University of Virginia Library

Actus Tertius.

Scena Prima.

Enter King and Haly.
King.
But Haly, what confederates has the Prince
In his conspiracy?

Ha.
Sir, I can yet suspect
None but the Turkish prisoners, and that only
From their late sudden flight.

King.
Are they fled? For what?

Ha.
That, their own fears best know; their entertainment
I'me sure was such as could not minister
Suspition, or dislike: but sure they're conscious
Of some intended mischief, and are fled
To put it into act.

King.
This still confirms me more;
But let 'em be pursu'd: let all the passages
Be well secur'd, that no intelligence
May pass between the Prince and them.

Ha.
It shall be done, Sir.

King.
Is the Caliph prepar'd?

Ha.
He's without, Sir,
And waits your pleasure.

King.
Call him.

Enter Haly and Caliph.
King.
I have a great design to act, in which
The greatest part is thine. In brief 'tis this,
I fear my Sons high spirit; and suspect
Designs upon my Life and Crown.

Ca.
Sure, Sir, your fears are causeless;
Such thoughts are strangers to his noble soul.

King.
No, 'tis too true; I must prevent my danger,
And make the first attempt: there's no such way
To avoid a blow, as to strike first, and sure.

Ca.
But, Sir, I hope my function shall exempt me
From bearing any part in such designs.

King.
Your function! (Laughs)
Do you think that Princes
Will raise such men so near themselves for nothing?
We but advance you to advance our purposes:
Nay, even in all Religions,
Their Learned'st, and their seeming holiest men, but serve
To work their Masters ends; and varnish o're
Their actions, with some specious pious colour:
No scruples; do 't, or by our holy Prophet,
The death my rage intends to him, is thine.

Ca.
Sir, 'tis your part to will, mine to obey.

King.
Then be wise and sudden.

Enter Lords as to Council, Ab., Mor.
Ca.
My Lords, it grieves me to relate the cause
Of this Assembly; and 'twill grieve you all:
The prince you know stands high in all those graces
Which Nature, seconded by fortune, gives:
Wisdom he has, and to his Wisdom Courage;
Temper to that, and unto all, Success.
But Ambition, the disease of Virtue, bred
Like surfets from an undigested fulness,
Meets death in that which is the means of life.
Great Mahomet, to whom our Soveraigns life,
And Empire is most dear, appearing, thus
Advis'd me in a Vision; Tell the King,
The Prince his Son attempts his Life & Crown;
And though no creature lives that more admires
His vertues, nor affects his person more
Than I; yet zeal and duty to my Soveraign
Have cancell'd all respects; nor must we slight
The Prophets Revelations.

Abd.
Remember, Sir, he is your Son,
Indeared to you by a double bond,
As to his King, and Father.

King.
And the remembrance of that double bond
Doubles my sorrows. 'Tis true,
Nature and duty bind him to Obedience;
But those being placed in a lower sphere,
His fierce ambition, like the highest mover,
Has hurried with a strong impulsive motion
Against their proper course. But since he has forgot
The duty of a son, I can forget
The affections of a Father.

Abd.
But, Sir, in the beginning of diseases
None try the extreamest remedies.

King.
But when they're sudden,
The cure must be as quick; when I'me dead, you'll say,
My fears have been too slow: Treasons are acted,
As soon as thought, though they are ne're believed
Until they come to act.

Mor.
But consider, Sir,
The greatness of the attempt, the people love him;
The lookers on, and the enquiring vulgar
Will talk themselves to action: thus by avoyding
A danger but suppos'd, you tempt a real one.

King.
Those Kings whom envy, or the peoples murmur
Deters from their own purposes, deserve not
Nor know not their own greatness;
The peoples murmur, 'tis a sulphurous vapour
Breath'd from the bowels of the basest earth;
And it may soyl, and blast things near it self:
But ere it reach the region we are plac'd in,
It vanishes to ayr; we are above
The sence or danger of such storms.

Ca.
True Sir, they are but storms while Royalty
Stands like a Rock, and the tumultuous vulgar,
Like billows rais'd with wind, (that's with opinion)
May roar, and make a noise, and threaten;
But if they rowl too near, they're dash't in pieces
While they stand firm.

