I utter it aside Moar. Silence bright Soul for Lovers is not fit Say what ill news Amas. Aid me ye Deities Then breifly thus our love with mutual ties Of firm affection oft has dar'd our fate And thereby made us both unfortunate This makes me conscious of what griefs arise From wilful love what plagues what Miseries As freind to your good fortune to request That you would change I cannot speak the rest aside Love charms my utterance and denies me power Zelm. behind Do it or do not hope to live an hour Moar. To change my Love how do not give my sense Cause to reprove such charming Excellence Your breath till now stand Roses in the bud The Western gales were not so sweet so good But this request has soild your lustre so What was divine does now but mortal shew Amas. Let not vain hopes too much beguile your Youth Our holy Prophet ne're spoke more truth For to make kind our future destiny You may suppress your love and so must I. Live happy therefore and past Joyes restore But from this moment never love me more 'T is out and now shroud me some gloomy cloud Exit Moar. Such words the Gods durst not have spoke so loud Rend Earth i' th' midst and split ye fatal Skies Whose Planets dare to appoint such prodigies To Caves immense let th' Ellements retire And mix together earth air sea and fire Till mingled in confusion all may be As first they were in natures infancy For since this age do's pristine ills surpass Oh happy Choas where no falshood was A barb'rous Princess who would beauty trust Who would believe in vertue or be just If vertue this allows in noble blood Vertue 's a crime and vice it self is good The Gods themselves if tamely this they see Are false and baser than mortallity Enter Zelmura Zelm. What Demon Sir hath alter'd thus your fate I met my Sister at the Castle gate Fire darting from her eyes her lovely face So chang'd with rage it banisht all her grace Calling you base perfidious false and then Musing a while she 'd fall to Curse agen Such rapid frenzies posted from her breast I could no less then think she was possest For she methinks whom passion did so blind Might have found words more gentle and more kind But ignorance of the truth me hither draws To know the reason and enquire the cause Moar. The Cause why Madam ' dsdeath I cannot tell 'T is the same Cause that damns the souls in Hell A Heaven lost for want of loving well Zelm. Come come dissemble not you slighted her That you to me your passion might prefer And though I 'me haughty vassals you Shall find a temper that to Love is due If without more delayes you prove your bliss And your long closely smoother'd Love confess Moar. What strange Chimera's Madam plague your mind Love you by Heaven I hate all woman kind Not you alone but all curst Crockadiles Ye couch damnation in seducing smiles I 've lost my faith to think 't is Heaven to Love My sense do's now i' th' contrary move For if a Hell there be as it is said 'T is felt when highth of passion is delay'd Zelm. Perhaps you 'r loth the Guard your words should hear Whisper Sir speak it softly in my ear Your merits soon will weigh the ballance down And make me cherish what deserves a frown Moar. Frown on your amorists that causeless dote For by the Azure Heavens I love you not To be your slave I never did consent Nor need I whisper what I never meant Zelm. Hah never meant it was it not for me You slighted thus my sisters amity Could for meaner Causes faith remove Then th' happiness that still attends my Love 'T is contrary to reason and you try My utmost patience if you this deny Moar. D'sdeath Madam do ye think I can be brought To cherish Passion by perswasions wrought Bereav'd of reason that should crimes reprove Forc't to affect and fool'd into a Love Your eyes my heart do rather freez than warm And your addresses rather vex than charm Fate makes me to despise what you propound If this be Love I have a Mortal wound Zelm. Gods can I hear this tamely die proud fool And with thy blood my boundless passion cool Goes to stab him he wrests the Dagger from her Zelm. Take it and boast thou hast more strength than I But fixt it here and see how I can die Moar. No live and o're such abject fate controul You merit it you have a noble soul. Zelm. Oh I could curse but it will do no good And tear this burning fever from my blood But Love the prouder Tyrant conquers me Enter Ptollomy hastily Hah whence proceed these suddain new Alarms Moar. Fate grant I guess aright Ptollo To arms to arms The Potent Syrians with a mighty host Are past resistance landed on our Coast The City trembles and the factions swarm And with their uncurb'd shouts augment th' alarm Use some swift means great Queen to stinct this strife Least the unruly tumult seek your Life Zelm. Curse on the faithless slaves but art thou sure The troops approaching are the Syrian power Ptollo Our Messengers affirm it and we may