 | The Royal Mischief |  |
1
ACT I.
SCENE I.
A Royal Appartment in the Castle of Phosia.Enter Homais and Acmat.
Hom.
'Tis finisht, and a work speaks loud as Fame,
Where Crowns and Scepters truckle to his Vertue.
My Conquering Cousin has the War o'ercome,
And now slowly returns, with Honour prest,
As thickning Lawrels, sprung to stop his passage,
And turn a necessary march to one
Long solemn triumph.
Acm.
He brings the Princess with him, and sure
Such Beauty should be tasted leisurely,
Lest the rich Cordial prove too strong for Life,
And ruin that which 'twas design'd to bless.
Hom.
Name her not, she's a Disease to all my hopes,
Like early blasts upon too forward Blossoms,
Reduces all into their former nothing:
Acm.
Might I but hope my long try'd service,
And secrecy, the rarity of Courts,
Which still where you're concern'd, bids me be dumb;
Forget I've Life, and ranks me with the dead;
Cou'd this and more deserve your Royal Ear,
I would be bold to ask the Cause of your
Disorder.
Hom.
Why thou my Acmat, who hast known my weakness,
And markt the various changes of my temper,
Shoudst know my Griefs can have no other rise
But Loves Almighty Passion.
2
My sense had toucht the mark,
If that my Memory in all its search,
Cou'd but have fixt your new disquiets on
A Person fit to fill your Royal Breast;
Osman the new made Visier you detest,
His Cousin Ismael you have enjoy'd;
(And sure such Fires did never wait possession)
Since that, none has approacht your Royal sight,
Fit to give Love, or to create desire,
Or if there had, I soon had markt the Man;
For love like yours, in absence may be hid,
In presence never!
Hom.
Right thou has guest,
And yet the wound is love, but such a love;
So hopeless, so fantastick, all my stock,
Of Youth, and Charms, cannot forbid despair.
Acm.
Impossible, you know not half your Power,
Those Eyes did never vainly shoot a Dart,
Such are their Fires, so sparkling, so attractive,
So passionately, soft and tender,
So full of that desire they give, as though
The Glorious Heaven stood ready for Possession:
You never look but to command our love,
And give your Lover hope—
Then how shou'd you despair.
Hom.
Had they inimitable luster,
Were all my Charms unequall'd, like that bright
Light above, superiour and alone, yet
To the Man, who never either saw, or
Heard their Power, my Sun-shine would be lost.
Acm.
Is there on Earth a Wretch so must unblest.
Our Eastern World is full of Homais Beauty,
And I am bold to think you have not lov'd beyond:
No second Alexander fills the Globe,
No Glorious busy Hero, to inslave
Your heart at distance, and with unseen Fame,
Make Conquest easy, name but the Happy Man,
And I'll secure him yours.
Hom.
Dull, dull, Eunuch,
What Lethargy has stole thy reason from thee,
Cold through thy Reins, and mingled with thy blood,
How far wouldst thou extend thy busy search,
Hunt round the Globe for airy Heroes,
When the realities at home—the Prince
—The inimitable Prince of Colchis—
Thou startst—
Despair surround me, if thy Coward bloud
3
The gorgon Name has turn'd him to a Statue.
Acm.
My fears are yours, nor can I chuse but fear,
When that must bring despair which causes love.
Your Eyes in all their glorious course (and sure
They are Omnipotent) cou'd not have shone
Upon a soil so barren, no kindly hopes,
No prospect of return, no flatt'ring gleams
Of Sun-shine through the show'rs to make us
Hope a calm, first here your Husbands Nephew's
Just Marry'd to a young and beauteous Princess:
Time has scarce lent a hand to pluck the fruit,
Or say 'twere gather'd, yet the flavour lasts;
Then he's a Prince so much renown'd for Vertue,
So true a Copy of the long-past Heroes,
As will serve for an original to Ages yet to come,
But O that which concludes his Character,
Destroys us more, abundant gratitude,
And love to the Protector—
'Tis to your Lord he ows his Conquer'd Fields,
Who gave his Lawrels growth, mixt with his own
To make one lasting shade, which all your rays
Can never penetrate.
