University of Virginia Library

The Scene Changes.
Enter Muly Hamet and Abdelcador Attended.
Abdel.
Kind Taffalet—
Concern'd to owe this Conquest to the Charms
Of your Victorious Presence, not his Armes:
Scorning to wear that which his Armes ne're Won,
Frankly Surrenders you Morocco's Crown.

Muly H.
Well generous Prince, this offer'd Crown—
With Thanks and Envy shall Accepted be;
I'le be a Monarch to act deeds like Thee.
Here Mariamne appears from the Balcone above.
My Princess, the bright Charms those Eyes convey,
Compleat th'imperfect Triumphs of this Day:
It does a larger Happiness afford,
To have a Mistress, than a Crown Restor'd.
Here at your Feet, kind Providence has thrown
Your banisht Lover, and your Ravisht Crown.
Your influence, and my Armes so happy prov'd;
Th'usurpers Scepter's to your Hand remov'd:
His blood, when he his forfeit Head dares show,
Shall pay what to your Brothers Dust I owe.

Enter to her Crimalhaz into the Balcone.
Mar.
My Jaylour here.—

Crim.
Though I am faln so low:
My fortune lost, I may a Beggar grow.
This Mercy does on generous Spirits wait,
You always pity the Unfortunate—
And on that score I'le beg one modest boon;
I'le only ask you to restore my Crown.

Muly H.
Thanks Heaven, the only man whose Head I want.

Crim.
Do not thank Heaven, for what It cannot grant.
My Head, fond man, is for thy reach too high;
I from this Castle thy weak arms defie.
Immur'd within the walls of this strong Tower,
I am so safely Guarded from thy Power;
That I dare tell you, yes and boldly too,
This Head you threaten shall be Crown'd by you.

Muly. H.
What means this Impudence—

Crim.
To end the Strife—
I ask a Crown a Ransome for her Life.

[Draws and points his Sword at Mariamnes Breast.
Muly. H.
Here I my baffled hopes of Vengeance lose:
To right my King my Mistress I Expose.

Crim.
I know your Passion has a tye so great,
That for her sake you'le quit th'Imperial Seat.
I knew your Vertue is so strong, that if
You swear you will protect my Throne and Life,
You'le keep your Vow: Swear then by all those Powers
Which the Religious World fears and Adores,
To quit your Claim to Empire; Swear You'le make
Me Monarch in that Throne which youl'e forsake,
And with your Blood you'le guard that Crown you give;
If so, your Mistress shall have leave to Live.
Though you quit Empires, you shall meet these charms
To sleep, and dream of Kingdoms in her Arms.
If not, prepare to see her amorous Breast,
Give entertainment to this Iron Guest.
To this your Answer.

Muly. H.
Savage Infidel,
Monster, there's not a hand on this side Hell,
That dares attempt that Deed; there's not one Dart
In Heav'n, that would not strike the Murd'rers Heart,
Before his hand should touch her sacred Brest.

Crim.
Since you are with such Heavenly Faith possest,
To think sh'has Champions in the Skies; I'le try,
Who's the best Executioner, Heaven or I.

Muly. H.
Hold Barb'rous, Cruel, hold your murd'ring hands,
Think on the Vengeance which that Crime attends:
Think what a fierce Revenge I for her sake,
Will on my Princess bloody Murd'rer take.

Mar.
Hold Muly Hamet, let his Rage goe on.
Can You but think of fear when I have none?

Crim.
Tortures and Wracks will prove a vain design:
That hand that sheds her Blood shall let out mine.
Speak quickly then, e're words will come too late:
My Crown restor'd, you'le yet redeem her Fate.

Muly H.
My Lawrels, Crowns, and Empires are all yours,

Crim.
Swear then.

Muly. H.
I swear by the Eternal Powers,
For her Lives ransome I this off'ring make:
Morocco and your Crown I'le give you back.
To my last blood I will your life defend,
In Wars your Champion, and in Peace your friend.

