not wish too 〈◊〉 I would not gâ— to Heav'n 〈◊〉 comes there Roxol. Leave me Asteria how can I endure To hear those ills my Councel cannot cure Ex. Asteria Enter Ulama Ulam Pride of the World in Beauty Power and Love Great here below and no less great above To Solyman's Throne by Divine Justice led Which gave such merit to adorn that head Love which in Turkish Kings no limits knew But wide and spreading like their Ensigns flew By the new Miracle your Beauty wrought Its first and only constancy was taught Whilst th' Emperors wishes in a prize so raâ—e Met all the Worlds delight and center'd there Roxol. How Ulama Is Roxolana's power Disputed that it wants an Orator Ulam No Madam there where Empire 's absolute Your pow'r all should obey and none dispute But when some black Tempestuous Vapours rise And with an envious darkness shade the skies We see the Sun behind a Cloud retire Great lights may be Eclips'd though ne're expire Pardon that tongue which must offend your Ear And say There 's a storm rise in Roxolana's Sphear There is a Christian Beauty hither come That has out-done the Arms of Christendom The Turkish Crescents were Triumphant there But their great Leader is a Captive here Roxol. Go on Ulam And that which does his pains increase Is that this fair Invader of his peace Calls Ibrahim Lord by a long-kindled fire In mutual wishes their twin-souls conspire Yet not the pow'r of Friendship nor the sence Of infinite charms th' Almighty influence Of Roxolana not this glorious piece Enricht by nature at so vast a price That 't is undone a workmanship so great As Bankrupt Nature never can repeat Not all this dazling object can restrain Your wand'ring Solyman from thoughts too mean Such thoughts that He that 's blest by your fair eyes And Lord of such a Treasure should despise Rox. And are your Conquer'd fortunes sunk so far That to revenge the injuries of War Wanting the pow'r t' oppose his arms you dare Invade the Sultans breast t' assault him there When by so insolent a Treachery You would raise storms betwixt my King and Me He who dares breath Against th'unblemisht Honour of my Lord That honour which has been so long ador'd By th' World and Me not pray'rs nor off'rings shou'd From my just rage protect the bold Basphemers blood But thy rude Arrogance shall boast no more Th'indulgence of a gen'rous Conqueror My Guards there Enter Guards Seize that Traytor Guards seize Ulama Ulam A command From you I should not ev'n in Death withstand But for some minutes grant him a Reprieve Who only for your service beggs to live Rox. Serv'd by such Treachery Yes thy Canker'd heart Deserves that glory Traytor as thou art Ulam He who dares falsly stain your Sultans Fame And impiously profane that Mighty Name Deserves more Tortures than the rage of Fate Or Hell can give for he deserves your hate But if your alter'd Solyman lays by Once in a Life his bright Divinity For a frail thought must he that knows and he That tells the Miracle Truths Martyr be If such I must be let your pow'r dispence With life enough to prove my Innocence It is enough my Sentence came from you I would not willingly seem guilty too He who from your displeasure meets his Doom Needs no more weight to crush him to his Tomb. Rox. Call Solyman perjur'd and have a pretence After that word to talk of Innocence Ulam But Madam Roxol. Falsehood in Solyman were 't writ i'th'Stars I 'd not believe it Through those Characters Of Night I should Heaven's spite and malice see And call their twinkling lights as false aâ— thee Ulam Would all I 've said were false and I that black And monstrous thing your anger does mistake So much I Roxolana's bliss prefer Before Life Fame and all that men call dear That to unite her wandering Lord and her I wish by Death I could her troubles cease And be that Traytor to secure her peace Roxol. Your forfeit Head but live for should you dye By Death you would but end your Insamy Your blood by me would be too nobly spilt Live branded with my hate and your own guilt Enter Asteria Aster Madam my happy Rival is arriv'd And with such pomp by Solyman receiv'd With so much joy as if the smiles he gave Shou'd build a Monument o're a Daughters Grave Roxol. What do I hear half he has said is true Release him Guards release him What if all shou'd be so too 'T is something strange that Solyman shou'd treat His injur'd Daughters Rival in such state I faign would ask her but a sudden chill Has seiz'd my blood something me-thinks I feel Like a cold damp came from that killing breath What will the truth be then if but the fear be death Ex. all but Ulama Ulam Are scorn and hate my Services reward Death with my Love compar'd's a task less hard Men dye with hopes of bliss I Love with none Yet still I must adore where I 'm undone Though by your pow'r unworthy Solyman Vain are my hopes and endless is my pain My Pride shall be I will my Love pursue For less reward with greater Faith than you Exit The end of the Second Act. ACT the THIRD The SCENE a Room of State Enter Ibrahim and Isabella with Women-Attendants Ibrah. HIs generous Friendship that unites us now Was that which did so long divide us too For when as my long Services reward Quitting my tiresome Honours I prepar'd To beg my Freedom and returning home To meet my only Joys in Christendom One War scarce finisht still succeeded new The Sultan found fresh Kingdoms to subdue And whilst he had Foes t' oppose or Crowns to gain My Passion with my Honour strove in vain Still studying to discharge my mighty Debt I lost my Freedom by deserving it By my success to Solyman I grew Still more endear'd and more remov'd from you Isab. So much this Justice merits my Applause That had you quitted such a Monarchs Cause Ignobly though for me so great a stain Had made me share the wrongs of Solyman Enter Solyman and Morat Solym. Natolia up in Armes I wish no more to Morat Rebelliâ—n ne're was welcome till this hour This Insurrection will auspicious prove And aid me in my bold and dangerous Love My fair Adopted with that care and art To Isab. I 'm bound to treat such infinite desert That tâ—embling I approach you out of fear To loose that favour which I prize so dear When my Necessity my Tongue must force To make a short but an unkind Divorce Start not at what your pleasure my withstand 'T is only my request not my command But if fair Isabella wou'd dispence With Ibrahim's absence to revenge his Prince I 'd beg â—y Valiant Ibrahim's Sword of you The Insolent Natolians to subdue His presence their Allegiance will restore Who felt his Conquering Arm so late before And though a while
