University of Virginia Library

Act. 1.

EMIR-HAMZE-MIRZA'S Ghost.
And dost thou swim in Pleasures, Tyrant, still?
Or hast thou got a Patent to do ill?
When will the date expire? hast thou not yet
Contracted guilt enough, that th'ponderous weight
Of all thy Tyrannies, Rapines, Murders fell,
May, like a Milstone, sink thee quick to Hell?
Are these too light? leave thy Adulteries,
Thy Rapes, thy Incests, heaps of Perjuries,
And Ghomorean sports, no sting behind?
Or are the Gods grown all, like Fortune, blind?
Or has dull IOVE no Thunder left? Doth not
The murder of our Sire (so soon forgot)
And Me, deserve a Bolt? Sleep'st thou? with what
Philtries is thy strange Pillow stuft? do not
Ten thousand Furies with their flaring hair,
And knotted whips of wire, at thee still stare,
And threaten stripes? Is our great Fathers Ghost
Weary with haunting thee? or us'd to't, do'st
Account it now familiar, and not quake?
If so, behold, I come, from the dark Lake,
To be thy evill Genius, and distill
Into thy darker bosom deeds shall fill
The measure of thy sins up, and pull down,
With violent hand, heavens vengeance on thy Crown.
The foul Fiend aid thy councells; and unto
Discovers Abbas in his study.
Thee dictate what he would, but cannot do.
Upon thy self, and thine own Princely line,
Revenge our Fathers wronged Ghost and mine.
Inherit all my fury, and obey
What jealousie shall prompt; mine did I say?
Alas! (vain voice!) how weak is that for thee!
The spirits of all unnaturall Fathers be
Doubled upon thee. Act what the Mogull
And Turk shall start to hear, what th'Tartar shal
Pitty, what BAHAMAN could not wish should be,
And the Arabian will lament to see.
Faulter not in thy course now, but pursue
New mischiefs, till no mischief can be new.
“No cruell actions, unlesse throughly done
“Are done secure. Let not thy gallant Son
Engrosse the subjects loves: all his brave parts
And deeds, are Privy seales to take up hearts.
How will he stick (arm'd with the strength o'th Land)
To snatch the Scepter from thy hated hand,
As thou didst from thy Father? “Such dire deeds
“Are still revenged with their like; no seeds
“So fruitfull are, as wrongs. Who doth not thirst
For Soveraign sway? or who, that may be first,
Is pleas'd with being second? then do thou
Begin with him, and wait not the first blow.
But with a Sons, and Grandchilds blood, appease
Fathers, and brothers Ghosts. What though thine ease
Be bought with razing out the family,
And strangling th'hopes of all Posterity?
What need'st thou care (so here thy race be even)
If when thou fall'st, the Poles and studds of Heaven
Be shiver'd, the starrs quench'd, thy house, great names,
And all the world too with thee sink in flames?
“Free villanies a hated reign assure:
“And swords still drawn: dire deeds, dire deeds secure.

ABBAS.
The vow is made, nor shall thy flattering Fate
O MIRZA contradict it; though thy Troops
Stood like a wall about thee, nay, though IOVE
Presse all the Gods to guard thee, and should arme
Them every one with Thunder, I would through:
I'l tear the groundsells of thy Towers up;
And make their nodding spires kisse the Centre,
But I will reach thy heart, thy heart proud Victor.
The power that I have climb'd to ere my time
Cannot be safe, if any reach too near it.
I feel my Crowns totter upon my head,
Me thinks, and see him ready stand to latch them.
Was I a Prince, born to the Persian greatnesse?
Set equall with the Gods? and as ador'd
As is the Sun our Brother? and shall I
Be bearded by a Son, a beam of me?
And like a Cypher add but to his value?
I will, hereafter, call thee viper, ever.
If thou canst lose thy filiall Duty, I
Can lose my Bowells, and on thy ruines build
A Pyramid to my revenge and safety.
I that would wrest an Empire from a Father,
And Brother, will not lose it to a Son.
“Still may he fear that dares not to be cruell.

ABBAS,
FLORADELLA.
Who's that?

Flo.
'Tis I.

