University of Virginia Library

Act. 2.

MIRZA.
Doe, Fortune, doe, frown on, that th'world may see
My constant Vertue can orecome even thee.
And when thou pour'st out with full sea thy spite,
Swim with more strength against the angry tide.
Conspire with the Foe that not to you
The honour may but to my self be due.
But if thou bee'st the Mistresse of the world,
From whose mad wheel all our events are hurl'd,
Thank thee for being coy: It will improve
The pleasure of the Conquest, and my love
“Slight favours are not for a Princes ware,
“The foulest ground the fairest crop doth bear.
‘In a dull calm, a child may play with th'helm,
‘But he's a Pilot can outride a storm.
Raise raise them, then, let loose the winds to rage,
And let this tumour with that warfare wage.
Block up the way that to Fames Palace lies,
To give my spirit nobler exercise.
Why am I more observ'd and courted too
Then other men unlesse I more can do
And suffer more? “'Tis not enough to be
“But born a Prince our greatest Royaltie
“Lies in our Acts if we have greatest parts
‘In reverence, let's have so in deserts.
And though the bravest souldier at this day
(The whole worlds terrour) under me in pay,
Did never hear me saying yet, go thee
Where slaughter highest rag'd, but follow me,
Yet could he stronglier 'gainst the Torrent swim
Of War then I, I'd yield my Palme to him.
But Counsell must direct each martiall feat;
“Uncounsel'd force is crush'd with its own weight.

ELCHEE, PAGE.
Reading Mahomets letters to him.

I study nothing here, so much as how to
merit your high favour, and do something
may fix me strong in your desired
friendship.—

[Elc.]
Why this to me, that never yet could gain
More then a quarter face,—thus—or perhaps
An over shoulder look from this great MAHOMET?
This sole ingrosser of the royall aspect?
To me this! a disgrac'd cast Courtier!
Sure this is more then complement, yet not scorn?
It lookes like serious. He has his ends if he
But speaks, or bowes, or nods to any man.
His very looks and smiles are all design.
Had I best meet his courtesie half way?
Or shun it as a snare? Sure he thinks not
Me cheap enough to be his instrument
In a low matter? and in great his craft
Has not enough of confidence in me.
I'le not embarque too far, yet still egg on
His confidence to make my breast his closet.
Then either close in what may serve my self,
Or save my Head by 'vnraveling his Plots.
He hath somwhat ith'forge and hopes my late
Disgrace and discontent will make me blow
The cole with him, though he'd but use my foot
But as the Cats to reach the nut out of
The fire for his tooth. He's not to learn
“That male-contents are tinder for a faction.
He may remember too, that “with great Persons
“New benefits blot not out old injuries.
He hopes I'le catch the spark, if not for love
To him, for hate to th'Tyrant, who yet perhaps
Bids him cast out his lures to tempt my stomach.
Yet will I see the bait, and play with it,
And since I see it, fear not to be hit.—
Who waits there?—

Pag.
My Lord?

Elc.
Desire the Gentleman
To enter,—Favours done to followers
Oblige their Lords; as he that did relieve
MINERVA'S weary Priests ingag'd the Goddess.

ELCHEE,
SELEUCUS.
Come sir this masse of love your honour'd Lord
Is pleas'd to send me, flowes with such a tide
Of joy upon me, as I shall either die
This night, or else live forty years the longer.

Sel.
My Lord, his honour's covetous to find
Fit objects for his love, he's us'd to say,
But now he needs not seek abroad, your Grace
Deserves it all, and he is no lesse just
To pay desert her due, then wise to find it.

Elc.
Y'are too obliging, we know his judgement well
Which yet in nothing's more conspicuous,
Then in such prudent choice of followers.

Sel.
My Lord, when will the Prince—

Elc.
The Prince anon
Will be at th'Councell of war; there or expect
My entrance, or else by some attendant,
Give me but notice of your being there,
And I'le present you to his Grace, according
To your good Lords desire. The time draws on.
I'th interim, here's some will entertain you.

MOZENDRA,
SELEUCUS, BENEFIAN.
Seleucus ! hail.

Sel.
Well met dear Colonel.

