though he meane his ouerthrow Least men should thinke their fauour but a net VVhere easie in but hardly out they get Rossa Rosten let Mustapha be thy example That Tragedies are Gods and Princes plaies Kings know new hopes blot out the shame of bookes Desires eye on hope onely lookes While childrens blood the fathers forehead staine What priuiledge for Councellors remaine He that hath intent to ruine houses Plucks not the timber all at once away Least ruines ruine on himselfe he lay Fury will haue a time to breathe from killing Fury is a wheele with ease kept going Where it with many hands at first was moued Feares shield of proofe is trampt in others blood Good fortune seldome comes by doing good Rost. Fortune is often by presumption tempted To turne the backe Rossa Nay fortune harlot-sicke Who thinkes good maner to be want of spirit Is dearest vnto those that vse her rudely Onely with humble bashfulnesse is tempted Rost. What argument against him Rossa Vse of killing Suspition the fauourite of Princes Delight of change fauours past and feare of greatnesse Sharpned by Acmats harsh and open dealing With noble Princes libertie would draw Into the narrow scope of common awe Power of mischance yeelds honour to aduenture Mustapha is dead Rost. Not dead while Acmat liueth Small sparkes from fire quencht to danger growes From him that feares to strike feare neuer parteth Let Acmat die and danger is departed For Zanger I his brothers charge haue gotten Yet least his death not lookt for might amase him For youth and kindnesse oft doe thinke it glory At things done for their profit to repine I will make haste and giue him from his father Mustaphaes estate his fortune and succession When reason failes one passion rules another Hope and good fortune doe forget a brother Rossa Come Rosten let vs doe and then consider CHORVS VVHen will this life this sparke put in our spright To giue light to this lumpe of flesh and blood Leaue to denie strong destinie her right VVhich it feeles daily cannot be withstood Man looke not downe looke vp into the skie There liue thou must and mai'st be glad to die ACTVS V. SCENA I. Achmatt alone In what Dilemma of mischance stand I Vs'd by the subtile Art of wicked gouernement To serue a tyrants turne with faith and honestie Plac'd ouer men whome vniust rage doth iustly moue I am either in heate of heady mutinie To die or scaping by respect that saftie may Suspition to my selfe and honour lay Destinie hath shot the shaft and it must light To stirre or paine against the streame of fate Which mooues from ill deserts it is too late Innocence and faith from safe estates ouerthrow For floods of error from authoritie The multitude hath easily ouerthrowen For when Kings states must and must fall Iustice diuides not there but ruines all But looke where Rossa comes like Aprill waters Both gusts and cleaues in stormie forhead carrying Like power that with itselfe doth feare miscarying ACTVS V. SCENA II. Rossa Chorus Acmat Acm. Who euer thinkes by vertue to aspire And goodnesse deemes to be good fortunes starre Or who by mischiefe will seeke his desire And thinkes no Conscience wayes to honour are Mustapha here seeing thee and me Sees no man good or ill rules destinie And would exchange the course of fates by wit Which Gods doe make to bring their workes to end And with it selfe euen oft doth ruine it A Tyrant fate to them that doe amisse For nothing left me but my error is Chor. VVhat glory is this that with it selfe is sad Good lucke makes all men but the guiltie glad Ross. Zanger for whome Mustapha was slaine Zanger for whome Camanaes blood was shed Zanger for whome all the world on me complain'd Hath done that which no truth or law could doe Remorce and feares in my distresse hath bred Murthered himselfe and ouerthrowne me too In euery creatures heart there liues desire VVhich men doe follow as appearing good And Greatnes men doe thinke it to aspire Although it weaknes be well vnderstood This vnbound raging infinite thoughts fire I tooke nay it tooke me and plac'd my heart On hopes to alter Empires and Successions And as the sea when his ambitious power Hath ouer-run his neighbour element His pride his rage his glorie to deuoure Nor can with any greatnes be content Till all the Countrie that lay still before Rise vp and force him back vnto the shore So when as I had wonne the marriage bed And Soliman with himselfe ouercome To breake and lay a sleepe his Prophets law By being only of desire in awe Error of selfe harme euer brought a bed Made me this wheele of misfortune drawe Daunger was sport mischiefe desires art Nothing seemd hard but to leaue this impression I Mustapha his fall did vndertake And like the stormes that doe blow VVhen all things but themselues