me more by barely naming him Than all thy foul unmanner'd scurril taunts Dorax And therefore 't was to gaul thee that I nam'd him That thing that nothing but a cringe and smile That Woman but more dawb'd or if a man Corrupted to a Woman thy Man Mistress Sebast All false as Hell or thou Dorax Yes full as false As that I serv'd thee fifteen hard Campaignes And pitch'd thy Standard in these Forreign Fields By me thy greatness grew thy years grew with it But thy Ingratitude outgrew 'em both Sebast I see to what thou tend'st but tell me first If those great Acts were done alone for me If love produc'd not some and pride the rest Dorax Why Love does all that 's noble here below But all th' advantage of that love was thine For coming fraughted back in either hand With Palm and Olive Victory and Peace I was indeed prepar'd to ask my own For Violante's vows were mine before Thy malice had prevention ere I spoke And ask'd me Violante for Enriquez Seb. I meant thee a reward of greater worth Dor. Where justice wanted could reward be hop'd Could the robb'd Passenger expect a bounty From those rapacious hands who stript him first Seb. He had my promise e're I knew thy love Dor. My Services deserv'd thou should'st revoke it Seb. Thy Insolence had cancell'd all thy Service To violate my Laws even in my Court Sacred to peace and safe from all affronts E'ven to my face as done in my despight Under the wing of awfull Majesty To strike the man I lov'd Dor. Even in the face of Heaven a place more Sacred Would I have struck the man who propt by power Would Seize my right and rob me of my Love But for a blow provok'd by thy Injustice The hasty product of a just despair When he refus'd to meet me in the field That thou shoud'st make a Cowards Cause thy own Seb. He durst nay more desir'd and begg'd with tears To meet thy Challenge fairly 't was thy fault â—o make it publique but my duty then To interpose on pain of my displeasure Betwixt your Swords Dor. On pain of Infamy He should have disobey'd Seb. Th' Indignity thou didst was ment to me Thy gloomy eyes were cast on me with scorn As who should say the blow was there intended But that thou didst not dare to lift thy hands Against Annointed power so was I forc'd To do a Soveraign justice to my self And spurn thee from my presence Dor. Thou hast dar'd To tell me what I durst not tell my self I durst not think that I was spurn'd and live And live to hear it boasted to my face All my long Avarice of honour lost Heap'd up in Youth and hoarded up for Age Has honours Fountain then suck'd back the stream He has and hooting Boys may dry shod pass And gather pebbles from the naked Foord Give me my Love my Honour give 'em back Give me revenge while I have breath to ask it Seb. Now by this honour'd Order which I wear More gladly would I give than thou dar'st ask it Nor shall the Sacred Character of King Be urg'd to shield me from thy bold appeal If I have injur'd thee that makes us equall The wrong if done debas'd me down to thee But thou hast charg'd me with Ingratitude Hast thou not charg'd me speak Dor. Thou know'st I have If thou disown'st that Imputation draw And prove my Charge a lye Seb. No to disprove that lye I must not draw Be conscious to thy worth and tell thy Soul What thou hast done this day in my defence To fight thee after this what were it else Than owning that Ingratitude thou urgest That Isthmus stands betwixt two rushing Seas Which mounting view each other from afar And strive in vain to meet Dor. I 'le cut that Isthmus Thou know'st I meant not to preserve thy Life But to reprieve it for my own revenge I sav'd thee out of honourable malice Now draw I should be loath to think thou dar'st not Beware of such another vile excuse Seb. O patience Heaven Dor. Beware of Patience too That 's a Suspicious word it had been proper Before thy foot had spurn'd me now 't is base Yet to disarm thee of thy last defence I have thy Oath for my security The only boon I begg'd was this fair Combat Fight or be Perjur'd now that 's all thy choice Sebas drawing Now I can thank thee as thou wouldst be thank'd Never was vow of honour better pay'd If my true Sword but hold than this shall be The sprightly Bridegroom on his Wedding Night More gladly enters not the lists of Love Why 't is enjoyment to be summon'd thus Go bear my Message to Henriquez Ghost And say his Master and his Friend reveng'd him Dor. His Ghost then is my hated Rivall dead Seb. The question is beside our present purpose Thou seest me ready we delay too long Dor. A minute is not much in eithers Life When their 's but one betwixt us throw it in And give it him of us who is to fall Sebast He 's dead make hast and thou mayst yet o're take him Dor. When I was hasty thou delay'st me longer I prethee let me hedge one moment more Into thy promise for thy life preserv'd Be kind and tell me how that Rivall dy'd Whose Death next thine I wish'd Seb. If it would please thee thou should'st never know But thou like Jealousy enquir'st a truth Which found will torture thee He dy'd in Fight Fought next my person as in Consort fought Kept pace for pace and blow for every blow Save when he heav'd his Shield in my defence And on his naked side receiv'd my wound Then when he could no more he fell at once But rowl'd his falling body cross their way And made a Bulwark of it for his Prince Dor. I never can forgive him such a death Seb. I prophecy'd thy proud Soul could not bear it Now judge thy self who best deserv'd my Love I knew you both and durst I say as Heaven Foreknew among the shining Angell host Who would stand firm who fall Dor. Had he been tempted so so had he fall'n And so had I been favour'd had I stood Seb. What had been is unknown what is appears Confess he justly was preferr'd to thee Dor. Had I been born with his indulgent Stars My fortune had been his and his been mine O worse than Hell what Glory have I lost And what has he acquir'd by such a death I should have fallen by Sebastians side My Corps had been the Bulwark of my King His glorious end was a patch'd work of fate Ill sorted with a soft effeminate life It suited better with my life than his So to have dy'd mine had been of a peice Spent in your service dying at your feet Seb. The more effeminate and soft his life The more his fame to struggle to the field And meet his glorious fate Confess proud Spirit For I will have it from
a false Courage when thou threat'nest me Thou canst not stir a hand to touch my Life Do not I see thee tremble while thou speak'st Lay by the Lions Hide vain Conqueror And take the Distaff for thy Soul 's my Slave Emp. Confusion How thou viewest my very Heart I cou'd as soon Stop a Spring-tide blown in with my bare hand As this impetuous Love Yes I will wed thee In spight of thee and of my self I will Alm. For what To people Affric with new Monsters Which that unnatural mixture must produce No were we joyn'd e'vn tho it were in death Our Bodies burning in one Funeral Pile The Prodigy of Thebes wou'd be renew'd And my divided flame shou'd break from thine Emp. Serpent I will engender Poyson with thee Joyn Hate with Hate add Venom to the birth Our Off-spring like the seed of Dragons Teeth Shall issue arm'd and fight themselves to death Alm. I 'm calm again thou canst not marry me Emp. As gleams of Sun-shine soften storms to show'rs So if you smile the loudness of my rage In gentle Whispers shall return but this That nothing can divert my Love but Death Alm. See how thou art deceiv'd I am a Christian 'T is true unpractis'd in my new Belief Wrongs I resent nor pardon yet with ease Those Fruits come late and are of slow increase In haughty Hearts like mine Now tell thy self If this one word destroy not thy designs Thy Law permits thee not to marry me Emp. 