 | The Royal Mischief |  |
SCENE I.
A Pavillion Royal.Osman and Ismael.
Osm.
What boots it thus to drag a wretched being,
A Lifeless lump, without one ray of hope;
By Heav'n, I'll lay me down, and breath my Soul
In sighs, at my too cruel Sovereigns feet;
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Beauties, till I have urg'd her glorious Eyes
To shed some pitying Tears.
Ism.
Rouse up your self, and bear you like a Man,
The Lord of Womankind, born to Command
That Sex which we intreat, but when we whine
At your romantick rate, we move not love,
But scorn, they like the forward and the bold,
For Virtue in such Souls is like their form,
Only exteriour Beauty, worn to deceive
The credulous World, and buy Opinions
From the common rout—
But when they meet a Lover to their wish,
They gladly throw the borrow'd Veil aside,
And naked in his Arms disclose the cheat.
Osm.
You speak of common Women, are those fit
To meet comparison with our blest Princess,
Of whom 'tis Blasphemy to think her Mortal
To any but our Lord the Prince.
Ism.
Fine stuff.
What, do you doat upon a new found species?
I thought you lov'd her; as she was a Woman,
As nature bids us love, not with Platonick
Nonsense; when you have reckon'd all her
Beauties up, the Sex is lovelyest in her:
Bate that Circumstance and a fair Picture
Does the Work as well, if she be a Woman,
Resolve to win her, and the work is done:
Is she d'think the only frozen of
Her Sex, whom the hot Sun of love cann't melt.
Osm.
Thou art a Libertine, and thinkst all Humankind
As eager for enjoyments as thy self.
Ism.
I think you shou'd with such a prize in view,
Or else forego your Title of a Man,
Strip off those borrow'd Ornaments, and take
An Eunuchs garb and rank; by Love the
Universal Worlds great Lord, were I as her,
I wou'd not give one smile to so much weakness.
Osm.
She has Commanded, on the forfeit of my Life,
Not to presume to name my love again.
Ism.
She doubts the Consequence—
Her Sexes frailty cann't resist the
Battery, the next attempt lays all her
Beauties prostrate. O Visier, had I but
The prospect of thy Joys, to Morrows Sun
Shou'd never touch the West, till I had
Bath'd, nay wanton'd, in that Sea of Pleasure.
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Alas, I dare not raise my thoughts that way,
For as I told you, when I urged my love,
She chid me into everlasting silence;
And on those hard conditions, gave her hand,
In token of forgiveness.
Ism.
Her blest hand;
By Heaven it was too mighty earnest,
Her heart long since was yours, and the bright
Body, next will follow. O I cou'd crush
Thee now, with Envy at thy Joys; for though
I wish thee happy, I shall die to know
Thou art so; not that I love her more than
As she is a Woman, the brightest of her kind,
Next the Libardian Princess, whose Charms
I never yet saw equall'd.
Osm.
Why Ismael,
Because ye have enjoy'd, do you praise a Lady
Guilty of all those Passions which a Womans
Breast can breed; her Vertue, Senses, Fame, are
All made Slaves to Luxury, lewd in her
Nature, Gilting from her Cradle, void of
Religion and Morality, she knows no
Tie of Conscience, nor Affection, rather
Than loose what her vile sense calls Pleasure.
Murder and Incest wou'd be easy Crimes,
Had she but power to act, as sure she
Has the will, the Earth wou'd groan to bear her.
Ism.
I prais'd her not
For any thing but Beauty, and what Eye
So ever sees it, must allow her that.
Osm.
I grant her form is Excellent, but sure
My Princess, does as much deserve our wonder.
Hast thou forgot the time when thou didst play
The Orator on her Perfections, and
I cou'd scarce be heard, but as thy Echo.
Ism.
I am not at such odds with my remembrance,
To need so strickt a reconcilement.
Osm.
Give me leave, 'tis the fond Lovers Pleasure,
Still to be speaking of the thing they love:
I'll pass the Circumstance of War, and lead
You to that Scene where first we saw the Princess
Retired, according to the Abcan Mode,
To pass in Tents the raging Summers heat,
Far as she thought, from the rude noise of War,
Surrounded with a train of sixty Ladies,
All bright as Stars, fit Nymphs for such a Goddess,
Her self more than Diana fair, than Venus lovely;
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Snowy Breasts, and her white Arms, all naked
To the gazers view; how often have I blest
That friendly Planet, by whose officious heat
Those dazling Beauties were reveal'd.
Ism.
