running to his ruine 1. Cap. As how what danger Hal. Danger enough Melcoshus frown for he 'l inform him what he hath promised 1. Cap. By Mahomet he dares not Ha. He will I know his humour best or if you please to call it simple honesty you may which I have wrought upon by opposing so shall his faith serve my aspiring ends Odmer once sacrificed for truth who 'l be Melcoshus's friends Exeunt Enter Orcanes and Callibeus Or. 'T is strange my Father should so doat I thought in time the force of his affection would have abated but on the contrary his love increases never was such a change What poor things are we when our lust hath once overthrown our reason that any man of spirit should so far yield to passion as to become his captives captive and all this coyle onely for obtaining that which in the enjoying does not yield a minutes pleasure How happy am I that have no such desires Enter Hosa Cal. Oh hypocrite Orc. Have you done what I bad you Hos Yes you shall see the effects on 't immediately Orc. The truth is our Lawes gives us too great a liberty that way how much better were it might every man onely enjoy one woman for lust doth both corrupt the bodies and the souls of men Cal. What means this seeming sanctity it does indeed my Lord it is a most ugly vice though to the great ones tolerated Orc. I do protest my Father's errour doth so much lessen him from what he was that I 'le forswear the very company of women bewitching Syrens that confounds our judgments Fire fire fire within Cal. What noise is that ha fire Enter Orc. Hosa Orc. My Lord I 'le to the Court this morning Finis Actus secundi Exeunt omnes Actus tertius Enter Orcanes and Ozaca Oz. SIr I beseech you think not meanly of me for having won me thus thus without parly I freely must confesse the force you used did not displease me whatsoe're I seem'd for I did something love you before mine eyes were blest with viewing your perfections yet modesty or fear to be contemned would have for ever closed my lips Orc. Why fair Ozaca did not you by a Letter dropt from your window one day make me know my happinesse in your requitall of affection in the same phrase to that I spoke at first in to let you know I was your servant though your husband then were present I doubting a second opportunity Oz. Alas my Lord I did not know your meaning if you spoke to that effect but it may be my husband prompted by a just fear did understand you for you are made up of sweetnesse that might tempt an angell Orc. My behaviour gave him no cause of suspicion sure Oz. His jealousie proceeding from his excesse of love to me made him believe it seemes I was an object worthy of your eye when indeed the god of love pittying my silent languishing did rather wound you to shew his power than that my beauty could command affection from one so far in all respects above me And if you did receive any Letter to that effect he writ it as from me none else durst have presumed Orc. 'T is certain and he himselfe hath been the unhappy happy instrument to make me now enjoy the miracle of nature for had I not been so encourag'd by that Letter I should not have thus ventured on this rash attempt of firing the house Oz. Sweet Prince I fear some jealous pang may take my husband and he return before the fire be quenched and finde you at least the Eunuch may Orc. Shall I then so soon leave you Oz. Oh yes you must yet do not except you every day could set a Garden-house on fire for without some such extraordinary means we hardly shall again enjoy each others company which how sweet it is to me let this kisse witnesse being more then ever yet I offered to my husband Orc. Let us not part what danger can be equall to this happinesse By Mahomet I ne're till now did find content with any woman Why should a subject be thus blest Let this make all my other conquests be forgotten over other women for I am now what I have often seem'd but never was in earnest in Love nay taken after the enjoying knock within Oz. Oh me we are undone one knocks I fear my husband's Confusion on them Cal. Ho Ozaca Ho Ozaca Oz. 'T is he what will become of me Orc. Spare those tears or rather let them fall to save your honour by seeming as if I had used violence To say that I at all have not injur'd you were to no purpose he 'l ne're believe it Put your selfe in such a posture as may beget beliefe My birth shall save me from all danger or should I perish so I save your honour it matters not Enter Callibeus Cal. What asleep Ozaca and such a fire I 'le use my private key The Prince now all the furies had the house been burnt ay all the house nay all that 's in 't my selfe I had been far lesse miserable For ever let all comfort cease Ozaca is a strumpet I am dishonour'd the boyes will hoot at me as I passe the street Sensibly I feel my selfe transformed from man to beast Orc. Thou' rt