Abb.
My FLORADELLA.

Flo.
Yes.

Abb.
Enter my sweet: welcom as earliest light
To th'infant world; and with thee ever bring
A thousand Comforts to my thoughtfull breast.
But why doth sadnesse invade Beauties Kingdom?
And these faire eyes eclips their glorious splendour,
He kisseth them.
With vailes of melancholly? is't possible,
So firmly inthron'd in thy ABBAS Love,
That all the Gods should make thee know a grief?

Flo.
Alas! my Lord, the peoples common theam
Still grates mine ears; no other voice is heard
But MIRZA's praises: the Gods hear no vowes,
No prayers, but for MIRZA's safety: who's
So dull a soul that cannot, since he first
Led out your armies count his victories,
(As if all were Historiographers)
And for each blow he dealt return a statue?

Abb.
I'le kick their sandy fabricks into dust,
And rear a lasting one of their own heads,
Higher then that in Spawhawn is to which
Their Idolls own shall be the Cupola.

Flo.
They all read Lectures on his actions
Till out of breath, they pause, and then admire.
Till his encomiums hit the starrs and stick
His Idolized name amongst them swearing
The lustre of that one puts out the rest.
You, my dear Lord, they say, lie wallowing here
In pleasures, and will one day take a surfet.
A good effeminate Prince, whose only act
Of worth, is, that you gat so brave a son;
Whom as the rising they adore for you,
They think, have passed your Meridian,
And now are nere your setting.

Abb.
Setting! yet
I've heat enough to scorch them all to cinders.
And see they not the Sun ne'r look so bloody
As when he sets.

Flo.
Ah! but my noble Lord,
How can I look upon this pompous Palace,
Furnished with spoiles of nations; the long train
Of early clients, that wear my Thresholds out:
Nay, on your honored selfe, my excellent Lord,
But as the Prisoner, late condemn'd to death,
Doth on the pleasant meads, the curled groves,
And silver brooks he passes by, as led
To execution? These he alass, must leave.
[She weeps.]
And well I know how dead Kings Paramours
Are dealt by, by their cruell successors.

Abb.
Why dead? why successour? but why these tears?
Which I'le drie up with kisses, and revenge
With as much blood of thy fea'rd enemies.
Be a good huswife of these pearles, (my dear)
Too pretious ere to spend, 'lesse when I die,
Thou'lt shed a few of them t'enbalm me with.
Who's that? It is the voice of Beltazar.

Flo.
Or Mahomet Allybeg, or both.

Abb.
Sit still.

ABBAS,
MAHOMET ALLYBEG, BELTAZAR, FLORADELLA.
Come, come, my Lords, I've long expected you.

Mah.
We met i'th way a stop, a giddy stream
Of people, with broad eyes, and right-up ears,
Powring themselves from all parts to the Buzzarr.
The novelty made us too mixe among them,
What then made all this concourse, but to hear
A Panegyrick, sung by hired Eunuchs,
In adulation of the valiant Mirza?

Abb.
The mountain brought forth a ridiculous Mouse.

Flo.
Heaven grant it proves ridiculous.

Abb.
Heaven it selfe
Can't make it otherwise.

Bell.
There were all the deeds
Of your great ancestors, from Mortys Ally
Recounted, not as copies to be followed,
But made as soiles, to set off his the better;
And brought but by comparison, to shew
How his green valour conquers all example.
So, said the flattering pamphlet, Peleus name
Stoops to ACHILLES, and so SATURN joyes
To be ore-topt by JOVE.

Abb.
O most felt flattery!

Mah.
And there exposed they his armed figure,
In a triumphall Chariot, drawn by CYRUS
And great DARIUS, yoak'd, with this inscription:
As the new Moon the light o'th old devours;
So do thy actions all thine Ancestours.

Abb.
No more, no more: seem'd any man of name
To countenance this fairy Pagentry?

Bel.
No lesse then great Duke ELCHEE, at whose cost
It was performed; he's hasting down to's charge,
I'th army, this was his farewell to's friends.