Ben.
Welcome my better half, welcome to th'Camp.

Moz.
How looks the Court?

Sel.
As't uses, like a Lottery,
Where one may draw and draw till he exchanges
His whole stock but for blanks: and if by chance
A Prize do come, 'tis more by luck then skill:
And then the noise, the Drum, and generall cry
Follow the fortunate, when a thousand others
That ventur'd more, may sit and curse their starrs.

Moz.
A good Satyrick Metaphor; in them both
Blind fortune rules.

Ben.
But how are Ladies? reasonable?

Sel.
Even as they ever were, and ever will be.
Shaddowes, shaddows of us: pursue them and
You may pursue, and tire in the chace,
Seem but to fly, they'l follow, and be handled.

Moz.
'Twas ever so, keep them but sharp and they'l
Obay the lure.

Ben.
Watch them and they'l be tame.

Sel.
But with fresh oaths songs, kisses, Duells, (food
Strong and approv'd) gorge them, and they'l turne taile.

Ben.
A pretty truth: but who bears greatest price.

Sel.
Why, faith, the plainest, th'fairest ever are
Most kind and least proud—

Ben.
So, And what new loves?
How thrives the new sect of Platoniques? ha?

Sel.
Troth the best Pimp that ever enter'd Court.

Moz.
You need not fear the grouth of such a weed,
Nor hope we better fruit, since that the Persians
Begun to follow th'Lacædemonians.

Ben.
Then i'le up and turn Courtier, SELEUCUS
Wilt buy my Regiment?

Mox.
Prethee BENEFIAN
Wilt now turn fly, and spend the day in buzzing
In Ladies beams till thou hast sing'd thy wings?
Fie, fie, the Prince here shewes thee 'nobler game,
Wilt thou, like an ill-handled kite upon
Her wings after a noble quarry, go
Away with paultry check? or leave a Partridge
To dop after a lark, or Robinred-brest?

Ben.
There is a Syren in that tongue.—well, i'le
Consider a while of't. But you SELEUCUS
Mean to stay with us, ha? and see some sport?

Moz.
Yes, yes you will not leave the stag at Bay.

Sel.
Well, i've a Mistrisse I would fain present
With a piece of a torn Banner.

Ben.
Well said my
Bully HECTOR,—but hold—The Lords o'th Counsell

EMANGOLY,
METHICULI, HYDASPUS, ALKAHEM, MATZED
And now my Lords, what businesse calls loudest
To be the first discussed in our Counsell?

Met.
Exchange of Prisoners; many we hold of ther's
At needlesse charge, as many they of ours
Deserving men and stout, whom we much want.

Hyd.
Our Regiments and companies are thin,
Scarce one in ten of them amounts to half
The constitution: So the Guards are weaker
Then else they should: and thus hard duty comes
Oftner to the same men, till the poor souldiers
Grumble, and faint beneath the load, and scarce
Are held from mutiny; But which is worse,
A masse of Treasure daily is consum'd
On idle officers, Parchment Colonells
And titular Captains, that ne're saw four files
Vnder their Ensigns, or perhaps no more
Then their own groomes, or private servants, save
Some that they borrow'd upon daies of muster,
Or else pretended to lie sick in Quarters.

Ema.
Dead payes are not to be eschewed: tis grown
An abuse too strong for reformation.
The rest, the Prince has thoughts how to redresse,
And means it suddenly, by casheering and
Reforming idle officers, and filling all
His Regiments; which method he intends
To be exact to four times ith'year.

Mat.
All gentlemen that come as volunteers
Expect commands, which yet they measure by
The greatnesse of their states, not martiall skill.
A Troop, a Company, or a Regiment
Each novice claimes as due; lesse cannot answer
A full fortune: when, for a Princes selfe,
They that know any thing, know tis no disgrace
To traile a Pike under a known Commander.

Hyd.
But tis disgrace enough, and something more,
I'd almost said tis treason, t'undertake
More then a mans abilitie can perform,
Since the King suffers in it more then he;
The King, more in his work, then he in's credit.

