 | The raging Tvrke, or Baiazet the second |  |
Actus Secundi
Scena Prima.
A dumbe shew: Enter Zemes, and the Armenian King, Trumpets and Ensignes, Souldiers passe ouer the stage, and in a solemne march. Exeunt.
Scena Secunda.
Enter Baiazet and Trizham, and Mahomet his two sonnes.Baia.
Alaready marcht so neere, Zemes make hast
Trizham, and Mahomet, it concernes you now,
To flie hence nimbly to your Provinces,
Zemes is come too neere vs to escape,
He cannot flye the ground whereon he treads,
But through your countreys, hast then, if she wars
Cracke not his threed of life, his flight will bee
When you may intercept it; if we presume
Only on bold Achmetes, and our selues,
In beds of downe supinely, sleepe at home,
Zemes may scape the tempest of our wrath.
Then we hope best, when each event we see,
Thwarted with their preventing policie.
Trizham.
Doubt not our hast and truth, he shall as soone
Breake through the fiery fabrick of the skies,
As through my Provinces:
Exit.
Maho.
Through hell as soone as mine.
Exit.
Baia.
Goe, I haue done my part; Mars and my fate
Give faire successe to my designed plot,
And Zemes is intrapt, already dead:
That hand secures me that strikes off his head.
Scena Tertia.
Enter Achmetes, Cherseogles, Mustapha, Mesithes, drummes and Trumpets.Achm.
The battell will prove great and dangerous,
But were their number double more then ours,
The justice of our cause bids vs goe on,
And like a cheerefull drumme strikes panting feare
From euery brest. Father, lead you the vangard,
The reare-ward be your charge, the right wing yours,
My selfe will guide the left, this day shall crowne
Your valour in full pride, Zemes must downe.
Enter Zemes, Armenia, two Captaines.
Zem.
Time hath outstript our hast, our foes doe stand,
Wauing their golden plumes, as if the gods,
Were come to meete great Zemes in the field,
Hovers aboue their heads, as if it wept,
At their approaching fate. Armenia's King
Leade you the vanguard, vnder your command
The reareward shall march on, the Phalance
Be your care braue Captaines, as we're inform'd,
Achmetes rules the left wing of our foe,
Ile rule the right wing of ours, so when I meete,
Him in his pride Ile prostrate at his feete.
Arme.
Our men are ordered, Zemes leade the way,
The skies looke duskie blacke on this sad day.
Exeunt
Trumpets sound to the battaile, dumbe shewes in skirmishes, one of Zemes Captaines and Cherseogles meete, Zemes Captaine preuailes, his second and Mesithes meete, Mesithes retires, she King of Armenia and Mustapha meete, Armenia preuailes, and pursues the battaile. Enter Achmetes with his sword.
Ach.
Great Queen of chance; but do I call on this
Vnconstant St pdame? be thou propitious Mars,
Rough god of warre: steele vp this wearie arme,
And put a ten fold vigor in my bones;
What shall Achmetes fall, and in his losse,
Great Baiazet, be wrong'd? it cannot bee
Death comes to wound thee Zemes, I am hee.
As he goes out, the King of Armenia meetes him, they fight, Achmetes makes him retire from the stage, and pursues him in his furie, enters againe at the one dore, Zemes at the other, they meete, drums and trumpets sounding.
Ach.
Zemes?
Zem.
Achmetes? Opportunelie met,
Here staggers all the fortune of the field,
This houre must blesse me, and a single fight
Purchase thee honor, and to mee my right:
Honour to thee, to die by Zemes hand,
My right to me, an Empire to command.
Achm.
Braue Prince, I more lament thy case then can thy selfe
That runnest with such madnesse on the edge
Of desperate ruine, thou art but young and weake,
Manhoods soft blossomes are not fully spread
Haue setled the compacture of my ioynts,
And they are strongly knit: 'twill vexe my soule
In the cleare morne of thine vp-rising hopes,
To wrap thee in a fatall cloude of death.
Submit thee to thy brother, thou shalt finde
Me thy true friend, him mercifull and kinde.
Zem.
