I swore I would be true â—Twas to the Worlds Variety in you All your whole Sex for you I did forsake Who had all that Beauty which they joyn'd could make And as I constantly perform'd 〈◊〉 Vow For the same 〈◊〉 I am alter'd now Then call me not inconstant nor unkind Who greater charmes in Isabella find Ex. Solym. Roxol. Neglected was too much but slighted too Who could expect these barbrous wrongs from you Sultan what e're thy falsehood shall design My Lustre through thy hate and scorn shall shine Just Gods Defend my Vertue Guard my sacred Fame Then whom none nearer to your God-heads came Do 't as your Honour and your Pow'rs divine Prove your own Greatness by your care of mine Mirv. Doubt not th' Immortal Justice in your Cause Since your Apostate Lord his heart with-draws Heav'n will Revenge the wrongs to such a Saint If there can be a greater punishment Then th' offence to hold so rich so bright A Treasure and want sence to value it Roxol. False though he is So much respect is to his greatness due I may impeach his Treasons but not you Mirv. But say the World could yield as great a Man In Birth in Love more great than Solyman Who did for Roxolana's Beauty dye And with a Love as Innocent as high That wish'd no greater a reward t' obtain Than his fair Murderers pitty of his pain Could you permit Roxol. That He should tell me so Mirv. Only to ease your grief and let you know Your Love is not unfortunate alone Since there are miseries beyond your own Roxol. If such a Traytor to my Fame there be That thinks Love Innocent when spoke to me Conceal his Name as you would guard your Life But if a silent Death can ease his grief Let him Love on and dye without my frown For if his Insolence his Love dares own And breath th'aspiâ—ing thought he shall receive The cruell'st Doom that Hate and Rage can give Enter Ulama Mirv. Take heed Great Sir suppress your dang'rous flame There 's Death and Ruine in the very Name aside to Ulam Ulam Fair Empress They who so much Beauty meet Ought to strow Flow'rs and Laurels at your Feet The voyce of Tryumph should your ears delight But I approach you like those Birds of Night Which hovering near great Pallaces still come With their harsh Notes t' express some threat'ning doom Such your hard Fortune is and such is mine Your cruel Lord but oh that Fate shou'd joyn With Cruelty by his wild passion led Has seiz'd the Christian Princess as she fled Roxol. More weight to my destruction Ulam How much this accident may his fierce rage 'Gainst an Offending Rivals Life engage Is yet not fully known Only thus far He has gâ—ven away the Conduct of the War From Ibrahim Such Madam is my fear For you so great my dread of dangers here That though my Vows and Pray'rs pay you that Debt Which all Man-kind does owe and to compleat Your glory wish you all your pow'r can meet The World at your Command and Monarchs at your Feet Yet whilst th' imaginary pomp goes on And my fierce Zeal exalts you on a Throne As high as Heav'n and no less glorious too Not all these thoughts can guild my fears for you Roxol. Obliging Prince so great has been your sence Both of my Wrongs and of my Innocence That in return of such a generous part I 'le trust you with the secrets of my heart This false unkind ungrateful Solyman Does o're my heart that absolute Monarch reign That to what-ever Crimes his Rage dares flye My Love 's Immortal though my Pow'r can dye So th' Indian Worships the Infernal pow'rs And perishes by that which he adores Exit Ulam How mortal would this sound of horror be To one that Loved unless he Lov'd like me Her Vertue to her Beauty lends new fire And both their charms I equally admire Mirv. I 've us'd my pow'r but your vain hopes forbear Should but the name of Love reach her chaste ear Her pride scorn would into Vengeance flye Ex. Ulam I thank her for so just a Cruelty And blush to think I durst her Vertue try For could she yield to hear one sigh from me Her Vows and Nuptial Faith would injur'd be And true Love were a stranger to my breast If I could wish her Ill to make me blest Be Constant still and all my pride shall be To Reconcile thy Faithless Lord and Thee For since I must expect those wounds she gave Will quickly bring me drooping to my Grave My unstain'd soul will then Tryumphant flye When thus for the Worlds Empress I shall dye Others Love only as their Hope stands fair Bâ—t I Love on to propagate despair Exit The End of the Third Act. ACT the FOURTH The SCENE the Seraglio Enter Isabella Guarded by Morat and other Attendants Morat PArdon an act of Violence from his Hand Who only Executes his Kings Command Enter Solyman Solym. Fair Cruelty how cou'd