Alk.
These in their times; but first, if you concur,
Some thoughts of the reducing of yon City
Were seasonable: the seige is long and tedious,
And sicknesse and disease invade our camp,
As if the foe had made them of their party.
And that, my Lord METHICULI, makes good
Your proposition; that place won, we gain
Those prisoners, whose exchange will cost us dear.

Mat.
My Lord, I eccho you. What a disgrace
Would stick upon our names indeleble
As cowardise, if our great Princes standard,
That never yet was fixt in vain before
A hostile Fort, but useth to display
Its selfe still on the Enemies proudest Turret,
Should now be left alone, or which is worse,
Forc'd to remove?

Ema.
Though all the Gods were parties,
Our Princes stars are of a cleerer light,
Then so to be eclips'd by th'Turkish Moon.

Hyd.
She's pale, and waines already, and his Arme
Shall pluck her from her sphear, or quench her in it.

Met.
Or daube her hornes with Ottoman blood, till she
Sets red, or shrinks into her Cloud, and wasts.

Alk.
How can it be but so, when such a Sun
As this appears, drowning her sickly light!

MIRZA,
EMANGOLY, ELCHEE, METHICULI, HYDASPUS, ALKAHEM, MATZED, MOZENDRA, BENEFIAN.
My Lords, this City stands stiffe in our way,
But none I hope, have any other thoughts
Then tempting of our stars, till the proud Turrets
Bow to our feet, and sink in vengefull flames;
For why should she ere boast a brighter fate,
Then her as potent sisters, that now kisse
Our yoak, and humbly truckle under us?

Ema.
And so shall she, and glory in the bondage;
For to be slave to you, is next to win.
This my Lord ALKAHEM wisely advis'd,
Should be our first addresse unto your Highnesse.

Mir.
He spoke my thoughts, or rather I in him.

Alk.
This I the rather was induc'd to do,
Because, since the two Mines we sprung last day,
And five former assaults, prov'd unsuccessfull
And all your Messages met a Rejection:
I humbly now conceive, no storm or scale
So fit to be attempted, as some stratagem
To be advis'd of.

Mir.
Give us but a hint.

Alk.
An't please your Royall Highness, the last sally
'Twas my fortune to make two young men Prisoners,
Whom by their civill fashion and demeanour,
I judg'd and found to be men of the Book,
Rather engag'd by novelty to see
Something of war, then any way expert
In these rough meetings: these I had into
My Tent, where being well warm'd with Shiras wine,
They fell into a freedom of discourse,
And, among other things, assured me,
They in the City had receiv'd a Promise
From OSMANHELI, their old Governour,
Of succours within four dayes, for which service
He was prepar'd, and stay'd but for some Gallies,
And Frigots to convoy him, and inable him
To passe through our Fleet, which Navy he had
A good assurance would attend him shortly.
And these are th'onely hopes hold up their hearts,
And keep their Gates shut 'gainst your Royal Highness.
Neither is this discovery the effect
But of their drink, for, sober, they confirm it.

Elc.
The same, a Page of mine, lately their Prisoner,
Who mad's escape in the same sally, told me,
He learnt ith'Town.

Mat.
It is the generall voice
Among the meaner Prisoners, who hug their
Condition, and joy they are with us,
That they may eat again, famine within
Rages so strongly.

Moz.
Hopes of this supply,
They say, do onely keep the Town from uproar.

Ben.
The starved Souldiers fly upon their Leaders,
And cry with a half hollow voice, Bread! Bread!
For heavens sake Bread: when shall we eat again?
They answer, do but smell upon your Matches
Four dayes longer, then by th'life of MORAT,
If no help comes, we'l make our best conditions.

Met.
It seems 'tis a conceit strongly believ'd,
That they shall have reliefe.

Alk.
Believ'd, my Lord,
They every hour trace the sands, the walls
They climb, and Turrets, peep through Prospectives,
And if they but descry a Sea-gull, 'tis
A Sail, and if a flock, O that's the Navy,
Till lost again they chide their credulous faith,
And curse the two crosse winds, till their own sighs
But make them stronger to defeat their joyes.

Hyd.
I had the guard last night, and intercepted
A messenger in disguise from the said OSMAN,
With Letters sown in's Tulipant, spoke the same.
These be the Letters—, and the Postscript fixes
The time two dayes, or three at farthest.

