thy Victorious Arms the World command Thy Sword 's grown weak plac'd in a guilty hand Solym. T' increase your Courage think it weaker yet And to chastise thy rudeness when we meet When in an Armys Head thy Fâ—ce I see I 'le tell thee then thou 〈◊〉 fit to fall by Me. Exit Solym. Roxol. When Empress of the World I stood on hallow'd ground With all my pomp and greatness circl'd round Then 〈◊〉 train of Worshippers what crowd Of Vassaâ—â— as my 〈◊〉 all prostrate bow'd On humble Mortals I in state look'd down Who gaz'd on glorys sparkling from my Crown Life waited on my Smiles Death on my Frown Fear'd and ador'd on their bow'd Neeks I trod Whilst to my Throne I mounted like a God But in my â—all where 's that Devotion gone Of all those thousands Fate has left but one Ulam So great your Merit and your Slaves so few Those thousands lost be God-like and raise new Permit me but to meet this Threatning King And see what force so just a Cause can bring To right your Honour and rebuild your Throne Vouchsafe to call my Sword and Life your own Rather than your lowd wrongs shall go unpaid I will exhaust an Empire in your aid Here at his Gates I will his Guâ—lt defie I and my Persia nay the Gods and I Roxol. Hold Angry Prince your Zeal in my just Cause Whilst it was Innocent had my applause Forbear then to pull down my hate tho He Has lost his Vertue broke his Faith to Me I have not lost the Duty of a Wife Tho I abhor his Crimes I prize his Life Who holds a Sword against his Breast wounds me His Foe is Roxolana's Enemy Exit Roxol. Ulam Fool that I was to ask her her consent Without her leave her ruin I 'le prevent Her pious Vengeance points me out the way 'T was but her superstition bad me stay To morrow I 'le towards Persia go and bring My utmost pow'r against this Perjur'd King If time enough I 'le stop her Fall if late Revenge it if I fail I 'le share her Fate Lost though I am and in despair I 'le try To wast an Empire in her Cause and dye Exit Ulam The End of the Fourth Act. ACT the FIFTH The SCENE a Chamber Enter Ibrahim meeting Isabella and Morat Morat SIr from the Sultan I am hither sent To Councel you your ruin to prevent If by consent you can for ever part And make a present of a Mrs. Heart You have your Life else when he sleeps you dye You have an hour allow'd for your reply Ex. Morat Isabel. 'T is a hard choyce you must be false or dye To save your Life what is 't I would not give Ibrah. What would you have me quit your Love Live Isabel. No though I value you so high above My Ibrahims Life I prize my Ibrahims Loâ—e If nothing but Inconstancy can give You Life dye mine since mine you cannot live But do not think when you are gone I shall Have pow'r long to out-live your Funeral There 's a Contagion in a Lovers fall Weak are his Threats and vain his subtlest Art His Tyranny may all but Lovers part Ibrah. Do I not dye to seal my Faith to you What juster act what braver can I do Then do not murmur at my glorious Fall Is this his Cruelty Is dying all What 's Death The meanest Slaves dye every day Even Infancy and Age that Debt to Nature pay A Feavourish fit can stop our fleeting breath Our Tast Smell Touch each Sence can let in Death And we who Beauties infinite pow'r adore For great Almighty Love can do no more Isabel. But can I say I love and bid you dye No! for your safety this one Art I 'le try I 'le strait to Solyman and Summon all Those angry pow'rs that injur'd Love can call Not depos'd Kings shall rage so much as I. With so much scorn his baseness I 'le defie Till I 've incenst his rage to that degree That he shall spare your Life and Murder me In me he can but Isabella Doom In you he takes a prop from Christendom Live Ibrahim then Religion to defend His Favourit live to be the Christians Friend Leave Death to me and think my Life well given At once in saying you and serving Heav'n Ibrah. These melting sounds all sence of Death destroy Who wou'd not choose my Fate for half my Joy But do not hope to dye for me Think not your charms so little nor my King So Savage though unkind that any thing Will make him dare to shed your precious blood No my best life he must not if he cou'd Isabel. Must I so tamely then behold your Fall No 'gainst your Murderer I 'le muster all My Rage Despair Revenge what is 't I will not do I 'le treat him so but why this passion now Since 't is decreed we must so soon divide My parting looks shou'd all their fierceness hide Furies till then lay all your Scorpions by Our last dear minutes shou'd more gently flye Kind Heav'n let but this span of Life be blest Love reign this hour and horror all the rest Ibrah. Best of thy Sex Embracing her But I in vain shall this short Tryumph boast Gazing on what must be for ever lost Isabel. For ever why can death destroy our Love Shall we not meet and be as blest above Cease Sir oh cease this too unkind despair Are there all Joys in Heav'n and Love not there Ibrahim Fill'd with that hope I 'le my short time improve And sum an Ages bliss in one hours Love Low at your Feet your humble Vassal bows Kneels And here on this fair hand seals his last Vows kisses her hand Turn turn your eyes this way look all Divine In your full Lustre let your kindness shine Oh Love I am all Extasie delight Soaring in joys I 'm giddy with my height kissing her hand often But hide those eyes take this soft Magick hence lets go her hand My happiness so much transports my sence That such another look will make me grow Too fond of Life ever to let you go Isabel. Great blessings like swiâ—t torrents always run Too rapid to stay long Ibrah. What have I done Restore those pleasing looks give me your hand agen My Light Day Sun shut not your glories in Spight of his pow'r in this soft knot I 'le fold She gives him her Hand agen And when I dye let him cut off my hold I 'le twine so fast that when he gives the blow And cuts me by the Roots up from below These dying branches still shall grasp you all And grasp and grasp and wither e're they fall Enter Asteria Mirva and Morat Aster So close so kind how happy should I be aside entring Were half this dear Devotion paid to me Mor. Madam the Sultans orders were severe But Solymans command admits you here And I dare take your word to Asteria No doubt she 's come By th' offer
