I am Besides I have learnt so much good manners Doctor as to let my Betters be serv'd before me M. Mol. Thou talk'st as if the Mufty were concern'd Must Your Majesty may lay your Soul on 't but for my part though I am a plain Fellow yet I scorn to be trick'd into Paradice I wou'd he shou'd know it The troth on 't is an 't like you His reverence bought of me the flower of all the Market these these are but Dogs meat to 'em and a round price he pay'd me too I 'll say that for him but not enough for me to venture my neck for If I get Paradice when my time comes I can't help my self but I 'll venture nothing before-hand upon a blind Bargain M. Mol. Where are those Slaves produce ' em Mus They are not what he says M. Mol. No more excuses One goes out to fetch them Know thou may'st better dally With a dead Prophet than a living King Mus I but reserv'd 'em to present thy Greatness An Off'ring worthy thee Must By the same token there was a dainty Virgin Virgin said I but I won't be too positive of that neither with a roguish leering eye he paid me down for her upon the nail a thousand golden Sultanins or he had never had her I can tell him that Now is it very likely he would pay so dear for such a delicious Morsel and give it away out of his own mouth when it had such a farewel with it too Enter Sebastian conducted in mean habit with Alvarez Antonio and Almeyda her face veil'd with a Barnus M. Mol. Ay These look like the Workmanship of Heav'n This is the porcelain clay of human kind And therefore cast into these noble moulds Dorax aside while the Emperor whispers Benducar By all my wrongs 'T is he damnation seize me but 't is he My heart heaves up and swells he 's poyson to me My injur'd honour and my ravish'd love Bleed at their Murderers sight Bend to Dor. aside The Emperor wou'd learn these Pris'ners names You know ' em Dor. Tell him no. And trouble me no more I will not know ' em Shall I trust Heav'n that Heav'n which I renounc'd Aside With my revenge then where 's my satisfaction No it must be my own I scorn a Proxy M. Mol. 'T is decreed These of a better aspect with the rest Shall share one common Doom and Lots decide it For ev'ry number'd Captive put a ball Into an Urn three only black be there The rest all white are safe Muf. Hold Sir the Woman must not draw M. Mol. O Mufti We know your reason let her share the danger Muf. Our Law says plainly Women have no Souls M. Mol. 'T is true their Souls are mortal set her by Yet were Almeyda here though Fame reports her The fairest of her Sex so much unseen I hate the Sister of our Rival House Ten thousand such dry Notions of our Alcoran Shou'd not protect her life if not Immortal Dye as she cou'd all of a piece the better That none of her remain Here an Vrn is brought in the Pris'ners approach with great concernment and among the rest Sebastian Alvarez and Antonio who come more chearfully Dor. Poor abject Creatures how they fear to dye Aside These never knew one happy hour in life Yet shake to lay it down is load so pleasant Or has Heav'n hid the happiness of Death That Men may bear to live Now for our Heroes The three approach O these come up with Spirits more resolv'd Old venerable Alvarez well I know him The Fav'rite once of this Sebastian's Father Now Minister too honest for his Trade Religion bears him out a thing taught young In Age ill practis'd yet his prop in Death O he has drawn a black and smiles upon 't As who shou'd say my Faith and Soul are white Tho my Lot swarthy Now if there be hereafter He 's blest if not well cheated and dyes pleas'd Anton. holding his Lot in his clench'd hand Here I have thee Be what thou wilt I will not look too soon Thou hast a colour if thou prov'st not right I have a minute good ere I behold thee Now Let me rowl and grubble thee Blind Men say white feels smooth and black feels rough Thou hast a rugged skin I do not like thee Dor. There 's th' Amorous airy spark Antonio The wittiest Womans toy in Portugal Lord what a loss of Treats and Serenades The whole She Nation will b' in mourning for him Antonio I 've a moist sweaty palm the more 's my Sin If it be black yet only dy'd not odious Damn'd Natural Ebony there 's hope in rubbing To wash this Ethiope white Looks Pox of the Proverb As black as Hell another lucky saying I think the Devils in me good again I cannot speak one syllable but tends To Death or to Damnation Holds up his ball Dor. He looks uneasie at his future Journey Aside And wishes his Boots off again for fear Of a bad Road and a worse Inn at night Go to bed fool and take secure repose For thou shalt wake no more Sebastian comes up to draw M. Mol. to Ben. Mark him who now approaches to the Lott'ry He looks secure of Death superior greatness Like Jove when he made Fate and said thou art The Slave of my Creation I admire him Bend. He looks as Man was made with face erect That scorns his brittle Corps and seems asham'd He 's not all spirit his eyes with a dumb Pride Accusing Fortune that he fell not warm Yet now disdains to live Sebast draws a black M. Mol. He has his wish And I have fail'd of mine Dor. Robb'd of my Vengeance by a trivial chance Aside Fine work above that their anointed care Shou'd dye such little Death or did his Genius Know mine the stronger Demon fear'd the grapple And looking round him found this nook of fate To skulk behind my Sword shall I discover him Still he wou'd dye not mine no thanks to my Revenge reserv'd but to more royal shambles 'T were base too and below those Vulgar Souls That shar'd his danger yet not one disclos'd him But struck with Rev'rence kept an awful silence I 'll see no more of this Dog of a Prophet Exit Dorax Mul. Mol. One of these Three is a whole Hecatomb And therefore only one of 'em shall dye The Rest are but mute Cattle and when Death Comes like a rushing Lion couch like Spaniels With lolling tongues and tremble at the paw Let Lots again decide it The Three draw again and the Lot falls on Sebastian Sebast Then there 's no more to manage if I fall It shall be like my self a setting Sun Shou'd leave a track of Glory in the Skies Behold Sebastian King of Portugal M. Mol. Sebastian ha it must be he no other Cou'd represent such suff'ring Majesty I saw him as he terms himself a Sun Strugling in dark Eclipse and shooting day On either side of the black
this supposition it was unreasonable to have kill'd him for the Learned Mr. Rymer has well observ'd that in all punishments we are to regulate our selves by Poetical justice and according to those measures an involuntary sin deserves not death from whence it follows that to divorce himself from the beloved object to retire into a desart and deprive himself of a Throne was the utmost punishment which a Poet cou'd inflict as it was also the utmost reparation which Sebastian cou'd make For what relates to Almeyda her part is wholly fictitious I know it is the surname of a noble Family in Portugal which was very instrumental in the Restoration of Don John de Braganza Father to the most Illustrious and most Pious Princess our Queen Dowager The French Author of a Novel call'd Don Sebastian has given that name to an Affrican Lady of his own invention and makes her Sister to Muley-Mahumet But I have wholly chang'd the accidents and borrow'd nothing but the supposition that she was belov'd by the King of Portugal Tho if I had taken the whole story and wrought it up into a Play I might have done it exactly according to the practice of almost all the Ancients who were never accus'd of being Plagiaries for building their Tragedies on known Fables Thus Augustus Caesar wrote an Ajax which was not the less his own because Euripides had written a Play before him on that Subject Thus of late years Corneille writ an Oedipus after Sophocles and I have design'd one after him which I wrote with Mr. Lee yet neither the French Poet stole from the Greek nor we from the French man 'T is the contrivance the new turn and new characters which alter the property and make it ours The Materia Poetica is as common to all Writers as the Materia Medica to all Physicians Thus in our Chronicles Daniels History is still his own though Matthew Paris Stow and Hollingshed writ before him otherwise we must have been content with their dull relations if a better Pen had not been allow'd to come after them and write his own account after a new and better manner I must farther declare freely that I have not exactly kept to the three Mechanick rules of unity I knew them and had them in my eye but follow'd them only at a distance for the Genius of the English cannot bear too regular a Play we are given to variety even to a debauchery of Pleasure My Scenes are therefore sometimes broken because my Vnder-plot requir'd them so to be though the General Scene remains of the same Castle and I have taken the time of two days because the variety of accidents which are here represented cou'd not naturally be suppos'd to arrive in one But to gain a greater Beauty 't is lawful for a Poet to supersede a less I must likewise