University of Virginia Library

Actus Tertius

Scena 1.

Enter Abilqualit and Caropia, as rising from bed, Abrahen without, Perilinda.
Abr.
Open the door, I must and will have entrance
unto the Prince my brother, as you love
your life and safety and that Ladies honor,
whom you are lodg'd in amorous twines with, do not
deny me entrance to you, I am Abrahen,
your loyal brother Abrahen.

Abil.
'Tis his voice,
and there can be no danger in't, Caropia,
be not dismaid, though w'are to him discover'd.
your fame shall taste no blemish by't. Now brother,
'tis something rude in you, thus violently
to presse upon our privacies.

Abr.
My affection
shall be my Advocate, and plead my care
of your lov'd welfare, as you love your honour,
haste from this place, or you'l betray the Lady
to ruin most inevitable. Her husband
has notice of your being here, and's comming
on wings of jealousie and desperate rage
to intercept you in your close delights.
In breif, I over heard a trusty Servant
of his ith'Camp come and declare your highnesse
was private with Caropia: at which tidings
the sea with greater haste when vext with tempests,
so sudden and boystrous, flies not towards the shore,
then he intended homewards. He by this
needs must have gain'd the City; for with all my power
I hasted hitherward, that by your absence
you might prevent his veiw of you.

Abil.
Why? the slave
dare not invade my person, had he found me
in fair Caropias armes: 'twould be ignoble,
now I have caus'd her danger, should I not
defend her from his violence. I'le stay
though he come arm'd with thunder.

Abr.
That will be
a certain means to ruin her: To me
count that cure, I'le stand between the Lady,
and Mura's fury, when your very sight,
giving fresh fire to th'injury, will incense him
'gainst her beyond all patience.

Car.
Nay, besides
his violent wrath breaking through his allegiance,
may riot on your person. Dear my Lord
withdraw your self, there may be some excuse
when you are absent thought on, to take off
Mura's suspition: by our loves, depart
I do beseech you. Hapless I was born
to be most miserable.

Abil.
You shall over-rule me.
Better it is for him with unhallowed hands
to act a sacriledg on our Prophets tombe
then to profane this purity with the least
offer of injurie; be careful Abrahen,
to thee I leave my heart. Farwel Caropia,
your tears inforce my absence.
Exit. Abil.

Abr.
Pray hast my Lord
lest you should meet the inrag'd Mura: now Madam
where are the boasted glories of that virtue,
which like a faithful Fort withstood my batt'ries?
demolish'd now, and ruin'd they appear;
like a fair building toter'd from its base
by an unruly whirlewind, and are now
instead of love the objects of my pitie.

Car.
I'me bound to thank you Sir, yet credit me;
my sin's so pleasing't 'cannot meet repentance.
Were Mura here, and arm'd with all the horrors
rage could invest his powers with; not forgiven
Hermits with greater peace shal hast to death,
then I to be the Martyr of this cause,
which I so love and reverence.

Abr.
'Tis a noble
and wel becoming constancie, and merits
a lover of those Supreme eminent graces,
that do likeful winds swel the glorious Sails
of Abilqualit's dignitie and beautie!
yet Madam, let me tel you, though I could not
envie my brothers happinesse, if he
could have enjoy'd your priceless love with safetie,
free from discoverie, I am afflicted
beyond a moderate sorrow, that my youth
which with as true a zeal, courted your love,
should appear so contemptible to receive
a killing scorn from you: yet I forgive you,
and do so much respect your peace, I wish
you had not sin'd so careleslly to be
betray'd ith'first fruitions of your wishes
to your suspicious husband.

Car.
'Tis a fate Sir,
which I must stand, though it come dress'd in flames,
killing as circular fire, and as prodigious
as death presaging Comets: there's that strength
in love, can change the pitchie face of dangers
to pleasing formes, make ghastly fears seeme beauteous;
and I'me resolv'd, since the sweet Prince is free
from Mura's anger, which might have been fatal
if he should here have found him, unresistless
I dare his utmost fury.

Abr.
'Twil bring death with't
sure as stifling dampe; and 'twere much pitie
so sweet a beautie should unpitied fall,
betrai'd to endlesse infamie; your husband
knowes only that my brother in your chamber
was entertained; the servant that betrayed you,
curse on his diligence, could not affirm
he saw you twin'd together: yet it is
death by the law, you know, for any Ladie
at such an hour, and in her husbands absence;
to entertain a stranger.

Car.
'Tis considered Sir,
and since I cannot live to enjoy his love,
I'le meet my death as willingly as I
met Abilqualit's dear embraces.