Submit? had I a right to Ioues high Throne,
And stood in opposition of his power,
Should all the gods aduise me to submit,
I would reiect their counsell: much more thine.
Guard thee Achmetes, thy stroke abide,
I cannot gore thy Prince but through thy side.
They fight and breath: fight againe. Achmetes takes away Zemes sword.
Zem.
The day be thine, and Zemes stand thy Fate;
Strike home, I'ue lost the day, and life I hate.
Achm.
Haue at thee then
Offers to run at him with both swords.
Not stirre? now by my sword
Thou shalt haue fayrer play before thy death:
Take backe thy sword, in that I recommit
My forfeit to thy charge, thy life with it.
They fight againe and Achmetes wounds him on the head. Zemes falls.
Zem.
Oh! hold thy conquering hand, and giue my soule
A quiet passage to her rest; my blood
Beginnes to wast, and a benuming cold,
Freezes my vitall spirits: Achmetes goe,
Tell Baiazet that thou hast slaine his toe.
Ach.
Farewell, braue sonne of Mars, thy fame shall stay
With vs, although thy soule flit hence away.
Zemes.
I haue not lyed, Achmetes thou hast slaine,
My hopes, and therefore me, my woundes art shallow,
But my state desperate, Ha? what shall I doe?
Armenia's King is fled backe to his home,
Cold entertainment will attend me there;
The field is emptie, euery man retir'd,
Onely a few dead carcasses, and I,
To Rome then let it bee: Bishop I come,
Th'art a religious thing, and I will trust,
My life to one so innocently just.
Exit.
Scena Quarta.
Enter Mahometes, Achomates, Selymus three of Baiazets sonnes.Sely.
Indeed we may be thought vpon in time,
When there be Countries more then there be men,
We may get some preferment: sit at home
And proue good boyes, and please our father well.
My thoughts are two vnbridled, Baiazet,
aside
I neither can, nor will endure thy curbe,
My comprest valor like a strangled fire.
Breakes out in violent flames, and I must rule.
Trizham and Mahomet are slipt in hast
Each to their seuerall Prouince, we must stay,
That are their Elders for another day;
This Court will proue our scaffold where vve stand
Plac't in the eye of angry Baiazet:
Who thvvarts him in his fury is but dead,
And in that passions heate, off goes his head.
I must not liue thus.
Maho.
I could bee content,
He feares not death, vvhose thoughts are innocent.
Sely.
I thanke you brother, then belike some crimes
Lye heauy on my conscience, and I feare,
Vnlesse I shift my station, 'twill be knowne;
You thinke well of me kind Mahometes.
Maho.
As well as of a brother I can thinke.
If by a rash applying to your selfe,
My words haue beene distastfull, blame not me.
Sely.
Can I applie them then vnto my selfe?
Am I so loose in manners? by heauen and earth,
Thou shalt repent this deepelie.
Ach.
Stop that oath,
Brothers agree, or walke hence but along
Into my garden, where each springing hearbe
Smiles on my faire content, there you shall see,
One in the others twinings, that they shew,
One stands by th'others helpe, both ioyntly grow;
These shall suffice your quarrels to remooue,
And dumbe examples teach a liuely loue.
Maho.
Come let vs goe.
Exeunt Mahomates, and Achomates.
Sely.
Straight I will follow you.
Away fond wretches, ô that every breast
Were of so dull a temper as you two.
But who come's heere?
Enter Corcutus
Brother Corcutus whither are you bent,
What from the Court so soone?
Corcu.
My father bids,
I goe to vndertake the charge, his loue
Hath throwne vpon me; That's rich Jonia.
Sely.
You goe to rule there?
Cor.
Yes:
Sely.
Heauens speede you well.
Cor.
Deare Selymus adiew.
Sel.
Brother farewel.
Exit Corcutus
Revenge and you, three furious twinnes of night,
Ascend vp to our theater of ill,
Plunge my black soule twice in your Stygian flood,
That by it's vertue it may be congeal'd,
And harden'd against remorse: Pluto enrich
My breast, with a diviner pollicie,
Then every trifling braine can reach vnto;
Ile fill the world with Treasons, and my wit
Shall put new tracts to death: Charon shall see,
His wastage still in vse by companie,
Sent thither by my care, o 'twill doe well,
To blast the earth with want, and furnish hell.
