University of Virginia Library

Actus Quarti

Scena Prima.

Enter Bajazet solus.
Baia.
How the obsequious duty of the world
Hangs shiuering on the skirts of Majestie,
And meils out all her footsteps: I could yet
Neuer steale leasure to reforme my thoughts,
Since my pale brow was first hoop'd in with gold
Till this brest houre: aud now great Baiazet
Empty thy breast of her imprison'd ioyes,
Which like the smothring windes, could with a blast
Rip vp a passage. I am crown'd in blisse,
Plac'd on the rockes of strong security,
Without the reach of Fate. Envie shall gnash
And pine at my full pleasures; the soft feete
Of labouring Ambition, shall quite tire
Ere touch the starry-height on which I stand.
Achmetes and his sonne with my two boyes
Are falne, to cleare the sun-shine of my joyes,
Achomates I feare not, Selymus
Liues cag'd within the compasse of mine eye,
All that I doubt is of Mahomates,
That blazing starre once darkned, I will throw
The lustre of my pompe from me, as cleare
As if three Sunnes were orb'd all in one Spheare.
What newes brings Isaack?

Enter Isaack Bassa.
Isaack.
Vnwelcome newes.

Baia.
Be quick in the deliuery.

Isaack.
Then thus.
Young Selymus is fled.

Baia.
Fled?

Isaack.
Fled this night to the Tartarian King.

Baia.
VVould he had sunke
To the Tartarian deepe. Isaack, th'art false,
And euery haire dependant from thy head
Is a twin'd serpent. Isaack I say th'art false,
I read it in thy brow.

Isaack.
By heauen I am not.

Baia.
Come; answere my demands, first, at what time
Left he the Court?

Isaack
I know not.

Baia.
Know he is fledde,
And know not when he fledde, how can this be?

Isaack
After our strickt enquiry, 'twas our chance
To light on one that saw him take a ship,
At the next hauen.

Baia.
On one; bring foorth that one,
Exit Isaack
Ile sound the depth of these villanies.
Enter Isaacke with a dwarffe.
What's here?
A barrell rear'd an end vpon two feete?
Sirrah, you guts and garbage—did you see
Selymus leaue the Court?

Dwarffe.
So please it your—

Baia.
Please it? thou monster, are you now so pleasing.

Isaack
My Liege hold in your fury: spend not one drop
Of your fierce anger, on so base a worme,
Keepe it entire and whole, within your breast,
That with it's vigor it may crush the bulke
Of him whose treasons moue it.

Baia.
So it shall,
Neptune reine backe thy swelling Ocean,
Invert the current of thy guilty streames
Which further trecherous plots, mild Æolus,
(That when a peevish goddesse did intreat,
Scattredst a Trojan Navy through the seas)
Now Baiazet a Turkish Emperor
Bids thee send forth thy jarring prisoners,
Into the seas deepe bowels, let them raise
Tempests shall dash against the firmament
Of the vast heavens, and in their stormy rage,
Either confound or force the vessell backe,
In which the traytor sayles; now, now beginne
Or I shall thinke thee conscious of this sinne.
Enter a monke
What would this monke?

Monke.
Only your blessed almes.

Baiazet.
I'me in a liberall vaine—
Monke shootes of a dagge at Baiazet, Mesithes, and Isaack kils the Monke
Traitor I'me slaine,
I feele the bullet run quite through my sides,

Isaack.
Great Mahomet hath kept you safe from harme,
It neuer toucht you.

Baia.
Oh—I am slaine,
Open the gates of sweet Elysium,
Take in my wounded soule: Bring foorth that Monke,
Ile make him my soules harbinger, he shall
Fore-runne my comming and provide a place
Amongst the gloomy banks of Acheron,
Then shall he dwell with me in those blacke shades
And it shall be my blisse to torture him.

Isa.
Hee's gone already, I haue sent him hence.

Baia.
Fly then my soule, and nimbly follow him,
He must not scape my vengeance: Charon stay,
One waftage will serue both, I come, away.

Isa.
Let not conceit thus steale away your life.

Baia.
Me thinkes I feele no blood ebbe from my heart,
My spirits faint but slowly.

Isaack
Heare me Sir,
You are not wounded.

Baia.
Ha? not wounded.

