injur'd honors ruines I 'me bound to do it in religious conscience It is a debt his incens'd ghost would quarrel me living for should I not pay 't with fulnesse Car. Of what frail temper is a womans weaknesse words writ in waters have more lasting Essence then our determinations Abr. Come I know thou must be gentle I perceive a combat in thy soft heart by th' intervening blushes that strive to adorn thy cheek with purple beauties and drive the lovely liverie of thy sorrows the Ivorie paleness out of them Think Caropia with what a setled unrevolting truth I have affected thee with what heat what pureness and when upon mature considerations I found I was unworthie to enjoy a treasure of such excellent grace and goodnesse I did desist smothering my love in anguish anguish to which the soul of humane torments compar'd were pains not easie but delicious yet stil the secret flames of my affections like hidden virtues in some bashful man grew great and ferventer by those suppressions Thou wert created only for an Empresse despise not then thy destinie now greatnesse love Empire and what ere may be held glorious courts thy acceptance like obedient Vassals Car. I have consider'd and my serious thoughts tel me t is folly to refuse these profers to put off my mortalitie the pleasures of life which like ful streams do flow from greatnesse to wander i' th' unpeopled air to keep societie with ghastly apparitions where 's neither voice of friends nor visiting suitors breaths to delight our ears and all this for the fame of a fell murdress I have blood enough alreadie on my soul more then my tears can e're wash off My roial Lord if you can be so merciful and gracious to take a woman laden with afflictions big with true sorrow and religious penitence for her amiss her life and after actions shal studie to deserve your love But surely this is not serious Abr. Not the vowes which votries make to the powers above can be more fraught with binding sanctitie This holy kiss confirms our mutual vows never til now was I true Caliph of Arabia Enter Enter Enter Abr. Ha what tumult 's that Be you all furies and thou the great'st of divels Abrahen wil stand you all unmov'd as mountains This good sword if you be air shal disinchant you from your borrow'd figures Abil. No ill-natur'd monster we 're all corporeal and survive to take revenge on thy inhumane acts at name of which the bashful elements do shake as if they teem'd with prodigies Dost not tremble at thy inhumane villaines Dear Caropia quit the infectious viper lest his touch poison thee past recoverie Abr. No she shall not nor you until this body be one wound Lay a rude hand upon me Abilqualit how ere thou scapst my practises with life I am not now to question we were both sons to one father whom for love of Empire when I beleev'd thee strangled by those Muts I sent to his eternal rest nor do I repent the fact yet I have been titled Caliph a day which is to my ambitious thoughts honor enough to eternize my big name to all posteritie I know thou art of valiant noble soul let not thy brother fal by ignoble hands oppress'd by number draw thy bright weapon as thou art in Empire thou art my rival in this Ladies love whom I esteem above all joyes of life for her and for this Monarchie let 's trie our strengths and fates the impartial fates to him who has the better cause in justice must needs design the victorie Abil. In this offer though it proceed from desperatenesse not valor thou showst a masculine courage and we wil not render our cause so abject as to doubt but our just arme has strength to punish thy most unheard of treacheries Tar. But you shall not be so unjust to us and to your right to try your causes most undoubted Justice 'gainst the dispairing ruffian Souldiers pul the Lady from him and disarm him Abil. Stay though he doth merit multitudes of death we would not murder his eternitie by sudden execution yeild your self and we 'l allow you libertie of life til by repentance you have purg'd your sin and so if possible redeem your soul from future punishment Abr. Pish tel fools of souls and those effeminate cowards that do dreame of those fantastick other worlds there is not such a thing in nature all the soul of man is resolution which expires never from valiant men till their last breath and then with it like to a flame extinguisht'd for want of matter 't dos not dy but rather ceases to live Injoy in peace your Empire and as a legacy of Abrahens love take this fair Lady to your Bride stab her Abil. Inhumane Butcher has slain the Lady Look up best Caropia run for our surgeons I 'le give half my Empire to save her precious life Abr. She has enough or mine aym fail'd me to procure her passage to the eternal dwellings nor is this cruelty in me I alone was worthy to have injoy'd her beauties Make good haste Caropia or my soul if I have any will hover for thee in the clouds This was the fatal engine which betray'd our father to his untimely death made by Simanthes for your use Abilqualit and who has this about him and would be a slave to your base mercy deserved death more than by dayly tortures and thus I kiss'd my last breath Blast you all dies Tar. Damn'd desperate villain Abil. O my dear Caropia my Empire now will be unpleasing to me since I must lose thy company This surgeon where 's this surgeon Sel. Drunk perhaps Car. 