'T is but a specious Tale to blast my hopes And baffle my pretensions Speak Sebastian And as a King speak true Sebast Then thus adjur'd On a King's word 't is truth but truth ill tim'd For her dear Life is now expos'd anew Unless you wholly can put on Divinity And graciously forgive Alm. Now learn by this The little value I have left for life And trouble me no more Emp. I thank thee Woman Thou hast restor'd me to my native Rage And I will seize my happiness by force Sebast Know Muley-Moluch when thou dar'st attempt Emp. Beware I wou'd not be provok'd to use A Conqueror's right and therefore charge thy silence If thou wou'dst merit to be thought my Friend I leave thee to perswade her to compliance If not there 's a new gust in Ravishment Which I have never try'd Bend. They must be watch'd aside For something I observ'd creates a doubt Exeunt Emperour and Benducar Seb. I 've been too tame have basely born my Wrongs And not exerted all the King within me I heard him O sweet Heavens he threat'ned Rape Nay insolently urg'd me to perswade thee Ev'n thee thou Idol of my Soul and Eyes For whom I suffer Life and drag this being Alm. You turn my Prison to a Paradise But I have turn'd your Empire to a Prison In all your Wars good fortune flew before you Sublime you sate in Triumph on her Wheel Till in my fatal Cause your Sword was drawn The weight of my misfortunes drag'd you down Seb. And is' t not strange that Heav'n shou'd bless my Arms In common Causes and desert the best Now in your greatest last extremity When I wou'd ayd you most and most desire it I bring but Sighs the succors of a Slave Alm. Leave then the luggage of your fate behind To make your flight more easie leave Almeyda Nor think me left a base ignoble Prey Expos'd to this inhuman Tyrant's lust My Virtue is a guard beyond my strength And Death my last defence within my call Seb. Death may be call'd in vain and cannot come Tyrants can tye him up from your relief Nor has a Christian privilege to dye Alas thou art too young in thy new Faith Brutus and Cato might discharge their Souls And give 'em Furlo's for another World But we like Centry's are oblig'd to stand In starless Nights and wait the pointed hour Alm. If shunning ill be good then Death is good To those who cannot shun it but by Death Divines but peep on undiscover'd Worlds And draw the distant Landshape as they please But who has e'er return'd from those bright Regions To tell their Manners and relate their Laws I 'll venture landing on that happy shoar With an unsully'd Body and white Mind If I have err'd some kind Inhabitant Will pity a stray'd Soul and take me home Seb. Beware of Death thou canst not dye unperjur'd And leave an unaccomplish'd Love behind Thy Vows are mine nor will I quit my claim The tye of Minds are but imperfect Bonds Unless the Bodies joyn to seal the Contract Alm. What Joys can you possess or can I give Where groans of Death succeed the sighs of Love Our Hymen has not on his Saffron Robe But muffled up in Mourning downward holds His dropping Torch extinguish'd with his Tears Seb. The God of Love stands ready to revive it With his etherial breath Alm. 'T is late to joyn when we must part so soon Seb. Nay rather let us haste it ere we part Our Souls for want of that acquaintance here May wander in the starry Walks above And forc'd on worse Companions miss our selves Alm. The Tyrant will not long be absent hence And soon I shall be ravish'd from your arms Seb. Wilt thou thy self become the greater Tyrant And give not Love while thou hast Love to give In dang'rous days when Riches are a Crime The wise betimes make over their Estates Make oer thy Honour by a deed of trust And give me seizure of the mighty wealth Alm. What shall I do O teach me to refuse I wou'd and yet I tremble at the grant For dire presages fright my Soul by day And boding Visions haunt my Nightly Dreams Sometimes methinks I hear the groans of Ghosts Thin hollow sounds and lamentable screams Then like a dying Eccho from afar My Mothers Voice that cries Wed not Almeyda Forewarn'd Almeyda Marriage is thy Crime Seb. Some envious Demon to delude our joys Love is not Sin but where 't is sinful Love Alm. Mine is a flame so holy and so clear That the white taper leaves no soot behind No smoak of Lust but chast as Sister's love When coldly they return a Brothers kiss Without the zeal that meets at lovers mouths Seb. Laugh then at fond presages I had some Fam'd Nostradamus when he took my Horoscope Foretold my Father I shou'd wed with Incest Ere this unhappy War my Mother dy'd And Sisters I had none vain Augury A long Religious Life a Holy Age My Stars assign'd me too impossible For how can Incest suit with Holiness Or Priestly Orders with a Princely State Alm. Old venerable Alvarez sighing Seb. But why that sigh in naming that good Man Alm. Your Fathers Counsellor and Confident Seb. He was and if he lives my second Father Alm. Mark'd our farewel when going to the sight You gave Almeyda for the word of Battel 'T was in that fatal Moment he discover'd The Love that long we labour'd to conceal I know it though my eyes
worse condition but give me leave to say that if I can please by writing as I shall endeavour it the Town may be somewhat oblig'd to my misfortunes for a part of their diversion Having been longer acquainted with the Stage than any Poet now living and having observ'd how difficult it was to please that the humours of Comedy were almost spent that Love and Honour the mistaken Topicks of Tragedy were quite worn out that the Theaters cou'd not support their charges that the Audience forsook them that young men without Learning set up for Judges and that they talk'd loudest who understood the least all these discouragements had not only wean'd me from the Stage but had also given me a loathing of it But enough of this the difficulties continue they increase and I am still condemn'd to dig in those exhausted Mines Whatever fault I next commit rest assur'd it shall not be that of too much length Above twelve hunder'd lines have been cut off from this Tragedy since it was first deliver'd to the Actors They were indeed so judiciously lopt by Mr. Betterton to whose care and excellent action I am equally oblig'd that the connexion of the story was not lost but on the other side it was impossible to prevent some part of the action from being precipitated and coming on without that due preparation which is requir'd to all great events as in particular that of raising the Mobile in the beginning of the Fourth Act which a Man of Benducar's cool Character cou'd not naturally attempt without taking all those precautions which he foresaw wou'd be necessary to render his design successful On this consideration I have replac'd those lines through the whole Poem and thereby restor'd it to that clearness of conception and if I may dare to say it that lustre and masculine vigour in which it was first written 'T is obvious to every understanding Reader that the most poetical parts which are Descriptions Images Similitudes and Moral Sentences are those which of necessity were to be par'd away when the body was swoln into too large a bulk for the representation of the Stage But there is a vast difference betwixt a publick entertainment on the Theatre and a private reading in the Closet In the first we are confin'd to time and though we talk not by the hour-glass yet the Watch often drawn out of the pocket warns the Actors that their Audience is weary in the last every Reader is judge of his own convenience he can take up the book and lay it down at his pleasure and find out those beauties of propriety in thought and writing which escap'd him in the tumult and hurry of representing And I dare boldly promise for this Play that in the roughness of the numbers and cadences which I assure was not casual but so design'd you will see somewhat more masterly arising to your view than in most if not any of my former Tragedies There is a more noble daring in the Figures and more suitable to the lostiness of the Subject and besides this some newnesses of English translated from the Beauties of Modern Tongues as well as from the elegancies of the Latin and here and there some old words are sprinkled which for their significance and sound deserv'd not to be antiquated such as we often find in Salust amongst the Roman