Isaack.
Vntoucht as yet;
His quaking hand deceiu'd him of his aime,
And he quite mist your body, here behold
The bullet yet vnstain'd with blood.

Baia.
Now I beleeue thee: oh the balefull fate
Of Princes, and each eminent estate!
How euery precious jewell in a Crowne,
Charmes mad ambition, and makes envy doate
On the bewitching Beauty of it's shine;
Indeede proud Majesty is vsher'd in
By superstitious awfull reverence,
But cursed mischiefs follow; and those are
Treasons in peace, blacke stratagems in warre.
But wher's the dwarffe? Isaack goe send him in,
Bid bold Mesithes, and sage Mustapha
Quickly attend vs; goe.

Exit Jsaacke
Isaacke
I shall.

Baiazet
This houre,
Hath hatcht a richer project in my braine,
Whose wisht event, shall strangle envies breath,
And strike ambition dead in euery breast.
Sirrah, draw hence the body to the ditch,
Enter dwarffe
Whither the filth of the whole Citie runs,
There ouerwhelm't in blood; goe, quickly doo't;
What doost thou grin thou visage of an ape?

he strikes him
Dwarfe
Ile rather hang my selfe then endure this.

Baia.
Nay, come; be patient and Ile vse thee well,
Why—'twas a Scepter strooke thee, and 'twill worke
Diviner operation in thy blood
Then thou canst dreame of.

Dwar.
I'de rather be strucke crosse the teeth with a pudding
Then crosse the backe with a scepter.

Baia.
A man would guesse so, that ouer-viewes the dimensions
But to thy businesse.
he carries aut the coarse
Enter Bassaes.
Bassaes stand yee round,
Stay: who comes here? sure I should know that stature,
Obserue him neerely.

Enter Mahometes disguised.
Bassaes.
Tis no Courtier.

Mahom.
Mahometes 'tis time to looke about,
Selymus fledde? Achomates ador'd?
My name scarce heard of through the popular streets?
Had that vnhappy arme of that dam'nd Monke,
Not staggerd from the Marke at which he aym'd,
Who euer sent him hither, I had leapt
Into the emptie throne, and cropt the fruit
Budding from treasons roote; but Ile returne
Backe to my Province, this vnknowne disguise,
Shall search my Fathers closest policies.

Isaack
Mahometes disguis'd.

Baia.
By heauen 'twas he
He pryes into my counsells: let it bee.
Wee'le forward in our businesse, which beeing done,
Weele coole the hot ambition of each sonne,
As mine alreadie is, quicke mouing time
Hath cast a snowy whitenesse on my haires,
And frosty age hath quel'd the heate of youth,
Mine intellectuall eyes, which euer yet
Gaz'd on the worlds rich gilded vanities,
Are now turn'd inward, and behold within,
Dismall confusion of vnpardoned sinne.
E'r since I first was setled on this Throne,
My cares haue clog'd the swiftnesse of the houres,
And wrought a tedious irkesomnesse of life,
Murders haue mask'd the forehead of the Sunne
With purple-coloured clouds, and he hath blusht
At the blood-sucking cruelty of state.
Ther's not one little angle of this Court,
Whose guiltie walls haue not conceal'd a knot
Of traitors, squaring out some hideous plot,
Against my safety; now at last I spie
The dangers of perplexed Maiestie.
And were it not for a religious feare
Of after-harmes, which wretchedly might teare
And spoyle the body of this Monarchy,
Here at this instant would I strike the sayle,
And proud top-gallant of mine eminence,
Hurle vp my scepter, dis-inthrone my selfe,
And let the greene heads scramble for the Crowne.
Age hath taught me a stayder prouidence
Then my rash youth could reach to; I intend
To place this glittering bable, on the head
Of some successour, e'r I yet am dead,
So giue it out; thereby Ile try the loue
And fauour of the people: whom they seeme
Most to affect I'le raise to that esteeme,
How doe you like the counsell?

Chers.
As we could like
A voice of health sent from the carefull gods.
This newes will lay the sury of your sonnes,
And breed low dutie in them all, in hope
Of the reward propos'd.

