegyſt.
Look here good father, look my nobles here,
upon this Babe ſcarce crept yet out of earth,
for you ſhall grow an Autumn of ripe years,
when time hath brought it to maturity.
Look on thy grandchild, Tyndarus, ſee, 'tis thine,
this came from thee, old-man; ſee how it ſmiles
upon the Grandſire, as if wiſe Nature had
taught him his kindreds Names 'fore he came forth.
Tynd.
I ſee't Aegyſt. & my ag'd blood grows warm,
228 as if my ſelf were a new father made,
and all the bleſſings I can render it,
ſhall drop like golden ſhowers on the head:
Me thinks it doth recal my ſliding age,
and makes ſwift time retire back again:
It doth unfold thoſe wrincles in my face,
which grief and years had fixed as their ſignes
upon my brow, and now it ſhall be ſeen,
although my hairs are gray, my joyes are green.
Clyt.
Long may our Father his opinion hold,
and you, our daughter, let not ſiniſter thoughts
wrong your ſuſpicious minde, though this being young,
it makes our Lord, and me to ſpeak our joyes;
yet our affection, and our natural love,
is not a whit to you diminiſhed.
A Mother can be Mother unto many,
and as from one Root hid within the ground,
ſprings many flowers, that lends ſap to all;
So from a Parents heart run veins of love,
which, though to many they without do flow,
yet from one heart, one Root, they all do grow.
Elect.
I hope our gracious Mother cannot think
we do ſuſpect her love; witneſs this charge,
which you have bleſs'd my arms and ſoul withal:
and as your love committed it with care,
my care ſhall ſtill defend it with my love.
Aegyſt.
We thank our daughter, come Lord Strophius, come,
grief ſtill ſits heavie on your ſighing heart.
Be frolike, learn of us; in all the grace,
and pleaſure our Court extends, you ſhall have place.
Stroph.
I thank my gracious Lord, time hath by this,
almoſt eate out the memory of our ſon,
and ſince the heavens let fall their dew on you,
and watred Argos with ſuch ſpringing hopes;
I will not ſeem a ſtock uncapable
of ſuch a general comfort, but revive
229 my buried thoughts, and for my Sovereign's ſake,
old Strophius will a young mans perſon take.
Aegyſt.
We thank old Strophius, and if honour can
keep thee ſtill young, our Princely hand is wide,
and freely ſhall extend all Graces on thee,
and you all our Subjects, which bear part
thus in our joy. And here I do proclaim,
and perſonally from my own Mouth pronounce,
ſealing it with the Signet of my State,
A general immunity to all
Murders, Rapes, Treaſons, Thefts, Conveyances,
which have been from the birth of our dear Childe,
in all the Confines of our Empire done;
nor ſhall your licence date be quite expired,
till the ſlow year ſeven times runs out his courſe.
Our ſelf thus ſpeak it; until then all's free,
Kings win their Subjects by immunity.
Exeunt omnes.
Manent Strophius, & Electra.
Stroph.
Electra, you are happy in your charge.
Electr.
Yes, Uncle, and you happy in your favour.
Nur.
Madam, Shall I ſtay here until you come?
Comes back.
Electr.
Yes, Nurſe, ſit down and ſing, look to the Babe,
I'll only with my Uncle change a word.
Nurſe
ſings.
Lullaby, lullaby Baby,
Great Argos joy,
The King of Greece thou art born to be,
In deſpight of Troy.
Reſt ever wait upon thy head,
Sleep cloſe thine eyes,
The bleſſed gaurd, tend on thy bed,
Of Deities.
O, how this brow will beſeem a Crown!
How theſe locks will ſhine!
230Like the rayes of the Sun on the ground,
Theſe locks of thine.
The Nurſe of heaven ſtill ſend thee milk,
Maiſt thou•uck a Queen.
Thy drink Joves Nectar, and cloaths of ſilke,
A God mayſt thou ſeem.
Cupid ſit on this Roſean cheek,
On theſe rubie lips
May thy minde like a Lamb be meek,
In the vales which trips,
Lullaby, Lullaby Baby, &c.
Elect.
You never heard from my brother, Uncle,
nor from your ſon! they have been long away!
Stroph.
In troth, Electra, I am in deſpair,
almoſt of ever ſeeing them again;
Sure if Oreſtes live, and ever hear,
unto what paſs Aegyſtheus brings his ſtate,
ſeated him in the throne, and's mothers bed,
and like to leave Argos hereditary
to his Poſterity, it cannot e'r be born,
Oreſtes ſpirit will endure no ſcorn.
Elect.
Uncle, his long delayes make me ſurmiſe,
or he will never come, or come with prize;
He, if now come, he muſt not ſhew himſelf,
but live unknown, unnam'd, or change his name.
Str.
His name, Electra, yes, and's nature too,
which I do fear me he will hardly do.
But if we hear not from them now e're long,
I'll liſten by ſome means about the land,
to hear of them; mean time you to your charge,
officious duty muſt our lives enlarge.
Elect.
Come Nurſe.
Exeunt.
231

Scen. 2.

Enter Oreſtes, and Pylades.
Oreſt.
O, here's the Palace under whoſe kind roof
My tender years were gently ſoftered:
But now the ſight on't ſeems to ſtrike my ſoul,
when I but think it holds within the walls,
the patrons of ſuch luſt, incarnate devils,
meer Pythoniſts, that facinate the world.
Pyl.
Nay, but Oreſtes, think now of your ſelf,
complain not of your wrongs, but ſeek to right them.
We might have liv'd i'th woods ſtill to complain,
and to that purpoſe we may turn again.
Whet up your former thoughts, and ſpend not time,
to rave, but to revenge this odious act.
We know they were their ſhapes, and no Chymera's.
Oreſt.
O, Pylades, know I thou art my friend?
Pyl.
I hope you think it.
Oreſt.
I do, I dare ſwear it,
ſo I dare ſwear it was Aegyſtheus, and
the dumbe Witch, the — O, what thing's enough
to be an attribute to term her by?
The Clytemneſtra, O, we ſaw her do't.
Pyl.
'Twas a black deed indeed, and paſt all thought.
Oreſt.
O, Hell it ſelf has not the pattern to't:
Some ſtench, ſome fogs and vapours ſtop their breath,
exhald from out the dampiſh wombe of Styx.
Did ever foul, diſaſtrous, fiendlike hands,
caſt up ſo huge a heap of hell-bred miſchief?
Were I to dive to'th depth of Phelgeton.
or fetch young Gaenimed from the arms of Jove,
to rend Proſerpina from Pluto's bed,
or take the vulture from off Titius heart,
and ſet it on my Mothers, I would do't;
I'll break ope doors, and nail 'em to their bed;
232 heark, revenge calls me, I come, I come.
Pyl.
Nay, ſtill outrageous friend, good now contain
your heady fury in wiſdoms reyn:
hearken to my advice.
Oreſt.
I will, dear friend,
thou haſt plaid muſick to my doleful ſoul;
and when my heart was tympaniz'd with grief,
thou lav'dſt out ſome into thy heart from mine,
and kepſt it ſo from burſting; thou haſt tide
with thy kind counſel, all theſe looſned ſtrings,
they ſhould not crack aſunder with their weight.
Pyl.
Then liſten now, the beſt plot I can think,
is this: We here will live a while unknown:
Oreſtes, thy Profeſſion ſhall be Phyſick,
I as your friend t'company you at Court;
carry it neatly, learn a few ſtrange words,
palliate your woe a while, and coope up grief,
you may in time ſo miniſter to the King;
Phyſicks occaſion fit revenge may bring.
Oreſt.
Rarely invented, I'll ſpeak Aphoriſms,
ſublim'd Purgations, Quinteſſence diſtill'd,
each Doſe I give ſhall make a heart to bleed,
and prove a true Phyſician ſo indeed.
Enter Myſander, having o'r-heard their talk.
Myſ.
'Twas my good Genius guided me here now,
to hear Conſpiracy; wherefore I'll attach them.
Save you Gentlemen.
Ore.
Save you too, if you pleaſe.
Pyl.
Sir, 'twas ſmall manners to interrupt our talk,
and give no warning of your being neer.
Myſ.
Warning? you ſhall have warning, yes, I know
I heard you both, and underſtood your plot,
you'll turn Phyſician, Sir, and give rare Clyſters,
ſhall work like Stibium, to purge our hearts:
You thought to act well true Phyſicians parts.
Oreſt.
Therefore on thee our Medicine firſt ſhall work.
Stabs him.
233Myſ.
Help, murder.
Oreſt.
Nay Paraſite, I'll gag you,
you ſhall not fawn again, or wag your tayl,
when the King nods.
Myſ.
O help me, I am ſlain.
Pyl.
Stop his breath quickly, if but he be dead,
we may eſcape the danger of the treaſon.
Oreſt.
Nay he is ſilent; O, but we are beſet.

Scena 3.

