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
my Persecutor turn'd Nor the fair Injur'd Roxolana mourn'd We had lived â—afe from Tortures and despair Not wrong'd by th'Great nor envy'd by the Fair. Solym. Are you so faithful then to Ibrahim That you would rob the World in Love to him To wish those eyes obscure yet if they were Had those eyes been those twins of light less fair Then Crowns and Empires might my peace have bought And a wide World had fill'd my bounded thought Isabel. Oh hold this too unkind discourse give o're My Ibrahim's dear but my bright Honour more Think how you do not only injure him Conspire against your once Lov'd Ibrahim But whilst I 'm forc'd to hear the frightful name Of Impious Love you wound my tender Fame Solym. If of your Honour you so tender prove Express it by your scorn of Ibrahim's Love You only wrong your Fame in loving him Unworthy as he is but end that Crime Isabel. Oh Heav'n what do I hear Solym. He is a Thief A Traytor for a mean and base reliefe Against my dang'rous Love he stole you hence Isabel. If that's a Crime 'T was mine not his offence Your black designs had made me dread your sight So much I used not only Prayers t' invite But my Commands to make him aid my flight Solym. Fair Torturer of my soul since you could be So kind to him and so severe to me Expiate that sin of which you are the cause His head is forfeit by the Turkish Laws Now if you love him reconcile our strife Your heart 's the only Ransom of his Life 'T is true I 'm led by passion to disclaim My Vertue wrong my Friendship stain my Fame I see the Precipice but cannot stay Love runs me down and drives my soul away My Passion for that Beauty is so high This I resolve this I must do or dye Isabel. In vain you threaten me with Ibrahims Death Think not my long inviolable Faith Poorly at last will be o'recome by Fear No Sir there 's no such weak Dominion here Tho you can aim Your fury at his Heart To persecute Me in the tenderest part Tho Ibrahims Life I prize above my own Think as much worth lodg'd in that Breast alone As Man-kind e're possest or Heav'n e're gave Yet even his Life I wou'd not basely save Solym. Gods must I find A Heart so fixt and Vertue so sublime Has my bold Love such craggy way to climbe Isabel. Hope not t' assault me there rather than he Should live to see me perjur'd I would see Him bleed see him in purple horror dy'd See the dear Lord of all my hopes destroy'd Nor think this Doom in cruelty design'd No His just Love wou'd rather call it kind Solym. Oh my distraction Isabel. But whilst I stay To prove my Vertue I my Vertue wrong And my chaste ear has guilty been too long Here Jailour to my Prison take me hence to Moâ— Now you may act a welcome violence Solym. Stay Madam Isabel. I can hear no more in vain Solym. Oh Madam stay one minute and t' obtain That favour Ibrahim shall live and live To see me wretched till he sees you give My mortal wound as but too soon you will For so much scorn can do no less than kill When those fair Eyes shall like a winter-Sun Give only light not life whose influence gone All things below decay'd and wither'd turn And drooping Nature does his distance mourn When thus my blasted greatness shall decay And by your frowns my life shall droop away My pains my griefs my horrors shall be such As shall so near my generous Vizier touch Till my sad state his soften'd pitty move And pitty grant what is deny'd by Love Till his compassion does my life defend And quit a Mistress to preserve a Friend Isabel. Do not his Constancy so much mistake Yet if for you he could my Love forsake That heart which justly as his falsehoods due I took from him I could not give to you Though you such Irreligous thoughts admit Your Honour and your Nuptial Vows forget I cannot Solym. Is Religion then my Foe And does my Marry'd state my hopes o'rethrow That shall not cloud the glories of your life You shall be mine a Christian and a Wife Isabel. Defend me Heav'n what 's this Solym. You shall in state be to a Temple led I 'le take the Crown from Roxolana's Head Thus you shall meet my Love Isabel. 'T was too much crime alone T' oppose my Vows wou'd you deface your own Break your long Faith to Roxolana given And by your rage thus doubly injure Heav'n Solym. I injure Heav'n no you mistake me now I am pious not profane in what I doe What greater homage can to heav'n be paid Then with Imperial Crowns t' adorn the Head Of the Divinest Creature it e're made Isabel. Oh! let me go this place of horror flye Send me t' a dungeon to a Grave to dye Rather then stay to heighten your impiety Solym. Retire then since my presence is a sin But Cruel Fair when we shall meet agen Assume a mercy that befits that brow Isabel. If I must find you as I leave you now Meet me no more nor time nor force employ Against that Faith no pow'r can e'r destroy And for those