Mir.
Good,
And you conceive now, we may send a Party
Fresh flourishing in the Enemies Colours, who
By this pretence, may gain perhaps admittance,
And so surprize the Town?

Ema.
'Tis probable.

Alk.
'Tis certain.

Mat.
Nay 'tis more, 'tis done already.

Mir.
Well, since you've such a confidence, we'l try it.
The Prince lightly peruses the Letters, then gives them to the Lords, who hand them from one to another.
You, my good Lord, METHICULI, shall command
In this design, to whom we'l joyne your Regiment,
HYDASPUS, and yours, ALKAHEM, and yours MATZED.

Met.
Our care shall not be wanting.

Mir.
Have the Brigads
Ready t'imbarque by the first light o'th'morning:
In the mean time, we'l send unto our Admirall,
That riding in the gulph, blocks up the Town,
To bring ships down unto the Haven this night,
For to transport you in, those must you wing
With Turkish Flags and Streamers, and acquaint him
With the adventure, that you passe the Fleet
In the next night, yet not without some skirmish,
To work the greater confidence ith'City,
That you are foes to us, and their recruits.
Yet least discovery frustrates the project,
Keep your selves whole, that you may so make good
Your quick retreat. You, my Lord ELCHEE,
At the same time shall storm on the Land side,
To give the greater terrour and diversion
To the Towns strength: so fortune aid the attempt.
My selfe, and you, EMANGOLY, will be ready
Either to enter with the Horse, or succour
Our friends, if they be forc'd to a retreat.

Alk.
If this succeeds 'tis but our keeping up
The Turkish Colours on the Towers awhile,
And we shall so traine in the succours sent
For th'Towns reliefe, who ignorant of its taking,
Once landed, can't scape us.

Mir.
Grasp not too much.

Ema.
The Action promises well.

To Elchee in secret.
Ben.
My Lord, SELEUCUS
Attends without.

Elc.
Sir, you'l oblige me, if
You'l please to bring him in, and i'l present him.

Mir.
MOZENDRA, let it be your care to make
Our Admirall know our project, and desire
Of Ships from him.

Moz.
Sir, I am gone about it.

SELEUCUS.
[To them.
All hail.

Elc.
May't please your Grace, this Gentleman
Is come from Court, with Letters for your Highnesse,
From your dread Father.

Mir.
He is welcome,—Sir,
How fares our Royall Father?

Sel.
By me he sends
Your Highnesse twenty thousand blessings: and
Is kept in health, if but by the relation
Of your renown, which gives him hourly musick,
So gratefull to his Majesty is your fame.

Mir.
We'l study to requite his love with duty.

Mat.
My Lord HYDASPUS, and you ALKAHEM
He delivers his Letters to the Prince, kisses his hand, and retires. The Prince opens, & reads them to himselfe.
And you MATZED, will all be sure to bring
Down to the Haven, before the Moon arises,
Your Regiments, where you shall find me ready
To lead you aboard, the Ships I need not doubt,
They being my MOZENDRA'S care.

Hyd.
Do'nt doubt me.

Alk.
Nor me.

Mat.
Nor me.

[He starts.
Mir.
Sure I red not right!

Hyd.
His message likes him not.

Mir.
O for an Augur!

Ema.
Good heaven! what an Oglio of thoughts
His Highnesse has in's face!

Mat.
He reads disturbance
In very line.

Ben.
What bold blind fate dares thwart him!

Mir.
'Tis so—Well, Souldiers may'nt dispute their orders.—
My Lord, I've here commands come from my Father,
Forthwith to wait upon him, and I dare
Think nothing but obedience.—But O in
What a Dilemma between duty and honour
Stand I? Honour calls to me from the house
Of Fame, built all of sounding Brass: and what
Wilt thou, sayes she, that hast given up thy name
To me, go wanton in the Courts soft pleasures?
When yet the field is cover'd with thy Army,
And new attempts resolv'd?

Alk.
Heare, heare her sir.

Mir.
Then filial duty calls loud from the Temple,
T'obey is your chiefe honour, the contrary
Would fix more staines upon your Name, then all
The Ottoman blood, could you set it a Tilt,
Could ever wash away. O strait! who sayes not,
To go is Cowardize, to stay, Rebellion?