Enter a Lord and others at the out-cry.
Lor.
Look out, me thought I heard one cry out murder,
ſome voice I am ſure did diſturbe the Court,
it was Myſanders voice, me thought that cried,
Spies him dead.
and ſee, hee's ſlain; one whom the Kings eſteem
did rank among the beſt; there are the Murderers:
Fellows, how durſt you thus abuſe the Court?
Go, haſte to 'th' King, tell him the men be here.
Pylad.
Gentlemen, we as lovers to the Court,
came here as ſtrangers, for to ſee the King,
this man being coming out, too ſoon for us;
and for himſelf us'd us uncivilly;
we have been Gentlemen, though our Fortunes now
have put on Beggars weeds upon our backs:
who anſwering in the ſame ſort he propos'd,
he ſtruck us, and men cannot endure blows:
ſo thinking much to be ſtruck again,
he grew ſo hot, he drew and made a Stab;
at which encounter both incloſing him
'twixt us he took a wound worſe than we thought
to give, for we did think to have given none;
But ſince 'tis thus, we muſt appeal to th' King.
Lor.
Yes; and here comes his Majeſty in perſon.
234

Scena 4.

Enter Aegyſtheus, with a Guard.
Aegy.
A Guard there on us, here is murder done.
What, is Myſander kil'd, our truſty ſervant?
Where are the vilians?
Oreſt.
O hold good heart, hark, hark, he calls us villains.
Aegy.
What is the matter? ſpeak, how came he dead?
They ſhall die two deaths, that did cauſe him one.
O eſt.
O I am now undone; he muſt ſit judge,
to condemne us, that ſhould maſſacre him.
Pyl.
Nay, keep a temper, hold good friend a while.
Lord.
My gracious ſovereign, theſe two be the men,
which have confeſs'd the deed:
Aegyſt.
Are you the men which thus abus'd our ſtate?
Was't one or both? if both, you both ſhall die;
if one, that one: w're juſt in our Decree.

Scen. 5.

Enter Clyt. Tynd. Strophius, Electra.
What, is my Queen come here, to hear the Cauſe?
We'll then aſcend, and judge them inſtantly.
Aſcends the Throne.
Or.
O crack my ey-ſtrings, let theſe balls drop out,
or the quick ſights like darts fly to their ſouls,
and pierce their entrails; he King, my mother Queen!
The Briſeis and Achilles, that in my dream.
We come to be condemn'd amongſt our friends.
I will ſpeak to them, Electra's there,
And Storphius, your old Father, Pylades.
Pyl.
Shew thy ſelf valorous, o'recome thy ſelf:
235 If we be known, we ſurely are condemn'd.
Aegyſt.
Father, Lord Strophius, ſit and hear the cauſe.
Clyt.
Why, my Lord, what is't makes the buſineſs thus?
Aegyſt.
My Queen ſhall ſtraitway know; Bring them away.
Although it is not fallen out of our minde,
of a free act of pardon of all faults
commited in the date of ſuch a time,
our hand of mercy muſt not be ſo ſoft,
to cover o're with gentle lenity,
ſuch ulcerous ſores as theſe; there is no place
for mercy left; murder muſt not finde grace:
Therefore our doom is paſt, one needs muſt die,
blood ſtill for blood unto the gods will cry.
Oreſt.
Then, if thy doom be ſpent, great King here ſtands;
the man that did it, ſhewing his guilty hands.
Pylad.
O hold thy doom a while; it was not he,
His ſerious ſtudies in the learned Arts,
hearing acute Philoſophers diſpute
'twixt life and death, and of a future ſtate
would fain haſte to it; but the man was I:
beleeve not him, 'twas his deſire to die.
Oreſt.
No King, 'tis he which in his deſperate thoughts,
would looſe the bands betwixt his ſoul and him;
ones ſelf againſt ones ſelf is witneſs ſtore,
my ſelf confeſſes, what wouldſt thou have more?
Pyl.
Believe him not, upon my knees I vow,
Kneels.
theſe hands are only branded with the guilt,
and for ones blood, let not two lives be ſpilt.
Oreſt.
And on my knees I the like Oath do take,
I gave the ſtab, my Dagger's bloody yet.
Pyl.
That was my Dagger, King, he took't from me.
Or.
He do's me wrong, by —, 'twas ever mine.
Aegyſt.
This doth amaze us, I ne're yet ſaw two
turn Rhetoricians ſo to plead for death.
Would not the pardon of this odious fact,
236 like a foul ſtench, or an unwholſom air,
ſend an infectious vapour through the Land,
and choak up Juſtice; this fidelity
ſhould for this one time ſet two murderers free.
Cly.
Now good my love, methinks I pity them,
and prethee for my ſake (I know them not)
abate thy edge of Juſtice for this once.
Oreſt.
O what ſhe ſpoke! to damne it had been better.
Aegyſt.
My love, thou knowſt I never look too ſtern
upon a fault that could ask lenity.
But this is ſo tranſcendent, and ſo great,
it muſt not be ſlipt with impunity.
To do a heynous murder, and i'th'Court,
i'th place of Juſtice, where the King might hear,
upon a chief attendant of the Kings!
Murder it ſelf is paſt all expiation,
the greateſt crime that Nature doth abhor:
not being, is abominable to her;
and when we be make others not to be,
'tis worſe than beſtial: and we did not ſo,
when only we by natures ayd did live
a Heterogenious kind, as ſemibeaſts,
when reaſon challeng'd ſcarce a part in us;
but now doth manhood and civility
ſtand at the Bar of Juſtice, and there plead,
how much they'r wronged, and how much defac't
when man doth dye his hands in blood of man.
Judgement it ſelf would ſcarce a Law enact
againſt the murderer, thinking it a fact
that man 'gainſt man would never dare commit,
ſince the worſt things of nature do not it.
Oreſt.
O how his words now rail againſt a ſin,
which beat upon his Conſcious thoughts within!
His tongue ſpeaks fair, his inparts, look on them,
and they like Jury-men himſelf condemne:
Aſide.
Pyl.
But O great King, if juſtice muſt have right,
237 let me ſtand only guilty in thy ſight.
Oreſt.
No, 'tis not, King, 'twas I that did the deed,
and for my action, let no other bleed.
Aegyſt.
In troth this makes my Doom it cannot fall:
Will none of you confeſs?
Strophius weeps.
Oreſt.
Yes, I confeſs.
Pylad.
No King, 'tis I confeſs.
Aegyſt.
How now Lord Strophius, what affects you ſo,
that makes your tears bewrayers of ſome paſſion?
Stroph.
My gracious Sovereign, this ſtrange ſpectacle
renews the Memory of my once great loſs,
and my dear Queens, we once were bleſt with two,
which ſo had link'd themſelves in bands of love,
as theſe men now do ſeem to me they have.
One ſtream of love did in two hearts ſo glide,
one with the other liv'd, with th'other di'd.
And would my Queen be my competitor,
for our Sons ſake my ſuits ſhould joyn with her,
ſince Juſtice craves but one, and both will go,
even ſave them both, and right wrong'd Juſtice ſo.
Clyt.
I, good my love, let Juſtice come and look,
if ſhe can finde in all her Statute Book,
two men for the ſame crime ſhould rightly die;
ſhe will not ſay ſo, Juſtice cannot lie.
And ſince they both will die, let ones love ſave
the others life, and ſo both life ſhall have.
Aegyſt.
In troth my Queen, and my old Lord have mov'd.
Well, ſince your loves are both ſo ſtrongly tyed,
and friendſhip like an old acquaintance ſends
to her friend Juſtice that ſhe ſhould be milde,
and looks with eyes of Mercy on your fault,
conſidering our immunity proclaim'd,
and ſuch Petitioners as you both have got,
Death in our Sentence, now ſhall have no part;
whilſt who ſhould have done worſt, confeſſion ſtrives,
too much confeſſion thus ſaves two mens lives:
But now we muſt demand, what you made here?
238What buſineſs or condition you profeſs?
Pylad.
Great King, our duty owes to thee our lives,
and were we men that ſtriv'd to ſet a cloud
before theſe gifts, Art hath inſtructed us,
or we have purchac't at a moſt dear rate,
of coſt and labour; yet thy clemency
commands us to lay open all to thee:
yet for my ſelf I rather count my ſtate
bleſt that I lighted on this honeſt man;
whoſe accurate and watchful indagation,
hath taught him for to heal the wounds of Nature,
by his exceeding skill in wholſom herbs;
one, that when I did think my shred of life
had been quite cut, did tie it up again,
and make it laſt: recall'd my youthful dayes,
and made me Aeſon-like, become thus young;
for which great practiſe I did owe my life,
and thence proceeded our late pious ſtrife.
Aeg.
Nay then I'm glad our mercy did extend
on men whom ſuch rare vertues do commend;
our love ſhall then grow greater, & our Court
ſhall entertain you, and't may chance we will,
my Queen and I, make tryal of your skill.
Oreſt.
My gracious Sovereign, words muſt not have wings,
to paſs and to out-flye the bounds of truth,
only to win the Elixar of opinion;
but for my friend, I here profeſs ſo much,
and for my life do ſtand ſo deeply bound,
that all my Art can ne're make recompence.
Pleaſe but your Graces ſelf ▪ and your dear Queen,
appoint the ſecrets of the ſafeſt room
to let me ſhew my ſelf to none but you;
though Nature dried up with too much time,
deny to ſpring in fruit from forth your loins,
or any other ſtrange impediment;
our Art preſerves from ſickneſs ruining.
239And 'twill be bleſt to ſhew it to a King.
Aegyſt.
Ha, prethee let me ſpeak with thee apart.
Thou ſtrik'ſt on tunes now, make me glad to hear,
we will commit our ſecreſie to thee.
Can'ſt water barren Wombs with ſuch a dew,
ſhall make 'em flouriſh and wax green with fruit?
Although we cannot altogether blame,
that Nature hath been too unkind to us;
yet we would plant each corner of our Realm
with ſpringing Branches of our Royal ſelf,
to compaſs in our ſelves, and we ſtand in the midſt.
Kings in their Children do great bleſſing finde,
and great men love to Propagate their kinde.
Oreſt.
Great Sovereign, boaſting words ſhall ne're out-weigh
the things I will perform, I ſpeak not fame,
but what I have ſaid, I will do the ſame.
Aegyſt.
We like thy temper well, and we will truſt;
therefore this night we will appoint it ſo,
thou ſhalt be guided to our ſecretſt room,
and there ſhalt uſe thy skill; which if it take,
our love ſhall honour thee for Phyſicks ſake.
Exeunt Aegyſt. Clyt. Tynd.
Oreſt.
Good heavens I thank you, your effectual power
hath ſhewed your juſtice in this bleſſed hour.
Now is occaſion put; thus murder layes
the trap wherein it ſelf, it ſelf betrayes.
Pyl.
Old Lord, a word with you.
Oreſt.
and with you Lady.
They take Stroph. and Elect. back.
Pyl.
Had not you once a Son lov'd the young prince?
Stop.
Yes Sir, but Fates envied my happineſs,
and holds both Prince and Son away too long.
Oreſt.
And had not you a brother (Lady) once?
When heard you of him laſt? He went to travel.
Elect.
In truth I had, but I can hear no news.
They diſcover themſelves.
240Stro.
O ſee! my ſon! welcome my deareſt boy.
Elect.
Our Brother, our Oreſtes is come home.
Stroph.
'Tis they indeed; O how my blood revives!
Let me embrace them; O ye'r welcome home,
now is the Autumne of our ſorrow done.
Elect.
What ſilent place hath ſmothered you ſo long?
Of what great Powers have you counſel ta'ne,
concerning the great Plot you had in hand?
Oreſt.
Uncle, and Siſter, we muſt not ſtand now
embracing much, and bidding welcome home;
you ſee before I come, how things do ſtand:
My buſineſs haſtens; and my friend, and I,
have yet a greater Project to perform:
Only Electra, we muſt have your ayde,
to help us with their Child, for now's the time,
when bleſt occaſion ſtrives to help revenge.
Elect.
Why Brother, is the Child in any fault?
that was unborn when that our Father died:
And 'tis a luſty boy: O hurt not that.
Oreſt.
Tuſh, I muſt have it, it ſhall have no hurt,
worſe than my Father:
Elect.
Shal't not, indeed.
Oreſt.
Believe me, no worſe hurt; but let's be gone.
I'le be a tripode Paracelſian.
Exeunt.