Exit.
Scena Quinta,
Enter Isaack Baiazet.Isaack.
Tush, vertue makes men fooles, Isaack be wise,
Shake off the tender fetters of remorse,
And hugge that chance, that opens thee the way
To ruinate Achmetes: did he stand
When he cashierd my daughter from his house,
And to the worlds broad eye, opened her crime?
No: he was swift and bitter in his hate,
And so will I, he is but now return'd
In Triumph from the field, as full of pride
As I of envy, hence Ile ground my hate.
When fierce Bellona smil'd on Baiazet,
Amidst the fiery tumults of the Warre,
She offered Zemes to Achmetes hand,
They fought, Achmetes conquered at his foote,
Fell the proud rebell, wounded, but not slaine,
There might Achmetes with a blow of death
Cut off our feares, continued in his breath:
This shall incense the angry Emperor,
And crush Achmetes in his fairest hopes.
True polititians worke by others hands,
So I will by the Prince, my plot stands firme:
See where he comes, now sly Mercurius, whet
My tongue, to kindle hate in Baiazet.
Enter Baiazet.
Baia.
Isaack how thriu'd Achmetes in his Warres,
Fame is of late growne dumbe of his renowne,
Surely vnwelcome newes clogs her swift wings,
Else had she now bin freqvent in our Court;
And we had fully knowne the chance of all.
Isa.
We had, yet could not the event,
Lie so conceal'd, but Isaac found it out,
Which when I first discovered, straight it wrought
Tempests of passions in me, joy and griefe
Raign'd at one instant in the selfe same breast.
Baiazet
As how?
Isa.
As thus. I joy'd that Zemes fell,
Was sorry he escap'd.
Baia.
Fell and yet escap'd?
Isa.
Beneath Achmetes feete the traytor fell.
Baia.
And yet escaped, good Ioue how may this bee.
Isa.
Thus it might be, and was so: when sad death
Was glutted with the ruine of each side,
When slaughtring Mars had stain'd the field with blood,
And cast a purple colour o'r the earth,
An end of those hot tumults that were seene,
To last in Zemes breath; so that their fire
Would be extinct, when Zemes should expire
Then from the middle skirmish forth were brought
He and Achmetes, being met they fought,
Zemes was vanquish't by a violent blow,
Which strucke him trembling lower then his knees;
Now whither flattering, or present gifts
Redeem'd him from his fate I cannot show
Something they plotted, what, none yet can know.
Baia.
Canst thou advise me Isaack how to sound
The depth of all his mischiefe.
Isa.
Thus you may.
He being come from Zemes ouerthrow,
And yet luke-warme in blood, and full of ioy,
You may in way of honour and free mind,
Call him this night to banquet, then being set,
When the hot spirits of carroused healths,
Haue spoyl'd his wit of smooth and painted tales,
And wine vnlockt the passage for the truth,
Bid him relate the manner of his warre,
The chances and events; then when he comes
To Zemes, if he erre about his flight,
His ends are bad, his bosome blacke as night.
Baia.
Thou art my good Angel, Isaack I applaud
Thy faithfull plot, Achmetes were thy soule
As darke as hell, and thy enclosed thoughts,
As subtill as a winding Laberinth,
By such a guide as can remoue each doubt,
And by a quill of threed I'de tracke them out.
But Isaacke, if we trappe him in this wiles,
How shall we kill the traytor? We haue a tricke,
Already strange to catch him in the nicke.
Isac.
Easily thus: our lawes allow a custome,
Not vs'd of late, yet firme still in effect,
And thus it is; when there doth breath a man,
Direfully hated of the Emperour,
And he in strickt seueritie of right
Orewhelme him in a robe of mourning blacke,
Which we haue cal'd deaths mantle, that thing done,
The man thus vs'd, is forfetted to fate,
And a deuoted sacrifice to him
Whom he had er'st offended, neither can
Strength or intreatie, wrest him from his death,
Both which are treason, and inexpiable.
