University of Virginia Library

The Second Act.

The same Scene continues.
A great Noise is heard of the People within.
Enter Villerius, Admiral, Marshal.
Adm.
Their murmurs with their hunger will increase:
Their noises are effects of emptiness.
Murmurs, like Winds, will louder prove
When they with larger freedome move.

Vill.
Winds which in hollow Caverns dwell,
Do first their force in murmurs waste;
Then soon, in many a sighing blast,
Get out, and up in Tempests swell.

Adm.
Your practis'd strength no publique burden fears;
Nor stoops when it the weight of Empire bears.

Vill.
Pow'r is an Arch which ev'ry common hand
Does help to raise to a magnifique height;
And it requites their aid when it does stand
With firmer strength beneath increasing weight.

Adm.
'Tis noble to endure and not resent
The bruises of Afflictions heavy hand.
But can we not this Embassy prevent?

Vill.
Ianthe needs must go. Those who withstand
The Tide of Flood, which is the Peoples will,
Fall back when they in vain would onward row:
We strength and way preserve by lying still.
And sure, since Tides ebb longer than they flow,
Patience, which waits their Ebbs, regains
Lost time, and does prevent our pains.

Adm.
Can we of saving and of gaining boast
In that by which Ianthe may be lost?
She wholly Honour is; and, when bereft
Of any part of that, has nothing left.
For Honour is the Soul, which by the Art
Of Schools, is all contain'd in ev'ry part.

Vill.
The Guiltless cannot Honour lose, and she
Can never more than Virtue guilty be.

Adm.
The talking World may persecute her name.

Vill.
Her Honour bleeds not when they wound her Fame.
Honour's the Soul which nought but Guilt can wound;
Fame is the Trumpet which the People sound.

Mar.
The Trumpet where still variously they blow,
And seeking Ecchos, sound both high and low.

Adm.
Can no expedient stop their will?

Vill.
The practice grows above our skill.
Last Night, in secret, I a Pris'ner sent
To Mustapha, with deep acknowledgment
For fair Ianthes former Libertie,
And Passports, offer'd since, to set her free.
My Letters have no ill acceptance met;
But his reply forbids all means to treat,
Unless Ianthe, who has oft refus'd
That Pass, which Honour might have safely us'd,
Appear before Great Solyman, and sue
To save those Lives which Famine must subdue.

Adm.
[Aside.]
Sad Fate! Were all those drowsie Sirrups here
Which Art prescribes to madness, or to fear,
To Jealousie, or carefull Statesmens Eyes,
To waking Tyrants, or their watchfull Spies,
They could not make me sleep when she is sent
To lie Love's Lieger in the Sultans Tent.

[A great shout within.
Mar.
What sodain pleasure makes the Crowd rejoyce?
What comfort can thus raise the publique Voice?

Vill.
'Tis fit that with the Peoples insolence,
When in their sorrows rude, we should dispence;
Since they are seldome civil in their joys:
Their gladness is but an uncivil Noise.

Adm.
They seldome are in tune, and their tunes last
But like their Loves rash Sparkles struck in haste.

Vill.
Still brief, as the concordance of a Shout.

Adm.
What is so short as Musick of the Rout?

Vill.
Though short, yet 'tis as hearty as 'tis loud.

Adm.
Dissembling is an Art above the Crowd.

Vill.
Whom do they dignifie with this applause?

Enter Alphonso, Ianthe.
Alph.
Of this, grave Prince, Ianthe is the cause.
I from the Temple led her now:
Where she for Rhodes pay'd many a Vow;
And did for ev'ry Rhodian mourn
With sorrows gracefully devout:
But they pay'd back at our return
More vows to her than she laid out.

Vill.
If they such gratitude express
For your kind Pray'rs in their distress,
Ianthe, think, what the Besieg'd will do
When the Besieger is or'ecome by you?
Though Rhodes by Kings has quite forsaken bin
Without, whilst all forsake their Chiefs within;
Yet who can tell but Heav'n has now design'd
Your shining beauty and your brighter mind
To lead us from the darkness of this Warr,
Where the Besieg'd, forgotten Pris'ners are:
Where glorious minds have been so much obscur'd.
That Fame has hardly known
What they have boldly done,
And with a greater boldness have endur'd.

Alph.
If Heav'n of Innocence unmindfull were,
Ianthe then might many dangers fear.
Your hazards, and what Rhodes does hazard too,
Are less than mine when I adventure you;
Who doubtfull perills run
That we may try to shun
Such certain loss as nought can else prevent.

Adm.
[Aside.]
Revolted Jealousie! can he consent?

Iant.
If Rhodes were not concern'd at all
In what I am desir'd to undertake
I should it less than Duty call
To seek the Sultan for Alphonso's sake.

Alph.
The Sultan has with forward haste
Climb'd to the top of high Renown;
And sure, he cannot now as fast,
By breaking trust, run backward down.

Iant.
We should not any with Suspition wound
Whom none detect, much less believe that those
In whom by trial we much virtue found
Can quickly all their stock of virtue lose.

Adm.
[Aside.]
How sweetly she, like Infant-Innocence,
Runs harmlessly to harm?
High Honour will unarm
It self to furnish others with defence.