'T is but needlesse no humane help can save me yet me thinks I feel a kind of pleasing ease in your imbraces I should utter something and I have strength enough I hope lest yet to effect my purpose In revenge for your suppos'd death my lov'd Lord I slew my husband Abil. I 'me sorry thou hast that sin to charge thy soul with 't was rumour'd by the souldiers Sel. Couzens mine your necks are safe agen now Car. And came hither with an intent to have for your sake slain your brother Abrahen had not his curtesie and winning carriage alter'd my resolution with this poniard I 'de struck him here about the heart Stabs Abil. Abil. O I am slain Caropia and by thy hand Heavens you are just this is revenge for thy dear honor which I murdred though thou wer 't consenting to it Car. True I was so and not repent it yet my sole ambition was to have liv'd an Empresse which since fate would not allow I was resolv'd no woman after my selfe should ere enjoy that glory you dear Abilqualit which since my weak strength has serv'd me to performe I dye willingly as an infant O now I faint life's death to those that keep it by constraint dye Tar. My dear Lord is there no hopes of life must we be wretched Abil. Happier my Tarifa by my death but yesterday I playd the part in jest which I now act in earnest My Tarifa the Empire 's thine I 'me sure thou 'lt rul 't with justice and make the subject happy Thou hast a Son of hopefull growing vertues to succeed thee commend me to him and from me intreat him to shun the temptings of lascivious glances Sel. 'Las good Prince hee le dy indeed I fear he is so full of serious thoughts and Counsels Abil. For this slaughtred body let it have decent burial with slain Muras but let not Abrahens corps have so much honor to come i th' royal monument lay mine by my dear fathers for that trecherous Eunuch and Lord Simanthes use them as thy justice tells thee they have merited for Lord Selinthus advance him my Tarifa hee 's of faithfull and well deserving vertues Sâ—l So I am I thought t' would come to me anon poor Prince I e'ne could dy with him Abâ—l. And for those souldiers and those our most faithfull Muts that my life once sav'd let them be well rewarded death and I are almost now at unitie Farewell dyes Tar. Sure I shall not survive these sorrows long Muts take those Traitors to prison we will shortly passe their sentence which shall be death inevitable Take up that fatal instrument of poisonous mischief and see it burn'd Gaselles Gentlemen Fate has made us your King against our wishes Sel. Long live Tarifa Caliph of Arabia Tar. We have no time now for your acclamations these are black sorrows Festival Bear off in state that royal Bodie for the other since t was his will let them have burial but in obscuritie By this it may as by an ev'dent rule be understood they 're onely truly great wh are truly good Recorders Flourish Exeunt omnes FINIS EPILOGUE I 'M much displeas'd the Poet has made me The Epilogue to his sad Tragedie Would I had dy'd honestly amongst the rest Rather then live to th' last now to be prest To death by your hard Censures Pray you say What is it you dislike so in this Play That none applauds Beleeve it I should faint Did not some smile and keep me by constraint From the sad qualm What pow'r is in your breath That you can save alive and doom to death Even whom you please thus are your judgments free Most of the rest are slain you may save me But if death be the word I pray bestow it Where it best fits Hang up the Poet