Crim.
A silent Grotto, and a shady Grove,
Are far more proper scenes than Thrones for Love.
And though your hand and hers no Scepter bears,
You Lovers may get Kings to be my Heirs.

Mar.
I'le bind my Vow by the same pow'rs you swore.
I'le to a Thousand Deaths my Life expose,
Before I will one Inch of Empire lose.
'Tis not, bold Slave, my threaten'd death can make
[To Crim.
My female fears my Right t'a Throne forsake.
Heir to a Crown, though you so fierce have been,
Mariamne scorns to die less than a Queen.

Crim.
So brisk young Champion! Have at thy Heart.

Muly. H.
Stay Sir. Oh cruel Mariamne can you part
From Love and Life to rob the world and me?

Mar.
No Muly Hamet, a worse stain 'twill be
To have my Crown resign'd, than my Blood spilt,
I of the two will choose the lesser guilt.
Fame never shall in Histories express,
Born to be great I yeilded to be less.

Muly. H.
If you aspire to greatness, that I'le grant:
Your Muly Hamet Empires cannot want,
Whilst he possesses You, and wears a Sword.
And if our Africk does no room afford;
I'le travel then to some remoter Spheare,
Till I find out new Worlds, and Crown you there.

Mariam.
Tis Honour and not Crowns that I esteem.
And should I basely yield my Throne to him;
My Name and Story would but poorly sound,
Who rais'd a Murd'rer, and a Rebel Crown'd.
No, if at worst I by this Traytour Dye;
Adore my Name, and love my Memory.
Yes Mighty Man, perform this Valiant Part,
[To Crim.
Bravely and boldly pierce a Female Heart:
Let story boast, you this great deed fulfil'd;
Your manly hand an unarm'd Woman kil'd.

Crim.
Since you at scorne and daring are so good,
I'le feel your Pulse, and try your heat of Blood.
Guards fire the Castle.
And while that burns I'le a new shape assume:
I'le Sport and Revel with more pleasing Charms,
Than Nero when he sung to burning Rome.
I'le sing my Funeral Obsequies in these Armes;
I'le Ravish her—
Then throw my self and her into the Fire,
And arm in arm together wee'll Expire.
Burn, Burn the Tower.

Enter Hametalhaz, in the Belcone with Guards, who seizes Crimalhaz and disarmes Him.
Ham.
Before this Tower takes Fire, you'le want a Head.

Crim.
Hametalhaz stand off; am I betray'd!

Ham.
I have no time to answer your demands:
Deliver him to Muly Hamets Hands.
The highest Triumph my weak Arm e're gain'd,
Is to present this Princess to his Hand.

[Crim. is forced down by the Guards.
Muly. H.
Her life preserv'd and he the instrument!
What Miracle of Honour has fate sent?
Sure Heav'n acts Wonders! Wonders, no 'tis none—
What have th'high'r Powers to do but to take care,
Of so much Vertue and a Face so Fair?
Enter Crimalhaz below, led in by Guards.
See him Convey'd to Execution straight:
He as he rose in Blood in Blood shall set.

Crim.
Since I must die, and die Condemn'd by you:
Hear Heav'n, for I ne're troubl'd you till now.
So may my body rot when I am Dead,
Till my rank dust has such Contagions bred:
My Grave may dart forth Plagues, as may strike death
Through the infected Air where thou draw'st breath.
Others may fancy pleasures more divine,
I know not where: this shall in Hell be mine;
To think when dead I yet can Death Convey,
And what my Arm can't act my Ashes may.

[Exit Guarded with Abdelcador.
Enter Hametalhaz Leading Mariamne.
Muly. H.
My dear and best Life, welcome. By thy Hand,
My Crown, my Happiness and Heav'n regain'd.
What mystick Blessing does my fate pursue,
To see her Sav'd and see her Sav'd by you?