[She seems disorder'd during this Speech, and at length sinks down in a Chair.
Hom.
A heavy doom,
Too strong for Life to bear.
Acm.
How lawless is a Woman's Love,
The swelling current will admit no bounds;
For if not gratify'd they die—
[Within.
Help there, the Princess sounds.
[The Ladies appear.
Hom.
Bid 'em be gone,
Alas it is not in their pow'r to help.
This raging fire blazes to such a height,
That till 'tis quencht, Life cannot come in doubt:
I find, I feel, the burning at my heart,
Which now, when thou hadst thought my reason lost,
Shifted the Scene, and brought my anguish back.
Acm.
In all the course of Loves Tyrannick Power,
I have not heard a Passion like to yours,
Unsought, unseen, to throw your heart away;
A Gem of that inestimable price,
Shou'd be the blest reward of long paid service,
And a flame, lasting and clear, as those bright Eyes,
That lighted it.
Hom.
Thy vulgar Soul moves in the common road,
Mine loaths the beaten path, and starts aside,
To seek new Regions out, disgusted with the old,
And now the rich discovery is made,
4
And either die or Conquer.
Acm.
Change but the Climate and the Crown is yours,
Survey the Globe, chuse where your Eyes wou'd reign;
Or were it possible to mount the Skies,
And wander through the starry Courts above,
Not one bright dazling god but wou'd forgo
His Heav'n for yours, and doat on the Exchange;
Such magick's in your looks, none but
The Prince of Colchis can resist them.
Hom.
How dares my Slave speak these uneasy truths,
Thy barren Soul ne'er knew the growth of love,
And wert not call'd to threaten but advise;
No more expostulate a growing flame,
More than Ambition bold, than anger fierce,
Nor can but with possession be abas'd.
My Life, my Soul, my All, is fixt upon Enjoyment,
Resistance but augments desire:
If thou wouldst live threaten no more despair,
I've nam'd the Goal, lend me thy aid to reach it.
Acm.
If I have been displeasing to your Ear,
Let my mistaken Zeal meet your forgiveness,
For I have err'd to think of a defence
When you prepare to arm; such Courage and
Such Beauty must make the universal
World your Slaves, nor will I more exempt the
Prince, cou'd you but triumph there, the rest were
Easy Conquest.
Hom.
Dost thou remember in my Virgin bloom,
When time had scarce lent Colour to my Beauty,
The Visier Osman made an interest here,
My native Modesty taught long denyals,
For 'tis but by degrees our Sex grow bold;
Start at the name they after grow familiar with:
Piqued with delays he urg'd his Sute no more,
Nor took advantage of consenting Love,
But left the bargain dead upon my hands,
For which if ever I forgive the baulk,
May lasting disappointments hunt me out,
Watch all my steps and double as I turn;
Dash the full Bowl when lifted to my Lips,
And all the Senses eager for the taste.
Acm.
'Twas then young Ismael return'd from travail,
High in his youth, and with success made bold;
He storm'd your heart, and took it by assault,
Made himself Master of your richest treasure,
For which the Visier drag'd him from your Arms;
5
And wou'd have crost your Marriage with my Lord.
Hom.
But all those pangs which then thou saw'st me
Suffer from Osman's scorn, and Ismael's loss,
Were Minutes to the mighty Ages now;
For had this hapned to an untry'd Courage,
The weighty hand had sunk the novice down;
Unable to support the pondrous blow.
Acm.
Yet e'er the Sun has gilded the Meridian,
You may have hopes to see your Lover here:
For so the Trumpet from my Lord reports,
Last night they past the River Phasis,
And pitcht their Camp along its swelling side;
The Protector will undoubtedly be fond
To entertain his Niece and Nephew here,
And do them honour in his own Dominions;
Now e'er the Princess treads her Colchian ground,
Prepare your Charms, and let us see
What Wounds your Eyes can make.
Hom.
They blaze with more than Comet Fires,
The great and sure portents of following Fate;
For Bassima or I must make the Prodigy.
Trumpets, heark, they come—support—
[Trumpets within.