Ruin has so dear a Cause Dying for thee Fame to my praise shall tell That Ibrahim liv'd less Nobly than He fell Exit Ibrahim The End of the First Act. ACT the SECOND The SCENE the Scraglio Enter Ibrahim and Ulama Ibrah. HAs my refusal made no change at all Does she not yet her wandering sence recall Tell me she hates she does she must how can Such goodness love so barbarous a Man Ulam Your Tyranny shakes not your Empire there The lost Asteria Loves you in despair With all her art and pow'r she strives t' asswage The violence of her angry Fathers rage For your protection humbly on her knees The Eloquence of Tears and Pray'rs she tries And all for him by whose disdain she Dies Not bleeding Saints for Martyrdom design'd Are to their Executioners more kind Ibrah. Unhappy Maid and more unhappy I The Author of such killing Cruelty Who see that Innocence such pains endure And make those wounds which I must never cure Ulama But whilst so long you Solymans heart possest Why was your Love a Stranger to his breast The knowledge of a former Mrs. Claim Might have supprest Asteria's growing flame And so great pow'r as his might have prevail'd T' obtain that suit where your own interest fail'd Ibrah. Even Solyman's pow'r had been a weak defence For know she 's Daughter to a Christian Prince Who by th'inveterate hate which long before Our Warring Families for Ages bore Has with such furious rage my Love persu'd As suffering Genova has felt in blood By the ill chance of War 't was our hard doom In three set Battails to be overcome My Family destroy'd my hopes undone The Field by her Insulting Father won I strait took Ship and for new aids did flye To our Allies the States of Sicily And taken Prisoner by the Algereens I to that Voyage owed my Turkish chains Ulam Your Births being equal 't was unjustly done He did not then embrace you for his Son When th' happy tye had made your Families cease Their hate and reconcil'd a Nations peace Ibrah. 'T is true he might have been so just but know Hate thinks none equals much less makes 'em so So fierce his rage so great was his disdain I durst not tell my Love to Solyman Least my just King concern'd at my ill Fate In kindness might have prov'd my Advocate Ulam What danger could that cause Ibrah. I fear'd that He Might for my sake have been deny'd like me Too well I knew that would provoke his rage And in revenge my angry King engage But false to th' Christians cause I ne're could prove Nor take such Vengeance though for iniur'd Love Far be 't from me to shake her Fathers â—â—rone Or touch his Life whence she derives her own More I could bear and greater wrongs o'recome To be the Champion-Friend of Christendom Ulam With this just Love to Solyman I 'le go And try what Reason joyn'd with Pray'rs can do Ex. Ulama Enter Dorea Dor. Great Sir a Bassa newly come on shore In Râ—â—tans name admittance does implore By a command from him he humbly craves Your kind acceptance of some Christian Slaves Exit Dorea Ibrah. From Rustan Go admit him I 've been by long and fawning Courtship prest To reconcile him to the Sultans Breast But were his flattering hopes on Reason built Were it in Ibrahims soul to side with guilt Did he but now behold my wretched state He 'd find me there but a weak Advocate Enter Isabella introduc'd by a Bassa attended by Ladies My Isabella What bless'd Vision 's this Am I awake or do I dream of Bliss Thus let me seal assurance to my sence kisses her hand And free my lab'ring thoughts from their suspence This raâ—â—â—hing sight drives all my Clouds away From my long Night breaks out eternal Day How Madam after three long mourning years Which I have languisht out in fighs and tears Have you escap'd your angry Fathers eye To bless this place with your Divinity How have you past the Mountains Rocks and Sea Which so long parted my fair World and me Isabel. My Fate is in such mysteries involv'd The riddle is not easily resolv'd Stolne from my Court forc'd almost from the Tomb Of my dead Father Ibrah. Her Father dead Isabel. And after that become A prey to one unknown rob'd of my peace Freedom and pow'r expos'd to Winds and Seas And what more dreadful is than all those pains The hazard of my Honour in my Chains Through these rough paths I have been guided here But now I think my Sanctuary near My Ibrahims presence does dispel my fear Bassa Those actions her mistaken Innocence Has render'd such a Capital offence Kind Rustan Sir did boldly for your sake And for your preservation undertake Ibrah. For mine Isabel. For his Oh let me hear no more If all this rudeness was on Ibrahim's score And by your order I th' Abuse receive I 've heard much more than I can e're forgive Ibrah. Can you believe me guilty but in thought Of that black Crime the impious Rustan wrought Tho she 's a Treasure I esteem Divine By Sacriledge I would not make her mine Bassa The Vizier may all these excuses spare For in this Rape he Madam had no share This Plot was Rustans only who by Spies Employ'd t' observe you in your Privacies Found you a Captive were to those bright Eyes to Ibrah. By some discourse 'twixt you and Dorea made The secret of