offence Sultan prepare to quit your guilty Throne All these beneath your lustful Scepter groan You must no more your self nor them abuse Too guilty those appear whom all accuse Therefore in vain you 'l plead your innocence For these are arm'd against all such defence Sult My Lords I find no rigour in my fate Nor shall I seek my Crimes to mitigate Where you condemn the sentence must be just And if you think I ought to die I must Poor Sultan brave Prince and the like words of kindness murmur'd among the People Bect. By this so subtle and so soft a stile He hopes the easie People to beguile Kul They all begin to murmur and relent The People quarrel and are divided And we shall of our fond delay repent Dispatch him Sir Viz. What means this mutiny Nay Sultan than 't is time for thee to die One part of the People fall off to the Sultans side and cry a Sultan a Sultan the other part stick to the Vizier and cry Justice Justice They all fight The Vizier comes up to the Sultan and stabs him which having done there is a noise of Trumpets heard without Then enter Ipsir and Kuperly and others who drive off the Vizier and his Party Then enters to them Mufti and Solyman Ips. Oh my thrice honour'd Lord this happy hour Heaven set apart to save the Emperour Sult Heaven cannot save my life it may my fame By sending Ipsir to revenge my shame Kup. You are not wounded Sir Sult O Kuperly Staggers Wounded to death and yet I cannot die Rebell'd against betraid and which is more My Son a Bastard and my Wife a Whore Revenge my death on Oglar and on her She 's the Adulteress he the Murderer They in the People rais'd this discontent Yet guilty live while I die innocent Dyes Solym. I hope we all wear loyal hearts and Swords Who can forget the dying Sultans words Revenge my death Omnes Revenge Revenge Revenge Muf. Now my Lords you here may see too late The sad effects of discord in a State We Childish tears may on his body shed And vainly seek revenge without a head But if we would the fullest vengeance take We with the Foe must seeming Friendship make 'Till we are on a Successor agreed Then all by whom the Sultan bled shall bleed Ips. To what the Mufti says we must assent Our swords and tears are both impertinent Muster our Forces in the outward Court And draw 'em back in the Royal Fort. There they are alwayes ready for the Field In case the Rebels still refuse to yield Exit Soldiers Enter Young Queen veil'd and Attendants Y. Q. Dead And suppos'd by my contrivance slain Must I the loss and infamy sustain Can Earth a pleasure yield which to enjoy I could my honour and my Lord destroy Heaven knows I took no pleasure but in him I saught no Joy but Heaven and Ibrahim Muf. Madam you vainly hope to gain belief By your forc'd tears and your dissembled grief The pious Sultan he that was so good Dying charg'd you and Oglar with his blood On us a loyal care he did bequeath To punish the Contrivers of his death Y. Q. You must inflict a punishment too mild Since he believ'd I have his bed defil'd In this suspition he did far out-do All Torments I can ere receive from you In that my heart the worst of ills endures And since I lost his Love I ask not yours Sol. Before the Caddee Madam you must go 'T will be convenient that you tell him so Y. Q. This is a truth I dare say any where The Guilty Sir the only cowards are Since he liv'd not his sentence to Reverse I 'le only shed some tears upon his Hearse That duty once perform'd when ere you please My debt to Nature I shall pay with ease Ips. Be Madam in your Ceremony's brief A little time will vent a little grief Kup. Look where the Sultan do's for justice stay And seems though dead to frown at our delay She turns about see 's the Sultans body Runs and Imbraces it They whisper and go off all but the Queen Y. Q. Is this the relique of my Lord how chang'd Dying from me dead from himself estrang'd Behold where Majesty and Beauty lies Behold his Ruby lips his Diamond eyes But must they never speak nor shine again Must my black name wear an eternal stain O stain eternal stain Here I have found The fatal yet to me most fatal wound How cou'd so great a Soul and so much worth So quickly at so small a wound get forth Here will I clear my blasted Innocence And breath in Life or seek my death from hence She kneels with her face in his bosome and kisses his wounds Then Descends an Heavenly Shape in the Clouds and Sings SONG HE 's dead he 's dead seek not in vain To weep the dead to life again Spare O spare those Orient show'rs They fall too late on wither'd Flow'rs Your warmer sighs no comfort bring Nor can in Winter make a Spring Warm Winds as helpless prove as Dew Then let your sighs and tears be few Let your unspotted soul appear Through all the dismal Clouds you wear Let Innocence with grief partake Both will a watry Sunshine make While for the dead too much you grieve Your dying Fame you must retrieve As for the Balmy drops you shed The living want 'em not the dead Queen starts up and unvails her self Y. Q. How is my Soul wrapt up in sudden joys Methought I heard a sweet harmonious noise On which a glorious luster did attend Both seem'd my shame and sorrow to befriend If e're you 'l send relief your Pow'rs Divine To iujur'd Virtue send it now to mine Oglar brought on the Stage in a Chair to Mufti Ipsir Kuperli and Solyman Ogl. O quickly let me with the Sultan speak E're my tormented heart with sorrow break Muft. The Sultan's dead Sir Ogl. Dead O horrid Fate Then I confess the injury too late Y. Q. What injury Sol. Peace Madam we discern Too well your guilt by your too great concern What injury Ogl. His guiltless blood I shed T' injoy the sweets of his Sultana's bed Ips. She an Adultress what deceit there lies In Womens hearts what mischief in their eyes Kup. How yet unmov'd she stands her curs'd offence Nothing can equal but her impudence Sol. Shame of thy Sex before the Caddee come For such new Crimes he must invent a Doom Y. Q. What suddain Frenzy does your minds possess You hear but half and at the rest you guess Unless my Life you 'l wilfully destroy Ask him how oft he did those sweets enjoy Ogl. O never never her unspotted soul Would never condescend to deeds so foul When I all stratagems in vain had try'd Hell with unheard of villany supply'd My lustful heart for first I set on foot The late Rebellion from whose cursed root Sprung greater mischiefs far than you have seen Muft. How came the
