 | The Tragedy of Mustapha, Son of Solyman the Magnificent |  |
91
THE FOURTH ACT.
Enter the Queen, and Cleora.Queen.
Dispatch, Cleora, lest we should be seen.
Lay my disguise beneath the Couch within.
You should have sent to call the Cardinal:
I have forgot my Letters. Burn them all.
Here, take the Key! make up my Jewels strait.
You shall attend me at the Eastern Gate:
But burn my Letters in the inner Tent.
Cleora.
I fear you will this haste too soon repent.
Queen.
Fortune, with thy distempers I must strive;
And from a crime will not my cure derive.
Those who by policy their actions steer
Faint when they faults as well as losses bear;
But those who on firm vertue still relie
May boldly perish when they guiltless die.
Cleora.
'Twere want of necessary Faith in me
To think your virtue can successless be.
All your commands I'le instantly obey.
Queen.
Our flight, Cleora, cannot brook delay;
Nor can I any pause to fear allow.
Enter Roxolana.
Rox.
You were my Guest, but are my Pris'ner now.
Do you not tremble seeing me appear?
Queen.
None but the guilty should have sense of fear.
Rox.
Dismiss Cleora! we must be alone
To reckon both what I and you have done.
Queen.
Retire! Th'intentions of my flight are all
Betray'd by her, or by the Cardinal.
[Exit Cleora.
Rox.
To make the Audit of my actions true
I'le briefly take their Register from you.
Did I not struggle in your Sons defence,
When with no Armour but his innocence
The rescue of his Crown I undertook,
Whom all his Nation, being arm'd, forsook?
Queen.
Madam, of what you did this is the least.
Rox.
No Bird, new fledg'd, and frighted from his Nest,
Could, more then he, be of his home berest,
Or more to Natures casual mercy left.
Did I not boldly his weak cause maintain
Against the Vizier and the whole Divan,
Though from their number I did need defence?
For number has a prosp'rous impudence,
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Making by clamour single Fav'rites yield.
And I was forc'd, when charg'd by the Divan,
To my last strength, the love of Solyman.
Queen.
Your Enemies could not but many be,
You having then all that were so to me.
Rox.
When, without leave, you did adventure here,
And, by the right of War, my Pris'ner were,
Did I not then my favours so extend
That you became no Pris'ner but my Friend?
When Buda you did offer to resign,
Did I not constantly the gift decline,
And in your cause the Sultan did implore
That what his Sword had gain'd he would restore?
Queen.
All bounties, Madam, must to yours submit,
Which nothing equals but my sense of it.
Rox.
Having confest my allegations true,
Mark what returns has since been made by you.
For more than hope of what you wisht to be,
For your protection and your liberty,
For all I did, and purpos'd to have done,
You, in requital, have enslav'd my Son.
A Son, who never yet my will controul'd
Till he your fatal beauty did behold:
But now, with that inchanted, is no more
By his own reason rul'd, nor by my pow'r.
What my designs have built, you have overthrown;
And I, in Zanger's ruine, feel my own.
My patience has not strength for this assault.
Queen.
Oh do not make my misery my fault,
You now confirm all my Prophetick fears;
I did employ my Reason, Pray'rs, and Tears,
To make the Prince his Fatal Love decline;
I knew you would resent his fault as mine:
But I, alas! found my disswasions vain.
Rox.
Why did you not betimes to me complain?
Queen.
Who to a Mother could accuse a Son,
Or lead you to that grief which you would shun?
When I perceiv'd his Love was fixt so sure
That 'twas above my Tears and Reasons cure,
I did resolve in a disguise to flie
Where I unknown might in a Cloister die.
And, lest you might suspect what I design'd.
This Letter I did mean to leave behind.
[Gives her a Letter.
Which begs your pardon, and informs you too
My flight was but in thankfulness to you.
Nor can I doubt your mercy to my Son,
When I, to keep your Love, from Zanger's run.
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Rox.
In taxing you, who now so just appear,
I am more guilty then I thought you were.
Nor can you your revenge more cruel make
Then when you shew the guilt of my mistake.
Queen.
Of what is past you shew too great a sense;
The reparation does exceed th'offence.