your Love was first betray'd Rustan knew too her Father was your Foe And that you 'd ne're consent to use him so And fearing so much Love Despair and Grief Might rob the World without some quick Relief Unknown to you he took this violent course T' obtain what kindness could not win by force And hopes that act may not a Crime appear Which saves your Life and cures a Kingdoms fear Isabel. But since my Fate has brought me to this place Where I once more behold my Ibrahims Face And safe in Duty and in Honour live Tell him a Crime so kind I can forgive Ibrah. But say you saw your Ibrahim in Chains Bound during Life to bear the worst of pains Rifl'd of all his Honours Pomp and Pow'rs Could you in some dark Dungeon call him Yours Isabel. Why Sir this cruel question Can distress And change of Fortune make my Passion less 'T is not true Love that ever can decrease But who dares load with Chains the Sultans Friend Can humain pow'r oppress what hee 'l defend Ibrah. Alas that friendship which once shin'd on me Is set for ever Call 't not Vanity When I must say 't was my ill Fate to prove The object of the fair Sultana's Love And Solyman o're acting Friendships part Made me an offer of a Daughters heart Which Grace refus'd too plainly I â—ore-see The dire effects of slâ—ghted Majesty Isabel. And will my Ibrahim bear all this for me Will he for me provoke the Sultans frowns And for my sake neglect
IBRAHIM THE Illustrious BASSA A TRAGEDY Acted at the DUKE'S Theatre Written by Elkanah Settle Servant to His MAJESTY Te Nos facimus Fortuna Deam Iuven. Licensed May the 4th 1676. Roger L'Estrange LONDON Printed by T. M. for W. Cademan at the Popes-Head in the Lower VValk of the New-Exchange in the Strand 1677. TO THE DUTCHESS OF ALBEMARLE Madam WHen I consider what favourable Reception my first humble Supplications in this kind have had from your Graces hand I cannot think my Duty fully paid nor my Adoration sufficiently exprest till I Dedicate my whole Life and Labours to your Grace 'T is not one act of Devotion that can make a Zealot and therefore as I made a Present then I pay you a Tribute now And though this Poem has but little Merit of its own yet encouraged by the Honours it has received like Pages to Princes it owes its Boldness to its Education and since your Grace gave it leave to be a troublesome Guest at New-Hall it lik'd the Entertainment so well that it resolves to Live and Dye there and 't is an Ambition in some respect to be justified for Poetry should always make up part of the Trains of Princes especially theirs whose Excellencies are so Divine a subject for it Vnder that shelter I approach your Grace when I must own I have play'd the Plagiary in making the Dutchess of Albemarle the Pattern for my Roxolana only with this difference that I have copyed below the Life Your Grace has all her Vertue without the allay of her Vanity and this advantage above her that Your Grace possesses those Charms which Story never attributed to Roxolana Her Beauty could subdue but not secure her Solyman But your Graces Victories are more compleat For if our English Chronicle spight of the fashionable liberty of a Licentious Age would Character the perfect happiness of a Princely Pair it must describe the Influence of the Dutchess of Albemarle over the unalterable Affections of her Lord And as in Duty to such eminent Virtues such infinite Perfections even the most ill-natur'd Age unanimously speaks of your Grace with Veneration and to secure that Fame your Virtues have so justly acquired your Grace is as Cautious in the Preservation of it But so impregnable are your Sacred Principles of Honour that your Graces Care in that is but like His who raises Bulwarks to defend that Town which of it self before was inaccessible nor can I more reasonably impute the Duke of Albemarles and your Graces more frequent Residence at New-Hall to any other than a true English Nobleness as knowing that your Greatness can better fill a Court than make a part of one I could be very prolix on so excellent a Theam for 't is easie to Write where all Man-kind Dictates and I must confess 't is the highest Bliss of an Authour to have those Patrons whose Merits are above Flattery where the Titles of Great and Good may he given without a Blush This made Horace speak so largely in the Commendations of his Maecenas and Juvenal say so so little in the praise of Trajan For my part I account it my chief Happiness to have been a Witness of your Graces Greatness and my highest Contemplation to be an Admirer of it The humblest of which Admirers is Madam Your Graces most Obliged Most Devoted and Most Humble Servant Elkanah Settle PROLOGVE APplause is grown a strange Coy Mrs. now Courted by All and yet obtain'd by few 'T is true when any Favourites Plays appear Then Kindness and Good-nature brings you here And to secure the Censures of the Town The Pit is fill'd with Friends in the Fore-noon And those five long expecting hours you stay Are spent in making Proselytes to th' Play Such Favour is not common nor are Wit And Sense the only means of gaining it That happy Man the Author you commend Must be at once a Poet and a Friend Honour'd by the acquaintance of the Great His Conversation Eminent as his Wit And as th' effect of your kind Influence We 've seen such refin'd Fancy so much sense Such Plays as do â—eserve so much Applause They need no Favour to support their Cause But since our Author wants that Interest And those perfections which delight you best And none of those kind leading Votes can boast Let not his Play for his hard Fate be lost What if our Author be not one of You Wit should like Coyâ—e pass current from a Jew And should not its Esteem