Abb.
There's musick in that voice, would many more
Of his rank durst oppose us. “There is gain
“In mighty rebells. Flies and moths may buz
About our beard and are not worth the notice,
Or if we crush them they but foul our fingers.
“'Tis noble prey deserves a Princes stroak:
And by my Fathers soul, they shall not want it.

Flo.
Spoke like thy selfe!

Mah.
Heroick, god-like ABBAS.

Bel.
Let not my Soveraign doubt my proved faith,
(That would ope MAHOMET's Shrine at your command)
If humbly I play the Princes friend,
And urge but their objections as thus,
What ever glorious actions are atchiev'd
By him or his, redound to the Kings glory,
As all the souldiers to the generalls.
What common souldier ever gained a Triumph?
And yet, what Generalls single valour conquer'd?
How then are you made lesse if he grows great
Since all his greatnesse is not his but yours?
Do not the flourishing of the branches adde
To the Trees beauty?—

Abb.
But luxuriant boughs
Not prun'd suck too much moisture from the Tree.

Bel.
What cares the Sea how great the Rivers swell,
Since all their pride flow into her?

Abb.
But what
The Sea doth get in one place, in some other
It loses; and the more he wins upon
Th'affections of the people, the more I lose.
“Minions too great argue a King too weak.

Mah.
“Great Favourites should be set neare Kings as foiles
“To set them off, not to vie lustre with them.
“A Partner once admitted to a Throne,
“Soon justles out the other: th'snakes new skin
“Once come, she casts the old one. No where are
“Two Kings in safety but in Teneriff,
“And there the one is dead, but one alive.

Bel.
But 'tis not known the Prince intends a danger.

Mah.
It is not prov'd.

Abb.
'Tis then too late, when prov'd,
To be prevented.

Flo.
Cockatrices eggs
Must not be brooded over till they're hatcht.

Mah.
“Kings fears are proof enough they that wil give
“Them cause to fear, give cause enough, to strike.
“A Treason is a kind of Hectique feaver,
“In the beginning it is most easily cur'd,
“But hardly known: But in the course of time,
“Not having been in the beginning known,
“To know it becomes easy, hard to cure.

Bel.
But he is modest—

Flo.
So are Whores at first,
Coynesse is the best Lure.

Bel.
Blaming his friends
For doubling of his merit, and chides himself
For suffering of his acts so to be guilded,
Lest they might any way eclipse your splendour.

Abb.
Hee's Politick: “Seen nets are easily 'voided,
“And dangers threatned once, are half prevented.
“The curst dog bites before he barks, and Thunder
“Strikes ere it speaks. Treason still shuns the Sun.
That female Vertue, Modesty, can't harbour
In such a masculine spirit, even that
He makes a bait to catch the vulgar with,
It gets him a respect: He's not to learn
“That honour, like a shadow, and love too
“Shuns the pursuer, follows him that flies it.

Mah.
Why if he means no Rape upon the State,
Doth he so fortifie himself in's Party,
Binding all men of action unto him
With all th'obligements of a Polititian?

Abb.
“He that will make a Faction means to use it.

Mah.
He studies every particular Genius,
And taketh every one in his own height.
Th'ambitious he makes his with honours, Titles,
And high commands; saying, “worth loses lustre,
“Like Gems in Quarries, if it be not set
“To publique view, like Diamonds well mounted.
The covetous he ties with chains of Gold
To his own purposes, extolling “bounty
“As th'most conspicuous vertue of a Prince,
“And gainfullest; saying, Vertue else will freeze,
“If it be not kept active with Reward,
“Valours best Nurse. Those that are discontented
“(And such are sure ones) he gains by favour,
And silken promises. The multitude
He stroaks with Popularity, and they
Like true dogs fawn, and crouch as much to him.
Though upon service he's austere enough,
Exacting each mans duty; out of Action
He courts the common souldiers by their names,
Lies with them on the Guard, fares as they fare,
And calls them all his fellows, sees them serv'd,
In time of want, ere he himself will take
The least refreshment.—

Abb.
What soules will not these
Strong arts allure, if he meant war with IOVE,
To storm even Heaven, and mak't a Colony!

Flo.
What, Heaven a Province!

