Maiestie Goodnesse gets not so soone a great Estate Mischiefe's foule way to Soueraignity This secret haste is sure all is imbound What shall I do Hold on the course I meant Why not The death of Mahomet will still content Thy will is done and Mahomet is slaine Alaham. My minde misgaue it selfe my thoughts did feare Yet knew I they of nothing guilty were By fate or malice is the Bassha slaine Caine. By fate I thinke for Iustice fatall is As Gods bequest to them that doe amisse Alaham. By suddaine death by thunder lightning fire Or by what other anger of the skie I pray thee shew how Mahomet did die Caine. By these hands that owe seruice to the State And by his blood haue made it fortunate Alaham. What execration did he dying vse Against this violence of broken faith Which wounds good soules more than the bodies death Caine. In falling downe these only words he spake Helpe people helpe My death your bondage brings Behold these wounds receiue I for your sake Reward of them that friend you vnder Kings Vile Caine that like the Axe do'st goe about To cut thy selfe an helue to weare thee out Alaham. Most wicked act Could neither faith nor law Reuerence of State remorse of doing ill The paines of iustice nor the hopes withdraw Thy raging hand And do'st thou thinke the world can suffer this That thou should'st glory to haue done amisse Caine. Is thy desire growne wanton in her ioy Or do'st thou seeme to say thy wishes nay More kindly in the end with them to play Alaham. By fires of hell which burne and haue no light By those foule spirits which ill men only see I sweare thy death shall Mahomets requite Caine. Vnto the world although I guilty be I did thy will let me be cleare to thee Alaham. In vaine I should command his death by sleights That placed am vpon the fathers seat Where power can easlier doe things than intreat Caine. The State of Kings is large yet lacks in this That easie each thing but not lawfull is Besides you then a second brother were Nor knew I when this plot we did deuise You should see clearer by your fathers eyes Alaham. Rumor complaints and scornfull thoughts of power Are wayes of priuate hearts that from below Misiudge those higher powers they doe not know But now borne vp into a Princes Throne Beneath I see that world of discontent Where error teacheth vse of punishment Away with him Entreatie is in vaine Thy death to him is due whom thou hast slaine Caine. Ah fearefull friendships with superior powers Whose two parts they themselues and their Estates Diuide or ioyne like nets and be the snare Where loue and feare to power entrapped are Alaham aduow thy deed To constant wickednesse men honour beare Where truth it selfe hath iniurie by feare Alaham. I say Let him be slaine His fault is this That Mahomet most trayterously he slew Caine. Stay Sir I say that he still liuing is And my confession of my selfe vntrue Alaham. Traytor vnto thy selfe and false to me What riddles of contempt and wickednesse Are these which of thy selfe confessed be If Mahomet be dead then shalt thou die For murther of thy friend deserues no lesse If Mahomet do liue yet shalt thou die For if no murther scorne thou do'st confesse Away with him Actus tertius Scena tertia Hala Alaham HAla. What tumult 's this my Lord Alah. The play of Chance Which without mischiefe nothing can aduance Hala. Yet good Sir tell me what this tumult is Alaham. The fall of him whose heart hath done amisse Hala. His name and crime sweet Lord I long to know Alaham. Report of mischiefe doth infect the heart And wisdome bids they should in silence goe For nature feeleth euery bodies smart Hala. Women belike are still in infancy That must not feare or prouocation see The glasse of horror is not fact but feare Opinion is a Tyrant euery where Alaham. If I shall tell you what you long to know What boots it If you thinke it is not so Hala. What leades your reason leades my reason too That all your words conceiue in kindnesse doe Alaham. The man that was and is not now is he That neuer was the man he seem'd to be Caine What need more to shew with him are dead His fault and our goodwills to him mislead Hala. What heare I now O false and weake estate Of good beleefe Wherin shall peace be found Since Gods be not and mankinde made to hate Caine dead Euen Caine whom now we loued best In instants both growne wicked and opprest Caine slaine by you Hath Caine deserued this O God! Like strange his crime and killing is Perchance not dead my Lord how was he slaine Alaham. By sword Hala. Wounds let forth spirits yet liue againe Alaham. Nay dead he is These eyes did see his breath Beare all his spirits into the world of death Hala. Necessity that from infernall night Fatally linked art vnto the skies Beare thee we cannot yet we beare thee must Now hopes appeare euen now my heart resolues Reuenge and silence is the way to it Did he confesse his fault What spake he last Alaham. Ah Mahomet whose hopes were on me plac'd Hala. Hasty beleefe my Lord hath hasty deeds And with their wounds oft truth and wisdome bleeds Alaham. When wickednesse is ripe a minute showes What chance the dice of Innocency throwes Hala. Pardon me Lord Good thoughts doe liue aboue In highest region of vnfeined loue Doubt and reuenge Nature hath plac'd below Meaning the space should make the passage slow Alaham. God meaning we should rule and you obey Gaue men cleare sight and women good affection In vs not in your selues lies your election Hala. My Lord 'T is true Our frayle and weake Estate Doth labor in excesse A womans heart Still in the feuer is of loue or hate Hardly the loue which I did be are to Caine Could thinke he err'd much lesse approue him slaine But now his falls approu'd by heauenly doome Our losse in him foretells our gaine to come Then Sir Take care his death be not in vaine Your sillie Sire is blinde if he were dead This reeling State by you might stand againe True ioy is onely hope put out of seare And honour hideth error euery where A forme the world expects in worldly things Caine was a man a Bassha and our friend Sepulture as a man honor to his estate Teares doe become a guilty friendships end Excesse of honour done to them that die Makes liuing men see our humanity Besides thought-feeding rumor forth will goe And occupie vnquiet peoples spirits While in this pile for Caine you may bestow Their blinded weaknesse which with-hold your right People doe power not persons apprehend Strength showes like truth Mankinde loues policie Defended Kings but not reuenged be Alaham. Enuy will rise and both wayes fall on vs Either as hauing slaine an innocent Or highly err'd by burying treason thus In penall
and multiplies the spirits Care and desire doe vnder anguish cease Doubt curious is affecting piety Woe loues it selfe feare from it selfe would flie Doe not these trembling motions witnesse beare That all these protestations be of feare Celica. If ought be quicke in me moue it with scorne Nothing can come amisse to thoughts forlorne Alah. Confesse in time Reuenge is mercilesse Celica. Reward and paine feare and desire too Are vaine in things impossible to doe Alah. Tell yet where thou thy Father last didst see Celica. Euen where he by his losse of eyes hath wonne That he no more shall see his monstrous Sonne First in perpetuall night thou mad'st him goe His flesh the graue his life the stage where sense Playes all the Tragedies of paine and woe And wouldst thou trayterosly thy selfe exceed By seeking thus to make his Ghost to bleed Alah. Beare her away deuise adde to the racke Torments that both call death and turne it backe Celica. The flattering glasse of Power is others paine Perfect thy worke that heauen and hell may know To worse I cannot going from thee goe Eternall life that euer liu'st aboue If sense there be with thee of hate or loue Reuenge my King and Fathers ouerthrow O Father if that name reach vp so high And be more than a proper word of Art To teach respects in our humanity Accept these paines wherof you feele no smart Actus quartus Scena Quarta King Alaham KIng What sound is this of Celica's distresse Alaham wrong not a silly sisters faith 'T is plague enough that she is innocent My child thy sister borne by thee and me With shame and sinne to haue affinity Breake me I