University of Virginia Library

Scæna Tertia.

Enter Asambeg, Mustapha, Aga, Capiaga.
Asam.
What we commanded, see perform'd, and fayle not
In all things to be punctuall.

Aga.
We shall sir.

Exeunt Aga, Capiaga.
Must.
Tis strange that you should vse such circumstance
To a delinquent of so meane condition.

Asam.
Had he appear'd in a more sordid shape
Then disguis'd greatenes euer dain'd to maske in,
The gallant bearing of his present fortune
A loud proclaimes him noble.

Musta.
If you doubt him,
To be a man built vp for great imployments,
And as a cunning spie sent to explore
The Cities strength, or weakenesse, you by torture
May force him to discouer it.

Asam.
That were base;
Nor dare I doe such iniury to Vertue
And bold assured courage, neither can I
Be wonne to thinke, but if I should attempt it,
I shoote against the Moone. He that hath stood
The roughest battery, that captiuity
Could euer bring to shake a constant temper,
Despis'd the fawnings of a future greatnesse,
By beauty in her full perfection tender'd;
That heares of death as of a quiet slumber,
And from the surplusage of his owne firmenesse
Can spare enough of fortitude, to assure
A feeble woman; vvill now, Mustapha
Be alter'd in his soule for any torments
We can afflict his body vvith?

Musta.
Doe your pleasure,
I only offer'd you a friends aduice,
But vvithout gall, or enuy to the man
That is to suffer. But vvhat doe you determine
Of poore Grimaldi? the disgrace cal'd on him
I heere has ran him madde.

Asam.
There waigh the difference
In the true temper of their minds. The one,
A Pirat sould to mischiefes, rapes, and all
That make a slaue relentlesse, and obdurate;
Yet of himselfe vvanting the inward strengths
That should defend him, sinckes beneath compassion
Or pitty of a man; vvhere as this marchant,
Acquainted only vvith a ciuill life,
Arm'd in himselfe; intrench'd, and fortifide
With his owne vertue, valewing life and death,
At the same price, poorely does not inuite
A fauour, but commands vs doe him right,
Which vnto him, and her (we both once honour'd
As a iust debt I gladly pay'm; they enter,
Now sit wee equall hearers.

A dreadfull musicke, at one doore; The Aga, Ianizaries, Vitelli, Francisco, Gazet: at the other, Donusa, Paulina, Carazie, Manto.
Musta.
I shall heare
And see, sir, without passion, my wrongs arme me.

Vitel.
A ioyfull preparation! To whose bountie
Owe vvee our thankes for gracing thus our Himen?
The notes though dreadfull to the eare, sound heere
As our Epithalamium were sung
By a Cælestiall quire, and a full Chorus
Assurde vs future happinesse. These that leade me
Gaze not with wanton eyes vpon my bride,
Nor for their seruice are repayde by me
With iealousies, or feares; nor doe they enuy
My passage to those pleasures from which death
Cannot deterre me. Great sir pardon me;
Imagination of the ioyes I haste to,
Made me forget my duty, but the forme
And ceremony past, I will attend you,
And with our constant resolution feast you,
Not with course cates, forgot assoone as tasted,
But such as shall, while you haue memory,
Be pleasing to the palate.

Fran.
Bee not lost
In what you purpose.
Exit Francisco.

Gaz.
Call you this a marriage?
It differs little from hanging, I cry at it.

Uite.
See where my bride appeares! in what full luster?
As if the Virgins that beare vp her trayne,
Had long contended to receiue an honor
Aboue their births, in doing her this seruice.
Nor comes she fearefull to meete those delights,
Which once past ore, immortall pleasures follow.
I need not therefore comfort, or encourage
Her forwarde steps, and I should offer wrong
To her minds fortitude, should I but aske
How she can brooke the rough high going Sea,
Ouer whose foamie backe our shippe well rig'd
With hope and strong assurance must transport vs.
Nor will I tell her when we reach the Hauen
(Which tempests shall not hinder) what loud vvelcoms
Shall entertaine vs; nor commend the place,
To tell vvhose least perfection vvould strike dumbe
The eloquence of all boasted in story,
Though ioynd together.

Donu.
Tis enough my deerest;
I dare not doubt you, as your humble shadow
Leade vvhere you please, I follow.

Uitelli.
One suite sir,
And vvillingly I cease to be a begger,
And that you may vvith more security heare it,
Know tis not life Ile aske, nor to deferre
Our deaths, but a few minutes.