Abr.
That were too severe a crueltie. Live Caropia,
til the kind destinies take the loath'd Mura
to their eternal Mansions, til he fal
either in war a sacrifice to fortune,
or else by stratagem take his destruction
from angry Abilqualit, whose fair Empresse
you were created for: there is a mean yet
to save th'opinion of your honour spotlesse,
as that of Virgin innocence, nay to preserve,
(though he doth know (as certainly he must do)
my Brother have injoy'd thee) thee stil precious
in his deluding fancie.

Car.
Let me adore you
if you can give effect to your good purpose.
But tis impossible.

Abr.
With as secure an ease
't shal be accomplish'd as the blest desires
of uncross'd lovers: you shal with one breath
dissolve these mists that with contagious darknesse
threaten the lights both of your life and honour.
Affirm my brother ravish'd you.

Car.
How my Lord?

Abr.
Obtained by violence entry into your chamber
where his big lust seconded by force,
despight of yours and your Maids weak resistance
surpris'd your honor: when't shall come to question,
my brother cannot so put off the truth,
he owes his own affection and your whiteness,
but to acknowledg it a rape.

Car.
And so by saving mine, betray his fame and safety,
to the lawes danger, and your fathers justice,
which with impartial doome will most severely
sentence the Prince, although his son.

Abr.
Your fears
and too affectionate tendernesse wil ruine
all that my care has builded. Sure, Mesithes
has (as my charge injoin'd him) made relation
Enter Mura.
to him of Abilqualit's action. See your Husband,
resolve on't, or y'are miserable.

Mu.
Furies,
where is this lustful Prince, and this lascivious
Strumpet? ha Abrahen, here?

Abr.
Good Cozen Mura,
be not so passionate, it is your Prince
has wrought your injury; resolve to bear
your crosses like a man: the great'st afflictions
should have the greatest fortitude in their suff'rings
from minds resolv'd and noble. 'Las poor Ladie,
'twas not her fault; his too unruly lust
'tis, has destroi'd her puritie.

Mu.
Ha, in tears!
Are these the liverie of your fears and penitence,
or of your sorrows (minion) for being rob'd
so soon of your Adulterer?

Abr.
Fie, your passion
is too unmannerly; you look upon her
with eyes of rage, when you with grief and pitie
ought to surveigh her innocence. My Brother,
degenerate as he is from worth, and meerly
the beast of lust, (what 'fiends would fear to violate)
has with rude insolence destroyed her honor,
hy him inhumane ravished,

Tar.
Good Sir be
so merciful as to set free a wretch
from loath'd mortalitie, whose lifes so great
and hateful burden now sh'as lost her honor:
'Twil be a friendly charitie to deliver
her from the torment of it.

Mu.
That I could
contract the soul of universal rage
into this swelling heart, that it might be
as ful of poisonous anger as a dragons
when in a toile insnar'd. Caropia ravished!
Me thinks the horror of the sound should fright
to everlasting ruine, the whole world,
start natures Genius.

Abr.
Gentle Madam, pray
withdraw your self, your sight, til I have wrought
a cure upon his temper, wil but adde
to his affliction.

Car.
You're as my good Angel,
I'll follow your directions.

Exit.
Abr.
Cozen Mura,
I thought a person of your masculine temper,
in dangers fostred, where perpetual terrors
have been your play-fellowes, would not have resented
with such effeminate passion a disgrace,
though ne're so huge and hideous.

Mu.
I am tame,
collected now in all my faculties,
which are so much oppress'd with injuries,
they've lost the anguish of them: can you think, Sir,
when all the winds fight, the inrag'd billows
that use to imprint on the black lips of clouds
a thousand brinie kisses, can lie stil,
as in a lethargie? that when baths of oyl
are pour'd upon the wild irregular flames
in populous Cities, that they'll then extinguish?
Your mitigations adde but seas to seas,
give matter to my fires to increase their burning,
and I ere long enlightned by my anger
shall be my owne pile, and consume to ashes.

Abr.
Why, then I see indeed your injuries
have ravished hence your reason and discourse,
and left you the meere prostitute of passion.
Can you repaire the ruins you lament so
with these exclaimes? was ever dead man call'd
to life again by fruitful sighs? or can
your rage reedifie Caropias honour,
slain and betrai'd by his foul lust? Your manhood,
that heretofore has thrown you on all dangers,
me thinks should prompt you to a noble vengance,
which you may safely prosecute with Justice,
to which this crime, although he be a Prince,
Renders him liable.

Mu.
Yes, I'le have justice
or I'le awake the sleepy Deities,
or like the ambitious Gyants wage new wars
with heaven it self, my wrongs shall steel my courage,
and on this vicious Prince like a fierce Sea breach
my just wak'd rage shall riot till it sink
in the remorcelesse eddie, sink where time
shall never find his name but with disgrace
to taint his hatefull memory.