From Turrets easily discern 't is they Zelm. They 'r welcome and they 'r coming do's produce In me much Joy my rusting sword wants use All low thoughts vanish now to empty air I will no leasure for dull passion spare War may perhaps from my brave heart remove The agony of this tempestious Love Whilst my heroick fate once known before Shall guide my sword to conquer 'em once more Moar. This happy news do's with my wish comply And gives me present hopes of liberty Enter Achmades Phillopater Zichmi Achm. The foe 's already come so near that we From our high towers may their banners see The people trembling with a suddain fright Run through the streets and Curse the fatal light But th' factions I have with perswasions wrought And in good order to the Pallace brought Your presence Madam their mistrusts will clear And make them dare the foe they late did fear Zelm. That satisfaction they shall reap from me I knew they durst not long perfidious be My breath can lift 'em up or cast 'em down Save with a smile or Martyr with a frown Go and with speed draw up the Cavalry to Achm. And in Battalia place the infantry Exit Achm. Possess their minds with hopes of great reward And cull the choicest soldiers for my guard to Phillopater You to your charge and Ptollomy take care Exit Phillopater There be no tumult that may stint the war Zichmi thy faith so noble hath been shewn In the defence of my exalted Throne That to thy guard my sister I resign By careful and close pris'ner her confine Till you my Signet for her freedome see Zichmi I 'le not dispute but act your great decree Exit Zelm. And now one act of honour I
state she is at present in She thinks herself too excellent to sin Amas. 'T is well her Government so short appears How fares the King Saph. I dare not tell my fears 'T is whisper'd he 's to morrow to be try'd For treason to her Person Amas. Headlong Pride Debas'd an Angel and will prove her due My Nephew too imprison'd Saph. 'T is too true Amas. How do the Nobles brook her Tyranny Saph. As men in tempests when the winds blow high Fearing by each proud wave to be destroy'd With patience suffer what they can't avoid So they that willingly would peace inherit With choice respect feed her ambitious Spirit As if she were the Daughter of some God And not a Fabrick built of flesh and blood Amas. Has she the Prince yet licens't to depart Saph. I cannot tell the motions of her heart But by her cloudy looks it might be guest Her will did not approve of his request The blood in her pale cheeks strove to oppose Whilst like the tide her colour comes and goes Doubtful to speak she his return delaid Pretending all his Ransome was not paid Amas. 'T is strange such frailty should her breast inspire His going yesterday was her desire How look'd the Prince at his hopes overthrow Saph. Like raging Neptune with a stormy brow Frowning he heard her words his shaking head Foretold his wrath whilst rosie colour'd red Flash'd in his cheeks with daring look reply'd 'T was 'gainst the Law of Arms she him deny'd Which she should find This answer raising doubt He shook his head and sullenly went out Amas. I know she loves him but her Cupids are Mixt with soft passion and the frowns of War She loves and scorns though she in Secret own Affection she disdains to have it known But in my breast passions more dreadful move And Death sits coutch't on my despairing love Saphr Let such suspitions meaner Souls convince You are above all fear But see the Prince Enter Moaron Moar. Madam as some poor heartless Mariner By factious States imprest to wander far Hastes to salute the Friends he holds most dear With a kind farewel and a parting tear So I my hasty steps thus rudely move To bid adieu to her I only love The ambitious Queen her promise hath deny'd And my departure stopt through faithless pride 'T is true my life I to her kindness owe. But honour wrong'd no gratitude can shew Therefore thus aided by the obscure night I mean to slight her will and take my flight Amas. Ungrateful Queen and more ungrateful they That want entreaties to prolong your stay Your suit deny'd her passion did express She would have granted had she lov'd you less Moar. Her love is then as dreadful as her hate And both to me as Messengers of Fate Besides the word from her sounds monstrous too Love has its beams and glorious dress from you Amas. Rather from you my Lord whose worth has shown An excellence that Nature dare not own An Action in How oft have I beheld Your noble Person charging through the Field When the ambitious Sun have strove to grace Your argent Arms with his refulgent face As proud to be an Ornament How oft When flying Fame shouting applauses brought To my glad ears my heart with joy did flow To hear you conquer'd though my Countries Foe Moar. Were you not lovely most excelling fair Sweeter than Balmy Gusts of western Air. Had you not vertue