Exeunt Baiazet, Chorseogles, Mauent Mustapha, Isaacke, Mosithes, Asmehemides.
Isaacke.
Awake preventions eyes, we must not sleepe
If we would see proud Baiazet displac't,
And Selymus elated to his height.
Name him the people favours;—hee affects
Achomates: and knowes the multitude
Wrapt with his heauenly wisedome, cry for him,
We must be quicke and wary, here are keyes
Left, and lay'd vp by Selymus, that store
Shall visit emptie purses, and inchaunt
The needy sort of men, that the ones wealth,
Shall weigh vp 'tothers wisedome in the scale
Of their light judgement; lend your best endeavors
Wee'le crosse thee Baiazet, and thy hopes shall dye
By thine owne ill-contriued policy.

Exeunt.

Scena Secunda.

Enter Baiazet, takes Asmehemides by the hand, a Courtier belonging to Mahometes.
Baia.
Leaue vs; Wee would be priuate with our friend,
'Tis thou must doo't sweet Asmehemides,
Mahomates and thou are two neere friends;
He will suspect in others close deceit,
Thee, for thy generous vertues he will stand
With obuious embracements to receiue
Into his bosome; whither when thou art
Wound in, be sure to strike him through the heart.
I am offended, 'tis just piety
To sacrifice his body at the shrine
Of my displeasure, doe it, I am thine.

Asmehem.
Were he as deare to mee, as the halfe part
Of mine owne bodie, as the breath I draw;
I'de doe this charge: wee mortalls must obey
When Gods command, and Emperors are they.

Exit
Baia.
So willing to be damn'd? had I adjoyn'd
Some vertuous office, surely he would then
Haue said, that good deedes are not deedes of men.
But let them goe; Mahometes must dye,
And for my other boy fierce Selymus
The boysterous hand of warre must snatch him hence,
My other sonne Corcutus liues immur'd
Within Minerua's cloister, thus I cleare,
A path through which Achomates shall runne
Vp to my throne when all their hopes are done.

Exit

Scena Tertij

Enter Achomates.
Acho.
The promise was direct and absolute,
To blesse my Temples with a sacred Crowne,
VVith protestations of a quicke dispatch,
Ere his owne right were cancelled by fate,
So to cut off all rivals in my joyes.
VVhat intercedent chance hath made his care
So slacke in the performance? by heaven I feare,
Delayes will proue delusions of my hopes
And that homebred Mercurian Selymus,
VVill split the expectation of my blisse,
Forefend it Mahomet, or I shall be
A sad revenger of indignitie.
How now? vvhat speakes this bold intrusion?

Enter a Messenger.
Messen.
Health to Achomates from Baiazet.

Acho.
From Baiazet? vnfold thy welcome newes,
How fares our Noble Father?

Messen.
In full health;
And wils you thus by mee: to muster vp
Your surest forces, and with moderate hast,
Repaire vnto the Court, where you shall find
Employments worthy of a valorous mind.

Achom.
To muster armes? can'st thou surmise the cause?

Messen.
VVith confidence I dare not; but tis sayd,
Against that haughtie Noble Selymus,
VVho of the Tartar King implored ayd,
To an vncertaine end: himselfe giues out
To fight with Hungary, and stretch the bounds
Of the old Turkish regiment; But fame
With panting voice, bids Baiazet beware,
And whispers in his eare, he is the foe,
Proud Selymus intends to overthrow.

Acho.
Enough, regreet our Father with our love
Tell him wee shall not sleepe to his command;
Exit
Fly nimbly backe: dares the audacious boy,
Trouble the world with his tempestuous armes?
Ile chastise him with yron whips of warre,
If either strength or stratagems shall serue,
To spoyle the gavvdy plumes of his high crest,
I'le vse the strongest violence of both;
I am swolne big with hate, and I could breake
Vntimely passage with a wholesome stabbe
To vent the monster strangled in my wombe.
Father I come, he that detaines a Crowne
Bequeath'd to me, must thunder-strike me downe.