Mah.
Noble Forts he builds,
And Cittadells, as if he meant to compasse
The Kingdom with a trench, and into these
He put's his Confidents. Huge hoords of wheat,
Munition Provision stuffe his Garrisons,
When no Foe threats the Confines. If these charms
Of Affability these knots of strength,
And preparations signifie but care,
And Arts of wisdom, which need 'wake no thought
Of Jealousie, and require no prevention;
Let's cast no Ramparts 'gainst the swelling Sea,
But tamely think the peaceful NEPTUNE meanes
Us no invasion but will sit content
I'th'old Boundaries of his watry Empire.
Cherish the speckled snake, and let him twine
About your leg alas! poor loving worm!
It onely comes to kisse your foot and means
To dart no poisonous sting into your flesh.

Bel.
Has he no filiall love? no noble nature?
Can't be that to him, to whom every Vertue
Seems in this dearth of Pietie to run
For Patronage, Paternall duty should
Be, or a stranger, or a slighted Exile?

Mah.
He is ambitious, and “Ambition knowes
“No Kindred, 'twas a maxim practised
“By IOVE himself upon his Father SATURN.

Abb.
No, no, my Lords, that somthing must be done
Is not the question but what? and how?

Bel.
Weaken him in his friends, call them from places
Of trust, and put in others, or make them yours.

Abb.
No they are preingag'd, and will not come
But to great baits: So to reclaim them would
Cost much, to ruine them add more to us.
‘For all Rebellions, throughly suppress'd,
“Make Kings more Kings, and Subjects still more Subject.

Bel.
Then call him from his strength, lure him to Court.
And drown him here in pleasures and delights,
'Twill soften and enervate his great mind.
“There's little fear of Carpet Kinghts, rough beards
“And hairy men have still the working heads.

Mah.
And such is he.

Abb.
That were to crosse his Genius,
And force his Nature backward, he is made
For hardned steel, and not a masquing sute.
No Musick please him but the bellowing Drum,
No exercise but tossing of a Pike.
So stout a nature never will recoil.

Bel.
Confine him to some Iland, with a set
Of beardlesse Eunuchs, and soft Punks about him,
Prohibiting all martiall company.

Flo.
Pictures and Beauties are alike to him;
His soul's so full of's NYMPHADORA'S love,
As throw him into 'an Ocean of Beauties,
The vessel's full, and can take no more in.

Bel.
A brave truth from an Enemy!

[aside]
Abb.
Confine him,
That were to spur a fiery headstrong steed
And have no reines to hold him: or to 'wake
A sleeping Lion. “Persons of his rank
“If once disgrac'd, must not be left a tongue
“To tell it with, or hand to act Revenge,
“No, nor a heart to think it. He that strikes
“At mighty Enemies must do it throughly.
Say my beloved MAHOMET, “must not Kings
“That fear great subjects growth, and gathering strength;
“Or wink at all, and conquer them with kindnesse,
“Or, if they wil take notice, leave no need
“Of second blowes, but at the first cut off
“At once the fear they have, and cause of future?
“Who finds a Serpent couch'd, and at one blow
“Parts not his heart shall never fetch another.

Mah.
The Oracles are reviv'd, and speak in Abbas.
But how much more then pitty is it, that
So high a valour, Affabilitie
(Vertues of brightest lustre with the Persian)
And all the endowments of a Princely mind
Should, like good seed in ground too fat, grow rank,
And make him fit to feel the sickle! which
Gladly I would disswade, were not the tree
More worthy then a wanton branch, or th'head
Then any corrupted limb, though ne'r so handsom.

Abb.
Ah my good Lords, the bowells of a Father
Have yearn'd in me, and no small strift I had
To gain a Conquest of my fond affection,
And bend my will to part with him, as with
A gangreen'd member to secure the whole.
But I have won the field of foolish pitty,
And sworn by the eight refulgent Orbs, his death.

Flo.
The young wolfes death can never come too soon;
For he that spares the wolves, destroyes the sheep.