virtuous But Lady I till now have been your tempter one that desired hearing the brave resistance you made my brother when he woo'd your love only to boast the glory of a conquest which seem'd impossible now I have gain'd it by being vanquisher I my self am vanquish'd your everlasting Captive Car. Then the thraldome will be as prosperous as the pleasing bondage of palms that flourish most when bowd down fastest Constraint makes sweet and easie things laborious when love makes greatest miseries seem pleasures Yet 't was ambition Sir join'd with affection that gave me up a spoil to your temptations I was resolv'd if ever I did make a breach on matrimonial faith 't should be with him that was the darling of kind fortune as well as liberall nature who possess'd the height of greatnesse to adorn his beauty which since they both conspire to make you happy I thought 't would be a greater sin to suffer your hopefull person born to sway this Empire in loves hot flames to languish by refusal to a consuming feaver then t' infringe a vow which ne're proceeded from my heart when I unwillingly made it Abil. And may break it with confidence secure from the least guilt as if 't had only in an idle dream been by your fancy plighted Madam there can be no greater misery in love than separation from the object which we affect and such is our misfortune we must i th' infancy of our desires breath at unwelcome distance i th' mean time le ts make good use of the most precious minuts we have to spend together Car. Else we were unworthy to be titled lovers but I fear loath'd Mura may with swift approach disturb our happinesse Abil. By my command hee 's mustring up our forces Yet Mesithes go you to Abrahen and with intimations from us strengthen our charge Come my Caropia love's wars are harmlesse for who ere do's yeild gains as much honor as who wins the field ACTUS TERTIUS SCENA I. Enter Abilqualit and Caropia as rising from bed Abrahen without Perilinda ABr. Open the door I must and will have entrance unto the Prince my brother as you love your life and safety and that Ladies honor whom you are lodg'd in amorous twines with do not deny me entrance to you I am Abrahen your loyal brother Abrahen Abil. 'T is his voice and there can be no danger in 't Caropia be not dismaid though w' are to him discover'd your fame shall taste no blemish by 't Now brother 't is something rude in you thus violently to presse upon our privacies Abr. My affection shall be my Advocate and plead my care of your lov'd welfare as you love your honour haste from this place or you 'l betray the Lady to ruin most inevitable Her husband has notice of your being here and 's comming on wings of jealousie and desperate rage to intercept you in your close delights In breif I over heard a trusty Servant of his i th' Camp come and declare your highnesse was private with Caropia at which tidings the sea with greater haste when vext with tempests so sudden and boystrous flies not towards the shore then he intended homewards He by this needs must have gain'd the City for with all my power I hasted hitherward that by your absence you might prevent his veiw of you Abil. Why the slave dare not invade my person had he found me in fair Caropias armes 't would be ignoble now I have caus'd her danger should I not defend her from his violence I 'le stay though he come arm'd with thunder Abr. That will be a certain means to ruin her To me count that cure I 'le stand between the Lady and Mura's fury when your very sight giving fresh fire to th' injury will incense him 'gainst her beyond all patience Car. Nay besides his violent wrath breaking through his allegiance may riot on your person Dear my Lord withdraw your self there may be some excuse when you are absent thought on to take off Mura's suspition by our loves depart I do beseech you Hapless I was born to be most miserable Abil. You shall over-rule me Better it is for him with unhallowed hands to act a sacriledg on our Prophets tom then to profane this purity with the leâ—â—â— offer of injurie be careful Abrahen to thee I leave my heart Farwel Caropia your tears inforce my absence Exit Abil. Abr. Pray hast my Lord lest you should meet the inrag'd Mur now Madam where are the boasted glories of that virtue which like a faithful Fort withstood my batt'ries demolish'd now and ruin'd they appear like a fair building toter'd from its bâ—â—â— by an unruly whirlewind and are no instead of love the objects of my pitie Car. I 'me bound to thank you Sir yet credit me my sin 's so pleasing 't cannot meet repentance Were Mura here and arm'd with all the horrors â—age could invest his powers with not forgiven Hermits with greater peace shal hast to death then I to be the Martyr of this cause which I so love and reverence Abr. 'T is a noble and wel becoming constancie and merits a lover of those Supreme eminent graces that do like ful winds swel the glorious Sails of Abilqualit's dignitie and beautie yet Madam let me tel you though I could not envie my brothers happinesse if he could have enjoy'd your priceless love with safetie free from discoverie I am afflicted beyond a moderate sorrow that my youth which with as true a zeal courted your love should appear so contemptible to receive a killing scorn from you yet I forgive you and do so much respect your peace I wish you had not sin'd so carelessly to be betray'd i th' first fruitions of your wishes to your suspicious husband Car. 