Authors and in Milton's Paradise amongst ours though perhaps the latter instead of sprinkling has dealt them with too free a hand even sometimes to the obscuring of his sense As for the story or plot of the Tragedy 't is purely fiction for I take it up where the History has laid it down We are assur'd by all Writers of those times that Sebastian a young Prince of great courage and expectation undertook that War partly upon a religious account partly at the sollicitation of Muley-Mahumet who had been driven out of his Dominions by Abdelmelech or as others call him Muley-Moluch his nigh Kinsman who descended from the same Family of the Xeriff's whose Fathers Hamet and Mahomet had conquer'd that Empire with joint Forces and shar'd it betwixt them after their victory That the body of Don Sebastian was never found in the Field of Battel which gave occasion for many to believe that he was not slain that some years after when the Spaniards with a pretended title by force of Arms had Vsurp'd the Crown of Portugal from the House of Braganza a certain Person who call'd himself Don Sebastian and had all the marks of his body and features of his face appear'd at Venice where he was own'd by some of his Country-men but being seiz'd by the Spaniards was first Imprison'd then sent to the Gallies and at last put to Death in private 'T is most certain that the Portugueses expected his return for almost an Age together after that Battel which is at least a proof of their extream love to his Memory and the usage which they had from their new Conquerors might possibly make them so extravagant in their hopes and wishes for their old Master This ground work the History afforded me and I desire no better to build a Play upon it For where the event of a great action is left doubtful there the Poet is left Master He may raise what he pleases on that foundation provided he makes it of a piece and according to the rule of probability From hence I was only oblig'd that Sebastian shou'd return to Portugal no more but at the same time I had him at my own disposal whether to bestow him in Affrick or in any other corner of the World or to have elos'd the Tragedy with his death and the last of these was certainly the most easie but for the same reason the least artful because as I have somewhere said the poyson and the dagger are still at hand to butcher a Heroe when a Poet wants the brains to save him It being therefore only necessary according to the Laws of the Drama that Sebastian shou'd no more be seen vpon the Throne I leave it for the World to judge whether or no I have disposed of him according to art or have bungled up the conclusion of his adventure In the drawing of his character I forgot not piety which any one may observe to be one principal ingredient of it even so far as to be a habit in him though I show him once to be transported from it by the violence of a sudden passion to endeavor a self murther This being presuppos'd that he was Religious the horror of his incest tho innocently committed was the best reason which the Stage cou'd give for hind'ring his return 'T is true I have no right to blast his Memory with such a crime but declaring it to be fiction I desire my Audience to think it no longer true than while they are seeing it represented For that once ended he may be a Saint for ought I know and we have reason to presume he is On
I am Besides I have learnt so much good manners Doctor as to let my Betters be serv'd before me M. Mol. Thou talk'st as if the Mufty were concern'd Must Your Majesty may lay your Soul on 't but for my part though I am a plain Fellow yet I scorn to be trick'd into Paradice I wou'd he shou'd know it The troth on 't is an 't like you His reverence bought of me the flower of all the Market these these are but Dogs meat to 'em and a round price he pay'd me too I 'll say that for him but not enough for me to venture my neck for If I get Paradice when my time comes I can't help my self but I 'll venture nothing before-hand upon a blind Bargain M. Mol. Where are those Slaves produce ' em Mus They are not what he says M. Mol. No more excuses One goes out to fetch them Know thou may'st better dally With a dead Prophet than a living King Mus I but reserv'd 'em to present thy Greatness An Off'ring worthy thee Must By the same token there was a dainty Virgin Virgin said I but I won't be too positive of that neither with a roguish leering eye he paid me down for her upon the nail a thousand golden Sultanins or he had never had her I can tell him that Now is it very likely he would pay so dear for such a delicious Morsel and give it away out of his own mouth when it had such a farewel with it too Enter Sebastian conducted in mean habit with Alvarez Antonio and Almeyda her face veil'd with a Barnus M. Mol. Ay These look like the Workmanship of Heav'n This is the porcelain clay of human kind And therefore cast into these noble moulds Dorax aside while the Emperor whispers Benducar By all my wrongs 'T is he damnation seize me but 't is he My heart heaves up and swells he 's poyson to me My injur'd honour and my ravish'd love Bleed at their Murderers sight Bend to Dor. aside The Emperor wou'd learn these Pris'ners names You know ' em Dor. Tell him no. And trouble me no more I will not know ' em Shall I trust Heav'n that Heav'n which I renounc'd Aside With my revenge then where 's my satisfaction No it must be my own I scorn a Proxy M. Mol. 'T is decreed These of a better aspect with the rest Shall share one common Doom and Lots decide it For ev'ry number'd Captive put a ball Into an Urn three only black be there The rest all white are safe Muf. Hold Sir the Woman must not draw M. Mol. O Mufti We know your reason let her share the danger Muf. Our Law says plainly Women have no Souls M. Mol. 'T is true their Souls are mortal set her by Yet were Almeyda here though Fame reports her The fairest of her Sex so much unseen I hate the Sister of our Rival House Ten thousand such dry Notions of our Alcoran Shou'd not protect her life if not Immortal Dye as she cou'd all of a piece the better That none of her remain Here an Vrn is brought in the Pris'ners approach with great concernment and among the rest Sebastian Alvarez and Antonio who come more chearfully Dor. Poor abject Creatures how they fear to dye Aside These never knew one happy hour in life Yet shake to lay it down is load so pleasant Or has Heav'n hid the happiness of Death That Men may bear to live Now for our Heroes The three approach O these come up with Spirits more resolv'd Old venerable Alvarez well I know him The Fav'rite once of this Sebastian's Father Now Minister too honest for his Trade Religion bears him out a thing taught young In Age ill practis'd yet his prop in Death O he has drawn a black and smiles upon 't As who shou'd say my Faith and Soul are white Tho my Lot swarthy Now if there be hereafter He 's blest if not well cheated and dyes pleas'd Anton. holding his Lot in his clench'd hand Here I have thee Be what thou wilt I will not look too soon Thou hast a colour if thou prov'st not right I have a minute good ere I behold thee Now Let me rowl and grubble thee Blind Men say white feels smooth and black feels rough Thou hast a rugged skin I do not like thee Dor. There 's th' Amorous airy spark Antonio The wittiest Womans toy in Portugal Lord what a loss of Treats and Serenades The whole She Nation will b' in mourning for him Antonio I 've a moist sweaty palm the more 's my Sin If it be black yet only dy'd not odious Damn'd Natural Ebony there 's hope in rubbing To wash this Ethiope white Looks Pox of the Proverb As black as Hell another lucky saying I think the Devils in me good again I cannot speak one syllable but tends To Death or to Damnation Holds up his ball Dor. He looks uneasie at his future Journey Aside And wishes his Boots off again for fear Of a bad Road and a worse Inn at night Go to bed fool and take secure repose For thou shalt wake no more Sebastian comes up to draw M. Mol. to Ben. Mark him who now approaches to