part of Man till Love 's away Exeunt The Scene Tamerlane's Tents Ragl. Now is the time Prince Zeylan's on the Wing And he shall seize his Prey thanks to his unknown Friend A lesser loss than her cou'd ne'r have rais'd Revenge so high as his Ingratitude Honor that wavering Judge here interposes Which turns to every Tale Honor that spins Fine curious Paralels that never meet What says she then First I must right my self And then not wrong the Public Rare distinction Public fine Canting word the Public Are my Arms Or Legs joyn'd to the Public Am I in pain When this Man 's hang'd that Torturd Do I eat The less when this Man starves Or when he 's Froze Or burnt do I feel that by my Fire side or Grotto But each man's private good lurks in the Public Then each man take his part and where 's the Public Oh but the Public is the Store-house No Rather the Jayl that keeps mens private goods Confin'd I 'll get mine out and set the rest on fire My private Pleasure is my well-known Soveraign good T' obey and gratifie each strong Impulse Of Friendly Nature What makes the Publick Power And what destroys the Publick Why Power again Then let this Power dispose the Publick still My private Will shall rule that angry Power Enter Tamerlane Axalla Irene Alarm within and Clashing of Swords Tam. What means this noise Mess. The Enemy is entred And has repuls'd your Guards Prince Zeylan's coming to This Tent. Iren. For Heav'ns sake Sir Be gone into this inner Room there 's a back-door to 't Tam. Is Zeylan come I 'll to my Rebel Guards And teach th' advent'rous Rebel to be tamer Exeunt Alarm without Fighting on the Stage Zeylan is beat off Re-enter Tamerlane Axalla Ragalzan Tam. What a bold Rebel 's this No more of mercy Since 't is despis'd Axalla Give order for a general Assault I 'll to the Temple and give thanks to Heav'n For this success Ex. with Axalla Rag. But I 'll be there before you To just Revenge one disappointment shall Not stop my Progress Now I 'll trust my self I know the Mummy Priest a cunning fellow By 's Nature much but by 's profession more He 's one of those that deal 'twixt Gods and Men A Commerce yet well never understood And so they Cheat accordingly But has Revenge such pow'rful pleasing Charms Receiving Good ' sa Toy to doing Harms Revenge the Gods best Dish their close-kept Dainty 'T is their Ambrosia not to be tasted By groveling Mortals and forbid to all But bold Promethean Souls borrowing because Able to re-imburse the Gods again With lofty Passions of immortal Wrath. Equally powerful still are Contraries Hate 's the reverse of Love Revenge is hates fruition Nor do I know what 's sweetest or to have My Mistress in my Bed My Foe in 's Grave The Scene the outer part of a Temple Enter Tamerlane Axalla Ragalzan Tam. I like their Temples but I loath their Idols To all those Beings that our Senses reach not Forms are injurious much more to the Greatest Ax. I hate no less weak superstitious Fools Who with fond Attributes th' eternal Being Reproach and make more Antic than Mankind Like Boys they fear the Bugbears that they dress Tam. True. Heav'n delights more in the sweet variety And liberty of thought than Slanderous Piety As a great Monarch him to favor chuses Who pleasant but well-manner'd freedom uses But hates a sowre tho an obedient Clown Who loves his Smiles less than he fears his Frown So Heav'n's great Soul dress'd in impervious Rays The Object of our Wonder and our Praise Laughs at our holy Gambols from above But those do chiefly his affection move Who play in 's Beams with a well-guessing Love For the Great Nature takes delight to see The Foot-ball play of Human Sophistry Nor willing to be known loves Men shou'd doubt Guess at his Riddles but not find them out Music. Ragalzan appears at a corner of the Stage with a Priest. Rag. What am I well disguis'd Priest. Mummy it self Sir. Here is a Vault and here 's the Trap-door to 't It has a thousand Labyrinths within Not made for nothing Let 'em search till Doomsday They 'l never find you Pugh the Western Priests Are not the only Laughers at Mankind Exit with Ragalzan who takes his place among the Mummies The Scene opens and discovers an Amphitheatre of Crown'd Mummies Iren. These Mummies are more Curious and Magniâ—icent Than those we saw at Cairo Ax. And much more numerous Which answers not amiss to the prodigious space Of time suppos'd by their Chronology Tam. Of all the Arts that short-breath'd Man affects To patch and piece up ruinous Humanity Aping of Immortality in Dust Sure is the noblest Ax. Yet they are Death's Trophies 'T is strange that Man should glory to be conquer'd And boast his losses to all after Ages Tam. Proud of his pickled Principality When Fame finds nothing in his life to blow Her Trumpet for and wake the list'ning World. Ax. And Fame 's as false Cheats us of present Sums The daily Rents of Pleasure and of Ease To pay in Honor's Airy dry Reversion And disputable Titles Good or ill By dead men unperceiv'd by th' living undistinguish'd Enter Mummy Priest habited like a Conjurer c. Priest. Greatest of Emperors draw near and see The richest Wardrobe of Mortality The world affords Here stand Time-daring Mummies Of China Monarchs for ten Thousand years Shou'd I relate you all their Deaths and Lives Their Arms their Arts their Children and their Wives ' Twou'd tire your patience or to hear or see And Conquer Sir your Magnanimity Tam. Troth I believe thee What a Canting Tone And what a monstrous Tale Ax. They 've long Traditions And Lye by old Records as well as Hear-says Tam. No no. Printing has been here in use some Thousand of years no wonder they have so many Lyes Whose Mummy's this Priest. This is Viteio The builder of an University Who liv'd one hundred and Fifty years