Thus then you may proceede, vvhen banquets done,
And all their comicke merriment runne on
To the last sceane, and euery man expects
A solemne gift, due to Achmetes vvorth,
Call for a robe therewith to decke your friend,
And perfect all his glory, let that bee
This robe of fate, in which ready at hand,
You may intombe the traytor, and be wrappe
His pampered body in a vaile of death,
So let him dye, dreame not on the event,
Vice is rewarded in it's punishment.
Baia.
I will be fierce and sudden, Isaack inuite
Achmetes to a feast: he dies this night.
Exit Baia.
Isa.
I shall: vvould not a private vvarning serue
But open penance must correct my child,
And a seuere divorcement quite degrade
Her other honoured Matrimoniall rights?
Were he as strong, as steele-like joynted Mars,
As much applauded through our popular streetes,
As er'st Dictator Fabius was in Rome,
Or great Augustus, yet the slaue should feele
The wrath of an inflamed father light
Heauy vpon his soule, and that e'r the next sunne
Appeare, Achmetes all thy glorie's done.
Exit.
Scena Sexta.
Enter Achmetes, and Caigubus his sonne.Caigu.
I fear'd your safety and devoutly prayed
Might be of conquering force.
Ach.
Thy prayers were heard
And I am here as safe as I went forth,
Vntouch't by the rough hands of desperate warre,
Nor did I once spie danger in the field,
But when I fronted Zemes, then there met
Two streames of valor, sith on vs was set
The chance of the whole combat, others stood
Expecting which of vs should loose his blood:
But heaven was just, and to compose the strife,
This sword at one sad blow tooke thence his life.
Caig.
The heavens were iust indeed, but who comes heere,
Isaack, Mesithes, and Baiazets three sonnes,
Enter Isaack, Mesithes, Mahometes, Achomates, Selymus.
Ach.
They come to gratulate my late successe,
I see their errand foulded in their smiles,
How cheerefully they looke vpon my ioyes,
Omnes.
All happines attend Achmetes.
Ach.
Thankes Noble friends, how fares the Emperor.
Isaack.
Well by your guard, and he hath sent vs now,
All to invite your presence to a feast,
We must be frolike, and this following night,
Shall Crowne your joy with revels and delight,
Or else deprive thy soule of that good light.
aside
Ach.
We must be frolicke Captaines, thinke not then
On my loud drummes, and staring trumpeters,
Such whose strong lungs roare out a bellowing voyce,
Would make a man daunce Antick in the fire,
Weele haue a choicer musique, and my feete,
Shall tread a neater march, then such harsh straines
Can teach them, with more pleasure, and lesse paines.
Since it hath pleas'd the Emperor to grace
Our slender merrits thus: we shall be there,
To taste his bountie.
Mes.
Weele lead on before.
Ach.
Ile follow you.
Isa.
Ne'r to returne more,
aside
Exeunt omnes, Manent, Achmetes, and Caigabus.
Ach.
I am happy aboue envie, and my state,
Not to be thwarted with iniurious fate,
And shake that currish vice supition, off
From my sincere affection, I haue wrong'd
Sure I haue wrong'd thee Isack thy chast loue,
Cloakes not intended mischiefe, blacke deceit
Cannot lie hid vnder so pure a white,
But it would cast a coloured shadow out,
Through such a slender vayle, thy generous thoughts,
Nourish no base detraction; thy free loue
Thy profest actions, say t'were no just fate
That good mens deedes should die by ill mens hate.
Caig.
Pray heaven they doe not.
Ach.
feare not, I am guest
To Baiazet, expected at the feast,
Exeunt
Scena Septima.
Enter Baiazet, and Cherseogles.Baia.
The day's farre spent, is not Achmetes come?
Chers.
Not yet great Emperor.
Baia.
Vice-roy of Greece, say now there were a man
Whom my mind honored, and I should command,
To cloath his body in a suite of gold,
Studded with gems, worth all the Indian snore,
Durst any tongue gainsay it:
Chers.
Surely no.
Baia.
What if I hated him, and should command
To wrappe him in a sable coloured blacke,
And sentence him to death?
Chers.
Then he must die.
Baia.
My thoughts are troubled.
Chers.
What should these questions meane,
Abrupt demands, one to confound the other?