they ouerthrow Hatefull I did him to his father make But as desires on diuers things are plac'd So diuers works For foules like senses haue a diuers taste There be birds of the day and of the night No laws can make one will to be embrac't The daughters heart will make the mother spight Camenas thoughts were soft her good was forth She but with others loue though nothing worth To Mustapha she opens mine intent For she had tried but could not turne my heart Yet she no hurt to me in telling ment Yet hurt she did me to disclose my art I sought reuenge reuenge it could not be For I confesse she neuer wronged me But as the Christian when she sees her child Puld by the great-Lords-men from mothers breast Though she do know it will him honor yeeld Yet for her fathers sake her soule cannot rest So though I know Camenas heart was good Yet I did earne to haue my will withstood Remorce which hath affection in each heart Since whose reason is but what they see Womanish loue and shame with feare tooke part They all conspir'd to haue commanded me Humble patience voide of feare and art Camenas onely strength and weapons be I kild her yet confesse I did her loue Furies of choice what arguments can moue I kild her for a thought her death would proue That truth not hate made Mustapha suspected The more it seem'd against a mothers loue The more it shewd I Solyman affected Thus vnderneath seuere and vpright dealing A mischieuous step-mothers malice stealing It tooke effect for few meane ill in vaine He died infamous though he guilties were High power hath truth tied vnder lawes of feare I liue selfe-guilty and who durst complaine So little care the Gods for me below So little men feare God they do not know This Mustapha whose death I made my glory Hath spoiled all my power but power to be sorry For Zanger when he saw his brother dead Confusedly with diuers shapes distract He silent stood horrors darke cloudes possest him Madnes was mixt with woe kindnes with Racke reuerence reuenge both representing shame Stood equally against and with a mothers name But as these shadowes from his heart withdrew That light became restored to his mind The globes of his enraged cares he threw On me like nature iustly made vnkind Vertue bare secret witnes he was true Remorce did then make me my error find Finde Lo. this hatefull loue did make From pittie woe he spake Mother is this heart Is there nor Law your desire Can neither power nor goodnesse scape your art Be these the Counsels by which you aspire Doth mischiefe onely feare no ouerthwart Is there no Hell nor doe the Deuils loue fire If neither God Heauen Hell nor Deuill bee 'T is plague enough that I am borne of thee Mother O monstrous name shall it be said That thou hast done this fact for Zangers sake Honour and life shall they to me vpbraid That from thy mischiefe they their glory take O wretched men that vnder shame are laid For sinnes that we and sinnes our parents make Yet Rossa to be thine in this I glorie That being thine giues power to make thee sorie He wounds his heart and downe with death he fals On Mustapha who there for his sake died Fame with his breath he wils on him to call Forgetfulnesse he would should me betide For the dead and mercie for vs all And with these words for mercie died Thy goodnesse I mis-vnderstood Shunning ill did worse to shed my blood He dies VVoe is me when in my looke Horror I see all their lost but My loue I ioy become booke Eternitie of shame is printed there Thinke of God Alas that so I might Madnesse onely natures peace VVith thy selfe though all else thou displease Made to giue light spirits ease VVhat shall I doe Desuntpauca FINIS
O Kings why swell you so against your maker Is rais'd equality so soone growne wilde Dare you depriue your people of succession Which kinges and kingdomes on their heades did build Is fortune of forgetfulnes with child Haue feare or loue in greatnes no impression Since people who did raise you to the crowne Are ladders standing still to let you downe O wretched state of man in Tyrants fauour Like men throwne vpon sands in ebbing water Dead if they trust and stay drown'd if they venture Zan. Acmat what strange euents breed these strange passions Acm. Nature is ruin'd humanity fallen asunder Our Alchoran prophan'd Empire defac'd Hell 's broken loose truth dead hope banished Darke feare and sorrow doe both strike and threaten My heart is full my voice doth saint and tremble Zang. Yet tell the worst for cowards death vnarmeth When need resolues vs to endure all terror And sorrowes vttere are like wines which vented Both purge themselues and doe not breake the vessell By counsell and comparison things lessen Acm. No counsell or comparison can lessen The losse of Mustapha so vildly