Iren. And whose is this Priest. Ochanti the Inventer of Printing Iren. And this Priest. Tzinzummey The Inventer of Gun-powder that frighted hence a certain rambling Prince Call'd Alexander from the Oxidrace Which he good Man mistook for Thunder and For Lightning Tam. A small excuse wou'd serve a Western Conqueror This crook-back'd Prince here Priest. Huy Hannon He that found out the Philosophers Stone Tam. And this Priest. Pintatei his unfortunate Successor that lost it Ax. This fellow Drolls Tam. No 't is their Tradition Iren. Who is this here Priest. Auchosan He that invented Wagons to Sail with the Wind. Axalla walks forward Tam. Are all your Princes then Philosophers Priest. No. But whosoever finds an admirable Art Is strait made Governour of some wealthy Province And his Invention is aâ—crib'd unto The King whose Reign he liv'd in Tam. Hansome exchange and nourishment for Virtue Priest. Here stands the great Tzionzon builder
plac'd With Wit so new and so uncommon Grac'd In vain Alass I shou'd attempt to tell Where or in what your Muse does most excel Each Character performs its Noble Part And stamps its Image on the Readers Heart In Tamerlane you a true Hero drest A Generous Conflict wars within his Brest 'T is there the Mightiest Passions you have show'd By turns confess'd the Mortal and the God! VVhene're his steps approach the haughty Fair He bows indeed but like a Conqueror Compell'd to Love yet scorns his servile Chain And spight of all you make the Monarch Reign But who without resistless Tears can see The Bright the Innocent Irene dye Axalla's Life a Noble Ransom paid In vain to save the dear Lov'd Charming Maid Naught surely could but your own Flame inspire Your happy Muse to reach so soft a Fire Yet with what Art you turn the powerful Stream When Treacherous Ragalzan is the Theme Youmix our different Passion with such skill We feel'em All and all with Pleasure feel We love his Mischiefs tho the Harms we grieve And for his Wit the Villain we forgive In your Despina all those Passions meet Which Womans Frailties perfectly compleat Pride and Revenge Ambition Love and Rage At once her wilful haughty Soul Engage And while her Rigid Honor we Esteem The dire Effects as justly must condemn She shows a Virtue so severely Nice As has betray'd it to a pitch of Vice All which confess a Godlike Power in you Who cou'd form Woman to her self so true Live Mighty Sir to reconcile the Age To the first Glories of the useful Stage 'T is you her rifled Empire may restore And give her Power she ne're could boast before A. BEHN Dramatis Personae Tamerlane the Great Bajazet Emperor of the Turks Axalla General to Tamerlane Ragalzan one of Tamerlane's Chief Officers a Villain Zeylan a Revolted Prince of China Irene Tamerlane's Daughter Despina Bajazet's Wife Philarmia Zeylan's Mistress Priests An Astrologer Captains Soldiers and Attendants SCENE a Revolted Fort in China THE SACRIFICE ACT I. SCENE I. A Pavilion with the prospect of a besieg'd Fort. Enter Tamerlane Ragalzan Axalla Tam. HAS Europe Asia Afric felt the Charms Of my Victorious but Indulgent Arms And shall a soft Chinese Prince still dare Not to seek out his Glory by despair Shake off those gracious Fetters which were sent By me from Heav'n to be his Ornament Which his great King puts on and wears with pride Rag. At unknown Virtues Salvages are frighted Tam. The Conquerors of Persia Macedon The Lords of Caesars reverence my Throne Clear from the rising to the setting Sun What Alexander near could reach I won Had he subdu'd to the Chinensian Shore Then with some reason he had wept for more But like a froward Child at Meals too great He cry'd for want of Stomach not of Meat Rag. Sir from Iapan to the Atlantic Main The World lies fetter'd in your glorious Chain Whose Life and Influence in the Heav'ns is felt As upon Earth the spangled Milky Belt. Tam. Soft good Ragalzan we are mortal too Heav'n cuts out work which I alone can do Axal I 'm glad the Emperor swallows not the Pill Who offers too much Good contrives some Ill. aside Tam. Had Caesar liv'd I had taught that Rebel Peace And lash'd the stragling Demy-God to Greece Whose bus'ness was t' enslave but not Reform I 've cleans'd the World and brush'd it like a Storm To purge the World from Sots and simp'ring Knaves To chain Vile Monarchs and Crown worthy Slaves Is my great Task on the reversed Earth Axal Thanks to your Great but Heav'n-befriended Birth Tam. Right brave Axalla Think not that I swell Or have out-grown the Robes Heav'n dress'd me in If I in terms so high my Conquests raise It is not mine but my Inspirer's praise Enter a Chancellor with a Seal takes his Seat then a Master of Ceremonies ushering in Ambassadors with Presents Mr. Cer. The Grecian Emperor kisses your Foot-stool Chan. The mighty Tamerlane accepts his Offering Mr. Cer. The Persian Emperor c. Chan. The mighty c. Mr. Cer. The Emperor of China c. Chan. The mighty c. Mr. Cer. The Russian Emperor c. Chan. The mighty c. Mr. Cer. Two and twenty African Kings beg admission Tam. Let the Kings wait till the Afternoon Where 's the Memorial Read it on Axalla Ax. Daramnes Tigranel and Crantor Tam. My Fathers old Captains Let them have considerable Pensions besides Pay and the first Commands that fall Ax. Isfendlar Tachretin and Germean Ogli Tam. Rich Noblemen Let them be imploy'd in places of Honour and Magnificence they may support themselves Ax. Haly Mordecai Tam. Ha! A man that opposes me not for the publick good but to be taken off by preferment let him be advanc'd to the Gallows Ax. Burranes and Garrulan Tam. Men of more Sail then Ballast Impudent shallow Intruders Let 'em be banish'd the Court. Princes for the most part keep the worst Company Ax. Close waiting argues no