Scen. 6.

Enter a Chamberlain, and a Boy to ſweep the Room.
Cham.
Boy, ſweep the room, ſet each thing in his place,
the King and Queen take Phyſick here to night.
Boy.
Sir, and you'll help me, I am ready here,
They ſet a Table.
Cham.
Fetch them two Chairs.
Boy.
Yes, Sir.
What Carpet mean you ſhall be ſpread a'th boord?
241Cham.
That of red velvet, ſet the ſilver cups,
there may be uſe of them to take the potion:
Sets two bowles.
So, now all's well, the room is well prepar'd.
Enter Oreſtes, like a Doctor of Phyſick.
Oreſt.
Is this the room, friend, where the King muſt be?
Cham.
Yes, this is the room Sir, 'tis the privat'ſt, this.
Oreſt.
You muſt avoyd it then, and tell his Grace,
that I ſtay here provided 'gainſt he come.
Cham.
His Grace ſhall know it.
Exit.

Scena 7.

Enter Pylades, with a little boy in's hand.
Pyl.
I faith Oreſtes, prethee ſpare the child,
it hath no fault, but 'tis too like thy mother.
Oreſt.
Like my mother, O moſt execrable!
hadſt rank'd the confus'd Chaos of all ſins,
thou couldſt not have found out a fault more black,
more ſtinking, more infectious to my heart.
Art like my mother, O tranſcendent crime!
Child.
Some ſay I'm eyd like her, but in the face
I do reſemble moſt the King my father.
Pyl.
Poor babe.
Oreſt.
The King thy father! yes, too like them both.
Child.
Electra ſays, I'm ſomewhat like Oreſtes,
her brother that is dead.
Oreſt.
How, like Oreſtes! when didſt ſee him child?
Child.
Indeed I never ſaw him, but I love him.
Pyl.
Alas, dear friend, ſee the pretty knave.
Ore.
Would thou wert not my mothers, I could weep,
but ſee, O ſee now my relenting heart,
muſt now grow flinty, ſee my father, ſee,
now to ſhew pity were impiety.
242Enter Agamemnons ghoſt, paſſing o're the ſtage all wounded.
Ghoſt.
Why flaggs revenge? ſee thy now yeelding ſoul,
made me burſt ope my ſtrong jaw'd ſepulcher,
and rip the ſeare-cloth from my wounded breaſt.
O can a child ſmile blanke the memory
of all theſe horrid wounds, that make me groan,
in the darke caverns of the uncoucht earth?
from whence I come for to infect thy ſoul
with ayre of vengeance, may make Acheron,
yea, and our ſelves, at the performance quake.
Fruit of our loynes, firſt vigor of our youth,
look on theſe wounds, as on the Gorgons head,
and turn thy heart to ſtone: hovering revenge
is falne into thy hands, O graſp her cloſe
by her ſnake knotted front, and make her do
things may incite a horror to her ſelf.
Forget all mother, in that diſloyal witch,
whoſe damned heate raging in ſtrumpets blood,
ſo ſoon did condeſcend to murther me.
By all the rights of Father I conjure thee:
By Atreus, Atreus, he whoſe revengeful ſoul
is eccho'd through the world ſuperlative;
do thou make Nemeſis as great a feaſt,
and be enthroniz'd in her fiery chaire,
in her triumphant chariot ever ride,
in which, Beares hurry her from the womb of hell,
and bear this Title as thy deſerved hire,
the brave revenger of thy murdred ſire.
Think on me, and revenge.
Exit.
Oreſt.
Stay, ſtay, and ſee't,
ſtay Sprite, thou ſtrik'ſt no terror to my ſoul:
For unamaz'd I now would dare out-look
ranks of Meduſa's, and the grim aſpect
of the moſt frowning object hell affords.
Think on me and revenge! yes, thoſe two words
243 ſhall ſerve as burthen unto all my acts,
I will revenge, and then I'll think on thee:
I'll think on thee, and then again revenge,
and ſtab, and wound, and ſtill I'll think on thee:
I have a dropſie now to ſuck up fumes,
and drink the reaking ſtreams of vengeance fome:
Great Agamemnons Ghoſt, I will bedew
thy hearſe with blood in ſtead of briniſh tears,
and build a pile up of their murdered trunks,
to burn thy marrow-leſſe conſumed bones.
Arrows of forked lightening never flew
more ſwiftly from the awful arms of Jove,
then Nemeſis black Scorpions from me.
Pyl.
'Twas a ſtrange ſight.
Ore.
I, didſt thou ſee't friend?
all of thoſe wounds will I ſtick in his breſt.
Pyl.
Alas, one will be enough for him?
Oreſt.
I, but ſhe ſhall have more. A while go by:
Pylades takes the child aſide:
Were all the world their lives, the world ſhould die.
Now Tragedy fetch out thy crimſon robes,
and buckle ſure thy purple buskins on,
ſteep't ten grains deeper in their ſcarlet die;
this night ſhall give me now a deep carouſe,
of Clytemneſtrae's and Aegyſtheus blood,
and Cerberus himſelf ſtand by to pledge me,
whileſt to hells fire I ſhall ſacrifice
three Hecatombs; it doth the furies good,
when e'r we wet their Altars with ſuch blood.
And now ye fiends of hell, each take a place,
as 'twere ſpectators at a firſt dayes play;
raiſe all the helliſh winds to expel nature:
Great Goddeſſe give me leave now to forget
all ſtrains of duty; all obedient thoughts
die in me quite: a mothers memory,
pious affections take no hold on me.
Be all my ſenſes circled in with Fiends,
244 and let Erynnis hold her flaming brand
to guide my murderous ſword; for all lights elſe,
vaniſh from out this Center, be this room fraught
ſo full of miſchief, may make the Fabrick crack,
and let no time now come into my thoughts,
but that dire night wherein my father dy'd.
I'll only be a Doctor now in word,
each potion that I give ſhall be my ſword.
But I muſt change.

