top there should one spreading branch grow up and flourish Aegyst Now thou art thy self yes yes my love there shall one spring from us shall be a lofty Pine let this be cropt murder must murder guard guilt add to guilt after one drop whole streams of blood be spilt walks away Scen. 3. Enter Pylades Orestes Electra Strophius Pyl. Dear friend what mean you to o'rwhelm your self in such a sea of grief Orest Father deare Agamemnon Pyl. Nay cease this tempest thou hast lost a father why 't is but change my father shall be thine I 'll be thy brother nay I 'll be thy selfe weep when thou weep'st and where thou go'st I 'll goe and bring thee on thy pilgrimage of woe Elect. Brother look up have not I lost a father yes yes and would a river of fresh teares turne Lethes stream and bring him from the wharf with a North gale of windy blowing sighs I would expire my soul become all teares Stro. Come you have lost a father I a brother the Queen a Husband all the Land a King yet all this but a man therefore must dye Our woes may all be in one balance poys'd His book of life the Fates had over-read and turn'd the leafe where his last period stood Now an immortal wreath circles his brow and makes him King in heaven who was before at most a God on earth Hence difference springs Kings are earths Gods and Gods are heavenly Kings Orest Let us joyne words then now and Swan-like sing the doleful dirge to a departed King Thou friend didst of this misery divine therefore the burthen of the song is mine words Orators for woe which plead the cause when griefe 's the judge and sighs are all the laws each one a sob for Diapason beares our tunes shall drown the musick of the spheares O what Hirudo with unsatiate thirst could draw the blood from out those Princely veines from whence flow'd comfort to so many souls Spies his mother goes to her Mother when wept you last here take a scarf dry your eyes now by you need none what shine of comfort hath dry'd up your teares Clyt. Our son 's too sawcie with his mother Queen Why Sir shall you tell us a time to weep Orest Us good Who is' t makes the plurality 'T was wont to be my father does he live Clyt. Sir curb this lavish speech or I 'll forget you are my son and make you but a subject Aegyst Good Cousin add not disobedience unto your mothers griefs Orest My mother no she is not here no she hath hid her self in some odd nooke or angle unperceiv'd she might not see this impious stygian world Cly. Aegystus canst thou still suffer thy dull sword i' th sheath Take the rank head from this o'r-growing weed Stro. Remember Clytemnestra he 's your son Clyt. He is so and I 'll learn him to be so Had I a brazen bull it should be heat hotter then for the Tyrant Disobedient More harsh then Adders hisses is thy voyce Sir you shall dye but with a living death he still shall live but live to know he dies who strait threats death knows not to Tyranize Exeunt Aegystheus Clytemnestra Stro. What temper 's grown on the distracted Queen Hath grief conceiv'd for her late husbands death brought her so far she hath forgot her self Orest No Uncle no by I do suspect O my prophetick soul divines much ill Well I will flie But hear this stratagem it shall be rumor'd i' th eare of the Court I was found dead I 'll put a new shape on and live alone to heare how things go here Pyl. Nay not alone Orestes whilst I live shouldst make thy bed upon the rigid Alps or frozen Caucasus wrapt in sheets of snow I 'd freeze unto thy side we will tell tales of Trojan warriers and deposed Kings Tell of strange shipwrack of old Priams fall how mad Andromacha did teare her hayre when the wild horses tore brave Hectors limbs Wee 'l think they all do come and weep with us grief loves companions and it helpeth woe when it heares every one groane forth his Oh! it easeth much and our plaints fall more sweet when a whole consort in one tune do meet The half-dead ship-man which hath shipwrack borne seeing many drown'd it makes him lesse to mourn It made Deucalion care the lesse to die when he had all the world in company Thus we will sit and our teares turnes shall keep thou for thy father I for thee will weep If actors on the Stage having no cause but for to win an hearers hands applause can let fall teares wee 'l think we Actors be and only do but play griefs Tragedie Orest O but deare friend should we but act a part the play being ended passion left the heart and we should share of joy but my whole age must never move from off this woful Stage But we must take our leave Uncle farwel remember what I spake and Sister you must tarry here my thoughts shall busied be to finde the man that let my father blood Can I but finde Aegystheus did consent to spill one drop O I would pierce his heart with venom'd daggers and so butcher him that all Apollos skill in physicke hearbs nor Aesculapius th' Epidaurian God should keepe his soule out of Enio's hand Come my deare friend to all the rest farewell If heaven relate it not I 'll know 't from hell Exeunt Pylades Orestes Scena 4. Enter Aegysteus Clytemnestra Mysander Strophius Electra another way Aegyst What is Orestes fled sure there 's some plot if you deare Queen but search Electra well you 'll finde she knowes whither her brothers gone Clyt. If in her heart there be but lodg'd a thought unknown to mee this hand shall rip her brest and search her inparts but I 'll finde it out Mysander call Electra Aegist O were that moat tane from our comforts beams no cloud e'r then could overshade our joyes his life must be cut off without delay mischiefe by mischiefe findes the safest way But here 's Electra Cly. Why how now Minion what a blubbering still Huswife pray where 's your brother wher 's my sonne Elect. Mother pray where 's my father wher 's your husband Enter Stropheus and speaks Haile to my my gracious Queene here 's one at doore brings you a message hee will not relate to any but your selfe he saies t is sad Clyt. Why the more dismal the more welcome ' t is But as for you Elect. Good mother do your worst no plague can ever make me more accurst nothing is worse then death that I 'll not flie Clyt. Yes life is worse to those that faine would die But where 's the messenger Scena 5. Enter Nuncius What whirlwinde rising from the womb of earth doth raise huge Pelion unto Ossa's top that both being heapt I stand upon them both and with an hundred Stentor-drowning voice relate unto the world the saddest tale that ever burdned
Shall I confine thy wandring ghost in some high marble prison Or shall I hither fetch the flying Tombe of proud Mausolus the rich Carian King No Religion shall cloake no such injurie no hired Rhethorick shall adorne thy coarse no pratling stone shall trumpet forth thy praise the world 's thy tombe thy Epitaph I 'le carve in Funerals destruction is the booke in which we 'le write thy annalls blood 's the Inke our sword the Pen. A Tragedy I intend Which with a Plangity no Plaudity shall end FINIS THE COURAGEOUS TURK OR AMURATH THE FIRST A Tragedie Written by THOMAS GOFF Master of Arts and student of Christ-Church in OXFORD and Acted by the Studens of the same house The second Edition LONDON Printed for G. BEDELL and T. COLLINS at the middle Temple Gate Fleet-street 1656. TO THE No lesse honored then deserving Sir WALTER TICHBORNE Knight SIR THis with another Tragedy intituled The raging Turk the issue of one mans braine are now come forth together from the Presse neerer allyed even as Twins in this their second birth They are full of Glory Strength and indeed full of what not that beautifies The more apt to be soyled opposed and disgraced the rather because the Auther ha's made his Exit hence The intent and use of Dedication as I have observed is to no other end then that ignorance and spite sworne Enemies to ingenuity should know upon their dull or envious dislikes whether to repayre and recieve reformation The Fatherlesse fellow-Orphan to this work resteth safe under the protection of your most noble Brother my much honoured Friend Sir Richard Tichborne Knight and Baronet Now for these reasons and that I might not make them strangers by remote fosterings but especially standing to you most worthy SIR equally engaged I this to you Present and Dedicate Together tendring the Love and unfained acknowledgements of Your most embounden Servant RICHARD MEIGHEN TO THE AUTHOR In that Transcribing his Book without his knowledge I was bound by promise to stand to his pleasure to keepe it or burne it I Will not praise this Worke 't were lost Rich Pearles best praise themselves nor will I boast To be possest of more than India's wealth That were the way to lose 't since I my selfe Distrust my selfe in keeping it and stand In feare of robbing by some envious hand Rob'd of it said I Alas that fate were just Since I am found first thiefe to you who durst Unbidden thus ransacke your pretious store This magazine of wit so choyce nay more Steale from the