they would forbear to crown my Son I fear they raise him but to pluck him down How happy Peasants in their Children are They 're free from greatness danger and from care So happy shou'd we be to live below If with less pomp we might more quiet know But to the Gods my self I must commit I know what 's pleasant they know what is fit Exit After shouts and acclamations without the Scene being drawn young Mahomet is discover'd on a Throne in Imperial Robes attended by Mufti Solyman Aga Ipsir Kuperli Bectas Kara Kulcahai and several others who upon the opening of the Scene make their obeisance and cry Long live Sultan Mahomet Hon the fourth Then they all enter and after a hush made the Sultan speaks Mah. My Lords and Gentlemen I thank you since m' unhappy Father's dead That you are pleas'd to chuse me in his stead My Lords I thank you that you have suppli'd Me and the Empire with so wise a Guide I ask no power greater than you give I ask no boon but that he may not live By whose Rebellious hand my Father di'd 'T is a request too just to be deni'd They all bow in token of compliance And if you please my Lords I 'le recommend This Gentleman my Father's dearest Friend Kuperli bows To that imployment I believe he 'll be Equally kind to you and just to me Mufti Soly. and Ipsir bow Bect. Kara and Kul seem discontented As to all other matters that relate To Polities in Government or State I yield they 're things above my years and skill I leave 'em all to the Queen-Mothers will So of her love and your advice assur'd From Foes and Rebels I shall rest secur'd All. Long live Sultan Mahomet Han the Fourth Exit Sultan follow'd by Mufti Soly. Viz and Ipsir Manent Bectas Kara and Kulcaiha advance on Stage Kara A Boy a Child he Viziers constitute Nay then 't is time his power to dispute Kul Suppose the Vizier had been still alive Must we our Leader up to Justice give Bect. You talk Kara Yes and that done 't is ods they wou'd have cry'd Follow your leader so must we have di'd Kul Nay ten to one our turn will be the next 'T is but a nat'ral gloss upon the Text. Bect. You are so hot pray Gentlemen be cool Kara Nay you were all o'fire to Crown the Fool. Bect. Puh then my Masters we shall ne're have done Can we who kill'd the Father die by th' Son Kul Doubtless the Youngster has design'd it thus So we must die by him or he by us Bect. Why he must die and 't is resolv'd he shall But you want patience to expect his fall We 'll call a Divan privately to night And the new Vizier thither we 'll invite Who either to his Murder must assent Or be a sharer in his punishment Kara Husht Enter to them Kuperli Ipsir and Solyman Kuper My Lord you see th' Imperial firm we bring Subscrib'd both by the Mother-Queen and King Gives Bectas a Paper 'T is for the Viziers execution And we are straitly charg'd to see it done To others he has granted to enjoy Their lives their fortunes and the same imploy Hoping that when his mercy they discern They will new duty and obedience learn Bect. The Mufti Sir did promise none shou'd die How e're to show how far we will comply With your desires the Vizier newly fled Shall be brought back again alive or dead Ex. Bect. Kara Kal. Ipsir Go Traytors go their Visage still retains Under that Loyal Paint Rebellious stains When they again a fit occasion find You 'l see which way the Villains are inclin'd Soly. Sir they are men we never car'd to trust Then 't was not what we wou'd but what we must Now they are smaller Wheels and move with ease Faster or slower as the greater please Ipsir Yet rusty and disorder'd Wheels too small To move the rest have pow'r to stop 'em all Kup. My Lords in States men I 've observ'd it oft The smooth and oily only swim aloft While those who of their Princes safety think And not their own turn solid fools and sink Ipsir 'T is very true none prosper well of late But the meer Rogues the Weather-cocks of State The Wealth which in Rebellious times they gain'd Has favour in succeeding Courts obtain'd The Royalist in vain to Court does go The Rogue that made him needy keeps him so Soly. I hope and doubt not but you generous Sir Will only such as well deserve prefer On you alone the Empires hopes depend You the Kings Safeguard and the Subjects Friend Kup. I 'll tell you Sir we blame the Emperour Sometimes for things that are not in his pow'r In spight of him and his 't was so of old And 't is so still Preferment goes with Gold We never can with all our care avoid But some rich Villains will be still imploid Ipsir I Sir you see with all that we cou'd do These Rogues get Pardon and Preferment too The Men for gain and Women for their sport Prefer a thousand Rascals to the Court Enter Bectas Kara and Kulcaiha with the Viziers Head as if they were wounded Bect. Sir he resisted so we cou'd contrive No way to bring him back with us alive By this I hope you are convinc'd he 's dead For all who knew the Vizier know his Head Kuperli takes his head in his hand Kup. This is that subtil Head that understood How to be great and ev'ry thing but good Nay that he knew but knowledge was his curse He knew the better but he chose the worse Soly. He seems to frown How di'd he penitent Some time you shou'd have given him to repent Kara He with such gallant resolution di'd That in his death his life he justifi'd Ipsir Damn'd Impudence by my consent you shou'd All justifie your Treason with your bloud Aside I to the Sultan will this Head convey Perhaps he 'l now be wrought upon t' obey Kup. I 'll tell the King how much you are his Friends He 'll for this action make you some amends Ipsir Amends hang em Exeunt with the Head all but Bectas Kara and Kulcaiha Bect. Bubbles meer Bubbles these are hopeful Youths To trust our Lies who won't believe their Truths Kara Poor easie Gulls when e're they see their blood Like Children whipt they think 't is for their good Kul Nay we shall quickly find 'em fresh assaults If once they learn to thank us for our faults They a fine Sheepish Principle maintain To live in quiet and at last be slain Bect. They shall they shall they are for slaughter fit They 'l give us thanks for teaching of 'em wit Repenting at their deaths of living well They go at last like pious fools to Hell Exeunt ACT V. SCENE I. Enter Solyman Mufti Ipsir and Vizier Kuperli Ipsir JAnizar Aga for the Vizier send What can this saucy impudence intend Why a Divan to night