like Medals hold Where th' Image more than weight gives price to thâ— Gold Gallants let Wit the Fate of Beauty find Be to it wheresoe're you meet it kind I 'm sure Variety best pleases there The Mrs. you maintain Gay Brisk and Fair Does not so much your stock of Kindness reap But you can spend some hours on Ioys more cheap And so On humble Writers let some favours fall Let not the Dons of Wit engross you all Actors Names SOlyman the Magnificent Mr. Batterton Ibrahim the Vizier Bassa M r. Smith Ulama the Sophies Son and Heir of Persia Mr. Harris Morat a Bassa Mr. Medbourn Muphti Mr. Gillo Women Roxolana Mrs. Mary Lee. Asteria Solymans Daughter and Roxolana's Favourite Mrs. Corar Isabella a Christian Princess Mrs. Batterton Mirva Mrs. Hughes Bassaes Mutes Janizaries and other Attend. The SCENE Solymans Seralio IBRAHIM The ILLUSTRIOUS BASSA ACT the FIRST The SCENE the Seraglio Enter Roxolana Mirva Guards and Ladies Mirva THe Turkish pow'r was absolute till now All knees all hearts did to the Sultan bow Nay Beauty too by Heav'n and Nature made To Conquer Kings in the tame crowd obey'd The world was searcht and busie Nations strove To find out Martyrs for a Tyrants Love 2. Lady Even Daughters by their Parents were betray'd Who their fair race a willing Victim made In a Seraglio they Cloyster'd slept For servile Love in shining Fetters kept Till Roxolana the long Bondage broke And by her Influence shook off the yoke Mirva Yes Royal Madam 't was your Eyes alone That could confine his wandring heart to one And singly rule the Conquer'd Solyman Beauty was ne're a Monarch till your Reign The glorious Sun shines by himself most bright When crowds like Stars make but a feeble light Roxolan And Mirva to confirm the Chains I gave By Sacred Rites I 've bound my Royal Slave It has been mine and only my Renown T'hâ—ve joyn'd a Nuptial Wreath t' a Turkish Crown He saw me and he look'd his pow'r away Nor can years raize the Structures of that day The Siege I laid an Age cannot remove His Constancy 's as great as is His Love Men call me Proud yes so might Heav'n be too If its Adorers were but half as true Homage to that inconstant Mortals pay And Heav'n meets with Apostates ev'ry day Brighter their Temples and their pow'r would shine Did God's maintain their Altars as I mine Enter Asteria attended Aster I come to lay new Honours at your Feet In
your returning Lord a Conqu'rour meet The Sultan does from Vanquisht Persia come From being fear'd abroad to be ador'd at home By what the Aâ—ms of Solyman have won The Turkish Moon Eclips'd the Persian Sun Roxol. Your Father dear Asteria has in you A pious Herauld sound and just one too But whilst the Sultans Conquests you express Is not Love shrowded in this Martial dress Amidst the lowder Vows you pay to him Does not the Great and Faithful Ibrahim To whose success the Sultans glory 's due Extort some silent Veneration too Aster I cannot but with blushes own his pow'r Ibrahim is every where a Conquerour Roxol. Nay Blusâ— no more His Victoâ—ies remove Tâ—at Barr which has so long conceal'd your Love All that he is all he has don's your due Life and the Sultan's smiles he gain'd by you At once a Condemn'd Criminal and a Slave You Rescu'd him from Fetters and a Grave He and his Conquests your Creations are To you he owes them and shall pay 'em here Aster Grant this and Heav'n 〈◊〉 make no other pray'r If the kind Destinies this wish fulfil Let all their other works of Fate stand still Roxol. By my Commands you have conceal'd your flame Till his illustrious Deeds had rais'd his Fame Above all Conquerours this Age can shew The only worth that should aspire to you Till then I bid you your low passion hide And see how Heav'n rewards your noble Pride In this high State He may your Kindness know You 've made him God-like e're you treat him so Love like Religion in a mighty mind Should build those Temples which it does not find Aster My Breast thus long has my Loves Jailour been And kept by force the strugling Prisoner in But oh how much is my freed soul at peace When you pronounce the tireâ—ome Slaves Release Enter Solyman Ibrahim Ulama Dorea Bassas and Janizaries Solym. Be this days Pomp your care in th' Aga's room to Dorea Fix you my Standard in the Hippodrome And as my Agent pay that debt I owe My Gratitude in Ibrahims glory show Do it with such Magnificence and State As fits the Triumph which we celebrate Here Solyman approaches and discovers Roxolana Roxol. Welcome the Worlds great Conqueroâ— mine Enough before did your bright Luster shine You needed not new Victories new Charms To welcome you to Roxolana's Arms. Solym. Yes I need all my glories when you 're near I bring my Trophies as a Tribute here Great though I am your pow'r is greater yet The World to me I to your Eyes submit Betwixt Loves pow'r and Majesty's this odds The Vows men pay to Saints Saints pay their Gods Ibrah. Yes Dorea goe raâ—se this Triumphant Seat to Dorea Letâ— th'Entertainment be both rich and great Let it have all that Majesty may dress In spoiles of War or Ornaments of Peace But then consider where that Honour 's due To him alone you must with Homage bow Obey him as my Sovereign not my Friend Ulam Oh Ulama thy heart thy heart defend Gazing on Roxolana Roxol. Great and Victorious you must ever prove Be but your Stars thus constant as your Love Solym. Their influence is secure I cannot fear Success nor Conquest whilst this Arm makes War presents Ibrahim to her For when my Ibrahim did to Persia go Against the Sophy my most pow'rful Foe So small his Forces were so few his Arms That they seem'd only fit to give Alarms Not overthrows sent but to rowze my game But as the Light'ning till my Thunder