Tales of Death you seem to fear Attend my frowns there 's no such danger near Despair in guilty Loves ne're soares so high None but just Lovers love enough to dye Exit Guarded Solym. Was ever scorn so high or King so low Mor. To Constancy you all this rudeness owe. But if you e're expect to be belov'd The causes of this scorn must be remov'd Ibrahim must dye and though 't will seem severe To take that life which once you held so dear Yet since his Life has th'hopes of yours debarr'd His Destiny can be your only Guard This is the way will take Her Lover dead And the Crown taken from your Empress head Though some few tears may fall at Ibrahim's death Marriage and Crowns will tempt her Christian Faith This only course your desperate Love secures Solym. And this dark course I 'le take Mor. Do and She 's yours Solym. For Love o'recomes and I must kill or dye Let it be done e're I think how or why Haste Let the news of Ibrahim's Death be brought Exit Morat And whilst he 's dying I 'le divert the thought With a forc'd Lethargy I 'le damp my soul Friendship may else return and my resolves controul O Love what is thy power Morat return He must not dye Morat Re enters He must not dye I have by Alla sworne That he shall never bleed whilst Solyman lives Mor. Is it the voyce of Majesty Reprieves An Enemy a destroyer of your peace Can humble penitence great Spirits seize Solym. No I would have him still destroy'd but if I must be Perjur'd when I take his Life I must protect his Life though against mine Though Love can yield to any lesser sin
my loss and love you less weeps Solym. How tiresome does unwelcome kindness prove Is there a Blessing or a Plague like Love Roxol. Oh Treacherous eyes what has your weakness done Can an Effiminate soft Tear run down From her fond Eyes that lives to loose a Crown A deposed Queen and have so little gall Did Cleopatra weep before her fall No at her Breast her dearest Vipers hung Whose pointed Tongues her angry bosom stung Swell'd with their Poyson and her blood all fir'd In nobler rage her Roman pride expir'd Her great despair such glorious â—ury felt As burst that heart which was too proud to melt Solym. Hence from my sight Take your vain Threats away Know my fixt Resolution and obey Roxol. Threaten'd to silence and commanded hence Ye Gods must I be taught Obedience Whose Empire did so lately spread so wide At once my Sexes Envy and their Pride Thou despicable King how poor and low Are the mean gifts which from thy bounty flow Glory a fairy Treasure pow'r a Toy An Airy Scene of Visionary Joy Since empty greatness has this fading state Why have I dreamt so long or wak'd so late Solym. What though you 've rul'd an Age The Sun and Stars Tho' they have shin'd so many thousand years Can plead no right to an Immortal state I made you as Heav'n did the World Create In your each part pow'r and perfection raign'd Each look Dominion had each word Command But as th' Eternal Will ordains a Day When this bright Frame its Debt to Fate must pay So when this Universe in Dust shall lye The Gods will be no more unjust than I. Roxol. In that great day Heav'n its Revenge will take The World must burn for wicked Man kind's sake And Nature dye for what her Race has done The Gods will at that Day put out their Sun Because't has shined too long on such as You. Then Perjury will meet it's last just due Solym. This growing storm no longer I 'le endure Her Violent Rage must have a Violent Cure Roxol. But since the faithful Roxolana must Be Sacrific'd to please a Tyrants Lust May my quick Fall like some fierce Earth-quake come When th' opening ground is some tall Pyramids Tomb. Whose Ravenous Jawes once gorg'd and clos'd again No reliques of the ruin'd pile remain To keep its memory alive Since my loud fall must bring eternal shame Oh that you could but kill my very Name And give my memory and me one Grave Then with what scorn should I my wrongs out-brave But when to my Immortal shame they 'l say I lost an Ages Tryumph in a Day There there 's my Torture In all the mortal stroaks great Hearts sustain Honour 's the only part that bleeds with pain Solym. Take her away I 'le hear no more to Morat Roxol. Bold Slave to Morat Solym. Begon I will no longer hear her Rave Roxol. Villain forbear to Morat Draws a Dagger How wretched base art thou by thy Command Forc'd like thy Slave Seiz'd by thy Vassals hand I 've so much Pride for that which I have been No common hands shall touch the Worlds once Sacred Queen Stand off officious Traytor Come not nigh Approach me but with one bold look and dye Enter Ulama Ulam Hold Irreligious Slave to Morat Touch her no more than you wou'd forfeit Heav'n To what wilde rage is Impious passion driven And Madam stay your hand give not that blow For him too glorious and for you too low Roxol. I thank you for the favour you have done Gives Ulama the Dagger