Scena. 8.

Enter Aegyſtheus and Clytemneſtra, in their night-robes.
Aegyſt.
O Doctor, you are buſie for our coming.
Oreſt.
My gracious Lord, I had no cauſe to fail.
Oreſtes looking on the cups.
Clyt.
Nay, but is this fit time for phyſick, Doctor?
Oreſt.
Firſt, Madam, for the phyſick that I give,
now the diaſtal fabrick of your pulſe,
ſhews all your paſſions moſt hyſterical.
Pleaſeth your Grace ſit down? on at each end o'th table.
Aegyſt.
Yes, muſt we ſit? ſit there my Queen.
Oreſt.
Yes, now is Saturn, governour of nature,
in free conjunction with the planet Venus:
And juſt at this time Jupiter begat
great Hercules: Sol, Luna, Mercury.
in that Diameter, now favour propagation,
and now will my Alexipharmacon
ſtir the Analeptick veines and arteries:
If you out-live this night, you'll live to ſee
a royal, ſtrange, and Princely progeny.
Aegyſt.
Think'ſt thou ſo, Doctor?
Oreſt.
Think it, nay, I know't.
Hem.
Clyt.
Surely he means to work rare Art upon us.
245Aegy.
Pray God thy phyſick take.
Ore.
Yes, it ſhall take.
Hem.
Pylades binds Clytemneſtra to the chair: O­reſtes Egystheus: Pylades brings in the child.
Egy.
Treaſon, we are betraid.
Or.
Nay, tis your privat'ſt room.
View me wel mother, ha, do you know me yet?
Puts off his gown.
Here, here's the drugs my Art hath thought upon:
be pitileſſe now Pylades, be my friend.
Child.
O help me father, elſe theſe men will kill me.
Egyſt.
O my boy, my boy.
Oreſt.
O ye'r faſt bound.
Yes, he is thine, thy face, thy eyes, thy heart,
and would I knew where Nature had couchd moſt,
of thy damnd blood, I thus would let it out,
Stabs the child.
and thus't ſhould ſprit in thy moſt loathed face.
Egy.
O now the heavens rain vengeance on our heads.
Child.
O mother, mother, ſave me, ſave me father.
Oreſt.
Hold Pylades, be ſteadfaſt, for by —
he wounds me, that perſwades me not to wound.
Clyt.
O turn thy bloody weapon on my breſt,
'twas this womb that brought forth this babe and thee,
If that be guilty, I have made it ſo.
Rip up this place which firſt did bring thee forth,
'tis I intreat thee, 'tis thy mother, ſhe
which gave thee houſ-room here within this breſt,
upon whoſe dugs thy infant lips did hang.
Oreſt.
It was my father, he intreated you,
who many a time had clipt you in his arms,
who made you Queen of Greece, yes, it was he,
good Agamemnon, he did plead for life.
Egyſt.
Bath not thy hands in a poor infants blood,
nor in thy mothers, I deſerve to die:
and yet remember how my doom ſav'd thee,
how eaſily mercy did obtain her ſuit.
Oreſt.
Nay, but Egyſtheus, you can aggravate,
246 to doe a haynous murther, and i'th Court;
I'th place of Juſtice, where the King might hear,
upon a chief attendant of the Kings.
Murther it ſelf is paſt all expiation,
a crime that nature moſt of all abhors,
and look how manhood and civility,
ſtand at the bar of Juſtice, and there plead,
how much they'r wrong'd, and how much defac'd,
when man doth dye his hands in blood of man.
Now hearken King, I'll uſe thy Rhetorick,
thou didſt a haynous murther in the Court,
not which the King did hear, but which he felt;
when no petition could (good man) prevaile,
therefore this dies, this firſt ſhall have his due,
Stabs it againe, that the blood ſpirts in his face.
this miſchief done, revenge ſhall prompt anew.
Aeg.
O, the gods bluſh, and heaven looks pale at this,
a fathers face beſmear'd with his childs blood!
Oreſt.
My haſt deceives my will; tuſh, all this yet,
may be call'd piety; you ſhall taſt too, mother.
Turns it to her.
Clyt.
O, why dos't baniſh nature from his place?
Look on thy mothers tears, worſe then thoſe groans,
and pangs ſhe had, when ſhe firſt brought thee forth.
When of thy friends or parents thou haſt wrong,
patience, not fury doth to thee belong.
Is this the bleſſing that thy knee ſhould ask?
Repay'ſt thou thus my kiſſes and my tears,
which flow'd from me to thee in tender years?
Oreſt.
O why did you ſo baniſh woman-hood,
when you and this damn'd villain, baſe adulterer,
made in my fathers ſide ſo many wounds,
and brought a brave old King into this ſtate?
See here's his bones, my pocket can contain.
Pulls bones from his pocket.
247great Agamemnon; and repayd you thus
his kind embraces? all his loving ſigns?
Aegyſtheus, you are thirſty, you ſhall drink,
Fills two cups with the childs blood: gives it them
yes, you ſhall clear your throat, by — you ſhall.
Aegy.
O miſchief above miſchief! what Heniochus
bred on a ſtony rock, could e'r endure
to ſee a fathers thirſt quench'd with ſuch blood?
Haſt thou no meaſure, hath revenge no end?
Ore.
Who firſt doth miſchief, may keep mean i'th deed,
but who revengeth, muſt all mean exceed.
Nay mother wee'l not bar you of your draught.
Gives one cup to her.
Clyt.
O Nature, ſee here all thy law infring'd,
a mothers prayers prevail not with her ſon.
Oreſt.
Pray with Thyeſtes, it ſhall never move me:
But firſt Aegyſtheus, Do thou haſte revenge.
Stabs him.
Aegyſt.
O, I am wounded, O when doſt thou end?
Oreſt.
Nay, I have ſcarce begun. Now mother, you.
Sabs her
So now, I'll ſtand and look, and on hell call,
nay, my revenge muſt not be uſual:
One more for thee Aegyſtheus; only let out
the blood you drank before.
Aegyſt.
O, my heart feels it.
Oreſt.
Now mother you, and your love the ſame.
Clyt.
O kill me quickly, time prolongs my wo,
and ſince I muſt die, let me quickly goe.
Oreſt.
You know your ſentence; Let him feel he dies.
who ſtrait threats death, knows not to tyrannize.
Aegy.
This brings ten deaths.
Or.
Would twould an 100 bring,
one death's too little to revenge a King.
Hence, hence, adulterous ſoul to Tantalus,
and let hell know who 'twas ſent thee thither:
he dies.
Now, mother, you ſhall follow: but he firſt,
248 leſt that like Lovers you go hand in hand.
Clyt.
Why ſon, whoſe death is it thou doſt revenge?
thy fathers? but on whom? upon thy mother!
On her which brought thee forth, which took moſt care,
to bring thee up, from whom thou tookſt thy ſelf?
thou'rt ſure thou art mine, but doſt not know,
who 'twas begate thee.
Oreſt.
Wil't Baſtardize me?
Yes, mother, yes, I know I was his ſon:
Alas! why, what are you? a ſenſeleſſe peice
of rotten earth can do as much to corn,
as you to me, bear it, and bring it forth;
but Agamemnon, he that ſeed did ſow,
and only unto him my ſelf I ow:
and for him thou ſhalt die.
Clyt.
O, I confeſſe,
my conſcience tells me, I deſerve no leſſe:
and thus thy mother from thee doth depart,
leaving vexation to torment thy heart.
She dies.
Oreſt.
Now friend, I ſee my father live again,
and in his royal ſtate at Argos Court:
This is the night in which he firſt came home,
O bleſſed powers of hell, divine Canidia,
Now am I ſatisfied, now hath revenge perfection;
and nothing grieves me, but that Tyndarus,
my mothers father, did not ſee her die.
Ile in and tell him, my thoughts muſt reveale
thoſe acts I do: this night who would conceale?
Now ſoul triumph, whiſt that my deed ſhall ſhine,
I'th face o th Court, and all the world know't mine.
249

Actus 5.

Scena 1.

