though he meane his ouerthrow Least men should thinke their fauour but a net VVhere easie in but hardly out they get Rossa Rosten let Mustapha be thy example That Tragedies are Gods and Princes plaies Kings know new hopes blot out the shame of bookes Desires eye on hope onely lookes While childrens blood the fathers forehead staine What priuiledge for Councellors remaine He that hath intent to ruine houses Plucks not the timber all at once away Least ruines ruine on himselfe he lay Fury will haue a time to breathe from killing Fury is a wheele with ease kept going Where it with many hands at first was moued Feares shield of proofe is trampt in others blood Good fortune seldome comes by doing good Rost. Fortune is often by presumption tempted To turne the backe Rossa Nay fortune harlot-sicke Who thinkes good maner to be want of spirit Is dearest vnto those that vse her rudely Onely with humble bashfulnesse is tempted Rost. What argument against him Rossa Vse of killing Suspition the fauourite of Princes Delight of change fauours past and feare of greatnesse Sharpned by Acmats harsh and open dealing With noble Princes libertie would draw Into the narrow scope of common awe Power of mischance yeelds honour to aduenture Mustapha is dead Rost. Not dead while Acmat liueth Small sparkes from fire quencht to danger growes From him that feares to strike feare neuer parteth Let Acmat die and danger is departed For Zanger I his brothers charge haue gotten Yet least his death not lookt for might amase him For youth and kindnesse oft doe thinke it glory At things done for their profit to repine I will make haste and giue him from his father Mustaphaes estate his fortune and succession When reason failes one passion rules another Hope and good fortune doe forget a brother Rossa Come Rosten let vs doe and then consider CHORVS VVHen will this life this sparke put in our spright To giue light to this lumpe of flesh and blood Leaue to denie strong destinie her right VVhich it feeles daily cannot be withstood Man looke not downe looke vp into the skie There liue thou must and mai'st be glad to die ACTVS V. SCENA I. Achmatt alone In what Dilemma of mischance stand I Vs'd by the subtile Art of wicked gouernement To serue a tyrants turne with faith and honestie Plac'd ouer men whome vniust rage doth iustly moue I am either in heate of heady mutinie To die or scaping by respect that saftie may Suspition to my selfe and honour lay Destinie hath shot the shaft and it must light To stirre or paine against the streame of fate Which mooues from ill deserts it is too late Innocence and faith from safe estates ouerthrow For floods of error from authoritie The multitude hath easily ouerthrowen For when Kings states must and must fall Iustice diuides not there but ruines all But looke where Rossa comes like Aprill waters Both gusts and cleaues in stormie forhead carrying Like power that with itselfe doth feare miscarying ACTVS V. SCENA II. Rossa Chorus Acmat Acm. Who euer thinkes by vertue to aspire And goodnesse deemes to be good fortunes starre Or who by mischiefe will seeke his desire And thinkes no Conscience wayes to honour are Mustapha here seeing thee and me Sees no man good or ill rules destinie And would exchange the course of fates by wit Which Gods doe make to bring their workes to end And with it selfe euen oft doth ruine it A Tyrant fate to them that doe amisse For nothing left me but my error is Chor. VVhat glory is this that with it selfe is sad Good lucke makes all men but the guiltie glad Ross. Zanger for whome Mustapha was slaine Zanger for whome Camanaes blood was shed Zanger for whome all the world on me complain'd Hath done that which no truth or law could doe Remorce and feares in my distresse hath bred Murthered himselfe and ouerthrowne me too In euery creatures heart there liues desire VVhich men doe follow as appearing good And Greatnes men doe thinke it to aspire Although it weaknes be well vnderstood This vnbound raging infinite thoughts fire I tooke nay it tooke me and plac'd my heart On hopes to alter Empires and Successions And as the sea when his ambitious power Hath ouer-run his neighbour element His pride his rage his glorie to deuoure Nor can with any greatnes be content Till all the Countrie that lay still before Rise vp and force him back vnto the shore So when as I had wonne the marriage bed And Soliman with himselfe ouercome To breake and lay a sleepe his Prophets law By being only of desire in awe Error of selfe harme euer brought a bed Made me this wheele of misfortune drawe Daunger was sport mischiefe desires art Nothing seemd hard but to leaue this impression I Mustapha his fall did vndertake And like the stormes that doe blow VVhen all things but themselues they ouerthrow Hatefull I did him to his father make But as desires on diuers things are plac'd So diuers works For foules like senses haue a diuers taste There be birds of the day and of the night No laws can make one will to be embrac't The daughters heart will make the mother spight Camenas thoughts were soft her good was forth She but with others loue though nothing worth To Mustapha she opens mine intent For she had tried but could not turne my heart Yet she no hurt to me in telling ment Yet hurt she did me to disclose my art I sought reuenge reuenge it could not be For I confesse she neuer wronged me But as the Christian when she sees her child Puld by the great-Lords-men from mothers breast Though she do know it will him honor yeeld Yet for her fathers sake her soule cannot rest So though I know Camenas heart was good Yet I did earne to haue my will withstood Remorce which hath affection in each heart Since whose reason is but what they see Womanish loue and shame with feare tooke part They all conspir'd to haue commanded me Humble patience voide of feare and art Camenas onely strength and weapons be I kild her yet confesse I did her loue Furies of choice what arguments can moue I kild her for a thought her death would proue That truth not hate made Mustapha suspected The more it seem'd against a mothers loue The more it shewd I Solyman affected Thus vnderneath seuere and vpright dealing A mischieuous step-mothers malice stealing It tooke effect for few meane ill in vaine He died infamous though he guilties were High power hath truth tied vnder lawes of feare I liue selfe-guilty and who durst complaine So little care the Gods for me below So little men feare God they do not know This Mustapha whose death I made my glory Hath spoiled all my power but power to be sorry For Zanger when he saw his brother dead Confusedly with diuers shapes distract He silent stood horrors darke cloudes possest him Madnes was mixt with woe kindnes with Racke reuerence reuenge both representing shame Stood equally against and with a mothers name But as these shadowes from his heart withdrew That light became restored to his mind The globes of his enraged cares he threw On me like nature iustly made vnkind Vertue bare secret witnes he was true Remorce did then make me my error find Finde Lo. this hatefull loue did make From pittie woe he spake Mother is this