am the prison of thy thought Crownes deare enough with fathers blood are bought Alah. Now feele thou shalt thou ghost vnnaturall Those wounds which thou to my heart then didst giue When in despite of God this State and me Thou did'st from death mine elder brother free The smart of Kings oppression doth not die Time rusteth malice rust wounds cruelly King Flatter thy wickednesse adorne thy rage To weare a Crowne teare vp thy Fathers age Kill not thy sister It is lacke of wit To doe an ill that brings no good with it Alah. Goe lead them hence Prepare the funerall Hasten the sacrifice and pompe of woe Where she did hide him thither let them goe King O God! who mad'st those lawes which this Wretch breaks Let parents blood this curse vpon him bring That he who of a child breakes all respect May in his children finde the same neglect CHORVS QVARTVS of People LIke as strong windes doe worke vpon the Sea Stirring and tossing waues to warre each other So Princes doe with Peoples humors play As if Confusion were the Scepters mother But Crownes take heed when humble things mount high The windes oft calme before those billowes lie When we are all wrong'd had we all one minde Whom could you punish what could you reserue Againe as hope and feare distract mankinde Knew Kings their strength our freedome were to serue But Fate doth to her selfe reserue both these With each to punish other when it please Grant that we be the stuffe for Princes art By and on it to build their Thrones aboue vs Yet if Kings be the head we be the heart And know we loue no soule that doth not loue vs Mens many passions iudge the worst at length And they that doe so easily know their strength With bruit and rumor as with hope and feare You lay vs low or lift vs from our earth You trie what nature what our States can beare By law you bind the liberties of birth Making the People bellowes vnto Fame Which vshers heauy doomes with euill name Kings gouerne People ouer-racke them not Fleece vs but doe not clippe vs to the quicke Thinke not with good and ill to write and blot The good doth vanish where the ill doth sticke Hope not with trifles to grow popular Wounds that are heal'd for euer leaue a scarre To offer People showes makes vs too great Princes descend not keep your selues aboue The Sunne drawes not our browes vp but our sweat Your safest racke to winde vs vp is Loue To maske your vice in pompes is vainly done Motes lie not hidden in beames of a Sunne The stampe of Soueraignty makes currant Home brasse to buy or sell as well as gold Yet marke the Peoples standard is the warrant What man ought not to doe and what he should Of words we are the Grammar and of deeds The haruest both is ours and eke the seeds We are the glasse of Power and doe reflect That Image backe which it to vs presents If Princes flatter straight we doe neglect If they be fine we see yet seeme content Nor can the Throne which Monarchs doe liue in Shaddow Kings faults or sanctifye their sinne Make not the Church to vs an instrument Of bondage to your selues of libertie Obedience there confirmes your Gouernment Our Soueraignes Gods Subalternes you be Else while Kings fashion God in humane light Men see and skorne what is not Infinite Make not the end of Iustice Checquer-gaine It is the Liberality of Kings Oppression and Extortion euer raigne When Lawes looke more on Scepters than on things Make crooked that line which you measure by And marre the fashion straight of Monarchie Why doe you then prophane your Royall line Which we hold sacred and dare not approach Their wounds and wrongs proue you are not diuine And we learne by example to encroch Your Fathers losse of eyes foretells his end By craft which lets downe Princes we ascend How shall the People hope how stay their feare When old foundations daily are made new Vncertaine is a heauy loade to beare What is not constant sure was neuer true Excesse in one makes all indefinite Where nothing is our owne there what delight Kings then take heed Men are the bookes of fate Wherein your vices deep engrauen lye To shew our God the griefe of euery State And though great bodies do not straightwaies die Yet know Your errors haue this proper doome Euen in our ruine to prepare your tombe Actus Quintus Scena Prima Alaham alone ALaham. Chance now congratulates This is indeed A Princely worke and fashions nature new To sacrifice the liuing to the dead And with reuenge be to a Kingdome led My father brother sister and my King All slaine for me Obedience Duty Loue Your followers to such height when do you bring Now Hala's Present this Triumphant Robe Shewes all Estates things reall humors lawes Yea Wiues themselues owe homage vnto might Iustice in Kings cannot be definite Hala who stroue by strength of wit and passion To change inforce deceiue or vndermine Me as a Man yet to a Princes place Humbles her pride and striues to purchase grace When I ordain'd this maske and first decreed A specious death for Prince and Parent too I felt once tendernesse that euill weed Which some call
in Hala sometimes breed remorse At least a doubt that euill hath no force Thou makest Caine in vndertaking slow Who must to serue thy turne like goodnesse show Those Scenes still tedious are those Acts too long Where thy vnresolute Images be strong For while you feare your true tormentor Shame I swallow all at once with honors name Then glory not since where thy links excell There we inlarge not but contract our hell Corrupt reason Peace you base Subalterns and striue no more That but the Carriers be of my rich store Perchance you thinke me th' obiect of you all And so no Furie but the Furies thrall Where I giue forme and stuffe to make you worse And so become your Lord and not your Nurse I breake the banks of dutie honor faith And subiect am to no power but to death Charge me I grant Delayes grow out of wit And are not all your false webs wrought by it To time I haue respect to person place I crosse my selfe to giue my owne acts grace I am Base to you all and so the chiefe Equall with truth where I finde good beleefe I beare the weight of feare the rage of lust With selfe-loue enuy malice left in trust I calme Mans windy pride distempered rage Giuing to each a shape for euery age Wrong I attire in purple robes of might That State may helpe it to be infinite And who is fitter here to rule you all Than I that giue you being by my fall Know therfore all you shadow-louing Spirits Who haue no being but in mans demerits That infinite desires and finite power At once can neuer all mankinde deuoure Though men be all ours and all we but one The vice yet cannot build or stand alone Be it mans weaknesse that doth interrupt Or some power else that cannot be corrupt Or be there what there may be else aboue Which may and will maintaine her owne by loue Yet haue we scope enough to marre this State And to the euer being what is late As men in your names image vglinesse To checke beloued childrens wantonnesse When they would haue them doe things or for beare And call you when they know you are not there So I enammell your deformity Making all your excesses like to me And that you may beleeue this to be true We are not like For what am I but you Euill Spirits Reason You marre our Mart by coueting Not to be equall with vs but our King For though you now like Romane Augurs be Who but your staffe haue no true mysterie Yet doe you striue to rule adde or diminish And idly so protract what we could finish Else how could Alaham or Hala stay So long from making to our ends a way Lusts open face this Age will easily beare And hope here currant is to all but feare Wrong needs no veile where times doe tyrannize And what but lacke of heart is then vnwise Age hath descri'd those toyes to be but name Which in the worlds youth did beare reall fame Iustice Religion Honour Humblenesse Shaddowes which not well mixt make beauty lesse They helpe to smother not inlarge our fire By putting painted maskes on mans desire And giue time to vnactiue Theorie Which rage it selfe would not doe were it free So that we Circe-like change men to beasts Which beasts turne men againe Too base a crest For vs that would quite banish doing well And so at once change heauen and earth to hell In which course who doth well