 | The raging Tvrke, or Baiazet the second |  |
Actus Primi
Scena Prima.
Enter, Bassaes Isaack with a Crowne in his hand, Mustapha with a Scepter, Mesithes with a Sword, they Crowne Corcutus youngest sonne to Baiazet.Isaack.
Let the world feele thee, and those Demigods,
Proud with the name of Kings, debase themselues
To honour thee, this Crowne commands as much
He crowns him.
Wherewith I doe invest thy happy brow,
Happy indeed if that succeeding times
Shall set vp vertue, so to lessen crimes.
Thus from the ashes of dead Solyman
Is raised another Phœnix great Corcutus;
Liue equally adored, when Princes bend
To better courses, all their subiects mend.
Must.
Crowns make not Kings, nor can that glittering shew
Perfect thine honour, take another signe
Giues him the Scepter.
Of thy Imperiall dignity, 'tis thine.
That addes a God-like grace vnto thy brow,
This binds due honour, that prostrates euery knee
Before thy throne, then liue, and may that arme
Secure thy subiects from all forraigne harme.
What seasoned knowledge, learnings prudent Queen
Hath blest thee with, must now initiate thee
In the pathes of warre, all studied Arts
Are but degrees vnto some wished end,
And steps of hope whereby we doe ascend
Vnto the top; and leuell of our thoughts.
But Kings then proue most happy when they are
Watchfull in peace, and prouident in warre.
Those are their vtmost ends, which that they may
O're-take, Art, and the sword, make fairest way.
The Muses nourc'd thee vp, and thou didst draw
The pleasant iuice of learning from their brests,
In thy first non-age; here then we bestow
The second helpe, to which good Princes owe
Much of their welfare; swords are the first ground
Of peace, and warre; they both defend and wound.
Thus are we vow'd to thee, let thy dread fame
Thunder amazement through the spatious world,
That when thou lifts thine arme, thy foes may say
Showts 3.
Not Ioue, but great Corcutus rules the day.
Corcut.
Which that applause hath crowned, and with it
Will euer spight of traytors ioying sit
As now we doe; nor shall my watchfull care
Be wanting to you, whilst this subtill ayre
Feedes mine industrious spirits, I shall fill
The good with ioy, by cutting of the ill
Corrupted ragges of men; Ioue let me stand
An obiect in thine eye, when thy swift hand
Failes in the stroke of Iustice, vertue returne
From thy sad exile, I will purge the walls
From spotted vice, and make this Cittie free
To entertaine so faire a Queene as shee.
Then (Bassaes) I embrace what you haue throwne
Vpon me, and these signes of honour thus
Giues them backe.
We re-bestow; their power still stayes with vs.
Could this vast body of the Common-wealth
Stand fast without a soule? each man should see
I am not greedy of this dignity:
The gods are busied with diuiner things,
And put Earths care into the hands of Kings.
Scena Secunda.
After some clamors of applause Enter Chersogles, and Achmetes at seuerall doores.Achmet.
And is Baiazet arriu'd?
Chers.
So fame reports
Yet how he doth digest Corcutus Raigne,
That euerie Bird sings not; but sure with paine.
A Turkish Baiazet, and suffer wrong,
May for a time conceale his griefe, not long.
Eagles soare high, and scorne that shorter Plumes
Should reach the cloudes, which their proud wings can touch,
Corcutus must not raigne, to keepe his fathers right
Due to his father, nor will he if he might,
Eenter Isaack.
Hee's learned, therefore iust, Arts not allow
To were a Crowne due to anothers brow.
Isa.
Dar'st thou oppose his greatnesse? is not Greece
Already wrackt enough? haue thy provd Towers
Reard vp their loftie spires? which steep'd in blood,
Threw a reflex of red backe to the clouds,
And blush't at their owne ruines, are thy crude wounds
Already stopt, and is that day forgot,
In which the Turkish Mavors Ottoman,
Wielded a sword of death within thy Walles?
Charon grew weary with hurrying soules to hell,
When threescore thousand Greekes in one day fell.
Chers.
We know their force, and sad experience sayes,
Moue not againe, Greece welters still in blood
And euery crackling thunder of the heauens
Speakes the shrill eccho of the Turkish drummes,
Then are we drawne by you, so let it bee,
About these great affaires as you decree.
This phrase becomes the Greekes, submissiue states
Must bend, the Conqueror must rule the fates.
Chers.
And such are you, our vanquisht hearts must bend,
But bad beginnings haue a fatall end,
Me thinkes I see great Baiazet in armes,
Spreading his fearefull Ensignes in the ayre,
Like some prodigious Comet, wee may feare
Speedy revenge vnlesse some quicke aduise
Worke a prevention of his future hate,
Tis he must sway the Scepter, or wee shall heare
A dreadfull defiance ratled in our eare,
Hees strong in friends, and power, vve must descend,
To our iust dutie, or our latest end.
Achm.