You doat and yet want Courage for the joy,
Our Sex can never bear themselves too bold,
Provided still we lay the stress on love;
For when we warmest urge our fierce desire,
The self-conceited she mistakes the Cause;
Nor nicely weighs the influence of temper,
But thinks them all strong Arguments of Passion
Which nothing but her Beauty cou'd inspire.
Osm.
I cannot think she loves me.
Ism.
Yet when we first surpriz'd her in the Forest,
Our Warlike Party struck such terrour to
Her Train, that not one Guard, nor Slave, but fled
As fast, as their wild fear cou'd carry 'em;
She stood alone unmov'd, and to my sense,
Her darting looks spake much more love than fear;
For at her Feet, when you had laid your Sword,
She bad you take it up, and said, she did
Not fear that hand wou'd ever ill imploy it.
Osm.
That minute look't my liberty away;
For when my gracious Conqueress saw her self
My Prisoner, she blush'd, confest her Quality,
And said her Father wou'd not let her long
Be such. I told her, I was more her Slave,
And in that newness of my love, spoke things
Which even thy boldness did condemn;
At last I tore my self from this Inchantress,
Nor took advantage of the Chance of War,
But left her free, and at her own dispose,
Which when she saw, she bow'd, and smiling said,
She never shou'd forget her Conquerour.
Ism.
'Twas well our Party knew her not,
The Gallantry had cost you else your head.
Osm.
After Victory the Peace soon follow'd,
And I was sent by Proxy to espouse her;
Since that I have not dar'd to speak of love,
Nor interrupt the joys our Sovereign gives,
With my too fatal Melancholy Fate.
Ism.
Do you not see she's sullen at her Fortune,
And smiles not on the Prince but with constraint;
Her Eyes have lost that shining Power, with
Which they darted on us in the Forest;
She now appears musing, reserv'd, and sad,
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Press her again, and if she not avow
It's yours, discard me from your Friendship.
Osm.
I will, for though she banish me for ever,
I cannot be more wretched than I am,
But O, I must not think on her high joys,
Least I grow Giddy, with the distant prospect,
And lag beneath, when Love calls on to climb.
Enter a Slave.
Slave.
The Princess Selima allighted at your Tent,
Osm.
Tell her, I wait upon her instantly,
How shall I look upon that injur'd Princess,
When cold Civility, is all my treat,
Undone by want, and yet have too much Love,
But since no ill is such, to us till known,
I'll keep the wounding secret from her Ear,
And be unhappy to my self alone.
[Exit Osm.
Ism.
This Visier stands betwixt me and the seals,
His Death procur'd the Ministry were mine;
No way so likely to remove him thence,
As his mad doating Passion for the Princess,
Which for that reason I incourage in him;
To the Protector I have told the secret,
Whose jealousy will never let it rest
Till he has lodg'd it in bright Homais Breast,
From whence her sure revenge will strike such fires,
As well continued may the Hero send,
To seek in unknown Worlds his Sorrows end.
Enter Acmat.
Acm.
My Lord your'e welcome from the Wars in peace.
Ism.
Thou blest contriver of my highest joys,
How fares my ever Charming Princess?
Acm.
O much more Beautiful than ever,—this
Year has brought a wonderful addition,
Each day discloses something new, though to
Have seen the perfect Charmer, one wou'd have
Thought long since 'twas an accomplish'd work, and
Nature cou'd not add another Beauty.
Ism.
May I not visit her to night.
Acm.
Where is the Prince of Colchis.
Ism.
At Dinner with the Princess.
Acm.
Are we private.
Ism.
We are.
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Acm.
My Lord, where Gratitude and Interest join,
These we may hope to find fidelity;
'Tis on this Rock my Princess builds her hope,
If they succeed the Visiers Seat is yours:
But I have news will strike your heart with wonder,
She loves your Prince, and much I fear will die
If not belov'd again.
Ism.
Impossible.
He knows her not, nor has she ever seen him.
Acm.
Love enters at the Ears as well as Eyes,
His Fame has toucht her mind, his Form her heart,
For though you had forsook her Arms for Glory,
And left the beauteous Circle unemploy'd;
The little God gave new desires, as loath
To lose so bright a Vot'ry, and caused her
Languish for a Prince unknown; my Lord, to
Help the fatal mischief on, made her the
Present of his Nephews Picture—
By which she so indulg'd her fond desire.
That soon her reason fled and left her heart
A prey to Passion, nor cou'd her Stars resist it.
Ism.
Levan indeed by nature is so warm,
So true a Lover of the charming Sex,
That 'tis the only hint of humane
Frailty in him, nor can his temper catch
A blaze, from any other fire, though to his
Wife, whom Policy made such; he seems
To wear the effects of duty more than love.