Ham.
Oh do not at this mystery admire:
Nothing is strange which Beauty does inspire.
To punish Treason and preserve a Throne,
Are due to Mariamnes Eyes alone.
When to his hand I gave that beauteous prize,
Design'd for his ambitions Sacrifice:
When her hard fate, and her bright Charmes I saw,
These did my homage, that my pity draw.
Something so kind I to that face did pay,
That to Serve her I could my trust betray.
Had I been born a Prince, and, in that name
Like You, Erected Trophys to her fame:
In all things then I had your Rival prov'd,
And confidently told her that I Lov'd.
But wanting worth I wanted words, and chose
This way my speechless Passion to disclose.
I would defend what I could ne're injoy,
And break all bars that did her Peace destroy.
But I too late resolv'd a flight so high:
I cut my wings before I thought to fly:
Too quick to work, too weak to prop her Fall.
My Penitence could not my Sins recal,
Till this blest moment and your influence gave
Her dangers and his insolence a Grave.

Muly H.
Such Honour and such Love! I am Conquer'd here,
My Deeds and Passions are below thy Sphear.
But as your Worth, your Pow'r shall out-reach mine:
Subjects my Homage pay, but Monarchs thine.

[Embraces him.
Ham.
Though Heav'n by me her threatned life secures,
And saves her blood to be ally'd to yours.
Despair, not Friendship, yields to that hard task;
I bravely give what I durst never Ask.
Hold Heart while I this Treasure do resign;
And Crown her Bliss with that which ruins mine.
I perish at her feet whom I adore,
The greatest Wracks are nearest to the shore.

Mariam.
Such Language may by Chastest ears be heard,
Your Love I must admire, and he reward.
A Nobler Passion Story never writ,
That turn'd a Traytor to a Proselyte.
Thou best of Converts,

Muly. H.
And of Rivals too.
Sir, as a Tribute to your Vertue due,
All Honours Merit in a Court can meet,
And a kind Monarchs Love, lye at your Feet.

Ham.
Hold, that great act of Mercy must not pass,
Let not your first days Raign a King disgrace.
Of such high Bounty I'm unworthy still:
My good Acts have not yet out-weighed my ill.
No—
To some far Country,
I from those Eyes for ever will remove,
I cannot stand the sight of hopeless Love.
Pilgrims, whose Zeal's more blest though less Divine,
Go meet their Saints: but I must fly from mine.

[Offers to go.
Muly. H.
Stay I conjure you; stay you shall, you must:
You've made me Great; Let me not be unjust.
Speak what Command, what Pow'r, what Crown you'l choose.

Ham.
Crowns, no, such little Favours I refuse.
None but the place you hold my wish can bound.
But since I have your free offer to be Crown'd,
It is accepted: I a King will be,
And of my Raign make this my first Decree,
This Criminals Banishment, and to pursue
My state, a Conqueror and a King like you;
To what er'e place my wandring steps incline,
I'le fancy Empires for I'le think her mine.
[Exit Ham.

Here the Scene opens, and Crimalhaz appears cast down on the Gaunches, being hung on a Wall set with spikes of Iron.
Enter again Abdelcador.
Abd.
See the reward of Treason; Death's the thing
Distinguishes th'Usurper from the King.
Kings are immortal, and from Life remove,
From their Low'r Thrones to wear new Crowns above:
But Heav'n for him has scarce that bliss in store:
When an Usurper dies he raigns no more.

Muly. H.
My Justice ended; now I'le meet a Crown:
Crowns are the Common Prizes I have won.
Those are Entayld on Courage. No 'tis You
Can only yield a Bliss that's great and new.
The Charm of Crowns to Love but dull appears:
Raigning's a whole lifes toyl, the work of Years.
In love a day, an hour, a minut's Bliss,
Is all Flight, Rapture, Flame, and Extasies.
Love's livelyer Joyes so quick and active move;
An Age in Empire's but an Hour in Love.

Exeunt Omnes.