Asam.
Speake, tis granted.

Vitel.
We being now to take our latest leaue
And growne of one beleefe, I doe desire
I may haue your allowance to performe it
But in the fashion vvhich vve Christians vse
Vpon the like occasions.

Asam.
Tis allow'd of.

Uitel.
My seruice; haste Gazet to the next spring,
And bring me of it.

Gazet.
Would I could aswell
Fetch you a pardon, I vvould not run but flie,
And be heere in a moment.

Musta.
What's the mystery
Of this? discouer it?

Uitel.
Great sir, I'll tell you,
Each countrey hath it's owne peculiar rites,
Some vvhen they are to die drinke store of vvine,
Which powr'd in liberally does oft beget
A bastarde valour, with which armde, they beare
The not to bee declined charge of death
With lesse feare, and astonishment; Others take
Drugs to procure a heauie sleepe, that so
They may insensibly receiue the meanes
That casts them in an euerlasting slumber;
Others—O welcome.

Enter Gazet with water.
Vitelli.
Now the vse of yours?
The cleerenesse of this is a perfit signe
Of innocence, and as this washes off
Staines, and pollutions from the things we vveare,
Throwne thus vpon the forehead, it hath power
To purge those spots that cleue vpon the minde,
(Throwes it on her face.
If thankfully receiu'd.

Asam.
Tis a strange custome!

Uitel.
How doe you entertaine it my Donusa?
Feele you no alteration? No new motiues?
No vnexpected ayds that may confirme you
In that to which you were inclinde before?

Donu.
I am an other woman, till this minute
I neuer liu'de, nor durst thinke how to dye.
How long haue I beene blinde? Yet on the suddaine,
By this blest meanes I feele the filmes of error
Tane from my soules eyes. O diuine Physitian,
That hast bestowde a sight on mee, which death,
Though readie to embrace me in his armes,
Cannot take from me. Let me kisse the hand
That did this miracle, and seale my thanks
Vpon those Lips from whence these sweet words vanishde
That freede me from the cruellest of prisons,
Blinde ignorance, and misbeliefe: false Prophet,
Impostor Mahomet.

Asam.
I'll heare no more;
You doe abuse my fauors, seuer 'em:
Wretch if thou hadst another life to loose,
This Blasphemie deseru'de it, instantly
Carry them to their deaths.

Vitelli.
Wee part now, blest one,
To meet hereafter in a Kingdome, where
Hells malice shall not reach vs.

Paul.
Ha, ha, ha.

Asam.
What meanes my Mistres?

Paul.
Who can hold her spleene,
When such ridiculous follies are presented,
The Scene too made religion: O my Lord,
How from one cause two contrary effects
Spring vp vpon the suddaine.

Asam.
This is strange.

Paul.
That which hath foolde her in her death,
Winnes me, That hitherto haue barde my selfe from pleasure,
To liue in all delight.

Asam.
There's Musicke in this.

Paul.
I now will runn as fiercely to your armes
As euer longing woman did, borne high
On the swift wings of appetite.

Uitel.
O Diuell!

Paul.
Nay more, for there shall be no ods betwixt vs,
I will turne Turke.

Gazet.
Most of your tribe doe so
When they beginne in whore.

Aside.
Asam.
You are serious Ladie?

Paul.
Serious? but satisfie me in a suite
That to the world may witnesse that I haue
Some power vpon you, and to morrow challenge
What euer's in my guift, for I will bee
At your dispose.

Gazet.
That's euer the subscription
To a damn'd whores false Epistle.

(Aside
Asam.
Aske this hand,
Or if thou wilt, the heads of these. I am rapt
Beyond my selfe with ioy, speake, speake, what is it?

Paul.
But twelue short houres repriue for this base couple.

Asam.
The reason, since you hate them?

Paul.
That I may
Haue time to triumph ore this vvretched vvoman:
I'll be my selfe her guardian. I will feast,
Adorned in her choice and richest Iewells,
Commit him to vvhat gards you please. Grant this,
I am no more mine owne, but yours.

Asam.
Enioy it;
Repine at it who dares: beare him safe off
To the blacke Tower, but giue him all things vsefull,
The contrary vvas not in your request.

Paul.
I doe contemne him.

Donu.
Peace in death deny'd me?

Paul.
Thou shalt not goe in liberty to thy graue,
For one night a Sultana is my slaue.

Musta.
A terrible little tyrannesse.

Asam.
No more;
Her vvill shall be a law. Till now nere happy.

Exeunt.