Mar.
Her mind, ascending still o're human heights,
Has all the Valour of our Rhodian Knights.

Vil.
What more remains but Pray'rs to recommend
Your safety to the Heav'nly Pow'rs,
You being theirs much more than ours.
I'l to the Sultan for your Passport send.

Iant.
That may disgrace the trust which we should give,
And lessen the effects we should receive.
Let such use forms so low
As not by trial know
How high the Honour is of Solyman:
Who never will descend
Till he in Valleys end
That race which he on lofty Hills began.
His pow'r does every day increase,
And can his honour then grow less?
Bright power does like the Sun
Tow'rds chief perfection run,
When it does high and higher rise.
From both the best effects proceed,
When they from heights their glories spread,
And when they Dazzle gazing eyes.

Alph.
How far, Ianthe, will these thoughts extend?
Vain question, Honour has no Journeys end!

Adm.
Her honor's such, as he who limits it
Must draw a Line to bound an infinite.

Vill.
Since Fate has long resolv'd that you must go,
And you a pass decline, what can we do?

Iant.
The great Example which the Sultan gave
Of virtue, when he did my honour save,
And yours, Alphonso, too in me,
When I was then his Enemy,
Shall bring me now a Suppliant to his Tent;
Without his plighted Word or Passport sent.
So great a test of our entire belief
Of Clemency, in so Renown'd a Chief,
Is now the greatest present we can make:
His Passport is the least that we can take.

Alph.
Ianthe, I am learning not to prize
Those dangers, which your virtue can despise.

Adm.
My Love is better taught;
For with the pangs of thought,
I must that safety much suspect,
Which she too nobly does neglect.

[A shout within.
Vill.
You hear them Admiral!

Adm.
Agen the people call.
Our hast provoking by a shout.

Vill.
Go hang a Flag of Treaty out,
High on Saint Nich'las Fort!
Then clear the Western port
To make renown'd Ianthe way!

[Shout agen.
Adm.
Heark! they grow loud!
That tide, the Crowd,
Will not for Lovers leisure stay.

Mar.
That storm by suddenness prevails,
And makes us lower all our Sails.

Vill.
To Mustapha I'l strait a Herald send,
That Solyman may melt when he shall know
How much we on his mighty mind depend
By trusting more than Rhodes to such a Foe.

[Exeunt Villerius, Admiral, Marshal.
Alph.
How long Ianthe should I grieve
If I perceiv'd you could believe
That I the Rhodians can so much esteem,
As to adventure you to rescue them?
Yet I for Rhodes would frankly hazard all
That I could mine, and not Ianthes call.
But now I yield to let you go
A pledge of Treaty to the foe,
In hope that saving Rhodes you may
Prepare to Cicily your way.
Were Rhodes subdu'd, Ianthe being there,
Ianthe should the only loss appear.

Iant.
Much from us both is to the Rhodians due,
But when I sue for Rhodes, it is for you.

Alph.
Ianthe, we must part! you shall rely
On hope, whilst I in parting learn to Dye.

Iant.
Take back that hope! your dealing is not fair
To give me hope, and leave your self despair.

Alph.
I will but dream of Death, and then
As virtuously as Dying men
Let me to scape from future punishment
Come to a clear confession, and repent.

Iant.
I cannot any story fear
Which of Alphonso I shall hear,
Unless his Foes in malice tell it wrong.

Alph.
Ianthe, my confession is not long,
For since it tells what folly did commit
Against your honour, shame will shorten it.

Iant.
Lend me a little of that shame;
For I perceive I grow too blame
In practising to guess what it can be.

Alph.
It is my late ignoble Jealousie.
Though parting now seems Death, yet but forgive
That crime, and after parting I may Live.
And as I now again great sorrow show,
Though I repented well for it before;
So let your pardon with my sorrows grow;
You much forgave me, but forgive me more.

Iant.
Away! Away! How soon will this augment
The troubled peoples fears,
When they shall see me by Alphonso sent
To treat for Rhodes in tears?

Alph.
What in your absence shall I do
Worthy of Fame, though not of you?

Iant.
By patience, not by action now,
Your virtue must successfull grow.

[A shout within.
Alph.
In throngs the longing people wait
Your comming at the Palace gate.
Let me attend you to the Peer.

Iant.
But we must leave our sorrows here.
Let not a Rhodian witness be
Of any grief in you or me;
For Rhodes, by seeing us at parting mourn,
Will look for weeping Clouds at my return.

[Exeunt.
The Scene is Chang'd to the Camp of Solyman, the Tents and Guards seem near, and part of Rhodes at a distance.
Enter Solyman, Pirrhus, Rustan.
Pirrh.
None (Glorious Sultan) can your Conquest doubt
When Rhodes has hung a Flagg of Treaty out.

Soly.
Thy courage, haughty Rhodes,
(When I account the Odds
Thou hast oppos'd, by long and vain defence)
Is but a braver kind of Impudence.
Thou knew'st my strength, but thou didst better know
How much I priz'd the brav'ry's of a Foe.

Pirrh.
Their Sallies were by stealth, and faint of late.

