University of Virginia Library

Scena Sexta.

Enter Isaack alone.
Isaack.
Deuorc'd my Daughter? fond and insolent man,
Ile crush thee into nothing, if I can
Endure the noyse of my disgrace I know
How to returne it; I am a flame of fire,
A chasing heat distempers all my blood.
Achmetes thou must coole it, when thy limbes
Are emptied of that moysture they sucke in,
And thy stain'd blood inchanted from thy veines,
Then shall I be appealed, meane while I liue
Thy mortall foe: But stay, let me containe
Mine anger vndiscouered. Friend how is't?

Enter Mesithes.
Mesith.
Know you not Isaack?

Isa.
What?

Mes.
The flight of Zemes
Hence to Armenia.

Isa.
Or Zemes?

Mes.
Yes he walkt
About the Citie disguis'd, and vnseene
Till his escape.

Is.
Tis strange and full of feare.

Mes.
We meet him frequent in the vulgar mouth.

Isaack.
Zemes is valiant, and Armenia strong,
Here's Baiazet, he must beware the wrong.

Enter Baiazet.
Baia.
VVhat is it thou murmurst, Baiazet and wrong'd?
Something it is thou knowest concerning vs:
Take thee faire leaue, and speake it.

Isa.
Yes I know
Matter of weight, such as concerne thy life.

Baia.
Such as concerne my life? Speake out thy tale,
VVe are so flesht in ioy, bad newes proues strange,
And touch my sense too harshly.

Isa.
But you must heare.
Your brother Zemes, when swift winged Fame
Tolde him your father Mahomet was dead,
Flew quickly hither first to celebrate
His funerall pompe, then to assume his State,
His Crowne, and Scepter: which he rightly knew,
Vnto your hand, and head, both to be due.
But when applausiue ioyes, and peales of mirth,
Sounded loud Musique in his troubled eares,
Of you enthron'd; then he began too late
To brawle at heauen, and wrangle with his Fate.
So he went hence and cried; reuenge be mine:
Quake thou great Citie of proud Constantine
At my fierce anger, when I next returne,
VVith cloudes of misty powder, I shall choake
Thy breath, and dull thy beauty with it's smoake.
This posted he hence to Armenias King,
There to implore his ayde, which he will bring
To front thy power: nor doth he yet dispaire,
To dispossesse, and fright thee from thy chaire.

Baiazet.
First from my body shall he fright my soule,
And push me into dust. Isaack make hast
To muster vp our forces, strike vp our Drummes,
Let them proclaime destruction through the world,
Cleare vp your dusty armour, let it cast
Such an amazing lustre on the Foe,
As if Bellona danc'd on euery crest.
The bright sunne of my glory is eclipsed,
Till Zemes be extinct: he must not shine
To dull my beames, since the whole heauen is mine.
Call forth Achmetes, his vnconquered arme,
Shall keepe vs safe from this intended harme.

Isaack.
My Liege, you haue forgot Archmetes oath,
In which he vowed neuer to draw his sword
In your defence.

Baia.
I had forgot it,
But now I remember, such was the vaine
Heat of my youth, but I recall againe
VVhat euer I protested, tell him so.
Rash words must be dispensed with.

Isa.
Then Ile goe.

Exit.
Baia.
My Father once in ordering of a Campe,
Preferr'd me to be Captaine of a wing,
So when the Battailes ioyned, and life and death
VVhere strugling who should winne power of our breath,
Our Armies prou'd the stronger; onely my guide
Fail'd, and a base repulse fell on my side;
At which my Father storm'd, and in my place
Seated Achmetes, for which black disgrace,
I vow'd a swift reuenge, euen by his shame
That wore mine honour, to redeeme my fame;
VVhich when Achmetes heard, he deepely swore,
Neuer with wit and strength to guide me more.
But now he must, see where he comes, and arm'd.
Enter Achm.
What strange deuice is plotting in his braine?
Honored Achmetes.

Ach.
Royall Emperor.

Giues him a sword.
Baia.
Thine arme must then vphold my Royalty.
Why lyes thy valour, prostrate at our feete,
When like fierce lightnings it should runne and meete
My harmes like a rocke vnmou'd? oppose
The course, and headlong torrent of my foes.

Achm.
I am a man of peace, mistake me not.
I made a vow, nor can it be forgot,
Till you reuoke your oath.

Baia.
Which here I doe,
Great Mahomet be witnesse, that I meane
Sincerely what I speake, Achmetes now
Giues him his sword againe.
VVe're friends, and thus I nullifie my vow;
Heauens on this concord lend a gracious smile.
Achmetes I haue plac'd thee in my bosome,
Gaue thee an honour'd title in my loue;
And of as lasting constancie, as is
The sunne which lookes so cheerefully on this
Goe fit the Ianizaries to the warres,
Kindle new fire of valor in their breasts,
Thou art their Genius, euen the breath they draw,
Rayse then thy plumes, and keepe thy foes in awe.

Achm.
Stood there a Pluto at thy citie walles.
And with a band of furies had besieg'd
Thy people, I would coniure them away,
And send them backe to hell: so thou shalt stand
As fast as in the skyes, vnder mine hand.

Baia.
I am Crown'd in thee, nor can I fall,
Whilest such a valour breathes within our wall,
Zemes depose me? hee must be more strong,
Then Mars, that can doe Baiazet that wrong.

Exeunt