heart Is there nor Law your desire Can neither power nor goodnesse scape your art Be these the Counsels by which you aspire Doth mischiefe onely feare no ouerthwart Is there no Hell nor doe the Deuils loue fire If neither God Heauen Hell nor Deuill bee 'T is plague enough that I am borne of thee Mother O monstrous name shall it be said That thou hast done this fact for Zangers sake Honour and life shall they to me vpbraid That from thy mischiefe they their glory take O wretched men that vnder shame are laid For sinnes that we and sinnes our parents make Yet Rossa to be thine in this I glorie That being thine giues power to make thee sorie He wounds his heart and downe with death he fals On Mustapha who there for his sake died Fame with his breath he wils on him to call Forgetfulnesse he would should me betide For the dead and mercie for vs all And with these words for mercie died Thy goodnesse I mis-vnderstood Shunning ill did worse to shed my blood He dies VVoe is me when in my looke Horror I see all their lost but My loue I ioy become booke Eternitie of shame is printed there Thinke of God Alas that so I might Madnesse onely natures peace VVith thy selfe though all else thou displease Made to giue light spirits ease VVhat shall I doe Desuntpauca FINIS
yet forbidden vanity Created sicke commanded to be sound What meaneth Nature by these diuers lawes Passion and Reason selfe-diuision cause It is the marke or maiesty of Power To make offences that it may forgiue Nature her selfe doth her owne selfe deflower To hate those errors she her-selfe doth giue For how should man thinke that he may not doe If Nature did not faile and punish too Tyrant to others to her selfe vniust Onely commands things difficult and hard Forbids vs all things which it knowes is lust Makes easie paines vnpossible reward If Nature did not take delight in blood She would haue made more easie waies to good We that are bound by vowes and by promotion With pompe of holy Sacrifice and rights To teach beleefe in good and still deuotion To preach of Heauens wonders and delights Yet when each of vs in his owne heart lookes He finds the God there farre vnlike his bookes ACTVS II. SCENA I. Camena alone They that from youth do sucke at Fortunes brest And nurse their empty heart with seeking higher Like dropsie fed their thirst do neuer rest For still begetting they beget desire And thoughts like wood while they maintaine the flame Of high desires grow ashes in the same But Vertue those that can behold thy beauties Those that sucke from their youth the milke of goodnes Their mindes grow strong against the stormes of fortune Like rockes in seas which in the goodly weather Giue rest to birds that in their courses wander And in the stormes stand fast themselues vnshaken Though ruines oft vnto desire mistaken O vertue whose thrall I thinke fortune Thou who despisest not the sexe of women Helpe and out of the riddles of any fortune Whereon me thinkes you with your selfe depose me Let Fate goe on sweet vertue doe not loose me My mother and my husband haue conspired For brothers good the ruine of my brother My father by my mother is inspired For one child to seeke the ruine of the other I that to helpe by nature am required While I do helpe must needes still hurt a brother While I see who conspires I seeme conspired Against a husband father and a mother Truth bids me runne by truth I am retired Shame leades me both the one way and the other With danger and dishonour I am hired To doe against a husband and a mother In what a labyrinth is honour cast Drawne diuers waies with Sexe with Time and State In all which errors course is infinite By hope by feare by spite by loue by hate And but one onely way vnto the right A thorny way where payne must be the guide Danger the light offence of power the praise Such are the golden hopes of Iron daies Yet honor I am thine forthy sake sorry Since base hearts for their base ill-plac'd desires In shame in danger death and torments glory That I cannot with more paynes write thy story And Fortune if thou scorn'st those that scorne thee Shame if thou doe hate those that force thy trumpet To sound aloud and yet despise thy sounding Lawes if you loue not those that be examples Of natures lawes whence you are fallen corrupted Conspire that I against you all conspired Ioyned with tyrant vertue as you call her That I by your reuenges may be named For vertue to be ruin'd and defamed My mother oft and diuersly I warned What fortunes were vpon such courses builded That Fortune still might be with child with mischiefe Which is both borne and nourisht out of mischiefe I told her that euen as the silly Doue Seeld vp with her owne lids to seeke the light Still coueteth vnto the heights aboue Till fallen she feeles the lacke was in her sight So man benighted with his owne selfe-loue Still creepeth to the rude imbracing night Of Princes grace a lease of glories let Which shining burnes breeds Syrens where it 's set And by this creature of my mothers making This messenger I Mustapha haue warned That Innocence is not enough to saue Where good and greatnesse feare and enuy haue Till now in reuerence I haue forborne To aske or to presume to gesse or know My fathers thoughts whereof he might thinke scorne For dreadful is that State which all may doe Yet they that alll men feare are fearefull too Loe where he comes Vertue worke thou in me That what thou seekest may accomplisht be ACTVS II. SCENA II. Solyman and Camena Soly. Vilde death is not thy selfe sufficient anguish But thou must borrow feare the threatning glasse Which while it goodnes hides and mischiefe showes It lightens wit to honors ouerthrow But husht me thinkes away Camena steales Murther belike in me her selfe reueales Camena whither now why haste you from me Is it so strange a thing to be a father Cam. My Lord me thought nay sure I saw you busie Your child vncald presumes that comes to you Solym. Who may presume with fathers but their owne Whome Natures law hath euer in protection And guides in good beliefe of deare affection To make it greater and the better known Cam. Nay reuerence childrens worthes do closest hide As of the Father it is least espied Solym. I thinke who euer know their children least Haue greatest reason for to loue them best Cam. How so my Lord since loue doth knowledge shew And Babes their parents by their kindnes know Solym. The life we gaue them they do soone forget While they thinke our liues do their fortunes let Cam. The Father sees his image in the sonne Soly. But streames backe to their springs do neuer runne Cam. Pardon my Lord doubt is successions shrow Let not her spight poore children ouerthrow Though streames from springs do seeme to runne away Ti 's Nature leades them to their mother Sea Sol. Doth nature teach vs by the Fathers death To seeke his throne by whome we haue our breath Cam. Things easie to desire do seeme impossible Why should feare make impossibles seeme easie Solym. Monsters yet be and being are beleeued Cam. Monsters not seene are monstrously beleeued Pardon me Sir if duty doe seeme angry I am your child these common blots of children Doe reach indeed I do not know how neere me Solym. Neere thee indeed for you had both one Father Cam. My gracious Lord if you were not my Father Nature would much repine at such a staine But Sir by that you owe me as a father Thinke well of them wherein your selfe remaine Borrow not iealousie of Princes state To warrant you that you may children hate Solym. Mustapha is euen he that thus hath stained Nature with bloud and loue with bloody malice He thought it long that I thus long haue raigned He that at once deuis'd that all at once should die Rosten and Rossa Zanger thou and I Cam. Far be it off that this should be found true Can hope of all the world be thus deceiued Sweet Mustapha doth Nature lie in you Sir these be Greatnes mists be not deceiued For Kings hate in their fearefull