Soly.
Can flowing Valour stay at standing flood?

Pirrh.
No, it will quickly from the mark abate.

Rust.
And then soon shew the Dead low Ebb of Blood.

Soly.
When those who did such mighty Deeds before,
Shall less, but by a little, do,
It shews to me and you,
Old Pirrhus, that they mean to do no more.
By Treaty they but boldly begg a Peace.

Pirrh.
Shall I command that all our Battries cease?

Soly.
You may, then draw our out-Guards to the Line.

Pirrh.
And I'l prevent the springing of the Mine.

[Exit.
Enter Mustapha.
Must.
Villerius sends his Homage to your feet:
And, to declare how low
The pride of Rhodes can bow,
Ianthe will be here to Kneel and Treat.

Rust.
What more can fortune in your favour do?
Beauty, which Conquers Victors, yields to you.

Solym.
What wandring Star does lead her forth? Can she
Who scorn'd a Passport for her Liberty,
Vouchsafe to come, and Treat without it now?
The first did Glory, this respect may show.
Pow'rs best Religion she,
Perhaps does civilly believe
To be establish'd, and reform'd in me,
Which counsels Monarchs to forgive.

Enter Pirrhus.
Pirrh.
A second Morn begins to break from Rhodes;
And now that threatning Skie grows clear,
Which was o're cast with smoke of Cannon-Clouds,
The fair Ianthe does appear.

Soly.
Pirrhus, our Forces from the Trenches lead,
And open as our Flying Ensigns spread.
And, Mustapha, let her Reception be
As great as is the Faith she has in me.
I keep high Int'rest hid in this command;
Which you with safety may
Implicitly obey,
But not without your Danger understand.
Your try'd obedience I shall much engage,
Joyn'd to the prudence of your practis'd age.

Must.
We are content with age, because we live
So long beneath your sway.

Pirrh.
Age makes us fit t'obey
Commands which none but Solyman can give.

[Exeunt Pirrhus, Mustapha, Rustan.
Soly.
Of spacious Empire, what can I enjoy?
Gaining at last but what I first Destroy.
Tis fatal (Rhodes) to thee,
And troublesome to me
That I was born to govern swarms
Of Vassals boldly bred to arms:
For whose accurs'd diversion, I must still
Provide new Towns to Sack, new Foes to Kill.
Excuse that Pow'r, which by my Slaves is aw'd:
For I shall find my peace
Destroy'd at home, unless
I seek for them destructive Warr abroad.

[Exit.
Enter Roxolana, Haly, Pirrhus, Mustapha, Rustan, Pages, VVomen.
Roxol.
Th'Ambassadors of Persia, are they come?

Haly.
They seek your Favour and attend their Doom.

Roxol.
The Vizier Bashaw, did you bid him wait?

Haly.
Sultana, he does here expect his Fate.

Roxol.
You take up all our Sultans bosome now;
Have we no place, but that which you allow?

Rust.
Your Beautious greatness does your ear incline
To Rumors of those crimes which are not mine.
My Foes are prosp'rous in their diligence,
And turn ev'n my submission to offence.

Roxol.
Rustan, your Glories rise, and swell too fast.
You most shrink back, and shall repent your haste.

Must.
Th'Egyptian presents, which you pleas'd t'assign
As a Reward to th'Eunuch Salladine,
Are part of those allotments Haly had.

Roxol.
Let a Division be to Haly made.

Pirrh.
Th'Armenian Cities have their Tribute paid,
And all the Georgian Princes sue for ay'd.

Roxol.
Those Cities, Mustapha, deserve our care.
Pirrhus, send succours to the Georgian Warr.

Must.
Th'Embassador which did the Jewels bring
From the Hungarian Queen, does Audience crave.

Roxol.
Pirrhus, be tender of her Infant King.
Who dares Destroy that Throne which I would save?

Rust.
Sultana, humbly at your feet I fall,
Do not your Sultan's will, my Counsel call.

Roxol.
Rustan! Go mourn! But you may long repent:
My busie Pow'r wants leisure to relent.

Rust.
Think me not wicked, till I doubt to find
Some small compassion in so great a mind.

Roxol.
These are Court-Monsters, Corm'rants of the Crown:
They feed on Favour till th'are over-grown;
Then sawcily believe, we Monarchs Wives
Were made but to be Dress't
For a Continu'd Feast;
To hear soft Sounds, and play away our Lives.
They think our Fullness is to wain so soon
As if our Sexes Governess, the Moon,
Had plac'd us, but for Sport on Fortunes lapp;
They with bold Pencils, by the changing shape
Of our frail Beauty, have our Fortune drawn;
And judge our Breasts transparent as our Lawn;
Our hearts as loose, and soft, and slight
As are our Summer vests of Silk;
Our brains, like to our Feathers light;
Our blood, as sweet as is our Milk:
And think, when Fav'rites rise, we are to fall
Meekly as Doves, whose Livers have no Gall.
But they shall find, I'm no European Queen,
Who in a Throne does sit but to be seen;
And Lives in Peace with such State-Thieves as these
Who Robb us of our business for our ease.

[Exeunt omnes.