too much honour'd slave that I should take so much pains and onely once enjoy that which thou maist possesse at ease and often For her she is so far from being a strumpet that shee 's chaster in thought then thou couldst wish her how e're her person suffered violence Behold an object if any thing could move me to repent so soon of that wherein I lately took such pleasure those lovely cheeks bath'd in her tears my friends it seemes who by their quantity would wash from off her face those bloody stains the witnesses of my rude act Oz. Hence from me Serpent Cal. Oh leave my house lest I forget you are Melcoshus son but for thee strumpet Orc. Build not on my ill laid foundation make not the rape I have committed the cause of any future injuries to her for so you shall on me lay greater weights of sin which I 'le revenge on thee And Lady though I know I do appear to you a devill nay worse yet when you shall consider your own beauty you 'l excuse me something What spit at me spits at him being your Prince nay then I know my crime was hainous your eyes too that may give life to others like to the Basilisks do strike me dead Remember Callibeus Exit Cal. Abus'd and threatned I am too tame I 'le after him rather revenge me on this whore that did allure him Oz. Do you cannot add unto my misery I am already made unworthy of your bed dishonour'd ravish'd and you that should revenge the wrong are cold in taking vengeance though in hot blood You that could let him part having a sword so neer your hand and such a cause to use it
THE FAMOUS TRAGEDY OF OSMOND The great TURK Otherwise called the NOBLE SERVANT Written by LODOWICK CARLELL Gent. LONDON Printed for Humphrey Moseley at his shop at the Princes Armes in St. Pauls Church-yard 1657. Drammatis Personae Melcoshus Emperour of Tartary Orcanes His Son Osmond The noble Servant Calibeus A jealous Cham. Odmer Faithfull to the Emperour Haly An aspiring Traitour Hosa Servant to Orcanes. Eunuch Prisoners Souldiers Captains Mutes Messenger  Despina A fair Christian Slave Ozaca Wife to Calibeus OSMOND the great TVRK Or the NOBLE SERVANT Actus Primus After an Alarum and people running over the Stage Enter Osmond a Tartar with his Sword bloody Osm THe City reekes with the warm blood of murder'd Christians whose avarice hath made them their wealth our prey Sword thou hast shed much blood and of the first and noblest not added by this arme for thou to it lentst vigour a vertue thou retainst since Melcoshus my great and royall Master buckled thee on my thigh for which so unaccustomed favour and many other when I forget still to adore him equall to our Prophet may my death quickly follow now if any thing charge like danger 's left that dare appeare I le meet it Exit Enter two Souldiers and Despina 1. Sold. Villain hold off thy hands shee 's my prize what though thou first seizedst on her is she a prey for so base a slave 2. Sold. How slave I le prove my selfe thy better Desp Unhappy maid must I become the cause of bloodshed tho even of Tartars our Enemies heavens forbid hear me you wrathfull men by your great Prophets name I charge you we Christians pacifie our rage for our deare Masters sake make a division of me and of my cloathes he to whose lot I fall I le be his faithfull slave 1. Sold. I am content so I who am a Janisarie may have the better share of her person 2. Sold. No I le have that take thou her cloaths and Jewels 1. Sol. Then I le have all Desp Alass why strive you for this worthlesse person so far as lies in my ability I le serve you both 2. Sold. A good kinde wench 1. Sold. I am agreed so I may first lie with her to share her cloaths and jewels Des How lie with me 2. Sold. Wee 'l cast lots 1. Sold. Agreed Des Divinitie assist me what meane these men went I about to save their lives for this 2. Sold. I am first 1. Sold. You lie shee 's mine Des Oh I feare Would that sword that peirc'd my Noble Fathers heart had cut me from the world e're this unhappie houre of my dishonour 2. Sold. Leave her or thy life Exeunt striving for her Enter Melcoshus Odmer Haly Captaines and Prisoners Mel. Thus Souldiers though cold hunger and all impediments of war seem to block up our way we have made passage by our unwearied valour the gods were forc't to give us victory and such a victorie as makes your King an Emperour and you in honour and riches equall to Kings I meane our Chams each private souldiers wealth equals some Christian Lords Odm. Our riches lives and honour we hold from our magnificent Emperour great Melco••us and as his slaves thus low prostrate we kisse his happie feet Mel. You see doggs it is not with us as with your ruin'd Maister who when he pleaded with his best eloquence as I have heard to make his greedy Subjects open their Cofers for their own safety could not prevail with them for they both base and foolish rather