came Yet when my greater force ith'Field I â—rew Expecting danger and a stubborn Foe Expecting by long Sweat and Toyl t' have gone Through Blood and Ruin to the Persian Throne His Wondrous Arm such Miraclâ—s had done I came but to behold the Fields he won Ibrah. The Sultans pleasure is that shining things Should only be the Favourites of Kings To Roxolana And shews his Godâ—like Bounty when he takes Delight t' adorn the Creatures which he makes Solym. Though Crowns and Empires have his Tryumphs been There was one Trophy left for me to win To Roxolana This Princes heaâ—t the bravest and the â—est Of all my Persian Foes is Solyâ—ans Guest presents Ulama to her I have to shew what to your Beauty's due Brought the great Sophies Son to wait on you Ulama Your generous Lord such favours does confer On Ulama his Ibrahimâ— Prisoner That from my Chains without a Ransom paid Not only freed but Solymans Creature made My overthrow I must Heav'ns blessings call Who owe this Resurrection to my fall Roxola His favours Solyman does not id'ly place Noâ— doubt he found you merited that Grace Ulama So eminent your Sultans Vertues are I wonder not at his success in War The Fates in Duty to such worth are kind Justly th' obsequious Destinies deâ—ign'd No other force should Solyman subdue As being the only Conquest fit for you Was 't not enough I was subdu'd at home Have I a new Captivity to come On envy'd Solyman Oh infinite charms My Eyes are more ambitious than thy Armes Aside Solym. But my dear Ibrahim now is the time I must accuse a Conquerour of a Crime You wear a look unfit for Victory In all the glories you have heap'd on Me In Deeds that ought to make the Actor proud On your daâ—k Brow you wear a sullen Cloud Roxol. I have observ'd him with the same surprize And markt a killing sorrow in his Eyes Solym. In this dejected look There 's sometâ—ing more then modesty Your Friend And King must know from whence those Clouds descend Do you repine at the loud Fame you get Or is 't unwillingly you make me great Ibrah. Unwillingly Forbear that killing sound Give not a Loyal heart so deep a wound Unwillingly not Misers meet their Wealth Lovers success despairing Sinners Health Or Martyrs Heav'n with half the joy that I Can in your Cause subdue obey or dye Aster My life shall pay for one ill thought in Him I 'le answer for the Loyal Ibrahim Solym. But my best Ibrahim your griefs declare Can you have Sorrows which I must not share Your troubles may be just and by my fault Perhaps I have not us'd you as I ought Perhaps your merits are not fully paid The Crowns that Ibrahim won are not on Ibrahims head But though my tardy hand has guilty been 'T is not too late to expiate that sin Crowns thou shalt have Ibrah. Oh Royal Sir no more Bounty was never Cruelty before So great so large a present as a Crown Is fit for Solyman to give alone 'T is great but 't is not kind when you can think My soul t' a mercenary thought can sink My thoughts from a more just Ambition spring 'T is all my Pride Unbrib'd to serve my King Solym. Then tell me Ibrah. Oh the secret must not out Aside Roxol. If not his kindness then his pow'r you doubt Can there be any thing disturbs your rest As cannot be by Solyman redrest Think
World in its last Funeral fires After that infinite Mass consum'd expires Where once so bright an Orbe of glory was Torments and Hell fill up the empty space Ulam Those thoughts whence this disorder'd language grew Have some great cause Solym. Yes and a strange one too I 'm practising the Gyants War agen I 've seen that Heav'n I wou'd unjustly Win. In one mean act my Honour I Dethrone From Ibrahim's Friend I am his Rival grown Ulam For his for hers for your own glories sake Some care of your declining Friendship take Her by your Kingly promise you have made Your Daughter him your Son Rights which t' invade Will so much stain your worth ecclipse your light That your own Mirrour will your soul affâ—ight That he who once made trembling Nations shake Will at his own surprizing Image quake Solym. These reasons my Conversion might have wrought Were I not too much harden'd in my fault But Ulama I Love and must Enjoy No Argument can that Resolve destroy In this extream my desp'rate cause defend Not as my Reasons but my Passions Friend O tell me how I may my Love without a Crime pursue Sooth me and flatter me deceive me do Hide all those stains that make it an offence And cheat me with a glimpse of Innocence Morat What need of Cheats Is there a happiness That the Worlds Lord should wish and not possess You wrong your self and our great Prophet too To yield to grief and not your joys pursue Kings are his care not are their passions fir'd by common heat of blood but things inspir'd 'T is the Eternal Will that does ordain Your Love or Hate nor can that act in vain If your Bliss only by her Love 's attain'd For you then she 's by providence ordain'd Why to your self then are you so unkind To feed your own despair why to man-kind To let their Monarch languish why to Heav'n Thus to refuse what th' High decrees have giv'n Solym. No Kind Morat our Prophet does ordain Monarchs with Honour should their Joys obtain And when that Rock stops our forbidden way Pow'r must not climb where Vertue bids us stay Mor. Honour and Friendship safe with all her charms That Beauty shall be lodg'd within your armes Put his Allegiance to this glorious test Tell him your Love and make her your request When he shall know such ador'd greatness dies If not recover'd by that Ladies eyes What will not so much Loyalty perform To guard his King from such a threat'ning storm By Heav'n he will present her on his knees Solym. Love ne're makes guifts so Prodigal as these