their very loue brings miserie Most happie men that know not or else feare The slipperie second place of honours steppe Which we with enuie get and danger keepe But Kings whome strength of heart did first aduance Be sure what rais'd you first keepes you aboue Man subiect made himselfe it was not chance Loue treateth trueth and Ll. rule the world with feare loue Iustice not kindnesse reuerence doth inhaunce For subiects to your selues when you descend To doate on Subiects Maiestie hath end Here as in weaknesse flatterie prints her hart And priuate spight dare vse a Princes hand He error enters trueth and right depart And Princes scorne the newes from hand to hand As Rossa prints her selfe in our Lords loue And with her mischiefe doeth his malice moue First of her selfe shee durst send Rosten forth To murther Solyman his dearest sonne He found him onely garded with his worth Suspecting nothing and yet nothing done Rosten is now return'd for wicked feare Did euen make him wickednesse for beare A Beliarby dispatcht is sent to call him hither With colour of a warre against the Persian Indeede to suffer force of tyrannie From his inforced Fathers iealousie Who vtters this is to his Prince a traitour Who keepes this guiltie is his life is ruth And dying liues euer denying truth Thus hath the fancy-law of Kings ordained That who betrayes them most is most esteemed Who saith they are betrayed is traytor deemed I sworne am to my king and to his humor His humor No which they that follow most Wade in the sea wherein themselues are lost But Acmat stay who wrests his princes mind Presents his faith vpon the stage of chance Where vertue to the world fortune vnknowne Is oft misiudg'd because she is ouerthrowne Nay Acmat stay not who truth enuirons With circumstance of mans failing wit For feare for loue for hope for malice erreth Nature to Natures bankrupts he engageth And while none dare shew kings they go amisse Euen base obedience their corruption is Then feare dwell with the I ll Truth is assured Opinion be and raigne with Princes Fortunes Pollicy go peere the faults of mortall kingdomes Death threaten them that doubt to dye for euer I first am natures subiect then my Princes I will not serue to innocencies ruine Whose heauen is earth let them beleeue in princes My God is not the God of subtile murther Solyman shall know the worst I looke no further Act. 3. Scaen. 2. Enter Solyman and Acmat Soly. Acmat foolish naturall affection Openeth too late the wisedome of my fathers Who onely in their deaths decreed succession If Mustapha had neuer beene intitled In my life to the hope of my estate My life more then my death had him auailed Example might haue beene perswasion That high desires are borne out of occasion But kindnesse with her owne kinde folly beaten Like crooked sticks made straight with ouer-bending What she hath strooke too much must ouer-threaten Hath kings loue taught kings raigning giue offences That long life in the best kings discontenteth And false desires within false glasses shewed By Mustaphaes example learne to know Who hewes aboue his head shall hurt his eye Acmat giue order Mustapha shall die Acns. My fortune doth me witnesse beare That my hopes neede not stand vpon succession Where hopes want all but onely woe and feare Then Lord doubt not my faith though I withstand The fearefull counsell which you haue in hand Sir I confesse where one man ruleth all There feare and care are secret keies of witt Where all may rise and one may onely fall Their thoughts aspires and power must master it For worlds repine at those whome birth or chance Aboue all men and but a man aduance I know where easie hopes doe nurse desire The dead men onely of the wise are trusted And though crook'd feare do seldome rightly measure As thinking all things but it selfe dissembled Yet Solyman let feare direct kings counsels But feare not destinies which doe not altar Nor things impossible which cannot happen Feare false Stepmothers rage woman ambition Whereof each age to other is a glasse Feare them that feare not for desire to shame And loose their faiths to bring their wills to passe Establish Bassaes children for your heyres Let Mustaphaes hopes faile translate his right Let their ambitious thirst once glutted be Streight enuie dies feare will appeare no more For as ill men but in felicitie Where enuie feares and freedome sleepes seeme good So heyres to crownes tenants to miserie Their good is but in ill lucke vnderstood But Sir put of this charme of cunning spight Which makes you to yourselfe inuisible Make it not knowne deere Lord by your example That onely Enuy fuire and suspition In euery kinde and state keepe their condition If Mustapha haue one fault but his mother If else where then in her heart he be guiltie Let those deafe heauens which punnish and forgiue not Let hels most plagues vnto her best beloued Mallice and rage which without mischiefe liues not Thunder torment burne ruine and destroy mee If Mustapha haue one thought to annoy thee Solim. Mallice is like the lightning of the sommer Which when the skies are cleerest lights and burneth Her end is to doe hurt and not to threaten Iustice vniustly doth to loose occasion Hazards it selfe to force and to perswasion Acmat Sir hastie power is like the rage of thunder Whose violence is seldome well bestowed Danger not ment needs not to be preuented Reuenge still in your power is not repented Solim. Danger already come is past preuenting Princes whose Scepters must be feard of many Are neuer safe that liue in feare of any Acmat Tirants they are that punnish out of feare States wiser then the truth decline and weare Wisedome in man is but the print and doubt Whose inke is either blood secrets of states Which safely walls with gouernment about Solim. In princes dangers iustice euer goes Before the fact that all els ouerthrowes Besides my Bassaes in whose faith I trust As staies to mine estate with one consent Shew my sonnes fault and vrge me to be iust Thy selfe alone per chance with good intent Art crosse wisedome is not faiths Relative For oftentimes faith growes for lacke of wit And sees no perill till he feeles of it Acmat Doubt wounds within For as in kings when feare to kill hath might Both wrong and danger must be infinite And Sir we Bassaes whom you Monarches please To heare much further are from princely hearts Then eares for fauour growes the states disease When more then seruice it to vs imparts Base bloud hath narrow thoughts which set aboue Sees more of greatnesse then it comprehends And for all is not to our partiall ends We faile kings with themselues we take their might And vse to our reuenge make lawes a snare To ruine all but instruments our friends Till kings euen let in lease to two or three Are made of vs the to be