Me Acmat, or I shall sink with transport:
Ay, now the fatal tryal's near, death or
A heart more worth than thousand lives;
Again they sound, feel but my throbbing heart
How swift it plays, were it as low'd 'twould pay
The Musick back, and speak both gratitude
And love in strains unheard before.
Enter a Slave.
Slave.
Madam, the Prince is enter'd.
Hom.
What Prince?
Slave.
The Prince, my Lord.
Hom.
Haste, and say I wait him here.
[Exit Slave.
What an unwholsome air that breath has cast,
'Tas dampt my Fires and almost put out life;
My Senses turn and my chill'd bloud that ran
In streams before, falls drop by drop as Frost
Had numb'd the passage.
Acm.
Compose your self and meet my Lord with smiles,
His jealous Age suspicious of a slight,
Expects more wellcome than a youthful Lover,
Wear close your thoughts, untold they are your own
Nature has been so bounteous to our kind,
Unless we lend the Clue they cannot reach our hearts.
6
'Tis most unlucky, thus to be deceived,
Upon the first expectance. Oh thou Eternal
Searcher of our hearts, that canst in thy large
Book read our unhappy destinies, long
Ages off, if I am doom'd a Martyr
To my Love, shorten my pains, and let my
Death be instant.
Acm.
Your Musick flourishes.
My Lord is in the Lodgings, I hear him come;
Shift swift your look, or you destroy us all.
Enter the Prince of Libardian attended.
Prince of Libar.
O my fair Princess the joys of long past Life
Are crowded in this moment, and a new
Glittering store reveal'd to make me further
Doat upon your Treasure.
Hom.
My Lord your Welcome—
Prince of Libar.
So cold, my Lord your welcome—
Death meet my wishes, if this Minute, when
I hug'd the dear Inchantress to my Bosom,
That swell'd to meet the load, her snowy Arms,
Kept not a most ingrateful distance,
Nor Circled me, the least familiar welcome;
And when I thought to mingle Kisses with her,
She met my burning Lips with her cold Cheeks;
Cover'd all o'er with a thick, damp sweat,
Which nothing cou'd supply but strong aversion.
Hom.
Yet e'er my Lord you quarrel with my welcome,
Allow me leave to say it was unkind
To give the Stile and Dignity of Regent
The empty name of Honour without Power,
Whilst yon proud pamper'd Prelate bore the sway,
Denied me leave to pass the Castle-Gates;
And suffer'd none to have access, but just
My Women, and my Slaves; hence 'twas I found
My Servants were his Creatures, my Guards
My Gaolers, and himself the Master Spy.
Prince of Libar.
O can you blame me to preserve a good
On which the safety of my Life depends;
Who but a Fool wou'd leave his wealth at large,
To the uncertain Chance of Robbers hands,
When by securing it 'tis sure his own.
I am that Wretch undone, the moment, when
I lose your treasure.
Hom.
'Tis the Perogative of Age to talk,
They dream broad wake, and then speak as they dream.
7
Unequal nature, Why hast thou bestow'd
A larger privilege of mind than body?
For whilst we find and feel our Passions strong,
We vainly hope the consequence as young;
By Love made bold we hunt the beauteous Chace,
Nor heed our lag of Body in the Race;
Till taught too late in such ingrateful Arms,
'Tis Youth to Youth can only furnish Charms,;
O cou'd I hide me ever from your Eyes,
You shou'd no more my Love or Age despise.
Hom.
My Lord, you moralize too far, forgive
My Sexes frailty, I'm a Woman, made
Passionate by want of Liberty:
I'll learn to wear my Fetters lighter,
And if you please, will sute my wellcome to it.
Prince of Libar.
Wert thou but truly kind,
What Worlds of bliss could'st thou not give?
Thy Eye, thy Lips, thy thousand Beauties,
Were too Divine a Feast for Mortal taste;
O let me be but well dissembled with,
And I will lie for ever in thy Arms,
Nor never wake to find the fond illusion,
But think it all substantial shining treasure.
Hom.
Well, now we are Friends—
Let me like other Warriours Wives,
First give a kiss, and then my dear, what News,
How went the Battle, how the Peace, who wears
The thickest Lawrel, and whose name sounds
Sweetest in the mouth of Fame.
Prince of Libar.