Bel.
But think, my honour'd Lord, will not the soul
Of every subject bleed in his each wound?
The pledge of their succeeding happinesse!
The crown of their best hopes, hope of their Crowns
And who will spare to damn for Tyranny
(Pardon the speech, I act the Princes friend)
A deed, so without Justice, proof, or conscience?

Mah.
Not all the steel forg'd into swords and spears,
Nor all the Iron form'd to battering Rammes,
Have ruin'd so many Kings, as that round word.
“Conscience and Soveraign sway are things at odds,
“'Tis mischifes freedom holds up Tyranny,
“Which who so blushes t'own is no right King.

Abb.
No more debate; Sentence is justly pass'd,
The execution rests which what if acted
Vpon him i'th army?

Mah.
If the crueltie
Chance to disclose it selfe on th'apprehension
O'th murderer, t'may raise some dangerous tumult.
“All cruell actions must be safely done,
“And all their safetie lies in privacy.

Abb.
Let's train him up to court, and do it here.

Mah.
That thought needs not a second.

Abb.
Cause you then
Our secretary t'indite letters to him
Here to attend us with all possible speed,
Where he shall be acquainted with the weight
Of the affair that urges his quick comming.
Provide a messenger of your own knowledge.

Mah.
I know my Province.

Abb.
You Lord BELTAZAR,
Who are not so well known his enemie
Though firme enough in our esteem, hast down
Unto the Army, where, till he, you know
Be on his journey hither, keep your mask on:
Then break to the Lievtenant Generall
Your power, and errand, which is to be set
With him in joynt commission ore that Army,
And be the noble partner of our care.

Bel.
My faith shall labour to deserve the trust.

Abb.
And thou my FLORADELLA shalt have work too.
Be frequent in your visits to the Princesse,
Extoll the vertues of her gallant Lord,
And set the wheeles a going. “Praise gets confidence,
That opennesse of speech, and women be
“Best spies of womens actions. Sift her then,
“What is intended, who, and where imployed.
Speak with such confidence, as if you meant
To force her think you know what never was.
“Tis no lesse service to detect close treason,
“Then to vanquish open and avoucht Rebellion.

Flo.
What arts will not my love unto my Lord
Infuse into me, and what subtle care?

Abb.
You've all your parts, act them but like your selves,
Ile in any study more o'th art of King-craft.

Bel.
Madam I kisse your hands. Yours Lord MAHOMET.

MAHOMET ALLYBEG,
FLORADELLA.
This was well carried, there's another step
To our great purpose whilst the Tyrant stood
Firmly propt up by his heroick son
And his brave Troopes, not all the Gods could shake him:
Now that he ruines him he but lies down
For me, and therefore thee, my FLORADELLA,
Upon his neck to rise to soveraignty.

Flo.
But what if the successe should thwart the platforme,
And something intervene to save the Prince?
Would not the ruine turn upon our selves?
‘Such deeds are never safe till they be acted.

Mah.
Descend not from thy selfe so low as fear,
The blow meant him is guided by a hand
Sure and steady but if he misses aime,
This very hand through wounds shall force his soul,
So doth the love of thee arme me, Ile wrest
The Scepter from JOVES hand but thou shalt have one.

Flo.
Why do you court your own Sir?

Mah.
Therefore deerest
Because mine own and worthy a Gods courtship,
I never meant thee lesse, nor have I woo'd thee
To leave a Monarchs crowned love to grace
A subjects bed, but to adorn these Temples
With golden wreaths, more bright then ARIADNE's,
And make thy name the subject of all Poetry.
Then shalt thou trample on the under globe,
And chuse what part of heaven thou meanst to grace.
So great is the reward of MAHOMET's love.

Flo.
How growes your strength? what men of name, and fortunes
Espouse your interest?

Mah.
'Tis not yet my time
To tempt too many: when the heir is gone,
And all men in a maze, then is our houre.
No Fish shall 'scape us, when the water's troubled.
In the mean time get thee a party to thee
Of the male-spirited Dames, that may engage
Their sons and husbands, they are usefull evills,
“Bosome solicitours are most prevalent.

Flo.
Ile find or make such: first I'me for the Princesse.