obserue each part Shall finde mankinde to haue so strange a heart As being all ill yet no one ill serues To worke him to that mischiefe he deserues Feare hope desire loue courage being mixt So nicely in him as none can be fixt Which is our glorie as for euery state To haue a Tempter fitted and a fate A feare in Great men still to lose their might And in the meane ambition infinite Truth in the witty held but as a notion Honor the Old mans God the Youths promotion All which opposing powers yet doe agree To worke corruption in humanity Then on This time is ours What need we haste Since till time ends our raigne is sure to last Actus tertius Scena prima ALAHAM alone ALaham. I march aboue the wits and hearts of men Chance at my feet and power in my hand Now King indeed Obedience doth become Men that can strength by wisdome ouercome It honour was euen worthy more than Crownes To passe the Basshas in aduenturing They were possest I dispossest of all But liberty to liue or dye a thrall Truth was in vaine no peecing vp with might For me I saw I had too good a cause Counsell is slow each minute infinite When resolution to her ripenesse drawes I saw corruption was the way to rise And with that shot I pierc'd their tyrannies Their guard I did corrupt Base seruile spirits I knew lackt wit to see or heart to beare Temptation For desire is infinite In them that wanting honour cannot feare Triall is made The King I doe possesse My right is more why should my hope be lesse And am I King And doe my foes still liue Can wounded Greatnesse slumber in a Throne Or that be glory which I feele alone No No Let rigour speake which all men heare Life is the worke of Nature death of Kings Ruine it is that reputation brings My Guard is strong their first imployment is The murther of those men my father trusts Not all for that were cruelty not wit Some simple being some indifferent sp'rits Their ends and honours being but delights Others ambitious rash and violent No inward strength of nature or of grace Of present power the noblest instruments Transforme and vse wit vertue doth exceed For it is all or none as men haue need Only my care is how the Plot should proue Which for the Basshas now in ambush lies My wife hath art and rage which iointly moue Her head-strong spirits vnto cruelties But if her craft serue not to plucke them downe The sword wants not pretences for the Crowne My friends and Mates You vpon whom I lay My life and honour with this State in trust Be resolute For scruple doth betray Since all great works haue great examples must Take Assem Zeraphus and Velladoune Blood asketh blood with rauine they did spoyle The people first and now betray the Crowne Reuenge your parents Countrey-men and kin Blood here is iust true honor and no sinne The cancred Calchas scourge of Tyrannies Great master of deceipt Artisan of spoyle The spie of faults and spring of subsidies Naked deliuer him into the Sea To plague those faults it cannot wash away The rest to bonds who though they want no spite Their frailty yet for innocence shall stand All else exile Obey in euery thing They happy are that serue a rising King Actus tertius Scena secunda Caine Alaham CAine Plac'd in a Throne Guarded Ador'd and Crownd What meanes this change These signes of
alone Though fear'd sought and a King to liue vnknowne Celica all these to thee doe thou bestow This liuing darknesse wherein I doe goe Celica. My soule now ioyes Doing breathes horrour out Absence must be our first sleppe Let vs fly A pawse in rage makes Alaham to doubt Which doubt may stirre in people hope and feare With loue or hate to seeke you euery where For Princes liues are fortunes miserie As dainty sparks which till men dead doe know To kindle for himselfe each man doth blow But harke What 's this Malice doth neuer sleepe I heare the Spies of power drawing neere Sir follow me Misfortunes worst is come Her strength is change and change yeelds better doome Choice now is past Hard by there is a pile Built vnder colour of a sacrifice If God doe grant it is a place to saue If God denies it is a ready graue Actus quartus Scena secunda Zophi Celica Zophi. Where am I now All things are silent here What shall I doe Goe on from place to place Not knowing what to trust or whom to feare Yet what should I not feare that liue to know Rights Kingdomes parents all my ouerthrow Are these the specious hopes of Princes heires Is Right still subIect to aspiring wit Haue they that stand by Princes more despaires Than they that doe supplant annoynted heires Is expectation nothing else in me But woes fore-runner to make deepe impression By these surprises of aduersity Are these the glorious triumphs of this day Absent in presence banisht in recalling A Throne a tombe a Prince become a prey Ah cruell false ambitious thirst of State Bloody-like rage but more reuengefull still Because their ends doe more inflame their will My rights and hopes I giue and doe forgiue Wrong take the world let me enIoy my selfe Scorn'd blind I cannot harme Ah! let me liue Let power despise My needlesse guiltlesse blood The strength of feare The losse of all things but of life can beare Celica. What see I here More spectacles of woe And are my kinred only made to be Agents and Patients in iniquity Ah forlorne wretch ruines example right Lost to thy selfe not to thy enemie Whose hand euen while thou fliest thou fal'st into And with thy fall thy father do'st vndoe Saue one I may Nature would saue them both But Chance hath many wheeles Rage many eyes What shall I then abandon innocents Not helpe a helplesse brother throwne on me Is nature narrow to aduersity No No Our God left duty for a law Pittie at large Loue in authority Despaire in bonds feare of it selfe in awe That rage of time and powers strange liberty Oppressing good men might resistance finde Nor can I to a brother be lesse kinde Do'st thou that canst not see hope to escape Disgrace can haue no friend contempt no guide Right is thy guilt thy Iudge iniquity Which desolation casts on them that see Zophi. Make calme thy rage pittie a ghost distrest My right my liberty I freely giue Giue him that neuer harm'd thee leaue to liue Celica. Nay God the World thy Parents it denie A brothers iealous heart vsurped might Growes friends with all the world except thy right Zophi. Secure thy selfe Exile me from this coast My fault suspition is my Iudge is feare Occasion with my selfe away I beare Celica. Fly vnto God For in humanity Hope there is none Reach me thy fearfull hand I am thy sister neither fiend nor spie Of Tyrants rage but one that feeles despaire Of thy Estate which thou do'st only feare Kneele downe embrace this holy mystery A refuge to the worst for rape and blood And yet I feare not hallowed for the good Zophi. Helpe God! defend thine Altar since thy might In earth leaues Innocence no other right Celica. Eternall God! that seest thy selfe in vs If vowes be more than sacrifice of lust Rays'd from the smokes of hope and feare in vs Protect this innocent calme Alahams rage By miracles faith goes from age to age Affection trembles reason is opprest Nature methinkes doth her owne entrayles teare In resolution ominous is feare Actus quartus Scena tertia Alaham Celica ALaham. Sirs seeke the City examine torture racke Sanctuaries none let there be make darknesse knowne Pull downe the roofes digge burne put all to wracke And let the guiltlesse for the guilty grone Change shame misfortune in their scaping lie And in their finding our prosperity Good fortune Welcome we haue lost our care And found our losse Celica distract I see The King is neere She is her fathers eyes Behold the forlorne wretch halfe of my feare Takes Sanctuary at holy Altars feet Lead him apart examine force and try These binde the subiect not the Monarchy Celica awake that God of whom you craue Is deafe and only giues men what they haue Celica. Ah cruell wretch guilty of parents blood Might I poore innocent my father free My murther yet were lesse impiety But on deuoure feare only to be good Let vs not scape thy glory then doth rise When thou at once thy house do'st sacrifice Alaham. Tell me where thy Father is Celic. O bloody scorne Must he be kill'd againe that gaue thee breath Is duty nothing else in thee but death