in Hala sometimes breed remorse At least a doubt that euill hath no force Thou makest Caine in vndertaking slow Who must to serue thy turne like goodnesse show Those Scenes still tedious are those Acts too long Where thy vnresolute Images be strong For while you feare your true tormentor Shame I swallow all at once with honors name Then glory not since where thy links excell There we inlarge not but contract our hell Corrupt reason Peace you base Subalterns and striue no more That but the Carriers be of my rich store Perchance you thinke me th' obiect of you all And so no Furie but the Furies thrall Where I giue forme and stuffe to make you worse And so become your Lord and not your Nurse I breake the banks of dutie honor faith And subiect am to no power but to death Charge me I grant Delayes grow out of wit And are not all your false webs wrought by it To time I haue respect to person place I crosse my selfe to giue my owne acts grace I am Base to you all and so the chiefe Equall with truth where I finde good beleefe I beare the weight of feare the rage of lust With selfe-loue enuy malice left in trust I calme Mans windy pride distempered rage Giuing to each a shape for euery age Wrong I attire in purple robes of might That State may helpe it to be infinite And who is fitter here to rule you all Than I that giue you being by my fall Know therfore all you shadow-louing Spirits Who haue no being but in mans demerits That infinite desires and finite power At once can neuer all mankinde deuoure Though men be all ours and all we but one The vice yet cannot build or stand alone Be it mans weaknesse that doth interrupt Or some power else that cannot be corrupt Or be there what there may be else aboue Which may and will maintaine her owne by loue Yet haue we scope enough to marre this State And to the euer being what is late As men in your names image vglinesse To checke beloued childrens wantonnesse When they would haue them doe things or for beare And call you when they know you are not there So I enammell your deformity Making all your excesses like to me And that you may beleeue this to be true We are not like For what am I but you Euill Spirits Reason You marre our Mart by coueting Not to be equall with vs but our King For though you now like Romane Augurs be Who but your staffe haue no true mysterie Yet doe you striue to rule adde or diminish And idly so protract what we could finish Else how could Alaham or Hala stay So long from making to our ends a way Lusts open face this Age will easily beare And hope here currant is to all but feare Wrong needs no veile where times doe tyrannize And what but lacke of heart is then vnwise Age hath descri'd those toyes to be but name Which in the worlds youth did beare reall fame Iustice Religion Honour Humblenesse Shaddowes which not well mixt make beauty lesse They helpe to smother not inlarge our fire By putting painted maskes on mans desire And giue time to vnactiue Theorie Which rage it selfe would not doe were it free So that we Circe-like change men to beasts Which beasts turne men againe Too base a crest For vs that would quite banish doing well And so at once change heauen and earth to hell In which course who doth well obserue each part Shall finde mankinde to haue so strange a heart As being all ill yet no one ill serues To worke him to that mischiefe he deserues Feare hope desire loue courage being mixt So nicely in him as none can be fixt Which is our glorie as for euery state To haue a Tempter fitted and a fate A feare in Great men still to lose their might And in the meane ambition infinite Truth in the witty held but as a notion Honor the Old mans God the Youths promotion All which opposing powers yet doe agree To worke corruption in humanity Then on This time is ours What need we haste Since till time ends our raigne is sure to last Actus tertius Scena prima ALAHAM alone ALaham. I march aboue the wits and hearts of men Chance at my feet and power in my hand Now King indeed Obedience doth become Men that can strength by wisdome ouercome It honour was euen worthy more than Crownes To passe the Basshas in aduenturing They were possest I dispossest of all But liberty to liue or dye a thrall Truth was in vaine no peecing vp with might For me I saw I had too good a cause Counsell is slow each minute infinite When resolution to her ripenesse drawes I saw corruption was the way to rise And with that shot I pierc'd their tyrannies Their guard I did corrupt Base seruile spirits I knew lackt wit to see or heart to beare Temptation For desire is infinite In them that wanting honour cannot feare Triall is made The King I doe possesse My right is more why should my hope be lesse And am I King And doe my foes still liue Can wounded Greatnesse slumber in a Throne Or that be glory which I feele alone No No Let rigour speake which all men heare Life is the worke of Nature death of Kings Ruine it is that reputation brings My Guard is strong their first imployment is The