Abr.
This wildnesse neither befit your wisdom nor your courage,
which should with setled and collected thoughts
walk on to noble vengeance. He before
was by our plots proscrib'd to death and ruine
to advance me to the Empire; now with ease
we may accomplish our designs

Mu.
Would heaven
I nere had given consent, o'recome by love
to you to have made a forfeit on my allegiance,
'tis a just punishment, I by him am wrong'd,
whom for your sake I fearlesse sought to ruin.

Abr.
Are you repentant grown, Mura? this softnese?
ill suits a person of your great resolves,
on whom my fortunes have such firm dependance.
Come, let Caropia's fate invoke thy vengeance
to gain full mastry o're all other passions,
leave not a corner in thy spacious heart
unfurnish'd of a noble rage, which now
will be an attribute of glorious justice:
the law you know with loss of sight doth punish
all rapes, though on mean persons; and our father
is so severe a Justicer, not blood
can make a breach upon his faith to justice.
Besides, we have already made him dangerous
in great Almanzors thoughts, and being delinquent
he needs must suffer what the meanest offender
merits for such a trespass.

Mu.
I'me awake now,
the lethargy of horror and amaze
that did obscure my reason, like those dul
and lazy vapors that o'reshade the Sun,
vanish, and it resumes its native brightness.
And now I would not but this devil Prince
had done this act uopn Caropia's whiteness,
since't yeilds you free access unto the Empire,
The deprivall of's sight do's render him incapable
of future soveraignty.

Abr.
Thou'rt in the right,
and hast put on manly considerations:
Caropia (since shee's in her will untainted)
ha's not forgon her honor: he dispatc'd once,
as we will have him shortly, 't shall go hard else.
a tenant to his marble, thou agen
wedded in peace maist be to her pure vertues,
and live their happy owner.

Mu.
I'le repair
to great Almanzor instantly, and if
his partial piety do descend to pitty,
I will awake the Executioner
of justice, death, although in sleep more heavy
than he can borrow from his natural coldness;
on this good sword I'le wear my causes justice
till he do fall its sacrifice.

Abr.
But be sure
you do't with cunning secresie, perhaps,
should he have notice of your just intentions,
he would repair to th'Army, from which safegard
our best force could not pluck him without danger
to the whole Empire.

Mu.
Doubt not but I'le manage
with a discreet severity my vengeance,
invoke Almanzors equity with sudden
and private haste.

Abr.
Mean time
I will go put a new design in practice
that may be much conducing to our purpose.
Like clocks, one wheele another on must drive,
affairs by diligent labor only thrive.

Exeunt.

Scena Secunda.

Enter Selinthus, Gaselles, Osman, and Souldiers.
Sel.
No quarrelling good Couzens, lest it be
with the glass, 'cause 'tis not of size sufficient
to give you a magnificent draught. You will
have fighting work enough when you're i'th'wars,
do not fall out among your selves.

Os.
Not pledg
my peerlesse Mistresse health? Souldier, thou'rt mortall,
if thou refuse it.

Gas.
Come, come, he shall pledg it,
and 'twere a Tun. Why, w'are all as dull
as dormise in our liquor: Here's a health
to the Prince Abilqualit.

Soul.
Let go round:
I'ld drink't, were it an Ocean of warm bloud
flowing from th'enemie. Pray, good my Lord
what news is stirring?

Sel.
It should seem, Souldier,
thou canst not read; otherwise the learn'd Pamphlets
that flie about the streets, would satisfie
thy curiositie with news; they'r true ones,
full of discreet intelligence.

Os.
Cosens, shal's have a Song? here is a Souldier
in's time hath sung a dirge unto the foe
oft in the field.

Soul.
Captain, I have a new one,
the Souldiers Joy 'tis call'd.

Sel.
That is an harlot.
Prethee be musicall, and let us taste
the sweetnesse of thy voice.

A Song.
Gas.
Whist, give attention.

Soul.
How does your Lordship like it?

Sel.
Very well.
And so here's to thee. There's no drum beats yet,
and 'tis cleer day; some hour hence 'twill be
Enter Abr. Mes.
time to break up the Watch. Ha! young Lord Abrahen,
and trim Mesithes with him! what the divel
does he make up so early? He has been
a bat-fowling all night after those Birds,
those Ladie-birds term'd wagtails; what strange business
can he have here, tro?

Abr.
'Twas wel done, Mesithes!
and trust me, I shal find an apt reward,
both for thy care and cunning. Prethee hast
to Lord Simanthes, and deliver this
note to him with best diligence, my dear Eunuch;
thou'rt halfe the soul of Abrahen:

Mes.
I was borne
to be intituled your most humble vassal;
I'll hast to the Lord Simanthes.

Exit.
Sel.
How he cringes!
These youths that want the instruments of Manhood,
are very supple in the hams.

Abr.
Good-morrow
to noble Lord Selinthus: what companions
have you got here thus early?

