University of Virginia Library

Scene the First.

Enter Muly Hamet, Scene the Palace.
Muly H.
'Tis now our Royal Mothers Breath must bind
That sacred tye of Love my King has sign'd,
And Providence has seal'd: make Her but kind.

Exit.
Scene a Bed-Chamber.
The Scene opens, and discovers Crimalhaz and Queen Mother sleeping on a Couch, a Table standing by, with Crimalhaz's Plume of Feathers, and his Drawn Sword upon it.
Re-enter Muly Hamet.
Muly H.
Laula in Crimalhaz his Arms asleep!
Ha! Does she thus for her dead Husband weep?
Oh fond and amorous Queen! has Lust such Charms,
Can make Her fly to an Adulterers Arms?
His Sword drawn for his Guard,—
[Spies the Sword.
But he shall die.—No, He shall Wake, and Know
The Justice and the Hand that gives the Blow:
Should I descend to a Revenge so base,
His Death unarm'd my Glory would deface:
I will restore the Traytors Sword; for still
I have been taught to conquer those I kill.
Well, as a Witness of his Crime, his Sword
I'le take, which when we meet shall be restor'd.
Then secretly, but honourably too,
My Hand shall Act what to his Guilt is due.
For, lest I should my Queens Disgrace proclaime,
I'le right her Wrongs, but I'le conceal her Shame.

Exit.
The Scene changes to an Anti-Chamber.
Muly Hamet re-enters with the same Sword, and in passing over the Stage is overtaken by the King.
King.
Muly Hamet! stay.

Muly H.
The King!

King.
What have you there?

Muly H.
Curst Chance! what shall I say?

[aside.
King.
You thus appear
To've left the Field to gather Laurels here.
Who is the Man that has this Honour gain'd,
To be subdu'd by such a Gen'rous Hand?
Tell me.

Muly H.
Your Royal Pardon.

King.
No, proceed.
If you have kill'd him, I forgive the Deed;
Who e're against You durst his Sword unsheath
Has justly from your Hand deserv'd his Death.

Muly H.
No, Sir, he lives, and lives unvanquish'd too.

King.
How, lives!

Muly H.
Oh do not your Demands pursue.
Urge me no more, nor force me to reveal
The only thing my Honour would conceal.

King.
How, Muly Hamet, durst you act that thing
You dare not utter to your Friend, and King.

Muly H.
My Kings Esteem I by my Silence lose,
And Speaking, I his Mothers Shame expose.

[aside.
King.
Speak, if you can by Friendship be conjur'd.
Whose is it?

Muly H.
Sir, 'tis Crimalhaz his Sword.

King.
How Crimalhaz! Are you not newly from
Th'apartment of my Royal Mother come?
In what defenceless Garb did you surprise
Him there, that you disarm'd him with such ease?
We o're our Womens Honours set such Eies,
That the Seraglio all access denies.
Who enters there without my Signet dies.

Muly H.
Her Shame too openly will be descry'd;
His Jealousie will find what I would hide.

[aside.
King.
A sudden Fancy does my Breast inflame,
Something so strange, as I want words to name:
But She's my Mother, and I dare not guess—
Yet She's a Woman, and I can no less
Than start at Horrours which my Honour stain.
Confusion! and was Crimalhaz the Man?

Muly H.
Oh! Sir, what has my forc'd Obedience don?
Against a Mother I've incens'd a Son.
Your Princely Brow let no disorders change,
Let my Hand, Sir, Your disturb'd Peace revenge.

King.
No, Muly Hamet has a Sword too good
To be defil'd with an Adulterers Blood.
He t'an ignobler Fate shall be condemn'd;
I'le make him infamous, low, and contemn'd.
Disrob'd of all his Titles he shall bleed,
Like a Crown'd Victim to an Altar led,
Whose Wreaths and Garlands to the fire are cast,
And then the naked Sacrifice falls last.
That sinking States-man undergoes the worst
Of Deaths, whose Honours and whose Pow'r dies first.
[exit King.

Muly H.
This was the only Chance could shake my Fame.
Oh weak Foundations of a Glorious Name!
I from the Field do a Crown'd Conqu'rour come,
To turn a base Informer here at home:
Yet nothing is so bright but has some Scars;
Men can through Glasses find out Spots in Stars.