murthered Zan. How dead what chance or malice hath preuented Mankinds good fortune Acm. Fathers vnkindly malice Zan. Tell how Acm. When Solyman by Rostens cunning spight And Rossaes witchcraft from his heart had banisht Iustice of Kings and louingnes of fathers To wage and lodge such campes of heauy passions As cunning stepdames iealousie could gather Enuy tooke hold of worth doubt did misconster Renowne was made a lie and yet a terrour Nothing could rage remoue or moue compassion Mustapha must die to which end fetcht he was Loden with hopes and promises of fauour But Mustapha neither hoped nor feared Per chance foresaw the stormes of danger comming Yet comes and comes accompanied with power But neither power that warranted his hast Nor selfe-defence that makes offences lawfull Could hold him from obedience to his father So foolish to the world is honest Wisedome Zang. Alas could neither truth appease his fury Nor his vnlook't humility of comming Nor any secret witnessing remorses Can Nature from her selfe worke such diuorces Tell on that all the world may rue and wonder Acm. There is a place enuironed with trees Vpon whose shadowed center there is pitched A large imbrodered sumptuous Pauilion The stately throne of tyrany and murder Where mighty men whome fearefull murder feares With cruelty are slaine before they know That they to other then to honor goe Mustapha vnto the Campe no sooner came But thether he is sent for and conducted By sixe slow Eunuches either taught to colour Mischiefe with reuenge or taught by nature To reuerence euen vertue in misfortune But Mustapha whose heart was now resolued Not fearing death which he might haue preuented If he to disobedience had consented Nor crauing life which he might well haue gotten If he would other duties haue forgotten But glad to speake his last thought to his father He will'd the Eunuches to entreate it for him They did they wept and kneel'd vnto his father But bloudy rage that glories to be cruell And iealousie that feares she is not fearefull Made Solyman refuse to heare or pitty He bids them hast their charge and bloudy ey'd Beheld his sonne while he obeying died Zang. How did that dying heart endure to suffer Tell on Quicken my spirits hard and dull to good That yet heare tell of brothers blood Acm. While these sixe Eunuches to this charge appointed Whose hearts had neuer vs'd their hands to pitty Whose hands were onely now afraid of murder With reuerence and feare stood still amazed Loath to cut off such worth afraid to saue it Mustapha with thought resolued and vnited Assures their feare and comforteth their sorrow Bids them refuse their charge and looke no further Their hearts afraid to bid their hands be doing Shaking and trembling do refuse to offer The cord the hatefull instrument of murder They lifting vp let fall and falling lift it Each sought to helpe and helping hindred other Till Mustapha in haste to be an Angell Guided their hands to his death directed Sweetely forgaue their charge and thanke their loue Which he saw in them did compassion moue With heauenly smiles and quiet words foreshewing The ioy and peace of those where he was going His last words were O father now forgiue mee Those thinges which thou thy selfe doest thinke offences O Mahomet my other sinnes forgiue me Forgiue them too that worke my ouerthrow Let my graue neuer minister offencee For since my father joyeth in my death Behold with ioy I offer him my breath The Eunuches crie Solyman he is glutted His thoughts diuine of vengeance for his murder Rumor flies vp and downe the people murmur Sorrow giues lawes before men know her story Feare prophesies in men and makes them sorry Zang. Remisse and languish are mens coward spirits Where Gods forbid reuenge and patience too Yet to the dead Nature ordaineth rites Which idle loue I feele hath power to doe I will goe hence and shew to them that liue The Gods cannot offences all forgiue ACTVS IIII. SCENA III Acm. Rossa Rosten Acm. What euer craft of base false-hearted wit Long working on the worst of Princes thoughts May bring to passe yonder to vs is brought without shame the state corrupt with it Rossa Acmat thy sorrow whether vniust or iust Bootes not duty and faith loues still them that liue Noble example bring forth danger must The forces of Natolia do giue Tokens of mutinie vnto the state Shewing no reuerence but vnto thee Wherefore the great Lord wils you to repaire To him for by you they must gouern'd be Acm. I goe and care not so I go from thee Rossa Let them that cannot heare desires trauaile Who dare not vndertake for feare of danger Let them take children fearing spirits Runne and beare witnes them still their owne amazement While they flie from themselues and blame their