Alaham. Leaue off this maske deceipt is neuer wise Though he be blind a King hath many eyes Celica. O twofold scorne God be reueng'd for me Yet since my Father is destroy'd by thee Adde still more scorne it sorrow multiplies Alaham. Passions are learn'd not borne within the heart That method keepe Order is quiets art Tell where he is For looke what loue conceales Paine out of Natures Labyrinths reueales Celica. This is reward which thou do'st threaten me If terrour thou wilt threaten promise ioyes Alah. Smart cooles these boyling stiles of vanity Celica. And if my Father I no more shall see Helpe me vnto the place where he remaines To hell below or to the skie aboue The way is easie where the guide is loue Alah. Confesse where is he hid Celica. Racke not my woe Thy glorious pride of this vnglorious deed Doth mischiefe ripe and therefore falling show Alah. Bodies haue place and blindnesse must be led Graues be the Thrones of Kings when they be dead Celica. He was Vnhappy cause that thou art now Thou art ah wicked cause that he is not And fear'st thou Parricide can be forgot Beare witnesse Thou Almighty God on high And you blacke Powers inhabiting below That for his life my selfe would yeeld to die Alah. Well Sirs Goe seeke the darke and secret caues The holy Temples sanctified Cells All parts wherein a liuing corps may dwell Celica. Seeke him amongst the dead you plac'd him there Yet lose no paines good Soules goe not to hell And but to heauen you may goe euery where Guilty with you of his blood let me be If any more I of my Father know Than that he is where you would haue him goe Alah. Teare vp the vaults behold her agonies Sorrow substracts
ALAHAM THE SPEAKERS NAMES The old King Alahams second Son Caine Bassha Priest Nuntius Zophi the eldest Sonne Hala Alahams wife Mahomet Bassha Caelica the old Kings daughter Nutrix PROLOGVS The speach of a Ghost one of the old Kings of Ormus HOV Monster horrible vnder whose vgly doome Downe in Eternities perpetuall night Mans temporall sinnes beare torments infinite For change of desolation must I come To tempt the earth and to prophane the light From mournefull silence where paine dares not rore With libertie to multiplie it more Nor from the lothsome puddle Acheron Made foule with common sinnes whose filthie dampes Feed Lethes sinke forgetting all but mone Nor from that fowle infernall shaddowed Lampe Which lighteth Sisiphus to rowle his stone These be but bodies plagues the skirts of hell I come from whence deathes seate doth death excell A place there is vpon no centre placed Deepe vnder depthes as farre as is the skie Aboue the earth darke infinitely spaced Pluto the King the Kingdome miserie The Chrystall may Gods glorious seate resemble Horror it selfe these horrors but dissemble Priuation would raigne there by God not made But creature of vncreated sinne Whose being is all beings to inuade To haue no ending though it did beginne And so of past things present and to come To giue depriuing not tormenting doome But horror in the vnderstanding mixt And memorie by Eternities seale wrought Vnto the bodies of the euill fixt And into reason by our passion brought Here rackt torne and exil'd from vnitie Though come from nothing must for euer be The sinnes that enter here are capitall Atheisme where creatures their Creator lose Vnthankfull Pride nature and graces fall Mate of Mankinde in Man vnnaturall Hypocrites which bodies leaue and shadowes chose The persons either Kings by fortune blest Or men by nature made Kings of the rest Here Tyrants that corrupt authoritie Councell'd out of the feares of wickednesse Cunning in mischiefe prowd in crueltie Are furies made to plague the weaker ghosts Whose soules entising pleasure only lost The weaker Kings whose more vnconstant vice Their States vnto their humors made a prey For suffering more then Kings to Tyrannise Are damn'd though here to be yet not to stay For backe they goe to tempt with euery sinne As easiest it the world may enter in My selfe sometimes was such Ormus my state I bare the name yet did my Basshas raigne Trusts to few windowes are vnfortunate For Subiects growing full is Princes wane Loe all misdeeds procure their owne misfate For by my trusted Basshas was I slaine Now sent to teare downe my posteritie That haue their sinnes inheritance from me My first charge is the ruine of mine owne Hell keeping knowledge still of earthlinesse None coming there but spirits ouergrowne And more embodied into wickednesse The bodie by the spirit liuing euer The spirit in the body ioying neuer In heauen perchance no such affections be Those Angell-soules in flesh imprisoned Like strangers liuing in Mortalitie Still more and more themselues enspirited Refining Nature to Eternity By being maids in earths adulterous bed And idly forget all here below Where we our parents but to plague them know My next charge is from this darke Regiment With wiles to scourge this age effeminate Not open force or humors violent Time fashions mindes mindes manners manners fate Here rage giues place wit must rule ill intent Proud honor being an ill for this State Too strong sleight must misleade the innocent Craft the corrupt For though none dare be iust Yet coward ill with care grow wicked must This present King weake both in good and ill Louing his trust and trusting but his ghesse Shall perish in his owne faiths wantonnesse Betray'd by Alaham whom he know'th ill Yet to beware lackes actiue constantnesse A destinie of well-beleeuing wit That hath not strength of iudgement ioyn'd with it Alaham his sonne fond of the fathers Throne Desire his idoll libertie his might As ouerborne with error infinite Shall finde that fate all secret faults can hit For he that for himselfe would ruine all Shall perish in his craft vnnaturall Hala his wife diuerse and strong in lust Liberall out of selfe-loue of error proud When shamelesse craft and rage haue seru'd her turne In prides vainglorious martyrdome shall burne Zophi the eldest Sonne whose reason is With frailty drown'd and sillinesse confus'd Borne but to liue and yet denied this So well knowes power what spirits may be abus'd Becomes the prey of factious craftie wit Which stirres that ruine vp which ruines it Caine Bassha like the clouds who liue in ayre Th' orbe of natures constant inconstancie Now fame now shame shall in his fortune beare His vice and vertue still in infancy Change for his wisdome and chance for his ends Harm'd by his hopes and ruin'd by his friends Mahomet with honor faine would change the tide Of times corrupt here stopping violence There contermining craft and pleading right But reason sworne in generall to sense Makes honor bondage iustice an offence Till liberty that faire deceiuing light Turnes mischiefe to an humor popular Where good men catch'd in nets of dutie are Caelica because in flesh no seedes are sowne Of heauenly grace but they must bring vp weedes Death in her fathers murther she affects Seduc'd by glory whose excesse still feedes It selfe vpon the barren steepes of mone For humane wit wants power to diuide Wherby affections into error slide Heli the priest who teaching from without Corrupted faith bound vnder lawes of might Not feeling God yet blowing him about In euery shape and likenesse but the right Seeking the world finds change there ioyn'd with chance To ruine those whom error would advance Now marke your charge Each fury worke his part In senselesse webs of mischiefe ouerthwart You are not now to worke on priuate thoughts One instant is your time to alter all Corruption vniuersall must be wrought Impossible to you is naturall Plots and effects together must be brought Mischiefe and shame at once must spring and fall Vse more than power of man to bring forth that Which it is meant all men shall wonder at Craft Go thou forth worke honor into lust Malice Sow in selfe-loue vnworthinesse Feare Make it safe for no man to be iust Wrong Be thou clothed in powers comelinesse Wit Play with faith take glory in mistrust Let duty and Religion goe by ghesse Furies Stirre you vp warre which follow must When all things are corrupt with doublenesse From vice to vice let error multiply With vncouth sinnes murthers adulteries Incorporate all kindes of iniquity Translate the State to forraigne Tyrannies Keepe downe the best and let the worst haue power That warre and hell may all at once deuoure Actus I. Scena I. ALAHAM HELI. ALaham. Thou coward soule Why standst thou doubting now Why to and fro The dice of chance are cast Counsells of law of shame of loue are past Thinke what the worst haue done what they enioy That
