ALAHAM THE SPEAKERS NAMES The old King Alahams second Son Caine Bassha Priest Nuntius Zophi the eldest Sonne Hala Alahams wife Mahomet Bassha Caelica the old Kings daughter Nutrix PROLOGVS The speach of a Ghost one of the old Kings of Ormus HOV Monster horrible vnder whose vgly doome Downe in Eternities perpetuall night Mans temporall sinnes beare torments infinite For change of desolation must I come To tempt the earth and to prophane the light From mournefull silence where paine dares not rore With libertie to multiplie it more Nor from the lothsome puddle Acheron Made foule with common sinnes whose filthie dampes Feed Lethes sinke forgetting all but mone Nor from that fowle infernall shaddowed Lampe Which lighteth Sisiphus to rowle his stone These be but bodies plagues the skirts of hell I come from whence deathes seate doth death excell A place there is vpon no centre placed Deepe vnder depthes as farre as is the skie Aboue the earth darke infinitely spaced Pluto the King the Kingdome miserie The Chrystall may Gods glorious seate resemble Horror it selfe these horrors but dissemble Priuation would raigne there by God not made But creature of vncreated sinne Whose being is all beings to inuade To haue no ending though it did beginne And so of past things present and to come To giue depriuing not tormenting doome But horror in the vnderstanding mixt And memorie by Eternities seale wrought Vnto the bodies of the euill fixt And into reason by our passion brought Here rackt torne and exil'd from vnitie Though come from nothing must for euer be The sinnes that enter here are capitall Atheisme where creatures their Creator lose Vnthankfull Pride nature and graces fall Mate of Mankinde in Man vnnaturall Hypocrites which bodies leaue and shadowes chose The persons either Kings by fortune blest Or men by nature made Kings of the rest Here Tyrants that corrupt authoritie Councell'd out of the feares of wickednesse Cunning in mischiefe prowd in crueltie Are furies made to plague the weaker ghosts Whose soules entising pleasure only lost The weaker Kings whose more vnconstant vice Their States vnto their humors made a prey For suffering more then Kings to Tyrannise Are damn'd though here to be yet not to stay For backe they goe to tempt with euery sinne As easiest it the world may enter in My selfe sometimes was such Ormus my state I bare the name yet did my Basshas raigne Trusts to few windowes are vnfortunate For Subiects growing full is Princes wane Loe all misdeeds procure their owne misfate For by my trusted Basshas was I slaine Now sent to teare downe my posteritie That haue their sinnes inheritance from me My first charge is the ruine of mine owne Hell keeping knowledge still of earthlinesse None coming there but spirits ouergrowne And more embodied into wickednesse The bodie by the spirit liuing euer The spirit in the body ioying neuer In heauen perchance no such affections be Those angel-Angell-soules in flesh imprisoned Like strangers liuing in Mortalitie Still more and more themselues enspirited Refining Nature to Eternity By being maids in earths adulterous bed And idly forget all here below Where we our parents but to plague them know My next charge is from this darke Regiment With wiles to scourge this age effeminate Not open force or humors violent Time fashions mindes mindes manners manners fate Here rage giues place wit must rule ill intent Proud honor being an ill for this State Too strong sleight must misleade the innocent Craft the corrupt For though none dare be iust Yet coward ill with care grow wicked must This present King weake both in good and ill Louing his trust and trusting but his ghesse Shall perish in his owne faiths wantonnesse Betray'd by Alaham whom he know'th ill Yet to beware lackes actiue constantnesse A destinie of well-beleeuing wit That hath not strength of iudgement ioyn'd with it Alaham his sonne fond of the fathers Throne Desire his idoll libertie his might As ouerborne with error infinite Shall finde that fate all secret faults can hit For he that for himselfe would ruine all Shall perish in his craft vnnaturall Hala his wife diuerse and strong in lust Liberall out of selfe-loue of error proud When shamelesse craft and rage haue seru'd her turne In prides vainglorious martyrdome shall burne Zophi the eldest Sonne whose reason is With frailty drown'd and sillinesse confus'd Borne but to liue and yet denied this So well knowes power what spirits may be abus'd Becomes the prey of factious