ouer-runne And growest nothing when thy rage is done Is vertue bought and sold for loue of good Must Zangers rising from my fall be wonne Poore Zanger I acquire thee of my blood For I beleeue thy hart-hath no impression To ruine Mustapha of his possession Yet tell what they against me vse My fathers loue which way first did they wound Pr. Of treason towards him they thee accuse Thy fame and greatnes giues their malice ground Musta. Good world where it is danger to be good Where guilty people shall liue in good name The guiltlesse onely liue and die in shame Shew me the truth to what lawes am I bound Priest No man commanded is by God to die As long as he may persecution flie Must. To flie were to condemne my selfe and friends To honour those that would dishonor me To ruine those that should my succour be Death do thy worst thy longest paines haue end Besides where can man hide those coward feares But feares and hopes of powers will them reueale For kings haue many tongues and many eares Mischiefe is like the Cockatrices eyes Sees first and kils or is seene first and dies He that himselfe defending doth offend Breakes not the law nor needs not be forgiuen Duty doth end when kings do go astray Misguided by their owne or others will For disobedience is when it doth light To hurt but duty when vs'd as a presse It sets a princes crooked humors right Priest Vse not thy strength to shed thy fathers blood But vse thy strength to do thy father good Rossa while she attends to ruine thee Makes Soliman against his state to sinne Take armes against her do thy father free Translating heires doth ost bring ruine in And since euen vice by good successe seemes good Good fortune will make vertue vnderstood Must. O false and wicked colours of desire Eternall bondage vnto him that seekes To be possest of all things that he likes Shall I a sonne and subiect seeme to dare For Princes sake to set the realme on fire Which golden titles to rebellion are It is not feare of death which ioyes to dye They feare death that from death to mischiefe flie If I be kild I do not ill but suffer It is no paine to die for children do it It is no grace to liue the wicked haue it Let children cry and slaues do ill for feare Death is not strange to men why then repine we Death is of force to man to what end striue we Obedience goes vpright the stubborne fall God burnes his rods but we must suffer all Euen you haue told me wealth was giuen The wicked to corrupt themselues and others Greatnesse and health do make flesh proud and cruell Where with the good sicknesse mowes downe desire Death glorifies misfortune humbles Sorrow seekes peace of God sinne yeelds repentance Since therefore life is but the throne of danger Where sicknes paine desire and feare inherit Soonest escapt from him that holds it dearest Euen of men the least worth the most beloued A double death to them that hold it so And hauing nothing else must it forgo Should I that know the destinie of life Do that to liue that doth dishonor life My innocency bids me not to feare My loue and duty for a father looke Worthines he shewes that can misfortune beare The heart doth iudge of vertue not the booke I know my strength and in my strength resolue To do that wicked men may thinke me weake And now that all the world knowes I might liue That power vnto my father I freely giue Priest Wilt thou both kill thy selfe and be the cause Thy father may offend Gods holy lawes The world knowes cowards kill themselues for feare First let thy father know lie doth thee wrong They often bide death that cannot danger bide And in these duties afterwards be strong Must. Tempt me no more good will is then a paine When her words beat the heart and cannot enter I constant in my counsell doe remaine And more liues for my life will not aduenter Deere Rossa doe thou for my sake still liue By thee my father may repent my fall When thy heart of my truth shall witnesse giue Stay thou till time and destinie doe call Warne Acmat and Camena they aduise Least they like rage that doth her owne selfe beare Seeking to helpe or to preuent my fall Ruine themselues while they for me intreat My life in your liues I shall thinke preserued When you know I haue worse then I deserued Come let vs goe for kindnesse doth betray The heart that firmely on it self doth stay Chorus Tartarorum Religion thou vaine and glorious stile for weaknesse Sprung from the deepe disquiet of mans passion To dissolution and dispaire of nature The text brings princes titles into question Thy prophets sat on worke the sword of Tyrants They manacle sweet truth with their substractions Let vertue bloud teach cruelty for Gods sake Fashioning one God but him of many fashions Like many headed errours in their passions Mankinde trust not this dreame Religion Feares Idols pleasures religues sorrowes treasures She makes the wilfull hearts her onely pleasures The rebels vnto gouernment her Martyrs temples No no thou child of miracles begotten Miracles that are but ignorance of causes Lift vp the hopes of thy abiected Prophets Religion worth abiures thy painted heauens Sicknes thy blessings are miserie thy tryall Nothing thy way vnto eternall being Death to saluation and the graue to heauen So blest be they so angel'd so eterniz'd That tie their senses to thy senselesse glories And die to cloy the after-age with stories Man should make much of life as natures table Wherein she writ the cipher of her glory Forsake not Nature nor mis-vnderstand her Her mysteries are read without faiths eye-sight She speaketh in our flesh and from our senses Delluers downe her wisedome to our reason If any man would breake her lawes to kill Nature doth for defence allow offence She neither taught the father to destroy Nor promis'd any man by dying ioy ACTVS IIII. SCENA I. Zanger alone Nourisht in Courts where no thoughts peace is nourisht Vs'd to behold the Tragedie of ruine Ruine from whome all Monarchies haue florisht Brought vp with feares with fellow Princes fortune Yet am I like him that hath lost his knowledge Or neuer heard one storie but of misfortune My heart doth fall away fearefull vpon me Tame Rumor that hath bin mine old acquaintance Is to me now like Monsters fear'd and wondred My loue begins to plague me with suspition My first delights beare likenes of displeasure My mothers promises of my aduancement Her doubtfull speeches her vnquiet motions Make me grow iealous of my owne aduancement The name of Mustapha so often murmured With whose name euer I haue been reioyced Now makes my heart misgiue my spirit languish Man then is Augur of his owne misfortune When his ioy yeeldes him arguments of anguish ACTVS IIII. SCENA II. Acmat Zanger Acm.