the Lott'ry He looks secure of Death superior greatness Like Jove when he made Fate and said thou art The Slave of my Creation I admire him Bend. He looks as Man was made with face erect That scorns his brittle Corps and seems asham'd He 's not all spirit his eyes with a dumb Pride Accusing Fortune that he fell not warm Yet now disdains to live Sebast draws a black M. Mol. He has his wish And I have fail'd of mine Dor. Robb'd of my Vengeance by a trivial chance Aside Fine work above that their anointed care Shou'd dye such little Death or did his Genius Know mine the stronger Demon fear'd the grapple And looking round him found this nook of fate To skulk behind my Sword shall I discover him Still he wou'd dye not mine no thanks to my Revenge reserv'd but to more royal shambles 'T were base too and below those Vulgar Souls That shar'd his danger yet not one disclos'd him But struck with Rev'rence kept an awful silence I 'll see no more of this Dog of a Prophet Exit Dorax Mul. Mol. One of these Three is a whole Hecatomb And therefore only one of 'em shall dye The Rest are but mute Cattle and when Death Comes like a rushing Lion couch like Spaniels With lolling tongues and tremble at the paw Let Lots again decide it The Three draw again and the Lot falls on Sebastian Sebast Then there 's no more to manage if I fall It shall be like my self a setting Sun Shou'd leave a track of Glory in the Skies Behold Sebastian King of Portugal M. Mol. Sebastian ha it must be he no other Cou'd represent such suff'ring Majesty I saw him as he terms himself a Sun Strugling in dark Eclipse and shooting day On either side of the black
Orb that veil'd him Sebast Not less ev'n in this despicable now Than when my Name fill'd Affrick with affrights And froze your hearts beneath your torrid Zone Bend. to M. Mol. Extravagantly brave ev'n to an Impudence Of Greatness Sebast Here satiate all your fury Let fortune empty her whole Quiver on me I have a Soul that like an ample Shield Can take in all and verge enough for more I wou'd have conquer'd you and ventur'd only A narrow neck of Land for a third World To give my loosen'd Subjects room to play Fate was not mine Nor am I Fate 's Now I have pleas'd my longing And trod the ground which I beheld from far I beg no pity for this mouldring Clay For if you give it burial there it takes Possession of your Earth If burnt and scatter'd in the air the Winds That strow my dust diffuse my royalty And spread me o'er your Clime for where one Atome Of mine shall light know there Sebastian Reigns M. Mol. What shall I do to conquer thee Seb. Impossible Souls know no Conquerors M. Mol. I 'll show thee for a Monster through my Affrick Seb. No thou canst only show me for a Man Affrick is stor'd with Monsters Man 's a Prodigy Thy Subjects have not seen Mul. M. Thou talk'st as if Still at the head of Battel Seb. Thou mistak'st For then I would not talk Bend. Sure he wou'd sleep Sebast Till Dooms-day when the Trumpet sounds to rise For that 's a Soldiers call M. Mol. Thou' rt brave too late Thou shou'dst have dy'd in battel like a Soldier Seb. I fought and fell like one but Death deceiv'd me I wanted weight of feeble Moors upon me To crush my Soul out M. Mol. Still untameable In what a ruine has thy head-strong Pride And boundless thirst of Empire plung'd thy People Sebast What say'st thou ha No more of that M. Mol. Behold What Carcases of thine thy Crimes has strew'd And left our Affric Vultures to devour Bend. Those Souls were those thy God intrusted with thee To cherish not destroy Sebast Witness O Heaven how much This sight concerns me Wou'd I had a Soul For each of these How gladly wou'd I pay The Ransom down But since I have but one 'T is a King's life and freely 't is bestow'd Not your false Prophet but eternal Justice Has destin'd me the Lot to dye for these 'T is fit a Sovereign so shou'd pay such Subjects For Subjects such as they are seldom seen Who not forsook me at my greatest need Nor for base lucre sold their Loyalty But shar'd my dangers to the last event And fenc'd 'em with their own These thanks I pay you Wipes his Eyes And know that when Sebastian weeps his Tears Come harder than his Blood M. Mol. They plead too strongly To be withstood My Clouds are gath'ring too In kindly mixture with this Royal showr Be safe and owe thy Life not to my gift But to the greatness of thy mind Sebastian Thy Subjects too shall live a due reward For their untainted Faith in thy concealment Mufti Remember Sir your Vow A general shout Mul. M. Do thou remember Thy Function Mercy and provoke not blood Mul. Zeyd One of his generous Fits too strong to last Aside to Benducar Bend. The Mufti reddons mark that holy Cheek To him He frets within froths Treason at his mouth And churns it through his teeth leave me to work him Sebast A mercy unexpected undesir'd Surprizes more You 've learnt the art to vanquish You cou'd not give me leave to tell you Sir Have giv'n me life but in my Subjects safety Kings who are Fathers live but in their People M. Mol. Still great and grateful that 's thy character Unveil the Woman I wou'd view the Face That warm'd our Mufti 's Zeal These pious Parrots peck the fairest Fruit Such Tasters are for Kings Officers go to Almeyda to unveil her Almeyda Stand off ye Slaves I will not be unveil'd M. Mol. Slave is thy Title Force her Seb. On your lives Approach her not M. Mol. How 's this Seb. Sir pardon me And hear me speak Almeyda Hear me I will be heard I am no Slave the noblest blood of Affric Runs in my Veins a purer stream than thine For though deriv'd from the same Source thy Current Is puddl'd and defil'd with Tyranny M. Mol. What Female Fury have we here Almeyda I shou'd be one Because of kin to thee Wou'dst thou be touch'd By the presuming hands of sawcy Grooms The same respect nay more is due to me More for my Sex the same for my descent These hands are only fit to draw the Curtain Now if thou dar'st behold Almeydas face Vnveils her self Bend. Wou'd I had never seen it aside Almeyda She whom thy Mufti tax'd to have no Soul Let Affric now be judg Perhaps thou think'st I meanly hope to ' scape As did Sebastian when he own'd his greatness But to remove that scruple know base Man My murther'd Father and my Brother's Ghost Still haunt this Brest and prompt it to revenge Think not I cou'd forgive nor dare thou pardon M. Mol. Woud'st thou revenge thee Trait'ress hadst thou pow'r Alm. Traitor I wou'd the Name 's more justly thine Thy Father was not more than mine the Heir Of this large Empire but with arms united They fought their way and seiz'd the Crown by force And equal as their danger was their share For where was Eldership where none had right But that which Conquest gave 'T was thy ambition Pull'd from my peaceful Father what his Sword Help'd thine to gain Surpriz'd him and his Kingdom No provocation given no War declar'd M. Mol. I 'll hear no more Alm. This is the living Coal that burning in me Wou'd flame to vengeance cou'd it find a vent My Brother too that lies yet scarcely cold In his deep watry bed My wandring Mother Who in exile died O that I had the fruitful Heads of Hydra That one might bourgeon where another sell Still wou'd I give thee work still still thou Tyrant And hiss thee with the last M. Mol. Something I know not what comes over me Whether the Toyls of Battel unrepaird With due repose or other sudden qualm Benducar do the rest Goes off the Court follows him Bend. Strange in full health This pang is of the Soul The Body 's unconcern'd I 'll think hereafter Conduct these Royal Captives to the Castle Bid Dorax use 'em well till farther order Going off stops The inferior Captives their first owners take To sell or to dispose You Mustapha Set ope the Market for the sale of Slaves Exit Benducar The Masters and Slaves come forward and Buyers of several Qualities come in and chaffer about the several Owners who make their Slaves do Tricks Mustapha My Chattels are come into my hands again and my Conscience will serve me to sell 'em twice over any price now before the Musti comes to claim ' em First Merchant to Mustapha What do'st