chose to perish with their Idols than to relieve the generall necessity and so have hazarded saving both life and honour which makes me not restraine the Souldiers from any insolency though I know a cittie taken by assault to be the only stage where rape murther and sacriledge is acted to the life Haly. Melcoshus is godlike-wise in all those who forget their Emperour under whom they live deserve no pitty from a conquering Enemie our prophet hath appointed you his scourge mercy unto his Enemies were cruelty to him Cap. Haly doe not incite to blood he is nearest faultiness that way of any should he grow thirsty by custome we have not Christians enough alwaies ready to quench that thirst or glutted with these our owne blood may be found perchance more sweet if we grow rich or popular Haly. Captaine it is true the fox would rather strive to abate than increase the Lyons feirceness since forc'd to obey and serve him Mel. Honest Odmer thou carefull servant of thy Masters honour and safety their taxes shall be lessened though their revolt cannot fright us let all the Greek Prisones of note be at our banquet that Osmond seems to whisper we may glory in our triumph over them some of their deaths wee 'l honour with our presence These are base traitorus betrayers of their country selfe-murtherers by their owne avarice away with them and let the Souldier exercise his rage upon them Enter Osmond and Despina Pri. We are justly punished Osm Dread Lord behold a present which the meanest of your slaves intends to make you Mel. I st a boy or a woman unvaile and shew me Osm Sir a while your pardon untill I let you know that ignorantly I part not with this jewell for I so well do understand the value that were the citty-spoiles laid in one ballance the Empire too and but this in the other nay an assurance of a happy reigne added to that and on the other side but to enjoy this creature to whom no attribute of excellence can be given high enough one year here were my choice Mel. Osmond tho I have lov'd thee of a child yet doe not tempt that frown that 's death think not that state that I am now possest of admitts any comparison of happiness yet not content with this thou dost contemne my fortune shew me that argument of thy presumption though excellent but if not worthy our longing expectation perhaps the cause of thy destruction Majestie delights not to be plaid with Osm Pardon dread sir that man who shall affirme he hath an humbler soul towards great Melcoshus then Osmond I dare him to the triall with this sword or faithfuller which makes me sir assure you you are in danger of your liberty see not her face for t' is a woman so farr I le warne you a weeping one untill you doe withall consider shee 's your slaves slave I meane my prisoner were she less worthy she had been my Mistress but being thus excellent who can deserve to look on her but you let her be covered still for if I draw this vaile you then must yeeld the thought of all your glories laid asside and in her heavenly eyes read your aptivity Mel. Osmond I see thou doatest thy selfe and thinkst we must doe so delay no longer he unvailes her Osm Prepare then for a bondage which will bring delight above all freedome Mel. More more by all my glories than
do well By seeming vertuous I have the faith corrupted of many others in the Army but these though they perceive that I aspire yet for their own ends they 'l assist my plots pretending as if A Table we believ'd each other vertuous Love to our Country moves us yes as much as it does the Crocodile that laments that creature which she means to make her prey How e're Melcoshus is careful of the souldiers good and most ambitious of their love I have so wrought upon them by flattery that he not once suspects how they distaste his easie pleasant life their bane nor shall he know 't untill the errour ruine him in all opinion and make me powerfull I will observe and flatter him in smallest things all must run smooth and eeven he shall not see at least not hear a discontented man yet underhand by injuries I 'le make the greatest so then by my instruments so work them that they shall fix their eyes on me as their sole remedy being the only man that loves his Country True the masque of vertue I put on must be worn cunningly indeed Odmer that Fox too I must ruine by his own honesty and faith unto his Prince I cannot be secure of any plot whilst he hath breath and here he comes Enter Odmer and Captains Odmer According to your desire I am come and pray Mahomet our present meeting may produce some happy issue for the good of our Soveraign Ha. Amen good Odmer sit sit most noble friends you the Pillars of the Empire upon which the huge Colossus of our Princes same was rais'd here is not at this Table I to my comfort speake it to be so honour'd a man that does not merit to lead himselfe an