advice will be more useful here Go and the Gods your just endeavours bless All. In such a cause we doubt not of success Y. Q. Kind Heav'n our Friends protect assist and guide And let the Justest be the strongest side Exeunt severally Scene drawn discovers a Room hung all with black the Old Queen Lentesia Bectas Kara and Kulcaiha seated while several of the Royal Party are plac'd in Order with Coffins before them on which stand a dim Taper and Mutes standing ready as to strangle them then Enter eight or ten Blackmoors drest like Fiends and dance an Antic having done they go out and after fearful groans and horrid Shriekings some of them return with burnt Wine which they still out in Sculls to the King's Friends who as fast as they drink dy at which the Queen and all the rest seem pleas'd The Queen and company rise and as they are ioming on the Stage Kiosem says Q. M. Hence we may learn Mans frailty soon or late The greatest and the wisest yield to Fate Sighs Bect. They can no more contribute to our mirth And now dull souls they 're only fit for Earth Scene closes Kara How pleasant 't was to see the Rogues dead drunk Their Souls with meer imagination sunk Kul Nay truly they were hopeful men of Arms Whom you might fright to death with shows and Charms The Sultan's Ghost appears leading Death by the hand He passes the stage beck'ning them severally Bect. I never knew till now what 't was to fear S' death who are you or what 's your business here While they all Stare and seem amaz'd a noise without and the door on a sudden broke open then Enter with their Swords drawn Kuperli Ipsir and Soylman with several Soldiers Lentesia snatches up a Pistol and kills one of them Len. Dy Rascals some of you for being so rude In to the Queen's retirements to intrude They Seize Bectas Kara and Kulcaiha ere they can draw as the Queen offers to escape they lay hold on her Solym. Take not this Office ill as from my hand I do it Madam by the Kings command Q. M. Not I what e're it be good news you bring Since 't is the will and pleasure of my King He shall command my life and all I have Alas I am his Creature and his Slave Kup. What shall we do my Lord I am afraid Ironically to Bectas Our Plot against the Sultan is betray'd Bect. O Hell and Furies mock me to my Face Must I die unreveng'd for this disgrace struggles Ips. Are you so full of venome and so stout Sir we shall find a way to let it out Kul Are these your sheep Now Bectas do you see The sad effect of your credulity Enter the Sultan with the Y. Q. Mufti and Attendants Kup. These are the Traytors Sir they need not plead Our proofs they by their Confession supersede Bect. What should we plead for mercy from a Child We scorn to have our deaths so much defil'd Y. Q. Sure they despair their impudence is such They 'r cloy'd with mercy they have found so much Muf. They slight old torments we must find out new The worst of deaths is to such Villains due Mah. Convey 'em to the darkest Cells you have While these are living they deserve a Grave When dead their loathsome Carkasses i' th' womb Of rav nous Birds and Beasts shall find a Tomb. Kar and Kul O Sir Bect. O Cowards let him do his worst And live in lasting torments more accurst It sir and Solyman with Souldiers carrying of 'em off and in a short time return with a Blackmoor A Throne plac'd The King and Queen seated Mah. Now Kuperli let Kiosem be brought That we may rightly understand her fault Queen Mother brought as a Prisoner Q. M. Assist me Heav'n and clear my innocence Caâ—â— be privy thought to their offence But who can me from misery protect Those most unhappy are whom you suspect Weeps Mah. For your suspicion there is too much ground Since reveling with Traytors you were found Q. M. Oh! had I known the rancor of their Souls Poyson instead of Wine had fill'd their bowls They came to me as Friends but now I find Their fury on us all they had design'd Mah. My Lord without a stronger proof I fear Her condemnation will unjust appear Ips. Sir here 's a Slave of hers who has confest Some of her Crimes and you may hear the rest Presenting the Moor. Muf. Sirrah confess the truth and you shall live The King in Slaves can any fault forgive Moor. Dread Sir the Queen with Bectas and the rest Thought good this night to make a Royal Feast She for her better entertainment sends For many Nobles as her cheifest Friends All who for being Royalists she slew This by the holy Alchoran is true Q. M. Pray Heaven a sudden vengeance to withold From a rash Slave so perjur'd and so bold Moor. Sir that you may not my bare word believe Your senses let her if she can deceive Scene drawn appears as it was left Kup. O horrid spectacle now Sir you see The solemn Triumphs of her Cruelty They all rise and survey the Bodies see the Vizier and Flatra Y. Q. Are these the entertainments that she makes Wo be to him that of such Feasts partakes Mah. Shut up the doors her guilt we see too plain For which we must this punishment ordain In some dark Dungeon where no Sun does shine Let her to death with thurst and hunger pine We nothing by her misery shall get Alas she is too wicked to die yet Thus we her Soal from torments may release And she at last may enter into peace Q. M. Do not my life in misery prolong Such kindness Sir will be the greatest wrong Death ne're was dreadful to the innocent Yet you in mercy my full ioyes prevent Muft. When you can better testimonies give That you are fit to die you shall not live Go go together and repent betimes Your daies are few and many are your crimes Lent Madam with you most willingly I go I would be guilty since they think you so Q. M. Oh will not injur'd Heav'n e're we go hence Show by some Miracle our Innocence The Gods protect you Sir when I am dead Poor harmless Youth I think Ips. She has dissembled with her self so long That now her treach'rous heart deludes her tongue Soly. I never such hypocrisie observ'd It feeds her fancy when her hopes are starv'd Kup. Now Sir I hope the danger 's at an end We 'l to the Armed Ianizaries send Who when the late defeat they understand In likelihood will of themselves disband If not within these Walls you are secure Till from abroad we new supplies procure Mah. My Lords and you Sir in perticular I thank you for your Loyalty and care While I have hearts so stout and heads so wise One to attaque the other to advise I look upon my self as absolute Nor will I safety or success dispute Y. Q. For me a double kindness you have done Reveng'd my Husband and preserv'd my Son My Lord such favours never can forget I hope he 'l live to pay his Mother's debt Muf. Madam the virtuous and the Loyal mind Within it self its own reward does find Great Souls are kinds of Deities that still Preserve what 's good and punish what is ill Exeunt Omnes FINIS EPILOGUE SWel'd big with expectation you did come To see us act our great affairs at home Papists accus'd and Satyrs against ROME That might have pleas'd but still the modest stage Forbears to represent the present age Let forreign stories matter here supply Old Tales and known are best for Tragedy Besides I think the business of our Nation Too sad a Theam to pass for Recreation Let us be mute till the whole truth comes out Not like the Rable at Execution shout Heathens that knew but just morality Pitti'd the Guilty when they came to die Barbarians at such Sights did show regret How far are we then from Religion yet Religion teaches mildness in her Lawes Triumph suspition upon justice drawes Go then contented hence with what you 've seen Fancy you have two hours in Turky been This was no Popish Plot yet English too For to say truth it was our Plot on you Written by Mr. Edw. Ravenscroft FINIS