for a Renegade Dorax And thou too little faith to be a Fav'rite Is not the bread thou eat'st the Robe thou wear'st Thy Wealth and Honours all the pure indulgence Of him thou wou'dst destroy And wou'd his Creature nay his Friend betray him Why then no Bond is left on human kind Distrusts debates immortal strifes ensue Children may murder Parents Wives their Husbands All must be Rapine Wars and Desolation When trust and gratitude no longer bind Bend. Well have you argued in your own defence You who have burst asunder all those bonds And turn'd a Rebel to your Native Prince Dorax True I rebell'd but when did I betray Indignities which Man cou'd not support Provok'd my vengeance to this noble Crime But he had strip'd me first of my Command Dismiss'd my Service and absolv'd my Faith And with disdainful Language dar'd my worst I but accepted War which he denounc'd Else had you seen not Dorax but Alonzo With his couch'd Lance against your foremost Moors Perhaps too turn'd the fortune of the day Made Affrick mourn and Portugal triumph Bend. Let me embrace thee Dorax Stand off Sycophant And keep Infection distant Bend. Brave and honest Dorax In spight of thy Temptations Bend. Call 'em Trials They were no more thy faith was held in Balance And nicely weigh'd by jealousie of Pow'r Vast was the trust of such a Royal Charge And our wise Emperour might justly fear Sebastian might be freed and reconcil'd By new Obligements to thy former love Dorax I doubt thee still thy reasons were too strong And driv'n too near the head to be but Artifice And after all I know thou art a Statesman Where truth is rarely found Bend. Behold the Emperour Enter Emp. Seb. and Almeyda Ask him I beg thee to be justify'd If he employ'd me not to foord thy Soul And try the footing whether false or firm Dorax Death to my Eyes I see Sebastian with him Must he be serv'd avoid him if we meet It must be like the crush of Heav'n and Earth T' involve us both in ruin Exit Dorax Bend. 'T was a bare saving game I made with Dorax But better so than lost he cannot hurt me That I precaution'd I must ruin him But now this Love Ay there 's the gath'ring storm The Tyrant must not wed Almeyda no That ruins all the Fabrick I am raising Yet seeming to approve it gave me time And gaining time gains all Benducar goes and waits behind the Emperour The Emperour Sebastian and Almeyda advance to the front of the Stage Guards and Attendants Emp. to Seb. I bad 'em serve you and if they obey not I keep my Lions keen within their Dens To stop their maws with disobedient Slaves Seb. If I had Conquer'd They cou'd not have with more observance waited Their eyes hands feet Are all so quick they seem t' have but one motion To catch my flying words Onely the Alcayde Shuns me and with a grim Civility Bows and declines my Walks Emp. A Renegade I know not more of him but that he 's brave And hates your Christian Sect. If you can frame A farther wish give wing to your desires And name the thing you want Sebast My Liberty For were ev'n Paradise it self my Prison Still I shou'd long to leap the Chrystal walls Emp. Sure our two Souls have somewhere been acquainted In former beings or struck out together One spark to Africk flew and one to Portugal Expect a quick deliverance turning to Alm here 's a third Of kindred Soul to both pity our Stars Have made us Foes I shou'd not wish her death Almeyda I ask no pity if I thought my Soul Of kin to thine soon wou'd I rend my heart-strings And tear out that Alliance but thou Viper Hast cancell'd kindred made a rent in Nature And through her holy bowels gnaw'd thy way Through thy own Bloud to Empire Emper. This again And yet she lives and only lives t' upbraid me Sebast What honour is there in a Womans death Wrong'd as she says but helpless to revenge Strong in her Passion impotent of Reason Too weak to hurt too fair to be destroy'd Mark her Majestick Fabrick She 's a Temple Sacred by birth and built by Hands Divine Her Soul's the Deity that lodges there Nor is the Pile unworthy of the God Emp. She 's all that thou canst say or I can think But the perversness of her clam'rous Tongue Strikes Pity deaf Seb. Then onely hear her Eyes Though they are mute they plead nay more command For beauteous Eyes have Arbitrary Power All Females have prerogative of Sex The She s ev'n of the salvage herd are safe And when they snarl or bite have no return But Courtship from the Male. Emp. Were She not She and I not Muley-Moluch She 's Mistress of unevitable Charms For all but me nor am I so exempt But that I know not what I was to say But I am too obnoxious to my Friends And sway'd by your Advice Sebast Sir I advis'd not By Heav'n I never counsell'd Love but Pity Emp. By Heav'n thou didst deny it not thou didst For what was all that Prodigality Of praise but to onflame me Sebast Sir Emp. No more Thou hast convinc'd me that she 's worth my Love Seb. Was ever Man so ruin'd by himself Aside Almeyda Thy Love that odious Mouth was never fram'd To speak a word so soft Name Death again for that thou canst pronounce With horrid grace becoming of a Tyrant Love is for human hearts and not for thine Where the brute Beast extinguishes the Man Emper. Such if I were yet rugged Lions love And grapple and compel their savage Dames Mark my Sebastian how that sullen frown She frowns Like flashing Lightning opens angry Heaven And while it kills delights But yet insult not Too soon proud Beauty I confess no love Seb. No Sir I said so and I witness for you Not love but noble pity mov'd your mind Int'rest might urge you too to save her life For those who wish her party lost might murmur At shedding Royal Blood Emp. Right thou instruct'st me Int'rest of State requires not Death but Marriage T'unite the jarring Titles of our Line Seb. Let me be dumb for ever all I plead Aside Like Wild-fire thrown against the Wind returns With double force to burn me Emp. Cou'd I but bend to make my beauteous Foe The Partner of my Throne and of my Bed Almeyda Still thou dissemblest but I read thy heart And know the power of my own Charms thou lov'st And I am pleas'd for my revenge thou dost Emp. And thou hast cause Alm. I have for I have pow'r to make thee wretched Be sure I will and yet despair of freedom Emp. Well then I love And 't is below my greatness to disown it Love thee implacably yet hate thee too Wou'd hunt thee bare-foot in the mid-day Sun Through the parch'd Desarts and the scorching Sands T' enjoy thy Love and once enjoy'd to kill thee Alm. 'T is
Sebastian Let Dorax be enjoyn'd to bring his head Emperor to the Mufti Go Mufti call him to receive his Orders Exit Mufti I taste thy Counsel her desires new rowz'd And yet unslak'd will kindle in her fancy And make her eager to renew the Feast Bend. aside Dorax I know before will disobey There 's a Foe 's Head well cropt But this hot love precipitates my Plot And brings it to projection ere its time Enter Sebastian and Almeyda hand in hand upon sight of the Emperor they separate and seem disturb'd Almeyda He breaks at unawares upon our Walks And like a mid-night Wolf invades the Fold Make speedy preparation of your Soul And bid it arm apace He comes for answer And brutal mischief sits upon his brow Sebast Not the last sounding cou'd surprize me more That summons drowzy Mortals to their doom When call'd in haste they fumble for their Limbs And tremble unprovided for their charge My sense has been so deeply plung'd in Joys The Soul out-slept her hour and scarce awake Wou'd think too late and cannot But brave Minds At worst can dare their Fate Emperor coming up to them Emp. Have you perform'd Your Embassy and treated with success Sebast I had not time Emp. No not for my Affairs But for your own too much Sebast You talk in Clouds explain your meaning Sir Emp. Explain yours first What meant you hand in hand And when you saw me with a guilty start You loos'd your hold affrighted at my presence Seb. Affrighted Emp. Yes astonish'd and confounded Seb. What mak'st thou of thy self and