which he takes on his Knees You 've Reason but my Griefs have left me none Ulam Sultan I am unwilling to believe 'T is in Fates pow'r to make such Beauty grieve But take her take her and be blind no more To Her your heart â—'your self your Wits restore Be Great Proud Glorious Blest Live Love and Reign In Happiness above the State of Man Consider but how much of Heav'n dwells there And call your self our Prophets Son and Heir Solym. How Ulama Ulam I am your Vertues Friend And with my Blood that Vertue wou'd defend Hither I come by Friendship 's Sacred tye To rowze you from your mortal Lethargy Your sleeping Reason wake and Re-enthrone What Nature made most worthy of a Crown Repair her Injuries and your lost Fame Such influence lodges in that Heav'nly Frame Her Smiles can deifie and her Wrongs can damne Solym. Persian the World had never yet so bold A Man as durst my pleasure have controul'd Had I as many Subjects as I led To win thy Persian Crown that durst have said Half this their Lives for th' Insolence had paid Ulam If all should dye that do abhor your Sin The Massacre would make your Empire thin Tho only I dare tell you How much the best of Wives best of Queens you wrong All Man-kind has my Sence though not my Tongue When I your fury from that Saint divert I but a suffering Kingdoms cause assert Be just to her that Heav'n may be appeas'd And the afflicted groaning World be eas'd Solym. Rash desperate Sir though you 〈◊〉 so high My Charity 's too great to let you dye But Captive do not tempt your Fate that hour You make a forfeit of your head once more Your petulant Frenzy with your Chains I 'le 〈◊〉 And shrink you to that shade from whence you came Roxol. Hold generous Persian you presume too high If in my Cause first ask my leave to dye Forbear t' encrease the violence of his Hate Least you 're involv'd in Roxolana's Fate Tho 't would become the greatness of a Queen T' have Crowds in Death to fill her Funeral Scene Sultan no guiltless soul with mine shall flye I 'le quit my state and singly glorious dye Ulam Do not oppose me in so just a Cause When he breaks Nature Heav'n and Honours Laws In wronging you let his fierce rage proceed Let Justice suffer Truth 's Defender bleed Tame me with Chains to Solym. A Prison is too weak Send me â—'a Grave And if that pow'r o're Souls as Lives you have Send me Where that loud Guilt by which her greatness fell Is writ in Sulphur on Records of Hell And when the blackest of their Hellish train Shall tell the story of her Tragick Scene Attended by a fierce and fiery throng I 'le bring the Furies and all Hell along To tell thee thou hast done a 〈◊〉 so damn'd That thou hast made th' infernal Fâ—ends asham'd Solym. Bold man thy blood but 't is too base to shed Thy baseness from my arm protects thy head But to deserve thy ruin from my hand I give thee leave my Rebels to command Or once again thy rallyed Persians lead If thou hast Honour meet me in their head When all thy glorys do thy brow adorn And on the Wings of Fame I see thee born Be worthy my Anger then till then my Scorn Ulam I 'le meet thee land thy power Undaunted stand Though
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
you his power 's so little Ibrah. No so great When yours joyns too to make that pow'r compleat 'T is infinite like that bright boundless space Where light and Saints their endless glories place Within it all things and beyond it nothing Solym. Say then from whence does all this darkness come Have I done injury to Christendom Have any of my forreign pow'rs by steel Or Rapine wrong'd those Altars where you kneel Ibrah. Love pardon dutys sin when I reveal My lesser sorrows but the great conceal Aside Sir when I bring The Lowness whence you drew me to my thought The change which your Almighty hand has wrought Though he that rais'd it can support my state With trembling I behold my dang'rous height Malice and Envy will my life persue And strive to make me hated be by you How many of my Predecessors fell Nor could their Services their Dooms repel The faithful Vizier Achmat Rais'd Bajazet the Second to his Throne And little less had Valiant Chassan done For your great Father Yet in all their pride Both by their jealous Lords suspected dy'd The fear of death my trouble does not make My Life and Honours you may freely take But when I think the fatal time may be When you will but suspect my Loyalty 'T is that strikes horrour through my staggering sence No Torture like mistaken Innocence Solym. I thought to you I 'had made my breast so clear That you had nothing left to wish or fear But since my kind conjectures are not sure At once your weakness I 'le forgive and cure I swear by Alla and to bind my Vow Heâ—v'n make me happy as I 'm just to you Whilst Solyman Lives his Ibrahim shall not dye By any violent death Ibrah. Your favours are so high Solym. Forbear