Agen you'l wound me if you treat me so;
I only meant my innocence to show;
You, seeing that, make me obtain my end.
Rox.
You must my pardon seal, and be my Friend.
[Kisses her.
And that I may deserve what I request
I'le lodge my greatest secret in your breast.
I know you will be ever kind and just.
[Kisses her agen.
Queen.
No obligation binds so much as trust.
Rox.
The Friendship plac'd by my unhappy Son
On Mustapha, is not to you unknown.
Queen.
To that high Friendship I no stranger am:
A nobler never yet was told by Fame.
Rox.
Ah Queen! from that dire friendship I receive
The deepest wound which Fate did ever give.
You know the bloody custom of this Crown;
Nought but the Sultan's life secures my Son.
For when the Eldest does the Throne enjoy,
He must the Younger by our Laws destroy.
Queen.
That custom he by friendship will reclaim.
Rox.
Friendship, to Love and Pow'r, seems but a name.
Though Mustapha has Virtue and Renown
Fit to possess and dignifie a Crown:
(For never yet did any Sultan's Son
Perform and promise more than he has done)
Yet when he shall th'Imperial Scepter bear
He must become my Zanger's Murderer.
For that is made a righteous Law by time,
Which Law at first did judge the highest Crime.
Queen.
Pow'rs private safety is the publick good;
It lives in health by letting others blood.
Rox.
The Sultan's love gives me a pow'r so high
That I to this could give a remedy
If Zanger did not secret Friendship pay,
Even with Religious Rites, to Mustapha.
All my designs fond Zanger does oppose,
Who saving Mustapha himself will lose.
Queen.
Your Fate against your Vertue does conspire.
Rox.
Alas I must destroy what I admire.
In this attempt I shall your aid implore:
And, since your beauty they do both adore,
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Despair may do what reason should have done:
For Friendship never yet could climb above
The high resentments of neglected love.
Queen.
Madam, the weight you on my bosom lay
I cannot bear, nor your commands obey.
Prince Mustapha my love can never have;
My King and Love are bury'd in one Grave.
Rox.
If Mustapha cannot your love obtain,
It may suffice when you affection feign.
Queen.
But Honour, Madam, quickly will forget
And lose it self whilst it does counterfeit;
As men a little us'd to speak untrue
The just remembrance lose of what they knew,
Till their first shapes grow to themselves unknown.
Rox.
Can this be said by you who wear a Crown?
When from your heart your looks do diff'rent show,
Love does but change the weather of your Brow;
Which should no more a constant meaning bear
Then th'outward face of Heav'n should still be clear.
The Great should in their Thrones mysterious be;
Dissembling is no worse then mystery.
Obscurity is that which terrour moves;
The gods most awful seem'd in shady Groves.
And our wise Prophet's Text a rev'rence bears
Where it is hard and needs Interpreters.
Queen.
I ever was without dissembling bred,
And in my open Brow my thoughts were read:
None but the guilty keep themselves unkown.
Rox.
No wonder we so soon subdu'd your Throne;
When wise Dissimulation, which should guard
Chief Pow'r and make th'approaches to it hard,
Was banish'd from your Court to Rebell-states,
To Conclaves, Councills, and small Magistrates;
These stronger grow then Monarchs who refuse
The close false-Armour which their Subjects use.
Queen.
Madam, you teach what Christians are not taught,
And seem to soar as high in flights of thought
As now your Empire wide in compass swells.
Rox.
Sure Christian Kings live not in Courts but Cells.
That is un-courtly-ill-bred innocence
Which cannot with dissembled love dispence.
You must dissemble love to Mustapha,
And make him think by what you often say,
That you for Love can mourn and languish too.
Queen.
Madam, I shall need counsel what to do.
Rox.
How, Madam? you may counsel take of me,
But should from Subjects counsel still be free.
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Much more of value then we can receive.
We give our secrets to them, which, when known,
May make their int'rest greater then our own,
By counsel men perswade or else direct;
Direction like appointment we suspect:
And even perswasion does the Throne invade;
For slaves may govern whom they can perswade.
Advise your self and boldly then proceed;
Counsel must yield to courage and to speed.
Queen.
When I shall counsel ask, I'le none reveal;
I can advise my self what to conceal.