Ema.
Excuse me sir, were it not blasphemy
'Gainst our great MITHRA, to say the Sun wants light,
When he doth but keep state in gloomy dayes?
No, no your Highness have possess'd the world
Enough with your known valour, now no spot
Will stick to you; besides who knows your business?
Your Highness going may be necessary,
And so your journey give more honour to you,
Then kicking ope this Towns Gates with your foot.

Met.
O'th'other side, some handsome excuse may
Give satisfaction to the King, till this
Design be over, and not incur displeasure.

Ema.
It may so, yet, why should our Lord the Prince
Run that hazard? his stay may do him hurt,
In losing th'opportunity of some Action,
Sure of concernment, else the King would not
Have sent, knowing the weight of his work here:
Or worse, it may provoke his Fathers anger,
At least suspition: His going cannot harm him,
This Plot is so contriv'd as we may act it:
Nor need the common Souldier know he's gone;
Put one into his Armour to disguize it.
When he is there, if the affair be urgent,
'Tis well he went: if not, he may return
To us before the Action.

Mir.
I'm confirm'd,
Obedience possesses me all over.
Ile up, and down again, quick as your thought:
If I be forc't to stay, go on and prosper:
But duty bears me not faster to him,
Then Love and honour shall again to you:
And so adieu my Lords.

Ema.
Heaven keep your Highness.

Elc.
Go safe.

Met.
And safe return.

Hyd.
And well as safe.

BELTAZAR,
EMANGOLY, ELCHEE, METHICULI, HYDASPUS, ALKAHEM, MATZED, BENEFIAN.
Hail my Lord Duke of Shiras.

Ema.
My Lord BELTAZAR!
What wind wast drave hither trow?

[In secret.
Elc.
No good one,
You may be confident.

Bel.
Save you my Lords.

Ema.
O my apprehensive soul! I'd give
[Aside.
An eye my Lord the Prince were here again.

Bel.
'Tis thus, in short, my Lords, His Majestie
Dreading some sickness growing strong upon him—

Hyd.
He was in health even now.

[Aside.
Alk.
Stay sir, observe.

Bel.
Thought good to send down for his Sonne the Prince
The staffe of his old age, to be about him:
And has done me the honour to command me
Hither, to stand in joynt Commission over
Th'Army, with you, My Lord EMANGOLY,
My honour'd Colleague.

Ema.
Your standing is my fall.

[Aside.
Bel.
My Lords, methinks I see, and grieve to see,
Something like Discontent in all your faces.

Ema.
I'm justly proud sir, to be joyned with
So eminent a Vertue; but this, in this
Conjuncture of time, I think, was ill advis'd.
Now, when the Army is neer worried out
In a long war, to tear their darling from them,
Will rellish ill.

Ben.
I'l up, and turn Platonick.

Met.
And I Stoick.

Mat.
Ile to my Farm, and there
[They whisper
Sow Mustard-seed: the Prince gone farewell Arms.

Elc.
This is a trick, the Prince nere dreamt of it.

Alk.
A bait, to lure him up and lodge him—O.

Ema.
My Lord, his Highness ere we lost him, laid
The Plat-form of a Plot to gain this City
By a surprize; till that be done, wil't please you
To keep close your Commission, lest th'novelty
Disturbs the Action.

Bel.
Sir, I'l be advis'd
In this, and all things, by your better judgement.

Met.
We all do know our duties, let's attend them.

Ema.
Go then, my Lords, I'l follow:—or I thinke,
We had as good let this adventure fall,
'Twas but to please the Prince.

Bel.
Sir, as you please:
I've some dispatches, those over, I am yours.

EMANGOLY,
ELCHEE, METHICULI, HYDASPUS, ALKAHEM, MATZED. BENEFIAN.
The Prince call'd up to stay! and one sent down
To take his place? and that a Courtier too!
Plot of some Turk to ruine Persia
By striking her good Genius! Impudent head!
Worthy a thousand thunderbolts, that durst
Once mention it! why stay we in the Army?
There's not a Captains place now to be given
But some Court-Madam must dispose it, to
Perhaps some little leg'd Gentleman-Usher.