craftie wit Which stirres that ruine vp which ruines it Caine Bassha like the clouds who liue in ayre Th' orbe of natures constant inconstancie Now fame now shame shall in his fortune beare His vice and vertue still in infancy Change for his wisdome and chance for his ends Harm'd by his hopes and ruin'd by his friends Mahomet with honor faine would change the tide Of times corrupt here stopping violence There contermining craft and pleading right But reason sworne in generall to sense Makes honor bondage iustice an offence Till liberty that faire deceiuing light Turnes mischiefe to an humor popular Where good men catch'd in nets of dutie are Caelica because in flesh no seedes are sowne Of heauenly grace but they must bring vp weedes Death in her fathers murther she affects Seduc'd by glory whose excesse still feedes It selfe vpon the barren steepes of mone For humane wit wants power to diuide Wherby affections into error slide Heli the priest who teaching from without Corrupted faith bound vnder lawes of might Not feeling God yet blowing him about In euery shape and likenesse but the right Seeking the world finds change there ioyn'd with chance To ruine those whom error would advance Now marke your charge Each fury worke his part In senselesse webs of mischiefe ouerthwart You are not now to worke on priuate thoughts One instant is your time to alter all Corruption vniuersall must be wrought Impossible to you is naturall Plots and effects together must be brought Mischiefe and shame at once must spring and fall Vse more than power of man to bring forth that Which it is meant all men shall wonder at Craft Go thou forth worke honor into lust Malice Sow in selfe-loue vnworthinesse Feare Make it safe for no man to be iust Wrong Be thou clothed in powers comelinesse Wit Play with faith take glory in mistrust Let duty and Religion goe by ghesse Furies Stirre you vp warre which follow must When all things are corrupt with doublenesse From vice to vice let error multiply With vncouth sinnes murthers adulteries Incorporate all kindes of iniquity Translate the State to forraigne Tyrannies Keepe downe the best and let the worst haue power That warre and hell may all at once deuoure Actus I. Scena I. ALAHAM HELI. ALaham. Thou coward soule Why standst thou doubting now Why to and fro The dice of chance are cast Counsells of law of shame of loue are past Thinke what the worst haue done what they enioy That
wits borne to be thrall Who sees one thought beyond them seeth all Mahomet returnes But whether deeply shrin'd Within the hollow abstracts of his heart His malice lay or that ambitious kinde Be easie for it selfe from all to part Respect to me and honour layd behinde Finding this King to be but humors art He takes his soule and miracles he showes Restores the lost th' establish'd ouerthrowes My elder brother whom the Gods fore-spake Lawes had depriu'd exil'd and men forgot He straight calls home and dares to vndertake That which audacity beleeueth not Ah! Error of good meaning apt to trust For want of ill enough I perish must And am I borne for duties sacrifice To watch for change of times or Gods reuenge Is patience scorne and hazard yet vnwise No No Confusion raignes despaire is it That now makes chance a God and danger wit Inflam'd distract confus'd put out of feare I am Visions I feele of better hopes arise Malice and rage whose heats had barrennesse Are with ambition of reuenge made wise Birth chance occasion right good fortunes be To some and wrong can all these be to me Heli. Alaham I grant these trialls be seuere But know temptation is misfortunes spie To worke in resolution change or feare Attend your fathers death still hold you there Before to vndermine a Monarchy Is hard Besides iudge you your own intent For such your brother is in this to you As you before vnto your brother were He hath his owne and you liue out of feare Alaham. Who measures hopes and losses by the truth Goes euer naked in this world of might Mine be the Crowne my brothers be the right Heli. Will you exceed his mischiefe whom you blame Alah. When euill striues the worst haue greatest name Heli. Goodnesse is only at the greatest best Alaham. Those mischiefes prosper that exceed the rest Heli. Thou art but one for all a sufferer be Alaham. That one is more than all the world to me Heli. Faults to the State all priuate faults exceed Alaham. My wounds then heale when all the earth doth bleed Heli. Let father moue thee Pittie thou the State Alaham. Father descending