MAHOMET ALLYBEG.
Poor credulous Cockatrice! thinkst thou I'le rear
My selfe a Throne, and set a strumpet with me?
No, he that can crush Princes will not pick
Thee out, among the rubbish of their ruines.
Yet must ambition use such poor low things.
Thou art a good close spie, a bosome traitour,
And a fair bait for some smooth liquorish Sultan,
Whom Ile perhaps buy with thy prostitution.
But a companion of my Soveraignty
Must boast a brighter vertue, higher descent,
One that in making nature toil'd, and sweat:
Such as the excellent Princesse NYMPHADORA,
Whom when industrious nature once had form'd,
She broke her mould, for never since could she
Produce her like; she'l fit our proudest height;
But her I'le not assay till I'me possessed
Of my new royaltie: then—a Princes Throne
Is a brave joynture, and the name of Queen,
To a young Widow lusty in her blood,
Will be a charme, hardly to be withstood.

FARABAN.
What curses are entaild on wicked pelfe!
With a bag of mony in his hand.
We, when we want it, scratch and plot to get it,
And when we have it, fear to lose it still.
I dreaded vildly those two craving souldiers
That met me at my Merchants dore they were
But meanly thatcht me thinks and seem'd to have
Sharp stomachs too. They watcht and waited on me
As dogs do upon children for their victualls.
There lie ye—till my Tailors long long bill
He locks it up in a Trunk.
Brings an indictment strongly proved against you.
Thus are we but the Gaolers of our wealth,
Which although most men make their God, is but
The Poets slave and mine—And but for use—

Two THEEVES.
[listning.
Wee'l rescue your rich prisoner presently.

[They knock.
Far.
Come in—(Pox on yee, its your tattar'd Rogueships.)

1 Theef.
Your humble servant Sir.

2 Thief.
Your servant Sir.

Far.
Gentlemen, you'l excuse me, I know you not.

1 Thief.
You shall Sir know us better—Please you lend us
The key of that same trunk—Stir and you die.

One of them presents a dag to his breast.
Far.
Nay Gentlemen.

1 Thief.
Nay, not a word y'had best.
Take the keys out of his pocket cōrade-so
The other takes his keyes out of his pocket, & his watch.
Now we will eat boy and be warm again

1 Thief.
Hang warmth and eating too,
Wee'l drink, drink deep.

2. Thief.
drink by the hower, and this same watch shall help us.
To 'scape the Constables.

Far.
But I dare hold
A rope of that—th'Devill!—rob'd!—and thus too
Whilst they go to plunder his Trunk, he runs out, and gives the Alarum.
Rob'd in a Complement!—Theves!—Theeves! ho Theeves!

1 The.
Pox o'your care, could you not stop him?

2. The.
Now
(Prethee leave chiding to another time)
We've no way but to follow him, and cry
Out Theeves as loud as he: so we ith'hubbub
They run after him
May hap t'escape.

2 The.
'Tis best.

Both.
Theevs! Theeves! ho! Theeves!

SOFFIE,
FATYMA, IFFIDA
Is this the story's to be acted?

Looking upon a Picture.
Iff.
Yes Sir.

Sof.
I love to see these Actions, they will put
Spirit into me. Is the Princesse ready?

Iff.
She will be presently. You stand on thorns now.

Fat.
Shall I see't too?

Iff.
Yes, yes, my pretty Lady,
If you'l sit patient there, and weep no more.

Fat.
Indeed I will not: but I could not hold
Last day, they were so cruell; could you IFFIDA?
To see hard-hearted PROGNE stab her Son!
And all the while the boy cling to her breast,
And for each wound she gave return a kisse!

Sof.
Go, y'are fainthearted.

If.
Nay Sir, she's good natur'd.

Fat.
This too is some sad story: tell me IFFIDA,
Why do's this woman look so angry here?

Sof.
What ailes that old man so to weep? I can't
Indure to see a man weep it showes cowardly.

Iff.
That fierce Lady MEDEA resolv'd to fly
With her new servant JASON from her Father;
To hinder his pursuit she tore in pieces
Her brother ABSYRTUS, and bestrewd ith'way
His limbs which that old man, their father finding,
He stopt his vaine pursuit of's cruell Daughter,
To gather up by peace meal his torn son,
And seems to bath each piece with teares, as if
He thought them Cement strong enough to set
The tatter'd joynts and flesh again together.