what of me Art thou some Ghost some Demon or some God That I shou'd stand astonish'd at thy sight If thou cou'dst deem so meanly of my Courage Why didst thou not engage me man for man And try the virtue of that Gorgon Face To stare me into statue Emp. Oh thou art now recover'd but by Heav'n Thou wert amaz'd at first as if surpriz'd At unexpected baseness brought to light For know ungrateful man that Kings like Gods Are every where walk in th' abyss of minds And view the dark recesses of the Soul Seb. Base and ungrateful never was I thought Nor till this turn of fate durst thou have call'd me But since thou boast'st th' omniscience of a God Say in what cranny of Sebastian's Soul Unknown to me so loath'd a Crime is lodg'd Emp. Thou hast not broke my trust repos'd in thee Seb. Impos'd but not receiv'd Take back that falsehood Emp. Thou art not marry'd to Almeyda Seb. Yes Emp. And own'st the usurpation of my Love Seb. I own it in the face of Heav'n and thee No Usurpation but a lawful claim Of which I stand possest Emp. Sh' has chosen well Betwixt a Captive and a Conqueror Almeyda Betwixt a Monster and the best of Men. He was the envy of his neighb'ring Kings For him their sighing Queens despis'd their Lords And Virgin Daughters blush'd when he was nam'd To share his noble Chains is more to me Than all the salvage greatness of thy Throne Seb. Were I to choose again and knew my fate For such a night I wou'd be what I am The Joys I have possest are ever mine Out of thy reach behind Eternity Hid in the sacred treasure of the past But bless'd remembrance bring 's 'em hourly back Emp. Hourly indeed who hast but hours to live O mighty purchase of a boasted bliss To dream of what thou hadst one fugitive night And never shalt have more Seb. Barbarian thou canst part us but a moment We shall be one again in thy despight Life is but air That yields a passage to the whistling Sword And closes when 't is gone Alm. How can we better dye than close embrac'd Sucking each others Souls while we expire Which so transfus'd and mounting both at once The Saints deceiv'd shall by a sweet mistake Hand up thy Soul for mine and mine for thine Emp. No I 'll untwist you I have occasion for your stay on earth Let him mount first and beat upon the Wing And wait an Age for what I here detain Or sicken at immortal Joys above And languish for the Heav'n he left below Alm. Thou wilt not dare to break what Heav'n has joyn'd Emp. Not break the Chain but change a rotten link And rivet one to last Think'st thou I come to argue right and wrong Why lingers Dorax thus Where are my Guards Benducar goes out for the Guards and returns To drag that Slave to death Pointing to Sebast Now storm and rage Call vainly on thy Prophet then defie him For wanting power to save thee Seb. That were to gratifie thy Pride I 'll shew thee How a Man shou'd and how a King dare dye So even that my Soul shall walk with ease Out of its flesh and shut out Life as calmly As it does words without a Sigh to note One struggle in the smooth dissolving frame Almeyda to the Emperor Expect revenge from Heav'n inhuman Wretch Nor hope t' ascend Sebastian's holy Bed Flames Daggers Poysons guard the sacred steps Those are the promis'd Pleasures of my love Emp. And these might fright another but not me Or me if I design'd to give you pleasure I seek my own and while that lasts you live Enter two of the Guards Go bear the Captive to a speedy death And set my Soul at ease Alm. I charge you hold ye Ministers of death Speak my Sebastian Plead for thy life Oh ask it of the Tyrant 'T is no dishonor trust me Love 't is none I wou'd die for thee but I cannot plead My haughty heart disdains it ev'n for thee Still silent Will the King of Portugal Go to his death like a dumb Sacrifice Beg him to save my life in saving thine Seb. Farewel my life 's not worth another word Emp. to the Guards Perform your Orders Alm. Stay take my farewel too Farewel the greatness of Almeyda's Soul Look Tyrant what excess of love can do It pulls me down thus low as to thy feet Kneels to him Nay to embrace thy Knees with loathing hands Which blister when they touch thee Yet ev'n thus Thus far I can to save Sebastian's life Emp. A secret pleasure trickles through my Veins It works about the inlets of my Soul To feel thy touch and pity tempts the pass But the tough metal of my heart resists 'T is warm'd with the soft fire not melted down Alm. A flood of scalding Tears will make it run Spare him Oh spare can you pretend to love And have no pity Love and that are Twins Here will I grow Thus compass you with these supplanting Cords And pull so long till the proud Fabrick falls Emp. Still kneel and still embrace 't is double pleasure So to be hugg'd and see Sebastian dye Alm. Look Tyrant when thou nam'st Sebastian's death Thy very Executioners turn pale Rough as they are and harden'd in the trade Of Death they start at an anointed Head And tremble to approach He hears me
not Nor minds th' impression of a God on Kings Because no stamp of Heav'n was on his Soul But the resisting Mass drove back the Seal Say though thy heart be rock of Adamant Yet Rocks are not impregnable to Bribes Instruct me how to bribe thee Name thy price Lo I resign my Title to the Crown Send me to exile with the Man I love And banishment is Empire Emp. Here 's my claim Clapping his hand to his Sword And this extinguish'd thine thou giv'st me nothing Alm. My Father's Mothers Brothers death I pardon That 's somewhat sure a mighty Sum of Murther Of innocent and kindred blood strook off My Prayers and Penance shall discount for these And beg of Heav'n to charge the Bill on me Behold what price I offer and how dear To buy Sebastian's life Emp. Let after reck'nings trouble fearful fools I 'll stand the tryal of those trivial Crimes But since thou beg'st me to prescribe my terms The only I can offer are thy love And this one day of respite to resolve Grant or deny for thy next word is Fate And Fate is deaf to Pray'r Alm. May Heav'n be so Rising up At thy last breath to thine I curse thee not For who can better curse the Plague or Devil Than to be what they are That Curse be thine Now do not speak Sebastian for you need not But dye for I resign your Life Look Heav'n Almeyda dooms her dear Sebastian's death But is there Heav'n for I begin to doubt The Skyes are hush'd no grumbling Thunders roul Now take your swing ye impious Sin unpunish'd Eternal providence seems overwatch'd And with a slumb'ring Nod assents to Murther Enter Dorax attended by three Soldiers Emp. Thou mov'st a Tortoise pace to my relief Take hence that once a King that sullen pride That swells to dumbness lay him in the Dungeon And sink him deep with Irons that when he wou'd He shall not groan to hearing when I send The next Commands are death Alm. Then Prayers are vain as Curses Emp. Much at one In a Slaves mouth against a Monarch's Pow'r This day thou hast to think At night if thou wilt curse thou shalt curse kindly Then I 'll provoke thy lips lay siege so close That all thy sallying breath shall turn to Blessings Make haste seize force her bear her hence Alm. Farewel my last Sebastian I do not beg I challenge Justice now O Pow'rs if Kings be your peculiar care Why plays this Wretch with your Prerogative Now flash him dead now crumble him to ashes Or henceforth live confin'd in your own Palace And look not idely out upon a World That is no longer yours She is carried off strugling Emperour and Benducar follow Sebastian struggles in his Guards Arms and shakes off one of them but two others come in and hold him he speaks not all the while Dor. I find I 'm but a half-strain'd Villain yet Aside But mungril-mischievous for my Blood boyl'd To view this brutal act and my stern Soul Tug'd at my arm to draw in her defence Down thou rebelling Christian in my heart Redeem thy fame on this Sebastian first Then think on others wrongs when thine are righted Walks a turn But how to right ' em on a Slave disarm'd Defenceless and submitted to my rage A base revenge is vengeance on my self walks again I have it and I thank thee honest head Thus present to me at my great necessity Comes up to Sebastian You know me not Sebast I hear Men call thee Dorax Dor. 