Rox.
I'le press you now no farther, but retire.
Madam, improve what Honour shall inspire.
If that which I request may not be done
You ruine me, and Zanger, and your Son.
But, e're I go, assure me of your stay.
Queen.
In this, because I can, I will obey.
[Exit Roxolana.
No Fortune aims at more than she can do:
She takes my Crown then tempts my Vertue too.
I am for Mustapha's true love in debt,
Which I will never pay with counterfeit.
Enter Cardinal.
Card.
Madam, last night I did advise your stay;
But now I come to hasten you away.
Time has been active since I saw you last.
Queen.
Shall I trust Councils which can change so fast?
Card.
By various wayes we may our end pursue.
Councils should alter as their causes do.
Physicians, Madam, will not think it strange
If I change Med'cines when Diseases change.
The Pilot, of most firm and constant mind,
Must shift his course and turn with ev'ry wind.
Enter Thuracus, Viche.
Thur.
The Sultan's Troops, more swift then in Alarms,
Are, without orders, running to their Arms.
Viche.
Rustan does now in sev'ral shapes appear;
For he is often alter'd by his fear.
Card.
The Army is so bent to Mutiny
That Mustapha does counsel you to flye.
Madam, we all are to your flight inclin'd.
Queen.
But, to this place, my Lord, I am confin'd;
And by a tye which has such influence
That I will rather dye then flye from hence.
A Mutinous noise is heard.
Card.
Their anger is grown loud! Madam, 'tis fit
That you send out to know the cause of it.
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Make haste my Lords, and sev'rally inquire
If those who rais'd this storm can raise it higher;
And when you have the danger of it learn'd
Observe how far the Princes are concern'd.
[Exeunt Thuricus, Viche.
Enter Cleora at another door, and whispers the Queen.
Cleor.
Zarma has hastily a whisper brought
Which says, that means for your escape is wrought.
This Tempest Mustapha would have you shun;
And she will help to send away your Son.
Queen.
O how am I perplext? secure him Heav'n!
[Aside.
I have my Faith to Roxolana given
T'assure her of my stay, by which my Son
May in my Fortunes equal hazard run.
[Whispers Cleora.
Go strait to Roxolana's Tent, and there
Observe what change does in her looks appear.
[Exit Cleora.
Card.
Madam, you said you would not flye from hence:
'Tis a resolve of fatal consequence.
Queen.
The cause of that resolve I must conceal;
But will a secret of more use reveal.
The Prince has by his Presents Zarma won,
Who will contrive to send away my Son.
This is a bus'ness worthy your debate.
Card.
Unhappy is the Minister of State
Whom for successless counsel you despise
Yet that conceal by which he should advise.
His fate and not his skill you ought to blame
Who plays the Cards yet must not see the Game.
If I but hold the Cards which you will play,
I throw your judgment not my own away.
Queen.
But this which needs your counsel open lies.
Card.
To what you have reveal'd I thus advise.
Your Son, to Buda flying, will redeem
By his own loss those who abandon'd him,
You trust the Conquer'd who were false before
And by distrust provoke the Conquerour.
How can your Son by flight advantag'd be
Who quits the Port to meet a storm at Sea?
And doubtless, Madam, you by staying here
The whole revenge of his escape must bear.
These are the dangers which attend his flight;
But he is safe in Roxolana's sight.
For, till her growing pow'r you can suspect,
Doubt not his safety whom she does protect.
Queen.
Your reasons urging his continuance here,
Like Rays of light, are sudden, strong, and clear.
My Lord, as these convince me for his stay
So let my counsel hasten you away.
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Hate our Religion, and your Robe despise.
This storm you may in Buda safely see.
Card.
Madam, it will no more my wonder be
That you, not trusting me, disguis'd appear
Since you suspect I am so faint with fear
As to forsake my Queen in her distress.
But, Madam, walk in Clouds and trust me less:
Though but in part your mind you will declare
Yet in your whole misfortunes I will share:
And though my counsels may defective seem
I'le by my suff'rings merit your esteem.
[Exit.
Queen.
Our greatest Counc'lours think we are unjust
VVhen our least thoughts are hidden from their trust;
And till (by knowing th'utmost that we know)
Those restless Counc'lours may our Rulers grow,
They do not love us, and they sullen seem;
But after care not though we love not them.