sufficiency but rather still For want of other merits they pay you with Offensive diligence Tam. Right Fools are fittest for Dumb-shows While wiser men grow faint to feed on Glances Ax. Arcanes Cardamel and Rozarno Tam. Persons of great Wit Honor and Integrity Let 'em be advanc'd immediately there can be no places too good for ' em I love not to force Grounds but sow my Favors In fertil Soils and my returns ne'r fail me 'T is pity Virtue shou'd want stuff to work on Or languish with Ignoble Aliments Ax. Comets at first are but Terrestrial Vapors But when prefer'd into the upper Region They shine out bright and there turn glorious Wonders Because they 're of a pure and fiery substance While the dull Clouds ungratefully obscure The Sun that rais'd ' em Tam. Are there no more men that I can do good to Ax. The Prince of Tanais Tam. Let him Command o're all next to thy self A man of great Conduct Courage and Clemency Give me the man that 's made up like a Caesar And he shall be one but no Tamerlane The Scene opens to Bajazet'â— Cage Tamerlane goes to him Why will you still afflict me Sir to see Your malice frustrate all my Clemency Like a soft Ball against a stony ground Back to my self my benefits rebound Heav'n knows your Brothers Blood your Subjects Tears Call'd loud for Vengeance to my tender Ears Heav'n turn'd the Scales and order'd for your share That punishment you did for me prepare Reign with more Justice and resume your Throne Baj. Now others Scorn then I should be my own Shou'd I proud wand'ring Tartar take from Thee One Inch of ground one thought of Liberty Cou'd I be ground to Atoms and each Grain Might have a Soul made up to dye again Thy Terrors shou'd not make me own thy Laws Nor owe Contentment of so vile a Cause I live for my own sake and thee Deâ—ie When I think fit I 'll cheat thy Pride
for all Records They tire Narrations baffle formal Words Ax. Right Sir but own the Cause This Vanity Sticks close like Ivy to the noblest Plants Tam. True my Axalla but shou'd I speak less I shou'd detract from Heav'n that threw these Favors Upon my worthless Person Enter Despina Ax. Here she comes Now be your self and His that made you great Tam. Ha! What flash of Lightning's this that strikes my Brest Then Fame has once spoke true a Glorious Form But I must be my self nay more appear Churlish and Cruel to keep off vain hopes Desp. Great Sir to whom wise Heav'n the World design'd kneeling As a just Tribute to your greater Mind Long may you Reign if Bajazet may live A Grant which Heav'n alone and You can give We cancel all the Rights that Fortune gave And Life alone the gift of Nature crave Show the same mercy you had wish'd to find If Fortune had to Him not You been kind Tam. Do as you wou'd be done to Rules no State Nor yet is Nature's Law for in close competitions Where Life 's at Stake if you do not destroy Your Rival's Life your own you can't enjoy Yet none wou'd grant to let himself be slain Tho by his death another life did gain My Case is clearer just in all mens Sence To kill your Husband in my own defence Which is no more than he wou'd do by me Or ought to do if he secure wou'd be Desp. High Confidence o're Policy prevails When great Souls meet low-founded Reason fails Brave Sympathy does Interest disdain Or 't is an Int'rest of a nobler Strain To please themselves by pleasings all their gain Tam. You talk of Friends or Lovers lukewarm Mortals That have not heat enough t' inflame themselves With high-flown Thoughts and Self determin'd Actions Give me Ambiâ—ion that is ne'r extinguish'd Yet feeds upon it self burns like the Sun In its own Centre unconsum'd And Warms or Scorches whom it please at distance Souls that are inaccessible and high Are strictest followers of the Deity Humble Mankind copies the Low Creation And makes the tamest Animals their Guides Out â—done still by the Strong and wise ones Desp. Shou'd Gods destroy all Men that them provoke They must Create to make their Altars Smoke If all were kill'd that do affect your Throne King without Subjects you wou'd Reign alone A Monarch wrapt in Contemplation To a hast'ning Son or nature-urging Wife To some brave Brutes or King-contemning Flies And Death will come by Siege if not Surprize Was all the World for your vain Self design'd Or if it be the Int'rest of Mankind To have you dye why do you wish to live When Social Joys you neither take nor give Tam. How bold her Reason how Divine her Face What do I feel some strange but Cordial heat Some Passion shakes my Reason from her Seat. Desp. The Road to Fame 's to try unpractic'd ways From common Methods rises common Praise Blood has to Glory ever been a Cheat Let Mercy make you Famous Safe and Great When Fortune shares so much in each event Distraining Mortals goods for Heav'nly Rent Prudence in vain a Monarchs Life protects Counsels inspir'd produce the best effects Tam. 'T is time to fly Madam you argue well Let time digest My thoughts and ripen them for your request Ex. severally Rag. If I remember well my former frailties This discomposure in the Prince is Love If it be so there is enough to work on Other attempts are Dangerous Rash Uncertain This flattering distemper works as sure Destruction he shall be his own Tormentor His Life and Fame shall languish e're he dyes I 'll strait to Bajazet who loves this Wife More than his Empire tell him She 's already In Tamerlane's embraces That in him Will work some fatal Passion and in her Revenge as desperate Exit Re-enter Tamerlane Tam. To Arms to Arms my Soul and stop the passage To this weak Enemy Love thou poor trifle of Unactive Minds drowsie Divinity Music for Maids or Madmen Thou pinching Play-fellow tickling Tormentor Thou fawning Cut-throat Beggar hence begone My Brest affords no