chariot of the glorious Sunne This heavenly fire What shall I say 't is done I doe confesse the enditement pity then Must be my surest Advocate ' mongst men None can abate the rigor of the Law But the Law-giver but me thoughts I saw Or hop'd I saw some watry beames of Mercy Breake glimpsing forth of your imperious eye O let me beg reprive your pardon may By due observance come another day Here loe I tender 't backe to bide the doom By promise bound to him to him with whom I would not breake for all rich Tagus sands Now he the Prisoner at your mercy stands Ergo ibit in ignes Hoc opus aeternum ruet tot bella tot Enses In Cineres dabit hora nocens THE PROLOGUE VVEre not our present subject mixt with feare 'T would much affright us to see all you here One would suffice us or no Auditor Each to himselfe an ample Theater Let rude Plebeians thinke so but we know All judgements here from the same Spring doe flow All here have but one censure all one brest All sonnes of the same Mother but the rest We preoccupate their Censure and fore-tell What after may be said not to be well As in most decent Garments you may see Some gracious Ornaments inweaved bee Which serve for little use but on some day Destin'd to please himselfe the wearer may Without a blush put on when his best friends Intend to visit him So our hope intends The sacred Muses Progeny to greet Which under our Roofe now the third time meet We will not ope the booke to you and show A story word by word as it doth goe But give invention leave to undertake Of it's owne straines some benefit to make For though a Tragicke Pen may be confin'd W thin a studies private Walles the mind Must be unbounded and with inventions steele Strike fire from the alient Flints So free we are from setting any price On these our studied Vanities that advice Almost disdain'd the whispers of those tongues Which private first though vented publike wrongs To the Patient Patient oft We 'il here begin To be a litle peremptory Oh that sinne Of willfull indiscretion 't is no bayes To make us Garlands of our owne mouthes praise Which who affect may they so Lawrell lacke That slanders Thunders may behind their backe Blast them with Calumny for we vow they deare Pay for their paines that give attention here And since it 's suffered with kind indulgence We hope that Kingly Parent 's our defence Who would not have his dandling love be knowne But unto those had off-spring of their owne And for we are assured that here be No braines so curst with blacke sterilitie But of some nature they can frely call Births more mature and Caelestiall Their studies issue they like kindest Mothers With tender hands will swath the limbes of others THE ARGUMENT A Suppo'd Victory by AMURETH Obtain'd in Greece where many captives tane One among the rest IRENE conquers him For taken with her love he sounds retreat Eternally from Warre but after mov'd With murmur of his Nobles in her bed Before his Councils face strikes off her head Then ruminating former bloudy broyles He straight o'recomes all Christian Provinces Invades the Confines of his Sonne in Law Fires Caramania and makes Aladin With 's Wife and Children suppliant for their lives At length appointed his great'st Field to fight Upon Cassanae's Plaines where having got A wondrous Conquest ' gainst the Christians Comes the next morne to overview the dead ' Mongst whom a Christian Captaine Cobelitz Lying wounded there at sight of Amurath Rising and staggering towards him desperately With a short dagger wounds him to the heart And then immediately the Christian dyes The Turke expiring Bajazet his Heyre Strangles his younger brother Thus still springs The Tragick sport which Fortune makes with Kings THE ACTORS Amurath Lala Schahin Tutor to Amurath two Turkish Captaines Eurenoses Chase Illibegge Cobelitz a Christian Captaine Lazarus the Despot or Governour of Servia Sasmenos Governour of Bulgaria Aladin Sonne in Law to Amurath and King of Caramania Two Lords with Aladin Two Embassadors Bajazet Eldest Sonne to Amurath Jacyl Youngest Sonne to Amurath Carradin Bassa A Governour under the Turke For the Maske Jupiter Juno Mars Veâ—us Hector Achil Apollo Pallas Alexander Philoxenus Neptune Cupid Women Actors Eumorphe Concubine to Amurath Menthe An attendant on Eumorphe
and let thy great vicegerent thus be torn Some of th' immortal powers have had fathers and know what 't is to have them murdered thus But I turn woman now O I rave out my passions do grief pour out thy self that thou mayst make room in my empty heart to fill it with revenge Scena 6. Enter Clytemnestra Aegystheus in night-robes Clyt. How now what ayles our son how now Orestes Orest O some are come now to help me to grieve See mother see your husband and my father the King of Greece great Shephard of his Land see see him here She faines her selfe to swoun Egy. catcheth her falling Clyt. O help me now good heaven to keep my sex let me dissemble Aegyst Help my Lords the Queen Clyt. Why hinder'd you my soul that whilst he liv'd was linkt to his and would too now have fled with wing'd desire to have been with him What doe I live for Agamemon slain My Lord my King husband wake my Lord what bloody Trojan followed thee from thence to kill thee here could he not one night have let me rested in thy sweet embraces Must he for surenesse make so many holes for thy sweet soul to fly to be a God O let my teares be balm to these thy wounds let my lips kisse and warm thy gellid lips let my haire wipe these clots of blood away from thy age-honor'd side O dry your teares joyn knees and prayers with me awake ye Gods They both kneele and send our vows since we can send no wounds Come son we women still know how to curse Let him that did it be an Adulterer Aegyst Faith she begins well sure she knows the man aside Clyt. Let him be conscious he hath don a deed deserves revenge whether it fall or no Let him for ever beare in mind this night and who 't was helpt him in this bloody act Aegist Yes hee 'll remember how you curse him now aside Orst If ever he have children let them be murdered before his face that they may know how nature binds a father and a son Aegyst Now hands I thank you now my soul grows glad had not he griev'd thus I had lost revenge Clyt. But come my son now let us talk of graves of Epitaphs and tombs and 's soul being fled Draw the curtaine and carry him away let 's lap his Trunk up in a sheet of lead Exeunt Clytemnestra and Aegystheus Manent Orest Orest Methinks I see a Tragedy at hand to which this night hath as a Prologue bin I 'll make a prayer now worthy Atreus grandchild let the foul Adder sting me as I walk the poysonous toad belch her black venom forth in my despised face let it be thought I never had a father but some monster bred by a slimy exhalation If my revenge fly not with ample wing till then rest soul hate told may lose his sting Actus 2. Scena 1. Enter Cassandra sola as a mad Prophetesse Cass O ye dead Trojans leape within your graves O mother that thou hadst lived this night Now thou 'ldst be glad t' have lost so many sons the Grecians are reveng'd upon themselves I thank thee soul that thou keeptst here till now to let me see Greece overcome it self I live I live I 'm here I live to see 't I do not dream on 't no I saw the blood run from his side whole Cataracts all Greece Apollo how am I bound now for this that I do only see this happinesse Hecuba Priam young Astianax Look Hecuba Greece now doth act your woes laugh Hecuba for now Electra weeps and Tyndarus he knows not what to do Come little Cuz come my Astianax Orestes is in a worse case then thou Still I had others for to weep with me but none are left to laugh now but my self What should he feare at home A conqueror feare T is done 't is done leave fighting Hector leave the Grecians meane to fight against themselves from Tyndarus the first brand took fire which burnt down Troy and now an other here kindles from him to set a fire Greece Graia juvenca venit quae se patremque virumque Perdidit Io laetor Graja juvenca venit Hellen thy sister Hellen nay shee 's thine who could have thought that Hector being slaine old Priam made a sacrifice to death Troy turn'd to cinders poor Andromacha dragg'd by her hair to death Astianax sent out o' th world before he well came in Ha ha who could have thought after all this Cassandra should have ever laught againe One hour of laughter following many yeares of discontent doth help to sweeten teares Exit Actus 2. Scena 2. Enter Aegystheus Clytemnestra Aegy. Fair morning to my Queen nay more my love how likes my sweet her change of bed-fellow Clyt. Look as an hallow leafelesse failing oake to whom for that h' hath bin her weight too long the earth denies to lend him moysture so his sap failes and he stands on a green ' mongst sprouting Elms that they may seeme more fresh whilst hee 's but held a monument of years Such one seem'd Agamemnon a dry tree thou