own that I have somewhat deviated from the known History in the death of Muley-Moluch who by all relations dyed of a feaver in the Battel before his Army had wholly won the Field but if I have allow'd him another day of life it was because I stood in need of so shining a Character of brutality as I have given him which is indeed the same with that of the present Emperor Muley Ishmael as some of our English Officers who have been in his Court have credibly inform'd me I have been listning what objections had been made against the conduct of the Play but found them all so trivial that if I shou'd name them a true critick wou'd imagin that I play'd booty and only rais'd up fantoms for my self to conquer Some are pleas'd to say the Writing is dull but aetatem habet de se loquatur Others that the double poyson is unnatural let the common received opinion and Ausonius his famous Epigram answer that Lastly a more ignorant sort of Creatures than either of the former maintain that the Character of Dorax is not only unnatural but inconsistent with it self let them read the Play and think again and if yet they are not satisfied cast their eyes on that Chapter of the Wise Montaigne which is intituled de l' Inconstance des actions humaines A longer reply is what those Cavillers deserve not but I will give them and their fellows to understand that the Earl of Dorset was pleas'd to read the Tragedy twice over before it was Acted and did me the favour to send me word that I had written beyond any of my former Plays and that he was displeas'd any thing shou'd be cut away If I have not reason to prefer his single judgment to a whole Faction let the World be judge for the opposition is the same with that of Lucan's Heroe against an Army concurrere bellum atque virum I think I may modestly conclude that whatever errors there may be either in the design or writing of this Play they are not those which have been objected to it I think also that I am not yet arriv'd to the Age of doating and that I have given so much application to this Poem that I cou'd not probably let it run into many gross absurdities which may caution my Enemies from too rash a censure and may also encourage my friends who are many more than I cou'd reasonably have expected to believe their kindness has not been very undeservedly bestowed on me This is not a Play that was huddled up in hast and to shew it was not I will own that beside the general Moral of it which is given in the four last lines there is also another Moral couch'd under every one of the principal Parts and Characters which a judicious Critick will observe though I point not to it in this Preface And there may be also some secret Beauties in the decorum of parts and uniformity of design which my puny judges will not easily find out let them consider in the last Scene of the fourth Act whether I have not preserv'd the rule of decency in giving all the advantage to the Royal Character and in making Dorax first submit Perhaps too they may have thought that it was through indigence of Characters that I have given the same to Sebastian and Almeyda and consequently made them alike in all things but their Sex But let them look a little deeper into the matter and they will find that this identity of Character in the greatness of their Souls was intended for a preparation of the final discovery and that the likeness of their nature was a fair hint to the proximity of their blood To avoid the imputation of too much vanity for all Writers and especially Poets will have some I will give but one other instance in relation to the Vniformity of the design I have observ'd that the English will not bear a thorough Tragedy but are pleas'd that it shou'd be lightned with underparts of mirth It had been easie for me to have given my Audience a better course of Comedy I mean a more diverting
endure Martyrdom Must Now late Mufti not forgetting my first Quarrel to you we will enter our selves with the Plunder of your Palace 't is good to sanctifie a Work and begin a God's name 1 st Rabble Our Prophet let the Devil alone with the last Mob Mob But he takes care of this himself As they are going out enter Benducar leading Almeyda He with a Sword in one hand Benducar's Slave follows with Muly-Moluch 's Head upon a Spear Must Not so much hast Masters come back again you are so bent upon mischief that you take a man upon the first word of Plunder Here 's a sight for you the Emperour is come upon his head to visit you Bowing Most Noble Emperour now I hope you will not hit us in the teeth that we have pull'd you down for we can tell you to your face that we have exalted you They all shout Benducar to Almeyda apart Think what I am and what your self may be In being mine refuse not proffer'd Love that brings a Crown Almeyda to him I have resolv'd And these shall know my thoughts Bend. to her On that I build He comes up to the Rabble Joy to the People for the Tyrants Death Oppression Rapine Banishment and Bloud Are now no more but speechless as that tongue That lyes for ever still How is my grief divided with my joy When I must own I kill'd him bid me speak For not to bid me is to disallow What for your sakes is done Mustafa In the name of the People we command you speak But that pretty Lady shall speak first for we have taken somewhat of a likeing to her Person be not afraid Lady to speak to these rude Ragga-muffians there 's nothing shall offend you unless it be their stink and please you Making a Legg Almeyda Why shou'd I fear to speak who am your Queen My peacefull Father sway'd the Scepter long And you enjoy'd the Blessings of his Reign While you deserv'd the name of Affricans Then not commanded but commanding you Fearless I speak know me for what I am Bend. How she assumes I like not this beginning aside Almeyda I was not born so base to flatter Crowds And move your pitty by a whining tale Your Tyrant would have forc'd me to his Bed But in th' attempt of that foul brutal Act These Loyall Slaves secur'd me by his Death Pointing to Ben. Bend. Makes she no more of me then of a Slave aside Madam I thought I had instructed you to Alm. To frame a Speech more suiting to the times The Circumstances of that dire design Your own despair my unexpected ayd my Life endanger'd by his bold defence And after all his Death and your Deliv'rance Were themes that ought not to be slighted o're Mustafa She might have pass'd over all your petty businesses and no great matter But the Raising of my Rabble is an Exploit of consequence and not to be mumbled up in silence for all her pertness Almeyda When force invades the gift of Nature Life The eldest Law of nature bids defend And if in that defence a Tyrant fall his Death 's his Crime not ours Suffice it that he 's Dead all wrongs dye with him When he can wrong no more I pardon him Thus I absolve my self and him excuse Who sav'd my life and honour but praise neither Benducar 'T is cheap to pardon whom you would not pay But what speak I of payment and reward Ungratefull Woman you are yet no Queen Nor more than a proud haughty Christian slave As such I seize my right going to lay hold on her Almyda drawing a Dagger Dare not to approach me Now Affricans He shows himself to you to me he stood Confest before and own'd his Insolence T'espouse my person and assume the Crown Claym'd in my Right for this he slew your Tyrant Oh no he only chang'd him for a worse Imbas'd your Slavery by his own vileness And loaded you with more ignoble bonds Then think me not ungratefull not to share Th' Imperial Crown with a presuming Traytor He says I am a Christian true I am But yet no Slave If Christians can be thought Unfit to govern those of other Faith 'T is left for you to judge Benducar I have not patience she consumes the time In Idle talk and owns her false Belief Seize her by force and bear her hence unheard Almeyda to the People No let me rather dye your sacrifice Than live his Tryumph I throw my self into my Peoples armes As you are Men compassionate my wrongs And as good men Protect me Antonio aside Something must be done to save her To Mustafa This is all address'd to you Sir She singled you out with her eye as Commander in chief of the Mobility Mustafa Think'st thou so Slave Antonio Antonio Most certainly Sir and you cannot in honour but protect her Now look to your hits and make your fortune Mustafa Methought indeed she cast a kind leer towards me Our Prophet was but just such another Scoundrell as I am till he rais'd himself to power and consequently to Holyness by marrying his masters Widow I am resolved I 'le put forward for my self for why should I be my Lord Benducars Fool and Slave when I may be my own fool and his Master Benducar Take her into possession Mustafa Mustafa That 's better Counsell than you meant it Yes I do take her into possession and into protection too what say you Masters will you stand by me Omnes One and all One and all Benducar Hast thou betray'd me Traytor Mufti speak mind 'em of Religion Mufti shakes his head Mustafa Alas the poor Gentleman has gotten a cold with a Sermon of two hours long and a prayer of four and besides if he durst speak mankind is grown wiser at this time of day than to cut one anothers throats about Religion Our Mufti is a Green coat and the Christians is a black coat and we must wisely go together by the ears whether green or black shall sweep our spoils Drums within and shouts Benducar Now we shall see whose numbers will prevail The Conquering Troups of Muley Zeydan come To crush Rebellion and espouse my Cause Mustafa We will have a fair Tryall of Skill for 't I can tell him that When we have dispatch'd with Muley Zeydan your Lordship shall march in equall proportions of your body to the four gates of the City and every Tower shall have a Quarter of you Antonio draws them up and takes Almeyda by the hand Shouts again and Drums Enter Dorax and Sebastian attended by Affrican Soldiers and Portugueses Almeyda and Sebastian run into each others armes and both speak together Seb. and Alm. My Sebastian My Almeyda Alm. Do you then live Seb. And live to love thee ever Bend. How Dorax and Sebastian still alive The Moors and Christians joyn'd I thank thee Prophet Dorax The Citadell is ours and Muley Zeydan Safe under Guard but as becomes a Prince Lay down your armes