fortune For fortune on thy wisedome complaine But they in thee neither hope nor raigne Rosten where vertue ends and reason failes When dangers threaten feare makes sharpest warre When fame with all her infamies assailes Then fortunes fauours shew'd most liuely are She neuer helpes till helpe be ouerthrowne For heauenly Powers by myracles are knowne Now Mustapha is dead rage flesht and pittie broken Rosten there rests no more to interrupt vs But Acmat in whome Solyman yet trusteth The thanks and sacrifices our God requires For graces past are not those idle praiers Which done to on the staires Goodlucke the god of highly plac'd desires No other duty but noble deeds requires Let Acmat the Fortune loues them that venture Rost. Acmat is wise and Solyman beloued Euen Tyrants couet to vphold their fame Not fearing euill deeds but euill name For Princes skill is to make Greatnes shew Rich in the good where of it hath least part And to conceale that which within they know So that at once he will not shed the blood Of Acmat
which God hartens so That feare shall not fore-see their ouerthrow Solym. Those are weake hearts that while their feares they see Would ruine all men lest they ruinde be I do suspect yet there is nothing done I loose my fame if so I kill my sonne Rossa The Gods when they leaue men to beasts a pray His reason with his pride they do betray Solym. Gods medle not where power and will agree But when at once men good and euill be Though I yet know not he hath done amisse I doubt and heauy Princes doubting is Though I resolue I will not kill him there It mortall is when Kings do say they feare ACTVS II. SCENA II. Belyarby Nuntius Solyman Rossa Beliar. Fond man distraught with diuers thoughts on foot That rack'st thy selfe and Natures peace do'st breake Iudge not the Gods aboue It doth not boote Nor do thou see that which thou dar'st not speake Power hath great scope not in the priuate waies Of truth she walkes vertues of common men Are not the same which shine in Kings aboue And do make feare bring forth the fruites of loue Admit that Mustapha not guilty be Who by his Prince will rise his Prince must please And they that please iudge with humility Knowledge a burden is obedience case Who loues good name is free to follow it Who seekes Kings loues he must their humors fit When owners doe resolue to ouerthrow The stately oke for gaine or clearer sight Who loues the shadow with the fall seekes wo When others gather wood and go vpright Like wheeles of wood or rather like dead loggs With other sinnowes drawne and lead about Admit Kings be yet all men see not all Who rockes with chaines will moue from whence they sit Must spend their force to draw themselues to it Yonder they are whose charge must be discharged In Rossaes face me thinkes desire speaketh He keepes the lawes that all lawes forme breaketh Solym. Rossa you now shall know feare is a coward Sworne to mistrust her selfe to worship power Tyrant to man that should rule and obeyeth And tyrant-like betrayed or betrayeth Is Mustapha in health and comming Belyar. My Lord already come for what can stay Where loue and duty both teach to obey Solym. Go rest hereafter you shall know our pleasure Rossa our Patriarke saw the heauens open And in their throne this wisedome there appear'd A virgin by Eternities hand sitting In beauties of the earth and heauen clothed Containing in her shape all shapes and fauours And in her life the life of liuing creatures Still one and neuer one mortall and yet immortall A Chaos both of Reason Sence and Passion Working in plants onely to grow and fade To pleasure others both with fruit and shade In beasts both life and sence created she And but desire to no law bound they be When man she made and this same sparke diuine Reason infus'd in him that onely he In time might diuers from the Angels be Then least this spright free-denizend on earth Should of the world take pride and so forget That vnto vs it but in lease is let She doth within the body where it liues Place life and senses drawn from beasts and plants To warre with Reason and shew what it wants And if beliefe the life of true Religion Could not giue credite to this Reuelation Euen feeling which giues life to good beliefe Within my selfe makes my selfe an example Mustapha is come and by his comming Hath glutted my desire and of his comming Hath made me doubt my doubts suspect my malice Nature against my ielousie ariseth Feare of ill doing threatens feare of suffering Worth assures greatnes greatnes brings worth in question Truth is me thinkes both with him and against him And as for Reason that should rule these passions I finde her so effeminate a power As she bids kill to saue bids saue and doubt not Keeping my loue and feare