Mor. Be not deceiv'd your pow'rful influence try Solym. How not deceiv'd Yes you deceive me Mor. I Solym. Yes and I thank you for the Courtefie Though all that you have said in my defence Are Reasons as remov'd from Truth and Sence As I 'm from Peace Yet such my passion is I 'm charm'd ev'n with imaginary bliss Love when thy pow'rs distracted fancies seize Hope in all formes tho ne're so false can please Ulam Recall your wandering thoughts from such false dreams And free your self from all these wil'd extreams This low desire and humble thought surmount And your own happier Scenes of Love recount Think of that dazling form so far above Natures less lights your Roxolana's Love Solym. There Oh 't is there I 'm lost that only Name Brands my inconstancy with guilt and shame Her right I irreligious I have stole She who so long has singly sway'd my soul To whom I 've sworne that Faith should ne're remove And dedicated an immortal Love A Love so sacred as should neither have An end on this side nor beyond the Grave Down go her Altars and her pow'r decays To a new Saint I a new Temple raise Ex. Sol. Mor. Ulam This secret must to Roxolana she Must hear her faithless Lords Apostacy The early knowledge of this dangâ—â—ous Love May give her means her dangers to remove I 'le waken all the forces of her heart Rowze all her charms her policy and art To re-establish her declining power I to my Trust was never false before But am I false t' oppose his Crimes to serve Such excellence such greatness to preserve To be his Vertues and her Honours guard Friendship 's a Tyrant if 't has Laws so hard But why did I see Roxolana last Why was that Jewel in the Turkish Diadem plac'd To shine so bright and yet be priz'd no higher Can he whom such Raies warm Be led astray by any wand'ring fire Well are thy Ensigns the inconstant Moon Had she been destin'd to adorn my Throne She had met a kinder Clime under a Persian Sun Yet though I Love and Love too late Enter Roxolana and Asteria She 's here The story is not for Asteria's ear I 'le watch the favour of a private hour Exit Rox. There was a time when my commands had pow'r Aster Have they not still Roxol. Then Love that Traytor less And your obedience in your scorn express Aster Love once by your consent my Breast did rule And can your Councels change and not my Soul No sure like Oracles such goodness spoke Pronounced what it meant never to revoke Hate that rough Passion Natures worst disease Should be learnt only amongst Savages Thoughts more refin'd and words of gentler sence Should be the Precepts of such Excellence Roxol. Poor Innocence abuse your self no more Think of Revenge and those fond tears give o're Aster Has Ibrahim deserv'd so ill of me Roxol. Can such apparent Crimes disputed be Such injuries though by th' Offenders Fate You may Revenge you ne're can expiate Aster Talk not of punishing so brave a Man Though hopeless I his Love must never gain Call it his Fate not Cruelty when I Must for some more deserving Beauty dye Roxol. Your anger and disdain should swell the more For being injur'd on a Rivals score Who can t' a meaner choice his thoughts debase And wrong his lifes Protectress and the Race Of Solyman a man so base and rude You ought to scorn for his ingratitude Aster Ah Royal Madam do not lay a Crime Upon the just and guiltless Ibrahim No doubt my Love came in too late an hour When his lost heart was gone beyond his power Seal'd by some Vows which I must ne're recall And should I be so guilty in my fall As against Hâ—av'n and Nature to repine Because they have made Eyes more bright than mine Roxol. If Love the payment of his heart withstood His Honour should have paid you with his blood But since he guilty lives abhor his Name If justice can't convert you then let shame Aster No more already you too much have said When your commands can never be obey'd I ne're can hate him though his Loss must kill My Murderer is my Lov'd Ibrahim still The world has not that man whose worth should buy My life when I for Ibrâ—â—im can dye Yet me thinks Death I would
he does his Joys delay Hee 'l come more glorious to his Nuptial day Isabel. When Solyman's Honour or his Dangers call My Right 's so little and my power so small I can't or if I could I shou'd not stay Their hands who at your feet their Laurels lay Go â—ight and conquer to adorn that brow Pay your vast debt to this great Monarch due to Ibrah. Whatever my own private sufferings be When 't is t' advance your Fame I ought to see Him rather dye for you than live for me to Solym. Solym. Illustrious Maid fear not his safe return Heav'n for your merit must have such concern That if his own yet matchless courage cou'd Not bring him safely back your wishes wou'd Ibrah. My Pride and my Devotion shou'd embrace That glorious task which your Imperial Grace Upon your Creature and your Slave confers But thus t'assert your Fame wou'd ruine Hers Solym. How Ibrahim Ibrah. Great Sir the very sound Of a Seraglio will her Honour wound Virgins their Fame so cautiously support That she 's not safe though lodg'd in Solyman's Court I therefore beg our speedy Nuptials may Drive both her Dangers and my Fears away And till our Stars my safe return decree My Pallace may her Sanctuary be But if the chance of War has not design'd My Life as Fortune is not always kind I at my destiny shall less repine To think my Isabella once was mine Adding the thoughts of one days bliss below To that Eternity to which I goe Solom I can forgive thy fear though 't is unjust My well-known Virtue checks that vain distrust That Constancy which long has been my Fame And render'd a Seraglio but a name Yet e're you go I would compleat your Bliss But Honour