[Exit.
The Scene changes again to the Queen Mothers Bed-Chamber, where She and Crimalhaz appear hand in hand; She in a Morning Dress.
Crim.
Love acts the part of tributary Kings:
As they pay homage to their Conquerour;
Our kind Embraces are but Offerings
Of Tribute to triumphant Beauty's Pow'r.

Q. M.
Great Spirits Rivals are to Gods, and can,
Were all the World like me, their Heav'n unman:
We'd antidate our Bliss, not stay to move,
like Pageant-Saints, to airy Seats above:
We'd here below enjoy our Chiefest Good,
And reap Delights which they ne're understood.

Crim.
Ha! my Sword gon! Madam, we are betray'd.

Q. M.
Whose he that dares our Privacy invade?

Crim.
Some fatal Eye our interview has seen.

Q. M.
Who e're has seen us, knows I am a Queen.
That powerful Word his Silence does demand;
'Tis Blasphemy to name, nay understand
What Princes act.—

Crim.
Ho! Achmat, Achmat,—
[Enter Achmat.
—What bold Man has been
Admitted to th'Apartment of the Queen?

Ach.
Prince Muly Hamet.

Q. Moth,
Ha! by whose Command?

Achm.
The Royal Signet from the Kings own hand
Gave him Admittance.

Q. Moth.
But, rude Slave, how durst
You violate what I commanded first?
Know, Traytor, I am Mother to a King:
His Pow'r subordinate from Me does spring.
My Orders therefore should unquestion'd stand,
Who gave him Breath, by which he does Command.
What my Commands have mist, this shall make good.
Princes are by their Deeds best understood.

[Stabs the Eunuch, who falls and dies.
Crim.
Fall, and in Death all hopes of Mercy lose,
Who durst the Secrets of your Queen disclose:
Closets of Princes should be held Divine,
As a Saints presence Consecrates his Shrine:
And Princes Pleasures should Alliance hold
With their great Pow'r, be free and uncontrou'ld.

Q. Moth.

Crim.
No, though I lose that Head which I before
Desig'nd should the Morocco-Crown have wore:
Yet what's the fear of Tortures, Death, Hell? Death,
Like a faint Lust, can only stop the Breath.
Tortures weak Engines that can run us down,
Or skrew us up till we are out of tune.
And Hell, a feeble, puny cramp of Souls:
Such infant Pains may serve to frighten Fools.
Fates, if I'm doom'd your Mark, I'le stand you fair;
Nor will I for your Favours lose a Pray'r.

Q. M.
A pray'r, Devotion and a States-man! No,
The Pow's above are titular below:
Stars are all Eye, and when great Deeds are done
All their faint Lights are but bare Lookers on.
Now thou art brave, none but a Heart above
The shock of Fortune, could deserve my Love:
But fear no danger, to our aid I'le call
My Arts and Friends in Hell to stop our Fall.
To this I'le for our safety take recourse:
Through your right Hand this fatal Dagger force:
Then leave the Conduct of the Deed to me;
Fate dares no less than my Protector be.

Here Crimalhaz stabbs himself in his right Arm, which immediately appears bloody.
Crim.
'Tis don.

[Throws away the Dagger.
Enter to them the King and Muly Hamet.
King.
May Heav'n forgive my Eies, that they have seen
This Object in a Mother and a Queen.

Q. M.
Oh Son! be deaf to what will wound your Ear,
Let this black Day be cancell'd from the Year.
But if your Justice must his Faults pursue,
Impose on Me what to his Guilt is due.

Muly H.
See how she treats her Shame: Madam, I wish
Your Virtues greater, or your Birth were less.

King.
Since you have sullied thus our Royal Blood,
The Grounds and Rise of this past Crime relate,
[to Crimalhaz.
That, having your Offences understood,
We, what we cann't recall, may expiate.

Crim.
Sir, 'Twas my fate—

Q. M.
Hold, Sir, the Story does to me belong,
A Womans Frailty from a Womans Tongue.
Whilst pensively I in my Closet sate
My Eyes pay'd Tribute to my Husbands Fate,
And while those Thoughts my sinking Spirits seis'd
His Entrance my dejected Courage rais'd:
[Pointing to Muly Hamet.
The sudden Object did new Thoughts produce;
My Griefs suspended, lent my Tears a Truce:
For then I otherwise employ'd my Eies,
Whilst in His Aspect I read Victories.
[points to Muly Hamet.
But, Muly Hamet, then your cruel Breast—

Muly H.
Speak.