My liege, your guests are come.
Enter Achmetes, Isaack, Mahometes, Achomates, Selymus, Mesithes, Caigubus.
Baia.
Blest be the houre in which I see Achmetes safe return'd
Bring in our banquet souldiers: boyes kneele round,
Enter a banquet, all kneele.
A ring of brauer lads nere blest the ground,
Supplie vs here with nectar, giue it me,
takes the cup
A health to thy blest fortunes, it shall runne
A compleate circle ere the course be done.
Ach.
My dutie bids me pledge it. I returne
Good health to Isaack, and in this wee'l drownd
All conceal'd enmities.
drinkes
Isa.
Ioue split me with his thunder, if my brest
Harbour one bad thought, when this draught is past.
And so I greet thy sonne? health to Caigubus.
drinkes
Caigu.
Mahometes the turne lights next on you.
drinkes
Maho.
Ile pledge it freely, Viceroy her's to you.
drinkes
Chers.
Achomates, to you I must commend
The welfare of Achmetes in this cup.
drinks
Acho.
To you Mesithes, thus I proue my loue.
drinks
Mes.
Yong Prince I doe commit this health to you.
drinks
Sely.
I am the last, be prodigall in wine,
Fill vp my bowle with Nectar, let it rise
Aboue the goblets side, and may it like
A swelling Ocean flow aboue the banckes,
I will exhaust it greedily, 'tis my due.
drinkes
Omnes.
Weele drinke with Bacchus and his roaring crew.
Baia.
Already done, so quickly runne about,
One health to me, faith sith you are set too't,
Heer's a carouse to all,
Omnes.
Weele pledge it round.
As they drinke round, Baiazet riseth and speakes aside.
Baia.
'Tis the last draught to some, or I shall faile,
In mine intendments. let a foe escape?
When he was trampled downe beneath his feete,
There must be treason in it; how my blood
Boyles in my breast, with anger, not the wine
Could worke such strong effect; my soule is vext,
A chafing heat distempers all my blood,
Achmetes thou must coole it when thy limbes
Are emptied of that moisture they sucke in,
And thy stain'd blood vnchannel'd from thy veines,
Then shall I be secure, a quiet rest
Shall rocke my soule asleepe, 'tis thy last howre,
Must set a period to my restlesse feares.
Then all arise: and now to consummate
Our happy meeting, and shut vp our joyes,
Discourse Achmetes of your finish't warres;
After an age of woes it proues at last
A sweete content to tell of dangers past.
Let's know your whole events.
Ach.
Great Emperor
Scarce had the rosie day-starre through the East,
Display'd her silver colours through the heauen,
But all the watchfull souldiers ready arm'd,
Dim'd her pale cheekes, with their transparent steele,
And added lustre to the dull sight morne,
So stood we in full pride till the bright Sunne
Climing the glassie pauement of the skies,
Rouz'd the slow spirits of the backward foe,
And vrg'd them to the field; at length stept forth
Zemes, in all the trappings of his state:
And like a well-taught Hector, rang'd his troupes,
Into their seuerall orders, all prepar'd
Titan being fearefull stept behind a cloud,
Lest when he saw our limbs bath'd all in blood,
And purple streames gush't from our wounded breasts,
Like vvater from their springs; he in a feare
Should be eclips'd, or startle from his spheare,
The ayre was thicke and dimme, our armies joyn'd,
The skirmishes grew hot, and angry Mars
Inthron'd vpon the battlements of heauen,
Left either side to tugge with their owne strength,
Till their oppressing multitude bore downe,
The justice of our cause, and our whole side,
Not daring to withstand, scorning to flye,
Stood trembling on the vtmost brinke of hope,
Then the propitious Gods singled me out
Zemes, the life and spirit of our foes:
We met and fought, such was my happy fate,
That at the first encounter Zemes fell,
And I disarm'd him, when in proud contempt,
He spit defiance in the face of death,
Whereby I might haue sent him hence to hell,
But I in admiration of his worth,
Arm'd his right hand once more and bad him fight,
Chance did direct my sword vpon his head,
He fell before me, and cry'd, Achmetes hold;
I'me wounded to the death, and Captaine goe
Tell Baiazet that thou hast slaine his foe.