Abd.
Yet Sir, Crowns are not plac'd so high,
But vulgar hands may reach 'em.

King.
Then 'tis when they are plac'd on vulgar heads.

Abd.
But Sir,
Look back upon your self; why should your son
Anticipate a hope so near, so certain?
We may wish and pray
For your long life: but neither prayers nor power
Can alter Fates decree, or Natures Law.
Why should he ravish then that Diadem
From your gray temples, which the hand of time
Must shortly plant on his?

King.
My Lords,
I see you look upon me as a Sun
Now in his West, half buryed in a cloud,
Whose rays the vapours of approaching night
Have rendred weak and faint: But you shall find
That I can yet shoot beams, whose heat can melt
The waxen wings of this ambitious Boy.
Nor runs my bloud so cold, nor is my arm
So feeble yet, but he that dares defend him,
Shall feel my vengeance, and shall usher me
Into my grave.

Ab.
Sir, we defend him not,
Only desire to know his crime: 'Tis possible
It may be some mistake, or mis-report,
Some false suggestion, or malicious scandal:
Or if ambition be his fault, 'twas yours;
He had it from you when he had his being:
Nor was't his fault, nor yours, for 'tis in Princes
A crime to want it; from a noble spirit
Ambition can no more be separated,
Than heat from fire: Or if you fear the Vision,
Will you suspect the noble Prince, because
This holy man is troubled in his sleep?
Because his crazy stomach wants concoction,
And breeds ill fumes; or his melancholy spleen
Sends up phantastick vapours to his brain:
Dreams are but dreams, these causeless fears become not
Your noble soul.

King.
Who speaks another word
Hath spoke his last: Great Mahomet we thank thee,
Protector of this Empire, and this life,
Thy cares have met my fears; this on presumptions
Strong and apparent, I have long presag'd:
And though a Prince may punish what he fears,
Without account to any but the Gods;
Wise States as often cut off ills that may be,
As those that are; and prevent purposes
Before they come to practise; and foul practises
Before they grow to act. You cannot but observe
How he dislikes the Court, his rude departure,
His honour from the people and the souldiers,
His seeking to oblige the Turks, his prisoners,
Their sudden and suspected flight:
And above all, his restless towring thoughts.

King.
If the business be important,
Admit him.

Enter Messenger with a letter.
Mess.
Sir, upon your late command
To guard the passages, and search all packets,
This to the Prince was intercepted.

King opens it, and reads it to himself.
King.
Here Abdal, read it.

Abdal reads. The Letter.
Ab.
reads.

Sir, we are assured how unnaturally your fathers intentions are towards you, and how cruel towards us; we have made an escape, not so much to seek our own, as to be instruments of your safety: We will be in arms upon the borders, upon your command, either to seek danger with you, or to receive you if you please, to seek safety with us.

King.
Now my Lords,
Alas my fears are causless, and ungrounded,
Fantastick dreams, and melancholick fumes
Of crazy stomacks, and distempered brains:
Has this convinc'd you?

Mor.
Sir, we see
Some reason you should fear, but whom, we know not;
'Tis possible these Turks may play the Villains,
Knowing the Prince, the life of all our hopes,
Staff of our Age, and pillar of our Empire;
And having fail'd by force, may use this Art
To ruine him, and by their treason here
To make their peace at home.
Now should this prove a truth, when he has suffered
Death, or disgrace, which are to him the same;
'Twill be too late to say you were mistaken;
And then to cry him mercy: Sir, we beseech you
A while suspend your doom, till time produce
Her wonted off-spring, Truth.

King.
And so expecting
The event of what you think, shall prove the experiment
Of what I fear; but since he is my son,
I cannot have such violent thoughts toward him,
As his towards me: he only shall remain
A prisoner till his death or mine enlarge him.

Ex. Lords. Man. Haly. Solyman peeps in.
King.
Away, away, we're serious.

Sol.
But not so serious to neglect your safety.

King.
Art thou in earnest?

Sol.
Nay Sir, I can be serious as well as my betters.

King.
What's the matter?

Sol.
No, I am an inconsiderable fellow, and know nothing.

King.
Let's hear that nothing then.