[Exit.
Enter Solyman, Rustan, Pyrrhus.
Shouts are heard from within.
Soly.
What Shouts are these?
Rust.
Shouts which your Souldiers pay,
Hearing Prince Mustapha has leave to stay.
Pyrrh.
About his Tents the joyful Souldiers crowd.
Soly.
There was no need their joy should be so loud.
Their shouts of Triumph never rose so high.
Rust.
It shews they love him more than Victory.
And when these shouts they in your presence make
It is a sign they love him for your sake.
Soly.
How long can they the Father love, who run
VVith such a guilty kindness to the Son?
'Tis much to do it, more to show it so.
Pyrrh.
Men never fear to pay the debts they owe.
Soly.
He takes that love which does belong to me,
And lets me reign but by his courtesie:
His early acquisition shews his skill
In ruling, and his pow'r declares his will.
Rust.
Suspicion's good unless it start too soon
And then does faster then th'offender run.
If he pursues, too early and too fast,
Your Armies love, he errs but in his haste.
Your jealousie and his desire to gain
That love from which he should a while abstain,
May be excus'd; for neither is a crime
But as you both may erre in point of time.
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Why should your Armies kindness be his fault?
Soly.
They love or hate but so as they are taught.
By fear Usurpers should their pow'r sustain;
But a true Prince chiefly by love should reign.
Whilst, in loose knots, fear but the body binds,
We strongly rule by love our Subjects minds.
Rust.
Yet wisest Monarchs by success have prov'd
That it is safer to be fear'd than lov'd.
For Subjects as they please, their love dispense,
But alwayes fear as it does please the Prince.
A King should more the ruling pow'r esteem
Plac'd in himself then when 'tis lodg'd in them.
Soly.
That errour is destructive to a state:
For whom soe're the people fear they hate.
This is in me and in my Subjects true:
For fearing Mustapha I hate him too.
And he, even in my Camp, my pow'r controuls;
I ruling but their Bodies, he their Souls.
Pyrrh.
By his first deeds he seem'd to study you;
And of your story a fair Copy drew.
Can he deface the Virtue he has shown
And on his fathers Ruine build his Throne?
Soly.
Since on Ambition's wings he means to rise
He will both hate and slight all Natures Ties.
A Fathers name cannot his Nature fright
From Glory when it does his youth invite.
Th'inchanting sound of Pow'r so Charms his Ear,
That he will now no other Musick hear.
New shouts are heard, at which Solyman starts.
This insolence is loud enough to wake
Revenge from duller sleep then death can make.
Rust.
Perhaps not understanding their offence,
They deem this duty which is insolence.
And think they not offend in what they do.
Soly.
My Army then is bravely taught by you.
Can any ignorant of Treason be
Who shout for ought but victory and me?
Rust.
Yet do not, Sir, decline what I advise.
Repentance is a noble Sacrifice.
But if, when taught, their crime they should pursue,
'Twill justifie what you intend to do.
Pyrrh.
When but a few into offences run,
Justice may safely punish what is done.
But when whole Camps are kindled to a flame,
Perswasion then, not force, must them reclaim.
Rustan.
Revenge, which to the injur'd does belong,
Can be successful only to the strong.
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If to your Army now you less perform
They all in Arms for Mustapha will rise
Because you use them worse then Enemies.
Soly.
I yield to your advice, go both, and try
To make them in their joys more mannerly.
[Exeunt Rustan, Pyrrhus.
My race of Glory did proceed too fast.
My Armies now grow weary of my haste.
And yet, though tir'd, they shout and gladly run
To see me over-taken by my Son:
All in this Race are stopt when overtook;
And I, whom all did follow, am forsook:
Forsook by him whom I begot and bred:
I'm left behind by those whom I have led.
Must I, like Conqu'ring Fleets, when storms begin,
Take all my glorious Flags and Streamers in?
Though Mustapha by Heavens decree was sent
To warn great Monarchs by my punishment
Yet he does Heav'n offend, offending me.
What means our Prophet by this mistery?
My Son's ordain'd to what he should not do
And I to bear what I should punish too.