Enter Oreſtes in his gown: Tyndarus, Strophius, E­lectra, Pylades, two Lords.
Ore.
My Lord, your daughters potion works moſt rarely;
the King's aſleep, God bleſſe his Majeſty.
O, do not wake him, faith 'tis pity, la.
Tynd.
What do I ſee? ha, blood, the little child
dead! my daughter bleed? Aegyſtheus kill'd?
Oreſt.
Your Lordſhips eyes do fail, 'tis but ſpilt wine.
Tynd.
Lay hands o'th villain, 'tis the Phyſicians deed.
Oreſt.
Nay friends, hands off 'tis no Phyſician now:
Diſcovers himſelf.
See, ſee, old Tyndarus, doſt thou know me yet?
Fetch me my Crown and robes, nay, I'll aſcend:
Is not Atrides eldeſt ſon your King?
Tynd.
What haſt thou done, foul Viper, to eat out
thy mothers bowels? what, was this thy deed?
Thy ſilence ſayes 'twas thine. What Tanais,
Tygris or Rhenus, or what flowing ſea,
ſhould waſh thee in the ſalt Meotis ſtreame?
Or Tethis at full tide o'rflow thy banks,
ſtill would the ſpots of murder ſtick on them.
Oreſt.
Why Grandſire, I go not about to waſh,
by — 'twas all the fruit I thought to win,
to think all miſchief here could be no ſin.
Tynd.
See, ſee, thy mother, look upon her now,
on her, whoſe eyes thou haſt for ever clos'd,
which eyes have often wakned at thy cry,
and huſh'd thee with a lullaby to ſleep:
See, ſee, theſe hands, which oft with ſo much care,
wrapt gently up thy unſet tender limbs.
250See, ſee, this face, wont at thy ſignes to ſmile,
when nature gave not leave unto thy tongue
to utter thy childs meaning.
Oreſt.
See, ſee theſe bones, theſe naſty rotten bones,
which had ſo often lock'd his hands in hers;
here ſtood the tongue, which oft had call'd her ſweet,
dear Clytemneſtra, and then ſtopt his ſpeech,
and told his love in a more ſpeaking ſigne.
Here ſtood thoſe eyes, which fed upon her face,
and made her of thy daughter, a great Queen,
and ſhe made him a diſh for loathed worms.
Tynd.
Suppoſe ſhe did, there was but one yet dead,
and with ones death again ſhould be repaid.
Oreſt.
No, Tyndarus, had I deſir'd but one,
I ſhould have thought I had deſired none.
Why, methinks, I ſhould too have kill'd thee,
the number is too little yet of three.
Tynd.
Into what land, what country wilt thou fly?
all earths, all lands, all countries will fly thee:
the heavens will look with a more chearful brow
on Cerberus.
Oreſt.
Why, let heaven look as 'twill, tis my crown,
that I have done an act ſhall make heave frown.
Tynd.
O, what earth loves ſo much a guilty ſoul,
that it can bear thee?
Oreſt.
Why, Sir, this is mine,
and this ſhall bear me. Am I not right heire?
Tynd.
Thou heir to kingdoms! thou a ſubject rather,
to help to make a Players Tragedy.
Ore.
Why, that will make me ſwell with greater pride,
to think my name ſhall drop in lines of blood,
from ſome great Poets quill, who well ſhall paint
how bravely I reveng'd my fathers death;
that is the thing I wiſh'd, and 'tis my glory,
I ſhall be matter for ſo brave a ſtory.
But where's my Crown?
1. Lord.
No murderer, wee'l rather joyn with him,
251 this old man here, to take away thy life,
then ſuch a homicide ſhall frame us laws,
who hath himſelf rac'd out the laws of Nature.
2. Lord.
Yes, and wee'l ſet here Argos crown on him,
who ſhall enact ſome pnniſhment for thee;
which although none can equalize this deed,
yet what our griefs can think, all ſhall be done,
and wee'l forget thou'rt Agamemnons ſonne.
Ore.
Why, think you on your worſt, I ſcorn to crave:
I had three lives, you but my one ſhall have.
Tyn.
Then ſince vile wretch, thou haſt committed that,
which while there is a world, throughout the world
will be pronounc'd for the moſt horrid deed,
that ever came into the thought of man;
a thing which all will talk of, none allow:
I here diſclaim that name of Grand-father,
and I muſt quite forget that in thy veynes,
my blood doth flow, but think it then let out,
when thou letſt out my daughters. And ſince you,
kind Lords, commit the ſtate unto my years,
years too unfit, heavens know, to beare a ſtate:
My mind, methinks, contends for to decree
ſomewhat, which to my ſelf I dare not tell.
Juſt conceiv'd wrath, and my affection ſtrives,
hate forbids pity, pity forbids hate,
and exile is but barren puniſhtnent:
Yet let me baniſh thee from out theſe eyes,
O never let thy ſight offend me more,
all thy confederates, and all thy friends.
You, Pylades, which did ſo ſmoothly cloake,
the dam'nd profeſſion he did undertake:
You, Strophius.
Strop.
My Lord, I know not ought.
Yet ſince one foot is now in Charons boat,
if it pleaſe you, ſet tother too aflote.
Tynd.
Not ſo, but I will baniſh you the Court,
and you Electra; come, I muſt forget
252 affection too towards you, you gave the child,
which you had charge of, to the murtherers ſword.
Elect.
Why Grandſire, I herein no wrong do find,
ſince all theſe go, I would not ſtay behind.
Tynd.
Nay, but no one ſhall company the other,
hence thou Cocytus, ſtream of this offence,
Strophius and Pylades, Electra, hence.
Exeunt Strophius, Pylades, Electra.
Oreſt.
Why farwel Grandſire, ſince thou bidſt, I flie,
and ſcorn companions for my miſery.
Exit Oreſtes.
Tynd.
Unto this puniſhmeht this one more I add,
that none ſhall dare to give Oreſtes food,
and this decree ſhall ſtand; I ſpeak with grief,
and here pronounce Oreſtes no relief.
Hence with theſe corps; poor child, what hadſt thou don?
thy Nurſes prayers, that there might ſpring a roſe,
where e'r thou trod'ſt could not keep back thy foes.
Some plague he hath; but ſuch a matricide
ſhould never die, although he ever dy'd.

Scena 2.

Enter Electra and Strophius.
Elect.
Thus never leſſe alone, then when alone,
where to our ſelves we ſweetly tell our woes.
Thou Uncle, chief companion to our griefs,
and ſoul partaker of our miſeries,
why do we live, when now 'tis come to paſſe,
it is ſcarce known that Agamemnon was?
He dies far eaſier, who at firſt doth drown,
then he which long doth ſwim, and then ſinks down.
Stroph.
Nay Neece, me thinks I now do ſee the haven
where my ag'd ſoul muſt leave this toſſed bark,
made weak with years and woes: yet I commend
253 unto my ſon the heart of a true friend,
that's all the will I leave, and let him know
friendſhip ſhould ever be, but moſt in woe.
And ſo I leave thee Neece, I firſt muſt die,
to haſt a period to this Tragedie.
He dies.
Elect.
O envious Fates could you not uſe me thus?
have I not grief enough to burſt my heart?
Was my life's thread twiſted and knit ſo ſtrong
that the keen edg of all theſe miſeries
can never cut it off? muſt I bear more?
'Tis all my ſafety now not to be ſafe.
Are there ſo many wayes to rid ones life,
and can I hit on none? They ſay that death
is every where, and yet I find him not:
Tuſh, but I ſeek him not: why my own hand
might graſp him to me, if I did but ſtrive.
Now hand help eaſe my heart, and make a way
to let out grief, that hath ſo long dwelt here;
Stabs her ſelf.
Now knife thou'ſt done good ſervice, there lie by,
heaven well decreed it, nothing life can give,
but every thing can make us not to live.

Scena 3.

Enter Caſſandra.
Now Priams Ghoſt, haſte, haſte I ſay, to look,
with chearful eyes on the ſiniſter book,
and there to Hecuba my mother ſhew
the tragick ſtory of thy conquered foe.
And let Andromecha my ſiſter ſee,
what Agamemnons race is come to be.
Now Troy may gratifie that moſt ſad doom,
conquered by thoſe that thus themſelves or'ecome.
254 let Greece ſo flouriſh ſtill, let Argos be
puft with the pride of their great victory.
Let it bear Souldiers, ſo withal it bear
Oreſtes too; now mother, never fear
Argos makes me to laugh, which made thee weep;
the Trojans in the grave now ſweetly ſleep;
their ſorrow hath the end, now theſe begin
to overflow themſelves with mutual ſin:
And after all, Oreſtes, we may ſee,
hath loſt his reaſon, mans ſole propertie.

Scena 4.