HONI SOIT Q MAL Y PENSE THE TRAGEDY OF MVSTAPHA I.W. LONDON Printed for Nathaniel Butter 1609 THE TRAGEDY OF MVSTAPHA Solyman Rossa Soly. ROssa the Eternall Wisedome doth not couet Of man his strength or reason but his Loue And not in vayne for loue of all the powers Is it which gouernes all things which are ours I speake by Mustapha for as a father How often thought I those light iudging praises Of multitudes whom my loue taught to flatter Trueths oracles and Mustaphaes true stories So deare are Ecchoes of our owne thoughts voices So dearely nature bids her owne beloued So ill a Iudge is Loue of her beloued But let vs see if loue should not be blind Forgetting selfe-respects to foster kind The praised Phoenix neuer more then one Burneth t' is true that she her like may breed But neuer till she feele all life is gone Except the life that life hath in her seed Then death which kindnesse is by estimation In her is but delight of Procreation But be it loue man hath another guide The Orbe of his affection Reason is But his loue Center 's in his priuate brest And louing his himselfe still loueth best Since Mustapha will therefore die or kill I gaue him life and giue him death I will Rossa Solyman my Lo knowledge who was father To Mustapha made me poore silly woman Thinke Nature could not her owne nest defile But now I see Imposture passion may The gold of Natures betray And pardon Lo if you were out of danger And all these stormes blowne vp to blow me ouer Feare first should fall threates strike life perish Fortune about her wheele should turne my fortune Ere I would doubt the child and know the father But you Sir now that you are brought in question You vpon whome the worlds wel-being resteth Much better were it I were in the Center A Ghost among the dead Aire neuer bodied Then my selfe-pitty womanish compassion My loue vnto the children for the father Should giue the children leaue to kill their father His fame vntimely borne strength strangely gathered Honour wonne with honouring Greatnesse with humblenesse Fault-lessnesse with bearing faults and want rewarding Liberty seeking Loue and danger praise A Monarkes Heire in courses popular Make me diuine some strange aspiring mind Yet doubtfull for it may be Art or kind But iudge him with himselfe and that by fact Persia our old imbrued enemy Treates mariage with the sonne without the father A course in all Estates to Princes doubtfull But here much more where he that Monarke is Must like the Sunne haue no light shine but his The dowry what kingdomes and hope of kingdomes What sudaine knot hath bound vp these designes Made them that onely fear'd our greater growing Study deuises for our greater growing A giddy thought may change a priuate heart But States whose loues and hearts by counsell grow Whose wisedomes are Occasion Time and Seate Haue other ends then chance in all they treat Yet be it all the world will vs obey And vnder ours all Empires Empire lay All great Estates surfet more oft then pine Because desires still multiply with might And parted power makes danger infinite No no vpon the pitch of high Attempt I see him stand playing with wrong and feare For Loue and Duty they be captiues there His hopes the hopes of all for all aspire And as Kings ruling must vse payne and law So those that rise must make the people see With present bondage future libertie Loue therefore stand aside and fare well Pitty Mustapha be cleare of fault for Kingdoms wrong Turnes all the powers of Nature into fury Mercy ioyes to be cruell Truth is a tyrant Loue hates Hate in reuenge doth glory The fall of Angels made not Heauen sorie Solyman feare is broke loose within my spirits What will or may be seemes already happens His power thus great well fixt occasion ready Shadowes of ruyne to my heart deliuer Confused noise within my eares doth thunder Of multitudes that with obeying threaten Solyman feare of thee makes me wish for death And feare againe to leaue thee feareth death Solym. Rossa I scorne there should because of feare In one mans rage for hard then were our State That reynes of all the worlds desire beare But thy disquiet shall increase my hate Thy wishes vaine to thee yet neuer were Exempt thou art from lawes of my Estate For Loue and Empyre both alike haue pleasure Part of themselues vpon desires to measure And but that all my ioyes beare sorrowes Image My hopes resemble feare my wit confusion Nature me thinks her-selfe becomes a Monster And that euen Mustapha makes all this Chaos I could say I tooke pride in thy affection For Power may be feared Empire obeyed Good fortune wooed and followed for ambition Reward makes knees to bow makes self-selfe-loue humble Honor whose throane is vnder Princes scepter May make aspiring thoughts delight in danger But Loue is onely that which Princes couet And for they haue it least they most doe loue it Care therefore for thy selfe I hold thee deare And as for me Though Fortune be of glasse and easily broken Yet doubt not my Armor is against their spite And such all-dating spirits are sildome borne That vpon Princes graues dare sow their corne Rossa Sir few in number are Times present children Where man ends there ends discontentments empire Nouelty hath alwayes had a fleshly dwelling Then tell me Lord what man would choose his roome That must expect in wickednes a meane Or else be sure to find a fatall doome Can that stay in the midst whose center 's lowest Old age is natures pouerty and scorne Desires riches liues in Princes children Their youths are Comets within whose corruption Men prophecy new hope of better fortune Baiazeth showes no man turnes from a Kingdome For humblenes to aske his fathers blessing Nature corrupted is and wit preferreth The wisedome that for selfe-aduantage erreth Solym. Wisedome is not vnto herselfe indebted That leaueth nothing but a God aboue her Rossa Sir wickednes is forc'd that modest is He flatters that allowes her not be cruell Solym. Is there returne from death vnto the liuing Rossa No Sir but much may hap before his death Who thinking nothing worse and nothing after Knowes thought of wrong is death if Princes liue Where dead all heires their owne guilt doe forgiue Solym. I sent he com's and come is in my power Rossa Before he comes who knowes your fatall houre The wicked wrastle both with power and slight While Princes liue each mans life gardeth theirs When they are dead mens loues goe with their feares Slaine by the way least grudge most safely were Solym. Wrong is not princely and much lesse is feare Ross. Those glorious hazards tempt and hasten fate They well become a man but not a State Solym. This feare in women showes a kindnes too And is for men to thanke but not to doe Rossa We call them great hearts