thy Victorious Arms the World command Thy Sword 's grown weak plac'd in a guilty hand Solym. T' increase your Courage think it weaker yet And to chastise thy rudeness when we meet When in an Armys Head thy Fâ—ce I see I 'le tell thee then thou 〈◊〉 fit to fall by Me. Exit Solym. Roxol. When Empress of the World I stood on hallow'd ground With all my pomp and greatness circl'd round Then 〈◊〉 train of Worshippers what crowd Of Vassaâ—â— as my 〈◊〉 all prostrate bow'd On humble Mortals I in state look'd down Who gaz'd on glorys sparkling from my Crown Life waited on my Smiles Death on my Frown Fear'd and ador'd on their bow'd Neeks I trod Whilst to my Throne I mounted like a God But in my â—all where 's that Devotion gone Of all those thousands Fate has left but one Ulam So great your Merit and your Slaves so few Those thousands lost be God-like and raise new Permit me but to meet this Threatning King And see what force so just a Cause can bring To right your Honour and rebuild your Throne Vouchsafe to call my Sword and Life your own Rather than your lowd wrongs shall go unpaid I will exhaust an Empire in your aid Here at his Gates I will his Guâ—lt defie I and my Persia nay the Gods and I Roxol. Hold Angry Prince your Zeal in my just Cause Whilst it was Innocent had my applause Forbear then to pull down my hate tho He Has lost his Vertue broke his Faith to Me I have not lost the Duty of a Wife Tho I abhor his Crimes I prize his Life Who holds a Sword against his Breast wounds me His Foe is Roxolana's Enemy Exit Roxol. Ulam Fool that I was to ask her her consent Without her leave her ruin I 'le prevent Her pious Vengeance points me out the way 'T was but her superstition bad me stay To morrow I 'le towards Persia go and bring My utmost pow'r against this Perjur'd King If time enough I 'le stop her Fall if late Revenge it if I fail I 'le share her Fate Lost though I am and in despair I 'le try To wast an Empire in her Cause and dye Exit Ulam The End of the Fourth Act. ACT the FIFTH The SCENE a Chamber Enter Ibrahim meeting Isabella and Morat Morat SIr from the Sultan I am hither sent To Councel you your ruin to prevent If by consent you can for ever part And make a present of a Mrs. Heart You have your Life else when he sleeps you dye You have an hour allow'd for your reply Ex. Morat Isabel. 'T is a hard choyce you must be false or dye To save your Life what is 't I would not give Ibrah. What would you have me quit your Love Live Isabel. No though I value you so high above My Ibrahims Life I prize my Ibrahims Loâ—e If nothing but Inconstancy can give You Life dye mine since mine you cannot live But do not think when you are gone I shall Have pow'r long to out-live your Funeral There 's a Contagion in a Lovers fall Weak are his Threats and vain his subtlest Art His Tyranny may all but Lovers part Ibrah. Do I not dye to seal my Faith to you What juster act what braver can I do Then do not murmur at my glorious Fall Is this his Cruelty Is dying all What 's Death The meanest Slaves dye every day Even Infancy and Age that Debt to Nature pay A Feavourish fit can stop our fleeting breath Our Tast Smell Touch each Sence can let in Death And we who Beauties infinite pow'r adore For great Almighty Love can do no more Isabel. But can I say I love and bid you dye No! for your safety this one Art I 'le try I 'le strait to Solyman and Summon all Those angry pow'rs that injur'd Love can call Not depos'd Kings shall rage so much as I. With so much scorn his baseness I 'le defie Till I 've incenst his rage to that degree That he shall spare your Life and Murder me In me he can but Isabella Doom In you he takes a prop from Christendom Live Ibrahim then Religion to defend His Favourit live to be the Christians Friend Leave Death to me and think my Life well given At once in saying you and serving Heav'n Ibrah. These melting sounds all sence of Death destroy Who wou'd not choose my Fate for half my Joy But do not hope to dye for me Think not your charms so little nor my King So Savage though unkind that any thing Will make him dare to shed your precious blood No my best life he must not if he cou'd Isabel. Must I so tamely then behold your Fall No 'gainst your Murderer I 'le muster all My Rage Despair Revenge what is 't I will not do I 'le treat him so but why this passion now Since 't is decreed we must so soon divide My parting looks shou'd all their fierceness hide Furies till then lay all your Scorpions by Our last dear minutes shou'd more gently flye Kind Heav'n let but this span of Life be blest Love reign this hour and horror all the rest Ibrah. Best of thy Sex Embracing her But I in vain shall this short Tryumph boast Gazing on what must be for ever lost Isabel. For ever why can death destroy our Love Shall we not meet and be as blest above Cease Sir oh cease this too unkind despair Are there all Joys in Heav'n and Love not there Ibrahim Fill'd with that hope I 'le my short time improve And sum an Ages bliss in one hours Love Low at your Feet your humble Vassal bows Kneels And here on this fair hand seals his last Vows kisses her hand Turn turn your eyes this way look all Divine In your full Lustre let your kindness shine Oh Love I am all Extasie delight Soaring in joys I 'm giddy with my height kissing her hand often But hide those eyes take this soft Magick hence lets go her hand My happiness so much transports my sence That such another look will make me grow Too fond of Life ever to let you go Isabel. Great blessings like swiâ—t torrents always run Too rapid to stay long Ibrah. What have I done Restore those pleasing looks give me your hand agen My Light Day Sun shut not your glories in Spight of his pow'r in this soft knot I 'le fold She gives him her Hand agen And when I dye let him cut off my hold I 'le twine so fast that when he gives the blow And cuts me by the Roots up from below These dying branches still shall grasp you all And grasp and grasp and wither e're they fall Enter Asteria Mirva and Morat Aster So close so kind how happy should I be aside entring Were half this dear Devotion paid to me Mor. Madam the Sultans orders were severe But Solymans command admits you here And I dare take your word to Asteria No doubt she 's come By th' offer