not Benducar Bare a better Name In a Friend's mouth than all those gawdy Titles Which I disdain to give the Man I love Bend. But always out of humor Dorax I have cause Tho all mankind is cause enough for Satyr Bend. Why then thou hast reveng'd thee on mankind They say in fight thou hadst a thirsty Sword And well 't was glutted there Dorax I spitted Frogs I crush'd a heap of Emmets A hundred of 'em to a single Soul And that but scanty weight too the great Devil Scarce thank'd me for my pains he swallows Vulgar Like whip'd Cream feels 'em not in going down Bend. Brave Renegade cou'dst thou not meet Sebastian Thy Master had been worthy of thy Sword Dorax My Master By what title Because I happen'd to be born where he Happen'd to be a King And yet I serv'd him Nay I was fool enough to love him too You know my story how I was rewarded For Fifteen hard Campaigns still hoop'd in Iron And why I turn'd Mahometan I 'm grateful But whosoever dares to injure me Let that man know I dare to be reveng'd Bend. Still you run off from biass say what moves Your present spleen Dorax You mark'd not what I told you I kill'd not one that was his Makers Image I met with none but vulgar two-leg'd Brutes Sebastian was my aim he was a Man Nay though he hated me and I hate him Yet I must do him right he was a Man Above man's height ev'n towring to Divinity Brave pious generous great and liberal Just as the Scales of Heaven that weigh the Seasons He lov'd his People him they idoliz'd And thence proceeds my mortal hatred to him That thus unblameable to all besides He err'd to me alone His goodness was diffus'd to human kind And all his cruelty confin'd to me Bend. You cou'd not meet him then Dorax No though I sought Where ranks fell thickest 't was indeed the place To seek Sebastian through a track of Death I follow'd him by Groans of dying Foes But stâ—ll I came too late for he was flown Like Ligtning swift before me to new Slaughters I mow'd across and made irregular Harvest Defac'd the pomp of Battel but in vain For he was still supplying Death elsewhere This mads me that perhaps ignoble hands Have overlaid him for they cou'd not conquer Murder'd by Multitudes whom I alone Had right to slay I too wou'd have been slain That catching hold upon his flitting Ghost I might have robb'd him of his opening Heav'n And drag'd him down with me spight of Predestination Bend. 'T is of as much import as Affric's worth To know what came of him and of Almeyda The Sister of the Vanquish'd Mahumet Whose fatal Beauty to her Brother drew The Lands third part as Lucifer did Heav'ns Dor. I hope she dy'd in her own Female calling Choak'd up with Man and gorg'd with Circumcision As for Sebastian we must search the Field And where we see a Mountain of the Slain Send one to climb and looking down below There he shall find him at his Manly length With his face up to Heav'n in the red Monument Which his true Sword has digg'd Bend. Yet we may possibly hear farther news For while our Affricans pursu'd the Chase The Captain of the Rabble issued out With a black shirt-less train to spoil the dead And seize the living Dor. Each of 'em an Hoast A Million strong of Vermine ev'ry Villain No part of Government but Lords of Anarchy Chaos of Power and priviledg'd destruction Bend. Yet I must tell you Friend the Great must use 'em Sometimes as necessary tools of tumult Dor. I wou'd use 'em Like Dogs in times of Plague out-laws of Nature Fit to be shot and brain'd without a process To stop infection that 's their proper death Bend. No more Behold the Emperor coming to survey The Slaves in order to perform his Vow Enter Muley-Moluch the Emperor with Attendants The Mufty and Muley Zeydan Moluch Our Armours now may rust our idle scymitars Hang by our sides for Ornament not use Children shall beat our Atabals and Drums And all the noisie trades of War no more Shall wake the peaceful morn the Xeriff's blood No longer in divided Channels runs The younger House took end in Mahumet Nor shall Sebastian's formidable Name Be longer us'd to lull the crying babe Mufty For this Victorious day our Mighty Prophet Expects your gratitude the Sacrifice Of Christian Slaves devoted if you won Mol. The purple present shall be richly paid That Vow perform'd fasting shall be abolish'd None ever serv'd Heav'n well with a starv'd face Preach Abstinence no more I tell thee Mufty Good feasting is devout and thou our Head Hast a Religious ruddy Countenance We will have learned Luxury our lean Faith Gives scandal to the Christians they feed high Then look for shoals of Converts when thou hast Reform'd us into feasting Muf. Fasting is but the Letter of the Law Yet it shows well to Preach it to the Vulgar Wine is against our Law that 's literal too But not deny'd to Kings and to their Guides Wine is a Holy Liquor for the Great Dorax aside This Mufti in my conscience is some English Renegade he talks so savourly of toping Mol. Bring forth th' unhappy Relicks of the War Enter Mustapha Captain of the Rabble with his followers of the Black Guard c. and other Moors with them a Company of Portuguese Slaves without any of the chief Persons M. Mol. These are not fit to pay an Emperors Vow Our Bulls and Rams had been more noble Victims These are but garbidge not a Sacrifice Muf. The Prophet must not pick and choose his Offrings Now he has giv'n the Day 't is past recalling And he must be content with such as these M. Mol. But are these all Speak you who are their Masters Musta All upon my Honour If you 'll take 'em as their Fathers got 'em so If not you must stay till they get a better generation These Christians are mere bunglers they procreate nothing but out of their own Wives And these have all the looks of Eldest Sons M. Mol. Pain of your lives let none conceal a Slave Must Let every Man look to his own Conscience I am sure mine shall never hang me Bend. Thou speak'st as thou wert privy to concealments Then thou art an Accomplice Must Nay if Accomplices must suffer it may go hard with me but here 's the Devil on 't there 's a Great Man and a Holy Man too concern'd with me Now if I confess he 'll be sure to scape between his Greatness and his Holiness and I shall be murder'd because of my Poverty and Rascality Musti winking at him Then if thy silence-save the Great and Holy 'T is sure thou shalt go straight to Paradise Must 'T is a fine place they say but Doctor I am not worthy on 't I am contented with this homely World 't is good enough for such a poor rascally Musulman as
