 | The raging Tvrke, or Baiazet the second |  |
Scena Sexta.
Enter Cherseogles aboue disguised like a common Souldier.Cherseog.
Thus Cherseogles hast thou wound thy selfe,
Out of thy selfe to act some fearefull plot,
By which the Authors of this publique woe,
Shall skip into their graues, it is confirm'd
A deede of lawfull valour to defeat
Those of their liues, that rob'd the world of peace.
On this side the false hearted Selymus
With his confederate Bassaes lie incampt
Iust opposite the proud Achomates;
The Sunne now sunke into the Westerne lap,
Bids either part, vnlace their warlike helmes
Vntill to morrow light where both intend
The hazard of a battell: but you powers
That with propitious cares, tender the world
And vs fraile mortals, helpe me to preuent
A generall enemie by the fall of some;
Assist my spirits in a deed of blood,
Cruell, yet honest and austeerely good.
Who? Selymus? as I expected.
Enter Selymus.
Selym.
What?
A souldier thus licentious in his walkes,
A stranger? Ha? What art thou?
Cherseo.
A sworne friend, a seruant to thy greatnesse.
Selym.
Then returne
Backe into thy rankes and orders no edict
From me hath ratified this liberty,
To scout at randome from the standing campe.
Cherseo.
'Tis true my honour'd Lord, nor haue I dared
For some poore triuiall prey thus to remoue
My selfe, but for a cause of greater weight
The ruine of our enemies.
Selym.
How's that?
The ruine of our enemies?
No lesse;
The quicke fall of great Achomates
Can worke it.
Sely.
Soldier as thou hop'st to liue,
Mocke not my thoughts with false and painted tales,
Of a supposed stratagem.
Cherse.
I sweare—
Sely.
What wilt thou sweare?
Cherse.
By all the heauenly powers
I speake the trueth, and if I faile in ought,
Grind mine accursed bodie into dust.
Sely.
Enough, vnfold the meaning and the way
By which this happy project must be wrought.
Cher.
'Tis thus; at the twelfth houre of this blacke night,
Achomates I haue induc'd to walke
Foorth to this valley weapon'd, but vnmand,
In expectation of your presence there,
Where being met, heele vrge a single fight,
Twixt you and him: after a stroake or two,
I haue ingag'd my selfe closely to start
From ambush, and against you take his part.
Selym.
Worse then a deuill, should my heart
Haue made that promise with my tongue;
But heauen beare witnesse that my inward thoughts
Labour his welfare only, whom you powers
Haue prou'd most worthy, therefore onely yours.
Meete but this foe, whom I haue flattered thus,
To his destruction: and great Selymus
Shall see my strength imployed to offend
Achomates, and stand thy faithfull friend.
Sely.
Oh wert thou faithfull—
Cherse.
If I shrinke in ought
That I professe, death shall strike me to the grave.
So thriue all falshood, and each perjur'd slaue.
Sely,
Th'ast wonne our credit, beare a noble mind
About thee, then to find me forward trust
This night when sleepe triumphant hath subdu'd
Sounded full twelue, in this appointed place,
Expect my presence, and till then adiew
Our next shall be a tragicke enterview.
Enter Achomates.
Cherseo.
The first is car'd for—here a second comes,
Assist me thou quicke jssue of Ioues braine,
And this one night shall make their labors vaine.
Achom.
It shal be so, my feares are too to great,
To joyne all in one on-set: a strong band
Shall with a circle hem the traytor round,
And intercept the passage of their flight;
How now? from whence com'st thou? what at thou?
Cher.
A Lieg-man to Achomates.
Achom.
To mee?
Cher.
Yes noble Prince, and one whose life is vowd
To further your desert, and therefore yours.
Achom.
We thanke you, and pray you leaue vs.
Cher.
I can vnfold an easie stratagem,
Would crowne the hopes of great Achomates.
Achom.
What means the fellow?
Cher.
To secure your state
By Selymus his fall.
Achom.
What i'st thou breath'st?
Speake it againe, for many carefull thoughts
Possesse my soule, that euery blessed voice,
Steales in the passage twixt my eare and hast,
By Selymus his fall, to secure my state?
Cherse.
I can:
Achom.
Delude me not and I will raine
Such an vnmeasured plenty in thy lap,
Heape such continuall honors on thy head
That thou shouldst shrinke, and stagger with the weight.
Cherse.
Iudge of the meanes; this night I haue induc'd
Young Selymus to walke foorth in this groue,
At the twelfe houre, in hope to meete you here,
Where hauing vrg'd a combat, and both met
To rush from yonder thicket, and with him
Ioyre against you.
Acho.
Villaine.
Cher.
And deuils had,
My heart made promise with my tongue,
But heauen beare witnesse that my soule affects
None but Achomates, try but my faith,
And meete this foe, whom I haue bayted thus,
With golden hopes, and you will find my deed
In your defence all promise shall succeed.
Acho.
I'm resolu'd souldier, when day is past,
And the full fancies of mortalitie
Busie in dreames and playing visions,
At the sad melancholly houre of twelue,
Ile meete thee in this plaine.
Cher.
And you shall find
Me here before you.
Achom.
Be so; Who denyes
To strike in time, can seldome hope to rise,
Exit
Cher.
These two will meete, and I must take both parts.
Now for a tricke to send them both to hell,
In the full growth of expectation;
Heauens know they haue deseru'd it then 'twould be
An happy murder: and behold the men
Enter Bassaes
Whom I haue decreed should doe it, once againe
I must betake me to my former note;
Health to the friends of our great Emperor,
The three strong pillars that vphold true worth.
Isaacke
Sir, your intrusion is vnseasonable.
Musta.
And your salute, impardonably bold.
Cher.
Perhaps the newes I bring, may frame excuse
For both these faults.
Mesith.
Speke out thy mind in briefe.
Cher.
Then thus: to night here present on this plaine,
You may encounter two fierce enemies,
Achomates, and Cherseogles, both at the full stroake of twelue.
Isaack
How (Mesithes) we're blest.
Musta.
This night at twelue of the clocke?
Vpon my life—
Omnes
What shall we doe?
Chers.
But meete mee on this plaine
At the appointed houre, and I will place
You three aside, from whence you shall oppresse
Your foes at vnawares.
Mesith.
Is it a match?
Issac
'Tis done at twelue a clocke.
Mustap.
See thou proue faithfull.
Chers.
If I shrinke in ought
That I professe, death strike me to the graue.
So thriue all falshood and each perjur'd slaue.
Exeunt Bassaes
How easily base minds are drawne to strike
Their foes at least aduantage—beauteous morne,
Pale witnesse to a thousand deeds of sinne
Vaile vp thy light, that darkenesse may helpe on
These blacke stratagems, and vnhallowed hands
Strike in mistaken bodies, euen the soule
Themselues adore, and cheerefully defend,
But time growes fast vpon me, hit all right
Two Princes, and three Bassaes dye this night.
| The raging Tvrke, or Baiazet the second | |