your thanks 't is only what I owe Men thanks for Gifts and not for Debts bestow Roxol. No Sir your constancy he cannot doubt He knows his Prince too well for such a thought Why this disguise Solym. I 'le take this surer way Though Friendship have no influence Love may Here be your looks as Conqu'ring as your Sword I call you Friend and she shall call you Lord. Gives him Asteria Aster That word my ravish'd sence does overcome I feel my joys too mighty to be dumb Aside Solym. Be to my blood as to my soul ally'd Now have you thoughts you from your King can hide Have I not bought 'em yet Ibrah. What shall I say Aside Aster My Bliss was never perfect till this day Aside Rox. This Lady whom in Chains you could subdue Admiâ—'d by all deserv'd By none but you Enrich'd with Solyman's favours and above All other Ornaments her greater Love Meets you with all the kindness souls e're shar'd Your Glories prize your Loyalties reward Aster Do not too high her little Merit raise Who blushes but too much without this praise Yet Sir By your commands I should all shame remove I need not blush when Duty bids me Love But mighty Sir if the o're-hasty guest to Ibrahim By a too early Raign this Seat possest points to her Breast Let th' easie prize not make the value less Nor Love its merit loose for its excess A Love which could not be by force expell'd And now wants pow'r to keep its joyes conceal'd Solym. To make her yet more worthy Ibrah. Great Sir hold Let me alone this Beauties worth unfold 'T is I can best describe such excellence Aster I feel new raptures in my softn'd sence Aside Ibrah. Some Heroe whom Imperial Crowns adorn To greatness rais'd and as much greatness born Some Prince that has so much Man-Kind ouâ—-done As should make Solyman's equal in his Son 'T is such a one should meet Asteria's charms But I the most unworthy of her Armes Roxol. Where will this end Aside Aster Some God that pitty's Love divert my fear Aside Ibrah. So little pow'r of Gratitude dwells here points to his Breast That I 'am beneath your scorn so wretched I To reconcile my Fate beg leave to dye Yes take my heart but when 't is yours it must Be offer'd up in blood to make it just To give me back my Chains would be too kind Let me in Death Yours and his Justice find Solym. Has Ibrahim crimes make him deserve to dye Ibrah. I Criminal Oh none so much as I. I am below the state of Infidels I view that face where Soveraign Beauty dwells Beauty which homage next to Gods receives And commands hearts more than the Sultan Lives Yet I to neither can Allegiance pay Love my Preserver or my Prince obey Fair Mistress of my Life and Liberty The founder of my Fame all I enjoy Th' ungrateful Creature of your smiles destroy Roxol. Are Solymans favours and his blood abus'd And so much Love thus barbarously us'd Solym. Ibrahim I am unwilling to believe Such Disrespect I can from Man receive Much less from Favourites say then what is That Pow'r has destin'd me to suffer this Aster Ask not the reason of his disrespect Let her describe the Cause who feels th' effect My sighs with scorn too fatally are paid My Love 's despis'd for some more happy Maid Look Sir on this sad object and in me to Ibrah. The sudden change of fading Greatness see When I came hither oh my short-liv'd Bliss I 'd not have chang'd my hopes of happiness To have been Empress of the World but now Not the most wretched of my Sex so low Nor am I in my slighted Love alone Unfortunate but guilty too I 've done What neither to my Sex nor Birth was due Transgrest the Laws of modesty for you So weak my heart so great my sufferings are I cannot hide my Love nor my Despair offers to go Roxol. What do I live to hear Asteria stay Aster No! let me take my hated sight away This freedom to the lost Asteria give In Crowds the Prosperous not the Wretched live Exit Asteria Roxol. Who is that pow'rful Rival for whose sake Your stubborn heart her Beauty cannot shake For whom Asteria's favours and her blood Are priz'd as little as they 're understood Yet name her not already I have heard Too much if Solyman you lov'd or fear'd You would not treat him thus You 've wrong'd him more Then all your Victories oblig'd before Exit Solym. Go tryumph in her suff'rings and my shame And add this one proud Title to your Fame You from an injur'd King this Grace receiv'd You are the first disturb'd my peace and liv'd Exit with his Train all but Ibrahim Ibrah. Ruin'd at once so sure Fate has made haste Who could believe that so few hours are past Since this undone lost despicable thing Was fear'd by all the World and favour'd by his King But now her Love refus'd his blood disgrac'd How are those Titles at one blast defac'd Oh Love Oh Isabella When thy Ear Shall the dire sound of my misfortunes hear Give me at once thy pitty and applause And whilst my
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