kindnesse signifies Our State is there where our well-being lies Heli. Fame euer liues and euer will defame The ruine of thy father and his Crowne Alaham. They euer prosper whom the world doth blame Shame sees not climing vp but falling downe Heli. Yet feare thy selfe if fame thou doest not feare Reuenge falls heauie when God doth forbeare Alaham. Men only giddie be that be aboue And will looke downe to doubts when they be there Shall name of King o'erthrow a Kings Estate Hath publike good no friend Shall priuate feare Of one weake man make all vnfortunate No No deare Heli I Gods Champion am And will my father for a while depose Lest he the Kingdome we the Church doe lose Heli. Alaham If hands you on your father lay For priuate ends and make the Church your stayres By which you clime your owne ambitious way Your glory will be short and full of feares Since nothing for the Church is done amisse And nothing well done that against her is Alaham. So be the God eternall my beleefe As I my father from his State depose Only for feare the Church should honor lose But Heli Iudge not things with common eyes The Church it is one linke of Gouernment Of noblest Kings the noblest instrument For while Kings sacred keepe her mysteries She keepes the world to Kings obedient Giuing the body to obey the spirit So carrying power vp to infinite But here with vs the discipline is stain'd Forme lost truth scandaliz'd with noueltie Louingnesse with craft and faith with Atheisme Honor and zeale with curiosity The worst best vs'd shame carrying honors face And Innouation king in euery place Downe must these ruines to be set vpright Misfortune peec'd growes more vnfortunate And parents Lawes must yeeld to Lawes of State Heli. Then see the means For though the end were good Yet for a priuate man to change a State With Monarchs sleights to alter Monarchie Seemes hard if not impossible to me Alaham. Impossible is but the faith of feare To make hope easie fetch beliefe elswhere Yet lest these sparkes rak'd vp in hollow hearts Should spread and burne before their fury show Keepe on the course which you haue vs'd to goe Preach you with firie tongue distinguish might Tyrants from Kings duties in question bring Twixt God and man where power infinite Compar'd makes finite power a scornfull thing Safely so craft may with the truth giue light To iudge of Crownes without enammelling And bring contempt vpon the Monarchs State Where straight unhallowed power hath peoples hate Glaunce at Prerogatiues indefinite Taxe customes warres and Lawes all gathering Censure Kings faults their spies and fauourites Holinesse hath a priuiledge to sting Men be not wise bitternesse from zeale of spirit Is hardly iudg'd the enuy of a King Makes people like reproofe of Maiesty Where God seemes great in Priests audacity Thus keep a good For be he true or no Mixt faith so workes on mans idolatrie That minds in bonds bodies delight in woe Religion carrying men aboue respect For what thing else can stand in selfe neglect And when mens mindes thus tun'd and tempted are To change with arguments 'gainst present times Then hope awakes and mans ambition climes Heli. What hope can blot the feare of Princes power Alaham. Taxes and scornes of Basshas gouernment Which vnder Kings make present times still sowre Hope leades the ill and they the innocent Heli. These hopes are poore For feare is with thē mixt Alaham. All feares are weake where any hope is fixt Heli. Dissolue t is true you may with enuy feare Craft treacherie contempt neglect Not build these sands will no foundation beare These engines are to ruine not erect Will you a father can you a King throw downe Alaham. Or suffer that the Christians weare his Crowne Heli. The Christians with what faith or policy Can you call in Such remedies are ill For what they conquer that enioy they will Besides the force lies in Caine Basshas hands In Mahomet wealth law and gouernment What way to them Alaham. My wife their mutuall trust These Basshas with themselues she shall betray Arts of reuenge are written downe in lust What cannot women doe with wit and play Heli. Who would bestow his wife in works of shame Alaham. They that thinke ought more deare than honest name Good fortune doth in humors market sit And those that buy must sell all else for it Heli. The shame is sure the good in hazard lies Alaham. Such staires they clime that vnto fortune rise Opinion raignes without and truth within Who others please against themselues must sin Exit Heli. You spirits then growne subtile by your age Not you that doe inhabite Paradise Whose constant ioyes most vnacquainted be With all affections that should make you wise No I inuoke that blacke