which God hartens so That feare shall not fore-see their ouerthrow Solym. Those are weake hearts that while their feares they see Would ruine all men lest they ruinde be I do suspect yet there is nothing done I loose my fame if so I kill my sonne Rossa The Gods when they leaue men to beasts a pray His reason with his pride they do betray Solym. Gods medle not where power and will agree But when at once men good and euill be Though I yet know not he hath done amisse I doubt and heauy Princes doubting is Though I resolue I will not kill him there It mortall is when Kings do say they feare ACTVS II. SCENA II. Belyarby Nuntius Solyman Rossa Beliar. Fond man distraught with diuers thoughts on foot That rack'st thy selfe and Natures peace do'st breake Iudge not the Gods aboue It doth not boote Nor do thou see that which thou dar'st not speake Power hath great scope not in the priuate waies Of truth she walkes vertues of common men Are not the same which shine in Kings aboue And do make feare bring forth the fruites of loue Admit that Mustapha not guilty be Who by his Prince will rise his Prince must please And they that please iudge with humility Knowledge a burden is obedience case Who loues good name is free to follow it Who seekes Kings loues he must their humors fit When owners doe resolue to ouerthrow The stately oke for gaine or clearer sight Who loues the shadow with the fall seekes wo When others gather wood and go vpright Like wheeles of wood or rather like dead loggs With other sinnowes drawne and lead about Admit Kings be yet all men see not all Who rockes with chaines will moue from whence they sit Must spend their force to draw themselues to it Yonder they are whose charge must be discharged In Rossaes face me thinkes desire speaketh He keepes the lawes that all lawes forme breaketh Solym. Rossa you now shall know feare is a coward Sworne to mistrust her selfe to worship power Tyrant to man that should rule and obeyeth And tyrant-like betrayed or betrayeth Is Mustapha in health and comming Belyar. My Lord already come for what can stay Where loue and duty both teach to obey Solym. Go rest hereafter you shall know our pleasure Rossa our Patriarke saw the heauens open And in their throne this wisedome there appear'd A virgin by Eternities hand sitting In beauties of the earth and heauen clothed Containing in her shape all shapes and fauours And in her life the life of liuing creatures Still one and neuer one mortall and yet immortall A Chaos both of Reason Sence and Passion Working in plants onely to grow and fade To pleasure others both with fruit and shade In beasts both life and sence created she And but desire to no law bound they be When man she made and this same sparke diuine Reason infus'd in him that onely he In time might diuers from the Angels be Then least this spright free-denizend on earth Should of the world take pride and so forget That vnto vs it but in lease is let She doth within the body where it liues Place life and senses drawn from beasts and plants To warre with Reason and shew what it wants And if beliefe the life of true Religion Could not giue credite to this Reuelation Euen feeling which giues life to good beliefe Within my selfe makes my selfe an example Mustapha is come and by his comming Hath glutted my desire and of his comming Hath made me doubt my doubts suspect my malice Nature against my ielousie ariseth Feare of ill doing threatens feare of suffering Worth assures greatnes greatnes brings worth in question Truth is me thinkes both with him and against him And as for Reason that should rule these passions I finde her so effeminate a power As she bids kill to saue bids saue and doubt not Keeping my loue and feare in equall ballance That I with Reason may thinke Reason is A glasse to shew not helpe what Reason is Thus like the corne vpon the weake stalke growing I bow my head with euery breath of wether And Mustapha that now I would haue slaine I now resolue to giue him life againe Rossa Sir nature doth not disclaime her right in monsters Which are but errors in her expectation Nature with loue doth steale the hearts of fathers Her end is to make all her makings perfect But Steele hath rust Time change and Nature error No maruel then though Mustapha in Nature Be found as well as Lucifer in Heauen Let not these childrens sticks gilt to the show Make you forget that wormes in them may grow Remember what true grounds of his Ambition Made you resolue his greatnes was your danger And shall selfe-fondnesse put out iust suspition Conceit must not be guide of Loue or Anger For mischiefe while her head shewes in the clouds In Plutoes Kingdome she her body shrowds Lay hands on him your feare may worke your woe From wrong there is no other way to goe Solym. How should I thinke my Sonne doth seek my blood Rossa By being safe doubt onely is withstood Soly. Can Kings be safe from wrongs that wrongs shal doe And wrong it is in things not knowne or done For any Father to destroy his Sonne Kings loose their Crownes that oft doe loue or feare More then the Crownes that they themselues doe weare VVhat Kings doe thinke another man may doe An other man may thinke and doe it too Solym. Power headlong is Kings wrath like thunder blasts Doth feare the world and that it hits it wasts It cannot touch but it must ouerthrow Where Kings doe let their power rule their wit Better vnmade then doe a misse with it Rossa But he that with his wit can rule his wit Doth iudge and measure where his power shall light Thunder because it ruin's if it hit The Gods themselues haue power ouer it Solym. So for that Kings haue power of all below Their wrath must not before their knowledge goe Rossa Heauen may be slow where all at once is knowne In Man where till they fall Faults may be found VVhile doubt is curious Helpe is ouerthrowne Solym. They doe against themselues that doubt and doe Rossa Who doubt against themselues doe danger wooe Solym. Arguments of doubt accused him to mee And Arguments of loue doe set him free Ross. My Lord your doubt from arguments did rise Of wanton Greatnesse Ambitious-seeking loue Good Nature is not natured to be wise If doubt with cause without cause it remoue Solym. Suspition is but onely tryals ground Fame is like breath breath'd from the inward part Rossa Where it is death to thinke or to conspire There Kings may kill before they doe enquire Where Kings but onely for themselues doe feare Both strength and honor is it to forbeare I am no more vntill more I doe heare Chorus Sacerdotum O wearisome condition of humanity Borne vnder one law to an other bound Vainely be got and