like a sprouting Elme whom I embrace like twining Ivy with these now blest armes blest whilst this treasure in them they hold lockt Aegyst O who 'd not do a murder for a woman Heaven had but two things for the Gods reserv'd fire and women when with Giant strength Promotheus had tane one Jove in his rage threw him the to'ther bad him keep 'em both O th' are rare creatures they have such Meanders Their teares will come and go with such brave art Come now my Queen one sweet Ambrosian kisse O Nectar prethee hadst thou taught thy teares how they should flow before Clyt. No trust me love I knew my teares would soon be at command and faith the boy had almost made me weep really once Were not my curses rare Aegyst Yes all was woman-like but yet that boy he took it deeply would he were with his father so gon it skills not how were he away we would act freely all our lustful play Clyt. O but my love hee 's mine Nor can the raven dig her sharp beake into her own birds brest He will forget his father woe will breake 't is not the greatest griefe that most doth speake Aegyst O but hee 'll beare still a suspicious eye and who in bloody Scenes doth act a part thinks every eye doth penetrate his heart Nor can we ere be free or I enjoy true pleasures we must be but theeves at most close in delights and have a Pander still to be a Factor 'twixt thy bed and mine this we could have before what now we do the world should see done and applaud us too Clyt. Why my deare Love I that would set my hand to stain my marriage sheets with husbands blood would let these hands instructed now in ill not leave one arm of that uprooted tree Could but Aegistheus give me any hope that from this
thee old-man see how it smiles upon the Grandsire as if wise Nature had taught him his kindreds Names 'fore he came forth Tynd. I see 't Aegyst my ag'd blood grows warm as if my self were a new father made and all the blessings I can render it shall drop like golden showers on the head Me thinks it doth recal my sliding age and makes swift time retire back again It doth unfold those wrincles in my face which grief and years had fixed as their signes upon my brow and now it shall be seen although my hairs are gray my joyes are green Clyt. Long may our Father his opinion hold and you our daughter let not sinister thoughts wrong your suspicious minde though this being young it makes our Lord and me to speak our joyes yet our affection and our natural love is not a whit to you diminished A Mother can be Mother unto many and as from one Root hid within the ground springs many flowers that lends sap to all So from a Parents heart run veins of love which though to many they without do flow yet from one heart one Root they all do grow Elect. I hope our gracious Mother cannot think we do suspect her love witness this charge which you have bless'd my arms and soul withal and as your love committed it with care my care shall still defend it with my love Aegyst We thank our daughter come Lord Strophius come grief still sits heavie on your sighing heart Be frolike learn of us in all the grace and pleasure our Court extends you shall have place Stroph. I thank my gracious Lord time hath by this almost eate out the memory of our son and since the heavens let fall their dew on you and watred Argos with such springing hopes I will not seem a stock uncapable of such a general comfort but revive my buried thoughts and for my Sovereign's sake old Strophius will a young mans person take Aegyst We thank old Strophius and if honour can keep thee still young our Princely hand is wide and freely shall extend all Graces on thee and you all our Subjects which bear part thus in our joy And here I do proclaim and personally from my own Mouth pronounce sealing it with the Signet of my State A general immunity to all Murders Rapes Treasons Thefts Conveyances which have been from the birth of our dear Childe in all the Confines of our Empire done nor shall your licence date be quite expired till the slow year seven times runs out his course Our self thus speak it until then all 's free Kings win their Subjects by immunity Exeunt omnes Manent Strophius Electra Stroph. Electra you are happy in your charge Electr. Yes Uncle and you happy in your favour Nur. Madam Shall I stay here until you come Comes back Electr. Yes Nurse sit down and sing look to the Babe I 'll only with my Uncle change a word Nurse sings Lullaby lullaby Baby Great Argos joy The King of Greece thou art born to be In despight of Troy Rest ever wait upon thy head Sleep close thine eyes The blessed gaurd tend on thy bed Of Deities O how this brow will beseem a Crown How these locks will shine Like the rayes of the Sun on the ground These locks of thine The Nurse of heaven still send thee milk Maist thou â—uck a Queen Thy drink Joves Nectar and cloaths of silke A God mayst thou seem Cupid sit on this Rosean cheek On these rubie lips May thy minde like a Lamb be meek In the vales which trips Lullaby Lullaby Baby c. Elect. You never heard from my brother Uncle nor from your son they have been long away Stroph. In troth Electra I am in despair almost of ever seeing them again Sure if Orestes live and ever hear unto what pass Aegystheus brings his state seated him in the throne and 's mothers bed and like to leave Argos hereditary to his Posterity it cannot e'r be born Orestes spirit will endure no scorn Elect. Uncle his long delayes make me surmise or he will never come or come with prize He if now come he must not shew himself but live unknown unnam'd or change his name Str. His name Electra yes and 's nature too which I do fear me he will hardly do But if we hear not from them now e're long I 'll listen by some means about the land to hear of them mean time you to your charge officious duty must our lives enlarge Elect. Come Nurse Exeunt Scen. 2. Enter Orestes and Pylades Orest O here 's the Palace under whose kind roof My tender years were gently softered But now the sight on 't seems to strike my soul when I but think it holds within the walls the patrons of such lust incarnate devils meer Pythonists that facinate the world Pyl. Nay but Orestes think now of your self complain not of your wrongs but seek to right them We might have liv'd i' th woods still to complain and to that purpose we may turn again Whet up your former thoughts and spend not time to rave but to revenge this odious act We know they were their shapes and no Chymera's Orest O Pylades know I thou art my friend Pyl. I hope you think it Orest I do I dare swear it so I dare swear it was Aegystheus and the dumbe Witch the O what thing 's enough to be an attribute to term her by The Clytemnestra O we saw her do 't Pyl. 'T was a black deed indeed and past all thought Orest O Hell it self has not the pattern to 't Some stench some fogs and vapours stop their breath exhald from out the dampish wombe of Styx Did ever foul disastrous fiendlike hands cast up so huge a heap of hell-bred mischief Were I to dive to 'th depth of Phelgeton or fetch young Gaenimed from the arms of Jove to rend Proserpina from Pluto's bed or take the vulture from off Titius heart and set it on my Mothers I would do 't I 'll break ope doors and nail 'em to their bed heark revenge calls me I come I come Pyl. Nay still outrageous friend good now contain your heady fury in wisdoms reyn hearken to my advice Orest I will dear friend thou hast plaid musick to my doleful soul and when my heart was tympaniz'd with grief thou lav'dst out some into thy heart from mine and kepst it so from bursting thou hast tide with thy kind counsel all these loosned strings they should not crack asunder with their weight Pyl. Then listen now the best plot I can think is this We here will live a while unknown Orestes thy Profession shall be Physick I as your friend t' company you at Court carry it neatly learn a few strange words palliate your woe a while and coope up grief you may in time so minister to the King Physicks occasion fit revenge may bring Orest Rarely invented I 'll speak Aphorisms sublim'd Purgations Quintessence distill'd each Dose