iustice silence best contents Hala. Rumor must needs be borne of doing mindes Enuy is but the smoke of low estate Ascending still against the fortunate Alaham. I feare the cariage it hath many parts And Hazards courses may finde ouerthwarts Hala. My shame is equally engag'd with yours Intents ill carried are that men may know When things are done let rumor freely goe Alaham. Great works doe oft yeeld grieuous accidents Which stirre vp peoples rage beyond intents Hala. People are superstitious caught with showes To power why doe they else their freedome giue But that in others pompe these shadowes liue Alaham. O blessed yoke that vnder reason drawes The pleasant load of well-vnited loue Thy counsell as mine owne I doe approue Hala. Then send the Priest To me bequeath the rest For superstition hides ill meaning best Actus Tertius Scena Quarta Hala Nutrix HAla. And is he gone Rage then vnprisoned be I like thee well While Alaham was there Thou then didst vse thy violence on me Now prey abroad swell aboue all respect Feare nothing if notorious thou wilt raigne Thy glories shine when euery one complaine What now A child And do'st thou idly walke The beaten pathes of common cruelty A iudge and no reuenger then am I If thou no more than his offences be While Caine did liue thou thought'st of more than this Shall death desire hope fame and fortunes lost Such fading Trophies haue Can thankfulnesse abound And shall offense Not feele Reuenge hath her magnificence Rage now thou art aboue the Orbe of doubt Where danger dangerlesse appeares to thee Diuine I pray thee what shall fall to me Must I be slaine Nutrix Monstrous I know this womans nature is The worst she still her selfe she now exceeds That dares scarce trust her selfe with that she breeds Hala. Well! now I feele thee rise when I admire When hills haue clouds let all the vallies feare Scorn'st thou to make examples out of him Hast thou found out his children They are mine Proud horrour Do'st thou chuse the innocent False conqueror of nature do'st thou moue A womans spite to spoyle a mothers loue Rage shall we striue which shall giue other place Nutrix Hala suppresse you need not kindle Rage Hala. Well! On So that like ruine I may fall And ruine him take children me and all Nutrix Hala distract haue senses lost their vse Hala. Is there a third that traffiketh abuse Nutrix I bring you pietie dutie reason loue Water to quench these flames that passions moue Hala. Throw on enough No Sea can quench this flame And then what cannot quench doth but inflame Nutrix For whom doe you this sumptuous storme prepare Hala. For whom are wiues estates inioyn'd to care Nutrix Is malice currant where respect is due Hala. Power doth what likes in her inferiors moue As we are sess'd so pay we hate or loue Nutrix What fault in him mou'd these effects in you Hala. Thoughts are too strict much lesse can words containe The venome of his malice is too deepe For any power but Reuenge to keepe Nutrix Then Rage is lost For there is nought in man That equall paine with such offenses can Hala. Be that the gage Mans senses barren were If they could apprehend but what they feele Ills doe with place like Numbers multiply The liuing dead malice affection feare My wombe and I doe his affliction beare Nutrix Will you destroy your owne Hala. My owne are his Nutrix Infamous act Hala. Rage doth but now begin Nutrix Canst thou doe worse Hala. Else to my selfe I sinne Life is too short horrour exceeds not faith That cannot plague offences after death Nutrix Ah! Calme this storme these vgly torrents shunne Of Rage which drowne thy selfe and all besides Hala. Furies no more irregularly runne But arted Teach confusion to diuide Nutrix If kinde be disinherited in thee Yet haue compassion of this Orphane State Hala. That is the worke which men shall wonder at For while his ruin'd are yet mine shall raigne His heires but yet true issue vnto Caine Nutrix These works on Princes ruines must be built Hala. For my reuenge no baser blood is spilt Nutrix What force can Princes forces ouer-beare Hala. That force which makes their pride it cannot feare Nutrix How enters malice where there is mistrust Hala. With tribute into State to Kings with lust Nutrix What way to these Hala. Prosperity successe Nutrix These adde more power Hala. So much suspect the lesse Nutrix What can you adde Hala. Presents obedience praise They need not knocke to enter in that please Nutrix Flatteries are plaine Hala. To Kings that see their ill Nut. Kings iealous are Hala. Of truth not of their will Nutrix Vsurpers feare Hala. Worth not humilitie Kings errors are our Agents in their hearts Their priuate passions wound their publike States Time hath her arguments and place her Arts This day he doth consummate all his ioy Glory now at the Full is not suspitious And what addes to his pompe shall him destroy A Crowne and Mantle of most curious worke I haue prepar'd euen with Egyptian skill And poyson him in pleasing him I will Nutrix My spirits fayle Hala. Till Alahams ills doe tremble Horrour is faint Rage doth but Rage resemble Depart keep secret and be not dismayd Vnperfect works cannot their glories show This goodly World did from a Chaos grow Exit Nutrix Now Caine For whose reuenge I only liue Inspire thy ghost to multiply in me More sense to make my senses more enrag'd More loue to make loues losses more in thee Double my wit beyond my strength engag'd Open all lights of possibility Let griefe which yet keepes companie with death Breake forth and poyson all things with her breath Actus tertius Scena quinta Priest Hala PRiest Madame whom men obey and God doth heare What zeale remorse or charity doth moue Your heart The King leaues all things to your loue Hala. Caine who of late did liue to both vs deare 'T is true did fayle and for his fault is slaine Our hearts are eas'd as hauing lost their feare The rites of humane duties yet remaine A Kings belou'd he was sometimes our friend Which must appeare in honour of his end Such royall Piles as for the Princely race Are made a sacrifice vnto the skie In honor of that God which gaue them place Such sumptuous Piles make But more cost bestow Because both iust Reuenge and Loue they show Summon the Mufti and Soothsayers all The Persian Magi Christian Starre-Diuines The first to sing alike his faith and fall The last to tell how higher power inclines In short Reuenge and Loue shine in those fires Powre on all pompe that magnifies desires As if at once by crosse mortality The Prince and Princely line were dead in one Let mourning and deuotion to the skie Be offred vp in pompe and publike mone Magnificence is Princely mystery All great Estates by great expence are knowne Prepare