Ben.
Or decay'd Stallion.

Elc.
Though we toil'd and sweat
To purchase honour for the Prince, we will not
That BELTAZAR shall share with us.

Ema.
Shall I
Be coupled now, after so many Triumphs,
With a Court Spaniell? I'le let the Turk in first,
Say my good Lords what, can you shrug and fawn,
And complement? your Generall is a Courtier.
Now you must fight in method, exercise
Your men as in a Dance.—

Met.
Pox, let all fall.

Hyd.
Best call MOZENDRA back, and lets do nothing.

Mat.
But mutiny.

Elk.
Or at best, raise the Siege.

Ema.
The shame wil not be ours, but the dul Kings,
That knowes not how to prize a worthy Son.

Omnes.
With all our hearts.

Met.
Let's hold together then,
And we are safe.

Ema.
You are an Oracle.
The King shall know that nothing shall be done,
Lesse we be pleas'd, and have again, his Son.

BELTAZAR,
SELEUCUS.
SELEUCUS , is thy Post upon his wings
T'inform thy master of the Princes coming?

Sel.
My Lord, I have dispatch'd him.

Bel.
Prethee stay him
For my Packet.

Sel.
My Lord, i'l after him.

Bel.
Do so,—and then the King shall know he must not
Pull down his Son and let these great ones stand,
That are but his dependents, pieces of him.
They're grown too great to obey any but
Their Prince, and will not brook my rising ore them.
And yet, to speak my conscience, they're but honest,
And do, but what I should; yet now that is not
The way to thrive, and so may well be lov'd
And wished, but not practis'd, without losse.
“As he that fells an Elm, must also fell
“The Ivy Vine, and under shrubbs that dwell
“Beneath his shade, and cling in loving sort
“About his bole some but for their support,
“Some to suck sap from him: So who'd remove
“A Prince, or great man, strong ith'Peoples love,
“Must strike his followers too. A mighty man
“Doth never fall alone, no more then can
“The beams and columns of a Palace and
“The Rafters and the sparrs unmoved stand.

CHORUS.
What dire effects evill Counsell workes
Even to unhinging greatest states!
It doth allure with specious baits,
But underneath foul Poison lurkes.
The Prince, to please a factious few
Must rob himself even of his best
Of friends, and discontent the rest,
Which he may ever after rue.
This happens when the Princes ear
Is open (drown'd in soft delight)
Unto the bosom Favorite,
Or undermining Flatterer.
How hard and difficult a thing,
Almost above the power of man,
Or even what the immortalls can,
Is it, to be a prudent King!
Almost with honour due to IOVE,
Such 'tis no Piacle to adore,
For sure, hourly lesse, or more,
He hath intelligence from above.
O what a narrow path doth lie
For him! what a straight neck of land?
'Twixt this dire Rock, and that Quicksand,
Here base contempt there flattery!
To escape flattery men must know
He loves the naked truth to hear;
But if these freedomes given are
To all, they to contempt will grow.
So dost thou loose thy reverence
Great TITAN, guider of the Day,
Because thou dost with equall Ray
Thy light alike to all dispence.
The wise Prince then some few selects,
And but to them gives libertie
To tell him all things as they be,
From th'rest he nought hears or expects.
Of such a prudent choice must be.
(Men wise and daring, that above
His Fortune do his Person love)
Lest they fall into flattery.
Not chose for favour, but for parts,
Not so poor as they him must make
Their prey, nor should he any take
For their high Fortunes, but deserts.
Nor must he yet let them ingrosse
His love; keep them his Counsellors
Not Favourites, lest the gaining theirs
Of all hearts else becomes the losse.
Should SOL from one place ne'r remove
And starve the rest, scorch would that part
With curses, and his partiall Cart
Might more esteem get, but lesse love.
“Few Favourites were there ever seen
“But either wrought their Kings decay,
“And prov'd Usurpers, or else they
“Have by the People ruin'd been.
“O Kings, be sparing to make those
“Whom well you love, your Favourites;
“For them you give to vulgar spights,
“Or else, for them, your selves, depose.