Renowned Vice-roy, thy perswading thoughts
Haue predeuin'd most truely these effects,
And we applaud thy Counsell, let vs three
Ioyne our best strength, that these ensuing jarres
May be compos'd without the stroke of Warres:
Corcute is wise, and milde, and being so,
He hates the rumour of a publike foe.
Chers.
Nobly resolu'd (Greece sings) if the event,
Proue but so happy, as honest the intent.
But stand aside, Baiazet is come.
Enter Baiazet.
Baia.
Am I not Emperor? hee that breaths a no,
Damnes in that negative sillable his soule,
Durst any god gain-say it, he should feele
The strength of fiercest Gyants in mine armes,
Mine angers at the highest, and I could shake
The firme foundation of the earthly Globe:
Could I but graspe the Poles in these two handes,
I'de plucke the world asunder; droppe thou bright Sunne,
From thy transparant Spheare, thy course is done,
Great Baiazet is wrong'd, nor shall thine eye
Be witnesse to my hatefull misery.
Madnesse and anger makes my tongue betray,
The Chaos of my thoughts: vnder this brest,
An heape of indigested cares are prest.
What is it that I doubt? through every joynt
That courses through my veines devines no good.
shouts of ioy within.
Ha, shovts of ioy, at dead mens obsequies?
I'me in a maze of woes, what thou wilt throw
On me, Ioue, let it come, ile stand thy blow.
Chers.
Live happy Baiazet.
Baia.
Happy in my feare,
That word sounds sweet in my distracted eare.
Happy in what?
Ach.
In thy friends,
He turnes aside to them.
That grieve to see thy wrongs.
Ba.
My wrongs,
There sticks the string my thoughts did harpe vpon;
But who hath wrong'd me in this high content?
The fates doe sometime frowne, yet blesse th'event,
And sequell of our woes, it cannot be,
I should be thwarted in my jollity.
But if I can vnfold it—for the more,
I know them not the greater is my sore.
Chers.
In that read all thy woes, take there a briefe,
He giues him a paper
Contract of all thine ills, sad lines of griefe.
Baia.
How's this? my yongest sonne aduanced to my seate.
Corcutus Imperator, sure I dreame:
These are but empty apparitions
Fain'd by the god of sleepe to vexe my soule,
Were they not so—ere this blacke night
Had throwne her sable mantle ore the heauens
To hide me from my shame; but is it so?
I doe but flatter vp my selfe, they are true
And reall griefes, my Passion sayes they are,
Isaack, Achmetes, are they not?
Ach.
Too true
Great Baiazet:
Baia.
Corentus Imperator,
reades againe
Would I had seene thy name writ in the booke
Of darke damnation, rather then these lines.
Crackt not mine eye-strings when I viewed this text?
See how each letter spreads abroad in pompe,
As if they scorn'd my teares, how I could dwell
On these two words, Corcutus Imperator.
Hither repaire, the watchfull paper wormes
That scan old recordes ouer to a line:
Here in two wordes imprinted shall you see,
The modell of a dolefull historie;
Right shouldered ovt by wrong, nor can you faine,
A crime, which these two words doe not containe,
But now I rayle, not grieve. O nimble ayre,
Let my plaints vanish as they spoken are,
Off with this womanish mildnesse, I will finde
A shorter tricke then this to ease my mind,
Pluto beware, I come to raigne in hell,
about to kill himselfe.
Fates bid me rule, and birth-right to excell.
Chers.
Stay Baiazet, that arme can breake a path
Vnto thy earthly Monarch, ere thou come
To blesse the bankes of sweete Elysium,
With thy wisht presence: Mahomet forefend
That thou should'st seale a Kingdome to thy sonne,
By this vntimely death, Corcutus raignes,
But at thy better pleasure; when he shall heare
Thou art arrived, then hee'l twixt ioy and griefe,
Start from his throne, and nimbly runne to meete,
Thy pompe, and throw his Scepter at thy feete:
If hee but slacke that duty here are by,
Achmetes strong and bolde, Isaacke and I.
Devoted to your service, yet the world stands
On wavering doubts, ready to clappe their hands.
Baia.
My desires are crown'd,
And from the gate of Limbo, where I sate,
I feele my spirits knocke against the heavens.
Achmetes? In that name I heare an ease
Of all my griefes pronounced, he shall suffice
To banish vsurpation from my throne,
Did furyes guard it round, hee's able well
To reach my Kingdomes from the gripes of hell.
Ach.
My sword, and life, both which are vow'd to thee,
Are still at thy command: walke but along,
Corcutus shall resigne, thou haue no wrong.
Exeunt Baiazet, Cherseogles, and Achmetes, Mauent Isaack, and Mustapha.
Scena Tertia,
Death, and the furies plunge the obsequious slaues,
Would he have joyn'd with vs? we would haue kept
Corcutus high, and honoured, where he sits
In spight of a whole hoast of Baiazets.
Musta.
Me thinkes your power might haue bin greater farre
Ouer Achmetes, one adict to you
By no lesse bond of dutie, then the sonne
Is to the father:
Isa.