if Omnipotence so chang'd could be Fair Celia wonder not to see Thy Vassal as disguis'd and as transform'd as he Aster Oh! now I find the mystery 't is plain This entertainment came from 〈◊〉 No King were thy intended Victim here In vain you 'd court her sence and treat her ear She who possesses Ibrahim's heart Her thoughts no room for such mean charms can yield Her Breast is with more noble Raptures fill'd Enter Solyman and Morat My Father here This sight drives all my blasted hopes away Can his wild passion brook no longer stay Absconds her self amongst Isabella's Women Solym. Th'ascent is dang'rous and no common care Nor hasty steps can make approaches there I must with wide and distant Courtship move Before I â—ally out and call it Love Approaches and finds Asteria Asteria Torture of my Soul what 's here Aside Where is the Christian Princess Oh my fear Aside Aster Your Pardon Royal Sir Solym. My Love 's disclos'd And all my Guilt and Infamy expos'd Aside Where is she Aster Pardon an act of Piety and Love When I to guard your Honour durst remove A threaten'd Rival Solym. Ravish'd from my pow'r And my own Daughter a Conspirator Aside Effeminate Vertue hence flye from my sight Aster Can Solyman in Cruelty delight No be as just as I. Solym. Cease thy fond grief Be gone and to thy absence owe thy Life Aster Then I retire Not for the fear of Death That I can bear but not your angry breath Ex. Aster Solym. This fatal story must take Aire from you To Mor. How came my Love discover'd Traytor how If 't was thy Tongue that durst the secret tell Thou hadst better had thy soul as deep in Hell As I 'm beneath the Stars than speak that word Mor. I tell the Secrets of my Sacred Lord By all that 's good to Heaven I 'm not so true Not half so constant to my pray'rs as you Solym. How got she hence where is she Mor. To me it no less Riddle did appear To find her gone than see Asteria here If my eyes fail'd me not some minutes since I saw this very Lady part from hence And led by Ibrahim Solym. Then she has made escape By the assistance of Asteria's shape Fly seize'em both and bring 'em Prisoners here Do it as thou lov'st happiness find her Or loose thy Life and Me. Enter Roxolana and Mirva My Guards are thine Shew me that Face agen or ne're see mine Roxol. You were discoursing Royal Sir go on I will be silent till my Lord has done For Monarchs sure should speak such Sacred things That all shou'd listen to the Voyce of Kings Solym. Am I with shame on every side beset This Face I till this hour with pleasure met Aside Roxol. I durst not Sir have ventur'd to appear Within this place were the fair Christian here But in her absence I am bolder grown The meanest Star looks out when the Sun 's gone Solym. Is it your Wit or Anger makes you thus Severe against our Christian Guest and us Roxol. Sultan it is my Ruin brings me here The Evening of my glorious Day draws near From all my long blest hours and shining light I take the prospect of Eternal Night Solym. Whence Roxolana should this fear proceed And by what Fate is this black Change decreed Roxol. How Sultan Can you Kill me and not know The cruel hand that gives the fatal blow Th' effect is but too sure too plain the cause When his kind smiles my alter'd Lord with-draws Solym. Why to your self will you such pains contract And fear those injuries I scorn to act If from my Smiles your greatness takes its Fate I will Smile on since that supports your State Roxol. Nay then I feel my certain Destiny Are empty Smiles all you have left for me Sultan that 's not your Love but Charity And of your Charity must I the object grow Can Roxolana have a fall so low Christian thou hast perform'd a Tyrants part To make this change in my dear Sultan's heart Solym. Well Empress Since such pow'rful Tears I find To mourning Roxolana I 'le be kind Roxol. O my faint hopes Solym. Dissembling in a King Would be too abject and too base a thing And therefore I this favour will impart I 'le give you the true Picture of my Heart I Love that Princess Roxol. O my Death Solym. And to that height that nothing can remove My resolution to pursue my Love I 'le prosecute all the long-practis'd Arts That Majesty e're found to conquer Hearts Roxol. Nay now you are more Cruel than before Was 't not enough I did your Loss deplore But t'heighten my despair must your own breath To make my fall more lowd proclaim my Death 'T had been enough t' have met a silent Doom Must the black Cloud have Thunder in its Womb Solym. Why is your Fall and Death by Solyman wrought By Heav'n I 've no such mallice in my thought My thoughts flow purer No black stream runs here Love fills my breast and makes the Current clear And Love that 's the impetuous Tide of Souls No Majesty no Sacred name controules But from its pow'r its Innocence does hold As th' Acts of Heav'n are good because they 're uncontroul'd Roxol. There was a Time but oh That Roxolana lives to speak that word When my still Lov'd and my once loving Lord Vow'd an Eternity of Faith to Me And call'd on Heav'n to witness that Decree But now unkindly does that Heav'n invoke To see his Vows and Sacred Promise broke The Days the Seasons and the Years go on And Nature her unalter'd course does run But why 's not the United World unhing'd When that bright Vertue which should rule 't is chang'd Since Honour can be Violated there Why does not Nature your Confusion share Is Solymans World more constant than its Lord Solym. 