Enter Oreſtes furens.
Oreſt.
By — you ſhall not, nay, I am decreed:
do, tear, tear me; yes, I have deſerv'd it.
Caſſ.
O brave, O brave, he's mad as well as I;
I'm glad my madneſſe hath got company.
Oreſt.
Mother, why mother, will you kill my father?
Then I'll kill you; tuſh, I have don't already.
Much patience will grow fury in time:
follow you me, you, beaſt, you damn'd Aegyſtheus.
I'll hew thee piece by piece, look off my mother.
Caſſ.
I am ſhe, or one loves thee well.
Ore.
Out you witch, you witch.
Ca.
Murderer, murderer.
Oreſt.
Doſt. whiſper with the devils to torment me?
O how they laſh me with their ſnaky whips!
Why Megaera, Megaera, wilt not hold thy hand?
Are you there too, Erynnis? hey, all hell!
my Grandſier Atreus he ſtands fighting there,
but hee'll ha'th better on't; keep Cerberus, keep,
keep the gates faſt, or all hell breaks looſe.
Mother, I ſee you; O you are a whore.
Did I kill you, witch, doſt thou laugh, doſt: thou?
Caſſ.
Why this is fine, my very looks do whip him.
Orest.
Could I but get the ſtone from Syſiphus,
255 I'de daſh thy brains out; O, are you there I faith,
Spies Strophius and Electra dead.
a bed ſo cloſe with your adulterer?
I'll ſtab your luſtful ſouls with your own knives.
Stabs them with Electra's knife.
Caſſ.
O clap, clap, O rare beyond expectation:
hold good heart, do not burſt with laughter.
Oreſt.
Will you not wake, ſleep, ſleep then your laſt.
Look how they fly i'th ayre.
Caſ
I ſee them, ſee them.
Oreſt.
Why Jove, doſt mean to let them into heaven?
O th'art come down, and gone to hell;
Pluto, ſee Pluto, hee's afraid of them,
O ſpare my ſides, my ſides, my ſides, the blood!
O now you touch my ribs.
Caſſ.
Hey, how he skips! O excellent, whips himſelf!
O ſweet Cataſtrophe, do's non ſee't but I?
Clap, clap, again, would all Priams ſons
and daughters were here now to help me laugh.
Oreſt.
Laſh on, laſh on. Canidia, art thou there?
why grandſire, would it were to do again:
nay Aeacus I feare no whipping poſts,
lavgh'ſt thou, thou witch? I'll follow thee to hell.
Exeunt currentes.

Scen. 5.

Enter Pylades alone.
Pyl.
Thus ſeeking others, I have loſt my ſelf,
my friend and father baniſht, and whilſt I
wander to ſeek them for to eaſe their woe,
I here more grief proclaim'd againſt my friend,
that none muſt ſuccor, none muſt give him food,
and yet I'll ſeek him; and ſhould all the laws,
that tyranny ſhould think upon, reſtrain,
I'de draw my blood forth for to let him drink.
256But O what's here? O I have found too ſoon,
one which I ſought, my fathers wearied ſoul
Spies Strophius dead.
in ſighs hath now expired out it ſelf.
Now, O ye ſiſters, your great task is don,
you ne're untwine what you have once begun.
Thus obvious to our Fates, t'our ſelves unkind,
we haſte to ſeek, that which too ſoon we find.
Alas, why do our ſouls too greedy burn,
to haſten thither whence we nere return?
We run to't of our ſelves, 'sif death were ſlow;
ſhould he come tardy, we too ſoon ſhould go.
For the firſt day that gives us our firſt breath,
doth make us a day nearer unto death.
All this huge world, which now on earth ſo ſtrive,
to morrow this time may not be alive.
Great Troy is down, ſince Agamemnon fell,
ſince my dear father, which but now was well.
O art thou come dear friend, for thee I ſought,
Enter Oreſtes.
here's ſome food yet, in ſpight of all the laws.
Oreſt.
Wilt bid me to dinner Pluto? ha, with what?
Give me no ſnakes, I, I go, I go,
up to Cythaerus top, I hate thy meat.
Pyl.
Heavens! he's diſtracted, now doth fury right,
when thus againſt her ſelf, her ſelf doth fight.
'Tis I (man) here, 'tis Pylades, not Pluto.
Oreſt.
Ha, Pylades, I, they have baniſht him,
but grandſire look too't, I'll tear out your maw,
Pylades, Pylades I come. —
Pylad.
Why I am he, look friend, doſt not know me?
Or.
Yes, yes thou wert with me when I kil'd my mother,
and ſee, the Furies now would whip thee too.
Alecto! look, look, here's Alecto too.
O Clytemneſtra, hay, how the Lion skips,
and Taurus he would toſſe me on his horns.
257Look on the Ram, ſee the Beare roars at me,
and Charon he would fling me into Styx.
Pylad.
He fears the heavenly ſigns, nay then now time
hath brought true puniſhment on every crime.
Oreſt.
Daſh out the puppets brains, the little boy,
the baſtard, my mothers baſtard: ſo blood ſpin,
my mother kild my father, kild the King,
but ſhe got little by't, look on her breſt,
it bleeds, it bleeds; ſo, ſo Aegyſtheus, ſo.
Pylad.
O what a ſtrange diſtemper ſtirs his brain!
Thou gentle Somnus, in whom care doth reſt,
kind father of cold death, and ſon of peace,
which comes to Kings and poor men all alike,
bind his diſturbed brain, tie up his ſenſe;
let him but live to die, now tis not long
before we both ſhall ſing our funeral ſong.
Oreſt.
Ha! muſt I ſink? can I not keep aloft?
What is the ſtream ſo ſtrong? why then I'll dive,
Falls a ſleep.
and come to hell the ſooner.
Pylad.
So gentle ſleep,
thou gather'ſt up his wandring brains again,
this is but half dead, yet half dead he lies,
but tis not long, before he wholly dyes. Muſick within.
Heark they play Muſick; O theſe ſounds do harm,
enticing wo with their melodious charm.
Theſe pleaſe not men in woe, theſe time do keep,
but miſeries beſt falling is to weep.
Our ſtops are nought but ſobs, our hearts we bring,
whereon we prick the ſol-fa which we ſing.
A ſong within, together with the Muſick.
Weep, weep you Argonauts,
Bewail the day
That firſt to fatal Troy
You took your way.
258Weep Greece, weep Greece,
Two Kings are dead,
Argos, thou Argos, now a grave
Where Kings are buried.
No heire, no heire is left,
But one that's mad,
See Argos, haſt not thou
Cauſe to be ſad?
Sleep, ſleep wild brain,
Reſt rock thy ſence,
Live if thou canſt
To grieve for thy offence.
Weep, weep, you Argonauts, &c.
Pyl.
Peace Muſick, peace, our plaints have louder cries,
a heart that's ſad can never harmonize.
Grief cannot keep his time, all time's too long,
ſighs are beſt ſem-briefs to his doleful ſong.
My ditties mournful, though thou ſweetly play,
thus do we all even blow our lives away.
Oreſtes wakes.
But doſt thou wake, Oreſtes? is reſt fled?
ſleep ne'r dwels long in a moleſted head.
Oreſt.
Hark, hark, the Furies entertain my mother,
Orpheus would fetch Euridice from hell,
ſee, he looks back, wouldſt venture ſo, thou fool?
I'de ſee my mother burnt before Ide goe,
why ſhouldſt thou bring her? ſhe would ſtifle thee,
ſtifle thee in thy bed as my mother did.
Pyl.
Still harping on thy mother?
Oreſt.
Harping, no,
let Orpheus harp: O, I, ſhe was, ſhe was,
a very, very Harpie.
Pyl.
Thus madneſs playes,
and keeps a certain meaſure in his words.
Oreſt.
O I ſuckt out my mothers deareſt blood,
I did indeed, O ſhe plagues me for't now,
O I muſt goe lie down in Tytius place,
259 Ixion too, he Sir would fain reſign.
I ſcorn your petty plagues, I'll have a worſe,
O the vulture, the wheel, the vulture.
Pyl.
See how his conſcious thoughts, like fiends of hell,
do arm themſelves, and laſh his guilty ſoul!
He ſee's no vulture, nor no Scorpion ſtrikes,
yet doth his conſcience whip his bloody heart;
he needs no witneſſes, he hath within
a thouſand thoughts which teſtifie his ſin.
No puniſhment ſo ſtrict, no deadly ſmart,
as private guilt, that ſmiteth on the heart.
Oreſt.
I did, I do confeſſe I did, I killd them all,
ript up the womb that bear me; nay I did.
O Tantalus thy plague; ſome meat, ſome meat;
who pulls thoſe apples hence? let them alone,
nay ſink to the bottom, I will follow thee,
Lies down to drink.
the rivers dry, my mother hath drunk all.
Pyl.
Alas, come, go with me, we will find drink.
Oreſt.
Is Pluto's buttry ope; his drink's too hot,
I doubt 'twill ſcald me, but I'll taſt on't yet.
Th' Eumenides ſtand to whip me as I go:
Nay I will paſſe you, I will out-ſlip them all.
Exit currens.
Pyl.
See in his conſcience lies hells puniſhment,
our own thoughts judges, none are innocent. Exit.

Scen. 6.