Enter Corcutus.
Corcu.
Buzzing reports haue pier't my studdy walles,
And clog'd my meditations ayry wings,
By which I mount aboue the mouing spheares
And search the hidden closets of the heauen,
I cannot liue retir'd, but I must heare
Mine owne wrongs sounded in my troubled eare:
VVhat? will my father falsifye that oath;
In which he vowd successions right to mee,
VVhen I resign'd my honors vp to him,
He deepely swore; when the vprising Sunne
Of his bright-shining royallty had runne
It's compleat course through the whole heauen of state,
And fainting dropt into the VVesterne lapse;
My brightnesse next should throw it's golden beames,
Vpon the worlds wide face, and ouer-peere
The duskie clouds of hidden privacie,
And shall Achomates succeed? Shall hee
Shine in the spangled robes of Majesty?
Then Baiazet is false, let it be so
I am secur'd from a huge masse of woe.
Yet Ile to th'Court, that when Achomates
Shall spie mee, and remember but my due
'Twill staine his lustre with a blushing hue,

Enter Baiazet, Cherseogles.
Baia.
My cares are growne to great to be compriz'd,
Within the narrow compasse of my breast,
Vice-roy of Greece, Ile powre into thy heart
Part of my secrets; which being entred in,
Locke them as close vp, as thou wouldst a sinne
Committed, yet not knowne: I must impart
Things worth thy faithfull silence.

Chers.
Worthy Sir,
By the inclosure of my soule I sweare—

Baia.
Ile not heare out thine oth, in briefe 'tis thus
The Bassaes are all false and loue not vs;
Nor doth my brain sicke fury prompt me thus,
I read it in their gestures, conventicles,
Actions, and counsells, my suspitious eye
Hath found a great breach in their loyalty.

Chers.
Surely this cannot bee.

Baiazet
By heauen 'tis true,
Each man that guards mine honour is my foe,
Ile shake these splendant robes of Majesty
From my ore-burden'd shoulders, and to ease
My selfe, bequeath them to Achomates.

Cherse.
Achomates?

Baia.
Euen he, vnlesse the voyce
Of the whole Citie interdict my choice.

Enter Isaacke, Mesithes, Mustapha.
Cherse.
Heere comes the Bassaes,
Sure I see bad newes
Pourtrai'd on the Index of their fronts.

Baia.
Bad newes? We haue out-liu'd good dayes too long,
We can expect no other, come vnclaspe
Volumes of mischiefes, and make deafe my eares
With an infused multitude of cares.

Bassaes.
Young Selymus hath crost Danubius floud,
And seiz'd vpon the Provinces of Thrace,
And with a Navie plow'd the Euxine Sea.

Baia.
Peace bellowing night-rauens, with how cheerefull noise
Their puffing lungs croke out the balefull note,
Are these the warres 'gainst Hungary? you powers
Of heauen, brush off your cloddy patience,
If you but winke at these notorious crimes,
I'le say you dare not check our stubborne times.
Well as yet, I'le make vse of his pretence
Vize-roy of Greece, beare you this Embassie
To that suspected Traytor Selymus,
Tell him the warres 'gainst th'Hungarian foe,
Are full of dangers and approued harmes,
Never attempted by our Ancestors,
Without repulse or damage bid him dismisse
His rough Tartarian youth, then if he stand
Vnmou'd and stiffe, feigne vengeance is at hand.
Make thy best speed.

Cherse.
I shall, 'twill be well done
To reconcile a Father and a Sonne.

Baia.
Thought he tumultuous vprores could deserue
The favour of his Prince: h'as troad awry,
And mist the path that leades to Majestie.
These bright Imperious ornaments shall grace
No rebell-monster, nor base runne-away.
My resolution's firme, it shall not be;
Bassaes, this day an Herauld shall proclaime
In the worlds care, my great successours name.
Are you content?

Exit.
Mustapha calls in an Herauld.
Bassaes.
We are.

Baiaz.
Call forth an Herrauld.

Isaack.
As our alleageance bindes vs wee'le obey.
But what we graunt, the Souldiers will gaine-say.
Aside.
Thou shalt not thriue in this: I dare be bold
My golden hookes haue ta'ne a faster hold.

Baia.
Herauld,
Be my loud Eccho, ratifie my deede,
And say Achomates shall next succeede.

Herauld.

Baiazet the second by the appointment of our great
Prophet Mahomet, the onely Monarch of the World, a mighty
God on earth, an inuincible Cæsar, King of all Kings, from the
East vnto the West, Gouernour of Greece, Sultan of Babylon,
Soueraigne Of Persia and Armenia, triumphant Tutor of Ierusalem,
Lord possessour of the Sepulcher of the Crucified God,
subuerter and sworne enemie of the Christians, and of all that
call vpon Christ; proclaimeth Achomates his second sonne next
and immediate successour.