settlement for Vagrants Go to some Silken Persian soft Italian To limber Courtiers callow beardless Boys Go â—ind some lazie Epiâ—ure whose Soul Lives in his Dish and thence by Transmigration Lives in his Wench and when that short-liv'd pleasure Expires is boâ—n a new to Wine and Surfeits How darest thou seek for room in my full Mind In which the Uâ—iverse lies cram'd with all its cares Where every Vertue harbors for protection And every Vice waits for a Reformation And yet methinks I see the blind ragg'd Boy Laughing the tott'ring Globe out of my hand It must not shall not be He comes he comes Again and warms my Brest with his false Fires Captains let loose the World that I may once more Conquer't Strike off the Chains from all my fetter'd Princes Let 'em Rebel and find out Manly troubles To shake off these Let Bus'ness out-do Reason Go build more Ships seaâ—ch out some Savage Corner That Nature hides or evil Spiriâ—s guard From Manners or Religion there I 'll go Subdue Reform Let Mankind once more prove How much my Gloâ—y does oâ—â—-â—â—igh my Love. The Scene a Prison Bajazet in his Cage Ragalzan Iayloâ—â— Rag. It is too true The Emperor has deny'd her to come near you Baj. And did I live so long only to see her Rag. Nay more than that This night She is design'd For his Embraces Baj. Death Furies Hell Damnation Fires and Flames You Sacred Bugbears false invented names To fright Mankind into Religious Fits Where is the Justice of the Sacred Writs You Rascal Mahomet am I thus requited My Prayers my Services my Off rings slighted Is this your thanks I scorn thee thou' rt a Cheat I made thee Holy but to make me Great Thou brok'st the Contract first Where is thy Love Where is thy Int'rest with the Powers above If such there be what cross events they give That I who scorn to Reign am forc'd to live Rag. Majestic Blasphemy It works most bravely Iayl. What says the Prince Rag. He does Blaspheme and Rave Talks something that is Wicked and is Brave Like modern Heroes Baj. See see She comes all glorious to the Bed Of Barbarous Tamerlane design'd to breed A race of running Tartars Merciless Gods I cannot will not bear it Knocks his head against the Cage Rag. So I 'll be gone Jaylor go help him forwards I 'll prefer thee 'T is time his mouth were stopt the vile Blasphemer It is the Emperor wills it Iayl. Then 't is done Sir. Rag. 'T will make mad work i'faith Now She ' labhor Great Tamerlane and do some worthy Mischief And I shall be her Confident for if The Emperor Loves Axalla will decline The scandalous Office I shall guide th' Intrigue For still I sooth his proud o'reweening Spirit To his Destruction Fool to think such blows Can be forgot or salv'd with Balmy Flattery
Injuries are Immortal kept alive By those that give no less than those that take 'em One justly hopes the other fears Revenge Purchasing Safety by a second blow Tame Christians court Affronts Let him not live And worship Mahomet that can forgive Exit Axalla Irene Ax. D' ye hear the news Iren. What of my Fathers Love Ax. Nay more than that The death of Bajazet Just now found dead in 's Cage wallowing in 's Blood. Iren. 'T is strange I 'm sure 't was not my Father's act Ax. I cannot tell this Love will change a man As much as a new Faith and Proselytes At their admission are injoin'd great Tasks Enter Despina weeping and Ragalzan Here comes the Mourner and the Mischief-maker I like not their acquaintance Iren. I wonder that he finds such Favor with the Emperor Ax. That his quick Eye sees not his bungling Flattery The Seam's so visible and gross Desp. O sad sad Story Rag. 'T was as I told you and your Dream confirms it Iren. Oh they come near How can I bear with patience The sight of her that gives so great Disquiet To my great Father blasts his glorious Name Rag. Madam did you observe Desp. What makes the Princess fly me Am I brought hither to be scorn'd as well as injur'd These are your Tartarian manners Rag. 'T is not her Education but Religion She 's bred a Christian and betroth'd to this Axalla 'T was they perswaded the Emperor to this Murder Desp. Did they a wondrous Act Oh my dear Sultan Just Heav'ns lend me the Power to vindicate his wrongs Send me the Furies I will turn 'em Saints By this my holy Justice Oh oh oh Weeps Rag. And since this peevish Girl has heard her Father's Passion She Vows she 'll never see you tho you shou'd stoop To be her Father's Wife Desp. A pretty Spark But I will see her tho I walk through Flames To meet her Enter Tamerlane Tam. Bless me 't is sad I was to blame to urge His patience to that height and yet he scorn'd All offers at my hands and had design'd For me the self-same Cage taken at Tauris 'T is true I order'd that Despina shou'd Not yet come near him but that was not well Ha! there she is and I begin to change In vain I struggle with Love's mighty Yoke And the contention 'twixt two powerful Passions Lays wast my Mind This Soultry heat of Love has scorch'd up quite The temperate Climes of Virtue I 'm become Like the Arabian Desart dry unfruitful Where nothing grows for Mankind's use 'T is all but horrid Rocks and Precipices And Tempest-beaten Sands to blind Men's Eyes And bury 'em alive How can I give Account of my great Charge Rag. He 's in his Passion now I 'll give him counsel Might I presume to guess your Royal troubles The beauteous Captive gives you some Disquiet Tam. Audacious Wretch how dar'st thou search into The Soveraign's Brest and rudely touch his Wounds Rag. You pity Sir her Husband 's dismal Fate Tam. True wsth unfeigned Sorrow Rag. But Sir may I proceed a little farther And 't is my humble care for your contentment And the continuance of your spotless Fame Tho for my Duty I shou'd meet my death By my too forward Zeal yet I will