Ibrahim's just hand the Traytor fell The Lovers grief wou'd be too sad to tell Let it suffice they 're kept in stricter chains And now no hope of liberty remains Roxol. Poor Innocence What Tears would thy unhappy Mother pay Were she alive to have beheld this day But thou to share her Joys doest upwards go And leavest thy sorrows to thy Friends below Wretched Asteria but more wretched I This will but raise the Sultan's rage more high Now Ibrahim's life for hers too sure must pay And then the Christian is his certain prey Then Roxolana lays her greatness down And this new Love is courted with my Crown But that 's a sight I must not live to see Enter an Attendant of Roxolana's with a bowl of Poyson Zarma the Cup. This this my Guard shall be Mirv. Oh Madam what do you design Roxol. To dye From scorn and shame to peace and Heav'n I 'le flye No perjur'd Kings no ruin no despair Come near that place pow'r is immortal there Drinks the Poyson Enter Ulama Ulam I 'le try what Vengeance joyn'd with Love can do 'T is th' only glorious path that 's left me now Since my successless Zeal in your defence to Rox. And Solyman's rage has Banisht me from hence To morrow I tow'rds Persia must return And make the Eastern World your sufferings mourn Where if I breath my sorrow in that strain As makes an Empire eccho to my pain Oh pardon what my duty does create A Tribute due to Roxolana's Fate Roxol. You are my Friend and Sir to treat you so Take my last secret with you when you go All my long frightful danger disappears I am secure from injuries and fears No wicked hand shall snatch my Diadem now My Guardian Angel hovers round my brow Ulam Oh Madam speak agen Say has your Beauty his Conversion wrought Is his new Love that Meteor-light put out And have your brighter looks restor'd the day Roxol. No my protection comes a safer way A draught of Poyson I have took I scorn To have my glories from my Temples torne And Roman-like do my own Fate command Ulam Poyson'd and by that fair but fatal hand Roxol. Yet though my death 's so sure determin'd I Have still one hour of Life before I dye Which little blast of life I 'le use so well To my false King that parting story tell Shall sting his Soul Ulam What has your fury done Through those soft Veins must th'impious Poyson run Roxol. Impious no Sacred was the word you meant An act so pious might become a Saint Honour and safety this brave work perform I like a Pilot see the rising storm And wisely take my threaten'd glorys in Ulam Must all Man kind be punisht for his sin The World 's a sufferer in your Tragick Fate When you are dead where 's that Majestick state Where 's Natures Pride their Soveraign Leader slain Dull Beauties then like petty States will reign Why to such rage was so much Beauty driven Was it the spight or over-sight of Heaven Which that bright frame of Warring Elements built Such goodness in your eyes and in your hand such guilt Roxol. How is 't a torment to you to behold My greatness unconfin'd and uncontroll'd To be new form'd in an Aetherial mould Art thou an Heir t' a Crown and hast so mean A sense of Honour weret thou born to reign And can thy narrow Soul this Councel give That Roxolana should her pow'r out-live Ulam Madam no more Roxol. When for an act so great The crowding Gods their Royal Guest shall meet And lay their brightest glorys at my feet If thou shalt dare profane my memory And basely say I did not bravely dye From my bright Constellation I 'le look down And all my Stars shall blast thee when I frown Ulam Oh cease your Anger rather then I 'le bring That Curse upon me I 'le say any thing Roxol. Have I no more applause mistaken Prince For once I 'le stoop thy Error to convince Know it has been my-Honour to command The Worlds great Lord I have both lov'd and reign'd And when I see my Vassals disobey My long kept train of Honours shrink away Know 't is the noblest refuge of the great To make their lives before their glories set Since Solyman's short favours fade so soon I 'le mount where 't is all Summer always Noon All Earthly glory does perfection want Here 't is but glass in Heaven 't is Adamant Ulam Hold Madam I 'm a Convert and must own Th'impoverish'd World so bravely you 've undone That it must mourn and yet admire you too You 've done what greatness in despair shou'd do You 'l leave your Fame immortal when you go A Saint above and Heroine below This glorious deed not all th' Angellick Quire You 'l meet can praise enough enough admire But tho your Death I can your Tryumph call I can applaud but not survive your fall Stabs himself Hide not those Eyes do not my Heav'n remove Now I with Innocence may own I Love Roxol. Because my Death 's so near Dare you thus rudely Roxolana treat No guilty Prince I 'm not so little yet I 've still the Pride to scorn a Slave so bold In my last spark of life I still my lightning hold Ulam Oh do not think that I durst ever frame One thought or wish against your Sacred Name Not one Rebellious thought durst ever rise Your Vertue was as God-like as your Eyes My secret pain I did with silence bear And my Devotion paid without a pray'r And do you think because your Death 's so nigh I fear you less No now you stand more high Your greatness points like Mountains tow'rds the sky Roxol. If with such silence you your pains receiv'd How dare you dye more guilty than you liv'd How came you now to find a Tongue Ulam Oh now My love runs pure when my last blood streams too To own a passion for that Face and live Was more than so much Vertue could forgive All this I knew and to have pow'r to speak This only way could my long silence break And now I speak I do not ask your Love Curst be th' Impiety that dares remove That sacred Bond your solemn Vows have seal'd Or ask one look your Honour cannot yield Yet as I'm dying and shall beg no more One blessing let my parting sighs implore That little step let my Ambition climb Roxol. Well Sir you have my pardon for your Crime Ulam And is my Pardon all a little higher Let your poor humble dying Slave aspire Roxol. Then Prince Ulam Oh speak Roxol. You have my pitty too Ulam Dear divine Excellence you 've rais'd me now To all the joyes e're fill'd a Lovers breast You cannot be more kind nor I more blest My life did but my happiness retard Who would not dye when Death has this reward Enter Solyman and the former Bassa Her Tyrant here Solym. My Daughter kill'd in Ibrahim's defence How