[Exit.
Enter Mustapha, Zanger. Mustapha seems very pensive.
Zang.
Ah Prince! you wrong your love whilst you admit
Another Passion thus to reign with it.
Must.
Zanger, my grief may well my heart subdue
Since 'tis too great to be reveal'd to you.
Pity that Fate with which I now contend;
It makes me hide my danger from my Friend.
Zang.
What can you seem unwilling to declare,
After confessing you my Rival are?
Or of that Friendship are you not secure
Which did, unshaken, such a proof endure?
Must.
Let what I heard be silenc'd as untrue,
Since my believing it may trouble you:
And yet my speaking it may pardon'd be
Since your not hearing it may ruine me.
Zang.
What can I more an injury esteem
Then when by silence you distrustful seem?
Must.
Alas! you know not that you are unjust
VVhen thus you take my kindness for distrust.
Be loth to hear what I shall speak with pain.
Zang.
I torment feel in that which you retain.
Must.
Your Mother with the Vizier is agreed:
And she hath secretly my death decreed.
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You wrong me, Brother, and your self deceive:
And I wrong nature when I this believe.
Must.
I'le rather perish by your mis-belief
Then give you evidence t'increase your grief.
Farewel! the duty of a Son retain.
You'l hear your Brother, and your Friend is slain.
Zang.
'Twere cruel, Sir, to leave me with this wound.
Must.
You are too good to see what I have found.
[Going out.
Zang.
Stay, Sir, I cannot nature much offend,
Doubting a Mother to preserve a Friend.
Our Friendship does the minds allyance show.
Let me the utmost of this secret know.
Must.
It comes from one who does not prudence lack,
Nor his intelligence from Rumour take;
One to whom Zarma does with trust disclose
(Charm'd by his love) all that her bosom knows.
This bloody mischief is with art design'd,
The secret, cautiously, to few confin'd;
Which by such close contraction is made strong,
And still you Mother abler to do wrong.
Zang.
Perhaps she is thus cruel since I grow
As cruel in believing she is so.
Yet then she with her self does dis-agree,
Knowing I die in you and she in me.
Must.
This Junto could not so successful be
Were not the Sultan wrought to jealousie
That I, affecting popular esteem,
Follow those Crouds which have forsaken him;
And that I aim'd not, by my Battels won,
To conquer Persia but usurp his Throne.
These false suggestions I might soon remove
Were I admitted to implore his Love;
But oh that rigid form which us bereaves
Of all approach without our Father's leaves!
That rigid custom which does bring no less
Then death when we, unsent for, seek access!
But, Zanger, if I could admittance gain,
I must not where your Mother rules complain.
Zang.
If they have rais'd the Sultan's wrath so high,
You must, to save your life, vouchsafe to flie.
Your stay makes life depend upon his breath;
Your flight prevents his guilt and your own death.
Whom he suspects he does but seldom save;
A Princes Prison is a Princes Grave.
Must.
'Twere better, Zanger, that my blood were spilt
Then sav'd by Flight; Flight is it self a guilt.
Since still my duty did my actions steer
I'le not disgrace my innocence by fear,
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I'le rather bear then merit punishment.
Zang.
When Pris'ner made 'twill be a new offence
T'accuse his wrath by pleading innocence.
Your death he'l then decree t'avoid complaint;
Pow'r oft by death does justifie restraint:
And, when incens'd, into two faults will run
Rather then own that it has acted one.
We shall by your retreat gain time to learn
Those dangers which our haste cannot discern.
You then may make that innocence appear
Which yet his passion will not let him hear.
Must.
I'le sooner yield my person to his pow'r
Then be held guilty by him but one hour.
By flight my fear and shame will equal be;
And fear or shame is worse then death to me.
Zang.
I doubt your vertue will your life betray;
But since so nobly you resolve to stay,
I'le to my Mother strait, and she shall know
Th'important secret of our mutual vow.
It will divert the hope of her design,
When she's assur'd your ruine must be mine.
Must.
Friendship like this who ever did enjoy,
Which Rival'd-love nor death cannot destroy?
Oh Zanger! If you knew how much I strove
To make my Friendship overcome my Love
(Though in that strife I could not Victor be)
You would both envy then and pity me.