speak My Conscience for the Public Tam. Speak thy Grievance Rag. The death of Friends is but a Skin-deep wound To tough Mankind The Earth is over-stock'd The Feeding's bare the less the Herd the fatter What then of Foes or Rivals Love 's a Passion No Hero ought to blush for 't is their own It is the noblest Error of great Minds Or a Perfection rather born of the Same Parent Valor is excess of Heat 'T is a Majestiâ— Madness Heav'nly Fury None ever scap'd it of the Gods or Heroes Tam. What then Speak out Rag. Why then 't is strongly rumor'd That you are touch'd with that Celestial frailty Tam. Is it divulg'd so soon Well then since thou Hast guess'd so well I 'll tell thee my Disease She is the first of all that trivial Sex That ever gain'd the out-works of my Heart A kind Esteem But more S' has fir'd the Fort And turn'd out all the vigorous Defendants The Manly Vertues that secur'd the Place I ne'r knew Love before but for State Int'rest Which paâ—ns the Prince's Body for the Public Rag. So much the worse The first Loves are most dangerous The rest are flashes Sparkles of the former Doubly reflected Rainbows dying Ecchoes Diseases of the Brain are seldom cur'd And their first Fits most fatal if delay'd What fills the World with Madmen Is 't not Love Tam. My Reasoning faculty that was my guide Is so bewildred in this Hellish Fog That I do often grope for 't seldom find it Is there no Cure for this Rag. One very natural Breathing of a Vein in Fevers Or giving Vent to Vessels that wou'd break Tam. Oh but Discourse and Time may Conquer Passion Rag. Stay till a tickling Cough turns a Consumption For want of taking such a Sugar'd Medicine Statesmen in Love begin their Alphabet 'T is a new World an undiscover'd Coast. I 've Lov'd Enjoy'd and Lov'd and lost There is No Rock nor Shelf in all the dangerous Road Of Woman but I am your Pilot for 't Take it from me tho Honor gets the better 'T is a most costly Victory puts you to Th' expence of many thoughtful hours and wasts A wise Man's Brain that 's fit for nobler uses Love lyes in Ambush when you think the least on 't Rallies again and routs th' unsetled Victor And tho 't is oft pluck'd up with endless labor The rank Weed still appears But think I you shou'd make a Life of Passion To whine and dally and to truck for hearts Some Months or Years like other common Mortals A Prince's Love 's to like and to enjoy And then at once away with Love and puling Passion Tam. Are there no limits then for Princes Passions Rag. There may be yet 't were better to be eas'd At any rate than leave the World neglected Millions of Souls draw vital breath from yours The Soldiers murmur that you stop your Progress Pausing upon such Toys yet take this Cordial Fortune has made her free without your guilt Attempt to gain her Love by fair persuasion And take her to your Wife Tam. 'T were not unlawful But oh 't is Rash 't is Base 't is out of Season Rag. Then will you still expose this worthy Passion To your deriding Foes and grieving Friends Carry the Baby Love about the Army And ask the Soldiers how it does become you Ta. Thy Reasons have som weight my Thoughts are wandred And blown about with every gust of Passion For want of Reason's Ballast Here she comâ—s Enter Despina And turns thy Problems all to Demonstrations Rag. I and she comes to court you pray make use on 't Desp. Down down proud Billows of my Stormy â—rest Be calm one moment till I
whole World is thine That great share I possess that lesser left unconquer'd To exercise my Arms inspiâ—'d by thee My Fifty Realms with all the Lives within 'em Men Women Children Beasts and every Inch Of ground they feed on in that spacious Pasture My Seas with all their Fish my Air My Birds my Clouds And if the Sun and Moon and Stars receive Their Alâ—ment from my exhaled Empire Then they are mine and them I will give thee too And thou shalt call me Niggard when I have done Unless I gain more Crowns to strow thy feet with Desp. Well I 'll consider twice 'fore I undo Thee And All the World by this large Donative If you are Real you may hope for Love. Tam. My Word on Earth my Oath 's a Law Above Ex. leading her The Scene the outside of the Fort. Alarms and Fighting behind the Scenes Enter Zeylan Zey All 's lost but thus far I 've escap'd 'T were better T' have leâ—t all to the Mercy of Generous Tamerlane But now 't's too late Yet I am more concern'd for my Philarmia Than Life or Fame or Liberty or Country Enter Six or Seven Soldiers Ha! what surpriz'd 1 Sold. Stand Traytor yield 2 Sold. Deliver Zey Lives are not sold so cheaply Fights and is disarm'd Enter Philarmia Amazon-like disguis'd Phil. What shall I do there is no quarter given My Zeylan will be slain Cou'd I but meet him Oh Heav'ns he 's yonder ready to be Butcher'd Runs upon the Soldiers Hold Soldiers hold I 've Orders from Axalla To save his Life Hold hold he is my Prisoner Now with a Fiction will I try his Faith. Is your Name Zeylan Zey Yes Phil. Then Sir you owe this Favor to a Lady Whose Interest prevail'd above the Orders of the Emperor The fair Irene who commanded me To seek you out and save you Zey That life so spar'd shall be enjoy'd no longer Than till she calls it back and still employ'd In the most rigorous of her Commands Phil. But Sir such Favors come not but on Terms The Princess loves you Zey It is her Mercy sure but not her Love. Phil. No no she Loves you and with Justice asks Your Love without a Rival Zey Nor is it fit that so Divine a Princess Shou'd be the sharer only of a Herat But the intire Possessor Alass my humble Thoughts dust never aim At such high flights but if I ever fix 'em My Faithful Heart is not to be divided In worthless Rags and made a sport for Winds But Consecrated to one Deity Love and