excesse Let no cost be forgot It makes men wonder though they honour not Musicke to fix the wandring spirits race And sweeten Enuies thoughts in vnity That sorrow and deuotion may haue place Remorse and pittie flow and multiply Lights of all kindes the light of day shut out For darknesse so enammeld is deuout Exit Priest Vnhappy state of Priesthood here below Who haue to doe with curious Atheisme With sinne in flesh and in the Church with schisme Our office is an holy mystery To teach Kings God and euery Subiect King How one obedience doth another bring But what boots truth to flesh or lawes to might Beleefe a wonder is Obedience woe And shall we Priests that vnder Princes liue Striue in our selues with vice abroad with might And like the hands which winnow rich mens gaine Grow poore in all but only woe and paine No No The eyes of Priests looke euer low To finde the key of power that is aboue When that is found all faults beneath we know But Maiesty hides faults as well as loue And though these rites of Princely funerall By lawes diuine should not prophaned be With lesse than with descents of Maiesty Yet Caine more Princely by thy Princes grace Shall be thy tombe than euer Princes was CHORVS TERTIVS A Dialogue of Good and Euill Spirits THe Good What is your scope vaine Ghosts would you o'rebuild the skie Were not mens Many tongues and minds their Babel-destinie Your beings discords are and what can they create But disproportion which is still the fairest marke of fate The Ill. Are you afrayd poore Soules Else why doe you descend To question or conferre with vs to whom you are no friends Who feare their owne Estates doe commonly first speake As they againe put goodnesse on who find their party weake We doe but what we did which is increase our might And as on earth so in the ayre cry downe your borrowed light The Good What can you winne of vs that must be as we were Whereas you exiles out of heauen can hope for nothing there The Ill. We that were as you are know well what you can be Where you that neuer were like vs what can you in vs see The Good That you haue first destroyed your selues and are ordain'd To scourge curse and corrupt that earth which you boast to haue gain'd The Ill. Why did not you defend that which was once your owne Betweene vs two the odds of worth by odds of power is knowne Besides Mappe clearly out your infinite extent Euen in the infancy of time when much was innocent Could this world then yeeld ought to enuie or desire Where pride of courage made men fall and basenesse rais'd them higher Where they that would be great to be so must be least And where to beare and suffer wrong was vertues natiue crest Mans skinne was then his silke the worlds wild fruit his food His wisdome poore simplicity his Trophies inward good No Maiesty for power nor glories for mans worth Nor any end but as the plants to bring each other forth Temples and vessells fit for outward sacrifice As they came in so go they out with that which you count Vice The Priesthood few and poore No Throne but open ayre For that which you call good allowes of nothing that is faire No Pyramis rais'd vp aboue the force of Thunder Nor Babel-walles by Greatnesse built for Littlenesse a wonder No Conquest testifying wit with courage mixt As wheeles whereon the world must runne and neuer can be fixt No Arts or Characters to read the great God in Nor stories of acts done for these all entred with the sinne A lasy calme wherein each foole a pilot is The glory of the skilfull shines where men may go amisse Till we came in there was no triall of your might And since we were in men your selues presume of little right Then cease to blast the earth with your abstracted dreames And striue no more to carry men against affections streames Nay rather tempt and proue if long life make them wise That must to haue their beauties seene put out all fleshly eyes Or when they be no more Eternall then to be Neglect the ioy and glorious vse of times felicity Cast out these thinne-weau'd lines and catch some little flyes The greater spirits which are ours feele not these nimble eyes In Alaham for instance plead your power or right Entise him from a mortall Crowne with your Crowne infinite Proue if he will forbeare vnnaturall Parricide To see who in the sea of humors shall the Scepter guide