An alarum of Trumpets
Within.
None but Baiazet, none but Baiazet.

Baiaz.
By heauen they are corrupted: none but I?
'Tis no loue borne to me that moues this cry.

Mesith.
Great Baiazet the cause why they deny
This iust proposall, riseth from an vse
And customary licence long obseru'd;
To wit, when their crown'd Emperour is dead,
The interpos'd vacation is a time
Of lawlesse freedome: then they dare to spoile
The Iewish Marchants of their traffick wares,
And prey vpon all strangers: so that should
Your Honour be conferr'd vpon your sonne
Whilst you your selfe yet breath, then should they loose
The long expected gaines; therefore refuse
What you propos'd.

Baiaz.
If that be all the cause,
Wee'le giue them such a Kingly donatiue,
As doubly shall buy out those ill-got spoiles
Fiue hundred thousand Duckets, if they please
With my free choise to crowne Achomates,
Proclaim'd to be their due.

A flourish of Trumpets.
Herauld.

Baiazet the second by appointment of our great Prophet
Mahomet, &c. proclaimeth that hee'le attribute 500.
Thousand Duckats if you yeeld alleageance
To Achomates his successour.

Trumpets sound againe.
Within.
None but Baiazet, none but Baiazet.

Baia.
Achomates I sent for, how hee'le disgest
These grosse illusions, I may iustly feare:
By this I had discourag'd Selymus,
And kill'd his hopes; by this I had cut off
The growth of hate, and choked discords seed.

Exit.
Enter Mustapha with a Messenger to the other Bassaes.
Mustaph.
Beare this to Selymus with thy best care.

Mesith.
And this.

Giue him Letters.
Isaack.
And this: fly, let thy winged speed
Returne a suddaine answere, elie we bleed.

Exeunt.

Scena Quinta.

Enter Selymus, Tartarian King. Attendants.
Tartar.
Goe on braue Prince; Lead on thy marshal'd troupes,
Degrade the Turkish Monarch, let him faint
At the deepe wounds, which thy reuengefull hand
Shall print vpon the bosome of his land.
Goe on; Me thinks I see Victoria sit
Triumphant on thy steely Burganet.

Exit Tartarian King.
Selym.
Farewell; now I will meete thee Baiazet
With a careere as free as if Heauens Ioue
Had bid me goe: bespeake the stoutest gods
To take thy part; tell them that thou must meete
A Selymus, who when the warres are done,
Will scale the Forts and Castles of the Sunne,
Breake vp the brazen gates of Acheron,
And bury Nature with the world together.
Captaines leade on; Now shall the sword and fire
By publique ruines crowne my iust desire.
Sleepe Hungary, I'le not breake off thy rest
With the vnwelcome Musick of my Drummes;
I'le turne the edge of my reuengefull sword
Vpon the bosome of my natiue soyle;
There dwels the motiue of my Tragick warres,
Whose ruthlesse sad Catastrophe shall wound
Posterity in vs: Infants shall mourne
Ouer their Fathers tombs as yet vnborne.
But who comes here? I'le meete him.
Noble Vize-roy.

Enter Cherseogles.
Cherseo.
Peace and health to Selymus.

Selym.
Health, but not peace, whilst yonder light can see
Mortalls, whom Turkish force could ne're subdue.

Cherseo.
Yet what if Baiazet our honour'd Lord
Bid you roule vp those flaxen signes of warre,
And sheath the sword drawne forth against his foe?
When duty sayes obey, what shall say no.

Selym
My courage and a proud contempt of all
Corriuall Nations, could send back a no,
Able to fright a Parliament of gods.
It could so: but if Baiazet gaine-say
My plumy valour flags, my thoughts gaue way.

Cherseo
Then thus he wills you to discard your force,
And send the black Tartarians to their home,
Withall averring the Hungarian foe
(Against whose power, you haue summon'd Armes)
Is full of strength and power, ne're oppos'd
Without the bitter downefall of our side.
Nor would the worlds great Monarch Baiazet
Empaire his fame so much, as to be sayd,
He tam'd a Foe by Tartars borrowed ayd.