murther of those men my father trusts Not all for that were cruelty not wit Some simple being some indifferent sp'rits Their ends and honours being but delights Others ambitious rash and violent No inward strength of nature or of grace Of present power the noblest instruments Transforme and vse wit vertue doth exceed For it is all or none as men haue need Only my care is how the Plot should proue Which for the Basshas now in ambush lies My wife hath art and rage which iointly moue Her head-strong spirits vnto cruelties But if her craft serue not to plucke them downe The sword wants not pretences for the Crowne My friends and Mates You vpon whom I lay My life and honour with this State in trust Be resolute For scruple doth betray Since all great works haue great examples must Take Assem Zeraphus and Velladoune Blood asketh blood with rauine they did spoyle The people first and now betray the Crowne Reuenge your parents Countrey-men and kin Blood here is iust true honor and no sinne The cancred Calchas scourge of Tyrannies Great master of deceipt Artisan of spoyle The spie of faults and spring of subsidies Naked deliuer him into the Sea To plague those faults it cannot wash away The rest to bonds who though they want no spite Their frailty yet for innocence shall stand All else exile Obey in euery thing They happy are that serue a rising King Actus tertius Scena secunda Caine Alaham CAine Plac'd in a Throne Guarded Ador'd and Crownd What meanes this change These signes of
ALAHAM THE SPEAKERS NAMES The old King Alahams second Son Caine Bassha Priest Nuntius Zophi the eldest Sonne Hala Alahams wife Mahomet Bassha Caelica the old Kings daughter Nutrix PROLOGVS The speach of a Ghost one of the old Kings of Ormus HOV Monster horrible vnder whose vgly doome Downe in Eternities perpetuall night Mans temporall sinnes beare torments infinite For change of desolation must I come To tempt the earth and to prophane the light From mournefull silence where paine dares not rore With libertie to multiplie it more Nor from the lothsome puddle Acheron Made foule with common sinnes whose filthie dampes Feed Lethes sinke forgetting all but mone Nor from that fowle infernall shaddowed Lampe Which lighteth Sisiphus to rowle his stone These be but bodies plagues the skirts of hell I come from whence deathes seate doth death excell A place there is vpon no centre placed Deepe vnder depthes as farre as is the skie Aboue the earth darke infinitely spaced Pluto the King the Kingdome miserie The Chrystall may Gods glorious seate resemble Horror it selfe these horrors but dissemble Priuation would raigne there by God not made But creature of vncreated sinne Whose being is all beings to inuade To haue no ending though it did beginne And so of past things present and to come To giue depriuing not tormenting doome But horror in the vnderstanding mixt And memorie by Eternities seale wrought Vnto the bodies of the euill fixt And into reason by our passion brought Here rackt torne and exil'd from vnitie Though come from nothing must for euer be The sinnes that enter here are capitall Atheisme where creatures their Creator lose Vnthankfull Pride nature and graces fall Mate of Mankinde in Man vnnaturall Hypocrites which bodies leaue and shadowes chose The persons either Kings by fortune blest Or men by nature made Kings of the rest Here Tyrants that corrupt authoritie Councell'd out of the feares of wickednesse Cunning in mischiefe prowd in crueltie Are furies made to plague the weaker ghosts Whose soules entising pleasure only lost The weaker Kings whose more vnconstant vice Their States vnto their humors made a prey For suffering more then Kings to Tyrannise Are damn'd though here to be yet not to stay For backe they goe to tempt with euery sinne As easiest it the world may enter in My selfe sometimes was such Ormus my state I bare the name yet did my Basshas raigne Trusts to few windowes are vnfortunate For Subiects growing full is Princes wane Loe all misdeeds procure their owne misfate For by my trusted Basshas was I slaine Now sent to teare downe my posteritie That haue their sinnes inheritance from me My first charge is the ruine of mine owne Hell keeping knowledge still of earthlinesse None coming there but spirits ouergrowne And more embodied into wickednesse The bodie by the spirit liuing euer The spirit in the body ioying neuer In heauen perchance no such affections be Those Angell-soules in flesh imprisoned Like strangers liuing in Mortalitie Still more and more themselues enspirited Refining Nature to Eternity By being maids in earths adulterous bed And idly forget all here below Where we our parents but to plague them know My next charge is from this darke Regiment With wiles to scourge this age effeminate Not open force or humors violent Time fashions mindes mindes manners manners fate Here rage giues place wit must rule ill intent Proud honor being an ill for this State Too strong sleight must misleade the innocent Craft the