Zang.
I'm glad in that design you mist your end:
Who quits his Mistress may forsake his Friend.
And none of Friendship should a proof admit
Which may occasion fear of losing it.
For he who can break off your Conqu'rours chain
Has such wild strength as nothing can restrain.
Must.
Hah! stay! methinks I'm on a sudden brought
To light's last glimps, and to a stop of thought!
Methinks, something prophetick in my Breast
Bids me make haste and in Fame's Temple rest.
And as men dying leave chief Legacies
To those whose Friendship they did dearest prize,
So, Zanger, I, as to your merit due,
Bequeath the Queen, my life's last gift, to you.
Zang.
Our secret Sympathy your Fate secures:
If bad, my Breast would feel't as soon as yours.
And since you but bequeath a Legacy,
Which cannot be possest before you dye,
You safely give what I shall ne're receive
Because I cannot Mustapha out-live.
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How poorly some in Friendship take a pride
Which never yet was by Love's int'rest try'd:
To ours alone the perfect praise is due
At once of being Friends and Rivals too.
[Exeunt Embracing.
Enter Rustan, Pirrhus.
Pirrh.
Complyance now must serve us more then force
Since th'European and the Asian Horse
Refuse our orders and in publick say
That we conspir'd to banish Mustapha.
Rust.
No pride so dang'rous is as being proud
Of prosp'rous Mutiny. They threaten loud
Who us'd but in their whispers to complain.
Pirrh.
If they the Fanizaries Aga gain
We are, beyond repairs of Court, undone.
Rust.
The force we dare not meet we ought to shun.
Pirrh.
The Empress feels remorse, or finds her fear.
Rust.
We shall be call'd, Zarma expects us here.
Enter Achmat, Haly.
Achmat, and Asian Horse have long been led
By you, and by your great example bred.
This Monster-mutiny will all devour.
You might oblidge the Sultan with your pow'r
If you could quell this Monster.
Ach.
May be so.
But you had better trye what you can do.
Rust.
The deed is noble and belongs to you:
I would not take what is to Achmat due.
Ach.
Indeed you ever, with a tender hand,
Touch'd what another Bassa should command.
Your Justice (which knows when, and whom to strike)
Usurps no business which you do not like.
Pirrh.
Haly, this doubtful language strange appears.
Haly.
You'l in the Army find Interpreters.
Rust.
Haly it seems does listen to the Crowd.
Haly.
Men need not listen where Complaints are loud.
Pirrh.
The people rail to exercise their Tongues.
Haly.
Their patience first is exercis'd with wrongs.
Pirrh.
They, wanting judgment, should submit to Laws,
And cannot Judges be in their own cause,
But to their Rulers gently should appeal.
Ach.
Men their own judges are of what they feel.
Rust.
This is not meant in Friendship nor for sport.
Sure, Pirrhus, they are angry with the Court,
And having found, none for their anger care,
Strive out of malice to be popular.
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Zarma.
You must bring Pyrrhus, and may have access.
Exeunt with Zarma, Rustan and Pirrhus, smiling scornfully on the other two, and they on them.
Achm.
Methinks we were ill-natur'd to express
So much contempt of Greatness in distress.
Haly.
When shining Fav'rites grow with greatness proud
All men rejoyce to see them in a Cloud.
If this ill nature be, 'tis not confin'd
To us alone, but is in all mankind.
And whilst we blame our selves we injure all:
Nothing's ill natur'd that is natural.
Achm.
I must confess, in thus insulting, you
Do but as States-men to each other do.
Haly.
When they are more afflicted we will seem
To mourn with their few Friends who pity them;
But secretly we will their Foes insence
And then, in haste, bring them intelligence
Of mischiefs which they never can avoid;
And so be thankt by those we have destroy'd.
[Exeunt.
Enter Roxolana, Rustan, Pyrrhus.
Rox.
My favour to the Sultan you implore
Only for Governments you sought before.
You sue for Egypt, you for Babylon;
If I could these procure you would be gone.
Rust.
In these from sudden Foes we distant are;
No Mutiny can last to march so far:
And we, by absence, may perhaps abate
The rage contracted by this Armies hate.