I left the dying Prince, our warres were done
And ceas'd with him, by whom they were begunne.
Isaacke.
The plot has tooke.
aside
Baia.
Treason by Mahomet.
I left the dying Prince.
Isaack.
Pursue the proiect.
Baia.
Worthy Achmetes,
Well we may giue, but not reward by gifts,
And thanke, but not requite thee, I would hate
That liberality which would abate
The worth of the receiuer, thy true fame,
Outstrips the length of titles, and a name
Of weightie honour, is a slender price,
To grace thy merits with, as for a voice,
To crowne, thee after death, thou art the choice,
Of euerliuing glory, on thy crest,
Is her abode, and when the latest rest
Of nature, hath betrayd thee to thy graue,
Then shall she print in characters of gold
How braue a man thou wast, how great, how bold;
Though we be dumb, yet shall the world vplift,
Thy name, and thou shalt liue without our gift.
Yet thy blest fates, haue not created thee
So clearely Godlike, but some other chance,
May crosse thy greatnesse, and thy high renowne
The envie of some God may shoulder downe,
Then thus weele make thee happy, future events
Ne'r shall oppresse thy worth, nor enuious chance
Blot thy ensuing fame, Achmetes know,
Death an immortall gift, we thus bestow.
He casts a gowne of blacke veluet vpon him, called the mantle of death.
Treason, treason. O my Father treason,
Helpe Ianizaries.
Excurrit.
Baia.
Stop the furious youth.
Exeunt Bassaes.
Bring in an Heads-man. Traytor, Zemes dead?
He liues to see this hand vntwine thy thread.
Enter seuen or eight Ianizaries with swords drawne.
What meanes this outrage?
Ianiza. 1.
Cruell homicide.
2.
Vngratefull wretch.
3.
Tyrant.
4.
Meete hilts in's guts.
Circle him.
5.
First let his owne hands take that Mantle off.
Baia.
Helpe! Treason! I am slaine.
6.
Helpe? why? From whom?
Is not thy Guard about thee.
Baia.
Hemn'd in with death? My friends beset me round
Not to preserue my life, but murder me.
Blush you pale heauens at this abhorred fact,
That they may see their crimes, and be asham'd
Of this vnheard offence: Valiant Ianizaries,
Sheath vp these weapons of rebellion,
Print not that vgly sinne vpon your brow,
Let my tree pardon woe you to submit.
Keepe your alleagiance firme.
Omnes.
Ha, ha, ha, ha.
1
One word more damnes thee.
2
How pretily he began to talke
3
Of sinne and pardon. Baiazet behold
Here stands a man milde, honour'd, gracious,
Valiant, and faithfull; gentle in command,
At home belou'd, and fear'd amongst our foes,
Yet hath thy hand of cruelty assay'd
The hated murder of so deare a friend:
Blush you pale heauens at this abhorred fact,
That he may see his crimes, and be asham'd
Of this new bloudinesse. Wicked Baiazet
These admonitions fit the teacher well.
Baia.
But heare me speake.
First set Achmetes free, then speake thy fill.
Baia.
What shall I be compell'd?
5
And quickly too.
6
We cannot brooke to see him stand thus cloath'd.
Baia.
Your anger will haue way. Achmetes goe.
Takes off the Mantle.
There take him. They haue sau'd thee from this woe.
Exeunt showting and leaping.
Pernicious villaines, they haue crost my plot,
'Twas intercepted eu'n in the last deede:
What should Achmetes meane thus to ingrosse
The best affections of my Ianizaries?
Will he defraud me of my Crowne and life?
My life I weigh not: but to loose my Crowne
Were to be sentenc'd to a hell of woes.
I am full stuft with choller. Slauish Peasants
Held I a sword of power in mine hand,
I would disioynt them peece-meale; can I not?
Am I not Emperour? men call me so:
A reuerend title, empty attributes,
And a long page of words follow my name,
But no substantiall true prerogatiue.
Enter Isaack.
Isaack.
Good health to Baiazet.
Baiaz.
Indeed that's nothing, since your counsell fail'd.
Isaack.