corrupt For though none dare be iust Yet coward ill with care grow wicked must This present King weake both in good and ill Louing his trust and trusting but his ghesse Shall perish in his owne faiths wantonnesse Betray'd by Alaham whom he know'th ill Yet to beware lackes actiue constantnesse A destinie of well-beleeuing wit That hath not strength of iudgement ioyn'd with it Alaham his sonne fond of the fathers Throne Desire his idoll libertie his might As ouerborne with error infinite Shall finde that fate all secret faults can hit For he that for himselfe would ruine all Shall perish in his craft vnnaturall Hala his wife diuerse and strong in lust Liberall out of selfe-loue of error proud When shamelesse craft and rage haue seru'd her turne In prides vainglorious martyrdome shall burne Zophi the eldest Sonne whose reason is With frailty drown'd and sillinesse confus'd Borne but to liue and yet denied this So well knowes power what spirits may be abus'd Becomes the prey of factious craftie wit Which stirres that ruine vp which ruines it Caine Bassha like the clouds who liue in ayre Th' orbe of natures constant inconstancie Now fame now shame shall in his fortune beare His vice and vertue still in infancy Change for his wisdome and chance for his ends Harm'd by his hopes and ruin'd by his friends Mahomet with honor faine would change the tide Of times corrupt here stopping violence There contermining craft and pleading right But reason sworne in generall to sense Makes honor bondage iustice an offence Till liberty that faire deceiuing light Turnes mischiefe to an humor popular Where good men catch'd in nets of dutie are Caelica because in flesh no seedes are sowne Of heauenly grace but they must bring vp weedes Death in her fathers murther she affects Seduc'd by glory whose excesse still feedes It selfe vpon the barren steepes of mone For humane wit wants power to diuide Wherby affections into error slide Heli the priest who teaching from without Corrupted faith bound vnder lawes of might Not feeling God yet blowing him about In euery shape and likenesse but the right Seeking the world finds change there ioyn'd with chance To ruine those whom error would advance Now marke your charge Each fury worke his part In senselesse webs of mischiefe ouerthwart You are not now to worke on priuate thoughts One instant is your time to alter all Corruption vniuersall must be wrought Impossible to you is naturall Plots and effects together must be brought Mischiefe and shame at once must spring and fall Vse more than power of man to bring forth that Which it is meant all men shall wonder at Craft Go thou forth worke honor into lust Malice Sow in selfe-loue vnworthinesse Feare Make it safe for no man to be iust Wrong Be thou clothed in powers comelinesse Wit Play with faith take glory in mistrust Let duty and Religion goe by ghesse Furies Stirre you vp warre which follow must When all things are corrupt with doublenesse From vice to vice let error multiply With vncouth sinnes murthers adulteries Incorporate all kindes of iniquity Translate the State to forraigne Tyrannies Keepe downe the best and let the worst haue power That warre and hell may all at once deuoure Actus I. Scena I. ALAHAM HELI. ALaham. Thou coward soule Why standst thou doubting now Why to and fro The dice of chance are cast Counsells of law of shame of loue are past Thinke what the worst haue done what they enioy That
against the truth you haue an easie foe For in the world all that are hers can neuer currant goe Vnder the next good shaddow your deform'd excesse Yet shall your masked arts and hornes your clouen feet expresse Wherby your beauties be so priz'd among your owne As they will blush for yours by name or nature to be knowne Againe take all the world if it one soule content Then freely let Mankinde beleeue you are omnipotent But if your Legions here doe in their glories raue Tormented while they liue on earth and much more in the graue If to be nothing be the best that could be fall Your subtile Orbes to reall beings then must needs be thrall And so proue to the good but like those showres of raine Which while they wet the husbandman yet multiply his gaine Actus quartus Scena prima King Celica KIng Celica thou only child whom I repent Not yet to haue begot thy worke is vaine Thou run'st against my Destinies intent Feare not my fall the steepe is fayrest plaine And error safest guide vnto his end Who nothing but mischance can haue to friend We parents are but Natures nursery When our succession springs then ripe to fall Priuation vnto age is naturall Age there is also in a Princes State Which is contempt growne of misgouernment Where loue of change begetteth Princes hate For hopes must wither or grow violent If fortune binde desires to one Estate Then marke Blinde as a Man Scorn'd as a King A Fathers kindnesse loath'd and desolate Life without ioy or light what can it bring But inward horrour vnto outward hate O safety thou art then a hatefull thing