'T is a fate Sir which I must stand though it come dress'd in flames killing as circular fire and as prodigious as death presaging Comets there 's that strength in love can change the pitchie face of dangers to pleasing formes make ghastly fears seeme beauteous and I 'me resolv'd since the sweet Prince is free from Mura's anger which might have been fatal if he should here have found him unresistless I dare his utmost fury Abr. 'T wil bring death with 't sure as stifling dampe and 't were much pitie so sweet a beautie should unpitied fall betrai'd to endlesse infamie your husband knowes only that my brother in your chamber was entertained the servant that betrayed you curse on his diligence could not affirm he saw you twin'd together yet it is death by the law you know for any Ladie at such an hour and in her husbands absence to entertain a stranger Car. 'T is considered Sir and since I cannot live to enjoy his love I 'le meet my death as willingly as I met Abilqualit's dear embraces Abr. That were too severe a crueltie Live Caropia til the kind destinies take the loath'd Mura to their eternal Mansions til he fal either in war a
sacrifice to fortune or else by stratagem take his destruction from angry Abilqualit whose fair Empresse you were created for there is a mean yet to save th' opinion of your honour spotlesse as that of Virgin innocence nay to preserve though he doth know as certainly he must do my Brother have injoy'd thee thee stil precious in his deluding fancie Car. Let me adore you if you can give effect to your good purpose But t is impossible Abr. With as secure an ease 't shal be accomplish'd as the blest desires of uncross'd lovers you shal with one breath dissolve these mists that with contagious darknesse threaten the lights both of your life and honour Affirm my brother ravish'd you Car. How my Lord Abr. Obtained by violence entry into your chamber where his big lust seconded by force despight of yours and your Maids weak resistance surpris'd your honor when 't shall come to question my brother cannot so put off the truth he owes his own affection and your whiteness but to acknowledg it a rape Car. And so by saving mine betray his fame and safety to the lawes danger and your fathers justice which with impartial doome will most severely sentence the Prince although his son Abr. Your fears and too affectionate tendernesse will ruine all that my care has builded Sure Mesithes has as my charge injoin'd him made relation Enter Mura to him of Abilqualit's action See your Husband resolve on 't or y' are miserable Mu. Furies where is this lustful Prince and this lascivious Strumpet ha Abrahen here Abr. Goodâ— Cozen Mura be not so passionate it is your Prince has wrought your injury resolve to bear your crosses like a man the great'st afflictions should have the greatest fortitude in their suff'rings from minds resolv'd and noble 'Las poor Ladie 't was not her fault his too unruly lust 't is has destroi'd her puritie Mu. Ha in tears Are these the liverie of your fears and penitence or of your sorrows minion for being rob'd so soon of your Adulterer Abr. Fie your passion is too unmannerly you look upon her with eyes of rage when you with grief and pitie ought to surveigh her innocence My Brother degenerate as he is from worth and meerly the beast of lust what fiends would fear to violate has with rude insolence destroyed her honor by him inhumane ravished Tar. Good Sir be so merciful as to set free a wretch from loath'd mortalitie whose lifes so great and hateful burden now sh 'as lost her honor 'T wil be a friendly charitie to deliver her from the torment of it Mu. That I could contract the soul of universal rage into this swelling heart that it might be as ful of poisonous anger as a dragons when in a toile insnar'd Caropia ravished Me thinks the horror of the sound should fright to everlasting ruine the whole world start natures Genius Abr. Gentle Madam pray withdraw your self your sight til I have wrought a cure upon his temper wil but adde to his affliction Car. You 're as my good Angel I 'll follow your directions Exit Abr. Cozen Mura I thought a person of your masculine temper in dangers fostred where perpetual terrors have been your play-fellowes would not have resented with such effeminate passion a disgrace though ne're so huge and hideous Mu. I am tame collected now in all my faculties which are so much oppress'd with injuries they 've lost the anguish of them can you think Sir when all the winds fight the inrag'd billows that use to imprint on the black lips of clouds a thousand brinie kisses can lie stil as in a lethargie that when baths of oyl are pour'd upon the wild irregular flames in populous Cities that they 'll then extinguish Your mitigations