Sebastian Let Dorax be enjoyn'd to bring his head Emperor to the Mufti Go Mufti call him to receive his Orders Exit Mufti I taste thy Counsel her desires new rowz'd And yet unslak'd will kindle in her fancy And make her eager to renew the Feast Bend. aside Dorax I know before will disobey There 's a Foe 's Head well cropt But this hot love precipitates my Plot And brings it to projection ere its time Enter Sebastian and Almeyda hand in hand upon sight of the Emperor they separate and seem disturb'd Almeyda He breaks at unawares upon our Walks And like a mid-night Wolf invades the Fold Make speedy preparation of your Soul And bid it arm apace He comes for answer And brutal mischief sits upon his brow Sebast Not the last sounding cou'd surprize me more That summons drowzy Mortals to their doom When call'd in haste they fumble for their Limbs And tremble unprovided for their charge My sense has been so deeply plung'd in Joys The Soul out-slept her hour and scarce awake Wou'd think too late and cannot But brave Minds At worst can dare their Fate Emperor coming up to them Emp. Have you perform'd Your Embassy and treated with success Sebast I had not time Emp. No not for my Affairs But for your own too much Sebast You talk in Clouds explain your meaning Sir Emp. Explain yours first What meant you hand in hand And when you saw me with a guilty start You loos'd your hold affrighted at my presence Seb. Affrighted Emp. Yes astonish'd and confounded Seb. What mak'st thou of thy self and what of me Art thou some Ghost some Demon or some God That I shou'd stand astonish'd at thy sight If thou cou'dst deem so meanly of my Courage Why didst thou not engage me man for man And try the virtue of that Gorgon Face To stare me into statue Emp. Oh thou art now recover'd but by Heav'n Thou wert amaz'd at first as if surpriz'd At unexpected baseness brought to light For know ungrateful man that Kings like Gods Are every where walk in th' abyss of minds And view the dark recesses of the Soul Seb. Base and ungrateful never was I thought Nor till this turn of fate durst thou have call'd me But since thou boast'st th' omniscience of a God Say in what cranny of Sebastian's Soul Unknown to me so loath'd a Crime is lodg'd Emp. Thou hast not broke my trust repos'd in thee Seb. Impos'd but not receiv'd Take back that falsehood Emp. Thou art not marry'd to Almeyda Seb. Yes Emp. And own'st the usurpation of my Love Seb. I own it in the face of Heav'n and thee No Usurpation but a lawful claim Of which I stand possest Emp. Sh' has chosen well Betwixt a Captive and a Conqueror Almeyda Betwixt a Monster and the best of Men. He was the envy of his neighb'ring Kings For him their sighing Queens despis'd their Lords And Virgin Daughters blush'd when he was nam'd To share his noble Chains is more to me Than all the salvage greatness of thy Throne Seb. Were I to choose again and knew my fate For such a night I wou'd be what I am The Joys I have possest are ever mine Out of thy reach behind Eternity Hid in the sacred treasure of the past But bless'd remembrance bring 's 'em hourly back Emp. Hourly indeed who hast but hours to live O mighty purchase of a boasted bliss To dream of what thou hadst one fugitive night And never shalt have more Seb. Barbarian thou canst part us but a moment We shall be one again in thy despight Life is but air That yields a passage to the whistling Sword And closes when 't is gone Alm. How can we better dye than close embrac'd Sucking each others Souls while we expire Which so transfus'd and mounting both at once The Saints deceiv'd shall by a sweet mistake Hand up thy Soul for mine and mine for thine Emp. No I 'll untwist you I have occasion for your stay on earth Let him mount first and beat upon the Wing And wait an Age for what I here detain Or sicken at immortal Joys above And languish for the Heav'n he left below Alm. Thou wilt not dare to break what Heav'n has joyn'd Emp. Not break the Chain but change a rotten link And rivet one to last Think'st thou I come to argue right and wrong Why lingers Dorax thus Where are my Guards Benducar goes out for the Guards and returns To drag that Slave to death Pointing to Sebast Now storm and rage Call vainly on thy Prophet then defie him For wanting power to save thee Seb. That were to gratifie thy Pride I 'll shew thee How a Man shou'd and how a King dare dye So even that my Soul shall walk with ease Out of its flesh and shut out Life as calmly As it does words without a Sigh to note One struggle in the smooth dissolving frame Almeyda to the Emperor Expect revenge from Heav'n inhuman Wretch Nor hope t' ascend Sebastian's holy Bed Flames Daggers Poysons guard the sacred steps Those are the promis'd Pleasures of my love Emp. And these might fright another but not me Or me if I design'd to give you pleasure I seek my own and while that lasts you live Enter two of the Guards Go bear the Captive to a speedy death And set my Soul at ease Alm. I charge you hold ye Ministers of death Speak my Sebastian Plead for thy life Oh ask it of the Tyrant 'T is no dishonor trust me Love 't is none I wou'd die for thee but I cannot plead My haughty heart disdains it ev'n for thee Still silent Will the King of Portugal Go to his death like a dumb Sacrifice Beg him to save my life in saving thine Seb. Farewel my life 's not worth another word Emp. to the Guards Perform your Orders Alm. Stay take my farewel too Farewel the greatness of Almeyda's Soul Look Tyrant what excess of love can do It pulls me down thus low as to thy feet Kneels to him Nay to embrace thy Knees with loathing hands Which blister when they touch thee Yet ev'n thus Thus far I can to save Sebastian's life Emp. A secret pleasure trickles through my Veins It works about the inlets of my Soul To feel thy touch and pity tempts the pass But the tough metal of my heart resists 'T is warm'd with the soft fire not melted down Alm. A flood of scalding Tears will make it run Spare him Oh spare can you pretend to love And have no pity Love and that are Twins Here will I grow Thus compass you with these supplanting Cords And pull so long till the proud Fabrick falls Emp. Still kneel and still embrace 't is double pleasure So to be hugg'd and see Sebastian dye Alm. Look Tyrant when thou nam'st Sebastian's death Thy very Executioners turn pale Rough as they are and harden'd in the trade Of Death they start at an anointed Head And tremble to approach He hears me
not Nor minds th' impression of a God on Kings Because no stamp of Heav'n was on his Soul But the resisting Mass drove back the Seal Say though thy heart be rock of Adamant Yet Rocks are not impregnable to Bribes Instruct me how to bribe thee Name thy price Lo I resign my Title to the Crown Send me to exile with the Man I love And banishment is Empire Emp. Here 's my claim Clapping his hand to his Sword And this extinguish'd thine thou giv'st me nothing Alm. My Father's Mothers Brothers death I pardon That 's somewhat sure a mighty Sum of Murther Of innocent and kindred blood strook off My Prayers and Penance shall discount for these And beg of Heav'n to charge the Bill on me Behold what price I offer and how dear To buy Sebastian's life Emp. Let after reck'nings trouble fearful fools I 'll stand the tryal of those trivial Crimes But since thou beg'st me to prescribe my terms The only I can offer are thy love And this one day of respite to resolve Grant or deny for thy next word is Fate And Fate is deaf to Pray'r Alm. May Heav'n be so Rising up At thy last breath to thine I curse thee not For who can better curse the Plague or Devil Than to be what they are That Curse be thine Now do not speak Sebastian for you need not But dye for I resign your Life Look Heav'n Almeyda dooms her dear Sebastian's death But is there Heav'n for I begin to doubt The Skyes are hush'd no grumbling Thunders roul Now take your swing ye impious Sin unpunish'd Eternal providence seems overwatch'd And with a slumb'ring Nod assents to Murther Enter Dorax attended by three Soldiers Emp. Thou mov'st a Tortoise pace to my relief Take hence that once a King that sullen pride That swells to dumbness lay him in the Dungeon And sink him deep with Irons that when he wou'd He shall not groan to hearing when I send The next Commands are death Alm. Then Prayers are vain as Curses Emp. Much at one In a Slaves mouth against a Monarch's Pow'r This day thou hast to think At night if thou wilt curse thou shalt curse kindly Then I 'll provoke thy lips lay siege so close That all thy sallying breath shall turn to Blessings Make haste seize force her bear her hence Alm. Farewel my last Sebastian I do not beg I challenge Justice now O Pow'rs if Kings be your peculiar care Why plays this Wretch with your Prerogative Now flash him dead now crumble him to ashes Or henceforth live confin'd in your own Palace And look not idely out upon a World That is no longer yours She is carried off strugling Emperour and Benducar follow Sebastian struggles in his Guards Arms and shakes off one of them but two others come in and hold him he speaks not all the while Dor. I find I 'm but a half-strain'd Villain yet Aside But mungril-mischievous for my Blood boyl'd To view this brutal act and my stern Soul Tug'd at my arm to draw in her defence Down thou rebelling Christian in my heart Redeem thy fame on this Sebastian first Then think on others wrongs when thine are righted Walks a turn But how to right ' em on a Slave disarm'd Defenceless and submitted to my rage A base revenge is vengeance on my self walks again I have it and I thank thee honest head Thus present to me at my great necessity Comes up to Sebastian You know me not Sebast I hear Men call thee Dorax Dor. 