Selym.
Ha: I am vilely non-plust. Courteous Vize-roy
Returne our duty back to Baiazet,
Euen in the humblest termes wit can inuent,
Tell him he hath a sonne of that high spirit,
As doth detest a cowardly retreat.
Were all the dead Heroes of our foes
All that are now, and all that are to come
Met in one age, I'de face them drum to drum.
Bid our deare Father be secure of me
And my proceedings: then true valour shines
Most bright, when busied in the great'st designes.
Is not this answere faire?

Cherseo.
Most true: and yet
'Twill proue distastfull.

Selym.
No, it cannot be:
If there be too much valour in this breast,
Blame him that plac't it there, euen Baiazet.
My vertues and my bloud, are both deriu'd
From his first influence, and I must either hate
Disgracefull calumn's, or degenerate.

Cherseo.
All this I'le tell your Father, yet hee'le rest
As much vnsatisfied as at the first,
He will expect the head-strong pride of youth
Should strike low sayle to his graue providence.

Selym.
And so it shall: sage Vize-roy I obey,
And reuerence his counsell more, then feare
An host of armed foes: tell him I'le come
To his Court gates with neither man nor drum.

Cherseo.
I'le tell it him with ioy, which when he heares,
Hee'le be disburden'd of a thousand feares.

Selym.
Remember my just duty: 'tis no matter,
I will retaine that till I come my selfe.
I am not out-reach'd yet by all these trickes,
My hopes are farther strong, I'le to the Court
With a close martch, in no submissiue sort,
And steale vpon them: Instantly I goe
To meete my Father, but a subtill foe.

As he goes out, a Messenger meetes him, giues him the Letters.
Messen.
Good health to Selymus.

Selym
Good health: From whom?

Messen.
Isaack, Mesithes, Mustapha salute you.

Selym.
Opens the Letters.
Descants.
Reades second.
Reads.

Yours Isaack Bassa.

Exit.

Scena Sexta.

Enter Achomates solus.
Achom.
Vnquiet anguishments and iealous feare
Fly from my thoughts, like night before the Sunne:
I'me lifted to the highest Spheare of ioy,
My top inuelopt in the azure cloud,
And starry rich habiliments: my feete
Set rampant on the face of Natures pride,
The rarest worke weau'd by her handmayd Art
Cloathes my soft pleasures, I'me as great as Ioue,
Onely I rule below, he raignes aboue.
Oh! the vnspoken beauty of a Crowne,
Whose empty speculation mounts my soule
Vp to an heauenly Paradise of thoughts.
Father, I come that thou may'st crowne my head,
Whilst apprehensiue reason stands amaz'd,
Amidst the blisfull shades of sweet conceit.
Then I'le call back my wandring intellect
From dreames, and those imaginary ioyes,
I'le teach my soule to twine about a Crowne
To sweat in raptures, to fill vp a Throne
With the bigge-swelling lookes of Majestie,
I'le amble through a pleasures Labyrinth,
And wander in the path of happinesse,
As the true obiect of that faculty.
Great Baiazet I come. Thou must descend
From Honours high Throne, and put off thy right
To build me vp an heauen of choyse delight.

Exit.

Scena Septima.

Enter Mesithes, Mustapha, Isaack.
Mesith.
The Emperour begins to smell deceit.
I know by his ill lookes and sparkling eye
That he affects vs not.

Musta.
I doubt as much.
Young Selymus ha's wrong'd our loyalty
In his so slack proceedings; we were rash
And indiscreetly-forward in consent,
When we ioyn'd on to raise his gouernment.

Isaack.
Peace, 'tis too late to chide at what is done,
We haue so deepely waded in the streames
Of those procellous plots, nor can reuoke
Repentant footsteps, or securely creepe
Back to the Throne of safety, 'tis now good
To venture on, and swim quite through the flood.
Here comes the Emperour.

Enter Bajazet and Asmehemedes.
Baia.
Attend vs Bassaes.
Ar't sure hee's dead?

Asm.
Mahometes is dead.
There's nothing mouing of him but his soule,
And that robd of his body by this hand.

Baia.
Enough. That soule reuiues to see him dead
That wrong'd the body; Oh! my bloudy heart,
Must in his frenzy act an horrid part.
Follow thy Prince to hell.

Stabs him.
Asmeh.
To death! Oh deuillish ingratitude:
I'me slaine. I dye.