Religion both admit no more Phil. So so he yields Oh the perfidious Wretch Then shall I bring her back the welcom message Of your true Love Zey That 's too presumptuous But of Gratitude Of unrestrain'd Devotion to her Service Which neither Death nor Dangers shall deter From Desperate Obedience Phil. Crafty Traytor He dares not say he loves her but 't is plain I 'll probe him â—eeper She hears you have a Mistress call'd Philarmia Zey I had but Heav'n alone can tell if now I have heâ— Phil. And did not she deserve your dearest Thoughts Zey She was or is what nothing can be more Phil. And is this all False Man Now to the quick You must renounce her or your Life Be brief Zey Renounce her What shall I renounce the Gods Forswear Eternal Joys and blessed Mansions Cut off my hopes from Heav'ns Seraphic Pleasures Then here resume your mighty Gift My Life has ever been a Slave to Honor Shall it not serve a Nobler Master Love Not all the Tortures Crosses Scourges Chainsâ— Those double Deaths all the refin'd Inventions That Witty Malice makes for Misery Not all the Thunders Lightnings Earthquakes Floods Terrestrial Terrors or Celestial Fits The Frowns of Angry Heav'n or Smiles of Beauty Shall force me to abjure such glorious hopes Or turn Apostate to Divine Philarmia Phil. Then take thy Life and thy Philarmia too Discovers her self Thou justest dearest Soul. Zey Blest Image art thou here Oh may I trust My Senses or thy Word My dear Deceiver Dear desperate self-destroyer Phil. But thy Preserver Why did not I foresee that I shou'd save thee Which is the better Soldier now Zey Philarmia Oh thou art full of Fame thou may'st retire Like a rich lazy General Phil. I 'll consider But here 's no time to pour our Passions out The Army 's coming this way I 'll go back And stop the Soldiers from pursuing thee Go seek thy safety in some lonesome Cave Then send me word and I will find thee out I 'll take my leave of the Victorious World To share in thy Distresses Zey Stay a little Oh stay awhile Who knows when we shall meet Phil. Lovers in absence have delights peculiar If nought but what is present gives us Pleasure What Joy have Parents when their Children wandeâ— In prosperous Voyages What Joy have Princeâ— In Victories remote What Joy have Usurers When Mony travels to enrich it self Then bless thy self with Hope sweetest of Passions Which Absence gives us Presence robs us of Zeyl. Feed me not with imaginary Joys The envious World with its ill-natur'd Tricks And Accidental Crosses may divide us The Gods themselves desire not men shou'd have Such filling Joys as thou and I possess Lest they should slight eternal Happiness Oh let us part no more how can I leave thee Phil. Well well then I 'm content let me be caught In conference with thee let me be slaughter'd Let me be torn alive since Zeylan wills it Come let 's begin to talk Trumpets sound Zey Oh hark the Trumpet Hast thou hence like Lightning Why should I make thee lose thy precious Life For saving mine Farewel Farewel my Dearest If I go with thee we shall both be slain Phil. Parting or Death which is the greater Pain Ex. severallâ— Tamerlane and Despina sitting upon Thrones An Antic Dance and a SONG GReatness I give thee my excuse For thee I have no leisure Nor Care what Bus'ness can produce For Life's too short for Pleasure Count Griefs Diseases Love's disdains What need these Artificial Pains Nature invites us to a Treat And gives us but short time to stay While Coxcombs Carve and Wise Men Eat Death the close Waiter takes away Count Griefs c. Tam. Now Madam I 'm in Heav'n my Soul rides high And treads th' unyielding Air nothing can sink What you have rais'd so vastly Where have I slept all those deluding years And dream'd of Joys but never tasted any Till this transporting Deifying minute How have I toil'd turn'd upside down the World Begging Mens Voices to be counted happy And at this Fairy Feast have still rose hungry Drunk with Ambition I saw all things double But when I came to taste the Airy Joys They fled the feeling now my Soul runs over I am all Joy all Plenty all Abundance Desp. But these imagin'd Joys may come far short Of expectation cloy you to repentance And then you 'l curse
th'Inchantress and the Syren Tam. Oh never never I cou'd gaze away My Life upon these over-powring Charms This all-supplying Face till Death did fix me In this Triumphant posture far more glorious Thaâ— all the Statues of the Ancient Heroes Who fool'd away their Lives for less rewards Oh I am all content all Wealth all Pleasure Well Madam have you thought of your demand That I may pay my Vows and that great Bond Drawn betwixt Love and Beauty that 's Recorded In the Eternal Registers be cancel'd Desp. I have Sir but you 'l think it is too much To grant Alass my humble worthless Person Can never merit such a mighty Gift What is there in me that cou'd prompt you to So kind so rash a Vow You only meant To Conquer and delude a credulous Woman Tam. By all the Oaths that I have sworn before And if thou urgest by ten Thousand more There 's nothing in my power that I 'll resuse thee Desp. Then Sir deliver up to me your Daughter Bound in Chains your dear and fair Irene Tam. My Daughter bound in Chains She is no Thief Nor Murderer what Offence has she committed Against your Self or Me Pray ask again Command th' Assyrian Persian Grecian Empires I have enough besides I 'll make thee Greater Than Ninus Cyrus or than Alexander All three united and yet less than me But having me thou' rt greater than us all The Emperâ—rs of the World are but thy Slaves When I am thine But why this vain request Take the four Monarchs Lands They are Confiscated and given to me For Treason 'gainst their Maker But why my Pious dearest Child What is she guilty of