Army I being exempted What victory did our Melcho•hus get that some brave Arme here did not act wonders I dare not say equall to what he did yet to continue doing bravely still is fair for Souldiers for Kings sometimes slack in their worth But Ours you 'l say is gracious carefull of the State and souldiers Od. I know not what they 'l say but I must say so and withall add if you think not so too you are a flatterer for have not I heard Haly with faire words smooth o're the errours of the King small in themselves at first but by your conformation still continued not amended as not thought wrongfull actions Ha. I grant good Odmer when I have seene the Emperour inraged not to be contradicted but with danger I have applied my selfe to serve his humour for the present hoping my reason afterwards might better overthrow his errour when it should be forsaken by his passion nor fail'd I of 't but were it not madness in any that should tell him that this his dotage on Despina makes him neglect his office how all the Souldiers that have any spirit or sense of their vast wrongs talke of electing them another Emperour who better shall distinguish betwixt their honour'd scarrs and upstart Ignorants who ne're shed drop of Enemies blood or had their own spilt to advance his glory would you have me tell him this though all yet know this is truth Od. Though I know this is false how e're opinion sway the envious and ignorant yet did you think it true were you true subjects you would tell it him but he that fears his losse of life more then his loss of faith and honour thinks no reward can equall such a hazard 2. Cap. Then Odmer yo'u would seem as if your faith and love so far transport you bove your reason that you durst tell the Emperour this Ha. No Odmer t were ' follie Od. Haly to you it may appeare so but may Odmer be as cold in duty as you and find what it deserves some heavy punishment if he do not make known e're long unto his Soveraigne how he dayly loses his Souldiers love for that I grant is truth though undeserv'd from him for he hath still desir'd to give them all their dues nay bin more liberall then his Ancestors how ere false servants and corrupted ministers have deceiv'd his trust the sweetest and most plentious springs passing through noysome and straight passages may lose their comfortable qualities even you my Lord I must be plaine have wrought your selfe to such a power by the advantage of your birth and his imploying you that all depend on you more then on him all that you think will please the Souldiers you make your Act the Emperour by you induc'd to it and by you perform'd but what may give them cause of murmur or discontent that you give out that you perswade him from thus doe you rob him of his greatest wealth the Souldiers love and in the stead of it procure their hatred for him which justly you deserve But would that tyrant Love release him that he might shew himselfe againe in Armes and look about him he soon would know that Haly his most trusted councellour hath abused his trust whilst he hath bin fast lull'd asleep with pleasure Ha. Zealous Odmer what you have spoke might seeme an injurie not to be borne to those that did not know us both who would think I could suffer in my own house my loyaltie thus to be call'd in question nay condemn'd for you have spoke no lesse then what might brand me for a Traitour But know good Odmer your zeale thrice heated by your envy to see me greater then your selfe not only in my place but in the souldiers love can no way sindg my reputation or make my faith mistrusted by my Prince and since I know you cannot hurt my own power garding me but most that innocence which I have ever borne as the best shield against all slanders I am so farre from being angry that I profess I love you and will advise you for your honours sake which else might suffer since you are honest Odmer To tell the Emperour all things are amiss the greatest danger that can arise to you he being of a gentle nature will be but strangling or may be for the kind office you shall take upon you to be his tutor for it was never known that any yet counsel'd him unask'd his fauchion may be imployed that he may view your brains who would be wiser then your Lord 1. Cap. Faith Odmer tell him my Lord counsel's well Ha. First let him know my faults if you intend I should be punisht you 'l have no time when you have told him his Os Haly you speak to me in scorne but I perchance shall doe that which would fright thee even to death onely to think on 't Ha. Odmer your blood is stir'd and you are angry Os If thou hadst given me any reall cause this place nor these should not protect thee but since I know thy plotting brain to be thy only weapon thou canst not move me and so I leave you Exit 2. Cap. My Lord will you endure this Ha. Let him alone the honest fool is