in equall ballance That I with Reason may thinke Reason is A glasse to shew not helpe what Reason is Thus like the corne vpon the weake stalke growing I bow my head with euery breath of wether And Mustapha that now I would haue slaine I now resolue to giue him life againe Rossa Sir nature doth not disclaime her right in monsters Which are but errors in her expectation Nature with loue doth steale the hearts of fathers Her end is to make all her makings perfect But Steele hath rust Time change and Nature error No maruel then though Mustapha in Nature Be found as well as Lucifer in Heauen Let not these childrens sticks gilt to the show Make you forget that wormes in them may grow Remember what true grounds of his Ambition Made you resolue his greatnes was your danger And shall selfe-fondnesse put out iust suspition Conceit must not be guide of Loue or Anger For mischiefe while her head shewes in the clouds In Plutoes Kingdome she her body shrowds Lay hands on him your feare may worke your woe From wrong there is no other way to goe Solym. How should I thinke my Sonne doth seek my blood Rossa By being safe doubt onely is withstood Soly. Can Kings be safe from wrongs that wrongs shal doe And wrong it is in things not knowne or done For any Father to destroy his Sonne Kings loose their Crownes that oft doe loue or feare More then the Crownes that they themselues doe weare VVhat Kings doe thinke another man may doe An other man may thinke and doe it too Solym. Power headlong is Kings wrath like thunder blasts Doth feare the world and that it hits it wasts It cannot touch but it must ouerthrow Where Kings doe let their power rule their wit Better vnmade then doe a misse with it Rossa But he that with his wit can rule his wit Doth iudge and measure where his power shall light Thunder because it ruin's if it hit The Gods themselues haue power ouer it Solym. So for that Kings haue power of all below Their wrath must not before their knowledge goe Rossa Heauen may be slow where all at once is knowne In Man where till they fall Faults may be found VVhile doubt is curious Helpe is ouerthrowne Solym. They doe against themselues that doubt and doe Rossa Who doubt against themselues doe danger wooe Solym. Arguments of doubt accused him to mee And Arguments of loue doe set him free Ross. My Lord your doubt from arguments did rise Of wanton Greatnesse Ambitious-seeking loue Good Nature is not natured to be wise If doubt with cause without cause it remoue Solym. Suspition is but onely tryals ground Fame is like breath breath'd from the inward part Rossa Where it is death to thinke or to conspire There Kings may kill before they doe enquire Where Kings but onely for themselues doe feare Both strength and honor is it to forbeare I am no more vntill more I doe heare Chorus Sacerdotum O wearisome condition of humanity Borne vnder one law to an other bound Vainely be got and
hold their right Euen fame of kings estate a miserie We Bassaes that do distribute at wil And for that we the best mens rising feare With bruit and tumor good desert we kill This fashion and not Mustapha's offence Hath had an ambush to intrap your loue But Sir awake a kings iust fauorite Is truth All broken wayes not borne of faith but will Do but hale danger while that multiplies Where there is cause of doubt lawes do prouide Restraint of liberty where force of spight Lies in the liuing dead till it be tried Where kings too oft vse their prerogatiue The people do forbeare but not forgiue My Lord the state delayes are wisedome where Time may more easie wayes to safety shew Selfe murder is an vgly worke of feare And little lesse is childrens ouerthrowes For truths sake spare your sonne and pardon him Mens wit and duty oft haue diuerse wayes Duty with truth which doth with strength agree Duty of honour striueth wit to please Who stands alone in counsels of estate Where kings themselues euen with adulse see feares Stands on the headlong step of death and hate For good lucke enuie ill lucke hazzard beares For fashions that affect to seeme vpright To hide their faults must ouerthrow the right Sir Mustapha is yours moreouer he Is not for whom you Mustapha ouerthrow Suspition common to successions be Honour and feare euer together go Who must kill all they feare feare all they see Your subiects sonnes nor neighbourhood can beare So infinite the limits be of feare Soly. Acmat no more mischance doth oft o'reshoote All vnder kings desires without all feare Your Bassaes know for mischiese seekes the roote Not boughes which but the fruit of greatnesse beare Mercy and truth are wisedomes popular And like the raine which doth in rich the ground They spend the clouds of which they owned are Princes estates haue this one misery That