Fat.
Was she a sister? O I could not do
So by you SOFFIE for all the world—
I care not now for seeing it presented,
I hate all cruelty so perfectly:
Yet could I bear a part with that old man,
And weep as fast as he; so infectious
Is a just sorrow, chiefly in old persons.

NYMPHADORA,
SOFFIE, FATYMA, IFFIDA, PAGE.
What ailes my FATYMA to drown her blossomes
Of beauty thus in tears? Child art not well?

Fat.
Yes Madam, but this piece is limnd so lively,
As it doth strain tears from me to embalm
Poor torn ABSYRTUS with.

Nym.
Pretty compassion!
I like this tendernesse in thee: but we think
This a feign'd story. O may reall griefs
Ne'r touch thy breast, poor thing!—wilt see it acted?

Fat.
It will, I fear, make me too melancholy.

Nym.
Do as thou wilt, my Heart.

Fat.
This piece shall be
My melancholly study, and sad Tutor.
When I have either cause or will to weep,
Ile take up this, and sit, and think. I see
The tender boy stretcht out his hands unto me
For help, and sigh, because I cannot rescue'him.
Then think again, the old man calls out to me
To help him gather up his sons limbs; and weep
Because I cannot.

Iff.
Pretty innocence!

Sof.
Pray Madam, let me wait upon your Highnesse
To th'Tragedy.

Nym.
Thou shalt sweet-heart.

Iff.
What now?

Pag.
If't please your grace, the Lady FLORA DELLA
Is lighted at the gate, and means a visite.

Nym.
She's welcome.

Sof.
Pish, pish, now her idle chat
Will keep us beyond time.

Nym.
Soft my young Gallant.

NYMPHADORA,
FLORADELLA, SOFFIE, FATYMA, IFFIDA.
Hail my good Lady.

Flo.
Mighty Princesse, hail.

Nym.
Please you to sit.

Flo.
How does my little Lady?

Fat.
I thank you Madam.

Flo.
And you my Lord?

Sof.
Madam,
At your service.

Flo.
Troth, an early courtier.
How happy are you, Madam, in these copies
Of your fair selfe, and your renowned Lord?
By which you've fild times sharp teeth, and secur'd
Your names, your formes, and natures, from the wast
Of death, and eating age; nor is it fit
So eminent a beauty, and cleer vertue
Should for lesse then eternity grace the world.

Nym.
Why, Madam, give you me the trouble to
Speak your words over? for these heights of courtship
Are but like sounds made in a hallow room,
In expectation of the Eccho's answer.

FLo.
No, Madam, by your beauty and that is
The greatest Power that I can swear by, I
Oft lose my self in pleasing Contemplation
Of you as Natures, and as Fortunes darling.
By whose best gifts yet can you never be
So highly grac'd, as you do grace their gifts,
And them too by your bare receiving them.
What had the Gods in all their Treasury
Of greater worth or lustre then the Prince,
Your excellent Lord? A Prince that striketh dumb
Envy and slander! and gives Fortune eyes!
And who could they find worthy to bestow
This great result of all their sweat upon
But you? who yet deserve him every inch.

Nym.
In him indeed I am compleatly happy.
But he is so far above all deserving,
As I can plead no merit; yet the Gods
Themselves have sometimes deign'd a mortall love.

Flo.
In which of all the Gods fortunate Princesse,
Could you have been so happy as in him?
With better grace thou Phœbus dost not hold
Thy gorgeous rein, nor from thy glistring Throne
Scatter more beauty or more Majesty!
A Majesty indeed too great to know
Any Superior. And now that the King
Is bow'd down with the burden of old age,
The heavy weight of the unweildy Empire
Grow but a trouble to his aged shoulders.
His Crownes are to his head a load, no more
An ornament It's fitter his white Age
Should now indulge his genius, and release
His thoughts from all the ruffle of the world,
And give him time to contemplate the place
He tends to every day. So should the Prince
Make his few daies brighter and easier to him,
By taking on himself (now fit for labour)
That load of care we call the Soveraignty.