Trie if proud Hala will forget the death of Caine And reconcil'd in dutie with her owne Lord liue and raigne Moue Celica that spirit reputed for your owne To see if she to saue her life would haue her fame vnknowne Worke Zophi that poore soule though blinde to leaue his breath We only make things cheape or deare as Lords of life and death Lastly perswade the King to liue and saue his Crowne And all the world shall see we rayse and wee pull Princes downe So that your beings here are but a tincture cast Like crests vpon the Egypt Pharos to disguise not last Besides take from the world that which you reckon Sinne And she must be as at the first for euer to beginne A glorious spacious wombe fram'd to containe but one Since he that in it will be yours is sure to be alone Keepe therefore where you are descend not but ascend For vnderneath the Sun be sure no braue State is your friend The Good What haue you wonne by this but that curst vnder Sinne You make and marre throw downe and raise as euer to beginne Like Meteors in the ayre you blaze but to burne out And change your shapes like Phantom'd clouds to leaue weake eyes in doubt Not truth but truth-like grounds is that you worke vpon Varying in all but this that you can neuer long be one Then play here with your art false miracles deuise Deceiue and be deceiued still be foolish and seeme wise In peace erect your Thrones your delicacie spread The flowers of time corrupt soone spring and are as quickly dead Let warre which tempest-like all with it selfe o're-throwes Make of this diuerse world a stage for blood-enammeld showes Successiuely both these yet this fate follow will That all their glories be no more than change from ill to ill So as with peace or warre if you adorne one realme In both through other Climes againe you runne with barren streame Rest no where therefore but still wander as you doe And restlesse be they as you are that shall receiue you too Giue Alaham more scope to multiply his error With parents blood adorne his Throne more guilt still adds more terreur Let Hala's wicked heart for all ill births a wombe By violence of passion make for many vices roome Let ill example in to staine the Christian Nation The same excesse destroyes at last which first gaue reputation Conspire
Dutie others Natures Lawes Should I haue lost a Crowne for such applause No No Each State peculiar wisdomes hath The way of Princes is to hide their mindes For else each slaue will suddenly descrie Our inward passions which they trafficke by Remisnesse did in me no sooner moue And only by a pawse it selfe expresse But straightway they diuin'd remorse or loue And instantly drew arguments from both As if distraction to resolue were loth But like a Sultan mixing power with art When I made good my will and only said Sirs doe your charge This intermittent passion Is but the print of naturall affection The seat of Iustice is aboue compassion Straight as if Furies breath had fild these bladders With cruell hearts their charge they vndertooke And euer after made my will their booke Who gouerne men if they will stay aboue Must see and scorne the downfalls of selfe-loue Nay marke againe what glory Order yeelds Where euery spirit is fitted to his roome Did not distresse these weake Ghosts well become At which fine playes of Chance and intercession Did I relent Or had I any sense But in the glories of Omnipotence These Scepter-mysteries Kings must obserue Or not be Kings Are priuate vertues such Want great Estates no other strengths but those Which make them for good words good fortune lose As Dogges their kennels these their graues did frame 'T was crafty power that gaue such lawes to fame Away they went rich in selfe-pitties smoke No hope of praise but by their forme of death Nor of reuenge but in the Peoples breath While I ascending roame to looke about And in the strength of confidence and power Behold the vnprosperities of doubt But harke What mournfull harmonie is this In dole my Triumphs are What sounds are these Change is thy nature both to grieue and please Confused Echo's whither doe you flye Or whence proceed From grudge or from applause Except my will craues Mankinde any lawes Solemnity inferres the worke is ended Yet heare I noyse that showes vnquiet motion As from their ashes some new worke intended Now shall we know Behold I see one come Whose looks bring woe and horrour from that Tombe Actus quintus Scena secunda Nuntius Alaham NVntius Distract confus'd are all my inward spirits Griefe would