Pirrh.
This Armies temper, well consider'd, shows
You are not safe when we our safety lose.
But 'twill in vain with your designs contest
When in our hands you shall possess the East.
Rox.
Men who to high designs, like this, are bent
Should less fear death then not to see th'event.
Rust.
The Camp to Mustapha such love has shown
That we shall hasten by his death our own.
Pirrh.
That which does lead your hope the surest way
Brings us to certain ruine if we stay.
Rox.
You vow'd (striving my favour to regain)
That Zanger after Solyman should reign,
And, that I might no mark of horrour bear,
You said, I still against it should appear.
Pirrh.
But, Madam, neither of us promis'd we
The Princes Executioners would be.
104
And all things else are near perfection done.
Rox.
None here the fatal Orders will obey,
If in this juncture you should flye away.
You both must stay, and what you plotted, act
I'le not the guilt of your designs contract.
Rust.
In staying we the Princes fate partake;
We who are guilty only for your sake.
So guilty none did ever yet appear.
Rox.
You only guilty are because you fear:
But fear in States-men is the highest crime.
Those who to Empires upper stations climbe
Are not so useful by their being wise
As they may hurtful be by cowardise.
For they, fearing to act what they should do,
Make with themselves the valiant useless too.
Rust.
Provoke not those who with your ruine may
Save both themselves and injur'd Mustapha.
Pirrh.
This, were we Cowards, we could quickly do.
Rox.
Am I forsaken, and then threatn'd too?
You doing this will your best visage wear.
Falshood in States-men is less vile then fear.
Go to the Sultan, go! and th'int'rest try
Of crafty Art: On Nature I'le rely.
You are whole States-men and his Friends in part;
States-men, like States, are but the works of Art.
When in both shapes your wisdoms have appear'd,
Weak Wives and Mistresses may chance be heard.
You with your blood must for your mischiefs pay;
But a few tears will wash my guilt away.
What you design'd, Ambition made you do;
I did but that which Nature call'd me to.
You did the Plot contrive to kill his Son;
At which I but conniv'd to save my own.
Go then, and by your deaths the diff'rence prove
Twixt those whom Kings but trust, and whom they love.
Rust.
Our Treason against you would be a fault
Greater then ever enter'd in our thought.
Pardon our Passion since you did deny
The sute we made with sharpest injury.
Pirrh.
Too much your loyal servants you despise
When you their care impute to Cowardise.
Rox.
Care does unworthy of it self appear
When it the ugly vizard wears of Fear.
If, as you said, the deed is almost done,
Stay but one day to end what you begun.
The Souldiers fury, which you would decline,
If well improv'd will perfect your design.
105
Which nothing but his blood can now asswage.
Go then and make my Son the Empires Heir;
Leave your preferments to my sudden care.
Rust.
We in your cause all dangers will despise.
Pyrrh.
And with your fortune quickly fall or rise.
Rust.
We will the Sultan instantly attend:
The Princes ling'ring Fate in death shall end.
[Exeunt Rustan, Pyrrhus.
Enter Zarma.
Zarma.
Madam, Prince Zanger, much impatient, stays
Within, and humbly for admittance prays.
Rox.
I guess the bus'ness which has brought him here:
His fatal Friendship gives me grief and fear:
Finding the Sultan does his Brother hate
He would employ me as his Advocate.
Say I am close at my Devotion, go!
Say I'm retir'd; make haste and tell him so.
Admit him not though much he will pretend.
Zarma.
He is too much a Brother and a Friend.
[Aside.
[Exit Zarma.
Rox.
What sin of mine, oh Heaven! incenses thee?
Thou mak'st my Son his own worst Enemy.
What by my care and Art he might enjoy
He does himself contribute to destroy.
And I, in my perplext condition, must
Become unnatural, or else unjust:
Must leave a Son to Empires cruelty,
Or to a gen'rous Prince inhumane be.
My Husband, whom I Love, I cruel make,
Even against Nature, yet for Natures sake.
His Son, by my contrivance, he must kill;
Whilst I preserve my own against his will.
The blood I save must answer for my guilt
And wash away the stains of what is spilt.
| The Tragedy of Mustapha, Son of Solyman the Magnificent | |