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
in Hala sometimes breed remorse At least a doubt that euill hath no force Thou makest Caine in vndertaking slow Who must to serue thy turne like goodnesse show Those Scenes still tedious are those Acts too long Where thy vnresolute Images be strong For while you feare your true tormentor Shame I swallow all at once with honors name Then glory not since where thy links excell There we inlarge not but contract our hell Corrupt reason Peace you base Subalterns and striue no more That but the Carriers be of my rich store Perchance you thinke me th' obiect of you all And so no Furie but the Furies thrall Where I giue forme and stuffe to make you worse And so become your Lord and not your Nurse I breake the banks of dutie honor faith And subiect am to no power but to death Charge me I grant Delayes grow out of wit And are not all your false webs wrought by it To time I haue respect to person place I crosse my selfe to giue my owne acts grace I am Base to you all and so the chiefe Equall with truth where I finde good beleefe I beare the weight of feare the rage of lust With selfe-loue enuy malice left in trust I calme Mans windy pride distempered rage Giuing to each a shape for euery age Wrong I attire in purple robes of might That State may helpe it to be infinite And who is fitter here to rule you all Than I that giue you being by my fall Know therfore all you shadow-louing Spirits Who haue no being but in mans demerits That infinite desires and finite power At once can neuer all mankinde deuoure Though men be all ours and all we but one The vice yet cannot build or stand alone Be it mans weaknesse that doth interrupt Or some power else that cannot be corrupt Or be there what there may be else aboue Which may and will maintaine her owne by loue Yet haue we scope enough to marre this State And to the euer being what is late As men in your names image vglinesse To checke beloued childrens wantonnesse When they would haue them doe things or for beare And call you when they know you are not there So I enammell your deformity Making all your excesses like to me And that you may beleeue this to be true We are not like For what am I but you Euill Spirits Reason You marre our Mart by coueting Not to be equall with vs but our King For though you now like Romane Augurs be Who but your staffe haue no true mysterie Yet doe you striue to rule adde or diminish And idly so protract what we could finish Else how could Alaham or Hala stay So long from making to our ends a way Lusts open face this Age will easily beare And hope here currant is to all but feare Wrong needs no veile where times doe tyrannize And what but lacke of heart is then vnwise Age hath descri'd those toyes to be but name Which in the worlds youth did beare reall fame Iustice Religion Honour Humblenesse Shaddowes which not well mixt make beauty lesse They helpe to smother not inlarge our fire By putting painted maskes on mans desire And giue time to vnactiue Theorie Which rage it selfe would not doe were it free So that we Circe-like change men to beasts Which beasts turne men againe Too base a crest For vs that would quite banish doing well And so at once change heauen and earth to hell In which course who doth well obserue each part Shall finde mankinde to haue so strange a heart As being all ill yet no one ill serues To worke him to that mischiefe he deserues Feare hope desire loue courage being mixt So nicely in him as none can be fixt Which is our glorie as for euery state To haue a Tempter fitted and a fate A feare in Great men still to lose their might And in the meane ambition infinite Truth in the witty held but as a notion Honor the Old mans God the Youths promotion All which opposing powers yet doe agree To worke corruption in humanity Then on This time is ours What need we haste Since till time ends our raigne is sure to last Actus tertius Scena prima ALAHAM alone ALaham. I march aboue the wits and hearts of men Chance at my feet and power in my hand Now King indeed Obedience doth become Men that can strength by wisdome ouercome It honour was euen worthy more than Crownes To passe the Basshas in aduenturing They were possest I dispossest of all But liberty to liue or dye a thrall Truth was in vaine no peecing vp with might For me I saw I had too good a cause Counsell is slow each minute infinite When resolution to her ripenesse drawes I saw corruption was the way to rise And with that shot I pierc'd their tyrannies Their guard I did corrupt Base seruile spirits I knew lackt wit to see or heart to beare Temptation For desire is infinite In them that wanting honour cannot feare Triall is made The King I doe possesse My right is more why should my hope be lesse And am I King And doe my foes still liue Can wounded Greatnesse slumber in a Throne Or that be glory which I feele alone No No Let rigour speake which all men heare Life is the worke of Nature death of Kings Ruine it is that reputation brings My Guard is strong their first imployment is The murther of those men my father trusts Not all for that were cruelty not wit Some simple being some indifferent sp'rits Their ends and honours being but delights Others ambitious rash and violent No inward strength of nature or of grace Of present power the noblest instruments Transforme and vse wit vertue doth exceed For it is all or none as men haue need Only my care is how the Plot should proue Which for the Basshas now in ambush lies My wife hath art and rage which iointly moue Her head-strong spirits vnto cruelties But if her craft serue not to plucke them downe The sword wants not pretences for the Crowne My friends and Mates You vpon whom I lay My life and honour with this State in trust Be resolute For scruple doth betray Since all great works haue great examples must Take Assem Zeraphus and Velladoune Blood asketh blood with rauine they did spoyle The people first and now betray the Crowne Reuenge your parents Countrey-men and kin Blood here is iust true honor and no sinne The cancred Calchas scourge of Tyrannies Great master of deceipt Artisan of spoyle The spie of faults and spring of subsidies Naked deliuer him into the Sea To plague those faults it cannot wash away The rest to bonds who though they want no spite Their frailty yet for innocence shall stand All else exile Obey in euery thing They happy are that serue a rising King Actus tertius Scena secunda Caine Alaham CAine Plac'd in a Throne Guarded Ador'd and Crownd What meanes this change These signes of
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