Vse your best patience it may be regain'd.
Affection in your stubborne multitude
Is a prone torrent not to be withstood.
Were you as sacred as their houshold gods,
Yet when you thwart the current of their will,
They'le breake the bands of duty, and prophane
That holinesse to which they bound their thoughts.
Mine eyes are witnesse with what liuely ioy
They bore him through the streetes vpon their necks,
Offering the vse of their best strength.
Baia.
No more.
I am already gone. Why did not then
His proud ambitious tongue bid them goe fetch
My Crowne, and with quick speede disrobe a wretch?
'Twas in his power: we are distracted Isaack,
My ruine, and their dangerous intent.
Isaack.
Mine is a blunt aduice, and deepe in bloud
To cut off those base Peasants that withstood
The force of your decree.
Baiaz.
To cut them off?
Me thinkes I see my selfe yet circled in
With their reuengefull swords, ha? cut them off?
Could I but curse the Traytors from the earth,
Or were my doome pronounc'd but of effect,
I'de rattle such new torments in their eares,
Should stagger their high courage; but my feares
Strangle my furies, and my enuious fate
Forceth my tongue to flatter, where I hate.
Isaack.
Here lyes the safest course, to rid these griefes
Giue out, you'le goe to warre, so to enlarge your territories,
And to this end fetch home,
Those warlike Souldiers plac'd in Garrison.
Let them remaine without the walls; at last,
When things shall fit your purpose, leade them all
By night into the Citie, and in one stroke
Strike off so many thousand periur'd heads,
As shall amaze posterity to heare,
How many liues redeem'd thee from thy feare.
Baiaz.
The waight of all mine honour leanes on thee,
That or some neerer course shall quell the pride
Of strong Achmetes, and confound his side.
Scena Octaua.
Enter Zemes and Alexander Bishop of Rome.Bishop.
If your intents be vertuous, and desire
Of eminent place quite banisht from your thoughts,
My house shall be your Castie: that I denie
My men and Armes to ayde you in your broyles,
Thinke it kinde vsage: should my Holinesse
Feede your ambition, and make strong your hand
Of flaming hot discention, and to set
The world in a combustion: all would then
Quarrell by my example: No sweet Prince
Romes holy Bishop must not so transgresse.
If you will dwell within my sacred roofe
Settle irregular Passions, and begin
A quiet life, repentance wipes out sin.
Zemes.
My waxen wings are melted, I will soare
Against the sunne, through such thick cloudes no more.
The middle Region shall containe my flight,
Your counsaile swayes my wishes, my late deedes
Were full of sinne: now let my brother know
Zemes repents; (and that's the greatest woe.)
Exit.
Bish.
To mans aspiring thoughts, how sweet is hope
Which makes them (like Camelions) liue on ayre
And hugge their slender plots: till coole dispayre
Doth so benumme his thoughts, that he falls dead
From his sublime height, and his lofty head
Which leueld at the skies, doth drop below
His humble feete, this hath experience taught
In that mans head-long ruine, whose proud thoughts
Aym'd at the Turkish Diademe; but now crosse Fates
Haue forc'd his stubborne Fates to bow.
Enter a Messenger.
What speakes your entrance?
Messen.
Health to Romes Bishop.
And Peace from Baiazet, who commends his loue
With this his Letter, and expects from you
Giues him a letter.
A gracious answere. He reades the Letter.
Bish.
Let Zemes die by an vntimely death,
Else for our loue you shall prouoke our hate.
Hee's not our brother, but our hated foe:
And in his death you shall preuent our woe.
Returne our seruice back: tell Baiazet
What he hath giuen in charge; shall by my hand
Be carefully dispatcht.
Messen.
Good peace attend you.
Exit.
Bish.
Imperious Turke,
Am I not Gods Vize-gerent here on earth,
Or speake to me in threatning menaces?
It grates my patience to obey this monster,
Yet must I murder Zemes, what doe I know
Whether my fathers soule did trans-migrate
Into his breast or no? be dumbe remorse,
The Turke is great and powerfull, if I winne
His loue by this, t'will proue a happy sinne.
| The raging Tvrke, or Baiazet the second | |