to that large extent Would make a Goddess leave the firmament And pine with Envy doubts my heart would move To think you flatter where you cannot love But as you are your phrases do but shew How much you merit and how much I owe And I unable yet to quit the score Am like poor Bankrupts forc't to borrow more Amas. How far your words do from Loves rules digress He needs not borrow that does all possess Though Misers bounty Obligation needs A bare Receipt in Love all Law exceeds Moar. When Love rests happy free and unconfin'd Led by the servent passions of the mind To a safe Harbour I confess the pow'r Is charming blest and the possession more But we alas a pair of restless hearts Fixt marks where Fortune shoots her envious darts Fed with warm sighs must here unpitied live Deny'd what Nature does to Peasants give Amas. My love Surmounts all for when you are gone In silent groves I 'l waste my hours alone There court sweet Philomel to feast my sense With the sad Theam of Tragick insolence I 'le seek some widdow'd Turtle and debate By that sad object my own hapless fate But when a thought of you my heart do's bless In flattering dreams of what I can't possess Though from the fading vision flow dispairs I 'le sleep in bliss although I wake in tears Moar. Bright Angels will from heaven their aid dispence With Joy to guard such charming excellence But should the pow'rs above deny thee aid And Fortune with disasters thee invade To desart Mountains I 'de each Morn repair And catch the news from gusts of fluid air Then as a Cloud 's dread issue breaking through With pannick terrours charms Mankind below So danger and yourself I 'de soar between And like fierce light'ning scorch to death unseen But see the early star with glimmering light Foretels the quick departure of the night This kiss bright Empress of my heart and then Farewel till the blest hour we meet agen Amas. Till this sad minute I no grief could tell Moar. And till this fatal night I ne're knew Hell Going to part severally are opposed at each door by the Queen and Guards Moaron seeing the Queen starts Moar. The Queen Amas. Betraid Oh Heavens Zelm. Yes Sir 'T is I The jealous Queen from whom you meant to flie Do you not wonder at these Guards and me You see the strong effects of jealousie But want the leasure to mind others harms In the safe harbour of my Sisters arms And though her beauties snares your soul entwine You may no doubt in secret vaunt of mine And vainly say nay perhaps strive to prove Saving your life was my chief act of Love But know dull fool my acts reputed ill Sprung not from Love but to content my will My will that now debars your liberty And when my will insites me you shall dye Her punishment shall be some other time And such as suits the greatness of her crime Moar. A crime to Love injurious Queen you give An end to Nature 't were a crime to live So gross an errour past I must reprove Souls are not Damn'd if they have grace to Love But blest with charms are fixt on Thrones above Zelm. Since then for her you so much passion own I 'le seat you where to vent your Love alone Her sight as fatal men in feavors must Be most deni'd what most provokes their thirst Therefore your wonted temper to restore I am resolv'd you ne're shall see her more Moar. Nay then I 'le die
Amas. A barb'rous Pow'r that can so cruel prove To fright a Virgin from a vertuous Love A Love with mutual vows so firmly bought That Death lyes coutcht in a dispairing thought Zelm. Dispair no that sad guest I will remove I give you leave to hope but not to Love A look methinks might satiate one so young Your growing Passion cannot yet be strong And though affection he on me bestowes And Loves not you yet you may hope he does Amas. He cannot be unjust his purity Ne're lent attention to inconstancy Our Passions like our vertues equal were Though not too fierce as much as we could bear Zelm My nature do's a swifter pleasure prove She hates dull vertue that does firmly Love Besides your pulse so temperate and slow Inspires me to believe your Love is so Amas. A temperate Love with modest passion grac't Excell a feircer and will longer last A chast heart to itself 's a Paradice But Love if wanting modesty is vice Zelm. Are these Stale Morals theams for you and me These Musty relicks of dull Piety Know fool that Vertue and Religion now Is not embrac't for practice but for shew To sooth the vulgar errours of these times And set a shining Gloss upon our crimes If I were poor I might have zealous been But Moral vertue is below a Queen And modesty with passions that aspire Agrees like water when comixt with fire Amas. Oh impious Age that licenses such crimes Zelm. Thou art a fool I know 'em prudent times Few waste their breath in Pray'r but th' ignorant Piety suits not us but such as want For to be Potent rich and zealous too I think is more then flesh and blood can do Ams. Of that I had but learning to dispute And the gross errours of your words confute But from the theam you wildly have digrest Come to the Point and tell me your request Zelm. 