we must descend to our just duty or our latest end Ach. Renowned Vice-roy thy perswading thoughts Have predivin'd most truly these effects and we applaud thy Counsel let us three joyn our best strength that these ensuing jarres may be compos'd without the stroke of warrs Corcute is wise and milde and being so he hates the rumour of a publick foe Cher. Nobly resolv'd Greece sings if the event Prâ—ve but so happy as honest the intent Enter Bajazet Baja. Am I not Emperor he that breaths a no damnes in that negative syllable his soul durst any god gain-say it he should feel the strength of fiercest Gyants in mine armes mine angers at the highest and I could shake the firm foundation of the earthly Globe Could I but grasp the Poles in these two hands I l'd pluck the world assunder drop thou bright Sun from thy transparent Spheare thy course is done great Bajazet is wrong'd nor shall thine eye be witnesse to my hateful misery Madnesse and anger makes my tongue betray the Chaos of my thoughts under this brest an heape of indigested cares are prest What is it that I doubt through every joynt dances a trembling ague this dull blood that courses through my veins divines no good shouts of joy within Ha shouts of joy at dead mens obsequies I 'me in a maze of woes what thou wilt throw on me Jove let it come I le stand thy blow Che. Live happy Bajazet Baja. Happy in my fear that word sounds sweet in my distracted eare He turns aside to them Happy in what Ach. In thy friends that grieve to see thy wrongs Baja. My wrongs there sticks the string my thoughts did harp upon But who hath wrong'd me in this high content the fates do sometime frown yet blesse th' event and sequel of our woes it cannot be I should de thwarted in my jollity But if I can unfold it for the more I know them not the greater is my sore Chers In that read all thy woes take there a brief Contract of all thine ills sad lines of grief He gives him a paper Contract of all thine ills sad lines of griefe Baja. How 's this my youngest son advanced to my seate Corcutus Imperator sure I dreame These are but empty apparitions Fain'd by the god of sleepe to vex my soule Were they not so ere this black night Had throwne her fable mantle ore the heavens To hide me from my shame-but is it so I do but flatter up my selfe they are true And reall griefes my Passion sayes they are Isaack Achmetes are they not Ach. Too true Great Bajazet Baja. Corcutus Imperator reades again Would I had seene thy name writ in the booke Of darke damnation rather then these lines Crackt not mine eye-strings when I view'd this text See how each letter spreads abroad in pompe As if they scorn'd my teares how I could dwell On these two words Corcutus Imperator Hither repaire the watchfull paper-wormes That scan old records over to a line Here in two words imprinted shall you see The modell of a dolefull history Vertue dishonoured breach of filiall love Right shoulder'd out by wrong nor can you faine A crime which these two words do not contain But now I rayle not grieve O nimble ayre Let my plaints vanish as they spoken are Off with this womanish mildnesse I will find A shorter tricke then this to ease my mind Pluto beware I come to raigne in hell about to kill himselfe Fates bid me rule and birth-right to excell Chers Stay Bajazet that arme can breake a path Unto thy earthly monarch ere thou come To blesse the banks of sweet Elysium With thy wisht presence Mahomet forefend That thou should'st seale a Kingdome to thy son By this untimely death Corcutus raignes But at thy better pleasure when he shall heare Thou art ariv'd then hee 'le twixt joy and griefe Start from his throne and nimbly run to meet Thy pompe and throw his Scepter at thy feet If he but slack that duty here are by Achmetes strong and bold Isaack and I Devoted to your service Yet the world stands On wavering doubts ready to clap their hands Baja. My desires are crown'd And from the gate of Limbo where I sate I feele my spirits knock against the heavens Achmetes In that name I hear an ease Of all my griefs pronounc'd he shall suffice To banish usurpation from my throne Did furyes guard it round hee 's able well To reach my Kingdomes from the gripes of hell Ac. My sword life both which are vow'd to thee Are still at thy command walk but along Corcutus shall resigne thou have no wrong Exeunt Bajazet Chersogles and Achmetes Manent Isaack and Mustapha Actus 1. Scena 3. Is Death the furies plunge the obsequious slaves Would he have joyn'd with us we would have kept Corcutus high and honoured where he sits In spight of a whole boast of Bajazets Must Me thinks your power might have bin greater sarre Over Achmetes one adict to you By no lesse bond of duty then the son Is to the father Isa Mustapha I le tell you Had not my daughter been espoused to him I had nam'd his death and by some plot work't him a quick destruction long e'r this Now let us temporize with Bajazet yet keep thy nature ever and be true to thine own profit Fortune may advance some other Prince worth both thy love and mine Musta Wee l stay her leasure Isa See more Harpies gathered to catch a Crown O t is a charming bait Exit uterque Enter Mahomet Achmetes Selimus Mah. Me thinks these City walls smile on our entrance as if they knew great Bajazets three sons were come to grace their beautie Sel. But We should frown on them which harbour such black treasons Well were I great Bajazet I 'de ring a noyse of spightful horrour that should make the ground tremble beneath their weight at such a sound A younger son enthron'd an Emperour Ach. Brother contain your self come le ts away to see the end that waits on this sad day Exeu. As they goe Trizham and Mahomet two other Sons of Bajazet goe to meet them Sel. What Mahomet Ach. And Trizham here 's a sight of one mans issue Noble Bajazet brothers we have jumpt together Sel. All save one and hee s a great deal better so alone Tri. Corcutus 't is you mean who though he raign above us now yet must fall back again into our rank 't is Bajazet must rise and he descend such a report there flyes Exeunt Actus 1. Scena 4. Enter Corcutus Cherseogles Mesithes Corcu. Did not he frown and storm Chers It mov'd him much and wrought strange passions in him when he read your name and found your name so intituled Corcu. Cling to my temples thou blest ornament be ever unremov'd though all the gods chide me in thunder for this insolence Am I in heaven in state plac'd on the sphear of eminence but barely to appear with faint
the same bloud he tooke a share so let him beare his part in Government Sch. My Lord within the selfe-same Hemispheare It 's most prodigious when two Sunnes appeare One body by one soule must be inform'd Kingdomes like marriage beds must not indure any corrivall Rome was nere secure whilst she contain'd a Pompey and a Caesar Like as one Prophet we acknowledge now so of one King in state we must allow You know the Turkish Lawes Prince be not nice to purchase Kingdomes whatsoe'er the price He must be lopt send for him he must dye Bajazet O happy Bajazet that he was borne to be a King when thou wast Counseller Call in our Brother Jacup Some goe for him Here sixe men take up Amuraths Trunke on their shoulders Baj. Why Lords is Amurath so light a weight Is this the Trunk o th' Turkish Emperor Oh what a heape of thoughts are come to naught What a light weight is he unto sixe men who durst stand under Ossa and sustaine ' t Euren. My Lord these Meditations fit not you You are to take the honour he hath left and thinke you of his rising not his fall Enter Jacup Let your decree be suddaine here 's your Brother Baj. Brother I could have wished we might have met at times of better greeting Our father hath bequeath'd to the Grave these ashes to us his State Nor have we leysure yet to mourne for him Brother you know our state hath made a Law that he that sits in a Majestick Chayre must not endure the next succeeding heyre Jac. Yes we doe And Brother doe you thinke 't is crime enough to dye because I am sonne to an Emperour Scah. My Lord we know there breathes in him that ayre of true affestion that he doth much desire you should be equall in his Kingdome with him But still when two great evils are propos'd the lesse is to be chosen Euren. My Lord your life 's but one Kings are the threads whereto there are inweaved millions of lives and he that must rule all must still be one that is select from all Although we speake yet thinke them not our words But what the Land speakes in us Kings are free And must be impatient of equality Jac. And is' t eene so How have these Dogs fawn'd on me lickt my feet when Amurath yet lived Felt all my thoughts and soothed them to the sight of Empyrie And now the first would set their politique hands to strangle up that breath a blast of which their nostrils have suckt up like perfum'd ayre Well brother well by all men this is spoke that heart that cannot bow may yet be broke Bajazet Brother you must not now stand to upbraid They which doe feare the vulgars murmuring tongue Must also feare th' authority of a King For rulers must esteeme it happinesse that with their gov'rnment they can hate suppresse they with too faint a hand the Scepters sway Who regard love or what the people say To Kindred we must quite put off respect when 't is so neare it may our Crowne affect Jac. Then name of Brother doe I thus shake off for 't is in vaine their mercy to implore when impious Statists have decreed before Yet King although thou take my life away see how I le dye in better state then thou Who like my Father after his greatest glory May fall by some base hand The Minister 'To take my breath shall be thy selfe a King Here Jacup takes a Scarfe from his Arme and putting it about his neck