'T is true I gave you my imperial word To Love you and have done it to the height Beauty was never treated in more State A Nuptiall Tye and sharer in a Throne To all my Predecessors was unknown Roxol. Yes Sir you rais'd me to a Crown forsook The rude delights your wilde Fore-fathers took When from the feeble Charms of multitude And change your heart with one pure flame endu'd Was all entire to Roxolana giv'n As Converts quit Idolatry for Heav'n To that I ow'd my Happiness but know 'T is to that too I do my Ruine owe. Solym. Death how she tortures me Is this Diversion for a Lover in my pain aside No news of Isabella here again Roxol. Had Solyman lov'd like other Turkish Kings And I been one of those â—ame suffering things Who as your Slaves your scatter'd favours caught I in the crowd had had no higher thought But from that hour I was the Sultan's Wife My Soul grew with the glories of my Life My infinite Knowledge makes my pains excess Remembrance is the Plague of Greatness in distress Solym. When to those eyes
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
That Oath I must not no I cannot break Mor. Your Oath is strong when your resolves are weak Solym. Had I by Alla sworne to quit my Crown So bound I ought to lay my Scepter down And yield a Throne without a sigh Mor. But Sir Even Kings themselves sometimes may chance to erre And you would impute Cruelty to Heav'n If sins of Ignorance can't be forgiven Perhaps those tyes are less than what they seem Send for the Musil Sir consult with him He may repeal that Vow your rashness past And find your promise does not bind so fast Or shew at least some safe though distant means To gain your quiet and remove your pains Solym. Send for him though I fear 't is all in vain Do any thing to bring my peace again Ex. Morat Enter at another Door Ibrahim After your mean suspition with what face False Ibrahim dare you approach this place Ibrah. Sir I approach you as I ought to do As one who'has lost all hopes in loosing you Approach you with those looks he ought to bring Who hears this language from an alter'd King My happiness in this Tempest sinks and drowns I knew your smiles too well to bear your frowns Solym. How can I think you priz'd my smiles so high When you could forfeit them so wilfully Ibrah. If the protection of my Love 's a sin Then condemn'd Ibrahim has guilty been But when I Councell'd my fair Saint to flye I was your Champion not your Enemy I knew her Faith so well that when from hence I stole her 't was in Solyman's defence Since her firm Vows no force could e're destroy I rob'd you of a Torment not a Joy Solym. Was ever Arrogance so high to dare Thus insolently brave me with Despair What though my Pow'r's so weak and hope so vain That Hate and Scorn is all Iâ—must obtain Though you can think so meanly of my State It is unkind t' upbraid me with my Fate Ibrah. No Sultan call it by another Name A subjects Zeal to Guard his Soveraignes Fame More worthy and more Kingly Thoughts persue How little does this change appear in You VVhen Solyman who lately took Delight In Thoughts that soar'd above an Eagles Flight Now humbly stoops t' invade his Vassals right Solym. Is it so humble to adore that Face A favor'd Lover and have thoughts so base Since of her Pow'r you have a Sence no higher And see so little there for Kings t' Admire I will convert your infidelity Take her more glorious Character from me By Nature she 's ordeyn'd to be Obey'd All Beauteous things for Soveraignty were made Is not Love Kingly then when thus my Breast it fils Ibrah. So Thunder's heavenly but that Thunder Kills Solym. Why should you think I l'e take so rough a Course I l'e vanquish by Entreaty not by Force My Warlike Visier has in Camps been Nurst In Laurells it was I that drest you first Desert not then that Aire where you were Bred Fame so long Courted now be Kind and VVed That glorious Race so well begun perâ—ue Ibrha But Sir cannot I Conquer and Love too Solym. Can nothing but my ruin satisfie Are there not charms enow in Vâ—ctory Take all my Forces half my World be thine And in exchange let that one Prize be mine Ibrah. Oh now you ask what I can ne're resign Loves that can cease are Feavourish desires A Thirst which the Disease once cured expires My