University of Virginia Library

Sccena Quarta.

Enter Corcutus, Cherseogles, Mesithes.
Corcu.
Did he not frowne, and storme?

Chers.
It mooued him much,
And wrought strange passious in him, when he read
Your name, and found your name so intituled.

Corcu.
Cling to my temples thou blest ornament,
Be ever vnremoued, though all the gods
Chide me in thunder for this insolence,
Am I in heaven? in state placed on the spheare
Of eminence, but barely to appeare,
With faint, and borrowed luster, then descend,
Rankt with the vulgar heads, first let me feele,
The Tition vulture, or Ixions wheele;
And the worst torture hell it selfe can bring,
To scourge my soule, ô let me dye a King;
But stay, I must bethinke me at what rate,
I purchase these faire trappings: ha? the curse
Of him that got mee: start my daunted spirits,
Shall I vsurpe a throne, and sit aboue my father,
Whilest the gaping pit of hell,
With wide stretcht iawes, yawnes for my fall,
O I am strucke with horror, and the slaves of stix,
Already sting my wounded soule.

Chers.
Will you faire Prince reiect all future hopes
Of just succession, and afflict your Sire,
By your vniust detainment of his Crowne.

Corcu.
I am distracted, and me thinkes I burne,
Vnder these robes of state, a boyling heate,
Runnes from them through my veines, Ioues hardy sonne,
When he bewrapt himselfe in Nessus shirt,
Felt not more bitter agonies, then I,
Cloath'd in the trappings of my Maiestie.
I am resolved; Bassaes, goe meete our father,
Allure him home with this: I am begun
Exeunt Mesithes and Cherseogles.
To be no King, but a repentant sonne.
Pallas I aske thy pardon, I haue straied
A gracelesse trewant from thy happy schooles,
Whither I'le now returne; theres not a ranke,
Place, or degree, can sort vs out true blisse
Without thy Temple, there my dwelling is:
Amongst the Sacred monuments of wit,
Which Classique authors carefully haue writ
For our instruction, I will wast my time;
So to wash out the spots of this sad crime.
Court honors, and you shaddowes of true joy
That shine like starres, till but a greater light
Drowne your weake luster, I adjure your sight,
Even from my meditations, and my thoughts
I banish your entising vanities,
And closely kept within my studie walles,
As from a cave of rest, henceforth Ile see,
And smile, but neuer tast your misery.
I but as yet am floating on the waues,
Of stormy daunger, nor am sure to scape
The violent blast of angry Baiazet.
Blow faire my hopes and when I touch the shoare,
Ile venture forth on this rough surge no more.
Enter Baiazet, Cherseogles, Achmetes, Isaack, Mesithes, Mustapha, Mahomet, Achomates, Selymus, Trizham, Mahomet Zemes disguised.
See where he comes, oh how my guiltie blood
Starts to my face, and proues my cause not good.
Our dutie to our father,
kneeles.

Baia.
Ours to the Emperor.
kneeles

Cor.
Why kneeles great Baiazet? I am thy sonne
Thy slaue: and if thy wrath but frowne, vndone.
Why kneeles great Baiazet, heavens hide thy face,
From these preposterous doings.

Ba.
What, not asham'd
To circle in thy brow with that bright Crowne,
Yet blush to see mee kneele? though filiall rites,
And morrall precepts say the sonne must bend
Before the Father, yet your high degree
And powre bids you rise, commands my knee.

Corc.
Those ornaments be thine, Here Baiazet
I Crowne thee Monarch of the spatious West,
Asia, and Affrica: if ought be mine,
Greater then these I here proclaime it thine.

Omnes.
Liue Baiazet our mighty Prince,
Liue, rule, and flourish.

Baia.
Is this your zeale? is it? did euery voyce
Breath out a willing suffrage? I am crowned,
My ioyes are fully perfect, and I feele
My lightned spirits caper in my brest.
Rise thou starre-bright mirrour of thine age,
To Corcutus kneeling.
By thee our iron dayes proue full as good,
As when old Saturne thundred in the clowds.
Be an example to succeeding times,
How sonnes should vse their Parents: and I vow
(When I shall faile) this honour to thy brow.
Attend vs Bassaes, Ile lead on to ioy,
Neuer was Father blest with such a Boy.

Exeunt omnes manet Corcut.
Corcu.
Freed from a Princely burthen, I possess
A Kingly liberty, and am no lesse
Princely; obseruance wayte on him, on me
Thoughts vndisturb'd, I shall then happy be.

Exit.