Enter two Lords.
1. Lor.
We that have here been born to ſee this change,
may leave the Court, and tell our children tales,
of the dier fall of Inachus great houſe.
the young Prince mad, the Princeſs kill'd her ſelf,
old Strophius dead for grief; and murder heapt,
206 corps upon corps, as if they ment t'invite,
all hell to ſupper, on ſome jovial night.
2. Lord.
Nay but my Lord, this is moſt pityful,
that the young Prince ſhould thus from door to door,
beg for his food, and yet none dare to give.
I ſaw him wandring yeſterday alone,
flying from every Crow, or pratling Pie,
crying out mother, and as if there had
tormenting furies followed him with fraud;
and truth, I thought to tell old Tyndarus,
to move his ruthful years to pity him:
and will you joyn petitioner with me,
we'll tell the caſe, 'tis good t' eaſe miſery.
1. Lord.
My Lord I like your motion, and will joyn,
for Agamemnons ſake my honour'd Maſter.
Exit.

Scena 7.

Enter Oreſtes, Pylades, with naked rapiers.
Oreſt.
My fury leaves me, now I'm at my laſt,
and now me thinks thou truly art a friend:
now with undaunted ſpirit prevent my grief,
and let thy rapier drink blood greedily,
as if it lov'd it 'cauſe it is thy friends,
now rid me of my woe, thy friendly vow
never did truly ſhew it ſelf till now.
Pyl.
Why then dear friend, I thus erect this arm,
and will be ſtrong to thee, as thou to me,
we'll look upon our deaths with better face
then others do on life; come Tyndarus, ſee,
we ſcorn to live when all our friends are dead,
nor ſhall thy fury make baſe famine be
the executioner to my deareſt friend,
whilſt I can kill him, therefore ſpight of thee,
261 wee'll free our ſelves paſt all calamity.
Oreſt.
Yes Pylades, we will beguile our time,
and make him ſearch through every nook o'th world,
if he in all his race can ever ſpie,
two that like us did live, like us did die:
But we delay our death, now bravely come,
and the laſt parting word ſhall be, ſtrike home.
They run at one another.
Pyl.
O bravely ſtrook dear friend, yet once again.
Run again.
Oreſt.
Yes, at one thruſt two friends muſt not be ſlain.
O, how I love theſe wounds! heaven dropping ſhowers,
when the outrageous dog makes clouds of duſt
upon the thirſty earth, come not more ſweet,
then the bleſt ſtreams of blood thy rapier raines.
Hence weapon; for my loyns now ſcorn all props,
but my friends arms, O, bear good legs a while;
the weight of murder ſits upon my ſoul,
and bends my ſtaggering joynts unto the earth.
Pyl.
Haſte, haſte, I faint, but O, yet let my ſtrength be Atlas to ſuſtain the falling world;
Breathe, breathe ſweet vapors of two truſty hearts,
and let our breaths aſcend to heaven before,
to make a room hard by the frozen pole,
where that our winged ſouls ſhall mount and ſit,
more glorious then the Concubines of Jove,
wreath'd with a Crown of rich enamel'd ſtars,
leaving all ages to deplore our death,
that friendſhips abſtract periſht with our breath.
Oreſt.
Fly thou beſt part of man, where Hecate
born on the ſwarthy ſhoulders of the Even,
ſits in a grove of oakes, till gray ey'd morn
bids her to throw off nights black Canopie.
Pyl.
Wil't die before me? Stay, ſtay, I come.
Oreſt.
O graſp me then, our names like Gemini,
ſhall make new ſtars for to adorn the sky.
262Is thy breath gone?
Pyl.
O, yes, 'tis almoſt paſt,
then both together, thus wee'l breath our laſt.
They fall down dead, embracing each other.

Scena 8.

Enter in haſt Tyndarus, Lords, with others.
Tyn.
Went they this way? my Lords, you move me much,
could I find him now, I would ſeat him new,
in his right Kingdom, which doth weigh down me.
1. Lord.
I ſee my Lord, Oreſtes and his friend,
without your leave, have made themſelves an end.
Tynd.
Then now is Argos Court like to ſome ſtage,
when the ſad plot fills it with murdered Trunks
and none are left alive but only one,
to ask the kind ſpectators plaudite,
all elſe have bid valete to the world,
the man reſerv'd for that, is Tyndarus,
who thus hath ſeen his childrens childrens end,
his Grandchild, a bad ſon, a moſt deare friend;
the Scene muſt now be overflow'd with grones,
each man ſits downe to waile his private mones.
one for the Queen doth weep, one for the King,
all taſte the bitter waters of this Spring:
the Nurſe bewails the child, that part ſhe beares,
all have their ſubiects to bedew with teares;
each one yet have but one; but all of me,
challenge a part in griefes ſad ſympathy.
Oreſtes, Clytemneſtrae I muſt call,
theſe all for mine, thus muſt I weep for all:
let none believe this deed, or if they doe,
let them believe this puniſhment then too.
'Tis vile to hate a Father, but ſuch love,
as breeds a hate to'th Mother, worſe doth prove.
Our life conſiſts of ayre, our ſtate of wind,
263 all things we leave behind us which we find;
ſaving our faults; witneſſe Oreſtes here,
who was his own tormentor, his own fear;
Who flying all, yet could not fly himſelf,
but needs muſt ſhipwrack upon murders ſhelf:
and ſo his breſt made hard with miſery,
he grew himſelf to be his enemy.
Thus griefe and gladneſſe ſtill by turnes do come,
but pleaſure leaſt while doth poſſeſſe the roome.
Long nights of grief may laſt, but lo, one day
of ſhining comfort ſlideth ſoon away.
He, whom all fear on earth, muſt fear a fate,
for all our powers are ſubordinate.
Three hours ſpace thus well can repreſent,
vices contriv'd and murders puniſhment.
A Monarchs life can in this little ſpace,
ſhew all the pomp that all the time doth grace.
His riſings and his falls, and in one ſpan
of time can ſhew the vanity of man.
For none of us can ſo command the powers,
that we may ſay, to morrow ſhall be ours.
Now fortunes wheele is turn'd, and time doth call,
to ſolemnize this friendly funerall.
No force ſo great, no ſo diſaſter wrong,
as can unknit the band which holdeth ſtrong
united hearts: who ſince they thus are dead,
one room, one tomb ſhall hold them buried.
And as theſe friends joyn'd hands to beare their Fate;
ſo we deſire you them to imitate.
Who ſince they all are dead, we needs muſt crave,
your gentle hands to bring them to their grave.
FINIS.

Theſe Books are printed for, and ſold by GA. BEDELL and THO. COLLINS, 1656. viz.