that can deserve Such Ignominious fatal reparation Desp. I see great Monarchs can dispence with Vows Such Fetters are not made for boundless Souls Farewell most mighty Prince Live long and fortunate without Despina Exit Tam. Ha! what a change is this How soon my Joy's Unravel'd and my Soul from topmost Stories Sunk to the bottom of most damn'd Despair Wound up so high to make her fall the greater What have I done deliver'd up my daughter To certain Death Heav'n what a Conflict's this Not all the Beauties of the Universe Shall make me yield to so abhorr'd an Act But I have Vow'd But 't was a Lover's Vow Whose Perjuriesure laugh'd at No there is No jesting with Divinity But how Comes Tamerlane reduced to this necessity Why Tamerlane's in Love. A goodly Precedent For Envious Posterity to discant on A fine conclusion of a Glorious Life Oh Heav'n the Guide and Prospect of my Actions Let thy kind Thunder end the shameful doubt Destroy me at this Moment let me tread No longer these inglorious steps nor dash Thy unexampled Favors on the Ground By such a childish Act. Love keep thy distance But Love now fights under Religion's Banner And makes it's Folly Sacred Death must prevent This loathed Act and expiate th' Intent Exit An Astrologer Axalla Irene a Captain Thunder Lightning Rainbows inverted a bloody Arm Comet c. Iren. Oh Heav'ns the dreadful sight 'T is Doomsday coming Ax. Ha! Nocturnal Rainbows Inverted too Reflexions answering not the form of Luminous Bodies And such a Comet as puts out the Stars Cease you bold peepers into Nature's Bowels To give the World glossie but fading Reasons Nature this day has made a Fool of Art. Cap. Methinks the Sky wears a more gaudy Dress Than her old glistering Garniture of Stars There is some mighty Revel sure above Hark how they stamp as if they were dancing Jigs Ax. How dare you make such Comments on these Wonders Cap. Faith Innocence is fearless as 't is free Tho the Frame crack the Splinters shall not fright me Shou'd the great Gods that toss these Fiery Orbs Like Tennis-balls for Heav'nly recreation Let slip some weighty Globe through careless Fingers Upon this Head the Accident 's prepar'd for Ax. Well said brave youth if with respect to Heav'n Ha! what means this A bloody Hand and Writing Cap. Scriveners in Heav'n then there 's some hopes for Usurers Ax. The hand of Heav'n is drawing some Indentures Altering Estates in the poor under-World Of all the sights this does perplex me most Pray Sir your Judgement 'T is an Ancient Hand I cannot read Astro. No wonder Sir 't has not been us'd In China these ten Thousand years Ax. Noble Tradition Astro. But the Words are these Kiungsi Honan Which is Interpreted Death Division Some Great Man dyes and leaves his vast Dominions To dubious Heirs Ax. Nothing more likely Sir He that grasps more than 's Handful loses all A lucky Guess turns to a Prophesie Enter Tamerlane Tam. I 've urg'd to have my Sentence chang'd in vain Told her the Truth but why should she believe me Shou'd the Sun change his Course men might suspect The Day-light The Pole Star if unâ—ix'd absolves the Sailor From farther Faith. Oh the vile Rogue Ragalzan Ha! what a glorious Night after the Storm I think a Comet and an Arm from Heav'n Come Vengeance come 't is time that thou wert come Welcom dear Comet welcom bloody Paw Cou'd I but reach thee I 'de shake hands with thee Why all this noise and ne'r a flaming Dart To fix me dead I thought the Gods durst strike When they did threaten Was there ever Mortal That more abus'd their Favors study'd Acts More vile to rouse up Heav'nly Indignation By your Immortal Selves if you neglect Your Office I will snatch away Revenge The Jewel of your Crown and put an end With my own hands to this Inglorious Life Ire Strange Sights i' th' Air they say foretel great Changes What will these Rebels never make an end Good Father stay at home and tell the Stories Of your great Deeds to your admiring Friends But go to Wars no more Leave off a winning Gamester One day you take a Town and make a Governour The next you win a Country make a King These pay some little Chief-rent to their Lord Enjoy the rest themselves You take from some And give it back to others Why might not less Than all the World serve one Man's turn Tam. How wisely thou dost weigh the Trifles of the World Ire And now you sigh the Earth lies heavy on you Conquer no more or let the weighty Ball Roll off as it came on Tam. Oh my Irene 'T is thou dost cause my Grief my dear disturber Ire Alass wherein have I offended you Perhaps my want of Duty was the cause But sure I meant it not If to rejoyâ—e at all your Victories If to fall out with all that lessen you If to dissolve in Tears when you 're not well Or have your Peace disturb'd with Martial Cares If to fall into Swoons when you 're in danger Be not to love you then I love you not Weeps Tam. Ah cruel Girl begon I cannot bear thee For every look from thee strikes Death into me How much more happy art thou now than I Short-sighted