Acm.
Therefore this Picture can create a new;
Her Eyes have more than magick Art, to light 'em,
Cou'd he but see 'em once, the work were done;
Move him to view this wonder of her Sex,
And raise his pity for her hard confinement;
And if you find it proper move the love
Which Osman bears his Princess, to Selima.
I have dispatcht a Letter, the stile and
Character, to her unknown, which brings the
Fatal News, by which we have a perfect
Spy upon them both; her Jealousy will
Never let it rest till she has explor'd the
Secret to our wish.
Ism.
I'll prove the chance, when Dinners done,
He comes this way to lead the Princess
To her private Lodgings, and there he leaves her
To an hours repose; but say, I bring him
Forth to view the Castle, the old Protector
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Be satisfied in part.
Acm.
We have drencht him,
With an Opiat draught, whose powerful
Charms he'll not be able to throw off, till
He has paid the Tribute of eight hours sleep;
If our propitious Stars but join, there may
Be wonders wrought e'er then to make you great,
And Homais happy.
Ism.
To compass both, I'll
Run the hazard of Levan's displeasure,
And rather crush my Fortune than her hopes.
A flourish of Musick, then enter Levan leading Bassima, the Ladies following, they pass over the Stage.
Ism.
Soft rest wait on your Majesty, Acmat.
Withdraw, the Prince will instantly return;
Occasion speaks, and we must haste to answer,
The glowing Metals ready on the Anvil,
And Fate calls on to strike.
Enter Levan.
Lev.
I have a new-born dullness hangs upon me,
A mighty heaviness, unknown till now;
I fear my Fate is busy for some change,
And this the sure Forerunner of the Tempest.
Ism.
Suppose you try the Princess Arms—
Those mighty joys which she can give,
Wou'd steal this heavy dullness from your heart,
And send it to your Eyes in golden slumbers.
Lev.
I wou'd have staid—she seem'd averse—
And I love nothing by constraint.
Ism.
How, refuse your Company, by Heaven
I do not like the News, a Wife shou'd wake
Her self to watch her Husbands slumbers.
Lev.
Is their such complaisance in Marriage.
Ism.
In love I'm sure there is—and unless you
Will exclude that Passion from it—
This and much more attends the Union.
Lev.
My Lord, you are experienc't in the Art,
Describe me such a Woman whose cold
Civility makes all her liking.
Ism.
In those who truly love they meet its joys,
With as much eagerness as we can give 'em:
Their glowing Lips, their sparkling dying Eyes
Speaks rapture all; they grasp us close, and give
Their Souls in kisses: words are too gross to
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Mystery transcends our sense, and better
Sutes our wonder than description.
Lev.
This is not what I askt.
Ism.
This is the general Character, nature
Has lent that common softness to the Sex;
They're Lovers all, or else they are not Woman;
Though I must own a Husband may not
Always be the object of desire.
Lev.
What does the Woman then?
Ism.
She who likes her Lover more,
Loaths the inclosure of her Husbands Arms,
Coldly receives his Kisses and his Vows,
And answers all his eager joys with sighs:
But they are sighs of sorrow not of love,
And when he urges her unkindness to her,
She lays it on the coldness of her temper,
Though to her Lover she's at hot as flames;
The silly Husband must believe her Ice,
Which nothing natural has pow'r to thaw
But love, being the original of all;
Nothing that's made by love can live without it.
Lev.
By Hell, thou hast described the Princess
As right as if with me thou hadst shar'd her Arms.
Ism.
Sacred Sir, I must not mean her Majesty.
Lev.
I wish I cou'd not mean her neither—
O Ismael, thou hast rais'd a Hell of doubts,
Deep, horrid deep, ne'er to be fathom'd more:
But by thy self, prove that she loves another,
For 'tis most certain she is cold to me,
As Marble Tombs, or Snow on tallest Hills;
And I'll renounce at once her Love and Bed,
Forsake the ungrateful Partner of my Throne,
And give her Beauties up to strictest justice;
But for her Minion who so e'er he be,
That durst presume to mingle with my joys,
And taste uncall'd, the Royal Feast of Kings;
Though but in thought he had offended, yet
His Guardian Angel shou'd not save his Head;
The Minute, that I know the Wretch, he dies.
Ism.
To Morrows Sun shall bring you further News,
Till then, conceal your doubts, and this discovery,
And if I mark you not the Traytor plain,
May all your indignation fall on me;
And let me, meet that death which he deserves.
Lev.