That Oath I must not no I cannot break Mor. Your Oath is strong when your resolves are weak Solym. Had I by Alla sworne to quit my Crown So bound I ought to lay my Scepter down And yield a Throne without a sigh Mor. But Sir Even Kings themselves sometimes may chance to erre And you would impute Cruelty to Heav'n If sins of Ignorance can't be forgiven Perhaps those tyes are less than what they seem Send for the Musil Sir consult with him He may repeal that Vow your rashness past And find your promise does not bind so fast Or shew at least some safe though distant means To gain your quiet and remove your pains Solym. Send for him though I fear 't is all in vain Do any thing to bring my peace again Ex. Morat Enter at another Door Ibrahim After your mean suspition with what face False Ibrahim dare you approach this place Ibrah. Sir I approach you as I ought to do As one who'has lost all hopes in loosing you Approach you with those looks he ought to bring Who hears this language from an alter'd King My happiness in this Tempest sinks and drowns I knew your smiles too well to bear your frowns Solym. How can I think you priz'd my smiles so high When you could forfeit them so wilfully Ibrah. If the protection of my Love 's a sin Then condemn'd Ibrahim has guilty been But when I Councell'd my fair Saint to flye I was your Champion not your Enemy I knew her Faith so well that when from hence I stole her 't was in Solyman's defence Since her firm Vows no force could e're destroy I rob'd you of a Torment not a Joy Solym. Was ever Arrogance so high to dare Thus insolently brave me with Despair What though my Pow'r's so weak and hope so vain That Hate and Scorn is all Iâ—must obtain Though you can think so meanly of my State It is unkind t' upbraid me with my Fate Ibrah. No Sultan call it by another Name A subjects Zeal to Guard his Soveraignes Fame More worthy and more Kingly Thoughts persue How little does this change appear in You VVhen Solyman who lately took Delight In Thoughts that soar'd above an Eagles Flight Now humbly stoops t' invade his Vassals right Solym. Is it so humble to adore that Face A favor'd Lover and have thoughts so base Since of her Pow'r you have a Sence no higher And see so little there for Kings t' Admire I will convert your infidelity Take her more glorious Character from me By Nature she 's ordeyn'd to be Obey'd All Beauteous things for Soveraignty were made Is not Love Kingly then when thus my Breast it fils Ibrah. So Thunder's heavenly but that Thunder Kills Solym. Why should you think I l'e take so rough a Course I l'e vanquish by Entreaty not by Force My Warlike Visier has in Camps been Nurst In Laurells it was I that drest you first Desert not then that Aire where you were Bred Fame so long Courted now be Kind and VVed That glorious Race so well begun perâ—ue Ibrha But Sir cannot I Conquer and Love too Solym. Can nothing but my ruin satisfie Are there not charms enow in Vâ—ctory Take all my Forces half my World be thine And in exchange let that one Prize be mine Ibrah. Oh now you ask what I can ne're resign Loves that can cease are Feavourish desires A Thirst which the Disease once cured expires My heart unchangeably her Image weares Meteors may be extinguisht but not Stars Solym. Of Roxolana I was once as fond And loves as much yet time has broke that Bond. Is Love in Me more mortal than in You No 't is your Pride denys because I stoop to sue Were you for this Ungrateful Mâ—n by me From Death and from inglorious chains set free From below Pitty above Envy â—aâ—s'd Was it not I your sullen Fate appeas'd From your rude Ore refin'd you into Gold And stampt you in my own Imperial Mould And what my nobler Nature ought to shun You force me to repeat what I have done Ibrahim Those favours Sir your Vassal blushing took Admir'd your Bounteous hand and wonder-strook With humble Veneration did adore Great Jove descending in a Royal showre Solym. And now that Veneration is her due Ibrah. To worship her I 'le never steal from you No to acknowledge what your smiles have done Send me to Nations yet t' your Arms unknown I 'le fetch you glories from the rich Peru Nature her Treasures shall unlock for you But if of rougher spoiles you would be Lord By Valiant more than shining Kings ador'd The Savage Tartar in his frozen Zone Scorcht by your light'ning shall your greatness own New Toiles new Labours for my Arm decree Try me like Hercules and I shall be If not as great as little tir'd as He. Solym. My stock of same already is so large That Victories would be a mean discharge Her heart would th' only pleasing payment make Ibrah. And can I yield my Princess to forsake Since I want power to pay that vast demand Arrest your Honours in a Bankrupts hand Make me that wretched thing I was before Resume your glories and my Chains restore And by my Death let all your Troubles cease I 've liv'd too long when I disturb your Peace Solym. And that long life 't is I can shorter make Ibrah. Oh take it Sir I wear it for your sake Though I can never yield to quit my Love Yet I can dye a Rival to remove And when to Death I go hear my last pray'r May Solymans Life Heav'n take up all your care Solym. Can Ibrahim so patiently receive His Doom and with such ease his Judge forgive Ibrah. Forgive you where 's your sin Alas your hand Takes but that Life you justly may demand Should abject Creatures in their dying hour Repine and Murmour at th' Almighty pow'r My ador'd King even my last breath should rule Not one ill thought should touch my parting soul. Solym. Hold generous Prince Know what great Love can do And hear a Resolution Strange but True I have no hopes that Beauty to o'recome But by your Death to make my Passion room Yet in such Loyalty such pow'r I find That goodness in your face and lustre in your mind That if one look one kind word more you give 'T will soften me till I shall let you live But to enable me to give the blow Ibrahim your last but fatal Duty show With haste and silence from my presence flye That absent I may'have power to bid you dye Ex. Ibrah. He 's gone and has my black command obey'd Yet not such Loyalty can save his head To what ill deeds is desperate passion led Enter Morat and Mufti Mor. The Mufti Sir your pleasure does attend Solym. Priest for thy Councel and thy Aid I send A Ravisher has rob'd me of my Peace And I want power to make my torment cease Muft. Who is that Ravisher and what that Chain