excesse Let no cost be forgot It makes men wonder though they honour not Musicke to fix the wandring spirits race And sweeten Enuies thoughts in vnity That sorrow and deuotion may haue place Remorse and pittie flow and multiply Lights of all kindes the light of day shut out For darknesse so enammeld is deuout Exit Priest Vnhappy state of Priesthood here below Who haue to doe with curious Atheisme With sinne in flesh and in the Church with schisme Our office is an holy mystery To teach Kings God and euery Subiect King How one obedience doth another bring But what boots truth to flesh or lawes to might Beleefe a wonder is Obedience woe And shall we Priests that vnder Princes liue Striue in our selues with vice abroad with might And like the hands which winnow rich mens gaine Grow poore in all but only woe and paine No No The eyes of Priests looke euer low To finde the key of power that is aboue When that is found all faults beneath we know But Maiesty hides faults as well as loue And though these rites of Princely funerall By lawes diuine should not prophaned be With lesse than with descents of Maiesty Yet Caine more Princely by thy Princes grace Shall be thy tombe than euer Princes was CHORVS TERTIVS A Dialogue of Good and Euill Spirits THe Good What is your scope vaine Ghosts would you o'rebuild the skie Were not mens Many tongues and minds their Babel-destinie Your beings discords are and what can they create But disproportion which is still the fairest marke of fate The Ill. Are you afrayd poore Soules Else why doe you descend To question or conferre with vs to whom you are no friends Who feare their owne Estates doe commonly first speake As they againe put goodnesse on who find their party weake We doe but what we did which is increase our might And as on earth so in the ayre cry downe your borrowed light The Good What can you winne of vs that must be as we were Whereas you exiles out of heauen can hope for nothing there The Ill. We that were as you are know well what you can be Where you that neuer were like vs what can you in vs see The Good That you haue first destroyed your selues and are ordain'd To scourge curse and corrupt that earth which you boast to haue gain'd The Ill. Why did not you defend that which was once your owne Betweene vs two the odds of worth by odds of power is knowne Besides Mappe clearly out your infinite extent Euen in the infancy of time when much was innocent Could this world then yeeld ought to enuie or desire Where pride of courage made men fall and basenesse rais'd them higher Where they that would be great to be so must be least And where to beare and suffer wrong was vertues natiue crest Mans skinne was then his silke the worlds wild fruit his food His wisdome poore simplicity his Trophies inward good No Maiesty for power nor glories for mans worth Nor any end but as the plants to bring each other forth Temples and vessells fit for outward sacrifice As they came in so go they out with that which you count Vice The Priesthood few and poore No Throne but open ayre For that which you call good allowes of nothing that is faire No Pyramis rais'd vp aboue the force of Thunder Nor Babel-walles by Greatnesse built for Littlenesse a wonder No Conquest testifying wit with courage mixt As wheeles whereon the world must runne and neuer can be fixt No Arts or Characters to read the great God in Nor stories of acts done for these all entred with the sinne A lasy calme wherein each foole a pilot is The glory of the skilfull shines where men may go amisse Till we came in there was no triall of your might And since we were in men your selues presume of little right Then cease to blast the earth with your abstracted dreames And striue no more to carry men against affections streames Nay rather tempt and proue if long life make them wise That must to haue their beauties seene put out all fleshly eyes Or when they be no more Eternall then to be Neglect the ioy and glorious vse of times felicity Cast out these thinne-weau'd lines and catch some little flyes The greater spirits which are ours feele not these nimble eyes In Alaham for instance plead your power or right Entise him from a mortall Crowne with your Crowne infinite Proue if he will forbeare vnnaturall Parricide To see who in the sea of humors shall the Scepter guide Trie if proud Hala will forget the death of Caine And reconcil'd in dutie with her owne Lord liue and raigne Moue Celica that spirit reputed for your owne To see if she to saue her life would haue her fame vnknowne Worke Zophi that poore soule though blinde to leaue his breath We only make things cheape or deare as Lords of life and death Lastly perswade the King to liue and saue his Crowne And all the world shall see we rayse and wee pull Princes downe So that your beings here are but a tincture cast Like crests vpon the Egypt Pharos to disguise not last Besides take from the world that which you reckon Sinne And she must be as at the first for euer to beginne A glorious spacious wombe fram'd to containe but one Since he that in it will be yours is sure to be alone Keepe therefore where you are descend not but ascend For vnderneath the Sun be sure no braue State is your friend The Good What haue you wonne by this but that curst vnder Sinne You make and marre throw downe and raise as euer to beginne Like Meteors in the ayre you blaze but to burne out And change your shapes like Phantom'd clouds to leaue weake eyes in doubt Not truth but truth-like grounds is that you worke vpon Varying in all but this that you can neuer long be one Then play here with your art false miracles deuise Deceiue and be deceiued still be foolish and seeme wise In peace erect your Thrones your delicacie spread The flowers of time corrupt soone spring and are as quickly dead Let warre which tempest-like all with it selfe o're-throwes Make of this diuerse world a stage for blood-enammeld showes Successiuely both these yet this fate follow will That all their glories be no more than change from ill to ill So as with peace or warre if you adorne one realme In both through other Climes againe you runne with barren streame Rest no where therefore but still wander as you doe And restlesse be they as you are that shall receiue you too Giue Alaham more scope to multiply his error With parents blood adorne his Throne more guilt still adds more terreur Let Hala's wicked heart for all ill births a wombe By violence of passion make for many vices roome Let ill example in to staine the Christian Nation The same excesse destroyes at last which first gaue reputation Conspire
against the truth you haue an easie foe For in the world all that are hers can neuer currant goe Vnder the next good shaddow your deform'd excesse Yet shall your masked arts and hornes your clouen feet expresse Wherby your beauties be so priz'd among your owne As they will blush for yours by name or nature to be knowne Againe take all the world if it one soule content Then freely let Mankinde beleeue you are omnipotent But if your Legions here doe in their glories raue Tormented while they liue on earth and much more in the graue If to be nothing be the best that could be fall Your subtile Orbes to reall beings then must needs be thrall And so proue to the good but like those showres of raine Which while they wet the husbandman yet multiply his gaine Actus quartus Scena prima King Celica KIng Celica thou only child whom I repent Not yet to haue begot thy worke is vaine Thou run'st against my Destinies intent Feare not my fall the steepe is fayrest plaine And error safest guide vnto his end Who nothing but mischance can haue to friend We parents are but Natures nursery When our succession springs then ripe to fall Priuation vnto age is naturall Age there is also in a Princes State Which is contempt growne of misgouernment Where loue of change begetteth Princes hate For hopes must wither or grow violent If fortune binde desires to one Estate Then marke Blinde as a Man Scorn'd as a King A Fathers kindnesse loath'd and desolate Life without ioy or light what can it bring But inward horrour vnto outward hate O safety thou art then a hatefull thing When childrens death assures the fathers State No Safe I am not though my sonne were slaine My frailty would beget such sonnes againe Besides if fatall be the heauens will Repining adds more force to destinie Whose iron wheeles stay not on fleshly wit But headlong runne downe steep Necessity And as in danger we doe catch at it That comes to helpe and vnaduisedly Oft doe our friends to our misfortune knit So with the harme of those who would vs good Is Destinie impossibly withstood Celica then cease importune me no more My sonne my age the state where things are now Require my death Who would consent to liue Where loue cannot reuenge nor truth forgiue Celica. Though feare see nothing but extremity Yet danger is no deep sea but a Ford Where they that yeeld can only drowned be In wrongs and wounds Sir you are to remisse To Thrones a passiue nature fatall is King Occasion to my sonne hath turn'd her face My inward wants all outward strengths betray And so make that impossible I may Celica. Yet liue Liue for the State King Whose ruines glasses are Wherin see errors of my selfe I must And hold my life of danger shame and care Celica. When feare propounds with losse men euer choose King Nothing is left me but my selfe to lose Celica. And is it nothing then to lose the State King Where