gives one end to Bajazet Yet give me leave a while to Prophesie You that so Puppet-like delude your hopes and Wyer-draw the ancestry from Kings thinking that fates dare not aproach your bloud till they doe seize you then you leave this Earth Not as you went but by compulsion dragg'd Still begging for a morrow from your Grave and with such shifts you doe deceive your selves as if you could deceive mortality No Brother King not all the Glow-worme state which makes thee be a Horse-leach to thy bloud Not all the Parasitest ' Minions thou maintainst nor the restorative Dishes that are found out Not all thy shifts and trickes can cheat mortality or keepe thee from a death that 's worse then mine Should all this faile age would professe it selfe a slow but a sure Executioner O 't is a hard thing well to temperate decaying happinesse in great estate But this example by me may you gaine that at my death not of Heaven complaine Pull then and with my fall pull on thy selfe Mountaines of burdenous honor which shall curse thee Death leades the willing by the hand But spurs them headlong on that dare command Here himselfe pulls one end Bajazet the other Jacup dyes Bajazet Take up this Trunke and let us first appoint our Fathers and our Brothers Funerals the sense lesse body of that Caitiffe slave hurle to a Ditch Posterity shall heare Our lesse ill Chronicled but time shall heare these minutes rather then repeate their woe Now Primacy on thee I le mediate Which who enjoy thee are in blest estate Whose age in secure silence fleets away Without disturbance to his funeral day Nor ponderous nor unquiet honours can Vexe him but dyes a primare ancient man What greater powers threaten inferiour men a greater power threatens him agen And like to wasted Tapers Kings must spend their lives to light up others So all end Exeunt bearing out solemnely the bodies of Amurath and Jacup FINIS THE TRAGEDY OF ORESTES Written by THOMAS GOFF Master of Arts and student of Christ-Church in OXFORD AND Acted by the STUDENTS of the same house The second Edition LONDON Printed for G. BEDELL and T. COLLINS at the middle Temple Gate Fleet-street 1656. The Prologue THe hush'd contentment of two silent howres Breath pleasing ayres on these attentive eares And since wee see in this well furnish'd roome All our best neighbours are so kindely met Wee would devise some pleasing talke to spend The lazie houres of the tedious night But for our owne invention 't was too weake Whereon our young Muse durst not wholly leane We here present for the revive a tale Which once in Athens great Eurypedes In better phrase at such a meeting told The learn'd Athenians with much applause The same we will retell unto your eares Whose Atticke judgement is no lesse then theirs We here as builders which doe oft take stones From out old buildings then must hew and cut To make them square and fitting for a new So from an old foundation we have ta'n Stones ready squar'd for our aedifice Which if in pleasing our weake skill offends In making corners disproportionate Some roome too narrow or some loft to a high Yet we well hope if the whole structure fall Your hands like props will serve to beare up all Spoken by the Authour himselfe The Names of the Actors Agamemnon King of Greece Clytemnestra The Queene Tyndarus Clytemnestra's father Strophius Father to Pylades
the weak jaws of man Aegyst Why what portentous newes Amaze us not tell us what e'r it be Nun. Were my mind settled would the gellid feare that freeseth up my sense set free my speech I would unfold a tale which makes my heart throb in my intrals when I seem to see 't Clyt Relate it quickly hold 's not in suspence Nun. Upon the mount of yonder rising cliffe which th' earth hath made a bulwark for the sea whose pearelesse head is from the streams so high that whosoe'r looks down his brain will swim with a vertigo The space remov d so far the object from the eye that a tall ship seem'd a swift flying bird upon this top saw I two men making complaints to heaven one's voyce distinctly still cry'd Father King great Agamemnon whose diviner soul fled from thy corps exil'd by butchers hands his friend still sought to keepe his dying life with words of comfort that it should not rush too violently upon the hands of Fate He deafe as sea to which he made his plaints still cryed out Agamemnon I will come and find thy blessed soul where e'r it walk in what faire Temple of Elysium so e'r it be my soul shall find it out With that his friend knit him within his arms striving to hold him but when t was no boot they hand in hand thus plung'd into the maine strait they arose and striv'd me thought for life but swelling Neptune not regarding friends wrapt their embraced limbs in following waves Until at last their deare departing souls hastned to Styx and I no more could see Stro. O 't was Orestes 't was my Pylades which arm in arm did follow him to death Elect. O my Orestes O my dearest brother 'T is he 't is he that thus hath drown'd himself Aegyst Why then if Agamemnon and his son have brought their lease of life to the full end I am Thyestes son and the next heire to sit in Argos Throne of Majesty Thanks to our Alpheus sea who as 't'ad striv'd to gratifie Aegystheus rais'd his force and gathered all his waters to one place they might be deep enough to drown Orestes But come my Queen let us command a feast To get a kingdome who 'ld not think it good to swim unto it through a sea of blood Actus 3. Scena 1. Enter Tyndarus Misander Tynd. Our daughter sends for us how fares she well she mournes I 'm sure for her husbands death Mis My Lord she took it sadly at the first But time hath lessen'd it Tind I grief soon ends that flows in teares they still are womens friends But how is' t rumord now in Argos though that Agamemnon died Mis Why he was old and death thought best to seize on him at home Tynd. 'T was a long home he got by coming home Well well Misander I like not the course the peoples murmure makes my cheeks to blush Mis My gracious Lord who trusts their idle murmur must never let the blush go from his cheek They are like flags growing on muddy banks whose weak thin heads blown with one blast of winde they all will shake and bend themselves one way Great minds must not esteem what small tongues say All things in state must ever have this end the vulgar should both suffer and commend if not for love for feare great Majesty should do those things which vulgars dare not fee. Tynd. O Sir but those that do commend for feare do in their hearts a secret hatred beare Ever learn this the truest praise indeed must from the heart and not from words proceed I feare some soul play doth Aegystheus meane then totally for to invest himself in Agamemnons seate Where 's young Orestes Mis Why my Lord he for the great grief conceiv'd being young not knowing well to rule himselfe with sway of reason ranne upon his death and threw himselfe with my lord Strophius sonne into the midst of Alpheus so was drown'd Ty. How took my daughter that Mys Why wisely too and like her selfe not being in despaire her royal wombe will bring forth many more shall be as deare as e'r Orestes was Tynd. I feare heaven cannot look with equall eyes upon so many deaths but meanes to send plague after plague for in a wretched state one ill begets another dismal Fate But go and tell my daughter I will come and help to solemnize her nuptial night Her hasty wedding and the old Kings neglect makes my conjectural soul some ill suspect Exeunt Scen. 2. Enter Orestes and Pylades Orest If ever God lent any thing to earth whereby it seem'd to sympathize with heaven it is this sacred friendship Gordian knot which Kings nor Gods nor Fortune can undoe O what Horoscopus what constellation held in our birth so great an influence which one affection in two minds unites How hath my woe been thine my fatal ill hath still been parted and one share been thine Pyl. Why dearest friend suppose my case were thine and I had lost a father wouldst not thou in the like sort participate my grief Ores Yes witnesse heaven I would Pyl. So now thou hast lost a father Orest True Pylades thou putst me well in mind I have lost a father a dear dear father a King a brave old King a noble souldier and yet he was murdered O my forgetful soul Why should not I now draw my vengeful sword and strait-way sheath it in the murderers heart Minos should never have vacation whilst any of our progeny remain'd Well I will go and so massacre him I 'll teach him how to murder an old man a King my father and so dastardly to kill him in his bed Pyl. Alas Orestes Grief doth distract thee who is' t thou wilt kill Orest Why he or she or they that kill'd my father Pyl. I who are they Orest Nay I know not yet but I will know Pyl. Stay thy vengeful thoughts and since thus long we have estrang'd our selves from friends and parents let 's think why it is and why we had it noised in the Court we both were dead the cause was thy revenge that if by any secret private meanes we might but learn who 't was that drench'd their swords in thy deare fathers blood we then would rouze black Nemesis in flames from out her cave and she should be the umpire in this cause Mans soul is like a boistrous working sea swelling in billows for disdain of wrongs and tumbling up and down from day to day grows greater still in indignation turns male-content in pleaselesse melancholy spending her humours in dull passion still locking her senses in unclosed gins till by revenge she 's set at liberty Orest O now my thirsty soul expects full draughts of Ate's boyling cup O how twoul'd ease my heart to see a channel of his blood streaming from hence to hell that kill'd my father Pyl. I but deare friend thou must not let rage loose and like a furious Lion from whose den the