Sol.
The Turks, Sir.

King.
What of them?

Sol.
When they could not overcome you by force, they'll do it by treachery.

King.
As how?

Sol.
Nay I can see as far into a milstone, as another man.
They have corrupted some ill-affected persons.

King.
What to do?

Sol.
To nourish Jealousies 'twixt you and your Son.

King.
My son! Where is he?

Sol.
They say he's posting hither.

King.
Haly, we are betrayed, prevented, look
To the Ports, and let
The Guards be doubled: how far's his Army hence?
Is the City in arms to joyn with him?

Sol.
Arms? and joyn with him? I understand you not.

King.
Didst thou not say the Prince was coming?

Sol.

I heard some foolish people say you had sent for him, as a Traytor, which to my apprehension was on purpose spoken to make you odious, and him desperate; and so divide the people into faction. A Plot of dangerous consequence, as I take it, Sir.

King.
And is this all, thou sawcy trifling fool?

Haly.

Sir, this seeming fool is a concealed dangerous knave; Under that safe disguise he thinks he may say or do any thing: you'll little think him the chief conspirator, the only spy t'inform the Prince of all is done in Court.

King.
Let him be rack't, till he confess
The whole conspiracy.

Sol.

Rackt! I have told you all I know, and more; There's nothing more in me, Sir, but may be squeezed out without racking, only a stoop or two of Wine; and if there had not been too much of that, you had not had so much of the other.

King.
That's your cunning, sirrah.

Sol.

Cunning, Sir! I am no Politician; and was ever thought to have too little wit, and too much plain dealing for a States-man.

Exit.
King.
Away with him.

Ha.
But something must be done, Sir,
To satisfie the people:
'Tis not enough to say he did design,
Or plot, or think, but did attempt some violence;
And then some strange miraculous escape:
For which our Prophet must have publick thanks:
And this false colour shall delude the eyes
Of the amused vulgar.

King.
'Tis well advis'd.

Enter Mess.
Mess.
Sir, his Highness is return'd.

King.
And unconstrain'd? But with what change of countenance
Did he receive the message?

Mess.
With some amazement;
But such as sprung from wonder, not from fear;
It was so unexpected.

King.
Leave us.
Haly, I ever found thee honest; truer to me
Than mine own bloud, and now's the time to shew it:
For thou art he my love and trust hath chosen
To put in action my design: surprize him
As he shall pass the Galleries. I'le place
A guard behind the Arras; when thou hast him,
Since blinded with ambition, he did soar
Like a seel'd Dove; his crime shall be his punishment
To be depriv'd of sight, which see perform'd
With a hot steel: Now as thou lov'st my safety
Be resolute, and sudden.

Ha.
'Tis severe;
But yet I dare not intercede, it shall be done:
But is that word irrevocable?

King.
I, as years, or ages past; relent not, if thou do'st—

Exit King. Enter Mirvan.
Mir.
Why so melancholy? is the design discovered?

Ha.
No, but I am made the instrument,
That still endeavoured to disguise my plots
With borrowed looks, and make 'em walk in darkness,
To act 'em now my self; be made the mark
For all the peoples hate, the Princes curses,
And his sons rage, or the old Kings inconstancy.
For this to Tyranny belongs,
To forget service, but remember wrongs.

Mir.
But could you not contrive
Some fine pretence to cast it on some other?

Ha.
No, he dare trust no other: had I given
But the least touch of any private quarrel,
My malice to his son, not care of him,
Had then begot this service.

Mir.
'Tis but t'other plot, my Lord; you know
The King by other wives had many sons:
Soffy is but a Child, and you already
Command the Emperours Guard; procure for me
The Government o'th' City; when he dies,
Urge how unfortunate those States have been
Whose Princes are but children: then set the Crown
Upon some others head, that may acknowledge
And owe the Empire to your gift.

Ha.
It shall be done; Abdal, who commands
The City, is the Princes friend, and therefore
Must be displac'd, and thou shalt straight succeed him.
Thou art my better Genius, honest Mirvan;
Greatness we owe to Fortune, or to Fate;
But wisdom only can secure that state.