Nym.
Pray Madam give such thoughts no longer breath,
Thoughts that the loyall Prince and I detest.
'Tis the base viper gets a life by forcing
A violent passage through his Parents bowells;
My Country Phœnix when he duly mounts
His Fathers spicie Throne, brings on his wings
His honour'd ashes, and his funerall odours,
To shew, he climb'd not, till his death, his seat:

Flo.
Your Highnesse rather should assist his rising,
By gaining more to's party, which is done
With but a gracious look or smile from you.
‘So prevalent an Oratour is beauty.

Nym.
No, by his life, and all the love I bear him,
I'd rather follow him fairly to his Tombe,
Perfum'd with that unblemish'd stock of honour
He now stands in, then that so fouly broke,
See him untimely thrust into the Throne.
And justifie my self a loyaller wife,
In loving more his honour then his life.

Flo.
(Unconquerable Vertue if the Gods
[in secret.
Give me a Plague 'twill be for th'injury
I do this noble pattern of all goodnesse)
Well Madam, you may feed upon that air,
But there are those wish the design on foot.
And promise to themselves a fair successe.
So great's the love they have for the brave Prince,
An expectation of a braver King.
'For 'tis Authority declares the man.

Nym.
I'l thrive their trai'trous plots.

Iff.
My Lord, speak to her.

Nym.
But in his face I read my SOFFIE think's
This conference might be spar'd, as well as I,
For he was wooing me to carry him
To see MEDEA play'd, at Madam OMAY'S,
And I am loth to disappoint his hopes.

Flo.
I'le be no cause of that.—I'le wait you thither.

Nym.
You'l honour me.

Flo.
(I'le go before you one day.)

[secret.]
MAHOMET ALLYBEG,
SELEUCUS.
I need not tell thee, my SELEUCUS, what
Hast, secrecy, and care must wait your journey.
Attend Duke ELCHEE first, but privately,
And with my letters give him high salutes,
To work in him a confidence of me.
When you have obtain'd Audience of the Prince,
Note with what gust he takes his call to court,
And ere he be upon the way, be sure
I have a Post, t'inform me of the minute
I may expect him here; that his arrivall
Anticipates not my provision for it.

Sel.
My Lord, no part of your instructions shall
Be unobserv'd, and what my care can more,
Rely upon.

Mah.
Be happy.—This will prove
His faith, and diligence, and those shall be
The rules by which i'l further trust or slight him.
All tooles are not for greatest works, they must
Be try'd, and 'bide the tryall must be made
Staves in the ladder we ascend a Throne by.

MAHOMET-ALLY-BEG,
BELTAZAR.
Hail my Lord BELTAZAR, what, you are going
To take possession of your new command?
I wish your journey and that too prosperous.
You know you have a friend in Court, and I
Assure my self of one now in the Army.

Bel.
That your assurance will never fail you.
The King expecteth your Attendance.

Mah.
I
Am with his grace already;—Adieu my Lord.

BELTAZAR.
How quick's this Jack of state! if this my journey,
And th'whole project be not a web of his,
I misse my mark.—The Prince is grown too great
And must be fear'd, and presently remov'd,
Not 'cause he is too great for ABBAS, but
For ALLY-BEG: But this I must not see,
Because I cannot help. Should I suggest it
Unto the Prince, 'twere but to fall with him.
I'le rather save my self, and try if I
Can keep an even Path, 'twixt the two hills.
“'Tis better give way to, then resist ills,
“And raging Lions, of too horrid might
“To be withstood by force of Law, or right.
“The Prince must fall: his ruines will be great
Enough many lesse Princes to create;
Why may not I be one of those? so from
A River stop't, many small runs do stream.
Vertue, I love thee, but with thee to stand
Were now to fall; ‘Yet what the King commands
“That word makes Vertue, or at least Law; for he
“Can do no wrong, since 'gainst himself't must be,
“And to the willing nothing's injury.
How ere, 'tis wisdom to obey:“They who
“Will rise at Court, must not dispute, but do.

CHORUS.