'T is this that you 'd suppress your extasie And prudently resign the Prince to me Perform it well and you my heart have won T is somewhat strange but yet it must be done Amas. Resign ' my Love a horrid Cruelty Yet though I cannot doe it I can die Zelm. Die then offers to stab her and by thy Speedy death remove The onely fatal Rival of my Love Amas. Oh hold for though with death I am not scar'd Forbear a little I 'm not yet prepar'd Zelm. My rage brooks no delay do it or bleed Amas. Hold oh for pity speak declare the deed What must I doe Zelm Visit the Prince with me And there renounce your former constancy Though Love he still endeavour to explain Meet all his favours with a Coy disdain Shrouding your eyes in frowns speak void of fear For I 'le be plac't where I can see and hear Be haughty that no plot he may descry But if you fail that moment you shall die Amas. Such tiranny was never yet exprest Zelm. Of too great Evils you may choose the least Amas. Let me consider yes it shall be done pawse The pow'r of fate may alter what 's begun His hate to her may Jealousie remove aside And prove a means still to preserve our Love I will perform your suit but in the deed to the Queen I give my self a wound will ever bleed As dying Pellicans their blood resign So to procure your blisse I ruin mine Zelm. Le ts thither streight if thou perform'st it well Thou bringst me heaven Amas. but my self a Hell Exeunt SCENE III. Enter Ptolomy Phillopater Achmades Ptol WHo at the Tilt last night most honour won Phillo The noble Caliph Micerenus Son Obtain'd the Ruby he five Warriours forc't To leave the field and twice five more unhorst Himself unhurt still prancing round the place Manag'd his foamy Steed with ample grace When brave Cephrenes hoping victory Charg'd him whose fight I could not stay to see Enter Zichmi Your haste does some unlook'd for news declare Zich To arms to arms we are surpriz'd I fear For standing on the Eastern Tow'r whose height Makes the Skies frown and Earth shake with its weight I saw the Beacons near the shore on fire Which to the Skies did in small sparks aspire And the next object which my eyes did grace Were armed Troops that mov'd towards this place The City trembles at these new alarms And in the Streets the stubborn faction swarms For by a Post new come report is spread They 'r Syrian Troops and by the Sultan led Ptol. Unlook'd for mischief oh my boding fears Achm. Has the Qeen heard the news Zichm There 's no one dares Possess her with it Ptol. Ha not dares yes I Were death the sequal would th' adventure try Let base and sordid spirits nourish fears My courage shall supply my want of years Streight raise what pow'rs you can to Zichmi be it your care to Phillo To calm the Commons and prepare for War Great Gods permit not Egypt thus to fall Revenge not private Crimes in general The blot in future Ages will remain And on your Godhead fix a lasting stain But e'er our necks endure captivity Like Romans our own swords shall set us free Exeunt SCENE IV. A Prison Moaron reading Moar. COntent is Pilot to a happy State And 't is a bliss to be unfortunate A rigid Text yet Seneca was wise He taught men how disasters to despise To purge their lives from ill and learn to die By occult Reasons in Philosophy But had he lov'd like me he had confest No Hell like to a confin'd Lovers breast The branded wretch that tugs the slavish Oar Spent with dispairs and wants controuling pow'r Yet still contented lives in hopes to see Once more the long wisht hour of Liberty But I contemning my unhappy Stars Still waste my life in Labyrinths of Cares Enter Zelmura and Amasis at the door Zelm. Yonder he sits now boldly enter here And from this place your words can reach my ear Exit behind Amas. Hold now my heart Moar. Hath heavens what 's this I see Can prison walls shrowd such divinity Amas. D' you know me Sir Moar. Not yet for Joyes extream Perswades my fancy that I do but dream Amas. Awake then and beleive Moar. Such was her hand kising her hand And such the sweetnesse that did first command And fetter my rough heart my doubts are gone But tell me Sweet how came you thus alone How could you scape the guards and not beseen By cruel Spyes from the more cruel Queen Or did the Gods Compassionating Love To yield me comfort drop you from above Amas. My coming was not at so strange a rate But from the entrance of the Castle gate Through all the guards I had a passage free Who void of doubts gave me this liberty Moar. Unlookt for happinesse Amas. hold Sir you shew Too much of Joy till you my businesse know Moar. What businesse can you have but to remove Doubts that molest us and renew our Love Amas. Grief ties my tongue how shall