Our Conquering Cousin,
Young Levan Dadian, has out-stript my Age,
Foil'd all my Glories by his rising splendour;
For when the Battle hung in long suspence,
And the nice Goddess wou'd be wooed by neither;
Though each contending for the Lovers prize,
Did things beyond a Lovers height;
Till the young fiery Abean Prince,
With a fresh Body of selected Horse,
Broke in upon my Rear, my slaughter'd Men
Supply'd the Luxury of Death, with a
Full Feast, who did but taste before—
Then young Levan flew to prevent the
Inevitable stroke, which the up-lifted
Hand of Fate stood ready to discharge:
By Heav'n, it gave at once both spight and joy,
To see this infant Eagle hatch underneath
The cover of my Wings, now imp my flight,
8
Hom.
But wheres this young Triumpher, shou'd we not
Meet him now, with Io Pæans, and strow his
Passage, with unfading Lawrels; do not
All kneell to Heaven for benefits, why not
To Heroes too, when they perform the work
As well: I am indebted for a Husbands Life,
And loath the stain of vulgar Souls Ingratitude;
Lead me to pay the Tribute of my Thanks,
For I, my Lord, am burthen'd with the weight.
Prince of Libar.
Incumbent duty has discharg'd your Debt,
For when the fatal Circumstance Proclaim'd
The Field our own, I ran to give him joy,
He swore by all those hovering Ghosts just
Then departed, that 'twas more satisfaction
To preserve my Life, than find himself
A Conquerour.
Hom.
But pray, my Lord, what of the Visier Osman,
Has he deserv'd your mighty trust and favour,
He cou'd not sure forsake in that Extremity
A Prince who did him Honour.
Prince of Libar.
Why do you envy me, Inhuman Princess,
That moments Peace our reconcilement brought?
Or is't impossible my joys shou'd know thee
Date of one small hour: but to retort that
Poyson to your Heart with which you have
Infected mine, know that your Minions lost
For ever to your Charms.
Hom.
Not dead, my Lord.
Prince of Libar.
Then you avow him such, see if the bloud
Has not forsook her Cheeks, and left her
Beauties pale; I'll try if Jealousy, my
Curst Tormentor, can have power to send the Roses back:
Your Lover doats to death upon the Princess:
I'm sorry for my Sisters sake, but Bassima's
Bright Vertue leaves no suspicion of a stain;
Like a Divinity, she teaches Fear
And Reverence to all who worship her.
Hom.
May we not see this Goddess, will she not
Deign, with the Divinity you mention,
To Grace our little Court; or must I pay
My Adorations at her own.
Prince of Libar.
No Homais, 'tis too dangerous a World,
For Ladies of your Temper; I have declin'd
Seeing my Nephew here, least the Court tide
Of Liberty shou'd drown your Fame, where in
The fatal Wreck, my Life cou'd never scape
9
Hom.
Then I'm it seems confin'd, till Age, or Grief
Presents me Death, the work will not be long
A doing: What signifies the Crown upon my head,
When none can see how well the Circle sits,
How rich and sparkling are the Diamonds,
The Pearls how Orient; and how well such
Glory sutes the wearers Face.
Enter Selima attended.
Sel.
My only Brother, wellcome to my heart;
I had much sooner ran to give you joy,
And tell you mine, but that I know, when
Lovers meet all other Visitants are
But Intruders.
Prince of Libar.
My dearest Selima,
I design'd this favour in your Lodgings,
But every where from you 'tis wellcome.
Sel.
I am going on a Visit to the Camp,
(The Visier sends he cannot leave the Prince)
And hope, at my return, better to speak
The transport of my Joy, for your Arrival.
Prince of Libar.
I'll wait you to your Chariot.
Hom.
Dull Princess.
[Ex. leading.
Thou art a Tool I must employ, to make
The work, I labour with, compleat: Acmat
Dost thou not think my Projects all aground,
And my spent Vessel ready to be wreckt;
But yet I'll not despair, Revenge does
Aid my Love, and from within, I feel
Undoubted Omens of success.
In this Extremity all Aids I'll try,
For he must either love, or I must die.
[Exeunt omnes.
| The Royal Mischief | |