Ex. Enter Prince at one door, and Princess at another.
Princess.
You're double welcom now (my Lord) your coming
Was so unlookt for.

Prince.
To me I'me sure it was;
Know'st thou the cause? for sure it was important,
That calls me back so suddenly.

Princess.
I am so ignorant,
I knew not you were sent for.
Waking I know no cause, but in my sleep
My fancy still presents such dreams, and terrors,
As did Andromache's the night before
Her Hector fell; but sure 'tis more than fancy.
Either our Guardian Angels, or the Gods
Inspire us, or some natural instinct
Fore-tells approaching dangers.

Prince.
How does my Father?

Princess.
Still talks and plays with Fatyma, but his mirth
Is forc'd, and strain'd: In his look appears
A wild distracted fierceness; I can read
Some dreadful purpose in his face; but where
This dismal cloud will break, and spend his fury,
I dare not think: pray heaven make false his fears.
Sometimes his anger breaks through all disguises,
And spares not gods, nor men; and then he seems
Jealous of all the world: suspects, and starts,
And looks behind him.

Enter Morat, as in haste.
Mor.
Sir, with hazard of my life I've ventur'd
To tell you, you are lost, betray'd, undone;
Rouze up your courage, call up all your counsels,
And think on all those stratagems which nature
Keeps ready to encounter sudden dangers.

Prince.
But pray (my Lord) by whom? for what offence?

Mor.
Is it a time for story, when each minute
Begets a thousand dangers? the gods protect you.

Ex.
Prince.
This man was ever honest, and my friend,
And I can see in his amazed look,
Something of danger; but in act or thought,
I never did that thing should make me fear it.

Princess.
Nay, good Sir, let not so secure a confidence
Betray you to your ruine.

Prince.
Prethee woman
Keep to thy self thy fears, I cannot know
There is such a thing in nature. I stand so strong,
Inclosed with a double guard of Vertue,
And Innocence, that I can look on dangers,
As he that stands upon a Rock
Can look on storms and tempests. Fear & guilt
Are the same thing; & when our actions are not,
Our fears are crimes.
And he deserves it less that guilty bears
A punishment, than he that guiltless fears.

Ex. Enter Haly and Torturers.
Ha.
This is the place appointed, assist me courage!
This hour ends all my fears; but pause a while:
Suppose I should discover to the Prince
The whole conspiracy, and so retort it
Upon the King; it were an handsom plot,
But full of difficulties, and uncertain;
And he's so fool'd with down-right honesty,
He'l ne're believe it; and now 'tis too late;
The guards are set, and now I hear him coming.

Enter Prince, stumbles at the entrance.
Prince.
'Tis ominous, but I will on; destruction
O'retakes as often those that fly, as those
That boldly meet it.

Ha.
By your leave Prince, your father greets you.

Prince.
Unhand me traytors.

Haly casts a scarf over his face.
Ha.
That title is your own, and we are sent
To let you know it.

Prince.
Is not that the voice of Haly?

Ha.
I, vertuous Prince, I come to make you exercise
One vertue more, your patience. (Heat the Irons quickly.)

Prince.
Insolent villain, for what cause?

Ha.
Only to gaze upon a while, until your eyes are out.

Prince.
O villain, shall I not see my Father,
To ask him what's my crime? who my accusers?
Let me but try if I can wake his pity
From his Lethargick sleep.

Ha.
It must not be, Sir.

Prince.
Shall I not see my wife, nor bid farewell
To my dear Children?

Ha.
Your pray'rs are all in vain.

Prince.
Thou shalt have half my Empire Haly, let me
But see the Tyrant, that before my eyes are lost,
They may dart poys'nous flashes like the Basilisk,
And look him dead: These eyes that still were open,
Or to fore-see, or to prevent his dangers,
Must they be closed in eternal night?
Cannot his thirst of bloud be satisfied
With any but his own? And can his tyranny
Find out no other object but his Son?
I seek not mercy; tell him, I desire
To die at once, not to consume an age
In lingring deaths.

Ha.
Our ears are charm'd: Away with him.

Prince.
Can ye behold (ye Gods) a wronged Innocent?
Or sleeps your Justice, like my Fathers Mercy?
Or are you blind? as I must be.