complaine yet dares not speake for feare Horrour the place of wonder disinherits Caines next of kinne so willingly to die For pompe and honor to his funerall The flesh to couet that which flesh doth fly This wonder went I to the Pile to see As costly glories of the vanity In stead of these I saw the veyles of Power Practise and pompe specious hypocrisie Rent from her face euen while she did deuoure I saw those glorious stiles of Gouernment God Lawes Religion wherein Tyrants hide The wrongs they doe and all the woes we bide Wounded prophan'd destroy'd Power is vnwise That thinkes in pompe to maske her Tyrannies Looke where he stands a Monster growne within Still thirsty and yet full with Parents blood Both man and Tyrant dearly vnderstood Alaham. Hath meeke deuotion finished her worke Tell what their manner was and how they died That to the dead would thus be crucified Nuntius The fire though mercilesse yet sometimes iust Hath done his part deuoured but refin'd Perform'd thy will and yet deceiu'd thy trust Alaham. Speake plaine What threatning mysteries be these Nuntius Echos they be of murmurs which possesse The hearts of men against Powers wickednesse The first which burnt as Caine his next of kinne In blood your Brother and your Prince in State Drew wonder from mens hearts brought horror in This innocent this soule too-meeke for sinne Yet made for others to doe harme withall With his selfe-pitty teares drew teares from vs His blood compassion had his wrong stirr'd hate Deceipt is odious in a Kings Estate Repiningly he goes vnto his end Strange Visions rise strange Furies haunt the flame People crie out Echo repeats his name These words he spake euen breathing out his breath Vnhappy weaknesse neuer innocent If in a Crowne yet but an instrument People obserue this fact may make you see Excesse hath ruin'd what it selfe did build But ah the more opprest the more you yeeld The next was he whose age had reuerence His gesture something more than priuatenesse Guided by one whose stately grace did moue Compassion euen in hearts that could not loue As soone as these approched neare the flame The winde the steame or furies rays'd their vayles And in their lookes this image did appeare Each vnto other life to neither deare These words he spake Behold one that hath lost Himselfe within and so the world without A King that brings authority in doubt This is the fruit of Powers misgouernment People my fall is iust yet strange your fate That vnder worst will hope for better State Griefe roares alowd Your Sister yet remain'd Helping in death to him in whom she died Then going to her owne as if she gain'd These mild words spake with lookes to heauen bent O God! 'T is thou that suffrest here not we Wrong doth but like it selfe in working thus At thy will Lord Reuenge thy selfe not vs The fire straight vpward beares the soules in breath Visions of horror circle in the flame With shapes and figures like to that of death But lighter-tongu'd and nimbler-wing'd than fame Some to the Church some to the People fly A voyce cries out Reuenge and Liberty Princes Take heed Your glory is your care And Powers foundations Strengths not Vices are Alaham. What change is this that now I feele within Is it disease that workes this fall of spirits Or workes this fall of spirits my disease Things seeme not as they did horror appeares What sinne imbodied what strange sight is this Doth sense bring backe but what within me is Or doe I see those shapes which haunt the flame What summons vp remorse Shall Conscience rate Kings deeds to make them lesse than their Estate Ah silly ghost is 't you that swarme about Would'st thou that art not now a father be These body lawes doe with the life goe out What thoughts be these that doe my entrailes teare You wandring spirits frame in me your hell I feele my brother and my sister there Where is my wife There lacks no more but shee Let all my owne together dwell with me Actus quintus Scena tertia Hala Alaham HAla. Wife Is that name but stile of thy remorse Must I goe where thy silly parents be Thou yet but feel'st thy selfe thou shalt feele me A King And in a Throne built out of blood The ashes of your owne must giue you power Glutton Ambition now thy selfe deuoure Looke in thy Conscience that vnflattering glasse See there the wounds of Caine thy wrongs to me Death triumphs now And I doe giue it thee Caine here beginnes to liue whilst thou do'st feed Vpon the poyson that thy wife deuis'd Thy debter yet but stay I will exceed