a Novise I know she loves you and if any thing Debar her kindness 't is the jealous King Og. O do not my distorted soul perplex I tell you she 's the wonder of her Sex Kar What did she sigh blush and protest She 'd tell the King Laughing again Og. I all Kar Then 't was in jest Try her agen for if she will endure Once to be tempted she 's your one secure Og. I have it sancy to my mind has brought Oglar studies with himself A happy Kara 't is a happy thought I l'e do 't as sure dear friend I cannot stay Love like a whirl wind bears me swift away Exit Oglar Enter Kulchaia to Kara Exeunt Kul Well what sayes Oglar Kar Why the traine has took He bit ere I had time to bate the hooke I nam'd the King and ey'd him all the while O how his blood through every vain did boile Kul He can his thoughts on nothing now imploy But how the jealous Sultan to destroy So what his humour near inclind him too His Passion for the Queen will make him do Exeunt Enter Kiosem and Bectas Bectas Madam your inclinations are so good I hope I need not prompt your hands to blood Since Ahmet Osman and Morat are gone T is only Ibrahim keeps you from a Throne Kio Fly naughty man what kill my only Son 'T is such a crime I blush To have it nam'd much more to have it done Bect. Sure Madam you forget you are with me T was I that help'd you muder th' other three Kio With Bectas still I Vow I thought I 'de been With the fond Sultan and his Godly Queen Yet he 's my Son and she is Innocent Twou'd look Romantick if I shou'd relent What kill a Prince to whom I am ally'd To please my lust and satisfie my Pride The honour due to th' Majesty of Kings Shou'd teach a pious Woman better things Bect. Nay I confess t is a fine tale to tell An Empress lost a Crown for fear of Hell E'ne turn Religious and confess your faults And end your dayes in Grottoes and in Vaults Kio Poor Bectas how thou' rt troubl'd to believe That I shou'd ever for past mischeifes greive No no for while old Murders we review By them we cut out patterns for the new As skild Anotomists learn by their art The nearest and directest way to th' heart Bect. T is bravely said you are unwomand now Your beardless chin belyes your manly brow Fate fortune honor Majesty attend Expecting which you please to make you'r friend The Empire for its rider growes too strong And wonders you its guide shou'd stay so long Kio The Empire shou'd not want a Guide t is true Stay let me think Ive nothing else to do Bectas do you to the Seraglio haste And tell the Sultan he has raign'd his last If he shou'd seem offended when you come Tell him I le take his place t is troublesome Perhaps he 'l make resistance Bect. What fate for the young Queen have you decreed Is it not fit she and her Son should bleed Kio Alas when he is dead you 'le find she 'l crave The favour to be buried in his grave And for the Unfledg'd Imp of Majesty For want of Drams to cherish him he 'l dye But if they live th' encrease our Glory still More fame we gain the more we have to kill Enter a Janizary Ianiz Madam a Messenger come from the King Kio He may come in but what message can he bring Enter a Messenger Mes. Madam my hast will scarce afford me breath To tell the news of the Queens sudden death Kio My Daughter dead Hence ugly screech owle Hence To bring such news to me is an offence Fly thou ill Omen we by nature hate Plagues and all common Messengers of fate But art thou sure she 's dead why dost thou Muse Mes. It may be dangerous to confirme the news Kio It shall not by the Alcoran I swear Thy doleful tale I am prepar'd to hear Mes. Madam for proof of the ill news I bring At first I heard the whole Seraglio ring With mournful shouts and doleful cryes that done A silent horrour in the Court begun Kio Well prithee to the business is She dead Mes. Her copied death in every face I read A gastly paleness hung on every brow I askt whence the disorder came or how But all in dumb confusion stood amaz'd And stead of answering only stalkt and gaz'd Kio My labouring soul delay not to releive Tell me 's she dead that I may fully greive Mes. Madam at length I to the presence went Which still I found more full of discontent Having entered Madam there I found The Queen was fallen into a deadly swoun So that t is thought all hopes of life are past Kio What 's her death come to swoun's and thoughts at last Aside Mes. Madam your presence will be welcome there She may recover yet with timely care Kio Alas how you revive my dying heart If all the helps of industry or art Will save her life my Poysons I will bring Aside Carry my answer Quickly to the King Exit Mes. bowing Bect. Madam we now a happy time may find To bring about the mischeifs we 've design'd For while the Court is fill'd with this affright The Sultan to the Garden I 'le invite And there a Guard of sturdy Mutes shall watch To give his hated life a quick dispatch Kio But charge 'em Bectas it be gently done I wou'd by no meanes have 'em hurt my Son Bect. Puh they shall do it with such suddain care He 'l be in Heaven before he is aware Kio But now you talk of Heaven in our way We 'l take the Royal Mosch and there we 'l pray For divine helps and blessings from above Endeavours else will unccesful prove Bect. Nay if thus tedious you 'l begin I yeild our Religion is the way to sin But here the path is easie where one Mute Can all the wayes of Providence confute Into their hands deliver Ibrahim The neither Heav'n nor Hell can rescue him Exeunt Enter Meleck Hamet and Flatra Fla. Urge me no further I can hear no more I must forgoe the vows I made before My Mothers cruelty pursues me so I must my promise and my Love forgoe Mel. O my best wishes all my senses lie Can Flatra thus her love and faith deny Forgoe your promises of being mine Can falshood dwell in natures so Divine T is false it cannot Madan speak agen Not the same words but tell me what you meane Fla. My meaning and my words are still the same Both free from guilt and shou'd be so from blame T is the Queen Mother does the day deferr So that the fault is not in me but her Mel. Has she the power our nuptials to protract You 'le answer for the Crimes you make her act Fla. What Impudence is this sure you forget Your distance we 're not so familiar