Q. M.
Let my Tears and Blushes speak the rest.

Muly H.
What does she mean? My lab'ring Thoughts dispatch.

Q. M.
Your Soul and Person Nature did ill match.
Such savage Passions and unruly Heat,
Lodg'd in Your Breast, hold a too glorious Seat.

Muly H.
This mystick Language does my Sence confound.

Q. Moth.
Oh, Sir!

King.
This riddling History expound.

Q. M.
Well, Sir, since you will force my Tongue, I must
Be to my Honour and my Virtue just.
Having a while upon each other gaz'd,
He at my Silence, I his Eyes amaz'd:
Then, Muly Hamet, then—

King.
What did he do?

Q. M.
Attempt to ravish me. His alter'd Brow
Wore such fierce Looks, as had more proper been
To lead an Army with, than Court a Queen.
And, as a Ravisher, I abhorr'd him more
In that black form, than I admir'd before.
But whilst my Virtue a Resistance made
My Shrieks and Cries brought Achmat to my aid:
Whilst th'Eunuch stood amaz'd, his Sword he snatc'd,
And at one Stroke his wond'ring Soul dispatch'd.

Muly H.
Oh Horrour!

Q. M.
Then, led by some happy Chance,
Kind Crimalhaz did to my Aid advance.

Crim.
But being by my sudden Entrance crost,
And all the Hopes of his stoln Pleasures lost,
My sight did to his sparkling Eies inspire
Such Rage, as if his Lust had lent 'em Fire:
Though Justice in Her Cause did guide my Hand,
No Sword could his Victorious Arm withstand:
And when his Weapon through my Hand had run,
Fearing th'Event of what his Rage had done,
He bore away my Sword, a poor Pretence,
To turn his Crime upon my Innocence.

Muly H.
False and perfidious Traytour!
[to Crimalhaz.
Sir, to your Royal Favours add one more,
[to the King.
And I'le quit all that I receiv'd before:
To this Adulterer your Leave afford
To vindicate his Treason by his Sword;
That Justice, by my Hand, may give him Death,
And stifle with his Blood his perjur'd Breath.

King.
Hold, Sir, if you this rash attempt pursue,
You'l make me think, that what he says is true.
This subtile mystery confounds me more
Than the past horrour of the Deed before.

Crim.
Alas, Sir, He, who has so savage been,
To dare abuse the Honour of a Queen,
Esteeming all less Crimes but sportive things,
Could not want Words t'abuse the Ears of Kings.

Muly H.
Bold Villain—

King.
Hold, your Passions Rage command;
You in an injur'd Monarchs presence stand.

Muly H.
Can the Eternal Pow'rs such Treachery
Permit? You the great Rulers of the Sky,
Sitting thus patient at so tame a rate,
In Heav'ns soft ease are grown effeminate.
If such loud Crimes your armless Pow'r out-face,
Your pointless Vengeance will your Heav'n disgrace.

Q. M.
Had you my Breast by Honour sought to win,
Yet Love t'a pious Mother, and a Mourning Queen,
Had sounded harsh. But grant that Time and Love
Could from my Bosom my dead Lord remove:
I to your Passion might so just have been,
To 've met your Love, but not ith' shape of Sin.

Muly H.
Madam, You may say anything: Your Sex
And Birth the vent of my just Passion checks.
Sir, do but hear—

[To the King.
Crim.
You may vouchsafe to hear
What You may read more plainly, here, and there.

[Points to the dead Eunuch and his wounded Arm.
King.
I in this Parley too much time bestow:
Hearing the Cause, I make the Vengeance slow.
Guards—Yet I'le hear him—

Muly H.
My single Word a vain Defence will make,
Where so much Witness, and a Mother speak.
But yet Heav'n sees my Innocence; and know
That I am proud this Shame to undergo.
Believe me, her intended Ravisher
Appearing so, I take the Guilt from Her.
Their false Impeachments do this comfort bring,
That I may wear that Cloud would shade a King.

