 | The tragedy of Mvstapha |  |
Scena III.
Acm. Rossa. Rosten.Acm.
What euer craft of base false-hearted wit,
Long working on the worst of Princes thoughts,
May bring to passe, yonder to vs is brought,
------ without shame the state corrupt with it.
Rossa.
Acmat, thy sorrow, whether vniust or iust,
Bootes not: duty and faith loues still them that liue,
Noble example bring forth danger must,
The forces of Natolia do giue
Tokens of mutinie vnto the state,
Shewing no reuerence but vnto thee:
Wherefore the great Lord wils you to repaire
To him, for by you they must gouern'd be.
Acm.
I goe, and care not, so I go from thee.
Rossa.
Let them that cannot heare desires trauaile,
Who dare not vndertake for feare of danger;
Let them take children, fearing spirits,
Runne and beare witnes them, still their owne amazement,
While they flie from themselues, and blame their fortune,
For fortune on thy wisedome complaine,
But they in thee neither hope nor raigne,
Rosten, where vertue ends, and reason failes,
When fame with all her infamies assailes,
Then fortunes fauours shew'd most liuely are:
She neuer helpes, till helpe be ouerthrowne,
For heauenly Powers by myracles are knowne.
Now Mustapha is dead, rage flesht, and pittie broken,
Rosten, there rests no more to interrupt vs
But Acmat, in whome Solyman yet trusteth;
The thanks and sacrifices our God requires
For graces past, are not those idle praiers,
Which done to ------ on the staires.
Good lucke, the god of highly plac'd desires,
No other duty, but noble deeds requires.
Let Acmat die. Fortune loues them that venture.
Rost.
Acmat is wise, and Solyman beloued,
Euen Tyrants couet to vphold their fame,
Not fearing euill deeds, but euill name.
For Princes skill, is, to make Greatnes shew
Rich in the good, whereof it hath least part,
And to conceale that which within they know:
So that at once he will not shed the blood
Of Acmat, though he meane his ouerthrow:
Least men should thinke their fauour but a net,
Where easie in, but hardly out they get.
Rossa.
Rosten, let Mustapha be thy example,
That Tragedies, are Gods and Princes plaies.
Kings know new hopes, blot out the shame of bookes,
Desires eye on ------ hope onely lookes.
While childrens blood the fathers forehead staine,
What priuiledge for Councellors remaine?
He that hath intent to ruine houses,
Plucks not the timber all at once away,
Least ruines ruine on himselfe he lay.
Fury will haue a time to breathe, from killing,
Fury is a wheele, with ease kept going,
Where it with many hands at first was moued.
Feares shield of proofe is trampt in others blood,
Good fortune seldome comes by doing good.
Fortune is often by presumption tempted
To turne the backe.
Rossa.
Nay fortune harlot-sicke,
Who thinkes good maner to be want of spirit,
Is dearest vnto those, that vse her rudely,
Onely with humble bashfulnesse is tempted.
Rost.
What argument against him?
Rossa.
Vse of killing.
Suspition, the fauourite of Princes,
Delight of change, fauours past, and feare of greatnesse,
Sharpned by Acmats harsh and open dealing,
With noble Princes libertie would draw
Into the narrow scope of common awe.
Power of mischance yeelds honour to aduenture.
Mustapha is dead.
Rost.
Not dead, while Acmat liueth,
Small sparkes from fire quencht to danger growes;
From him that feares to strike, feare neuer parteth,
Let Acmat die, and danger is departed.
For Zanger I his brothers charge haue gotten;
Yet least his death, not lookt for, might amase him,
(For youth, and kindnesse, oft doe thinke it glory
At things, done for their profit, to repine)
I will make haste, and giue him from his father
Mustaphaes estate, his fortune and succession.
When reason failes, one passion rules another,
Hope and good fortune doe forget a brother.
Rossa.
Come Rosten, let vs doe, and then consider.
CHORVS.
When will this life this sparke put in our spright,
To giue light to this lumpe of flesh and blood:
Leaue to denie strong destinie her right,
Which it feeles daily, cannot be withstood.
There liue thou must, and mai'st be glad to die.
| The tragedy of Mvstapha | |