neuer to be repaired And honour lost mankind hath lost his fashion Honour and shame are slaues to them that prosper Ross. One signe that humaine worth with power is raised Is that Kings do to make their doings praised Rosten Who forceth man is fear'd but not beloued Praises of feare are tyranous dispraises Rossa Praises for feare do shew that we are great Who seeke for loue and may commaund a feare Are sitter to clime vp then tarry there I whome most men haue thought haue ruled all And with my Lord his ruine vndertaken Now liue in this life to behold my fall Our credit with our Soueraigne is our honor And ere thou suffer that to haue despight Thinke Innocencie harme vertue dishonour Wound truth and ouerthrow the state of right Sexes haue vertues apart States haue there fashions The vertues of authority are passions But stay looke where our messenger returneth ACT. II. SCENA IIII Rossa Rosten Belyarby Nuntius Beliar. Rossa and Rosten while you stand debating The ioyes are fortunes of your priuate fortune Rossa Rosten make haste goe hence and carrie with thee My life my fame desire and my fortune You vgly Angels of infernall Kingdome You spirits resolute to dwell in darknesse You who haue vertuously maintain'd your being In equall power like riualls to the heauens If as they say who say it for reproch You are at hand to those that on you call Refusing none but such as doe refuse you Reuenge your selues of this false title vertue This vertue which hath sildome beene assailed By you but she hath still her seruants failed My shame my feare my loue I offer to you Let me raigne while I liue in my desires Or dead liue with you in eternall fires Rossa doing not praying merits heauen or hell Mischiefes doe rise and set themselues against thee Misfortune hath euen now conspired thy ruine Intreat no enemies for they forgiue not But humble thou thy selfe vnto the heauens I feare to tell I tremble to conceale it Thy blood euen with thy destiny is infected I would yet would I not I durst reueale it Fortune vnto the death is then displeased When remedies doe ruine her diseased Rost. Vse not these parables of coward feare Feare hurts lesse when it strikes then when it threatens If Mustapha shall liue all feare is fallen Danger lighted desire lost hope banisht If Mustapha shall die then feare from hope Losse from desire danger and paine are vanisht Bel. If Mustapha shall die his death miscarries Part of thy End thy Fame thy Friends thy Ioyes No man to hurt his foes his friends destroyes Ross. Friends who are they but those that serue desire My Gods my Friends my Father and my Mother Are but those steps that helpe me to aspire Duty and loue tooke knowledge of no other Let me and all the world with him be staine I will not wish to be aliue againe But tell what is the worst Bel Aske not in rage rage brings it selfe to woe Vnlesse the wings whereon it flies be slow Ross. I charge you tell me how I am fortune-bound That if I harme him I my selfe confound Bel. Camana must with him a traytor be Or Mustapha for her sake must be free Ross. O cruell Fates that doe in loue plant woe And in delight make our despaires to grow But speake what hath she done Bel. Vndone thy doing Discouered vnto Mustapha his danger Vertues sweete fame with loue of mercy wooing And great suspitions from these relicks grow That what she knowes both Sonne and Father know I that am yours durst not make you a stranger And yet was loth with duty to offend In childrens faults a mothers wisdome showes Loues perfect try all is in flame of anger Malice to Mustapha must be forgot That your belou'd Camena perish not Rossa Nay pale Auernus I doe so adore thee As I lament my wombe hath bin so barren To yeeld but one to offer vp before thee Who thinkes the daughter harme can mother stay From end whereon a mothers heart is set Knowes not wisedome wickednesse beget Boldnesse in malice dazels humane reason Camaena thy false blood shall doe me right Bel. Rossa is rage so mad as to imagine It masters heauen Ross. Is rage so mad As it will stay reuenge to hope for heauen Where ages are but houres Bel. Is wrath so cruell Are lawes of loue so soone forgotten Is mercy dead Ross. Would you haue wrath so foolish As it should stay vntill it be abused Is Nature vnder such fond lawes be gotten As Loue must giue it selfe to be abused Bel. Yet by the Loue of mothers to their children By all the paines of trauell with your children Punish but spare the life of faulty children Life may amend and well deceiue an other Death doth but cut off one to warne an other Ross. I doe protest before you spirits infernall That gouerne in your darknes vniform'd By all your plagues and miseries eternall By all your vgly shapes and soules transform'd Neither to haue bin made a heauenly Angell Honour'd aliue and after this life famous Would I loue of my children haue disclaymed But since by her my life is brought in question Since she is out of daughters duty gotten My mothers tender care shall be forgotten They still that haue good will to kill or perish And they do erre that others erruor cherish Camena then since thy desires would make Thy mothers harme examples of thy glory Since thou do'st leaue me for a brothers sake Since thy heart feeles not what makes others sorry Thy triumphe shall bee death thy glory shame For so die they that wrong a mothers name Thy treasures with thine owne arts are discarded I will do something not to be forgotten The giuers of examples are regarded CHORVS ACT. III. SCENA I. Achmatt alone Achmat. Who standing in the shade of humble valley Lookes vp and wondèrs at the height of hils When he with toyle of weary lims ascends And feeles his spirits melt with Phaebus glaies Or sinewes starke with AEolus bitter breathing Or thunder blasts which comming from the skie Do fall most heauy on the places high Then knowes though further seene and further seeing They multiply in woes that adde in glories Who weary is of natures quiet vallyes A meane estate with chast and poore desires Whose vertue longs for knees blisse for opinion Who iudgeth pleasure paradise in purple Let him seeme no gouernor of Castle No pitty princes choise whose weake dominions Make weake vnnoble councels to be currant But Basha vnto Solyman whose scepter Nay seruants haue dominion ouer Princes Vnder whose feet the foure forgotten Monarches The foote-stooles lie of his eternall glory Euen I thus raised this Solymans beloued Thus caried vp by fortune to be tempted Must for my Princes sake destroy succession Or suffer ruine to preserue succession O wretched state of ours wherein we liue Where doubt giues loues which nature can forgiue Where rage of Kings not onely ruine be But where