adde but seas to seas give matter to my fires to increase their burning and I ere long enlightned by my anger shall be my owne pile and consume to ashes Abr. Why then I see indeed your injuries have ravished hence your reason and discourse and left you the meere prostitute of passion Can you repaire the ruins you lament so with these exclaimes was ever dead man call'd to life again by fruitful sighs or can your rage reedifie Caropias honour slain and betrai'd by his foul lust Your manhood that heretofore has thrown you on all dangers me thinks should prompt you to a noble vengance which you may safely prosecute with Justice to which this crime although he be a Prince Renders him liable Mu. Yes I 'le have justice or I 'le awake the sleepy Deities or like the ambitious Gyants wage new wars with heaven it self my wrongs shall steel my courage and on this vicious Prince like a fierce Sea-breach my just wak'd rage shall riot till it sink in the remorcelesse eddie sink where time shall never find his name but with disgrace to taint his hatefull memory Abr. This wildnesse neither befit your wisdom nor your courage which should with setled and collected thoughts walk on to noble vengeance He before was by our plots proscrib'd to death and ruine to advance me to the Empire now with ease we may accomplish our designs Mu. Would heaven I nere had given consent o'recome by love to you to have made a forfeit on my allegiance t is a just punishment I by him am wrong'd whom for your sake I fearlesse sought to ruin Abr. Are you repentant grown Mura this softnese ill suits a person of your great resolves on whom my fortunes have such firm dependance Come let Caropia's fate invoke thy vengeance to gain full mastry o're all other passions leave not a corner in the spacious heart unfurnish'd of a noble rage which now will be an attribute of glorious justice the law you know with loss of sight doth punish all rapes though on mean persons and our father is so severe a Justicer not blood can make a breach upon his faith to justice Besides we have already made him dangerous in great Almanzors thoughts and being delinquent he needs must suffer what the meanest offender merits for such a trespass Mu. I 'me awake now the lethargy of horror and amaze that did obscure my reason like those dul and lazy vapors that o'reshade the Sun vanish and it resumes its native brightness And now I would not but this devil Prince had done this act upon Caropia's whiteness Since 't yeilds you free access unto the Empire The deprivall of 's sight do's render him incapable of future soveraignty Abr. Thou' rt in the right and hast put on manly considerations Caropia since shee 's in her will untainted ha's not forgon her honor he dispatch'd once as we will have him shortly 't shall go hard else a tenant to his marble thou agenâ— wedded in peace maist be to her pure vertues and live their happy owner Mu. I 'le repair to great Almanzor instantly and if his partial piety do descend to pitty I will awake the Executioner of justice death although in sleep more
heavy than he can borrow from his natural coldness on this good sword I 'le wear my causes justice till he do fall its sacrifice Abr. But be sure you do 't with cunning secresie perhaps should he have notice of your just intentions he would repair to th' Army from which safegard our best force could not pluck him without danger to the whole Empire Mu. Doubt not but I 'le manage with a discreet severity my vengeance invoke Almanzors equity with sudden and private haste Abr. Mean time I will go put a new design in practice that may be much conducing to our purpose Like clocks one wheele another on must drive affairs by diligent labor only thrive Exeunt Scena Secunda Enter Selinthus Gaselles Osman and Souldiers Sel No quarrelling good Couzens lest it be with the glass 'cause 't is not of size sufficient to give you a magnificent draught You will have â—â—ighting work enoughâ— when you 're i' th' wars do not fall out among your selves Os. Not pledg my peerlesse Mistresse health Souldier thou' rt mortall if thou refuse it Gas Come come he shall pledg it and 't were a Tun Why w' are all as dull as dormise in our liquor Here 's a health to the Prince Abilqualit Soul Let go round I 'ld drink 't were it an Ocean of warm bloud flowing from th' enemie Pray good my Lord what news is stirring Sel. It should seem Souldier thou canst not read otherwise the learn'd Pamphlets that flie about the streets would satisfie thy curiositie with news they 'r true ones full of discreet intelligence Os. Cosens shal 's have a Song here is a Souldier in 's time hath sung a dirge unto the foe oft in the field Soul Captain I have a new one the Souldiers Joy 't is call'd Sel. That is an harlot Preethee be musicall and let us taste the sweetnesse of thy voice A Song Gas Whist give attention Soul How does your Lordship like it Sel. Very well And so here 's to thee There 's no drum beats yet and 't is cleer day some hour hence 't will be Enter Abr. Mes. time to break up the Watch Ha! young Lord Abrahen and trim Mesithes with him what the divel does he make up so early He has been a bat-fowling all night after those Birds those Ladie-birds term'd wagtails what strange business can he have here tro Abr. 