bring thee where he is But since thou' rt in A killing mood thou shalt kill me not that I love him dearer than I do my self But 't is more Charity to kill a man prepar'd To ease a Wretch opprest And groaning under Loads of weighty Sorrows Zey Why shou'd I kill an Innocent that ne'r provok'd me Tam. Alass I 'm not so harmless I have done many vile and barbarous Murders Committed Sacrilege unpeopled Cities Here stands the Man that has destroy'd more of Mankind than ever Mortal did since the Creation Zey Alass poor Frantic Wretch Tam. Mistake me not I 've been a General And am guilty of all Crimes committed By my Command Then if a man deserves To dye for single Murders can the greater Number excuse him Men Duel for Revenge A hasty piece of Justice and do freely Exchange each others Lives which each man has a right to We murder Thousands that did ne'r provoke us With wrongful Deed or Sharper Contumelies Zey In that thou hast some Reason Tam. Nay lately I have done the most abhorr'dâ— And Hellish Act that History e'r spoke of I have condemn'd a guiltless Person twice Has sav'd my Life only to please my Lust. Don't I deserve Damnation May not I Obtain from thy kind Hand that longs to do Some great Heroic mischief The lovely Death-stroke Zey Alass I pity thee And have no cognizance of these thy Crimes Half wash'd away by Penitence Tam. Well then Suppose that I was Tamerlane wou'dst thou not kill me Zey I that I wou'd with much more eager hast Than quench my Thirst with Nectar or my Love With Venus or with Helen or with her Whom above all my longing Soul holds dearest Lov'd at first sight and never after chang'd Tam. I see 't is Love that makes us Madmen all Then I am Tamerlane the Terror of the World. Zey Rather it's Scorn or Pity Alass poor Madman Wrought up by idle Fumes t' affect to dye For such a Mighty Monarch Tam. I tell thee I Am he the Wrath of Heav'n the Scourge of Mortals 'T is I that have enslav'd thy Native Soil My Sword has Widow'd half the Universe Turn'd the World wrongside outwards in the toss Broke all the brittle Laws that e'r Mankind Compos'd their paltry Earthen wares of Justice And all for Glory damn'd eternal Fame Take thy Revenge Zey Vain Madman hold thy Peace Tam. VVhy then by Mahomet I am Zey Falsly Thou swear'st by thy false Prophet who can take No Vengeance for thy Perjury nor hears it Nor will I e'r believe thee Tam. aside Double Infidel It is impossible here to convince him VVell well I long to dye 'cause Life 's a burthen But if I show thee Tamerlane in all His glory compass'd in with Guards and circled VVith prostrate Princes in his bright Pavilion And like the Mid-day Sun with all his Rayes about him And after find out means to have him single And then a way for thee t' escape when thou Hast kill'd him VVill that merit Thanks or Friendship Zey VVhy now thou speak'st and cou'dst thou make it good VVere I the greatest Man that trod on Earth And with my hand cou'd reach the spangled Spheres And distribute mens Fortunes with their Stars I wou'd Depose my self to be thy Slave And lick the Dust before thee Tam If I betray thee Heav'n revenge the Falshood Zey Come then my perjur'd Madman I will trust thee And thou shalt Steer me in this unknown Coast For what have I to save Philarmia lost Exeunt Enter Ragalzan Despina Rag. This was a rare request a Master-piece of Malice There 's nothing but a Woman cou'd have thought on 't How cou'd you work him to this height Desp. With ease Lovers will wind themselves by Words to Passion Their Airy Talk turns Fire by Agitation Thus sometimes yielding sometimes aggravating 'Twixt Hope and Fear like Ships betray'd by Calms To greater Storms I then extorted from him Such monstrous Oaths such wild and Impious Offers The Gods might be asham'd to be so Hector'd Rag. Oh good good good But did not he deny What he affirm'd as soon as he had heard Your Admirable Suit Desp. Oh yes most fiercely But cou'd I think such mean things of a Hero A double Caesar Triple Alexander And you had told me all the Truth before Rag. It was too true How cou'd he be secure Had Bajazet escap'd The Turkish Garrisons Had all revolted But I 've found a way To make him constant to his Vow and swallow 't glibly The Mufti 's here and the Dervises too About Petitions from their several Churches The Mufti 's supler than a new oyl'd Tumbler When you have greas'd his Fist give him a colour To make things doubtful then throw Dice for Justice They all shall find it Lawful and require him To offer up his Daughter Desp. That 's enough Let me alone to give the fatal Period But how does he digest this Compound Passion Rag. I come not near him but he raves Divinely Love and Ambition fiercely sight within him When Nature steps to part them both fall on her Love pities her at last and takes her part Then both go to 't again and fight for ever Those Mastiffs are too keen to loose their hold Desp. Oh thou refreshest me with chearful Sounds With all the Musiâ— of sublime Revenge Oh thou hast given me Spirit of Joy to drink Rag. Nay then take t' other Dram. His pretty Daughter Came to him since and with her innocent Prate Has so betwich'd him that he went out strait And told his passion to the gaping Army And wou'd have kill'd himself if not prevented Desp. I wou'd have hindred him I wou'd not have him dye So unprepar'd His Life and Fame shall perish both together Rag. But yet some easier way might have been found Desp. This is the nobler method I 'll wound him in his Fame his tender'st part To which his Life has ever been a Drudge And run of errands over all the World I 'll make the angry Lyon scourge himself With his own Tail and then give him his Fate As certain as unlook'd for When he has offer'd up his bloody Victim To my great Shrine his dear and dutiful Irene The Saviour of his Life Age's Supporter Abhorr'd by all his Friends by 's Foes contemn'd Deserted by Mankind by Heav'n rejected Then let him dye with all his Shames about him Petty Revenges are for Petty Crimes And pardon me great Soul of Bajazet If th' Earth afford no greater an Atonement For thy dear Blood. Pray give me an account of all proceedings That we may feast our selves on his Afflictions Rag. I will not lose my share of the least morsel Exeunt Tamerlane in his Pavilion Princes and Servants about him Tam. giving a Ring to one of his Guards Go tell the Countryman that sits without At the Pavilion Gate that by this Token The man that left him there desires him to Come in not a word more upon your duty