'T is well you know enough for once you speak too You were struck mute before Sebast Silence became me then Dor. Yet we may talk hereafter Seb. Hereafter is not mine Dispatch thy work good Executioner Dor. None of my blood were hangmen add that falshood To a long Bill that yet remains unreckon'd Seb. A King and thou can never have a reck'ning Dor. A greater summ perhaps than you can pay Mean time I shall make bold t' increase your debt gives him his Sword Take this and use it at your greatest need Seb. This hand and this have been acquainted well Looks on it It shou'd have come before into my grasp To kill the Ravisher Dor. Thou heardst the Tyrants orders Guard thy life When 't is attack'd and guard it like a Man Seb. I 'm still without thy meaning but I thank thee Dor. Thank me when I ask thanks thank me with that Seb. Such surly kindness did I never see Dorax to the Captain of his Guards Muza draw out a file pick man by man Such who dare dye and dear will sell their death Guard him to th' utmost now conduct him hence And treat him as my Person Seb. Something like That voice methinks I shou'd have somewhere heard But floods of woes have hurry'd it far off Beyond my kenn of Soul Exit Sebastian with the Soldiers Dor. But I shall bring him back ungrateful Man Solus I shall and set him full before thy sight When I shall front thee like some staring Ghost With all my wrongs about me What so soon Return'd This hast is boding Enter to him Emperor Benducar Mufti Emp. She 's still inexorable still Imperious And loud as if like Bacchus born in thunder Be quick ye false Physicians of my mind Bring speedy Death or Cure Bend. What can be counsell'd while Sebastian lives The Vine will cling while the tall poplar stands But that cut down creeps to the next support And twines as closely there Emp. That 's done with ease I speak him dead proceed Muf. Proclaim your Marriage with Almeyda next That Civil Wars may cease this gains the Crowd Then you may safely force her to your will For People side with violence and injustice When done for publick good Emp. Preach thou that doctrine Bend. Th' unreasonable fool has broach'd a truth Aside That blasts my hopes but since 't is gone so far He shall divulge Almeyda is a Christian If that produce no tumult I despair Emp. Why speaks not Dorax Dor. Because my Soul abhors to mix with him Sir let me bluntly say you went too far To trust the Preaching pow'r on State Affairs To him or any Heavenly Demagogue 'T is a limb lopt from your Prerogative And so much of Heav'ns Image blotted from you Muf. Sure thou hast never heard of Holy Men So Christians call 'em fam'd in State Affairs Such as in Spain Ximenes Albornoz In England Woolsey match me these with Laymen Dorax How you triumph in one or two of these Born to be Statesmen hap'ning to be Church-men Thou callst 'em holy so their function was But tell me Mufti which of 'em were Saints Next Sir to you the summ of all is this Since he claims pow'r from Heav'n and not from Kings When 't is his int'rest he can int'rest Heav'n To preach you down and Ages oft depend On hours uninterrupted in the Chair Emp. I 'll trust his Preaching while I rule his pay And I dare trust my
Affricans to hear Whatever he dare Preach Dor. You know 'em not The genius of your Moors is mutiny They scarcely want a Guide to move their madness Prompt to rebel on every weak pretence Blustring when courted crouching when opprest Wise to themselves and fools to all the World Restless in change and perjur'd to a Proverb They love Religion sweetn'd to the sense A good luxurious palatable faith Thus Vice and Godliness prepost'rous pair Ride cheek by joul but Churchmen hold the Reins And when ere Kings wou'd lower Clergy greatness They learn too late what pow'r the Preachers have And whose the Subjects are the Mufti knows it Nor dares deny what pass'd betwixt us two Emp. No more what ere he said was by Command Dor. Why then no more since you will hear no more Some Kings are resolute to their own ruin Emp. Without your medling where you are not ask'd Obey your Orders and dispatch Sebastian Dor. Trust my revenge be sure I wish him dead Emp. What mean'st thou what 's thy wishing to my will Dispatch him rid me of the Man I loath Dor. I hear you Sir I 'll take my time and do 't Emp. Thy time what 's all thy time what 's thy whole life To my one hour of ease no more replies But see thou do'st it Or Dor. Choak in that threat I can say Or as loud Emp. 'T is well I see my words have no effect But I may send a Message to dispose you Is going off Dor. Expect an answer worthy of that Message Muf. The Prophet ow'd him this Aside And thank'd be Heav'n he has it Bend. By Holy Alha I conjure you stay And judge not rashly of so brave a Man Draws the Emperor aside and whispers him I 'll give you reasons why he cannot execute Your Orders now and why he will hereafter Muf. Benducar is a fool to bring him off Aside I 'll work my own revenge and speedily Bend. The Fort is his the Soldiers hearts are his A thousand Christian Slaves are in the Castle Which he can free to reinforce his pow'r Your Troops far off beleaguering Larache Yet in the Christians hands Emp. I grant all this But grant me he must dye Bend. He shall by poyson 'T is here the deadly drug prepar'd in powder Hot as Hell fire then to prevent his Soldiers From rising to revenge their Gen'rals death While he is struggling with his Mortal pangs The Rabble on the sudden may be rais'd to seize the Castle Emp. Do 't 't is left to thee Bend. Yet more but clear your brow for he observes They whisper again Dor. What will the Fav'rite prop my falling fortunes O Prodigie of Court Aside Emperor and Benducar return to Dorax Emp. Your Friend has fully clear'd your Innocence I was too hasty to condemn unheard And you perhaps too prompt in your replies As far as fits the Majesty of Kings I ask excuse Dor. I 'm sure I meant it well Emp. I know you did this to our love renew'd Emperor drinks Benducar fill to Dorax Benducar turns and mixes a powder in it Dor. Let it go round for all of us have need To quench our heats 't is the Kings health Benducar He drinks And I wou'd pledge it though I knew 't were poyson Bend. Another Bowl for what the King has touch'd Drinks out of another Bowl And you have pledg'd is sacred to your loves Muf. Since Charity becomes my calling thus Let me provoke your friendship and heav'n bless it As I intend it well Drinks and turning aside pours some drops out of a little Vial into the Bowl then presents it to Dorax Dor. Heav'n make thee honest On that condition we shall soon be friends Drinks Muf. Yes at our meeting in another World Aside For thou hast drunk thy passport out of this Not the Nonacrian fount nor Lethe's Lake Cou'd sooner numb thy nimble faculties Than this to sleep eternal Emp. Now farewel Dorax this was our first quarrel And I dare prophesie will prove our last Exit Emperor with Benducar and the Mufti Dor. It may be so I 'm strangely discompos'd Quick shootings through my limbs and pricking pains Qualms at my heart Convulsions in my nerves Shiv'rings of cold and burnings of my entrails Within my little World make medley War Lose and regain beat and are beaten back As momentary Victors quit their ground Can it be poyson poyson's of one tenour Or hot or cold this neither and yet both Some deadly Draught some enemy of life Boils in my bowels and works out my Soul Ingratitude 's the growth of ev'ry Clime Affrick the Scene remov'd is Portugal Of all Court-service learn the common lot To day 't is done to morrow 't is forgot Oh were that all my honest Corps must lye Expos'd to scorn and publick Infamy My shameful Death will be divulg'd alone The worth and honour of my Soul unknown Exit Scene 2. Is a Night Scene of the Mufti 's Garden where an Arbour is discover'd Enter Antonio Ant. SHE names her self Morayma the Mufti 's only Daughter and a Virgin This is