Mustapha Ile tell you
Had not my daughter beene espoused to him,
I had nam'd his death, and by some plot
Work't him a quicke destruction long e'r this;
Now let vs temporize with Baiazet;
Yet keepe thy nature ever, and be true
To thine owne profit; Fortune may aduance
Some other Prince, worth both thy loue and mine.
Musta.
Weele stay her leasure,
Isaack
See more Harpies gathered to catch a Crowne,
O tis a charming baite.
Exit vterque.
Enter Mahomete, Achmetes, Selinus.
Mahom.
Me thinks these City walles smile on our entrance,
As if they knew great Baiazets three sonnes,
Were come to grace their beautie.
Sel.
But We should frowne
On them which harbor such blacke treasons, Well,
Were I great Baiazet, I'de ring a noyse
Of spightfull horrour, that should make the grovnd
Tremble beneath their weight at such a sound:
A younger sonne enthron'd an Emperour.
Achm.
Brother containe your selfe, come lets away,
To see the end that waits on this sad day.
Exeunt
As they goe Trizham and Mahomet, two other Sonnes of Baiazet goe to meete them.
Selin.
What Mahomet?
Achm.
And Trizham? heers a fight
Of one mans issue, Noble Baiazet,
Brothers we haue iumpt together?
Sel.
All save one,
And hee's a great deale better so alone.
Triz.
Corcutus t'is you meane, who though he raigne,
Aboue vs now, yet must fall backe againe,
And hee descend, such a report there flyes.
Exeunt.
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,
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
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.
Scena Quinta.
Enter Zemes the brother of Baiazet alone.Zemes.
Scarce had I set my foote within these walls
In expectation of a solemne hearse,
Due to the wandring Ghost of Mahomet;
But lowd alarmes of abundant ioy
Ring in mine eares, and euery seruile groome
Congratulates the Coronation
A showt within.
Of Baiazet: harke how they roare it out.
A cold disturbance like a gelid frost
Settles my blood within me, and I hate
'Tis true indeede, I prou'd not the first fruites,
An elder off-spring of my Fathers breede,
Yet was it so that Baiazet and I
Both tumbled in one wombe, perhaps the Queene
Of womens labours doted at our birth,
And sent him first abroad, or else I slept,
And he before me stole into the world,
Must I then loose my glory, and be hurl'd
A slaue beneath his feete? no, I must be
An Emperour as full as great as he.
Exit.
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.
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
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.
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
Scena Septima.
Enter Zemes, and the King of Armenia.Arme.
Wee hate thy brother, therefore lend thee ayde,
'Tis not our dutie to expostulate
Thy right vnto the Crowne, on to your warres,
Thriue in your proiects, I shall joy to see
A quarrell fought twixt Baiazet and mee.
Ile second thy encounters, and we two
Like the two Roman thunder-bolts of warre,
Will with the flashes of our fierie swordes
Keepe their composed rankes, that they shall stand
Agast, to see two Scipioes in one band,
Zemes.
Thankes great Armenian King, and when I am
Wheel'd to that height, which now my brother holdes,
I shall requite these benefits, and vow
That kindnesse, which I can but promise now.
Arm.
Come let's away, our armies are well set,
Ready to march, now tremble Baiazet.
Exeunt
Scena Octaua.
Enter Achmetes in his Generalls coate, and Caigubus his sonne.Achm.
Caigubus, publike dangers call me forth,
And I must leaue thee now vnto thy selfe
My sonne, thou seest vnto what height of fame
We are ascended, yet the sunne shines cleare,
And not one dusky cloude of discontent
Dimmes the vnspotted brightnesse of our ioyes,
Not Baiazet is more belou'd then I:
By all that know my worth, and heare me nam'd,
As if I grasp't Ioues thunder in my hands:
By all my hopes, I feare some tragicke sceane
Will trouble our calme fortune. Sonne beware,
The top of honour is a narrow plot
Of ground, whither we haue already got,
'Tis brittle, and vncertaine, if thou tread
One carelesse steppe aside, thou fall'st downe dead
The shute from thence is deepe, and vnderneath,
Ruine gapes wide, thy body to receiue.
Stand firme Caigubus: though thou start'st not away
Yet blasts of envie often force aside
The weariest footsteppe: these where e'r they shall,
Blow strong, will make them stagger if not fall.
Caigu.
I shall forget to sleepe, to breath, to liue,
Sooner then these thy precepts they are fixt,
And printed in my thoughts.
Ach.
Enough, no more,
That Isaack Bassa trust him not too much:
I haue divorc'd his daughter from my bed,
For her adulterate loosenesse, hence, hee hides
A masse of fretting ranchor in his brest,
Which he hath varnish't yet, and gilded o're
With coloured shewes of love, but he is false,
And subtile as a Serpent, that will winde
Into thy brest, stinging thee ere thou finde
Or once suspect his hatred; I must away,
Trumpets sound.
Hasty alarmes call me hence, thus, and farewell,
Envie growes greater, as our states excell:
Exit.
Caigu.
Father, adiew.
Exit.
| The raging Tvrke, or Baiazet the second | |