all our endeavours vain The Sultan seems in spight of us to reign And either there 's deceit among our Friends Or some strange fate our enterprise attends Fla. We through our fears become unfortunate Then lay the blame on Providence and Fate You were driven hence with an impetuous blast I thought that violence too great to last Then nothing cou'd oppose your force and now Your weakness under one defeat must bow So Billows rage with unsuccessful toil Against the Rocks and faintly then recoil Bect. While we on past miscarriages reflect We present opportunities neglect Now Madam is the time to joyn our power And to assault the sleeping Emperour Let but the Vizier countenance th' attempt None from the action will himself exempt Viz. To kill a lustful Tyrant is a fact The Vizier will both countenance and act As many as dare follow I dare lead Find me a Body and I 'le find a head Fla. Brave actions do the meanest birth controul They shew the gallant greatness of the Soul I neither wealth nor dignity esteem Of me the valiant only worthy seem See then you prosecute your vast design So having shewn your love you challenge mine Exit Viz. Inspir'd by her how rapidly I burn Bectas my love does into furv turn Why did I not destroy him when I coud Oh! how I now repent of being good How came a man born in the Turkish School To be a Loyal conscientious fool Bect. Come come hear me The Janizaries are at my command Of which ten thousand chosen are at hand The valiant Kara and Kulchaia are Of equal fame in policy and war They own our Cause and will what e're we please Attempt with Courage and effect with ease Viz. Then strait for Kara and Kulchaia send Those are the Men on which our hopes depend Bect. They both in my appartment are and stay Only to be commanded and obey I 'le call 'em in Exit Viz. O mighty Love thy power will now be shown For thee I dare do more than I dare own With an unwilling rage I go prepar'd To take that life even now I freely spar'd With what amazement will the Sultan look To see the bloody cause I 've undertook To see the only person he dares trust Become the greatest Rebel and the first Hence Conscience hence away you loyal charms Good thoughts are things too foft for men of arms O Flatra Flatra Flatra there 's a spell Can drive away all thoughts but those of Hell My love to her my Crimes shall mitigate Of doing and of loving what I hate Studies and then shakes his head In passion Enter Bectas Kara and Kulchaia Bect. These Sir are men in whom you may confide I have their faith as well as courage try'd Viz My Lords Since of the business you 'r not ignorant I hope you do not my Instructions want The Cause is worthy tho the attempt be great We meet with worse than death in a retreat We know our fate and therefore we must all Or through the danger run or in it fall Kul To noble spirits Sir 't is hard to flie But 't is not so to conquer or to die Kar Distrust not Sir our Valour or success We 've often conquer'd greater force with less Viz. Come on we lose advantage by our stay Your Courage has already won the day Exeunt Enter Ipsir and Kuperli Ips. What Fate alas are Princes like to know Who favour those that seek their overthrow And either slight the service or distrust The faith of Loyal hearts that would be just Kup. The same which Marriners are like to find Who quit their Harbours to caress the Wind Their helpless Friends from the neglected shore Look on and hear the Threatning Billows roar They see the giddy Ship turn up her Keel And their Friends sinking in their hearts they feel Until at last all swallowed up in grief They cannot lend an eye to their relief Then do they howl out unheard obsequies Wishing in sighs their Friends had been more wise Ah Ipsir this this is the Sultan's Fate And we shall see his fall when 't is too late Unhappy Prince thou 'st too much innocence To think men can rebel without pretence But too much favour teaches men t' aspire And greatness ever studies to be higher Yet Princes never till their ruin find The inconvenience of being too kind Ipsir 'T is true but one ill instrument of State Does many greater than himself create In wicked fav'rites Kings are doubly curst They being bad still recommend the worst So vertuous Statesmen are become despis'd Subjects oppress'd and Princes ill advis'd Kup. This is the fatal end we must expect Yet my dear Prince my counsel does reject He thanks me for my kindness but the while Seems to reprove my folly in a smile 'Twixt both I find my fears and kindness such Wou'd he saw more or I saw not so much Ips. Janizar-Aga and the Vizier oft In secret Councels are and whisper soft What they design to their own breasts they keep Kup. For the Queen Mothers 't is an old intrigue But Flatra's with the Vizier's a new league Where the beginning of their Plot th' intend Heaven only knows but I know where 't will end We 'l to the Sultan and the danger shew Where it takes root how fast 't is like to grow Perhaps he 'll seem offended but I 've chose Rather his favour than his life t' expose Exeunt ACT. III. Enter Mufti and Solyman at one door and Oglar at the other they meet Ogl. It was my chance this minute Sir to learn Something that is the Sultans near concern I thought the secret to his ear a debt And fain I would a quick admittance get Which whether out of Duty or of pride The Guard of Janizaries have deny'd Mufti My Lord the loyalty you seem t' express Calls for our thanks and you deserve no less But too strict watch the Sultan has injoyn'd The Guards and he himself a while confin'd Yet since your business urgent does appear We will acquaint the Sultan you are here Exit Muf. Solym. Ogl. My heart in labour is and stops my breath Now is the Wager laid 'twixt love and death The Wager is unequal yet 't is just If death imbrace me not my Mistress must The Pride is greater where the hope is less I 'le venture ten lives for one Sultanness The Scene drawn appears the Queens Bed Chamber The Sultan and Sultaness Mufti and Solyman who all enter to Oglar he kneels and being rais'd whispers the Sultan Y Q. Oh how these secret Messengers I hate They are the cursed Labyrinth of State Mufty Madam he comes in Love and as a friend Y. Q. But secret Love do's oft in Ruine end Sult Oh horrid Traitors to my Crown and Name The City Rages in Rebellious Flame The Commons are incourag'd by the Peers Vizier and Bectas head the Mutiniers My Lords what hope when Villains grow thus bold Y. Q.