of her Love t' avert his Doom aside Grant Her success let Ibrahim live and may The Sultans hopes be Crown'd the gentler way Exit Aster Though life and happiness must ne're be mine Yet I 'le take care that I 'le secure 'em thine Accept that Mirva gives him a Sword Mirv. Sent from Roxolana's hand This Princess Love conspires with her command They 've both design'd your freedom to redeem Aster Which to effect we 've found this Stratagem Though of your Fate this is th' appointed Scene Yet in respect to that which you have been His Friend and Vizier you 're allow'd this Grace None but Morat has entrance to this place Mirv. The Mutes th' intended Murderers wait all Without at distance and beyond his call And but approach that minute when you fall Aster When False Morat returns to take her hence Produce this Weapon as your last defence Disarm him bind him leave him in your room Change habits with him and his form assume Lead hence your Princess and by th'help of Night Pass undiscover'd and secure you flight The Guards too not suspecting an escape Will let you pass deluded by that shape Ibrah. Alas I was before a Bankrupt made And owed too much where I 'had so little paid But now your goodness swells the Debt so high That I with shame must Live Aster Shame Dear Sir why You owe me nothing By Religious tyes When Vertue in distress and danger lyes Its rescue and defence should be the care Of all Man kind and that 's my bus'ness here Isabel. Thou art so excellently good thou best Of Rivals so much Heav'n dwells in thy Breast In Duty to perfections so Divine All my best thoughts and half my prayers are thine Enter Morat Mor. I come to tell you that your hour is past ha starts Ibrah. Keep in thy tongue or speaking speak thy last Morat How came you by that Sword Ibrah. gets between him and the Door Ibrah. No matter how Jaylor my Flight must be contriv'd by you Morat Your Flight Ibrah. 'T is a proposal may seem strange But Sir we two our habits must exchange And you must yield to stay here gag'd and bound Till by your shape we move t' a safer ground If at this price you 'l buy your Life you may Morat What do you think to frighten me to play The Traytor Ibrah. Know 't is Death to disobey Morat Submit to save my Life for one hours time To dye the next by tortures for my Crime No though your Arm is so renown'd I 'le try My chance for Life Ibrah. Then take thy choyce and dye they fight Aster Hold Villain hold how dare you lift an arm Against his Life Interposing Ibrah. Dear Madam fear no harm Mor. How dare you Save what Solyman Condemnes to Aster Ibrah. Do not dispute her goodness nor my Crimes But yield and Live Mor. Yield no at thy false heart fights agen Hold thou hast kill'd me Traytor as thou art Bears himself up reeling upon his Sword In all my hopes all my Ambition crost By a fond foolish Girl betray'd and lost Aster You are not wounded Ibrah. No! you Genius was my guard Mor. Thou Treacherous Fool take that for thy reward Kills Aster and falls Ibrah. Down to thy Hell and there in torments howl Sticking him to the ground Oh speak dear Madam ease my tortur'd soul The Gods their charge must better understand Then to ordain your Fate from such a hand Say you 're not hurt Aster No! let your trouble cease He has only sent a wretched thing to peace Isabel. She bleeds she bleeds Ibrah. Oh! this detested hour Aster Alas Sir I was dying long before Deaths cold hand strook me when I first lost you A lingering Fate the slow Consumption drew Then do not Sir this happy stroke deplore That ends a tedious Journey in an hour Isabel. A Lovers absence and a Fathers hate My three years pains were easie to this weight Horror ne're seiz'd me in this dismal shape Ibrah. Infernal Dog Aster Think think of your escape Ibrah. Is an escape a fit reward for him Who bears the weight of my accursed Crime Aster My Death is not your Crime Kind dear Sir flye Oh do not stay leave me alone to dye Ibrah. Desert you Aster I conjure you do not stay I' th path to Heav'n the Good can never stray I need no help to guide me in my way Ibrah. How can I flye Aster This unkind language cease Fly as you 'd have my Soul in Heav'n find peace Ibrah. How can I promise you Aster Oh Sir you must Will you deny me Rest when I am Dust Is saving of your Life so hard Ibrah. Is leaving you So easie basely to desert you now And guard my forfeit blood when I have been A fatal instrument in shedding thine Aster Nay then I 'm destin'd to dye wretched all I beg'd of Heaven was to divert your fall My saving Ibrahim's Life was all my pride And must that only blessing be deny'd Ibrah. Well Madam I 'le submit to any thing Aster Now with an Angels voyce I hear you speak And at that word my heart-strings gently break My well-pleas'd Ghost will find eternal rest To think that I have made my Ibrahim blest And must I dye in my dear Ibrahim's Arms Now you transport me with too mighty charms In this dear Heav'n like a blest Star I 'm plac'd But oh my Joy's too violent to last dies Ibrah. She 's gone Yes generous Saint I 'le do thee right But if I flye my Death must be my flight I 'm too much loaded with my shame and grief To leave this killing â—ight to save a life Isabel. Farewell unhappy Maid sure there must be No common joys above reserv'd for thee Thou had'st so little happiness below Heav'ns debts are certain though the payment 's slow Enter a Bassa as sent from Solyman Bassa Morat stays long What 's here Guards Guards Exit Bassa retreating at the same door he enterd Ibrah. Stay stay I am your Prisoner and your pow'r obey Alas there needs no Crowds to take me now Re-enter the Bassa with Guards Bassa Seize him Guards seize him Ibrah. It is the kindest office you can do Bassa Remove the Bodys hence And keep those Prisoners safe till my return Till from the Sultan's will their Fates I learn Exit Ibrahim and Isabel. led in by Guards part of the Guards carry off Morat and Asteria and the Bassa returns at the same door he entred at Manet Mirva Mirv. How dismally to Roxolana's ear Will this strange story sound But see she 's here Enter Roxolana Roxol. Have I success Is Isabella fled Has that dire Planet hid its threatning head I fear thy Answer will not be so kind An Ominous load hangs on my burden'd mind Mirv. Let me in silence my Allegiance pay Roxol. No Mirva speak the worst thou hast to â—ay Mirv. The fair Asteria's dead kill'd by Morat But in revenge of her unhappy Fate By