the time and place that she appointed in her letter yet she comes not Why thou sweet delicious Creature why to torture me with thy delay dar'st thou be false to thy Assignation What in the cool and silence of the night and to a new Lover Pox on the Hypocrite thy Father for instructing thee so little in the sweetest point of his Religion Hark I hear the rustling of her Silk Mantle Now she comes now she comes no hang 't that was but the whistling of the wind through the Orange Trees Now again I hear the pit a pat of a pretty foot through the dark Alley No 't is the Son of a Mare that 's broken loose and munching upon the Melons Oh the misery of an expecting Lover Well I 'll e'en despair go into my Arbour and try to sleep in a dream I shall enjoy her in despight of her Goes into the Arbour and lyes down Enter Johayma wrapt up in a Moorish Mantle Joh. Thus far my love has carry'd me almost without my knowledg whither I was going Shall I go on shall I discover my self What an injury am I doing to my old Husband Yet what injury since he 's old and has three Wives and six Concubines besides me 'T is but stealing my own Tythe from him She comes a little nearer the Arbour Antonio raising himself a little and looking At last 't is she this is no illusion I am sure 't is a true She-devil of Flesh and Blood and she cou'd never have taken a fitter time to tempt me Joh. He 's young and handsome Ant. Yes well enough I thank nature Aside Joh. And I am yet neither old nor ugly sure he will not refuse me Ant. No thou mayst pawn thy Maiden-head upon 't he wonnot Aside Joh. The Mufti wou'd feast himself upon other Women and keep me fasting Ant. O the holy Curmudgeon Aside Joh. Wou'd Preach abstinence
a seal'd Paper to the King Untouch'd and Seal'd as when intrusted with me Such I restore it with a trembling hand Lest ought within disturb your peace of Soul Sebast tearing open the Seals Draw near Almeyda thou art most concern'd For I am most in Thee Alonzo mark the Characters Thou know'st my Fathers hand observe it well And if th'Impostors Pen have made one slip That shows it Counterfeit mark that and save me Dorax It looks indeed too like my Masters hand So does the Signet more I cannot say But wish 't were not so like Sebast Methinks it owns The black Adult'ry and Almeyda's birth But such a mist of grief comes o're my eyes I cannot or I wou'd not read it plain Alm. Hea'vn cannot be more true than this is false Sebast O Coud'st thou prove it with the same assurance Speak hast thou ever seen my Fathers hand Alm. No but my Mothers honour has been read By me and by the world in all her Acts In Characters more plain and legible Then this dumb Evidence this blotted lye Oh that I were a man as my Soul 's one To prove thee Traytor an Assassinate Of her fair same thus wou'd I tear thee thus Tearing the Paper And scatter o're the field thy Coward limbs Like this foul offspring of thy forging brain Scatt'ring the Paper Alv. Just so shalt thou be torn from all thy hopes For know proud Woman know in thy despight The most Authentique proof is still behind Thou wear'st it on thy finger 't is that Ring Which match'd with that on his shall clear the doubt 'T is no dumb forgery for that shall speak And sound a rattling peal to eithers Conscience Seb. This Ring indeed my Father with a cold And shaking hand just in the pangs of Death Put on my finger with a parting sigh And wou'd have spoke but falter'd in his speech With undistinguish'd sounds Alv. I know it well For I was present Now Almeyda speak And truly tell us how you come by yours Alm. My Mother when I parted from her sight To go to Portugall bequeath'd it to me Presaging she shou'd never see me more She pull'd it from her finger shed some tears Kiss'd it and told me 't was a pledge of Love And hid a Mistery of great Importance Relating to my Fortunes Alv. Mark me now While I disclose that fatall Mistery Yhose rings when you were born and thought anothers Tour Parents glowing yet in sinfull love Bid me bespeak a Curious Artist wrought 'em With joynts so close as not to be perceiv'd Yet are they both each others Counterpart Her part had Juan inscrib'd and his had Zayda You know those names are theirs and in the midst A heart divided in two halves was plac'd Now if the rivets of those Rings inclos'd Fit not each other I have forg'd this lye But if they joyn you must for ever part Seb Seb. pulling off his Ring Alm. does the same and gives it to Alv. who unscrues both the Rings fits one half to the other Now life or death Alm. And either thine or ours Alm. I 'm lost for ever swoons The Women and Morayma take her up and carry her off Seb. here stands amaz'd without motion his eyes fixt upward Seb. Look to the Queen my Wife For I am past All Pow'r of Aid to her or to my self Alv. His Wife said he his Wife O fatall sound For had I known it this unwelcome news Had never reach'd their ears So they had still been blest in Ignorance And I alone unhappy Dor. I knew it but too late and durst not speak Seb. starting out of his amazement I will not live no not a moment more I will not add one moment more to Incest I 'le cut it off and end a wretched being For should I live my Soul 's so little mine And so much hers that I should still enjoy Ye Cruell Powers Take me as you have made me miserable You cannot make me guilty 't was my fate And you made that not I. Draws his Sword Antonio and Alv. lay hold on him and Dorax wrests the Sword out of his hand An. For Heav'ns sake hold and recollect your mind Alvarez Consider whom you punish and for what Your self unjustly You have charg'd the fault On Heav'n that best may bear it Though Incest is indeed a deadly Crime You are not guilty since unknown 't was done And known had been abhorr'd Seb. By Heaven y 're Traytours all that hold my hands If death be but cessation of our thought Then let me dye for I would think no more I 'le boast my Innocence above And let 'em see a Soul they cou'd not sully I shall be there before my Fathers Ghost That yet must languish long in frosts and fires For making me unhappy by his Crime struggling again Stand off and let me take my fill of death For I can hold my breath in your despight And swell my heaving Soul out when I please Alv. Heav'n comfort you Seb. What art thou given comfort Wou'dst thou give comfort who hast giv'n despair Thou seest Alonzo silent he 's a man He knows that men abandon'd of their hopes Shou'd ask no leave nor stay for sueing out A tedious Writ of ease from lingring Heaven But help themselves as timely as they cou'd And teach the fates their duty Dorax to Alv. and Anto. Let him go He is our King and he shall be obey'd Alv. What to destroy himself O Parricide Dor. Be not Injurious in your foolish zeal But leave him free or by my sword I swear To hew that Arm away that stops the passage To his Eternal rest Anto. letting go his hold Let him be Guilty of his own death if he pleases for I 'le not be guilty of mine by holding him The King shakes off Alvarez Alvarez to Dorax Infernal Fiend Is this a Subjects part Dor. 'T is a Friends Office He has convinc'd me that he ought to dye And rather than he should not here 's my sword To help him on his Journey Seb. My last my only Friend how kind art thou And how Inhuman these Dor. To make the trifle death a thing of moment Seb. And not to weigh th' Important cause I had To rid my self of life Dor. True for a Crime So horrid in the face of Men and Angells As wilfull Incest is Seb. Not wilfull neither Dor. Yes if you liv'd and with repeated Acts Refresh'd your Sin and loaded crimes with crimes To swell your scores of Guilt Seb. True if I liv'd Dor. I said so if you liv'd Seb. For hitherto ' was fatall ignorance And no intended crime Dor That you best know But the Malicious World will judge the worst Alv. O what a Sophister has Hell procur'd To argue for Damnation Dor. Peace old Dotard Mankind that always judge of Kings with malice Will think he knew this Incest and pursu'd it His only way to rectify mistakes And to redeem her honour is to dye Seb. Thou hast