Be sure thou dost it, for Royal anger
Shou'd not be unjustly rais'd, the fatal
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Kindled right, proves worse than lenity.
I'le hug no more the Inchantress in my Arms,
Nor give her cause to laugh at my Indulgence,
Till I have prov'd her Vertue clear, if not,
We part for ever.
Ism.
Suspend these troubled Thoughts,
Unbend your Cares, and give your Eyes the leave,
To view the only Miracle of Beauty,
Your Uncle's Wife, has sure engross'd the Stile;
But I'de forgot, an Eunuch waits without,
Sent by her Orders; will you please to
Admit him?
Lev.
From Homais! let him Enter.
[Ismael goes out, and returns with Acmat.
Acm.
Long live the Glorious Prince of Colchis,
For thus by me my Royal Mistress speaks;
May all his Undertakings meet Success,
Great as his Merits, equal to her Wishes;
May Fortune in his Cause, change her Inconstancy,
And lose for him, the Name of fickle Goddess.
She wou'd have come her self to bind this Prayer,
Had not her Inclinations been debarr'd:
But those she never be so blest, to meet your Eyes;
Tho Everlasting distance prove her Lot,
Dividing what her strong Desires has join'd,
She begs you keep this little Picture for her sake.
Lev.
My Lord, has not the Painter flatter'd her?
Ism.
Sir, I think he scarce can do her Justice,
She has Charms, which Art can never copy.
Lev.
Then she is sure above all Mortal Frame,
Her Eyes have Rays, her Face a Glory thro'
The whole, that strikes full at my Heart;
Now when I put the Colours to my Lips,
My Heart flew at the touch, eager to meet
Her Beauties; I'le gaze no more, there's Magick
In the Circle.
Acm.
Sure there's a Sympathy between you, for
Thus she bears her, when she sees your Picture,
Which drawn at length, almost as Graceful as
The Original, is the chief Ornament
Of her Apartment, answering
Exactly to her waking Curtains.
How often have I seen this Lovely Venus,
Naked, extended, in the gaudy Bed,
Her snowy Breasts all panting with desire,
With gazing, melting Eyes, survey your Form,
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Ism.
The God of Love forbids you to deceive her.
Such Cruelties can never suit the Brave,
Courage and Clemency, are equal Vertues;
A Hero shou'd extend to all his Mercy,
But mostly sure, to those who Love, and
Languish for him.
Lev.
I'le hear no more, y'are Charmers all,
And I am to my self the worst deceiver.
Acm.
Then shall I tell the wretched Lady,
You have refus'd her Love, nor dare I urge it more.
Lev.
Alas! I dye for that, as much as she,
But our hard Fate has parted us for ever.
Acm.
Is this then, what your Majesty returns?
Lev.
Tell her, her Charms have wondrous Power,
And were we both at liberty to choose,
This Night shou'd see her mine, but there's a
Noble Lord, the Partner of her Bed,
Who I can never wrong.
Acm.
Nor cou'd you, tho' he found you there, 'tis none
To take, what cannot fit anothers use;
What boots the empty Name, without possession,
The love of Nature has Divorc'd him from her,
Her Beauty lies neglected by his side,
Nor is he other than a Proxy sent,
Sent to Espouse, but never Taste
The Virgin Fruit, as yet remain untoucht,
And if not pluck'd by you, must fall ungather'd.
Ism.
Are you a Man, and can resist this offer?
Refuse her Love, and kill her with disdain;
At least, in gratitude, you shou'd provide
To make the Charmer easie in her Chains;
'Tis pity, that a Light, which might have cheer'd
All Eyes, shou'd be it self condemn'd to darkness.
Come, Sir, the Castle is in view—
Or will you stay, and dally with a Wife
That loaths your Arms, and sports in anothers.
Lev.
That Thought is Death, and every Place where she
Has bin, is Hell to my sick Thoughts.
Lead to the Castle, there my Fortune calls me,
Be't good or ill, I'le now obey the Summons.
Eunuch be gone, and tell her I am coming;
But bid the Lovely Princess vail her Charms,
In pity to my Fate, lest if they shine.
Too bright, they dazle my weak sight for ever.
[Ex. Acm.
Ism.
'Twere not amiss, for fear this Visit, to
Observing Eyes, shou'd seem particular,
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She wakes, attended by the Visier, may
Meet us at the Castle.
Lev.
Then see it done,
And yet methinks I wou'd avoid her sight,
Till the great Tryal of her Vertue's past.
O how unconstantly our Fortune turns,
One Hour in Joy, the next with Sorrow mourns.
[Exeunt Omnes.
| The Royal Mischief | |