Moritur.
Baia.
And iustly: would each foe
And Traytor to my state were thwarted so.
Bassaes conuay this hated body hence,
The sight of that damn'd villaine moues offence:
They carry him out.
Now pause a while my soule, and reckon vp
What obstacles are yet to be remou'd?
Achomates must stay the peoples leasure.
Corcutus dally with Mineruaes Nimphes.
The last and worst, proud Selymus shall dye.
Thus I'le compose a firme security.

Enter Bassaes with Cherseogles.
Baia.
Arriu'd already noble Cherseogles?
You'r carefull in our cause: but speake the newes
From our pert Souldier. What meanes Selymus?

Cherseo.
To track the path backward from whence he came,
To strip himselfe of martiall ornaments,
And to fill vp the duty of a Sonne,
Come visite you in low submission.

Baia.
These are too fairely promis'd, to be meant,
Ambition hath already chain'd his soule
Too surely in the captiue bonds of pride,
Then that he now should cloath his stately hopes
In the plaine sordid weedes of penitence,
He doth but varnish o're some treacherous plot
In this smooth answere: come, wee'le leade along
To our Imperiall seat of Constantine,
That strongly fortified, we need not feare
The weake attempts an home-bred foe can dare.

Exeunt Bajazet and Cherseogles.
Mesith.
Ha! we are sweetly plung'd, if cold despaire
Benumme his youthfull courage, and he faint,

Mustaph.
VVould I were fairely rid of all these cares,

Isaack.
Dejected Cowards: are you not asham'd
Thus to giue vp the goale of dignity
To heartlesse feare? Here comes the Messenger.
VVhat newes from Selymus?

Messen.
Euen nothing certaine:
Ambiguously he promis'd to be here
As soone as I.

Mesith.
I'st euen so?

Musta.
We are quite dash't—vndone.

Isaacke
Lift vp your downe-cast spirits—who comes here?

Mesith.
Who? Selymus?

Enter Selymus.
Musta.
Where? sweete Isaack doe not tell him,
That we were sending forth faith's latest breath.

Isaac.
Enough, I will not—happy Selymus.

Bassaes.
Long liue great Selymus.

Sely.
We thanke you friends:
Your care hath fostered vp our infant hopes
Beyond the pitch of expectation.
We heare that Baiazet is going now
From hence to Constantinople; my men
Lie closely ambusht in the middle way,
Close by a ruinous city, there expect
A sudden on-set, but till then farewell.
When we meete next, our ensignes wau'd on high,
Shall shine like Meteors blazing in the skie.

Exit.
Isaac
Fortunes best care goe with thee.

Mesith.
Braue boy y'faith.

Musta.
I shall adore him whilest I breath for this.

Isaac
Againe in heart?
Let's follow Baiazet, come lads away,
The sunne of all his glory sets this day.

Exeunt
Enter Selymus with souldiers.
Selym.
Come on the honored youth of Tartary,
My brothers and joynt sharers of my woe,
Draw forth the weapons of inflam'd reuenge,
Against this horrid monsters Tyranny;
I seeme like Romes great Cæsar, when opprest
With Pompeys grating malice he led forth
His noble French-men through the snowy Alpes,
I haue my Curio Isaacke in the Court,
And Cherseogles like grim Catoes ghost,
Soothes the rough humour of fierce Baiazet,
These mens examples, were we faint and loath
Would set sharpe spurs vnto our slow pac'd wrath,
And whet our dull-eged anger: but I see
In your smooth brow perfect alacrity;
We stand to thwart the passage of a feind,
Through whose wide yawning throat hath coasted downe.
The blood of Princes, in continuall streames,
Ha's fed and pampered vp his appetite
With the abhor'd destruction of his owne,
And glutted on the blood of innocents.
Stood wee like marble statues in his way,
And had no vse of policy and wit,
Our Irefull Prophet Mahomet would send
Sence, life, and valour through our stony joynts,
That we might ruinate this gastly bore,
Made by some hellish fury to confound
The order of this wondred Vniuerse.
Ile grapple with the monster, hee's at hand,
If you stand firme, the Common Wealth may bee,
A slaue to Baiazet, but Ile liue free.

Enter Baiazet, Cherseogles, Isaack, Mesithes, Mustapha.
Baia.
No Drumme nor Trumpet hath disturb'd the ayre,
Within the reach of mine attention.

Isaac.
And I admire it, 'twere a miracle
If that ambitious boy intend no harme.