you his power 's so little Ibrah. No so great When yours joyns too to make that pow'r compleat 'T is infinite like that bright boundless space Where light and Saints their endless glories place Within it all things and beyond it nothing Solym. Say then from whence does all this darkness come Have I done injury to Christendom Have any of my forreign pow'rs by steel Or Rapine wrong'd those Altars where you kneel Ibrah. Love pardon dutys sin when I reveal My lesser sorrows but the great conceal Aside Sir when I bring The Lowness whence you drew me to my thought The change which your Almighty hand has wrought Though he that rais'd it can support my state With trembling I behold my dang'rous height Malice and Envy will my life persue And strive to make me hated be by you How many of my Predecessors fell Nor could their Services their Dooms repel The faithful Vizier Achmat Rais'd Bajazet the Second to his Throne And little less had Valiant Chassan done For your great Father Yet in all their pride Both by their jealous Lords suspected dy'd The fear of death my trouble does not make My Life and Honours you may freely take But when I think the fatal time may be When you will but suspect my Loyalty 'T is that strikes horrour through my staggering sence No Torture like mistaken Innocence Solym. I thought to you I 'had made my breast so clear That you had nothing left to wish or fear But since my kind conjectures are not sure At once your weakness I 'le forgive and cure I swear by Alla and to bind my Vow Heâ—v'n make me happy as I 'm just to you Whilst Solyman Lives his Ibrahim shall not dye By any violent death Ibrah. Your favours are so high Solym. Forbear your thanks 't is only what I owe Men thanks for Gifts and not for Debts bestow Roxol. No Sir your constancy he cannot doubt He knows his Prince too well for such a thought Why this disguise Solym. I 'le take this surer way Though Friendship have no influence Love may Here be your looks as Conqu'ring as your Sword I call you Friend and she shall call you Lord. Gives him Asteria Aster That word my ravish'd sence does overcome I feel my joys too mighty to be dumb Aside Solym. Be to my blood as to my soul ally'd Now have you thoughts you from your King can hide Have I not bought 'em yet Ibrah. What shall I say Aside Aster My Bliss was never perfect till this day Aside Rox. This Lady whom in Chains you could subdue Admiâ—'d by all deserv'd By none but you Enrich'd with Solyman's favours and above All other Ornaments her greater Love Meets you with all the kindness souls e're shar'd Your Glories prize your Loyalties reward Aster Do not too high her little Merit raise Who blushes but too much without this praise Yet Sir By your commands I should all shame remove I need not blush when Duty bids me Love But mighty Sir if the o're-hasty guest to Ibrahim By a too early Raign this Seat possest points to her Breast Let th' easie prize not make the value less Nor Love its merit loose for its excess A Love which could not be by force expell'd And now wants pow'r to keep its joyes conceal'd Solym. To make her yet more worthy Ibrah. Great Sir hold Let me alone this Beauties worth unfold 'T is I can best describe such excellence Aster I feel new raptures in my softn'd sence Aside Ibrah. Some Heroe whom Imperial Crowns adorn To greatness rais'd and as much greatness born Some Prince that has so much Man-Kind ouâ—-done As should make Solyman's equal in his Son 'T is such a one should meet Asteria's charms But I the most unworthy of her Armes Roxol. Where will this end Aside Aster Some God that pitty's Love divert my fear Aside Ibrah. So little pow'r of Gratitude dwells here points to his Breast That I 'am beneath your scorn so wretched I To reconcile my Fate beg leave to dye Yes take my heart but when 't is yours it must Be offer'd up in blood to make it just To give me back my Chains would be too kind Let me in Death Yours and his Justice find Solym. Has Ibrahim crimes make him deserve to dye Ibrah. I Criminal Oh none so much as I. I am below the state of Infidels I view that face where Soveraign Beauty dwells Beauty which homage next to Gods receives And commands hearts more than the Sultan Lives Yet I to neither can Allegiance pay Love my Preserver or my Prince obey Fair Mistress of my Life and Liberty The founder of my Fame all I enjoy Th' ungrateful Creature of your smiles destroy Roxol. Are Solymans favours and his blood abus'd And so much Love thus barbarously us'd Solym. Ibrahim I am unwilling to believe Such Disrespect I can from Man receive Much less from Favourites say then what is That Pow'r has destin'd me to suffer this Aster Ask not the reason of his disrespect Let her describe the Cause who feels th' effect My sighs with scorn too fatally are paid My Love 's despis'd for some more happy Maid Look Sir on this sad object and in me to Ibrah. The sudden change of fading Greatness see When I came hither oh my short-liv'd Bliss I 'd not have chang'd my hopes of happiness To have been Empress of the World but now Not the most wretched of my Sex so low Nor am I in my slighted Love alone Unfortunate but guilty too I 've done What neither to my Sex nor Birth was due Transgrest the Laws of modesty for you So weak my heart so great my sufferings are I cannot hide my Love nor my Despair offers to go Roxol. What do I live to hear Asteria stay Aster No! let me take my hated sight away This freedom to the lost Asteria give In Crowds the Prosperous not the Wretched live Exit Asteria Roxol. Who is that pow'rful Rival for whose sake Your stubborn heart her Beauty cannot shake For whom Asteria's favours and her blood Are priz'd as little as they 're understood Yet name her not already I have heard Too much if Solyman you lov'd or fear'd You would not treat him thus You 've wrong'd him more Then all your Victories oblig'd before Exit Solym. Go tryumph in her suff'rings and my shame And add this one proud Title to your Fame You from an injur'd King this Grace receiv'd You are the first disturb'd my peace and liv'd Exit with his Train all but Ibrahim Ibrah. Ruin'd at once so sure Fate has made haste Who could believe that so few hours are past Since this undone lost despicable thing Was fear'd by all the World and favour'd by his King But now her Love refus'd his blood disgrac'd How are those Titles at one blast defac'd Oh Love Oh Isabella When thy Ear Shall the dire sound of my misfortunes hear Give me at once thy pitty and applause And whilst my