Now Sir comes on that Ruine I foretold Mufty Madam forbear a while your early Grief There 's time enough for heaven to send relief Solym. Dread Sir If of the news you are assured Let the Seraglio Gates be all secured Within these Walls you may be safe a while ' Til the misguided Crowd we reconcile Great minds consume in sullen flames The Rout Send forth fierce blazes and go quickly out Ogl. O trust 'em not such shifts can't serve the turn For where they cannot enter they will burn Foes that such head-strong violence maintain We may deceive but we can ne'r restrain A noise afar off of Drums Trumpets c. Y. Q. Heark Sir they are before the outward Gate You 'l of your safety think when 't is too late Solym. Provide for your escape Sir while we go And try if we can pacifie the Foe Sult Shall the Grand Seignieur e're be said to flie No flight's too mean a thing for Majesty On that will all their innocence be built So their Rebellion will become my guilt Muf. Self preservation will not stain your fame Your glorious Ancestors have done the same Ogl. Sir if you love your self or us be gone And I will these Imperial Robes put on Takes up the Robes that lie in a Chair So that at last if nothing can asswage The furious tempest of the peoples rage Taking the seeming Sultan for the true Their swords shall murder me instead of you Sult Dear Oglar rather than I will expose So kind a Friend I 'le perish by my Foes Y. Q. Oh to refuse him Sir is cruelty Because he does so willing seem to die Solym. Accept it Sir for all your Subjects sake I 'le the same action gladly undertake Muf. I with a joyful pride would shed my blood To save a Prince so pious and so good Sult No you shall meet 'em to appease their wrath By your perswasions you may save us both Exit Mufti Solyman Oglar puts on the Robes Oh Oglar I am overcome with shame To take a kindness which I dare not name What I permit must in your own esteem Make me ungrateful and a Coward seem Heard within a noise of all instruments of war clashing of swords firing of Guns shouts and battering of Gates Ogl. Oh Sir the Foes your Pallace gates beat down Your stay exposes both your life and Crown While I about your safety am imploy'd You in a complement will be destroy'd Y. Q. Ah my dear Lord unless you will be gone You make the kindness he intended none Fly Sultan quickly fly for by your sloth Instead of saving one you ruine both Ogl. To the dark Cloyster Sir the way you know Thither you may with ease and safety go Sult You have prevail'd our mighty Prophet send Comfort to us and succour to our friend They embrace Sultaness weeps Exit Sultan Y. Q Farewel my only dearest Lord Farewel Ogl. Come Madam come these clouds you must dispel The Sultans safety should your grief subdue Y. Q. Suppose him safe Sir tears are debts to you Ogl. If you design my kindness to repay Madam it must be done some other way Y. Q. All such ungrateful thoughts I banish hence Your kindness Sir's above all recompence The only poor requital I can make Will be to Love your memory for your sake Ogl. A poor reward indeed Madam must I For the advantage of my memory die 'T is more when I am dead than you can give To injoy your love one minute while I live Y. Q. Of that I hope you did not doubt before I only wish I could express it more Ogl. Kindness in general is love 't is true Y. Q. But mine is more particular to you Ogl. Of common love there many Symptoms are But one of that which is particular I cannot now the time in Courtship spend Madam true love should in injoyment end Give me but that and I can die with joy If not my hated life you twice destroy Y. Q. What sudden madness does your mind distract Would dying Oglar such a mischeif act You die infected and before your death Seek to corrupt me with your poison'd breath O let more generous thoughts possess your mind Be not so cruel when you 've seem'd so kind Ogl. You 've the unkinder cruelty decreed Unless you crown that heart that is to bleed For else I fall the Sultans sacrifice And which is worse am murder'd by your eyes Y. Q. And if I grant what you expect to have I more destroy than I can hope to save I know the Sultan twenty deaths would choose Rather than I one vertuous thought should lose Nor shall our Annals e're of me record She lost her honour to preserve her Lord. Ogl. Madam if you 'l the Sultans death prevent You to my hopes must yield your quick assent Or else I 'le meet the foe and yield him up Who drinks the sweet must taste the bitter Cup For 't is in vain to think I 'le stay and die A foolish Martyr to your Chastity Y. Q. Oh cruel Fate O wretced Sultaness Aside What can I do in this so great distress I subtilly must his lustful heart beguile And hide my wrath in a dissembled smile Ogl. Madam by pausing you deny my suit I go if once the question you dispute He offers to go she holds him Y. Q. Why would you so come Oglar do not chide That I endeavour thus my love to hide There is to modesty a little debt Which I was studying only to forget Do you but go within that private place I le make my self more fit for your imbrace Ogl. Seal Madam your intention with a kiss Salutes her Who would not die so sweet a death as this Madam make haste when in your Arms I lie I Paradise enjoy before I die Retires into a Closset Y. Q. Can Heaven that does the Innocent protect Suffer his hellish Plot to take effect The Gods forbid it and some safeguard send By Mahomet our Prophet and their Friend A great noise without of People shouting Heark by th' approaching Triumphs of the Rout They seem at my deliverance to shout In what a strait I am Heaven only knows Who seek protection from my husbands Foes She runs and opens the door and speaks to Oglar Oh my dear Oglar Oh unhappy chance The rageing Rebels hitherward advance Like envious Messengers of Hell they 're sent Our heaven and our enjoyments to prevent You to the Inner Closet shall retire A place as private as you can desire There will I send the disappointed Rout Missing the Sultan here to find him out So while they are in search of him I 'le find A time to be more happy and more kind Ogl. By your perswasions I am ever sway'd Madam such love must ever be obey'd She goes out as to hide Oglar and returns Y. Q. Oh slow and lingring Rebels how they stay They cannot hurt me now but by delay My Lord is safe and they who did