you flye from him Whose only fault was Love and that 's a Crime The Gods must pardon for they practise it Love ev'n in Paradice does Tryumphant sit Isabel. How can you thus the name of Love profane Give no more breath to words of such a strain Then you would lend a Tongue to Blasphemy Solym. Can you make wounds so deep you start to see And wilfully be deaf to all my pain To Sighs sent from the heart in which you reign Some pitty of your Captives tortures take That breathe but like Conâ—essions from a Wrack The Gods are only to the Damn'd so strict To shut their Ears'gainst Torments they inflict Isabel. Is this a Fathers Voyce Is this a Friend To Ibrahim Can Majesty descend T' a Crime so low the meanest Slaves have scorn'd Were we for this with splendid names adorn'd He call'd your Son and I your Daughter made Only to be more cruelly betray'd Solym. 'T is true I gave him all I had pow'r to give I bid him happy in your favour live And ignorantly past that blind Decree Till in your Loss I did my Ruin see Your pow'rful form prest nearer to my soul And thence my Peace and Soveraign freedom stole My fancy painted all the joyes of life in you And in your loss ten thousand horrors drew Isabel. Oh Cruel King how can you wound my earâ— With those dire sounds I scarce have life to hear When the most sacred Vows you dare invade That Heav'n e're heard or Lovers ever made Solym. How Merciless can you your pow'r disguise Can you that question ask and wear those Eyes Isabel. If from their Influence your guilt arise Wou'd'I had been born of some black Aethiop-race Wor'n a dark Veile of Nature o're my Face And for the want Of outward force which Ibrahims heart should blind Had caught him only with a beautious mind Thus free from dang'rous eyes and fading charms My peace secur'd from a Wild King's Alarmes You had not then
Life Pow'r and Crowns Ibrah. I could for you the worst of Fates sustain Death were my Pride and if 't had any pain 'T would be to part so long to meet so late again Isabel. Kings are unlike their sacred pattern Heav'n If their offenders cannot be forgiven Let him go on his utmost rage fulfil And though he cannot frown but he must kill Confirm this constancy and Fate contemn Suffer more boldly than He can condemn And as I doubt not since the fault was mine But th' Author in th' Offenders doom shall joyn As your long Loves reward expect to see The Scene of Martyrdom fill'd up by me As in our Loves in Death together bound With greater pomp and state wee 'l meet the wound Then Victims that were led to Altars crown'd Ibrah. But see the mighty Solyman draws nigh Enter Solyman Ulama Morat and Guards See there the trembling Worlds Idolatry And such a Prince whose merit is so high That he who steals from Heav'n to make a gift Of homage there may justifie the theft Solym. Do you not tremble when you see me here Ibrah. No Sultan I have reverence but no fear Solym. And does not shame your guilty Conscience touch Ibrah. Though Solyman in Thunder should approach Still the same charming Majesty he wears But if so great and sacred he appears To those that meet his Frowns and tread on Graves How Godâ—like is He when he Smiles and Saves Solym. Ibrahim What Guardian Angel have you here My Furies vanish when such charms appear What Lady 's that Ibrah. One for whose sake I can Meet Death and stand the Frowns of Solyman Solym. Thy Love is bold But in her cause I can't admire thy Pride What unknown Nation did that Beauty hide Ibrah. Sir to my torment she ' has been hid too long Too fierce her Jaylor and her Jayl too strong Till Fate at last clos'd up her Dragons Eyes And then by force brought the Illustrious Prize Heav'n this fair Mourner sent t' attend my Grave To see your bleeâ—ing Victim in her Slave Solym. No Ibrahim you could not dye before For Solyman your Lifes protection swore And now you must not suffer if you cou'd Such Beauty can appease my injur'd blood Though you 've wrong'd Friendship Friendship must forgive Who cannot dye for her can less deserve to live Beauteous unknown to Isabel. If thy fair hand the Sacred Contract Seal'd Which must not be by any Pow'r Repeal'd That Present from a Monarchs Hand accept gives Ibrahim to her Which has for thee by Destiny been kept I should unjustly in a Subject chide That Constancy which is a Monarchs Pride Ibrah. By your surprizing goodness overcome Thus let his Duty speak whom wonder has struck dumb Kneels Solym. Rise Ibrahim is Justice in a King So strange and so astonishing a thing Isabel. Is this the Dungeon These the Chains false fear That could suspect such Cruelty raign'd there Sure you mistook the Judge or I the Doom to