'T is well you know enough for once you speak too You were struck mute before Sebast Silence became me then Dor. Yet we may talk hereafter Seb. Hereafter is not mine Dispatch thy work good Executioner Dor. None of my blood were hangmen add that falshood To a long Bill that yet remains unreckon'd Seb. A King and thou can never have a reck'ning Dor. A greater summ perhaps than you can pay Mean time I shall make bold t' increase your debt gives him his Sword Take this and use it at your greatest need Seb. This hand and this have been acquainted well Looks on it It shou'd have come before into my grasp To kill the Ravisher Dor. Thou heardst the Tyrants orders Guard thy life When 't is attack'd and guard it like a Man Seb. I 'm still without thy meaning but I thank thee Dor. Thank me when I ask thanks thank me with that Seb. Such surly kindness did I never see Dorax to the Captain of his Guards Muza draw out a file pick man by man Such who dare dye and dear will sell their death Guard him to th' utmost now conduct him hence And treat him as my Person Seb. Something like That voice methinks I shou'd have somewhere heard But floods of woes have hurry'd it far off Beyond my kenn of Soul Exit Sebastian with the Soldiers Dor. But I shall bring him back ungrateful Man Solus I shall and set him full before thy sight When I shall front thee like some staring Ghost With all my wrongs about me What so soon Return'd This hast is boding Enter to him Emperor Benducar Mufti Emp. She 's still inexorable still Imperious And loud as if like Bacchus born in thunder Be quick ye false Physicians of my mind Bring speedy Death or Cure Bend. What can be counsell'd while Sebastian lives The Vine will cling while the tall poplar stands But that cut down creeps to the next support And twines as closely there Emp. That 's done with ease I speak him dead proceed Muf. Proclaim your Marriage with Almeyda next That Civil Wars may cease this gains the Crowd Then you may safely force her to your will For People side with violence and injustice When done for publick good Emp. Preach thou that doctrine Bend. Th' unreasonable fool has broach'd a truth Aside That blasts my hopes but since 't is gone so far He shall divulge Almeyda is a Christian If that produce no tumult I despair Emp. Why speaks not Dorax Dor. Because my Soul abhors to mix with him Sir let me bluntly say you went too far To trust the Preaching pow'r on State Affairs To him or any Heavenly Demagogue 'T is a limb lopt from your Prerogative And so much of Heav'ns Image blotted from you Muf. Sure thou hast never heard of Holy Men So Christians call 'em fam'd in State Affairs Such as in Spain Ximenes Albornoz In England Woolsey match me these with Laymen Dorax How you triumph in one or two of these Born to be Statesmen hap'ning to be Church-men Thou callst 'em holy so their function was But tell me Mufti which of 'em were Saints Next Sir to you the summ of all is this Since he claims pow'r from Heav'n and not from Kings When 't is his int'rest he can int'rest Heav'n To preach you down and Ages oft depend On hours uninterrupted in the Chair Emp. I 'll trust his Preaching while I rule his pay And I dare trust my
Limb for my relief Then take thy rest within thy quiet Cell For thou shalt drum no more Enter Muley Moluch and Guards attending him Mul. Mol. What news of our Affairs and what of Dorax Is he no more say that and make me happy Bend. May all your Enemies be like that Dog Whose parting Soul is lab'ring at the Lips Mul. Mol. The People are they rais'd Bend. And Marshall'd too Just ready for the March. Mul. Mol. Then I 'm at ease Bend. The Night is yours the glitt'ring Hoast of Heav'n Shines but for you but most the Star of Love That twinckles you to fair Almeyda's Bed Oh there 's a joy to melt in her embrace Dissolve in pleasures And make the gods curse Immortality That so they cou'd not dye But haste and make 'em yours Mul. Mol. I will and yet A kind of weight hangs heavy at my Heart My flagging Soul flyes under her own pitch Like Fowl in air too damp and lugs along As if she were a body in a body And not a mounting substance made of Fire My Senses too are dull and stupifi'd Their edge rebated sure some ill approaches And some kind Spirit knocks softly at my Soul To tell me Fate 's at hand Bend. Mere Fancies all Your Soul has been beforehand with your Body And drunk so deep a Draught of promis'd bliss She slumbers o'er the Cup no danger's near But of a Surfeit at too full a Feast Mul. Mol. It may be so it looks so like the Dream That overtook me at my waking hour This Morn and Dreams they say are then divine When all the balmy Vapors are exhal'd And some o'er-pow'ring God continues sleep 'T was then methought Almeyda smiling came Attended with a Train of all her Race Whom in the rage of Empire I had murther'd But now no longer Foes they gave me Joy Of my new Conquest and with helping hands Heav'd me into our Holy Prophet's arms Who bore me in a purple Cloud to Heav'n Bend. Good Omen Sir I wish you in that Heaven Your Dream portends you Which presages death Aside Mul. Mol. Thou too wert there And thou methought didst push me from below With thy full force to Paradise Bend. Yet better Mul. Mol. Ha! What 's that grizly Fellow that attends thee Bend. Why ask you Sir Mul. Mol. For he was in my Dream And help'd to heave me up Bend. With Pray'rs and Wishes For I dare swear him honest Mul. Mol. That may be But yet he looks Damnation Bend. You forget The Face wou'd please you better Do you love And can you thus forbear Mul. Mol. I 'll head my People Then think of dalliance when the danger 's o'er My warlike Spirits work now another way And my Soul 's tun'd to Trumpets Bend. You debase your self To think of mixing with th' ignoble Herd Let such perform the fervile Work of War Such who have no Almeyda to enjoy What shall the People know their God-like Prince Skulk'd in a nightly Skirmish Stole a Conquest Headed a Rabble and profan'd his Person Shoulder'd with Filth born in a tide of Ordure And stifled with their rank offensive Sweat Mul. Mol. I am off again I will not prostitute The Regal Dignity so far to head ' em Bend. There spoke a King Dismiss your Guards to be employ'd elsewhere In ruder Combats You will want no Seconds In those Alarms you seek Mul. Mol. Go joyn the Crowd to the Guards Benducar thou shalt lead 'em in my place Exeunt Guards The God of Love once more has shot his Fires Into my Soul and my whole Heart receives him Almeyda now returns with all her Charms I feel her as she glides along my Veins And dances in my Blood So when our Prophet Had long been ham'ring in his lonely Cell Some dull insipid tedious Paradise A brisk Arabian Girl came tripping by Passing she cast at him a side-long glance And look'd behind in hopes to be pursu'd He took the hint embrac'd the flying Fair And having found his Heav'n he fix'd it there Exit Mul. Mol. Bend. That Paradise thou never shalt possess His death is easie now his Guards are gone And I can sin but once to seize the Throne All after Acts are sanctify'd by pow'r Orchan Command my Sword and Life Bend. I thank thee Orchan And shall reward thy Faith This Master Key Frees every Lock and leads us to his Person And shou'd we miss our blow as Heav'n forbid Secures retreat Leave open all behind us And first set wide the Mufti 's Garden Gate Which is his private passage to the Palace For there our Mutineers appoint to meet And thence we may have aid Now sleep ye Stars That silently o'erwatch the fate of Kings Be all propitious Influences barr'd And none but murd'rous Planets mount the Guard Exit with Orcha· A Night Scene of the Mufti 's Garden Enter the Mufti alone in a Slave's habit like that of Antonio Mufti This 't is to have a sound Head-piece by this I hâ—â—â— got to be chief of my Religion that is honestly speaking 〈◊〉 teach others what I neither know nor believe my self Fâ—â— what 's Mahomet to me but that I get by him Now for my Policy of this night I have mew'd up my suspected Spouse in her Chamber No more Embassies to that lusty young Stallion of a Gardiner Next my habit of a Slave I have made my self as like him as I can all but his youth and vigor which when I had I pass'd my time as well as any of my Holy Predecessors Now walking under the Windows of my Seraglio if Johayma look out she will certainly take me for Antonio and call to me and by that I shall know what Concupiscence is working in her she cannot come down to commit Iniquity there 's my safety but if she peep if she put her Nose abroad there 's demonstration of her pious Will And I 'll not make the first precedent for a Church-man to forgive Injuries Enter Morayma running to him with a Casket in her hand and embracing him Mor. Now I can embrace you with a good Conscience here are the Pearls and Jewels here 's my Father Muf. I am indeed thy Father but how the Devil didst thou know me in this disguise And what Pearls and Jewels dost thou mean Mor. going back What have I done and what will now become of me Muf. Art thou mad Morayma Mor. I think you 'll make me so Muf. Why what have I done to thee Recollect thy self and speak sense to me Mor. Then give me leave to tell you you are the worst of Fathers Muf. Did I think I had begotten such a Monster Proceed my dutiful Child proceed proceed Mor. You have been raking together a mass of Wealth by indirect and wicked means the Spoils of Orphans are in these Jewels and the Tears of Widows in these Pearls Muf. Thou amazest me Mor. I wou'd do so This Casket is loaded with your Sins 't is the Cargo of Rapines Simony and