to tell her that there lie More than ten thousand Syrens in each eye I cannot they are such as strike me dumb And from my silence must my Shipwrack come Aside Fla. What makes you Sir thus like a Mute appear Are you to be my Executioner Viz. I am not now what e're I had design'd None can harm her that is not deaf and blind Aside Enter Bectas Kara and Kulcaiha Bect. Madam your gracious pardon we intreat That we must both your hopes and ours defeat We must in policy our Arms lay down And for the present the young Sultan Crown But we this night his murder have decreed Then 't is resolv'd the Vizier shall succeed Viz Deluded fool believe him not he Lies How I these fawning Parasites despise Hoodwink'd Ambition how she is misled Yet calls them Friends by whom she is buffeted Fla. What e're I suffer your affection cures I 've no ambition but of being yours Viz. O Charming Syren I must stop that breath Thou never canst be mine except in death Sink and go out you captivated Eyes You charmed ears be deaf to all her cries Now to Ambition I shall put an end Squeezeth his Eyes and stops his Ears Fla. Help murder help what doth my Lord intend Viz. 'Cause you love Honor and a Crown so well I do intend you shall go Reign in Hell Lays hold on her All. O hold Sir Pretending to hinder him Viz. Go dissembling Villains go Pretend not kindness here you 'd have it so Stabs her they run to assist her Rascals you shall prepare to follow her I to her Court will all of you prefer How hard a task my heart has undertook You Gods how killing is that dying look Her eyes send forth a most bewitching light As dying creatures mischievously bite Enter in hast Q. M. and Lentesia Q. M. My daughter slain Len. Alas poor Sultanâ—ess Q. M. Which of you dâ—d this murder act confess Viz. O pious Beldam you are so devout 'T was I that acted what you brought about Q. M. The mans distracted between sin and shame 'T is well Heav'n knows how innocent I am Viz. Heav'n knows 't was by your own appointment done The same hands kill'd the Daughter and the Son Fla. O I am dead and by a subject slain But shall I not have time one hour to reign Yet make him Emperor before I go Or if you cannot make him call him so But fancy must your unkind sloth supply For in conceit I will an Empress dy Dies Q. M. Len. She 's dead They set her in a Chair and weep over her Kar What think you Sir is to this murder due Viz. Nothing you villains but rewards from you Bect. Come without doubt the Princess did provoke The Vizier ere he gave that fatal stroke Viz. No without doubt the Princess did not Sir For they who kill'd the Sultan murder'd her Bectas Kara and Kulcaiha whisper Kul Puh he despairs we must contrive his fall For if we spare him he 'l destroy us all Viz. What now your Choler does begin to work O how you hate a tender conscienc'd Turk They whisper again and advance towards him with their hands on their swords Then you 've concluded on my destiny And t is decreed amongst you I must die They all draw assault him By your base hands villains stand off for know This is the hand must give the fatal blow Stabs himself dead Now Flatra I have reveng'd thy death Q. M. and Lâ—n squeak For you I 'le cure ye with my dying breath On each Traytorous head let swift vengeance fall Hottest plagues consume rot and damn ye all Q. M. My Lords what mean those insolencies here Bect. Come come the Vizier's dead you need not ear Madam there may be danger in delay Kar We must these Bodies secretly convey To your Apartment lest by our neglect The World should us of murd'ring them suspect Q. M. 'T is true we may be wrougfully accus'd Our Prophet knows how I have been abus'd Weeps And where opinions are so weakly built Suspicion we should shun as well as guilt Exeunt with the Bodies Enter Mufti Solyman Aga Ipsir and Kuperli Kup. I fear the fair complying he pretends Is but to make the Foes he fears his Friends Ips. We need not at his friendship much rejoyce He makes it of necessity not choice Sol. The same necessity is ours in part Friendship my Lords at Court is grown an Art Here vows and protestations have no sorce Your Servant and your Slave are words of course What e're they say we are not to believe He 's the best Courtier that can best deceive Muf. Our ends we gain what ever they design If all to Crown young Mahomet will joyn To choose a Successor to us belongs We must leave him to right the Sultan's wrongs Exeunt Enter Queen Mother and Young Queen Q. M. In the misfortune I 've the greatest share Daughter none knows a tender Mother's care Weeps I bury'd Achmet yet the death of him Ne're went so near my heart as Ibrahim Y. Q. I am a Mother and have been a Wife Yet ever found it an unequal strife For had the Gods decreed it I had chose My Child much rather than my Lord to lose Q. M. Shou'd Heaven that Tryal of your patience make I fear you 'd be convinc'd of your mistake Y. Q. Madam while these misfortunes you suggest You add more grief to my afflicted breast I look to see that fury which begun With the good Sultan fall upon his Son Q. M. Kind Heaven divert thee from such thoughts as these Distrust my Child is the Soul 's worst disease A mortal symptom when we once dispair We the true Prophets of our ruins are Y Q. The fatal Prophesies come all from you Who always find a way to make 'em true Q. M. O Heav'ns that e're her Soul by madness taught Shou'd entertain so barbarous a thought Weeps Sure 't is beyond distraction to believe The strange Chymera's that it does conceive Come Daughter come compose your self to rest And let more gentle thoughts possess your breast Causlesly hated wrongfully accus'd Was ever Woman by her Friends so us'd Weeps Y. Q. What a false floud she weeps I in that Nile Discern the base dissembling Crocodile When you 'd destroy like them abroad you come If you are sorry e'en go weep at home Q. M. My duty to my Children I must pay If you will alwayes doubt my love you may Dear Child kind Heaven provide your Son and you A kinder Mother and a Friend more true Exit weeping Y. Q. Alas what Amulet can us defend From the sad mischeifs that her prayers attend The Witch prays backward if she prays at all Her tears like Mildew blast where e're they fall So she appear'd before the Sultan fell And left behind just such a sulph'rous smell And sure that breath which blasted fruit full grown Will take off blossoms not yet fully blown I wish