Ibrah. Who find such vertue out of Christendom Solym. Justice and Nature here shall end their strife Rich in those Charms enjoy a happy Life Ibrah. So vast a gift by so much mercy given If Monarchs in their actions coppy Heav'n Your glory in that List must be the chief Never was coppy yet so near the Life Solym. Tho Fate for this commanding Beauty's sake Will not permit you should my blood partake I will not be by Destiny out-done I in a Friend will still possess a Son Ibrah. What means my King Solym. All kindness to that Name What ever envy'd Monarch does lay claim To this fair Race His glory I 'le partake This Lady my Adopted Daughter make With all the Rites and Pomp due to my blood With all the Regal Ornaments endow'd That ever did or can attend my Race You shall in Her a Sultaness embrace Isabel. Forgive me sleeping Father when I must Thy Honours steal and â—ob thy Sacred Dust To pay new homage here Great Solyman Such matchless Vertues in your Bosom raign As without sin Religion can controul And swell th' Ambition of a Christians soul. Let me thus low the mighty Title meet And fall before a Royal Fathers feet Kneels Solym. Rise and accept Not on my Bounty but your merits score A Fathers Love Raises her 〈◊〉 Pray Heav'n I 've given no more I have approach'd her killing excellence Too nigh and feel in my transported sence Something that says I 'm by my Eyes undone And yet the Lawless wandring lights gaze on Aside Isabel. Those numerous Tâ—ophies you 've in Battle wone Gain you less Fame than this one act has done Your Valour there but Nations overthrew Here Solyman does Solyman subdue Solym. Aâ— fâ—â—st I thought â—gaz'd without a sin Friendshâ—p and Honour kept the Traytor in Now 't is resistâ—ess whilst â—â—ch pains she takes To praise my Conquests she a gâ—eater makes Aside Isabel. How faintly Famâ— does Solyman present In those weak name Great and Magnificent Those Attributes the Christ an World does give And those from Fear and Envy you receive If who but hear your goodness give no less What must she pay whom it vouchsafes to bless Solym. What must you pay O that strange word might I prescribe the way How those fair Eyes their Gratitude should pay I Miser-like shou'd for such payment sue As would t' enrich my self the World undoe But Shame and Friendship interpose between My wand'ring wishes and that splendid Scene Aside Fair Creature Isabel. Generous Sir Solym. No more Think I 've oblig'd you less or if I had done What might deserve applause yet pay me none For since her Eyes have done too much before Why should her Wit advance the Conquerour Since I have the Mortal stroke already found 'T is torturing of me to enlarge the wound Aside Isabel. Then what I must not my whole Sex shall pay For the strange wonders of our Nuptial day Lovers shall in their Temples sing your praise And add their Mirtle Chaplets to your Bayes Solym. Fair excellence no more Here Ibrahim haste Gives her to Ibrahim Begone and hold that Beautious Treasure fast Be gone whilst I have power to bid you goe Ibrah. We have receiv'd his Royal Grace too slow His Daughters struggling wrongs resume their pow'rs To Isabel. Let us retire whilst the blest minute 's ours Solym. Quick flye with your rich prize lest you delay Till that storm rise will drown you if you stay Ex. Ibrahim and Isab. And is she given into a Rivals hand Seiz'd and possess'd and all by my command He from my bleeding heart tears that fair prey And in that Rape forces my life away Ex. Attendants to Ibrahim and Isabella Stay Prince to you and to Morat I dare The nearest secrets of my Soul declare I 'm grown so alter'd and deform'd a thing In Solyman you 'l scarce find out your King An impious and devouring flame has raiz'd All in me that was good all that was great defac'd That like the
but a Daughter to pronounce his shame My Father Sir has laid his Vertue down Has shaded all the lustre of his Crown And in that black degenerate disguise Has seen his Ibrahim's Saint with impious eyes Ibrah. Tortures and Hell Isabel. Oh would this sound of Death Had found a passage from some Villains breath Some Inâ—idel or Hellish minister There might be hopes then my deluded ear Had been abus'd and some brib'd Traitor spoke But there 's too great Credentials in that look Ibrah. Quick quick dear Madam Kill apace go on Say what black hour this Cruelty begun How fatally the sudden Tempest â—ise That would put out my light and Ecclipse his Aster To Ulama he has reveal'd his shame 'T is from his Mouth the fatal secret came And that your sight may not his hopes debar He takes th' occasion of th' approaching War To make his passage free whilst you