'T was wel done Mesithes and trust me I shal find an apt reward both for thy care and cunning Prethee hast to Lord Simanthes and deliver this note to him with best diligence my dear Eunuch thou' rt halfe the soul of Abrahen Mes. I was borne to be intituled your most humble vassal I 'll hast to the Lord Simanthes Exit Sel. How he cringes These youths that want the instruments of Manhood are very supple in the hams Abr. Good-morrow to noble Lord Selinthus what companions have you got here thus early Sel. Blades of metal tall men of war and 't please your Grace of my own blood and family men who gather'd a sallad on the enemies ground and eaten it in bold defiance of him and not a Souldier here but 's an Achylles valiant as stoutest Mirmidon Abr. And they never had juster cause to show their valor the Prince my dearest brother their Lord General 's became a forfeit to the stern laws rigour and 't is imagin'd our impartial father wil sentence him to lose his eyes Gas Marry heaven defend for what and 't like your Grace Abr. For a fact which the severe law punishes with loss of natures precious lights my tears wil scarce permit me utter 't for a rape committed on the fair wife of Mura Os. Was it for nothing else and please your Grace ere he shal lose an eie for such a trifle or have a haire diminish'd we wil lofe our heads what hoodwink men like sullen hawks for doing deeds of nature I 'me asham'd the law is such an Ass Sel. Some Eunuch Judg that could not be acquainted with the sweets due to concupiscencial parts invented this law I 'll be hang'd else 's Life a Prince and such a hopeful one to lose his eyes for satisfying the hunger of the stomack beneath the wast is crueltie prodigious not to be suffer'd in a common-wealth of ought but geldings Abr. 'T is vain to sooth our hopes with these delusions he wil suffer less he be reskued I would have you therfore if you ow any service to the Prince my much lamented brother to attend without least tumult 'bout the Court and if there be necessity of your ayd I 'le give you notice when to imploy it Sel. Sweet Prince wee 'l swim in blood to do thee or thy brother service Each man provide their weapons Abr. You will win my brothers love for ever nay my father though hee 'l seem angry to behold his justice deluded afterwards when his rage is past will thank you for your loyalties Pray be there with all speed possible by this my brothers commanded 'fore my father I 'le go learn the truth and give you notice pray be secret and firm to your resolves Exit Sel. For him that flinches in such a cause I 'le have no more mercy on him Here 's Tarifa Enter Tarifa and Mura the Princes sometimes Tutor Mura with him a walking towards the Court let 's take no notice of them lest they discover our intentions by our grim looks March fair and softly Couzens wee 'l be at Court before them Tar. You will not do this Mura Mu. How Tarifa will you defend him in an act so impious Is 't fit the drum should cease his surly language when the bold Souldiers marches or that I should passe o're this affront in quiet silence which Gods and men invoke to speedy vengeance which I will have or manhood shall be tame as Cowardice Tar. It was a deed so barbarous that truth it self blushes as well as justice to hear it mention'd but consider Mura he is our Prince the Empires hope and pillar of great Almanzors age How far a publick regard should be prefer'd before your private desire of vengeance which if you do purchace from our impartial Emperors equity his loss of sight and so of the succession will not restore Caropia to the honor he ravish't from her But so foule the cause is I rather should lament the Princes folly than plead in his behalf Mur. 'T is but vain there is your warrant as you are high Marshal to summon him to make his speedy appearance 'fore the Tribunall of Almanzor so pray you execute your office Exit Tar. How one vice can like a small cloud when 't breaks forth in showers black the whole heaven of vertues O my Lord Enter Abilqualit Muts whispring seem to make protestations Exeunt that face of yours which once with Angell brightnesse cheer'd my faint sight like a grim apparition frights it with ghastly terror you have done a deed that startles vertue till it shakes as it