such base Plebeian bloud Would only stain the brightness of my Sword And blunt it for some nobler work behind Must I suppose you may put it up without offence to any man here present For my part I have been Loyall to my Soveraign Lady though that Villain Benducar and that Hypocrite the Mufti would have corrupted me but if those two scape publick Justice then I and all my late honest Subjects here deserve hanging Benducar to Dorax I 'm sure I did my part to poyson thee What Saint soe're has Sodder'd thee again A Dose less hot had burst through ribs of Iron Muf. Not knowing that I poyson'd him once more And drench'd him with a draught so deadly cold That had'st not thou prevented had congeal'd The channell of his bloud and froze him dry Bend. Thou interposing Fool to mangle mischief And think to mend the perfect work of Hell Dorax Thus when Heaven pleases double poysons cure I will not tax thee of Ingratitude To me thy Friend who hast betray'd thy Prince Death he deserv'd indeed but not from thee But fate it seems reserv'd the worst of men To end the worst of Tyrants Go bear him to his fate And send him to attend his Masters Ghost Let some secure my other poys'ning Friend Whose double dilligence preserv'd my life Ant. You are fall'n into good hands Father in law your sparkling Jewells and Morayma's eyes may prove a better bail than you deserve Muf. The best that can come of me in this condition is to have my life begg'd first and then to be begg'd for a Fool afterwards Exit Antonio with the Mufti and at the same time Benducar is carry'd off Dorax to Mustafa You and your hungry herd depart untouch'd For Justice can not stoop so low to reach The groveling sin of Crowds but curst be they Who trust revenge with such mad Instruments Whose blindfold bus'ness is but to destroy And like the fire Commission'd by the Winds Begins on sheds but rouling in a round On Pallaces returns Away ye skum That still rise upmost when the Nation boyls Ye mungrill work of Heaven with humane shapes Not to be damn'd or sav'd but breath and perish That have but just enough of sence to know The masters voice when rated to depart Exeunt Mustafa and Rabble Almeyda kneeling to him With gratitude as low as knees can pay To those blest holy Fires our Guardian Angells Receive these thanks till Altars can be rais'd Dorax raising her up Arise fair Excellence and pay no thanks Till time discover what I have deserv'd Seb. More then reward can answer If Portugall and Spain were joyn'd to Affrique And the main Ocean crusted into Land If Universall Monarchy were mine Here should the gift be plac'd Dorax And from some hands I shou'd refuse that gift Be not too prodigall of Promises But stint your bounty to one only grant Which I can ask with honour Seb. What I am Is but thy gift make what thou canst of me Secure of no Repulse Dorax to Sebastian Dismiss your Train To Almeyda You Madam please one moment to retire Sebastian signes to the Portugneses to go off Almeyda bowing to him goes off also The Affricans follow her Dorax To the Captain of his Guard With you one word in private Goes out with the Captain Sebastian Solus Reserv'd behaviour open Nobleness A long misterious Track of a storn bounty But now the hand of Fate is on the Curtain And draws the Scene to sight Re-enter Dorax having taken off his Turbant and put on a Peruque Hat and Crevat Dorax Now do you know me Seb. Thou shouldst be Alonzo Dorax So you shou'd be Sebastian But when Sebastian ceas'd to be himself I ceas'd to be Alonzo Seb. As in a Dream I see thee here and scarce believe mine eyes Dorax Is it so strange to find me where my wrongs And your Inhumane Tyranny have sent me Think not you dream or if you did my Injuries Shall call so loud that Lethargy should wake And Death should give you back to answer me A Thousand Nights have brush'd their balmy wings Over these eyes but ever when they clos'd Your Tyrant Image forc'd 'em ope again And dry'd the dewes they brought The long expected hour is come at length By manly Vengence to redeem my fame And that once clear'd eternall sleep is welcome Sebast I have not yet forgot I am a King Whose Royall Office is redress of Wrongs If I have wrong'd thee charge me face to face I have not yet forgot I am a Soldier Dorax 'T is the first Justice thou hast ever done me Then though I loath this Womans War of tongues Yet shall my Cause of Vengeance first be clear And Honour be thou Judge Sebast Honour be friend us both Beware I warn thee yet to tell thy griefs In terms becoming Majesty to hear I warn thee thus because I know thy temper Is Insolent and haughty to Superiours How often hast thou brav'd my peacefull Court Fill'd it with noisy brawls and windy boasts And with past service nauseously repeated Reproach'd ev'n me thy Prince Dorax And well I might when you forgot reward The part of Heav'n in Kings for punishment Is Hangmans work and drudgery for Devils I must and will reproach thee with my service Tyrant it irks me so to call my Prince But just resentment and hard usage coyn'd Th' unwilling word and grating as it is Take it for 't is thy due Sebast How Tyrant Dorax Tyrant Sebast Traytour that name thou canst not Eccho back That Robe of Infamy that Circumcision Ill hid beneath that Robe proclaim thee Traytor And if a Name More foul than Traytor be 't is Renegade Dorax If I 'm a Traytor think and blush thou Tyrant Whose Injuries betray'd me into treason Effac'd my Loyalty unhing'd my Faith And hurryed me from hopes of Heaven to Hell All these and all my yet unfinish'd Crimes When I shall rise to plead before the Saints I charge on thee to make thy damning sure Sebast Thy old presumptuous Arrogance again That bred my first dislike and then my loathing Once more be warn'd and know me for thy King Dorax Too well I know thee but for King no more This is not Lisbonne nor the Circle this Where like a Statue thou hast stood besieg'd By Sycophants and Fools the growth of Courts Where thy gull'd eyes in all the gawdy round Met nothing but a lye in every face And the gross flattery of a gaping Crowd Envious who first should catch and first applaud The Stuff of Royall Nonsence when I spoke My honest homely words were carp'd and censur'd For want of Courtly Stile related Actions Though modestly reported pass'd for boasts Secure of Merit if I ask'd reward Thy hungry Minions thought their rights invaded And the bread snatch'd from Pimps and Parasits Enriquez answer'd with a ready lye To save his King 's the boon was begg'd before Sebast What sayst thou of Enriquez now by Heaven Thou mov'st
me more by barely naming him Than all thy foul unmanner'd scurril taunts Dorax And therefore 't was to gaul thee that I nam'd him That thing that nothing but a cringe and smile That Woman but more dawb'd or if a man Corrupted to a Woman thy Man Mistress Sebast All false as Hell or thou Dorax Yes full as false As that I serv'd thee fifteen hard Campaignes And pitch'd thy Standard in these Forreign Fields By me thy greatness grew thy years grew with it But thy Ingratitude outgrew 'em both Sebast I see to what thou tend'st but tell me first If those great Acts were done alone for me If love produc'd not some and pride the rest Dorax Why Love does all that 's noble here below But all th' advantage of that love was thine For coming fraughted back in either hand With Palm and Olive Victory and Peace I was indeed prepar'd to ask my own For Violante's vows were mine before Thy malice had prevention ere I spoke And ask'd me Violante for Enriquez Seb. I meant thee a reward of greater worth Dor. Where justice wanted could reward be hop'd Could the robb'd Passenger expect a bounty From those rapacious hands who stript him first Seb. He had my promise e're I knew thy love Dor. My Services deserv'd thou should'st revoke it Seb. Thy Insolence had cancell'd all thy Service To violate my Laws even in my Court Sacred to peace and safe from all affronts E'ven to my face as done in my despight Under the wing of awfull Majesty To strike the man I lov'd Dor. Even in the face of Heaven a place more Sacred Would I have struck the man who propt by power Would Seize my right and rob me of my Love But for a blow provok'd by thy Injustice The hasty product of a just despair When he refus'd to meet me in the field That thou shoud'st make a Cowards Cause thy own Seb. He durst nay more desir'd and begg'd with tears To meet thy Challenge fairly 't was thy fault â—o make it publique but my duty then To interpose on pain of my displeasure Betwixt your Swords Dor. On pain of Infamy He should have disobey'd Seb. Th' Indignity thou didst was ment to me Thy gloomy eyes were cast on me with scorn As who should say the blow was there intended But that thou didst not dare to lift thy hands Against Annointed power so was I forc'd To do a Soveraign justice to my self And spurn thee from my presence Dor. Thou hast dar'd To tell me what I durst not tell my self I durst not think that I was spurn'd and live And live to hear it boasted to my face All my long