The Queen to night a Banquet does prepare And I believe they are expected there For to her Lodgings as I took my round The Privy-Garden door unlock'd I found For which I cou'd no reason understand But that 't was left so by the Queens Command Mufti And all her Rooms seem hung with joyful light That guilds the chearful face of vanquish'd Night Repeated Healths they drink and Glasses large By Musick quickned every time they charge Kup. Their Songs the Prologues of their Slaughters are Like Trumpets when they sound a point of War Mufti This only opportunity we have Our Lord's our own and Childrens lives to save Let us with haste to the young Sultan go To tell him all we fear and all we know That back'd with his Authority we may Meet with no Guards t' oppose us in our way So we an easie Conquest shall obtain While they unarm'd resist us but in vain Soly. To night we must the fatal quarrel end On this one action all our hopes depend Which if succesful brings a double good Preserves our Princes Crown and Peoples blood Exeunt Sene drawn discovers the Y. Queen and Sultan asleep on a Pallet At the opening of the Scene they awake and come on the Stage Y. Q. How slept my Son and Lord did not you find A pleasing Greatness hanging on your mind Between the weight and lustre of a Crown Were you not lifted up and then cast down Mah. Madam Alas I find the Dreams of Kings And those of Subjects are far different things Before some sport my Childish Soul possest Which now I find with manly cares deprest Then did I entertain my mind with toys But now I dream of things unfit for Boys Y. Q. What dream't my sweetest Lord Mah. Madam methought Your self and I were to a Valley brought Solemn obscure and private separate From all the World and stil'd the House of Fate There at our entrance I my Father met He look'd so pale methinks I see him yet Y. Q. In what a sweet amazement he appears His courage gives a lustre to his tears Mah. By him there sat a Monarch all of Bone His Scepter was a Dart a Tomb his Throne This angry Prince in smiles with horrour mixt On both of us his hollow Sockets fixt And my poor Father shook his careful Head As I conceive he wou'd have had us fled I cry'd and strove but fear withheld me so Methought I wanted pow'r and strength to go Y. Q. O where will this unlucky Omen end What can such Dreams in such a Child portend Mah. At last the Prince his fatal arm held out Then drew it back as if he were in doubt Whether 't were best my life to take or save When loe a Shape more aged and more grave One that more pity had and more command Stept in and bad him stay his doubtful hand Daughter said he to you and Child to me Return till Seventy Nine and Eighty Three You have no business here go live and Reign Who my Decrees oppose oppose in vain Y. Q His kindness somewhat does abate my fear How arm'd and how attir'd did he appear Mah. From his bald head hung down a Lock before His hand an uncouth crooked weapon bore Upon his shoulders two fair Wings there grew In haste he seem'd and while he spoke he flew Y. Q. If I interpret not your dream amiss There lies a pretty mystery in this Mah. If dreams have in them any thing divine I wou'd be glad to know th' event of mine Y. Q. My Lord the Skeleton you saw was death The Valley so obscure the shades beneath Old time was he that all his care employ'd To save you ready then to be destroy'd And having got the advantage in the strife Promis'd to give you many years of life Mah. Had he his kindness spar'd I 'd been content I 'm sure I ne're can die more innocent Enter a Woman attendant who seems to tell the Queen something of importance in sign Y. Q. More ill news to disturb our short delight What can their business be so late at night Enter Mufti Solyman Ipsir Kuperli and several others Muf. We come Dread Sir to shew your Cause we own And to secure your Person and your Throne Ips. This is the minute which if you neglect A sudden ruin Sir you must expect Mah. My Lords can you a remedy advise When you have told me where the danger lies Kup. Sir 't is the chiefest of Physitians laws In all distempers to remove the cause Some superficial cures this State has found We never search'd the bottom of the wound Solym. The gangrin Sir through the chief limbs is spread And will 't is fear'd e're morning reach the head Y. Q. There 's danger in these mysteries of State I alwayes dread a way that 's intricate Mah. My Lords I question not your skill or care Methinks your terms of Art mysterious are Kup. Great Sir my self more fully to explain While the Queen lives you cannot safely reign 'T was she that did your Father's death contrive T is she that will not suffer you to live Yet she her Hellish Treasons does conceal Under false love and counterfeited zeal Mah. Sir do not her your self or me abuse Nor falsly aged Innocence accuse Kup. I do not Sir what I affirm is true I never ly'd but once to rescue you Bectas by her command grown impudent To the Divan for me in private sent And there his bloody Treason he began Of Murdering you and Crowning Solyman This with the Queen's authority he back'd And this to morrow he resolves to act Y. Q. My dearest Lord now call your Dream to mind This is that very time that was so kind And you must either quickly be advis'd Or look by sudden death to be surpris'd Mah. If they a strength more pow'rful have than mine What shall we do to hinder their design Muf. Sir to the Queen's Apartment we must go Kup. There we unlook'd for shall suprise the Fo Whose slender force we shall with ease destroy While they are overcharg'd with Wine and joy And if with them we apprehend the Queen Sir you may guess how guilty she has been Mah. Go and if possible a way contrive To bring the Queen with all her Friends alive So shall our sentence on our Laws be built And they find Deaths proportion'd to their guilt Succeeding times of them shall never say That Power but Justice took their lives away Ips. For a free passage Sir so late at night Your Signet Royal will be requisite Lest while the Centinels and outward Guard Dispute our pow'r they our design retard Muf. My Lord unless my slender Judgment fail Paper Comissions nothing will avail You with this pass port safely and unseen Gives him a Key May go to th' inward Lodgings of the Queen Else you may Conquer but can ne're Surprise For that way they expect no Enemies Y. Q Mufti I think you have no business there You by