are sent To conquer 't is a splendid banishment But fly dear Sir leave an Inhumane Court Where glorious ills their gaudy pomp support Fly to some kinder Clime Where both from dangers and from fears remov'd For ever Love and be for ever Lov'd Free from all Jealousie Cares and distrust Live a long happy Life when I am Dust And Madam do not think I am unkind To Isabel. In courting him to leave his pow'rs behind And all his Honours quit You who can dwell Securely with such merit in a Cell Will make your Joys the loss of Crowns supply If you but love him half so well as I. Isabel. Great Solyman has found an early Heir Vertue has left his breast t' inhabit here Aster But when I bid you flye and from all harms Remove you to be safe in Ibrahims Armes I make you happy but with all the pain Despairing Love and bleeding hearts sustein Forc'd by my Piety and Love I must A Rival bless to make a Father just Ibrah. But Madam when she 's safe safe in my pow'r From splendid Jailes and Rival Kings secure Then what requital can I make who owe My Life and all that makes Life dear to you Aster The payment I shall ask will easie be Only remember you were sav'd by me And if my Memory be worth your care Then I 'm o're paid for all my favours here Ibrah. Fear not my payment then if that be all On you as on my Tutelar Saint I 'le call Aster What you resolve must instantly be done Whilst we discourse the precious minutes run Morat and his Confederates haunt this ground And ev'n her Guards already watch her round But for her safety I have found the way Ibrah. Speak Author of my Heav'n and I 'le obey Aster You know what Turkish custom Has with th' Imperial Daughters long prevail'd A Sultaness ne're walks abroad Unveil'd She then by my retinue and my shape Shall in my borrow'd Veile make an escape My Women I 've engag'd t' attend her flight And to avoid all dangers by my sight To keep the Cheat from all discovery Till she 's gone safe I will her place supply Isabel. I must not buy my freedom at that rate Expose you to incur your Fathers hate Have I no other way t' attain my bliss Aster What other way or where 's the fault in this Isabel. If on no other ground my safety 's built I must reâ—use that Bliss t' avoid this Guilt Aster Were I to flye with Ibrahim I should find Not half these Arguments to stay behind Isabel. Rather than let my Guardian be undone I 'le perish by that storm I must not shun Tortures and Death's the worst and those I 'le bear Rather than sin against my Honour here Aster I am his Daughter and have pow'r t' asswage With a few Tears an angry Fathers rage But you he Loves Loves with a lawless flame And no small pow'r can violent passions tame Ibrah. Madam the kind Sultana's gift embrace Stop not the Torrent of her Royal Grace Isabel. Must she then stay to suffer in my place Must I requite her with returns so rude And buy my safety with ingratitude Aster Oh flye Sir I conjure you do not stay Will you not once not once my will obey You 'l pay a Life's obedience to her pow'r And shall not I command you for an hour Ibrah. Let not her soft entreaties be withstood Since she like Heav'n is pleas'd with doing good To her a Father cannot be unkind The breach your absence makes her prayers may bind Isabel. Were I assur'd her dangers were not great 'T were hard when she commands and you entreat T' oppose such force Aster Have I the Conquest won Now all my bus'ness in the World is done I cannot fall more low nor raise you higher Ibrah. Farewell And generous excellence when we retire Oblig'd by goodness as this vast excess We 're happy but must blush at Happiness Aster Stay yet If I must never see you more One favour let my breaking heart implore When Miser-like you with a greedy eye to Isabel. Seize those kind looks for which I mourn and dye Amidst your scenes of Joy shall Ibrahim be Permitted but to steal one sigh for me Isabel. Permit his Sighs yes and command'em too By my Commission he shall pay that due Aster And when I 'm dead but I shall ask too far Shall He At poor Asteria's Name let fall a Tear Isabel. A thousand But be far that hour remov'd Such vertue must of Heav'n be more belov'd Then t' have a Raign so short yet if we shall Survive the generous Asteria's fall Doubt not the pious Tribute of his Tears My Eyes shall be his griefs Remembrancers Each Sigh he takes each Tear he sheds shall warm My Breast and to our Loves be a fresh charm Aster And will you do all this to Ibrah. Ibrah. Do 't with as true A Zeal as the fam'd Vestals ever knew With Piety more constant and entire Your ashes I 'le adore than they their fire Aster Now I have all my wishes dare implore You cannot