my Persecutor turn'd Nor the fair Injur'd Roxolana mourn'd We had lived â—afe from Tortures and despair Not wrong'd by th'Great nor envy'd by the Fair. Solym. Are you so faithful then to Ibrahim That you would rob the World in Love to him To wish those eyes obscure yet if they were Had those eyes been those twins of light less fair Then Crowns and Empires might my peace have bought And a wide World had fill'd my bounded thought Isabel. Oh hold this too unkind discourse give o're My Ibrahim's dear but my bright Honour more Think how you do not only injure him Conspire against your once Lov'd Ibrahim But whilst I 'm forc'd to hear the frightful name Of Impious Love you wound my tender Fame Solym. If of your Honour you so tender prove Express it by your scorn of Ibrahim's Love You only wrong your Fame in loving him Unworthy as he is but end that Crime Isabel. Oh Heav'n what do I hear Solym. He is a Thief A Traytor for a mean and base reliefe Against my dang'rous Love he stole you hence Isabel. If that's a Crime 'T was mine not his offence Your black designs had made me dread your sight So much I used not only Prayers t' invite But my Commands to make him aid my flight Solym. Fair Torturer of my soul since you could be So kind to him and so severe to me Expiate that sin of which you are the cause His head is forfeit by the Turkish Laws Now if you love him reconcile our strife Your heart 's the only Ransom of his Life 'T is true I 'm led by passion to disclaim My Vertue wrong my Friendship stain my Fame I see the Precipice but cannot stay Love runs me down and drives my soul away My Passion for that Beauty is so high This I resolve this I must do or dye Isabel. In vain you threaten me with Ibrahims Death Think not my long inviolable Faith Poorly at last will be o'recome by Fear No Sir there 's no such weak Dominion here Tho you can aim Your fury at his Heart To persecute Me in the tenderest part Tho Ibrahims Life I prize above my own Think as much worth lodg'd in that Breast alone As Man-kind e're possest or Heav'n e're gave Yet even his Life I wou'd not basely save Solym. Gods must I find A Heart so fixt and Vertue so sublime Has my bold Love such craggy way to climbe Isabel. Hope not t' assault me there rather than he Should live to see me perjur'd I would see Him bleed see him in purple horror dy'd See the dear Lord of all my hopes destroy'd Nor think this Doom in cruelty design'd No His just Love wou'd rather call it kind Solym. Oh my distraction Isabel. But whilst I stay To prove my Vertue I my Vertue wrong And my chaste ear has guilty been too long Here Jailour to my Prison take me hence to Moâ— Now you may act a welcome violence Solym. Stay Madam Isabel. I can hear no more in vain Solym. Oh Madam stay one minute and t' obtain That favour Ibrahim shall live and live To see me wretched till he sees you give My mortal wound as but too soon you will For so much scorn can do no less than kill When those fair Eyes shall like a winter-Sun Give only light not life whose influence gone All things below decay'd and wither'd turn And drooping Nature does his distance mourn When thus my blasted greatness shall decay And by your frowns my life shall droop away My pains my griefs my horrors shall be such As shall so near my generous Vizier touch Till my sad state his soften'd pitty move And pitty grant what is deny'd by Love Till his compassion does my life defend And quit a Mistress to preserve a Friend Isabel. Do not his Constancy so much mistake Yet if for you he could my Love forsake That heart which justly as his falsehoods due I took from him I could not give to you Though you such Irreligous thoughts admit Your Honour and your Nuptial Vows forget I cannot Solym. Is Religion then my Foe And does my Marry'd state my hopes o'rethrow That shall not cloud the glories of your life You shall be mine a Christian and a Wife Isabel. Defend me Heav'n what 's this Solym. You shall in state be to a Temple led I 'le take the Crown from Roxolana's Head Thus you shall meet my Love Isabel. 'T was too much crime alone T' oppose my Vows wou'd you deface your own Break your long Faith to Roxolana given And by your rage thus doubly injure Heav'n Solym. I injure Heav'n no you mistake me now I am pious not profane in what I doe What greater homage can to heav'n be paid Then with Imperial Crowns t' adorn the Head Of the Divinest Creature it e're made Isabel. Oh! let me go this place of horror flye Send me t' a dungeon to a Grave to dye Rather then stay to heighten your impiety Solym. Retire then since my presence is a sin But Cruel Fair when we shall meet agen Assume a mercy that befits that brow Isabel. If I must find you as I leave you now Meet me no more nor time nor force employ Against that Faith no pow'r can e'r destroy And for those Tales of Death you seem to fear Attend my frowns there 's no such danger near Despair in guilty Loves ne're soares so high None but just Lovers love enough to dye Exit Guarded Solym. Was ever scorn so high or King so low Mor. To Constancy you all this rudeness owe. But if you e're expect to be belov'd The causes of this scorn must be remov'd Ibrahim must dye and though 't will seem severe To take that life which once you held so dear Yet since his Life has th'hopes of yours debarr'd His Destiny can be your only Guard This is the way will take Her Lover dead And the Crown taken from your Empress head Though some few tears may fall at Ibrahim's death Marriage and Crowns will tempt her Christian Faith This only course your desperate Love secures Solym. And this dark course I 'le take Mor. Do and She 's yours Solym. For Love o'recomes and I must kill or dye Let it be done e're I think how or why Haste Let the news of Ibrahim's Death be brought Exit Morat And whilst he 's dying I 'le divert the thought With a forc'd Lethargy I 'le damp my soul Friendship may else return and my resolves controul O Love what is thy power Morat return He must not dye Morat Re enters He must not dye I have by Alla sworne That he shall never bleed whilst Solyman lives Mor. Is it the voyce of Majesty Reprieves An Enemy a destroyer of your peace Can humble penitence great Spirits seize Solym. No I would have him still destroy'd but if I must be Perjur'd when I take his Life I must protect his Life though against mine Though Love can yield to any lesser sin