confess Strophius weeps Orest Yes I confess Pylad. No King 't is I confess Aegyst How now Lord Strophius what affects you so that makes your tears bewrayers of some passion Stroph. My gracious Sovereign this strange spectacle renews the Memory of my once great loss and my dear Queens we once were blest with two which so had link'd themselves in bands of love as these men now do seem to me they have One stream of love did in two hearts so glide one with the other liv'd with th' other di'd And would my Queen be my competitor for our Sons sake my suits should joyn with her since Justice craves but one and both will go even save them both and right wrong'd Justice so Clyt. I good my love let Justice come and look if she can finde in all her Statute Book two men for the same crime should rightly die she will not say so Justice cannot lie And since they both will die let ones love save the others life and so both life shall have Aegyst In troth my Queen and my old Lord have mov'd Well since your loves are both so strongly tyed and friendship like an old acquaintance sends to her friend Justice that she should be milde and looks with eyes of Mercy on your fault considering our immunity proclaim'd and such Petitioners as you both have got Death in our Sentence now shall have no part whilst who should have done worst confession strives too much confession thus saves two mens lives But now we must demand what you made here What business or condition you profess Pylad. Great King our duty owes to thee our lives and were we men that striv'd to set a cloud before these gifts Art hath instructed us or we have purchac't at a most dear rate of cost and labour yet thy clemency commands us to lay open all to thee yet for my self I rather count my state blest that I lighted on this honest man whose accurate and watchful indagation hath taught him for to heal the wounds of Nature by his exceeding skill in wholsom herbs one that when I did think my shred of life had been quite cut did tie it up again and make it last recall'd my youthful dayes and made me Aeson-like become thus young for which great practise I did owe my life and thence proceeded our late pious strife Aeg. Nay then I 'm glad our mercy did extend on men whom such rare vertues do commend our love shall then grow greater our Court shall entertain you and 't may chance we will my Queen and I make tryal of your skill Orest My gracious Sovereign words must not have wings to pass and to out-flye the bounds of truth only to win the Elixar of opinion but for my friend I here profess so much and for my life do stand so deeply bound that all my Art can ne're make recompence Please but your Graces self and your dear Queen appoint the secrets of the safest room to let me shew my self to none but you though Nature dried up with too much time deny to spring in fruit from forth your loins or any other strange impediment our Art preserves from sickness ruining And 't will be blest to shew it to a King Aegyst Ha prethee let me speak with thee apart Thou strik'st on tunes now make me glad to hear we will commit our secresie to thee Can'st water barren Wombs with such a dew shall make 'em flourish and wax green with fruit Although we cannot altogether blame that Nature hath been too unkind to us yet we would plant each corner of our Realm with springing Branches of our Royal self to compass in our selves and we stand in the midst Kings in their Children do great blessing finde and great men love to Propagate their kinde Orest Great Sovereign boasting words shall ne're out-weigh the things I will perform I speak not fame but what I have said I will do the same Aegyst We like thy temper well and we will trust therefore this night we will appoint it so thou shalt be guided to our secretst room and there shalt use thy skill which if it take our love shall honour thee for Physicks sake Exeunt Aegyst Clyt. Tynd. Orest Good heavens I thank you your effectual power hath shewed your justice in this blessed hour Now is occasion put thus murder layes the trap wherein it self it self betrayes Pyl. Old Lord a word with you Orest and with you Lady They take Stroph. and Elect. back Pyl. Had not you once a Son lov'd the young prince Stop Yes Sir but Fates envied my happiness and holds both Prince and Son away too long Orest And had not you a brother Lady once When heard you of him last He went to travel Elect. In truth I had but I can hear no news They discover themselves Stro. O see my son welcome my dearest boy Elect. Our Brother our Orestes is come home Stroph. 'T is they indeed O how my blood revives Let me embrace them O ye 'r welcome home now is the Autumne of our sorrow done Elect. What silent place hath smothered you so long Of what great Powers have you counsel ta'ne concerning the great Plot you had in hand Orest Uncle and Sister we must not stand now embracing much and bidding welcome home you see before I come how things do stand My business hastens and my friend and I have yet a greater Project to perform Only Electra we must have your ayde to help us with their Child for now 's the time when blest occasion strives to help revenge Elect. Why Brother is the Child in any fault that was unborn when that our Father died And 't is a lusty boy O hurt not that Orest Tush I must have it it shall have no hurt worse than my Father Elect. Shal't not indeed Orest Believe me no worse hurt but let 's be gone I 'le be a tripode Paracelsian Exeunt Scen. 6. Enter a Chamberlain and a Boy to sweep the Room Cham. Boy sweep the room set each thing in his place the King and Queen take Physick here to night Boy Sir and you 'll help me I am ready here They set a Table Cham. Fetch them two Chairs Boy Yes Sir What Carpet mean you shall be spread a' th boord Cham. That of red velvet set the silver cups there may be use of them to take the potion Sets two bowles So now all 's well the room is well prepar'd Enter Orestes like a Doctor of Physick Orest Is this the room friend where the King must be Cham. Yes this is the room Sir 't is the privat'st this Orest You must avoyd it then and tell his Grace that I stay here provided ' gainst he come Cham. His Grace shall know it Exit Scena 7. Enter Pylades with a little boy in 's hand Pyl. I faith Orestes prethee spare the child it hath no fault but 't is too like thy mother Orest Like my mother O most execrable
suit Orest Nay but Egystheus you can aggravate to doe a haynous murther and i' th Court I' th place of Justice where the King might hear upon a chief attendant of the Kings Murther it self is past all expiation a crime that nature most of all abhors and look how manhood and civility stand at the bar of Justice and there plead how much they 'r wrong'd and how much defac'd when man doth dye his hands in blood of man Now hearken King I 'll use thy Rhetorick thou didst a haynous murther in the Court not which the King did hear but which he felt when no petition could good man prevaile therefore this dies this first shall have his due Stabs it againe that the blood spirts in his face this mischief done revenge shall prompt anew Aeg. O the gods blush and heaven looks pale at this a fathers face besmear'd with his childs blood Orest My hast deceives my will tush all this yet may be call'd piety you shall tast too mother Turns it to her Clyt. O why dos't banish nature from his place Look on thy mothers tears worse then those groans and pangs she had when she first brought thee forth When of thy friends or parents thou hast wrong patience not fury doth to thee belong Is this the blessing that thy knee should ask Repay'st thou thus my kisses and my tears which flow'd from me to thee in tender years Orest O why did you so banish woman-hood when you and this damn'd villain base adulterer made in my fathers side so many wounds and brought a brave old King into this state See here 's his bones my pocket can contain Pulls bones from his pocket great Agamemnon and repayd you thus his kind embraces all his loving signs Aegystheus you are thirsty you shall drink Fills