chance is ripe there counsell comes too late Celica by all thou ow'st the Gods and me I doe coniure thee Leaue me to my chance What 's past was errors way the truth it is Wherein I wretch can only goe amisse If Nature saw no cause of suddaine ends She that but one way made to draw our breath Would not haue left so many doores to death Celica. Yet Sir if weaknesse be not such a sande As neither wrong nor counsell can manure Choose and resolue what death you will endure King This sword thy hands may offer vp my breath And plague my lifes remissenesse in my death Celica. Vnto that dutie if these hands be borne I must thinke God and Truth but names of scorne Againe this iustice were if life were lou'd Now meerly grace since death doth but forgiue A life to you which is a death to liue Paine must displease that satisfies offence King Chance hath left death no more to spoile but sense Celica. Then sword doe Iustice office thorough me I offer more than that he hates to thee King Ah! Stay thy hand My State no equall hath And much more matchlesse my strange vices be One kinde of death becomes not thee and me Kings plagues by chance or destinie should fall Headlong he perish must that ruines all Celica. No cliffe or rocke is so precipitate But downe it eyes can leade the blinde a way Without me liue or with me dye you may King Celica and wilt thou Alaham exceed His crueltie is death you torments vse He takes my Crowne you take my selfe from me A Prince of this falne Empire let me be Celica. Then be a King no Tyrant of thy selfe Be and be what you will what nature lent Is still in hers and not our gouernment King If disobedience and obedience both Still doe me hurt in what strange state am I But hold thy course It well becomes my blood To doe their parents mischiefe with their good Celica. Yet Sir harke to the poore oppressed teares The iust mens moane that suffer by your fall A Princes charge is to protect them all And shall it nothing be that I am yours The world without my heart within doth know I neuer had vnkinde vnreuerent powers If thus you yeeld to Alahams treacherie He ruines you 't is you Sir ruine me King Celica Call vp the dead awake the blinde Turne backe the time bid windes tell whence they come As vainly strength speakes to a broken minde Fly from me Celica hate all I doe Misfortunes haue in blood successions too Celica. Will you doe that which Alaham can not He hath no good you haue no ill but he This Marre-right yeelding's honors Tyranny King Haue I not done amisse Am I not ill That ruin'd haue a Kings authority And not one King alone since Princes all Feele part of those scornes wherby one doth fall Treason against me cannot treason be All lawes haue lost authority in me Celica. The lawes of power chain'd to mens humors be The good haue conscience the ill like instruments Are in the hands of wise authority Moued diuided vsed or layd downe Still with desire kept subiect to a Crowne Stirre vp all States all spirits hope and feare Wrong and reuenge are currant euery where King Put downe my sonne For that must be the way A fathers shame a Princes Tyrannie The Scepter euer shall misiudged be Celica. Let them feare rumor that doe worke amisse Blood torments death horrors of Cruelty Haue time and place Looke through these skinnes of feare Which still perswade the better side to beare And since thy sonne thus trayterously conspires Let him not prey on all thy race and thee Keepe ill example from posterity King Danger is come and must I now vnarme And let in hope to weaken resolution Passion be thou my Legacie and Will To thee I giue my life Crowne reputation My pompes to clouds and as forlorne with men My strength to women hoping this
Dutie others Natures Lawes Should I haue lost a Crowne for such applause No No Each State peculiar wisdomes hath The way of Princes is to hide their mindes For else each slaue will suddenly descrie Our inward passions which they trafficke by Remisnesse did in me no sooner moue And only by a pawse it selfe expresse But straightway they diuin'd remorse or loue And instantly drew arguments from both As if distraction to resolue were loth But like a Sultan mixing power with art When I made good my will and only said Sirs doe your charge This intermittent passion Is but the print of naturall affection The seat of Iustice is aboue compassion Straight as if Furies breath had fild these bladders With cruell hearts their charge they vndertooke And euer after made my will their booke Who gouerne men if they will stay aboue Must see and scorne the downfalls of selfe-loue Nay marke againe what glory Order yeelds Where euery spirit is fitted to his roome Did not distresse these weake Ghosts well become At which fine playes of Chance and intercession Did I relent Or had I any sense But in the glories of Omnipotence These Scepter-mysteries Kings must obserue Or not be Kings Are priuate vertues such Want great Estates no other strengths but those Which make them for good words good fortune lose As Dogges their kennels these their graues did frame 'T was crafty power that gaue such lawes to fame Away they went rich in selfe-pitties smoke No hope of praise but by their forme of death Nor of reuenge but in the Peoples breath While I ascending roame to looke about And in the strength of confidence and power Behold the vnprosperities of doubt But harke What mournfull harmonie is this In dole my Triumphs are What sounds are these Change is thy nature both to grieue and please Confused Echo's whither doe you flye Or whence proceed From grudge or from applause Except my will craues Mankinde any lawes Solemnity inferres the worke is ended Yet heare I noyse that showes vnquiet motion As from their ashes some new worke intended Now shall we know Behold I see one come Whose looks bring woe and horrour from that Tombe Actus quintus Scena secunda Nuntius Alaham NVntius Distract confus'd are all my inward spirits Griefe would complaine yet dares not speake for feare Horrour the place of wonder disinherits Caines next of kinne so willingly to die For pompe and honor to his funerall The flesh to couet that which flesh doth fly This wonder went I to the Pile to see As costly glories of the vanity In stead of these I saw the veyles of Power Practise and pompe specious hypocrisie Rent from her face euen while she did deuoure I saw those glorious stiles of Gouernment God Lawes Religion wherein Tyrants hide The wrongs they doe and all the woes we bide Wounded prophan'd destroy'd Power is vnwise That thinkes in pompe to maske her Tyrannies Looke where he stands a Monster growne within Still thirsty and yet full with Parents blood Both man and Tyrant dearly vnderstood Alaham. Hath meeke deuotion finished her worke Tell what their manner was and how they died That to the dead would thus be crucified Nuntius The fire though mercilesse yet sometimes iust Hath done his part deuoured but refin'd Perform'd thy will and yet deceiu'd thy trust Alaham. Speake plaine What threatning mysteries be these Nuntius Echos they be of murmurs which possesse The hearts of men against Powers wickednesse The first which burnt as Caine his next of kinne In blood your Brother and your Prince in State Drew wonder from mens hearts brought horror in This innocent this soule too-meeke for sinne Yet made for others to doe harme withall With his selfe-pitty teares drew teares from vs His blood compassion had his wrong stirr'd hate Deceipt is odious in a Kings Estate Repiningly he goes vnto his end Strange Visions rise strange Furies haunt the flame People crie out Echo repeats his name These words he spake euen breathing out his breath Vnhappy weaknesse neuer innocent If in a Crowne yet but an instrument People obserue this fact may make you see Excesse hath ruin'd what it selfe did build But ah the more opprest the more you yeeld The next was he whose age had reuerence His gesture something more than priuatenesse Guided by one whose stately grace did moue Compassion euen in hearts that could not loue As soone as these approched neare the flame The winde the steame or furies rays'd their vayles And in their lookes this image did appeare Each vnto other life to neither deare These words he spake Behold one that hath lost Himselfe within and so the world without A King that brings authority in doubt This is the fruit of Powers misgouernment People my fall is iust yet strange your fate That vnder worst will hope for better State Griefe roares alowd Your Sister yet remain'd Helping in death to him in whom she died Then going to her owne as if she gain'd These mild words spake with lookes to heauen bent O God! 