hold their right Euen fame of kings estate a miserie We Bassaes that do distribute at wil And for that we the best mens rising feare With bruit and tumor good desert we kill This fashion and not Mustapha's offence Hath had an ambush to intrap your loue But Sir awake a kings iust fauorite Is truth All broken wayes not borne of faith but will Do but hale danger while that multiplies Where there is cause of doubt lawes do prouide Restraint of liberty where force of spight Lies in the liuing dead till it be tried Where kings too oft vse their prerogatiue The people do forbeare but not forgiue My Lord the state delayes are wisedome where Time may more easie wayes to safety shew Selfe murder is an vgly worke of feare And little lesse is childrens ouerthrowes For truths sake spare your sonne and pardon him Mens wit and duty oft haue diuerse wayes Duty with truth which doth with strength agree Duty of honour striueth wit to please Who stands alone in counsels of estate Where kings themselues euen with adulse see feares Stands on the headlong step of death and hate For good lucke enuie ill lucke hazzard beares For fashions that affect to seeme vpright To hide their faults must ouerthrow the right Sir Mustapha is yours moreouer he Is not for whom you Mustapha ouerthrow Suspition common to successions be Honour and feare euer together go Who must kill all they feare feare all they see Your subiects sonnes nor neighbourhood can beare So infinite the limits be of feare Soly. Acmat no more mischance doth oft o'reshoote All vnder kings desires without all feare Your Bassaes know for mischiese seekes the roote Not boughes which but the fruit of greatnesse beare Mercy and truth are wisedomes popular And like the raine which doth in rich the ground They spend the clouds of which they owned are Princes estates haue this one misery That though the men and treasons both be plaine They 're vnbeleeu'd while Princes are vnslaine If thy care be of me enough is sayd Go waite my pleasure which shall be obeyd Acuts tertius Scena tertia Enter Solyman Beliarby nuntius Beli. If you will Rossa see aliue You must make hast Soly. Fortune hast thou not molds enough of sorrow Must thou yet these of loue and kindnesse borrow Yet tel me whence grew Rossaes passion Bel. When hither I from Mustapha returned And had made you account of my Commission Rossa whose heart in care of your health burned Curiously after Mustapha enquiring A token spies which I from hence did beare For Mustapha by sweete Camena wrought Yet gaue it not for I began to feare And something more then kindnes in it thought No sooner she beheld this pretious guift But as inrag'd hands on her selfe she layd From me as one that from her selfe would shift She runnes nor till she found Camena stayes I follow and heare both their voyces high The one as doing the other as suffering paine But whether your Camena liue or die Or dead if she by rage or guilt be slaine If she made Rossa mad or Rossa mad To hurt things deerest to her selfe be glad Or where the bounds of vnbound rage will stay If one or both or which is made away I know not but O Solyman make hast Actus tertius Scena quarta Enter Rossa and Solyman Rossa What am I not my owne who then dare let me From doing with my selfe what my selfe listeth Nature hath lied she saith life vnto many May be denied but not death vnto any Come death art thou afraid of me that beare All wickednes by which you caused were Soliman stand from me I am not thy Rossa But one that death the diuell and hell do flie Yet vnto death the diuel and hell do hie Soly. What fury is the God of this strange spirit Rossa how art thou lost or how transformd Leaue it to me or take or leaue thy breath And shew thy fault thy fault shall giue thee death Rossa That were to loose the benefit of death Solym. Then liue Ross. That is the cruelty of death Soly. Then tell and die Ross. Nay tell and liue a worthy death To her that so had lost the good of death Solym. What should be councell to the mariage bed Rossa All things vnworthy of the mariage bed Solym. Yet tell me for my loue I long to know Rossa For loue I keep what loue would feare to know Soly. Ignorance is dangerous and ouer feares Ross. Ignorance is dangerous and cannot feare Soly. Yet tell me I am Prince I do command Ross. Kings long to heare and hate what they haue heard Good sir let it be lawfull to say nothing And lesse of kings men can desire nothing Soly. Then liue and let this multiplie thy anguish That all diseases of my mind and state Iniuries of loue contempts and wounds of fauours Treachery aspiring death suspitious ruine Consulted are by thee to make me languish Thou guidest me and my fortune vnto error Rossa O Soliman of grace let me say nothing For if I speake thy neuer falling iustice Must force thee to take vengeance of offences In odious facts the solemne forme of death Melts humane powers great states to get compassion For mankind when it sees man loose his breath Their harts not vnto truth but pittie fashion And death well borne shall make a wicked spirit Stir pitty vp to make the law seeme might Let these vilde hands to this vilde hart be cruell Selfe death which gods abhorre is fit for treason Mercie by ill successe seemes lacke of reason Solim. Yet speake for one of mischiefes plagues is shame Rossa You Gods that gouern these star-bearing heauens Whose onely motion rules the mouing Seas And thou still changing glory of the darknes Whose growing hornes and ensignes of his Empire Beare witnes with me neither truth nor kindnesse Shame nor remorce desire to doe things honest Delight of others good nor seate of mischiefe Duty to God or man but one i glome The badge which Euill giues doth tel this storie Your daughter in whom you and I had blisse By these imbrued fingers murthered is : Solim. What fault would not a mothers loue forgiue Rossa The fault she made was that she let me liue For knowing she conspird her fathers death By whom I hold my honor she she breath How could she thinke I could her crime forgiue Sol. What cause had she to thinke so vile a thought Or by whom could she thinke to haue a wrought Rossa Mischiefe it selfe is cause of mischiefe done Whome should she feare to winne when she had woon Vnto this mischiefe Mustapha thy sonne Solim. Did she confesse or who did her accuse Ro. This Guidon with her own hand wrought and sent Beares perfect record what was her intent Solim. Expound what was the meaning of this work Vnder whose are the acts of mischiefe lurke Rossa The clouds they be the house of iealousie Which fire and water both within them beares Where