two cups with the childs blood gives it them yes you shall clear your throat by you shall Aegy. O mischief above mischief what Heniochus bred on a stony rock could e'r endure to see a fathers thirst quench'd with such blood Hast thou no measure hath revenge no end Ore Who first doth mischief may keep mean i' th deed but who revengeth must all mean exceed Nay mother wee 'l not bar you of your draught Gives one cup to her Clyt. O Nature see here all thy law infring'd a mothers prayers prevail not with her son Orest Pray with Thyestes it shall never move me But first Aegystheus Do thou haste revenge Stabs him Aegyst O I am wounded O when dost thou end Orest Nay I have scarce begun Now mother you Sabs her So now I 'll stand and look and on hell call nay my revenge must not be usual One more for thee Aegystheus only let out the blood you drank before Aegyst O my heart feels it Orest Now mother you and your love the same Clyt. O kill me quickly time prolongs my wo and since I must die let me quickly goe Orest You know your sentence Let him feel he dies who strait threats death knows not to tyrannize Aegy. This brings ten deaths Or. Would t would an 100 bring one death 's too little to revenge a King Hence hence adulterous soul to Tantalus and let hell know who 't was sent thee thither he dies Now mother you shall follow but he first lest that like Lovers you go hand in hand Clyt. Why son whose death is it thou dost revenge thy fathers but on whom upon thy mother On her which brought thee forth which took most care to bring thee up from whom thou tookst thy self thou' rt sure thou art mine but dost not know who 't was begate thee Orest Wil 't Bastardize me Yes mother yes I know I was his son Alas why what are you a senselesse peice of rotten earth can do as much to corn as you to me bear it and bring it forth but Agamemnon he that seed did sow and only unto him my self I ow and for him thou shalt die Clyt. O I confesse my conscience tells me I deserve no lesse and thus thy mother from thee doth depart leaving vexation to torment thy heart She dies Orest Now friend I see my father live again and in his royal state at Argos Court This is the night in which he first came home O blessed powers of hell divine Canidia Now am I satisfied now hath revenge perfection and nothing grieves me but that Tyndarus my mothers father did not see her die I le in and tell him my thoughts must reveale those acts I do this night who would conceale Now soul triumph whist that my deed shall shine I' th face o th Court and all the world know 't mine Actus 5. Scena 1. Enter Orestes in his gown Tyndarus Strophius Electra Pylades two Lords Ore My Lord your daughters potion works most rarely the King 's asleep God blesse his Majesty O do not wake him faith 't is pity la. Tynd. What do I see ha blood the little child dead my daughter bleed Aegystheus kill'd Orest Your Lordships eyes do fail 't is but spilt wine Tynd. Lay hands o' th villain 't is the Physicians deed Orest Nay friends hands off 't is no Physician now Discovers himself See see old Tyndarus dost thou know me yet Fetch me my Crown and robes nay I 'll ascend Is not Atrides eldest son your King Tynd. What hast thou done foul Viper to eat out thy mothers bowels what was this thy deed Thy silence sayes 't was thine What Tanais Tygris or Rhenus or what flowing sea should wash thee in the salt Meotis streame Or Tethis at full tide o'rflow thy banks still would the spots of murder stick on them Orest Why Grandsire I go not about to wash by 't was all the fruit I thought to win to think all mischief here could be no sin Tynd. See see thy mother look upon her now on her whose eyes thou hast for ever clos'd which eyes have often wakned at thy cry and hush'd thee with a lullaby to sleep See see these hands which oft with so much care wrapt gently up thy unset tender limbs See see this face wont at thy signes to smile when nature gave not leave unto thy tongue to utter thy childs meaning Orest See see these bones these nasty rotten bones which had so often lock'd his hands in hers here stood the tongue which oft had call'd her sweet dear Clytemnestra and then stopt his speech and told his love in a more speaking signe Here stood those eyes which fed upon her face and made her of thy daughter a great Queen and she made him a dish for loathed worms Tynd. Suppose she did there was but one yet dead and with ones death again should be repaid Orest No Tyndarus had I desir'd but one I should have thought I had desired none Why methinks I should too have kill'd thee the number is too little yet of three Tynd. Into what land what country wilt thou fly all earths all lands all countries will fly
boy as brave as Greece e'r hatcht or Rome or Troy Enter Isaack Here 's Isaack Bassa hee 's already mine he courts my father but intends for mee and furthers all my counsells Noble friend how stand our hopes Isaack Great Sir most happily the Bassaes murmure at Achmetes wrong seize on their wavering love their breasts are ope to him that first will enter ther 's free scope drop dowre thy franke affection in their hands to bribe is lawfull and 't is strongly prov'd by good examples Otho ne'r was lov'd till he had bought the souldiers that once done Galba grew out of fashion so must wee addict them to us by a gaine-full fee Give freely and speak fairely I 'le be gone stay here the Bassaes will be here anon Exit Enter Mesithes Sely. I shall observe thy precepts Mesithes welcome How fare you in these dayes of discontent my dutie bids me aske and wish you well I have beene long a barren debtor to you At length I may prove thankfull weare my love 't is yours without refusal a sleight gift gives him a ring aside Yet your lookes tel me 't will helpe out my drift Mesi This courtesie exceeds my weake deserts sweet Prince but when occasion calls me forth to helpe you I 'me devoted to your worth Sely. Your kind acceptance of that recompence Binds me more strictly to you Mesith Sir farewell Exit and enter Mustapha Sely. So one hath tooke see where another comes all health to Mustapha Musta Thankes gracious Prince your gentle pardon for my boldnesse Sir Sely. Command my pardon and commend my love to thy bright daughter tell her I admire her vertuous perfection let that chaine gives him a chaine make me remembred often in her mind Must When my weak strength or wealth shall stretch so far as to continue Sely. No Cynicke complement good Mustapha Musta Then I returne you thankes Exit Sely. Health follow you and Honour me Here is a third at hand Enter Asmehemides Selym. Continuance to your health Sir Asme Thanks gentle Prince Please you to use my service Sely. Yes thus farre Spend me that purse of gold gives him a purse Asme What means your Highness Selym. But to deserve your kindness and avoid the hated censure of ingratitude Asme This is your liberal vertue not my deeds but you shall find me thankfull Exit Selym. So I hope three steps are trod already to a Throne and I am rich in friends these proffer'd gifts conjure observance from their servile brests Oh powerfull gold whose influence doth win men with desire for to engender sin Isaak Bassa Isaak Even the man you wisht What did the golden lure work good effect and make the Bassaes stoop unto your mind Sely. Words are but empty shadows but if deeds answer their words we cannot doubt their faith they stoop beneath my feet I seem to be as true as Jove but slye as Mercurie Enter Mesithes Here comes Mesithes muttering back again but step aside and we shall know his mind Mesith But he is cruel bloody and his pride unsufferable great Selymus Ha! Mesithes Proud Bajazet Thou hast usurp'd a title thy descent could never reach unto thou wrongst the world since thou detain'st the Crown which heavens decree due to a better brow thou art defam'd with Tyranny and wrong but Selymus is void of blemishes as truth of lyes bad stocks must be cut down the good must rise Sely. He daunted me at first but now I find the golds bright lustre made his judgment blind Mustapha comes Enter Mustapha Musta. Fortune hath wheel'd me up above the stars under a Monarch I 'le not sell my hopes Bold Selymus I 'le second thy designs and thou shalt Queen my daughter that being done with mine own splendor I 'le eclipse the Sunne Sely. Is' t so a while I 'le feed thy airy hopes then dash thee into nothing Here 's a third Enter Asmehemides Asm A purse of gold I can untie the knot the close aenigma sayes I would be King Brave Selymus I like thy mounting thoughts work out thy projects thou canst never need or ask my help but thou art sure to speed Exit Sely. What we resolv'd stands firm but the event be scan'd when leisure serves wee 'l now prevent my brothers hopes and by a sudden fate unto their lives and dayes give equal date to compass a blest end now we begin Jove hath offended if it be a sin to throw a father down Saturn did dwell once in the heavens Jove