strangely am I crost by Providence Yet no ill Fate can drive my Princess Image hence My Vizier still must dye and Love will have it so Ulam Turn Tyrant turn see what your guilt dares do That Beauteous form has not an hour of Life She has drank a draught of Poyson a relief Against thy rage Behold that setting light And may her ruin blast thee with the sight I loved her without hopes of a return Yet I in tears of blood her Fate cou'd mourn Thou envy'd Rival did'st her Conquest boast In that fair prize all Natures wealth engrost Yet prodigally that curst stroke hast given As looses thee thy Fame thy Soul thy Heav'n I 'le tell that story of thee in the skyes Till at thy head all their just thunder flies There Beauteous Martyr when we meet above I will pursue my never dying Love dyes Roxol. Oh Sultan what reward does falsehood bring What judgments persecute a Perjur'd King Your Empress dyes your Friend and Daughter bleed To pull down Vengeance on your guilty head Of th'unjust torments I have undergone Heav'n has a sence though Solyman has none Solym. Why foolish Woman have you vext the Gods And set your Prophet and your King at odds Why have you wilfully sought this rash Fate To ruin yours and to disturb my State You might have liv'd and liv'd uninjur'd still Your greatness safe and unconfin'd your will Roxol. Yes Sir I might have liv'd and liv'd t' have been An humble Vassal to your Christian Queen Solym. Why will your Frenzy still thus blindly erre What if t' a Throne the Christian I prefer Must I impoverish you to enrich her You make us Monarchs very abject things If greatness is but once the gift of Kings I should not lessen you but give her pow'r As your Companion not your Successor Roxol. Do not these wild and vain excuses feign Seek not such Coverts when your guilt 's too plain But could you make two Suns together shine And her new Greatness not diminish mine Hers were the true Mine but a Pageant Crown I 've lost my Sultans heart my dearest Throne Could we in Crowns in that we cannot share There 's no dividing of an Empire there Solym. What-ever Charms I in her Eyes descry I love you still too well to see you dye Roxol. You loved me not enough t' avert my Fate Your Kindness and my Life have but one Date When I lost you I rather chose to cease To be at all than ever to be less I Lived so glorious and I Lov'd so well That all beneath my Paradice was Hell Sultan No more If I am guilty you have been My Punâ—sher rash and unhappy Queen But as some kind requital of your strange And passionate resentment of my change I have this sence of Roxolana's Fate I will in tears deplore her wretched state Roxol. 'T will to my Sufferings be some relief If Roxolana's Fall can cause your grief So much dear Sir does this kind promise ease My torments and my drooping Spirits raise That of your Cruelty I 'le not complain But tune my dying voyce to that soft strain That not one groan shall pass my parting breath Shall stifle all the horrors of my Death And treat you with the pleasures of my life Solym. Oh how she sets my Crimes before my sight And holds the mirrour at too fierce a light Roxol. When I was made the Mighty Sultan's Bride Led to the Temple in my Royal pride My Coronation did so splendid shine I charm'd a Nations Eyes and you charm'd mine I bow'd under the Glorys which you gave You crown'd my Head but made my Heart your Slave Then then my infinite happiness began Monarch was the lest part of Solyman Pow'r held the Reins 't is true whilst the great Chariot ran But Love the Soul of Empire sat above Reigning was but an Interval to Love Then from your Voyce I could this Musick hear My Roxolana Oh my charming Fair Angellick Sweetness Miracle of Light Pride of both Worlds Mine and the Gods delight And whilst your Love these tender sounds exprest You claspt me thus and leaning on my Breast Your languishing soft looks spoke out the râ—st Solym. If she proceeds at this bewitching rate By Heav'n she 'l make me grow Effeminate Such Eloquence have Lovers when they dye And thus we value Treasures when they flye Roxol. Nor had I passion less than Solyman Through every Vein the pleasing Feavour ran I shar'd your thoughts your pains your extasies Love melted in my heart and â—â—zl'd in my eyes My Raptures were so great my Joys so high That I 've liv'd happy though I wretched dye My hopes my tears my prayers were all for you You will scarce find a second Love so true Solym. What suddain alteration do I find Veâ—tue returns that Stranger to my mind Once more its long lost right has repossest Keep keep thy seat thou dear Celestial guest Roxol. Your Christian Favourite sees not with my Eyes She hates you and your kind embraces flyes But if at last Time Force or Empires charms Prevail to lodge her in my Sultans Armes If 't is her Destiny to live to see You false to Her as you have been to Me Her grief will never my despair pursue She will not dye to loose you as I do Solym. Kind Roxolana thou hast made me good Thou hast wrought a Cure in my distemper'd blood Shall this great Persian Rival bleed Shall He Who only saw but ne're possest like Me Plung'd in his blood a floating Victim swim Shall not your Loss move me that Murders him And shall not Heav'n my wandering sence recall Warn'd by a Daughters and an Empress fall Roxol. And do I live once more to call you mine What Divine change is this Solym. Yes 't is Divine My long benighted Soul is with new light array'd A change more Heav'nly the great Gods ne're made Since the contending Elements they appeas'd And a fair World from a wild Chaos rais'd But cruel Roxolana could you bring No gentler Reasons to confute an impious King What though you saw my Crimes and knew me false All Frenzy has some lucid Intervals You might have liv'd till my enlighten'd sence Had made me just without this violence Wou'd you had try'd Roxol. All gentler means you know I try'd before But Tears and Prayers had both too little pow'r Solym. Yes they 'd too little oh my torturing pain Now I remember how you wept in vain Begg'd Threaten'd Courted with such eloquence As ought t' have vanquish'd my too Brutal sence Such tender words you spoke as might inspire More softness than the famous Thracian Lyre Whose harmony the Lyons rage subdu'd Tamed the wild Herds and charm'd th' Infernal God But my more Hellish rage obdurate prov'd By Tears unmelted and by Pray'rs unmov'd Roxol. Be not disturb'd what though I wonted pow'r To make you just till in this latest hour I 'm pleas'd in Death to have your Conquest wronght Solym. It