Sel.
Blades of metal,
tall men of war, and't please your Grace, of my
own blood and family, men who gather'd
a sallad on the enemies ground, and eaten it
in bold defiance of him;
and not a Souldier here but's an Achylles,
valiant as stoutest Mirmidon.

Abr.
And they
never had juster cause to show their valor;
the Prince my dearest brother, their Lord General's
became a forfeit to the stern laws rigour;
and 'tis imagin'd, our impartial father,
wil sentence him to lose his eyes.

Gas.
Marry heaven
defend, for what, and't like your Grace!

Abr.
For a fact
which the severe law punishes with loss
of natures precious lights; my tears wil scarce
permit me utter't: for a rape committed
on the fair wife of Mura.

Os.
Was it for nothing else, and please your Grace?
ere he shal lose an eie for such a trifle,
or have a haire diminish'd, we wil
lose our heads; what, hood wink men like sullen hawks
for doing deeds of nature! I'me asham'd
the law is such an Ass.

Sel.
Some Eunuch Judg,
that could not be acquainted with the sweets
due to concupiscencial parts, invented
this law, I'll be hang'd else. 's Life, a Prince,
and such a hopeful one, to lose his eyes,
for satisfying the hunger of the stomack
beneath the wast, is crueltie prodigious,
not to be suffer'd in a common-wealth
of ought but geldings.

Abr.
'Tis vain to sooth
our hopes with these delusions, he wil suffer
less he be reskued. I would have you therfore
if you ow any service to the Prince,
my much lamented brother, to attend
without least tumult 'bout the Court, and if
there be necessity of your ayd, I'le give you
notice when to imploy it.

Sel.
Sweet Prince, wee'l swim
in blood to do thee or thy brother service.
Each man provide their weapons.

Abr.
You will win
my brothers love for ever, nay my father,
though hee'l seem angry to behold his justice
deluded, afterwards when his rage is past,
will thank you for your loyalties: Pray be there
with all speed possible, by this my brothers
commanded 'fore my father, I'le go learn
the truth, and give you notice: pray be secret
and firm to your resolves.

Exit.
Sel.
For him that flinches
in such a cause, I'le have no more mercy
on him. Heres Tarifa
Enter Tarifa and Mura.
the Princes sometimes Tutor, Mura with him
a walking towards the Court, let's take no notice
of them, lest they discover our intentions
by our grim looks. March fair and softly Couzens,
wee'l be at Court before them.

Tar.
You will not do this, Mura!

Mu.
How Tarifa?
will you defend him in an act so impious?
Is't fit the drum should cease his surly language,
when the bold Souldiers marches, or that I
should passe o're this affront in quiet silence,
which Gods and men invoke to speedy vengeance?
which I will have, or manhood shall be tame
as Cowardice.

Tar.
It was a deed so barbarous,
that truth it self blushes as well as justice
to hear it mention'd: but consider Mura,
he is our Prince, the Empires hope, and pillar
of great Almanzors age How far a publick
regard should be prefer'd before your private
desire of vengeance! which if you do purchace
from our impartial Emperors equity,
his loss of sight, and so of the succession,
will not restore Caropia to the honor
he ravish't from her. But so foule the cause is,
I rather should lament the Princes folly
than plead in his behalf.

Mur.
'Tis but vain,
there is your warrant, as you are high Marshal,
to summon him to make his speedy appearance
'fore the Tribunall of Almanzor;
so pray you execute your office.

Exit.
Tar.
How one vice
can like a small cloud when't breaks forth in showers,
black the whole heaven of vertues! O my Lord,
Enter Abilqualit, Muts, whispring, seem to make protestations. Exeunt.
that face of yours which once with Angell brightnesse
cheer'd my faint sight, like a grim apparition
frights it with ghastly terror: you have done
a deed that startles vertue till it shakes
as it got a palsie. I'me commanded
to summon you before your father, and
hope you'l obey his mandate.

Abil.
Willingly,
what's my offence, Tarifa?

Tar.
Would you knew not,
I did presage your too unruly passions
would hurry you to some disast'rons act,
but ne're imagin'd you'd have been so lost
to masculine honor, to commit a rape
on that unhappy object of your love,
whom now y'ave made the spoil of your foul lust,
the much wrong'd wife of Mura.

Abil.
Why, do's Mura charge me with his Caropia's rape?

Tar.
This warrant sent by your angry father, testifies
he means to appeach you of it.

Abil.
'Tis my fortune, all natural motions when they
approach their end, hast to draw to't with accustom'd
swiftnesse. Rivers with greedier speed run neere
their out-falls, than at their springs. But I'me resolv'd,
let what happen that will, I'le stand it, and defend
Carpoia's honor, though mine own I ruin;
Who dares not dye to justifie his love,
deserves not to enjoy her. Come, Tarifa,
what e're befall, I'me resolute. He dies
glorious, that falls loves innocent sacrifice.

Exeunt.