threw him down to hell Enter Bajazet and Achmetes hand in hand Cherseogles Mesithes Mustapha Mahometes Achomates Trizham Mahomet Asmehemides Sely But stay Achmetes and our fathers friends Bajaz. Achmetes I have injur'd thy deserts subborn'd accusers wrong'd my credulous ears and my rash censure undervalued much thy noble spirits when it first condemn'd them of intended treason rense thy soul in the dull river of oblivion we halt beneath the burthen of thy hate thinke my mov'd anger made me hot and wild I cannot sleepe till we be reconcil'd Achm. The gods neglect my welfare here on earth and when I shall put off this mortall load let me be out-law'd from the Court of heaven if in this bosome there lye hid one thought that doth not honour Bajazet Baia. Wee know thy vertues make us happy valiant Sir thy feete once more must tread a warlike march under our fearefull banner thou shalt pace even to the walles of Rome there dwels our foe where our halfe Moone rear'd in the middle camp like a distempred Meteor in the ayre shall strike amazement in the cloistred monkes and shake the Prelates Miter from his head till he yeeld Zemes up alive or dead When we have mov'd thee from thy Janizaries thou shalt not travell farre aside Isaack A subtile tricke and well pretended I admire thy wit aside Achm. Let me march hence and Bajazet shall know how little I befriend my Princes foe I le cast a ring of souldiers round about The walles of Rome if Zemes scape thence out cut of my breath he that 's deepe in blame Must hazard boldly to regaine his fame Triz. What meanes our father noble Bajazet to worke untimely horrors through the world desolate ruine publike discontent have printed deepe impressions in our path danger and feare scarce emptied from our towne the shaken members of our common wealth yet stagger with their wounds when discord shall make but a second breach they faint and fall Mah. Short peace hath charm'd your subjects all asleepe and throwne a quiet slumber ore their eyes whilest with a sweete restorative she heales their Martyr'd joynts and wipeth out their scarres writ on their bosomes by the hand of warres Zemes is safely cloystred up at Rome the Prelate dares not ayde him all the gods smile on the entrance of triumphant peace war lies fast bound nor can she worke our paines unlesse we loose the fury from her chaines Baja. Our sonnes instruct us must your pregnant
wits crosse my command Bassaes prepare for warre and since your grave discourse argues a will to stay at home you shall wee le lay you up where no loud ecchoing drums shall breake your sleepe even in the bowels of your mother earth I will entombe you Put them both to death Omnes What meanes great Bajazet Baja. To murder you unlesse you strangle them Ambo But heare us speake Baja. Stop up the damned passage of their throat Or you are all but ghosts What! stare you friends Isaack and Selymus a garter twist me that fatall string about his necke and either pull an end strangle Trizham Mesithes come joyne force with me by heaven y' were best make hast Or thou art shorter liv'd then is that bratt Tugge strongly at it strangle Mahomet So let the bastard droppe we have out-liv'd our tutors dunghill slaves durst they breath out their Stoicke sentences in opposition of our strickt command Selym. So things run well along and now I find Jove heares my prayers and the gods grow kind Baja. Did not I send these to their Provinces to hinder Zemes flight and did not they dejected bastards give him open way Mine anger hath been just Cherseo None doth deny 't you may proceed in your edict for warrs and make Achmetes General of the camp Baj. It is enough Achmetes go to hell stabs him the divels have rung out thy passing bell and look for thine arrival Shend me slaves Exeunt omnes They fly before my breath like mists of air and are of less resistance I 'le pursue Exit Achm. Oh I am slain Tyrant thy violent hand hath done me pleasure though against thy will had I as many lives as drops of bloud I 'de not outlive this hour fly hence vain soul climb yonder sacred mount strive upwards there there where a guard of stars shall hem thee round build thee a safe tribunal I am gone Oh tragick cruelty behold the end of two right Noble sons one faithful friend moritur Re-enter Bajazet in fury Baj. Have all forsaken me and am I left a prey unto my self did all their breath pass through his organs and in his sad death have I abruptly crackt the vital thred of all my Bassaes Achmetes groans Ha! where am I now In some Gebenna or some hollow vault where dead mens ghosts sigh out their heavy groans Resolve me Mahomet and rid me hence or I will spoil the fabrick of thy tomb and beat away the title of a God Dost thou not move a trunk a stock to die is to put on your nature so will I. Offering to stab himself Cherseogles Mesithes Mustapha Mahomates Achomates Selymus Asmehemides interrupt him Omnes Hold hold and live Baj. How come these bodies dead Filii Father it was your self Bajaz. Let me revoke my wandring sense Oh what a stream of blood hath purg'd me of my black suspition two sons one valiant Captain hence are wrought by mine own hand to cure one jealous thought As 't is they are the happier I out-live them whom I wisht to fall only to grave bear forth their bodies Bassaes carry them out We were curst in this and shall intomb with them much of our bliss indeed we had resolv'd to spend this day in things of more solemnity less wo. Now our most wished councel shall begin and bitter deeds weigh up the scales of sin Amasia is a province rich and strong Mahomates it is thine keep it as long as I have power to give it go provide for thy conveyance at the next fair tide Mahom. Farewell dear father Bajaz. Worthy son adieu the love my dead sons wanted falls to you as an hereditary good Selymus Then we aside may vail our heads in black no mourners be Baja. Achomates thy worth deserves some trophies of our love which to let slip unmention'd were to adde to this black day a fourth offence as bad Governe Manesia now the people stand dishfurnisht of an head let thy command be great amongst them so make speedy hast Honour stayes for thee Selym. Now the stormes are past Achom. Father adieu Exit Baja. Achomates farewell Selym. Now to my lot I thought 't would ne'r a fell aside Baja. Now Selymus wee know thy hopes are great and thine ambition gapes with open jawes to swallow a whole Dukedome but young Sir we dare not trust the raines of government into the hands of Phaeton Desire rashly fullfild may set the world on fire Greene youth and raw experience are not fit to shoulder up a Kingdomes heavie weight mixe wit with stay'd discretion and spend wild yeares in study then we doe intend to settle more preferment on thy head then thou can'st hope for Selymus Wilt thou envious dotard Strangle my greatnesse in a miching hole the world 's my study Bajazet my name Shall fill each angle of this round-built frame Exit Bajaz. I know he grumbled at it 't is good To calme the rebell heat of youthfull blood with sharpe rebukes Enter a Messengerâ— Messen Health to the Emperour Bajaz. What will your message Messen Duty first from Rome commended by the Bishop to your service with a firme promise to dispatch your will what ever it imply'd and would but stay till Times swift circle should bring forth a day secure for the performance Exit Bajaz. 'T is enough Thanks for your care This was to murder Zemes. War with the Bishop ' thad been pretty sport I knew my powerful word was strong enough to make him do my pleasure simple Priest only I vs'd it as a trick to send Achmetes from the City and his friends but Fate so smil'd upon me that I found a shorter means his life and hopes to wound with my sententious sons that when my foe fled through their Province finely let him goe which being wholy finish'd strait to please my friends I play'd a raging Hercules then to shut up the Scene neatly put on a passionate humour and the worst was done But who comes here A dumb show Enter Mahomates with store of Turks he as taking his leave they as ceremoniously with great humbleness taking their leavs depart at several doors I like not this Mahomates belov'd so dearly of the Comminalty ha Hee 's wise fair-spoken gently qualified powerful of tongue why hee 's the better son not to supplant his Father I mislike the prodigal affection thrown on him by all my subjects I bely'd my hopes when I presum'd this day had freely rid me of my worst vexation I was born to be a jade to Fate and fortunes scoff my cares grow double-great my cutting off Exit Actus 3. Scena 3. Enter Caigubus Achmetes Son Caig. If ever man lov'd sorrow wisht to grieve Father I do for thee Could I deprive my senses of each object but thy death then should I joy to sigh away my breath be Godhead to my griefe then shall these eyes with tributary tears bedeck thy shrine and thus I do invoke the nimble Ghost what ever or be of