When childrens death assures the fathers State No Safe I am not though my sonne were slaine My frailty would beget such sonnes againe Besides if fatall be the heauens will Repining adds more force to destinie Whose iron wheeles stay not on fleshly wit But headlong runne downe steep Necessity And as in danger we doe catch at it That comes to helpe and vnaduisedly Oft doe our friends to our misfortune knit So with the harme of those who would vs good Is Destinie impossibly withstood Celica then cease importune me no more My sonne my age the state where things are now Require my death Who would consent to liue Where loue cannot reuenge nor truth forgiue Celica. Though feare see nothing but extremity Yet danger is no deep sea but a Ford Where they that yeeld can only drowned be In wrongs and wounds Sir you are to remisse To Thrones a passiue nature fatall is King Occasion to my sonne hath turn'd her face My inward wants all outward strengths betray And so make that impossible I may Celica. Yet liue Liue for the State King Whose ruines glasses are Wherin see errors of my selfe I must And hold my life of danger shame and care Celica. When feare propounds with losse men euer choose King Nothing is left me but my selfe to lose Celica. And is it nothing then to lose the State King Where chance is ripe there counsell comes too late Celica by all thou ow'st the Gods and me I doe coniure thee Leaue me to my chance What 's past was errors way the truth it is Wherein I wretch can only goe amisse If Nature saw no cause of suddaine ends She that but one way made to draw our breath Would not haue left so many doores to death Celica. Yet Sir if weaknesse be not such a sande As neither wrong nor counsell can manure Choose and resolue what death you will endure King This sword thy hands may offer vp my breath And plague my lifes remissenesse in my death Celica. Vnto that dutie if these hands be borne I must thinke God and Truth but names of scorne Againe this iustice were if life were lou'd Now meerly grace since death doth but forgiue A life to you which is a death to liue Paine must displease that satisfies offence King Chance hath left death no more to spoile but sense Celica. Then sword doe Iustice office thorough me I offer more than that he hates to thee King Ah! Stay thy hand My State no equall hath And much more matchlesse my strange vices be One kinde of death becomes not thee and me Kings plagues by chance or destinie should fall Headlong he perish must that ruines all Celica. No cliffe or rocke is so precipitate But downe it eyes can leade the blinde a way Without me liue or with me dye you may King Celica and wilt thou Alaham exceed His crueltie is death you torments vse He takes my Crowne you take my selfe from me A Prince of this falne Empire let me be Celica. Then be a King no Tyrant of thy selfe Be and be what you will what nature lent Is still in hers and not our gouernment King If disobedience and obedience both Still doe me hurt in what strange state am I But hold thy course It well becomes my blood To doe their parents mischiefe with their good Celica. Yet Sir harke to the poore oppressed teares The iust mens moane that suffer by your fall A Princes charge is to protect them all And shall it nothing be that I am yours The world without my heart within doth know I neuer had vnkinde vnreuerent powers If thus you yeeld to Alahams treacherie He ruines you 't is you Sir ruine me King Celica Call vp the dead awake the blinde Turne backe the time bid windes tell whence they come As vainly strength speakes to a broken minde Fly from me Celica hate all I doe Misfortunes haue in blood successions too Celica. Will you doe that which Alaham can not He hath no good you haue no ill but he This Marre-right yeelding's honors Tyranny King Haue I not done amisse Am I not ill That ruin'd haue a Kings authority And not one King alone since Princes all Feele part of those scornes wherby one doth fall Treason against me cannot treason be All lawes haue lost authority in me Celica. The lawes of power chain'd to mens humors be The good haue conscience the ill like instruments Are in the hands of wise authority Moued diuided vsed or layd downe Still with desire kept subiect to a Crowne Stirre vp all States all spirits hope and feare Wrong and reuenge are currant euery where King Put downe my sonne For that must be the way A fathers shame a Princes Tyrannie The Scepter euer shall misiudged be Celica. Let them feare rumor that doe worke amisse Blood torments death horrors of Cruelty Haue time and place Looke through these skinnes of feare Which still perswade the better side to beare And since thy sonne thus trayterously conspires Let him not prey on all thy race and thee Keepe ill example from posterity King Danger is come and must I now vnarme And let in hope to weaken resolution Passion be thou my Legacie and Will To thee I giue my life Crowne reputation My pompes to clouds and as forlorne with men My strength to women hoping this