'T is thou that suffrest here not we Wrong doth but like it selfe in working thus At thy will Lord Reuenge thy selfe not vs The fire straight vpward beares the soules in breath Visions of horror circle in the flame With shapes and figures like to that of death But lighter-tongu'd and nimbler-wing'd than fame Some to the Church some to the People fly A voyce cries out Reuenge and Liberty Princes Take heed Your glory is your care And Powers foundations Strengths not Vices are Alaham. What change is this that now I feele within Is it disease that workes this fall of spirits Or workes this fall of spirits my disease Things seeme not as they did horror appeares What sinne imbodied what strange sight is this Doth sense bring backe but what within me is Or doe I see those shapes which haunt the flame What summons vp remorse Shall Conscience rate Kings deeds to make them lesse than their Estate Ah silly ghost is 't you that swarme about Would'st thou that art not now a father be These body lawes doe with the life goe out What thoughts be these that doe my entrailes teare You wandring spirits frame in me your hell I feele my brother and my sister there Where is my wife There lacks no more but shee Let all my owne together dwell with me Actus quintus Scena tertia Hala Alaham HAla. Wife Is that name but stile of thy remorse Must I goe where thy silly parents be Thou yet but feel'st thy selfe thou shalt feele me A King And in a Throne built out of blood The ashes of your owne must giue you power Glutton Ambition now thy selfe deuoure Looke in thy Conscience that vnflattering glasse See there the wounds of Caine thy wrongs to me Death triumphs now And I doe giue it thee Caine here beginnes to liue whilst thou do'st feed Vpon the poyson that thy wife deuis'd Thy debter yet but stay I will exceed
Now warre thy selfe a King with Kings must warre We are too base for friends or enemies For lusts vse not for loue we women are All paines of death my selfe in Caine did feele And shall my rage aspire but to be iust What is but once be long in doing must Alaham. Infernall wombe receiue thy right Of old This body was thine owne before I was Obey my father brother sister me I gaue their ghosts they must giue mine to thee They call I come It was my sinne alone That gloried many wayes to tyrannize For all the doomes of ill let me suffice Hala. My Griefe doth yet but roame it selfe in sense Hala is more Rage multiplies with vse These doe but mourne I must reuenge abuse Euen through thy sense will I send in thine owne This child that by thee liu'd shall in thee die In this will Caine and I possesse thy Throne Alaham. Ah powerfull God! why do'st thou Thunders spend By chance or without vengeance on the plants Since it is Man not Trees that doth offend Sirs teare the roofe perfect the worke of Power I haue no being while she there doth sit Subiect in sexe but King in rage of wit Hala. Women Behold our sex I now improue Malice were vaine if Kings could it subdue This rage reuiues the dead restores my loue Alaham. Is this Ormus Or is Ormus my hell Where only Furies and not Men doe dwell The poyson works I feele my spirits faint I must beseech my Power is but complaint Yet Wit thou know'st what euery Power can doe Be Strength to me Can Mothers kill their owne Selfe-loue will spare them Why should I request Words doe inflame But ah it Hala is I must intreat Her malice keepes no fashion Though she haue all that all is but one Passion If I intreat doth sense show where to wound I owe it mine doth that giue malice Power Ah God! What shall I doe that both within and out Authority haue lost Vnused to request Yet must and will Yet euen in doing know Impossible addes but more scorne to woe Hala I doe with Nature begge for thine Harme me alone thy Husband and thy King Horror hath her degrees there is excesse In all Reuenge that may be done with lesse Hala. Beyond the rule of Law but not of Loue This child was borne this not in Loue but Law Before thy wrongs I had my passions free And in reuenge shall ought else limit me Alaham. Innocent thine owne too yong for hate or feare His death doth only execration beare Hala. In him thou art in him I plague my lust Where Sense and Law were traytors to affection Beare children only but to Caine I must Alaham. Disease or Griefe I know not which or both Languish my powers Hala some respite giue Spare him a while I haue not long to liue Hala. Hala make haste to multiply this wretch I must haue both his sense and iudgement free 'T is horror not disease that honors me All you superiour Powers which from aboue Behold this earth and earthly mischiefes rod Cast hence your eyes These works are but for two For him that suffers and for me that doe Hala then on that Alaham may enrage Enrage thou first New married now am I Remorse doth but for men in ambush lie She mistaking kills Caines childe Alaham. Earth Stand'st thou fast vnder this vglinesse And fal'st not downe to that infernall deepe Which feares perchance worse than it selfe to keepe Eyes close your liddes There is no more to doe Yet know you haue seene that before you die Which no Age will beleeue One worse than I Hala. Ah curst Mortality So soone put out And haue I lost the glory of Reuenge If Fame find greater as she goes about This blood that bloody throte should haue deuour'd Rage lack'd in this Where is the place for scorne Since woes be dead in him as soone as borne Flesh is too brittle mould for braue excesse yet let these scraps giue nourishment to Fame Since Loue and Rage this modell may expresse She findes her error But what is this Wake I or doe I dreame If chang'd with whom or into whom am I Doth Horror dazell sense or multiply What world is this Where 's Alaham where my Sonne Caine rise and tell what Furies raised be Do'st Thou remaine aliue And art Thou dead Who did this deed None answers It was I Verses here doe lengthen And am I thus misted to lose Child Husband Fame Honor Reuenge my Caine my Harmes and Fury too And cannot harme my selfe that those harmes to me doe Must I forgiue thee Hala that none else forgiue Scarce trembling doth my heart conceiue this hatefull deed Doe eyes behold this worke and neither weepe nor bleed Shall I complaine of Heauen where fooles lay selfe-despaire Or Hell shall I inuoke which ill hath euery where Shall I remaine aliue and turne my rage to woe Shall I distinguish Guilt where Chance doth ouerthrow Is Caine no more Is it no more to loue Hath Hala's hate made many hearts to bleed Vpon the ruines of her loue to feed Furie art thou so long in getting vp Aboue the mists of poore selfe-pittie Teares Shall Rage be still a prisoner vnder feares Looke here is death Return'st thou me remorse Heere my belou'd Can sighs recall him backe Here him I loath Can scorne become his wracke My selfe yet liue Must Fury burne without These were in me May Nature liue in one What 's due to death Euen Rage that growes to doubt Come Infant Here is Empire Let vs liue This worke is mine Hell thankes and enuies me And loe her Spirits before I come I see Discord Sedition Rage you Furies all Possesse againe the State where you beganne The Woman you 'T is we deceiue the Man Enter vpon this large infernall wombe Repay your selues this mould did make you all Why doe you stay Leade me the way I come Flesh is too weake it hath satietie Lust intermittent here and Furie poore Rage hath respects Desires here weary be Leaue Man this meane Let vs liue in excesse Where power is more although the ioyes be lesse This Child is none of mine I had no part Beare him I did with loathing not desire My wombe perchance did yeeld but not my heart With Alaham his father he must dwell I will goe downe and change this Ghost with hell This Tragedy called Alaham may bee printed this 23. of Iune 1632 Henry Herbert THE SPEAKERS NAMES SOLIMAN MVSTAPHA ROSTEN ACHMAT ROSSA. ZANGER CAMENA BEGLARBY NVNTIVS PRIEST