grant nor must I ask you more But Sir if e're You are distrest agen which Heav'n forbid Call on my Name I 'le be your Guard tho dead For sure in Love there is so strong a tye That even my Ghost will be as kind as I. Exit Ibra and Isabel with Asteria's Attendants Oh Isabella thus to set thee free What has Love done for him despair for thee I 've giv'n hopes happiness and life away And dearly for that generous act must pay I in his absence feel his killing pow'r Alas my Ruine was too near before Yet now as if it came too slowly pac'd I have turn'd Prodigal to make more haste Musick directed here what can this mean A Song is sung from within SONG No Art Loves Influence can destroy In vain would Captive Kings their Chains unloose When the blind Boy The Thunderer himself could ne're oppose Drest up in various forms his Heav'n he left And practis'd in disguise the amorous theft But
Which binds your Arm and does your pow'r restrain Can ought rebate the Sword of Solyman Solym. My Faith my Vows and my Religion can By Alla bound I 've made this solemn tye Whilst Solyman Lives my Vizier shall not dye And by his Death I must my Peace retrieve Muft. Sir he may dye when Solyman does not live Solym. Did I for this thy Wise advice request For satisfaction in my Grave dull Priest I 'd live to be reveng'd Muft. Yes Sir you shall think not my Councels bring Such tardy Vengeance to an Injur'd King Death should flye quick as Light'ning from your frown Sir he may set before to morrow's Sun Solym. How may he dye to morrow Muft. Yes to Night Solym. My Faith unstain'd Muft. Unsully'd as the Light You are not by this promise bound to give Him immortality T' is whilst you live Yo 've sworne he shall not meet his destiny But there are hours each day in which you dye Sir whilst you sleep you are not living Solym. How Muft. To Sence and Reason man his Life does owe And when Sleep dams them up they cease to flow The soul deserts the body when it dyes What does it less in sleep it useless lyes Death 's its retreat and sleep is its disguise Sleep equals Kings and Shepheards Rich and Poor Nor can the pow'r of Death it self do more And where 's their difference Both give one stroke only one strikes more deep Sleep's a short Death Death an Eternal sleep If then whilst you are sleeping he receives The blow he does not dye whilst Solyman lives Solym. And will our Prophet this Revenge maintain And the Immortal Name take off all stain Muft. So just a cause he does and must defend Solym. Then dear Religion thou' rt a Lovers Friend Kind Priest my judgment does with thine conspire 'T is easie to believe what we desire But if his Death 's a sin the Crime be yours When our Guides stray the Errour is not ours Send him the Mourning Robe He dies to Night Exit Morat Enter Asteria Ibrahim fare well and may thy soul take flight To Paradice There be as blest above As thou wer 't here in Isabella's Love Aster Oh Cruelty who 's he that in one breath Can talk of Paradice and Ibrahim's Death Mor. I do not like her presence Aside Aster Royal Sir Forgive me if my fears have made me err Perhaps I have not rightly understood For you were always just and God like good Is it your pleasure Ibrahim should dye Solym. My Injuries give him his Death not I. Aster Can you speak Death agen a Crime so great Twice in one day one hour one voyce repeat The sound of so much horror and such rage Had singly been enough to brand an Age. Oh say that you deceiv'd me and to try My Courage told me Ibrahim should dye I would my reason and my sence distrust Rather than think that you can be unjust Solym. False to thy blood thus to oppose my will Whence comes that heat that does these tears distill Which fall when I a Criminals doom decree Aster Your Passion is that Criminal not he Oh Sultan call your glories to your aide Summon those Vertues which the World obey'd Stains in your brightness will too monstrous shew You were not rais'd so high to fall so low Solym. Heavens Have I Crimes a Daughter dares impeach Obey that will you are too bold to teach Aster Save Ibrahim and be as far obey'd As the Sun sees and Natures limits spread Repeal his Doom speak but that one dear word And be by all obey'd by all ador'd Solym. Can you that mercy for his Life implore Whom his Ingratitude bids you abhor Aster O calm the rage of your Tempestuous will And be a good and gracious Father still Solym. Stand from my Arm fond Girl expect no more T' obtain his life than you can life restore But hence know my displeasure and retire Aster If you are Angry raise your anger higher For if my dearest Ibrahim must not live Load me with all the sufferings you can give Let