heart unchangeably her Image weares Meteors may be extinguisht but not Stars Solym. Of Roxolana I was once as fond And loves as much yet time has broke that Bond. Is Love in Me more mortal than in You No 't is your Pride denys because I stoop to sue Were you for this Ungrateful Mâ—n by me From Death and from inglorious chains set free From below Pitty above Envy â—aâ—s'd Was it not I your sullen Fate appeas'd From your rude Ore refin'd you into Gold And stampt you in my own Imperial Mould And what my nobler Nature ought to shun You force me to repeat what I have done Ibrahim Those favours Sir your Vassal blushing took Admir'd your Bounteous hand and wonder-strook With humble Veneration did adore Great Jove descending in a Royal showre Solym. And now that Veneration is her due Ibrah. To worship her I 'le never steal from you No to acknowledge what your smiles have done Send me to Nations yet t' your Arms unknown I 'le fetch you glories from the rich Peru Nature her Treasures shall unlock for you But if of rougher spoiles you would be Lord By Valiant more than shining Kings ador'd The Savage Tartar in his frozen Zone Scorcht by your light'ning shall your greatness own New Toiles new Labours for my Arm decree Try me like Hercules and I shall be If not as great as little tir'd as He. Solym. My stock of same already is so large That Victories would be a mean discharge Her heart would th' only pleasing payment make Ibrah. And can I yield my Princess to forsake Since I want power to pay that vast demand Arrest your Honours in a Bankrupts hand Make me that wretched thing I was before Resume your glories and my Chains restore And by my Death let all your Troubles cease I 've liv'd too long when I disturb your Peace Solym. And that long life 't is I can shorter make Ibrah. Oh take it Sir I wear it for your sake Though I can never yield to quit my Love Yet I can dye a Rival to remove And when to Death I go hear my last pray'r May Solymans Life Heav'n take up all your care Solym. Can Ibrahim so patiently receive His Doom and with such ease his Judge forgive Ibrah. Forgive you where 's your sin Alas your hand Takes but that Life you justly may demand Should abject Creatures in their dying hour Repine and Murmour at th' Almighty pow'r My ador'd King even my last breath should rule Not one ill thought should touch my parting soul. Solym. Hold generous Prince Know what great Love can do And hear a Resolution Strange but True I have no hopes that Beauty to o'recome But by your Death to make my Passion room Yet in such Loyalty such pow'r I find That goodness in your face and lustre in your mind That if one look one kind word more you give 'T will soften me till I shall let you live But to enable me to give the blow Ibrahim your last but fatal Duty show With haste and silence from my presence flye That absent I may'have power to bid you dye Ex. Ibrah. He 's gone and has my black command obey'd Yet not such Loyalty can save his head To what ill deeds is desperate passion led Enter Morat and Mufti Mor. The Mufti Sir your pleasure does attend Solym. Priest for thy Councel and thy Aid I send A Ravisher has rob'd me of my Peace And I want power to make my torment cease Muft. Who is that Ravisher and what that Chain
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
of her Love t' avert his Doom aside Grant Her success let Ibrahim live and may The Sultans hopes be Crown'd the gentler way Exit Aster Though life and happiness must ne're be mine Yet I 'le take care that I 'le secure 'em thine Accept that Mirva gives him a Sword Mirv. Sent from Roxolana's hand This Princess Love conspires with her command They 've both design'd your freedom to redeem Aster Which to effect we 've found this Stratagem Though of your Fate this is th' appointed Scene Yet in respect to that which you have been His Friend and Vizier you 're allow'd this Grace None but Morat has entrance to this place Mirv. The Mutes th' intended Murderers wait all Without at distance and beyond his call And but approach that minute when you fall Aster When False Morat returns to take her hence Produce this Weapon as your last defence Disarm him bind him leave him in your room Change habits with him and his form assume Lead hence your Princess and by th'help of Night Pass undiscover'd and secure you flight The Guards too not suspecting an escape Will let you pass deluded by that shape Ibrah. Alas I was before a Bankrupt made And owed too much where I 'had so little paid But now your goodness swells the Debt so high That I with shame must Live Aster Shame Dear Sir why You owe me nothing By Religious tyes When Vertue in distress and danger lyes Its rescue and defence should be the care Of all Man kind and that 's my bus'ness here Isabel. Thou art so excellently good thou best Of Rivals so much Heav'n dwells in thy Breast In Duty to perfections so Divine All my best thoughts and half my prayers are thine Enter Morat Mor. I come to tell you that your hour is past ha starts Ibrah. Keep in thy tongue or speaking speak thy last Morat How came you by that Sword Ibrah. gets between him and the Door Ibrah. No matter how Jaylor my Flight must be contriv'd by you Morat Your Flight Ibrah. 