though the men and treasons both be plaine They 're vnbeleeu'd while Princes are vnslaine If thy care be of me enough is sayd Go waite my pleasure which shall be obeyd Acuts tertius Scena tertia Enter Solyman Beliarby nuntius Beli. If you will Rossa see aliue You must make hast Soly. Fortune hast thou not molds enough of sorrow Must thou yet these of loue and kindnesse borrow Yet tel me whence grew Rossaes passion Bel. When hither I from Mustapha returned And had made you account of my Commission Rossa whose heart in care of your health burned Curiously after Mustapha enquiring A token spies which I from hence did beare For Mustapha by sweete Camena wrought Yet gaue it not for I began to feare And something more then kindnes in it thought No sooner she beheld this pretious guift But as inrag'd hands on her selfe she layd From me as one that from her selfe would shift She runnes nor till she found Camena stayes I follow and heare both their voyces high The one as doing the other as suffering paine But whether your Camena liue or die Or dead if she by rage or guilt be slaine If she made Rossa mad or Rossa mad To hurt things deerest to her selfe be glad Or where the bounds of vnbound rage will stay If one or both or which is made away I know not but O Solyman make hast Actus tertius Scena quarta Enter Rossa and Solyman Rossa What am I not my owne who then dare let me From doing with my selfe what my selfe listeth Nature hath lied she saith life vnto many May be denied but not death vnto any Come death art thou afraid of me that beare All wickednes by which you caused were Soliman stand from me I am not thy Rossa But one that death the diuell and hell do flie Yet vnto death the diuel and hell do hie Soly. What fury is the God of this strange spirit Rossa how art thou lost or how transformd Leaue it to me or take or leaue thy breath And shew thy fault thy fault shall giue thee death Rossa That were to loose the benefit of death Solym. Then liue Ross. That is the cruelty of death Soly. Then tell and die Ross. Nay tell and liue a worthy death To her that so had lost the good of death Solym. What should be councell to the mariage bed Rossa All things vnworthy of the mariage bed Solym. Yet tell me for my loue I long to know Rossa For loue I keep what loue would feare to know Soly. Ignorance is dangerous and ouer feares Ross. Ignorance is dangerous and cannot feare Soly. Yet tell me I am Prince I do command Ross. Kings long to heare and hate what they haue heard Good sir let it be lawfull to say nothing And lesse of kings men can desire nothing Soly. Then liue and let this multiplie thy anguish That all diseases of my mind and state Iniuries of loue contempts and wounds of fauours Treachery aspiring death suspitious ruine Consulted are by thee to make me languish Thou guidest me and my fortune vnto error Rossa O Soliman of grace let me say nothing For if I speake thy neuer falling iustice Must force thee to take vengeance of offences In odious facts the solemne forme of death Melts humane powers great states to get compassion For mankind when it sees man loose his breath Their harts not vnto truth but pittie fashion And death well borne shall make a wicked spirit Stir pitty vp to make the law seeme might Let these vilde hands to this vilde hart be cruell Selfe death which gods abhorre is fit for treason Mercie by ill successe seemes lacke of reason Solim. Yet speake for one of mischiefes plagues is shame Rossa You Gods that gouern these star-bearing heauens Whose onely motion rules the mouing Seas And thou still changing glory of the darknes Whose growing hornes and ensignes of his Empire Beare witnes with me neither truth nor kindnesse Shame nor remorce desire to doe things honest Delight of others good nor seate of mischiefe Duty to God or man but one i glome The badge which Euill giues doth tel this storie Your daughter in whom you and I had blisse By these imbrued fingers murthered is : Solim. What fault would not a mothers loue forgiue Rossa The fault she made was that she let me liue For knowing she conspird her fathers death By whom I hold my honor she she breath How could she thinke I could her crime forgiue Sol. What cause had she to thinke so vile a thought Or by whom could she thinke to haue a wrought Rossa Mischiefe it selfe is cause of mischiefe done Whome should she feare to winne when she had woon Vnto this mischiefe Mustapha thy sonne Solim. Did she confesse or who did her accuse Ro. This Guidon with her own hand wrought and sent Beares perfect record what was her intent Solim. Expound what was the meaning of this work Vnder whose are the acts of mischiefe lurke Rossa The clouds they be the house of iealousie Which fire and water both within them beares Where