Avarice of honour lost Heap'd up in Youth and hoarded up for Age Has honours Fountain then suck'd back the stream He has and hooting Boys may dry shod pass And gather pebbles from the naked Foord Give me my Love my Honour give 'em back Give me revenge while I have breath to ask it Seb. Now by this honour'd Order which I wear More gladly would I give than thou dar'st ask it Nor shall the Sacred Character of King Be urg'd to shield me from thy bold appeal If I have injur'd thee that makes us equall The wrong if done debas'd me down to thee But thou hast charg'd me with Ingratitude Hast thou not charg'd me speak Dor. Thou know'st I have If thou disown'st that Imputation draw And prove my Charge a lye Seb. No to disprove that lye I must not draw Be conscious to thy worth and tell thy Soul What thou hast done this day in my defence To fight thee after this what were it else Than owning that Ingratitude thou urgest That Isthmus stands betwixt two rushing Seas Which mounting view each other from afar And strive in vain to meet Dor. I 'le cut that Isthmus Thou know'st I meant not to preserve thy Life But to reprieve it for my own revenge I sav'd thee out of honourable malice Now draw I should be loath to think thou dar'st not Beware of such another vile excuse Seb. O patience Heaven Dor. Beware of Patience too That 's a Suspicious word it had been proper Before thy foot had spurn'd me now 't is base Yet to disarm thee of thy last defence I have thy Oath for my security The only boon I begg'd was this fair Combat Fight or be Perjur'd now that 's all thy choice Sebas drawing Now I can thank thee as thou wouldst be thank'd Never was vow of honour better pay'd If my true Sword but hold than this shall be The sprightly Bridegroom on his Wedding Night More gladly enters not the lists of Love Why 't is enjoyment to be summon'd thus Go bear my Message to Henriquez Ghost And say his Master and his Friend reveng'd him Dor. His Ghost then is my hated Rivall dead Seb. The question is beside our present purpose Thou seest me ready we delay too long Dor. A minute is not much in eithers Life When their 's but one betwixt us throw it in And give it him of us who is to fall Sebast He 's dead make hast and thou mayst yet o're take him Dor. When I was hasty thou delay'st me longer I prethee let me hedge one moment more Into thy promise for thy life preserv'd Be kind and tell me how that Rivall dy'd Whose Death next thine I wish'd Seb. If it would please thee thou should'st never know But thou like Jealousy enquir'st a truth Which found will torture thee He dy'd in Fight Fought next my person as in Consort fought Kept pace for pace and blow for every blow Save when he heav'd his Shield in my defence And on his naked side receiv'd my wound Then when he could no more he fell at once But rowl'd his falling body cross their way And made a Bulwark of it for his Prince Dor. I never can forgive him such a death Seb. I prophecy'd thy proud Soul could not bear it Now judge thy self who best deserv'd my Love I knew you both and durst I say as Heaven Foreknew among the shining Angell host Who would stand firm who fall Dor. Had he been tempted so so had he fall'n And so had I been favour'd had I stood Seb. What had been is unknown what is appears Confess he justly was preferr'd to thee Dor. Had I been born with his indulgent Stars My fortune had been his and his been mine O worse than Hell what Glory have I lost And what has he acquir'd by such a death I should have fallen by Sebastians side My Corps had been the Bulwark of my King His glorious end was a patch'd work of fate Ill sorted with a soft effeminate life It suited better with my life than his So to have dy'd mine had been of a peice Spent in your service dying at your feet Seb. The more effeminate and soft his life The more his fame to struggle to the field And meet his glorious fate Confess proud Spirit For I will have it from
a seal'd Paper to the King Untouch'd and Seal'd as when intrusted with me Such I restore it with a trembling hand Lest ought within disturb your peace of Soul Sebast tearing open the Seals Draw near Almeyda thou art most concern'd For I am most in Thee Alonzo mark the Characters Thou know'st my Fathers hand observe it well And if th'Impostors Pen have made one slip That shows it Counterfeit mark that and save me Dorax It looks indeed too like my Masters hand So does the Signet more I cannot say But wish 't were not so like Sebast Methinks it owns The black Adult'ry and Almeyda's birth But such a mist of grief comes o're my eyes I cannot or I wou'd not read it plain Alm. Hea'vn cannot be more true than this is false Sebast O Coud'st thou prove it with the same assurance Speak hast thou ever seen my Fathers hand Alm. No but my Mothers honour has been read By me and by the world in all her Acts In Characters more plain and legible Then this dumb Evidence this blotted lye Oh that I were a man as my Soul 's one To prove thee Traytor an Assassinate Of her fair same thus wou'd I tear thee thus Tearing the Paper And scatter o're the field thy Coward limbs Like this foul offspring of thy forging brain Scatt'ring the Paper Alv. Just so shalt thou be torn from all thy hopes For know proud Woman know in thy despight The most Authentique proof is still behind Thou wear'st it on thy finger 't is that Ring Which match'd with that on his shall clear the doubt 'T is no dumb forgery for that shall speak And sound a rattling peal to eithers Conscience Seb. This Ring indeed my Father with a cold And shaking hand just in the pangs of Death Put on my finger with a parting sigh And wou'd have spoke but falter'd in his speech With undistinguish'd sounds Alv. I know it well For I was present Now Almeyda speak And truly tell us how you come by yours Alm. My Mother when I parted from her sight To go to Portugall bequeath'd it to me Presaging she shou'd never see me more She pull'd it from her finger shed some tears Kiss'd it and told me 't was a pledge of Love And hid a Mistery of great Importance Relating to my Fortunes Alv. Mark me now While I disclose that fatall Mistery Yhose rings when you were born and thought anothers Tour Parents glowing yet in sinfull love Bid me bespeak a Curious Artist wrought 'em With joynts so close as not to be perceiv'd Yet are they both each others Counterpart Her part had Juan inscrib'd and his had Zayda You know those names are theirs and in the midst A heart divided in two halves was plac'd Now if the rivets of those Rings inclos'd Fit not each other I have forg'd this lye But if they joyn you must for ever part Seb Seb. pulling off his Ring Alm. does the same and gives it to Alv. who unscrues both the Rings fits one half to the other Now life or death Alm. And either thine or ours Alm. I 'm lost for ever swoons The Women and Morayma take her up and carry her off Seb. here stands amaz'd without motion his eyes fixt upward Seb. Look to the Queen my Wife For I am past All Pow'r of Aid to her or to my self Alv. His Wife said he his Wife O fatall sound For had I known it this unwelcome news Had never reach'd their ears So they had still been blest in Ignorance And I alone unhappy Dor. I knew it but too late and durst not speak Seb. starting out of his amazement I will not live no not a moment more I will not add one moment more to Incest I 'le cut it off and end a wretched being For should I live my Soul 's so little mine And so much hers that I should still enjoy Ye Cruell Powers Take me as you have made me miserable You cannot make me guilty 't was my fate And you made that not I. Draws his Sword Antonio and Alv. lay hold on him and Dorax wrests the Sword out of his hand An. For Heav'ns sake hold and recollect your mind Alvarez Consider whom you punish and for what Your self unjustly You have charg'd the fault On Heav'n that best may bear it Though Incest is indeed a deadly Crime You are not guilty since unknown 't was done And known had been abhorr'd Seb. By Heaven y 're Traytours all that hold my hands If death be but cessation of our thought Then let me dye for I would think no more I 'le boast my Innocence above And let 'em see a Soul they cou'd not sully I shall be there before my Fathers Ghost That yet must languish long in frosts and fires For making me unhappy by his Crime struggling again Stand off and let me take my fill of death For I can hold my breath in your despight And swell my heaving Soul out when I please Alv. Heav'n comfort you Seb. What art thou given comfort Wou'dst thou give comfort who hast giv'n despair Thou seest Alonzo silent he 's a man He knows that men abandon'd of their hopes Shou'd ask no leave nor stay for sueing out A tedious Writ of ease from lingring Heaven But help themselves as timely as they cou'd And teach the fates their duty Dorax to Alv. and Anto. Let him go He is our King and he shall be obey'd Alv. What to destroy himself O Parricide Dor. Be not Injurious in your foolish zeal But leave him free or by my sword I swear To hew that Arm away that stops the passage To his Eternal rest Anto. letting go his hold Let him be Guilty of his own death if he pleases for I 'le not be guilty of mine by holding him The King shakes off Alvarez Alvarez to Dorax Infernal Fiend Is this a Subjects part Dor. 'T is a Friends Office He has convinc'd me that he ought to dye And rather than he should not here 's my sword To help him on his Journey Seb. My last my only Friend how kind art thou And how Inhuman these Dor. To make the trifle death a thing of moment Seb. And not to weigh th' Important cause I had To rid my self of life Dor. True for a Crime So horrid in the face of Men and Angells As wilfull Incest is Seb. Not wilfull neither Dor. Yes if you liv'd and with repeated Acts Refresh'd your Sin and loaded crimes with crimes To swell your scores of Guilt Seb. True if I liv'd Dor. I said so if you liv'd Seb. For hitherto ' was fatall ignorance And no intended crime Dor That you best know But the Malicious World will judge the worst Alv. O what a Sophister has Hell procur'd To argue for Damnation Dor. Peace old Dotard Mankind that always judge of Kings with malice Will think he knew this Incest and pursu'd it His only way to rectify mistakes And to redeem her honour is to dye Seb. Thou hast