Omnes.
What noyse is that?

A confused noyse of exclamation within, arme, arme, arme.
Soldiers.
Helpe Baiazet, the vauntgard's almost slaine,
The Tartars lay in ambush.

Baia.
What? so neere?
Set vp our standard, Ile giue battell here,
Hang out defiance, scorne, and proud contempt,
Write in the blood-red colours of your plumes,
Summon our Army
Enter a drum
From these skirmishes,
Speake out the traitors doome in thine alarmes.
Thought he to daunt our courage?
Drum sounds. Enter souldiers seuerally, dropping in sweating, as from fight.
Valiant souldiers;
When I behold the manner of this warre
Then treason copes with awfull Majestie,
A gracelesse sonne, with his owne aged Sire,
Me thinks to bid you fight, were full as vaine
As to bid heauy clouds fall downe in raine:
But when I view the Chaos of the field,
And wild confusion striking valour dead,
I cald you, not (as Captaines doe to boyes)
To read a lecture of encouragement,
But that your auncient vertue may be showne
In this my last defence: I wish to dye
Reueng'd, that death sorts best with Majesty,

Drums sounding, A confused noyse, with clashing of armour. Exeurrunt Baiazet, and Selymus.
Baia.
Selymus?

Selym.
Baiazet?

Baiaz.
Joue lend me but a minutes patience.
Vnnaturall sonne.

Selym.
Vncharitable Father.

Baia.
Father? My sword shall hew that title off,
And cut in twaine kindreds continued line,
By which thou canst deriue thy blood from mine.
Abortiue monster—thou first breath of sinne,
We had but slender shaddowes of offence,
Till thou creptst forth to the offended light,
The very masse, and stocke of villanie.
Crimes in all others, are but thy influence.
Nature ha's planted viprous crueltie,
In thy darke breast, the scandall of her workes
Her error, and extract perfection
Of vices; the first well-head of bad things
From whence the world of ills draw their weake springs,

Selym
Then heare me speake too: you haue bin to me
No Father, but a sowre Pedanticke wretch,
One that with frosty precepts, striu'd to kill
The flaming heate of my ambitious youth,
As vainely as to strangle fire with straw:
You sit so dayly houering on your Throne,
As if you'd hatch new Monarchies to feed
The hungry gulfe of your vnbridled pride,
Y'aue surfetted on titles, y'aue ingrost
Honor, you are the moth of eminence,
And liberall fortunes answered your desires;
You had deflow'rd th'infinitie of Crownes,
With your adulterate ambition,
Y'are Soveraignties horse-leach, and haue spild
The blood of State, to haue your owne veines fild.

Baia.
Hold, hold thy venom'd tongue, if there be hid
More of this kind vn-vttred, Ile rip vp
Thy full fraught bosome, and to saue mine eare
Mine eyes shall ouerview what I'le not heare.
Darst thou fight Traitor?

Selym.
Dare I be cal'd a King?
Dare I vnsheath my sword, or gather might?
If I dare ought of these, I dare to fight.

Baia.
Guard thee, I'de not omit the sweete desire
And pleasure of revenge, were heauen my hyre.
They fight, Selymus is beaten off, Baiazet pursues, re-enters at another doore.
The slaue has scapt the power of my wrath,
Midst the disseuer'd troups of scattered foes
I lost him in a smoky cloud of dust,
So thicke as if the tender Queene of loue,
Had wrapt her brat Æneas from my sight.

Enter Isaacke, Mesithes, Mustapha.
Isaack
Ioy to my Liege, of his last victory.

Mesith.
The bold Tartarians flew like fearefull Harts
Before the hunters rage.

Baia.
So let them fly;
Heaven raine downe vengeance on their cursed heads;
It is our honour that the frighted slaues
Enter a dwarffe
Owe their liues deerest safeties to their heeles.
How now, whence come you?

Dwar.
From yonder hayricke Sir.

Baia.
Didst thou see Selymus when he fled the field?

Dwar.
No indeed, I was two farre crept in.

Baia.
O you are braue attendants.
Let's forward in our journey; these affaires
Achomates must know, his golden wish,
The people haue delayd, perhaps heele frowne,
And trample filiall duty vnder feete
As this hath done: but let them storme their fill
Vertu's not shipwrackt in a sea of ill.