me your Frowns your Hate your Curses have All helps are kind that bring me near my Grave Solym. Hence with thy Pitty from my Anger flyâ— This wandring fire shall out for he shall dye Aster Since I with Tears and Prayers in vain implore Hear me but once and I will speak no more If He must dye when the dire wound is given And Ibrahim shuts out Life to take in Heav'n When the enamour'd Saints with greedy Arms embrace The brightest Guest in all the shining space To follow him I 'le leave lifes joys below And dying to my Rival Stars I 'le go Your poor Asteria in his Fate must joyn For know that man that wounds his heart breaks mine Must Ibrahim dye then Oh that dire word comes heavy from my tongue My breath grows short and I have talk'd too long Oh Sultan do not vanish from my sight Where are you stay why have you made it Night Swounds away Solym. Fond Girl thou hast my pitty But Remove her and her stragling sence recall This object cannot stop my Rivals fall Attendants carry her off Before Love rais'd this Torrent in my Blood Close to my heart firm as a Rock he stood But by some mighty Deluge over-borne Mountains unloose and Rocks from Rocks are torne Thro'their strong Veins the stronger flood pours in And the vast Fractures never close agen Is going Enter Roxolana Roxol. Stay Sultan stay If Perjury you think Is a mean crime at which the Gods can wink Be bold false King and sin in open day To the wide world your harden'd soul display Th' unmanly dread of th' other world out-wear And brave that Vengeance which you scorn to fear To make you yet more Barbarously great At once my Ruin and your Pride compleat Since on the Christian you my Crown bestow I come to give the head that wore it too Solym. Since the fair Christian then has been so kind To tell you what my pleasure has design'd Her word 's your Fate I Love her not so ill To make her Voyce less than an Oracle Roxol. Your falsehood is not whisper'd at that rate That I need learn your Crimes from her I hate But has your Rage so impiously decreed Yet why this wonder furious Lord proceed The prospect of my fall so open lyes That I 'm too well prepar'd for a surprize Solym. Do not so highly and so ill resent The loss of that which was not given but lent And when I take that which I lent before I but my glories to their sourse restore Roxol. Can you plead reason for your Guilts defence And thus Usurp the name of Innocence No Sultan speak like what you are and call Your self a Tyrant Monster Savage all The blackest names from injur'd Tongues can fall Since you prove false 't would be more just t' express Your Perjury in the most hateful dress Then I could bear
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
World in its last Funeral fires After that infinite Mass consum'd expires Where once so bright an Orbe of glory was Torments and Hell fill up the empty space Ulam Those thoughts whence this disorder'd language grew Have some great cause Solym. Yes and a strange one too I 'm practising the Gyants War agen I 've seen that Heav'n I wou'd unjustly Win. In one mean act my Honour I Dethrone From Ibrahim's Friend I am his Rival grown Ulam For his for hers for your own glories sake Some care of your declining Friendship take Her by your Kingly promise you have made Your Daughter him your Son Rights which t' invade Will so much stain your worth ecclipse your light That your own Mirrour will your soul affâ—ight That he who once made trembling Nations shake Will at his own surprizing Image quake Solym. These reasons my Conversion might have wrought Were I not too much harden'd in my fault But Ulama I Love and must Enjoy No Argument can that Resolve destroy In this extream my desp'rate cause defend Not as my Reasons but my Passions Friend O tell me how I may my Love without a Crime pursue Sooth me and flatter me deceive me do Hide all those stains that make it an offence And cheat me with a glimpse of Innocence Morat What need of Cheats Is there a happiness That the Worlds Lord should wish and not possess You wrong your self and our great Prophet too To yield to grief and not your joys pursue Kings are his care not are their passions fir'd by common heat of blood but things inspir'd 'T is the Eternal Will that does ordain Your Love or Hate nor can that act in vain If your Bliss only by her Love 's attain'd For you then she 's by providence ordain'd Why to your self then are you so unkind To feed your own despair why to man-kind To let their Monarch languish why to Heav'n Thus to refuse what th' High decrees have giv'n Solym. No Kind Morat our Prophet does ordain Monarchs with Honour should their Joys obtain And when