King.
His kind soft Words do but confirm th'Offence,
Men are nere losers for their Breaths expence:
But still speak kindest when their Falls are near,
Not out of Generosity, but Fear.
It is enough She witness'd his Offence;
Her Virtue scorns to accuse Innocence.
And since her Blood does run within my Veins,
By' instinct I know she all that's base disdains.
But if I want more Proofs to make it out,
His Murder and his Wound removes the doubt.
Muly Hamet, for this Guilt our Prophets Breath
Has in his sacred Laws pronounc'd your Death.

Q. M.
His Death!
[Surprized.
But hold! The King will then my Cheat descry,
I wish His Death who tamely see him dye.
[aside.
O cruel Sir, that killing Breath recall:
[to the King.
Our holy Prophet dares not see him fall,
I'm sure, had he My Eyes. Heav'n cannot see
Such Courage bear so harsh a Destinie.
The Pow'rs above would shrink at what he felt:
His Death to Tears their Chrystal Orb would melt.
But—
If You must act what Mercy can't prevent,
Inflict—inflict some milder Punishment.

King.
His Deeds and Service in Morocco's Cause
May mitigate the rigour of our Laws.
His Army then I to your charge commend,
Her Honours Guardian, and our Loyal Friend.
[to Crimalhaz.
Here bind the Traytor, and convey him strait
[to the Guards.
To Prison, there to linger out his Fate:
Till his hard Lodging and his slender Food
Allay the Fury of his Lustful Blood.

[Guards bind Muly Ham.
Q. M.
Think what Impression on my Breast 'twill make,
To see his Hands wear Fetters for my sake.

Muly H.
(In whisper between Muly Hamet and Queen Mother.)
Madam, be serious, tell me how so foul
A Treason gain'd admission to your Soul.

Q. M.
(In whisper between Muly Hamet and Queen Mother.)
My Soul! Dull Man, what has my Soul to do
In such mean Acts as my betraying You?
Murder and Treason—
Without the help of Souls, when I think good,
Such toys I act; as I'm but Flesh and Blood.

Mu. H.
(In whisper between Muly Hamet and Queen Mother.)
Let not too high your Scorn of Justice swell:
Know, Madam on such Crimes there waits a Hell.

Q. M.
(In whisper between Muly Hamet and Queen Mother.)
Hell! No, of that I scorn to be afraid:
I'le send such throngs to the infernal shade,
Betray, and kill, and damn to that degree,
Ile crowd up Hell, till there's no Room for Me.

King.
Here, to the Tower that guarded Pris'ner send:
His saither Doom from my Commands attend.

Muly H.
I for my former state
My Homage to your Royal Father paid,
And Monarchs may destroy what Monarchs made:
For Subjects Glories are but borrow'd things,
Rais'd by the favourable Smiles of Kings:
And at their Authors Pleasures should retire,
And when their Breath renounces 'em expire.
Should I the Sentence of my Sovereign blame,
I should be guiltier than They say I am.
But though your Frowns' declare my Fetters just,
Look to what dang'rous Hand your Pow'r you trust.
Monarchs do nothing ill, unless when they
By their own Acts of Grace their Lives betray.
When Favours they too gen'rously afford,
And in a Treacherous Hand misplace their Sword,
Their Bounties in their Ruine are employ'd:
Kings only by their Vertues are destroy'd.

King.
Your Counsels weakly do my Ears attract;
You ill teach Virtue which you cannot act.
Live then, till time this sense of Horrour brings,
What 'tis to ravish Queens, and injure Kings.

Exeunt King and Muly Hamet severally; Muly Hamet led out by the Guards.
Q. M.
You see the Fates do their Allegiance know,
And to my pow'rful Breath their Conduct ow.
'Tis pity Monarchs are so scarce—
Such gen'rous, easie, kind, good natured things,
That one feign'd Tear can rule the Faith of Kings.

Crim.
So bravely, Madam, your Design succeeds,
As if the Fates were Vassals to your Deeds.
That Politician who to Empire climbs,
With Virtues Dress should beautifie his Crimes.
Our guilded Treason thus like Coral seems;
Which appears Black within its native Streams:
But when Disclos'd it sees the open Air;
It changes Colour, and looks Fresh and Fair.

[Exeunt.