and with tears not squeez'd by Art But shed from nature like a kindly shower In short he proffer'd more than I demanded A safe retreat a gentle Solitude Unvex'd with noise and undisturb'd with fears I chose you one Alm. O do not tell me where For if I knew the place of his abode I shou'd be tempted to pursue his steps And then we both were lost Seb. E'vn past redemption For if I knew thou wert on that design As I must know because our Souls are one I shou'd not wander but by sure Instinct Shou'd meet thee just half-way in pilgrimage And close for ever for I know my love More strong than thine and I more frail than thou Alm. Tell me not that for I must boast my Crime And cannot bear that thou shoud'st better love Dorax I may inform you both for you must go Where Seas and winds and Desarts will divide you Under the ledge of Atlas lyes a Cave Cut in the living Rock by Natures hands The Venerable Seat of holy Hermites Who there secure in separated Cells Sacred ev'n to the Moors enjoy Devotion And from the purling Streams and savage fruits Have wholesome bev'rage and unbloudy feasts Seb. 'T is pennance too Voluptuous for my Crime Dor. Your Subjects conscious of your life are few But all desirous to partake your Exile And to do office to your Sacred Person The rest who think you dead shall be dismiss'd Under safe Convoy till they reach your Fleet. Alm. But how am wretched I to be dispos'd A vain Enquiry since I leave my Lord For all the world beside is Banishment Dor. I have a Sister Abbesse in Tercera's Who lost her Lover on her Bridall day Alm. There fate provided me a fellow-Turtle To mingle sighs with sighs and tears with tears Dor. Last for my self if I have well fullfill'd My sad Commission let me beg the boon To share the sorrows of your last recess And mourn the Common losses of our loves Alv. And what becomes of me must I be lest As Age and time had worn me out of use These Sinews are not yet so much unstrung To fail me when my Master shou'd be serv'd And when they are then will I steal to death Silent and unobserv'd to save his tears Seb. I 've heard you both Alvarez have thy wish But thine Alonzo thine is too unjust I charge thee with my last Commands return And bless thy Violante with thy vows Antonio be thou happy too in thine Last let me swear you all to Secresy And to conceal my shame conceal my life Dor. Ant Mor. We swear to keep it secret Alm. Now I wou'd speak the last farewell I cannot It wou'd be still farewell a thousand times And multiply'd in Eccho's still farewell I will not speak but think a thousand thousand And be thou silent too my last Sebastian So let us part in the dumb pomp of grief My heart 's too great or I wou'd dye this moment But Death I thank him in an hour has made A mighty journey and I hast to meet him She staggers and her Women hold her up Seb. Help to support this feeble drooping flower ' This tender Sweet so shaken by the storm For these fond arms must thus be stretch'd in vain And never never must embrace her more T is past my Souls goes in that word farewell Alvarez goes with Sebastian to one end of the Stage Women with Almeyda to the other Dorax coming up to Antonio and Morayma who stand on the Middle of the Stage Dor Hast to attend Almeyda for your sake Your Father is forgiven but to Antonio He forfeits half his Wealth be happy both And let Sebastian and Almeyda's Fate This dreadfull Sentence to the World relate That unrepented Crimes of Parents dead Are justly punish'd on their Childrens head FINIS PROLOGUE Seâ—t to the Authour by an unknown hand and propos'd to be spoken By Mrs. Monford drest like an Officer BRight Beauties who in awfull Circle sit And you grave Synod of the dreadfull Pit Aâ—d you the Vpper-tire of pop-gun wit Pâ—ay ease me of my wonder if you may Iâ— all this Crowd barely to see the play Or is' t the Poets Execution day His breath is in your hands I will presume But I advise you to deferr his doom Till you have got a better in his room And don 't maliciously combine together As if in spight and spleen you were come hither For he has kept the Pen tho' lost the feather And on my Honour Ladies I avow This Play was writ in Charity to you For such a dearth of Wit whoever know Sure 't is a Judgment on this Sinfull Nation For the abuse of so great Dispensation And therefore I resolv'd to change Vocation For want of Petty-coat I 've put on buff To try what may be got by lying rough How think you Sirs is it not well enough Of Bully Critichs I a Troup wou'd lead But one reply'd thank you there 's no such need â—at Groom-Porters Sir can safer bleed Another who the name of danger loaths â—â—w'd he would go and swore me Forty Oaths Buâ— that his Horses were in body-cloaths A thiâ—d cry'd Dammy bloud I'dâ— be content To push my Fortune of the Parliament Would but recall Claret from Banishment A Fourth and I have done made this excuse I 'de draw my Sword in Ireland Sir to chuse Had not their Women gouty leggs and wore no shoes Well I may march thought I and fight and trudge But of these blades the Devill a man will budge They there would fight e'n just as here they judge Here they will pay for leave to find a faule But when their Honour calls they can't be bought Honour in danger bloud and wounds is sought Lost Virtue whether fled or where 's thy dwelling Who can reveal at least 't is past my telling Vnless thou art Embarkt for Iniskelling On Carrion tits those Sparks denounce their rage In boot of wisp and Leinster freese ingage What would you do in such an Equipage The Siege of Derry does you Gallants threaten Not out of Errant shame of being beaten As fear of wanting meat or being eaten Were Wit like honour to be won by fighting How few just Judges would there be of writing Then you would leave this Villanous back-biting Your Talents lye how to express your spight But where is he knows how to praise aright You praise like Cowards but like Criticks fight Ladies be wise and wean these yearling Calves Who in your Service too are meer faux-braves They Judge and write and fight and Love by halves EPILOGUE TO Don Sebastian King of Portugall Spoken betwixt Antonio and Morayma Mor. I Quak'd at heart for fear the Royal Fashion Shou'd have seduc'd Vs two to Separation To be drawn in against our own desire Poor I to be a Nun poor You a Fryar Ant. I trembled when the Old Mans hand was in He would have prov'd we were too near of kin Discovering old Intrigues of Love like t'other Betwixt my Father and thy sinfull Mother To make Vs Sister Turk and Christian Brother Mor. Excuse me there that League shou'd have been rather Betwixt your Mother and my Mufti-Father 'T is for my own and my Relations Credit Your Friends shou'd bear the Bastard mine shou'd get it Ant. Suppose us two Almeyda and Sebastian With Incest prov'd upon us Mor. Without question Their Conscience was too queazy of digestion Ant. Thou woud'st have kept the Councell of thy Brother And sinn'd till we repented of each other Mor. Beast as you are on Natures Laws to trample 'T were fitter that we follow'd their Example And since all Marriage in Repentance ends 'T is good for us to part while we are Friends To save a Maids remorses and Confusions E'en leave me now before We try Conclusions Ant. To copy their Example first make certain Of one good hour like theirs before our parting Make a debauch o're Night of Love and Madness And marry when we wake in sober sadness Mor. I 'le follow no new Sects of your inventing One Night might cost me nine long months repenting First wed and if you find that life a fetter Dye when you please the sooner Sir the better My wealth wou'd get me love e're I cou'd ask it Oh there 's a strange Temptation in the Casket All these Young Sharpers wou'd my grace importune And make me thundring Votes of lives and fortune