which commands that hinders this So bright must Isabella's Nuptials shine And I so great Solemnities design That the o're-hasty Cause which calls you hence Does too few hours for that great work dispence Ibrah. Our Nuptials with less State Solym. It is unkind To think so ill of what 's so well design'd You slight my favours when you treat me so Ibrah. That word has silenc'd me If I must go And go e're I the Sacred Tye can bind Of th'unseal'd Treasure that I leave behind I make a Deed of Trust to Solyman gives her to Solym. Here in my absence as a Father Reign To my great Lord her safety I resign Whilst I subdue your World do you guard mine Solym. Guard her that charge not her best Angels can Perform with half the Zeal of Solyman Oh Ibrahim cou'd thy Innocence but guess With how much guilt I this fair charge possess 'T would chill thy blood and make an Ague there As great as is the burning Feavour here Aside Me-thinks I in your looks discern a pain That begs this guift some minutes back again Take her Till that just right 's perform'd I 'm gone Your paâ—ting Love admits no lookers on gives her agen to Ibrahim Conquest and Armes on him I did bestow To raise him once but to destroy him now Love of all passions is the most Divine But when encompast with such Câ—imes as mine By th'num'rous frailties that attend it then When we come next to Gods we are but men Aside Exit Solym. and Morat Isabel. I bid you go but guard your precious Life For endless if you dye will be my grief I shall be left in a strange Court unknown Where my dear Fame my suffer when you 're gone Nay worse left in a World not worth my care Or thought when once my Ibrahim's not there Ibrah. Beauty and Love so fair a Seat ne're held Were not the Constant Sultan's bosom seal'd Were not his Heart his Roxoland's prize I should suspect the Magick of your Eyes Isabel. Could Solyman be false and by my pow'r Though absent nay though dead yet rest secure Fear not in Heav'n assaults against her Love Which Crowns can't buy nor Fate it self remove But cou'd he Love there 's little danger here What e're their pow'r is when my Ibrahim's near He 'l find when you are absent in these Eyes More to move pitty than gain Victories Ibrah. Surprizing Vertue so much Extasy In our next happy meeting I fore-see Did not the pain of parting make it less My joys would ev'n grow fatal by th' excess But if the distant prospect is so clear How dazling will the bliss be when 't is near Isabel. When you are gone as 't is resolv'd you mast My tears in solitude will be so just And I 'le perform my Loves sad Rites so well As shall convert a Pallace to a Cell And if the War should take your Life away But oh far distant be that fatal day From Courts and from the tiresome world I 'le flye And your just moâ—â—ner in a Cloyster dye Ibrah. Oh matchless Faith They who would search about The World to find thy Vertues equal out Must take a Journey longer than the Sun And Pilgrims dye e're half their race is run Enter Asteria Asteria here Isabel. Do I my Rival see Is this the Beauâ—y you refus'd for me Aster Fair envy'd Maid 'T is not enough that you Should only Conquer you must Tryumph too Your Beauty has no little Trophy won When it is prais'd by her it has undone See here a Monarchs mourning Daughter brought To speak the glories by a Rival wrought Mâ—s. of more than all the World can boast Mrs. of all Asteria's hopes have lost Isabel. Can so much Beauty mourn If there 's that Breast That can the force of those fair Eyes resist The fault 's in Fortune not your want of pow'r I saw him first and in the luckiest hour You only came too late to gain that heart And are in chance Out-rival'd not desert But am I safe against such charms I view Fresh dangers in the Wonders lodg'd in you Aster O do not fear that I 'd invade your rightâ— I would not make him wretched if I might If Destiny cou'd e're have made me His His Soul all mine in that high state of bliss I shou'd have pitty'd Kings thought Crowns less dear To command worlds not worth obeying here But could he now be mine the dearer joy He lost in you would his Lifes peace destroy But know I 'd ne're cloud him to make me shine I would not shake his peace though to crown mine Ibrah. Mirrour of Vertue stop those Tears and treat Ingratiâ—ude at a much juster rate Your hate and scorn shou'd my deserts repay Cast not so ill those sacred Pearl away Aster Not mourn for Ibrahim yes and dye but if Faâ—e for a while protects my weary Life 'T is only lent me to be kind to you Ibrah. No longer this astonishing theam pursue Aster O Sir there hangs a Comet o're your head A threatning Star in gloomy horrors spread Isabel. Say Madam what 's that Ruine that 's so near Dangers are his Familiars but not fear Aster My Câ—uel Father oh that Sacred Name None
Life Pow'r and Crowns Ibrah. I could for you the worst of Fates sustain Death were my Pride and if 't had any pain 'T would be to part so long to meet so late again Isabel. Kings are unlike their sacred pattern Heav'n If their offenders cannot be forgiven Let him go on his utmost rage fulfil And though he cannot frown but he must kill Confirm this constancy and Fate contemn Suffer more boldly than He can condemn And as I doubt not since the fault was mine But th' Author in th' Offenders doom shall joyn As your long Loves reward expect to see The Scene of Martyrdom fill'd up by me As in our Loves in Death together bound With greater pomp and state wee 'l meet the wound Then Victims that were led to Altars crown'd Ibrah. But see the mighty Solyman draws nigh Enter Solyman Ulama Morat and Guards See there the trembling Worlds Idolatry And such a Prince whose merit is so high That he who steals