Books in folio.
  • THe Compleat Ambaſſador, by Sir Dudly Diggs, containing the Letters and Negotiations of Sir Francis Walſingham, the Lord Burleigh, and other Eminent Perſons: being a perfect Series of the moſt remarkable Paſſages of State, both at home and abroad, in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth of bleſ­ſed memory.
  • The Hiſtory of the Civil Wars of France, Written in Italian by D' Avila, Tranſlated into Engliſh by Sir Charles Cotterel, and William Aylesbury Eſq the whole Fifteen Books.
    • Idem, The Continuation alone, being Ten Books.
  • Sir Richard Bakers Hiſtory of the Kings of England.
  • Stowes Chronicle, continued to the Year 1631. by Edmunt-Howes Gentleman, with an Appendix of the Univerſities of England.
  • Seldeni Eadmerus.
    • Idem, His Mare Clauſum.
    • Idem, His Notes or Illuſtrations on Palaealbion. Engl. and Lat.
  • The Hiſtory of the Reign of King Henry VII. written by the Right Honourable Francis Lord Verulam, Viſcount S. Alban; unto which is annexed a very uſeful Table.
  • The Life and Reign of King Henry VIII, written by the Right Honourable Edward Lord Herbert of Cherbury.
  • Orlando Furioſo, in Engliſh Heroical Verſe, by Sir John Harring­ton, with the Addition of the Authors Epigrams.
  • The Marrow of the French Tongue, by John Woodroeph.
  • Babbingtons Fire works, with Logarithmes.
  • A French Engliſh Dictionary, with another in Engliſh and French, compiled by Mr. Randal Cotgrave: whereunto are added, the Animadverſions and Supplement of James How­el Eſquire.
  • Uſſerii Annales, in two Volumes in Latin.
  • Devotions upon certain Feſtivals, piouſly and learnedly expreſt in Meditations, by that Accompliſhed Gentleman, William Au­ſten of Lincolns-Inn Eſquire.
  • Of Government and Obedience, as they ſtand directed and deter­mined by Scripture and Reaſon, four Books, by John Hall of Richmond Gentleman.
  • Daltons Country Juſtice, Corrected and enlarged by the Authors own hand before his death; unto which is Annexed, an Ap­pendix or Abridgment of all the late Acts and Ordinances that relate to the Office of a Juſtice of Peace, to the year 1655. by a Barreſter learned in the Lawes.
  • A Collection of Acts, in the years, 1648, 1649, 1650, 1651. very uſeful eſpecially for Juſtices of the Peace, and other Offi­cers, with ſeveral other Ordinances of like concernment, by Hen­ry Scobel Eſq then Clerk of the Parliament: now Clerk of his Highneſs Council. In Co-partnerſhip with W. Lee and D.P.
Books in Quarto.
  • Cabala, five Scrinia ſacra: Myſteries of State and Government, in ſeverall Embaſſies and Letters, by the great Miniſters of King James and King Charles: Collected by a Noble hand. In two parts.
  • Mr. Seldens Hiſtory of Tythes.
  • Clavels Recantation, or Diſcovery of the High-way Law.
  • Powels Search of Records.
  • Three Readings of the Lord Dyer, Brograve and Ryſden, of Wils, Jointures and Forcible Entrie.
  • The Arguments of the Learned Judges, upon the Writ of Habeas Corpus, with the opinion of the Upper Bench Court thereupon, and Sir John Elliots Caſe.
  • Miſcellanea Spiritualia, firſt and ſecond Part, written by the Ho­nourable Walter Montague Eſq
  • Barclayes Argenis, Engliſhed by Sir Robert Le Grey's.
  • The Chriſtian Man, or the Reparation of Nature by Grace, writ­ten in French by that Elegant and Pious Author, John Fran­cis Sennault, Engliſhed by H. G. ſometimes Student of Chriſts Church in Oxford.
  • Potters Interpretation of the Number 666. or number of the Beaſt
  • The Perfect Conveyancer. An uſefull book of Preſidents.
  • Shepherds Legal part of Tythes, or The Parſons Guide.
  • The Hiſtory of the Grand Seigneurs Serraglio: Unto which is ad­ded the Hiſtory of China.
  • Roſs againſt Copernicus and Gallelaus, a learned Philoſophicall piece concerning the Earths motion.
  • Mr. Durhams Aſſize Sermon at Warwick before the Judges, 1651.
  • Palmerin D'Oliva, both parts compleat.
  • The Jeſuit the Chief, if not the only State Heretick in the World, or the Venetian Quarrel, by Dr. Swadlin.
Playes.
  • The Divels an Aſſe, by Ben. Johnſon. in Folio.
  • The Marriage of the Arts, in Quarto, by Barton Hollyday.
  • The Juſt General, in Quarto.
  • The Baſtard, in Quarto.
  • The Wits Written by Sir William D'Avenam, in quarto.
  • The Plationick Lovers Written by Sir William D'Avenam, in quarto.
  • The Triumphs of Prince D'Amour, a Mask. Written by Sir William D'Avenam, in quarto.
  • The Faithful Shepherdeſſe, by John Fletcher Gent.
  • The merry VVives of Windſor, by Shakeſpear, in quarto.
  • Edward the IV. the firſt and ſecond part, in quarto.
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  • The Combat of Love and Friendſhip, by Dr. Mead.
  • The Martyr. In quarto.
  • Horatius. In quarto.
  • The Hectors, or the Falſe Challenge, in quarto.
  • The Raging Turk, or Bajazet the II. Written by Thomas Goffe, Maſter of Arts, and Student of Chriſts Church Oxford. Newly reprint­ed, in octavo.
  • The Couragious Turk, or A­murath the I. Written by Thomas Goffe, Maſter of Arts, and Student of Chriſts Church Oxford. Newly reprint­ed, in octavo.
  • The Tragedy of Oreſtes, Written by Thomas Goffe, Maſter of Arts, and Student of Chriſts Church Oxford. Newly reprint­ed, in octavo.
Books in octavo.
  • Horace engliſhed, by Richard Fanſhaw Eſq
  • An Apology for Learning and Learned Men, by Edward Water­houſe, Eſq
    • Idem, His two Divine Tracts.
  • Shepherds Juſtice of Peace, reprinted with Additions, two parts: In Copartnerſhip with W. L. and D.P.
    • Idem, His Book entituled, The Court-Keepers Guide.
    • Idem His Clerks Cabinet, or Preſidents.
  • A learned Treatiſe of the Common Laws of England, by Francis White Eſq Barreſter of Grayes-Inn: in Co-partnerſhip with W.L. and D.P.
  • Lambard's Archeion, or Comment on the High Courts of Ju­ſtice.
  • The Parſons Law.
  • Aſhes Tables to the Lord Cooks Eleven Reports, in Engliſh. In Co-partnerſhip with W.L. and D.P.
  • Davenports Abridgment of the Lord Cooks Inſtitutes on Littleton.
  • The Nuptiall Lover Two ſmall Romances.
  • Hyppollito and Iſabella Two ſmall Romances.
  • Brinſleyes ſmall Copy-Books. 3 d. price.
  • Calendarium Paſtorale, by Theodoro Bathurſt, Latine and Eng­liſh.
  • The Counteſs of Arundels Experiments.
  • A Synopſis, or compendium of the Fathers.
  • The Triumphant Lady, or, the Crowned Innocence: A choice and authentick Piece of the famous de Ceriziers, Almoner to the King of France; newly made Engliſh by a perſon of quality, and newly printed.
  • An Eſſay upon the firſt Book of T. Lucretius Carus De Rerum Na­tura: Interpreted and made Engliſh Verſe, by John Evelin Eſquire; Illuſtrated with Hiſtoricall Annotations. Newly printed.
  • Obſervations touching Forreign Ambaſſadors, written by Sir John Finnet, Maſter of the Ceremonies to King James and King Charles: Publiſhed by James Howel Eſquire. In Copartner­ſhip with H.T.
Books in 120. and 240.
  • Sir Henry Wottons Works, with the Authors Life.
  • The Book of Oaths.
  • Roſs his Caſes of Conſcience.
  • Of Liberty and Servitude, in Engliſh, by J. E. Eſq.
  • Jackſons Evangelical Temper.
  • Steps of Aſcenſion to God, or a Ladder to Heaven; Containing Prayers and Meditations for every day of the week, and all o­ther Occaſions, by Edward Gec, Doctor in Divinity. Now the ninth time reprinted.
  • Balzacks Prince, in Engliſh, by H. G. Maſter of Arts, and Stu­dent of Chriſt-Church in Oxford.
  • Malvezzi's Politick Chriſtian Favourite; or the Life of Count d' Olivarez the King of Spains great Favourite: with Politi­call Obſervations.
  • The State of France in Engliſh, publiſhed by John Evelin Eſq
  • The Life and Reign of Edward the VI. by Sir John Hayward Doctor of the Civil Law.
  • Supplementum Lucani, by Thomas May, Anglo.
  • The Accompliſh'd Woman, written by the Right Honourable Walter Montague Eſq.
  • Three accurate Sermons: The Firſt, of Scandal: The Second on Eaſter-day: The Third a Funeral Sermon, preached by the Reverend and Learned Doctor Richard Stuart, Dean of St. Pauls London, and Clark of the Cloſet to the late King Charles. Whereunto is added an elaborate Sermon of Ʋniverſall Grace, preached by the Right Reverend Father in God Samuel Harſnet Lord Archbiſhop of York. Newly printed.
FINIS.

About this transcription

TextThree excellent tragœdies. Viz. The raging Turk, or, Bajazet the Second. The courageous Turk, or, Amurath the First. And The tragoedie of Orestes· / Written, by Tho. Goff, Master of Arts, and student of Christ-Church in Oxford; and acted by the students of the same house.
AuthorGoffe, Thomas, 1591-1629..
Extent Approx. 538 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 137 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images.
Edition1656
SeriesEarly English books online.
Additional notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A85334)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 114751)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 201:E1591[2])

About the source text

Bibliographic informationThree excellent tragœdies. Viz. The raging Turk, or, Bajazet the Second. The courageous Turk, or, Amurath the First. And The tragoedie of Orestes· / Written, by Tho. Goff, Master of Arts, and student of Christ-Church in Oxford; and acted by the students of the same house. Goffe, Thomas, 1591-1629., Meighen, Richard, fl. 1656.. The second edition, carefully corrected by a friend of the authors.. [2], 263, [7] p. Printed for G. Bedell and T. Collins, at the middle Temple gate Fleet-street.,London, :1656.. (Editor's dedication signed: Rich. Meighen.) (In verse.) ("The raging Turk", "The courageous Turk", and "The tragedy of Orestes" each have separate dated title page; pagination and register are continuous.) (With three final advertisement leaves.) (Annotation on Thomason copy: "July 8".) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)
Languageeng
Classification
  • English drama (Tragedy) -- 17th century.

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Publisher
  • Text Creation Partnership,
ImprintAnn Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2011-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 2).
Identifiers
  • DLPS A85334
  • STC Wing G1006
  • STC Thomason E1591_2
  • STC ESTC R202218
  • EEBO-CITATION 99862588
  • PROQUEST 99862588
  • VID 114751
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