'T is a proposal may seem strange But Sir we two our habits must exchange And you must yield to stay here gag'd and bound Till by your shape we move t' a safer ground If at this price you 'l buy your Life you may Morat What do you think to frighten me to play The Traytor Ibrah. Know 't is Death to disobey Morat Submit to save my Life for one hours time To dye the next by tortures for my Crime No though your Arm is so renown'd I 'le try My chance for Life Ibrah. Then take thy choyce and dye they fight Aster Hold Villain hold how dare you lift an arm Against his Life Interposing Ibrah. Dear Madam fear no harm Mor. How dare you Save what Solyman Condemnes to Aster Ibrah. Do not dispute her goodness nor my Crimes But yield and Live Mor. Yield no at thy false heart fights agen Hold thou hast kill'd me Traytor as thou art Bears himself up reeling upon his Sword In all my hopes all my Ambition crost By a fond foolish Girl betray'd and lost Aster You are not wounded Ibrah. No! you Genius was my guard Mor. Thou Treacherous Fool take that for thy reward Kills Aster and falls Ibrah. Down to thy Hell and there in torments howl Sticking him to the ground Oh speak dear Madam ease my tortur'd soul The Gods their charge must better understand Then to ordain your Fate from such a hand Say you 're not hurt Aster No! let your trouble cease He has only sent a wretched thing to peace Isabel. She bleeds she bleeds Ibrah. Oh! this detested hour Aster Alas Sir I was dying long before Deaths cold hand strook me when I first lost you A lingering Fate the slow Consumption drew Then do not Sir this happy stroke deplore That ends a tedious Journey in an hour Isabel. A Lovers absence and a Fathers hate My three years pains were easie to this weight Horror ne're seiz'd me in this dismal shape Ibrah. Infernal Dog Aster Think think of your escape Ibrah. Is an escape a fit reward for him Who bears the weight of my accursed Crime Aster My Death is not your Crime Kind dear Sir flye Oh do not stay leave me alone to dye Ibrah. Desert you Aster I conjure you do not stay I' th path to Heav'n the Good can never stray I need no help to guide me in my way Ibrah. How can I flye Aster This unkind language cease Fly as you 'd have my Soul in Heav'n find peace Ibrah. How can I promise you Aster Oh Sir you must Will you deny me Rest when I am Dust Is saving of your Life so hard Ibrah. Is leaving you So easie basely to desert you now And guard my forfeit blood when I have been A fatal instrument in shedding thine Aster Nay then I 'm destin'd to dye wretched all I beg'd of Heaven was to divert your fall My saving Ibrahim's Life was all my pride And must that only blessing be deny'd Ibrah. Well Madam I 'le submit to any thing Aster Now with an Angels voyce I hear you speak And at that word my heart-strings gently break My well-pleas'd Ghost will find eternal rest To think that I have made my Ibrahim blest And must I dye in my dear Ibrahim's Arms Now you transport me with too mighty charms In this dear Heav'n like a blest Star I 'm plac'd But oh my Joy's too violent to last dies Ibrah. She 's gone Yes generous Saint I 'le do thee right But if I flye my Death must be my flight I 'm too much loaded with my shame and grief To leave this killing â—ight to save a life Isabel. Farewell unhappy Maid sure there must be No common joys above reserv'd for thee Thou had'st so little happiness below Heav'ns debts are certain though the payment 's slow Enter a Bassa as sent from Solyman Bassa Morat stays long What 's here Guards Guards Exit Bassa retreating at the same door he enterd Ibrah. Stay stay I am your Prisoner and your pow'r obey Alas there needs no Crowds to take me now Re-enter the Bassa with Guards Bassa Seize him Guards seize him Ibrah. It is the kindest office you can do Bassa Remove the Bodys hence And keep those Prisoners safe till my return Till from the Sultan's will their Fates I learn Exit Ibrahim and Isabel. led in by Guards part of the Guards carry off Morat and Asteria and the Bassa returns at the same door he entred at Manet Mirva Mirv. How dismally to Roxolana's ear Will this strange story sound But see she 's here Enter Roxolana Roxol. Have I success Is Isabella fled Has that dire Planet hid its threatning head I fear thy Answer will not be so kind An Ominous load hangs on my burden'd mind Mirv. Let me in silence my Allegiance pay Roxol. No Mirva speak the worst thou hast to â—ay Mirv. The fair Asteria's dead kill'd by Morat But in revenge of her unhappy Fate By