from Heav'n to make a gift Of homage there may justifie the theft Solym. Do you not tremble when you see me here Ibrah. No Sultan I have reverence but no fear Solym. And does not shame your guilty Conscience touch Ibrah. Though Solyman in Thunder should approach Still the same charming Majesty he wears But if so great and sacred he appears To those that meet his Frowns and tread on Graves How Godâ—like is He when he Smiles and Saves Solym. Ibrahim What Guardian Angel have you here My Furies vanish when such charms appear What Lady 's that Ibrah. One for whose sake I can Meet Death and stand the Frowns of Solyman Solym. Thy Love is bold But in her cause I can't admire thy Pride What unknown Nation did that Beauty hide Ibrah. Sir to my torment she ' has been hid too long Too fierce her Jaylor and her Jayl too strong Till Fate at last clos'd up her Dragons Eyes And then by force brought the Illustrious Prize Heav'n this fair Mourner sent t' attend my Grave To see your bleeâ—ing Victim in her Slave Solym. No Ibrahim you could not dye before For Solyman your Lifes protection swore And now you must not suffer if you cou'd Such Beauty can appease my injur'd blood Though you 've wrong'd Friendship Friendship must forgive Who cannot dye for her can less deserve to live Beauteous unknown to Isabel. If thy fair hand the Sacred Contract Seal'd Which must not be by any Pow'r Repeal'd That Present from a Monarchs Hand accept gives Ibrahim to her Which has for thee by Destiny been kept I should unjustly in a Subject chide That Constancy which is a Monarchs Pride Ibrah. By your surprizing goodness overcome Thus let his Duty speak whom wonder has struck dumb Kneels Solym. Rise Ibrahim is Justice in a King So strange and so astonishing a thing Isabel. Is this the Dungeon These the Chains false fear That could suspect such Cruelty raign'd there Sure you mistook the Judge or I the Doom to Ibrah. Who find such vertue out of Christendom Solym. Justice and Nature here shall end their strife Rich in those Charms enjoy a happy Life Ibrah. So vast a gift by so much mercy given If Monarchs in their actions coppy Heav'n Your glory in that List must be the chief Never was coppy yet so near the Life Solym. Tho Fate for this commanding Beauty's sake Will not permit you should my blood partake I will not be by Destiny out-done I in a Friend will still possess a Son Ibrah. What means my King Solym. All kindness to that Name What ever envy'd Monarch does lay claim To this fair Race His glory I 'le partake This Lady my Adopted Daughter make With all the Rites and Pomp due to my blood With all the Regal Ornaments endow'd That ever did or can attend my Race You shall in Her a Sultaness embrace Isabel. Forgive me sleeping Father when I must Thy Honours steal and â—ob thy Sacred Dust To pay new homage here Great Solyman Such matchless Vertues in your Bosom raign As without sin Religion can controul And swell th' Ambition of a Christians soul. Let me thus low the mighty Title meet And fall before a Royal Fathers feet Kneels Solym. Rise and accept Not on my Bounty but your merits score A Fathers Love Raises her 〈◊〉 Pray Heav'n I 've given no more I have approach'd her killing excellence Too nigh and feel in my transported sence Something that says I 'm by my Eyes undone And yet the Lawless wandring lights gaze on Aside Isabel. Those numerous Tâ—ophies you 've in Battle wone Gain you less Fame than this one act has done Your Valour there but Nations overthrew Here Solyman does Solyman subdue Solym. Aâ— fâ—â—st I thought â—gaz'd without a sin Friendshâ—p and Honour kept the Traytor in Now 't is resistâ—ess whilst â—â—ch pains she takes To praise my Conquests she a gâ—eater makes Aside Isabel. How faintly Famâ— does Solyman present In those weak name Great and Magnificent Those Attributes the Christ an World does give And those from Fear and Envy you receive If who but hear your goodness give no less What must she pay whom it vouchsafes to bless Solym. What must you pay O that strange word might I prescribe the way How those fair Eyes their Gratitude should pay I Miser-like shou'd for such payment sue As would t' enrich my self the World undoe But Shame and Friendship interpose between My wand'ring wishes and that splendid Scene Aside Fair Creature Isabel. Generous Sir Solym. No more Think I 've oblig'd you less or if I had done What might deserve applause yet pay me none For since her Eyes have done too much before Why should her Wit advance the Conquerour Since I have the Mortal stroke already found 'T is torturing of me to enlarge the wound Aside Isabel. Then what I must not my whole Sex shall pay For the strange wonders of our Nuptial day Lovers shall in their Temples sing your praise And add their Mirtle Chaplets to your Bayes Solym. Fair excellence no more Here Ibrahim haste Gives her to Ibrahim Begone and hold that Beautious Treasure fast Be gone whilst I have power to bid you goe Ibrah. We have receiv'd his Royal Grace too slow His Daughters struggling wrongs resume their pow'rs To Isabel. Let us retire whilst the blest minute 's ours Solym. Quick flye with your rich prize lest you delay Till that storm rise will drown you if you stay Ex. Ibrahim and Isab. And is she given into a Rivals hand Seiz'd and possess'd and all by my command He from my bleeding heart tears that fair prey And in that Rape forces my life away Ex. Attendants to Ibrahim and Isabella Stay Prince to you and to Morat I dare The nearest secrets of my Soul declare I 'm grown so alter'd and deform'd a thing In Solyman you 'l scarce find out your King An impious and devouring flame has raiz'd All in me that was good all that was great defac'd That like the