that Rock stops our forbidden way Pow'r must not climb where Vertue bids us stay Mor. Honour and Friendship safe with all her charms That Beauty shall be lodg'd within your armes Put his Allegiance to this glorious test Tell him your Love and make her your request When he shall know such ador'd greatness dies If not recover'd by that Ladies eyes What will not so much Loyalty perform To guard his King from such a threat'ning storm By Heav'n he will present her on his knees Solym. Love ne're makes guifts so Prodigal as these Mor. Be not deceiv'd your pow'rful influence try Solym. How not deceiv'd Yes you deceive me Mor. I Solym. Yes and I thank you for the Courtefie Though all that you have said in my defence Are Reasons as remov'd from Truth and Sence As I 'm from Peace Yet such my passion is I 'm charm'd ev'n with imaginary bliss Love when thy pow'rs distracted fancies seize Hope in all formes tho ne're so false can please Ulam Recall your wandering thoughts from such false dreams And free your self from all these wil'd extreams This low desire and humble thought surmount And your own happier Scenes of Love recount Think of that dazling form so far above Natures less lights your Roxolana's Love Solym. There Oh 't is there I 'm lost that only Name Brands my inconstancy with guilt and shame Her right I irreligious I have stole She who so long has singly sway'd my soul To whom I 've sworne that Faith should ne're remove And dedicated an immortal Love A Love so sacred as should neither have An end on this side nor beyond the Grave Down go her Altars and her pow'r decays To a new Saint I a new Temple raise Ex. Sol. Mor. Ulam This secret must to Roxolana she Must hear her faithless Lords Apostacy The early knowledge of this dangâ—â—ous Love May give her means her dangers to remove I 'le waken all the forces of her heart Rowze all her charms her policy and art To re-establish her declining power I to my Trust was never false before But am I false t' oppose his Crimes to serve Such excellence such greatness to preserve To be his Vertues and her Honours guard Friendship 's a Tyrant if 't has Laws so hard But why did I see Roxolana last Why was that Jewel in the Turkish Diadem plac'd To shine so bright and yet be priz'd no higher Can he whom such Raies warm Be led astray by any wand'ring fire Well are thy Ensigns the inconstant Moon Had she been destin'd to adorn my Throne She had met a kinder Clime under a Persian Sun Yet though I Love and Love too late Enter Roxolana and Asteria She 's here The story is not for Asteria's ear I 'le watch the favour of a private hour Exit Rox. There was a time when my commands had pow'r Aster Have they not still Roxol. Then Love that Traytor less And your obedience in your scorn express Aster Love once by your consent my Breast did rule And can your Councels change and not my Soul No sure like Oracles such goodness spoke Pronounced what it meant never to revoke Hate that rough Passion Natures worst disease Should be learnt only amongst Savages Thoughts more refin'd and words of gentler sence Should be the Precepts of such Excellence Roxol. Poor Innocence abuse your self no more Think of Revenge and those fond tears give o're Aster Has Ibrahim deserv'd so ill of me Roxol. Can such apparent Crimes disputed be Such injuries though by th' Offenders Fate You may Revenge you ne're can expiate Aster Talk not of punishing so brave a Man Though hopeless I his Love must never gain Call it his Fate not Cruelty when I Must for some more deserving Beauty dye Roxol. Your anger and disdain should swell the more For being injur'd on a Rivals score Who can t' a meaner choice his thoughts debase And wrong his lifes Protectress and the Race Of Solyman a man so base and rude You ought to scorn for his ingratitude Aster Ah Royal Madam do not lay a Crime Upon the just and guiltless Ibrahim No doubt my Love came in too late an hour When his lost heart was gone beyond his power Seal'd by some Vows which I must ne're recall And should I be so guilty in my fall As against Hâ—av'n and Nature to repine Because they have made Eyes more bright than mine Roxol. If Love the payment of his heart withstood His Honour should have paid you with his blood But since he guilty lives abhor his Name If justice can't convert you then let shame Aster No more already you too much have said When your commands can never be obey'd I ne're can hate him though his Loss must kill My Murderer is my Lov'd Ibrahim still The world has not that man whose worth should buy My life when I for Ibrâ—â—im can dye Yet me thinks Death I would
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