University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

Enter the King Crown'd, Philip, Mendozo, Queen, Leonora, Florella, Elvira, Alonzo, Roderigo, Ordonio, Sebastian, Antonio, Officers and Guards; met by Abdelazer, follow'd by Osmin, Zarrack, and Moors attending. He comes in with Pride, staring on Philip and Mendozo, and takes his stand next the King.
Phil.
Why stares the Devil thus, as if he meant
From his infectious eyes to scatter Plagues,
And poison all the world; was he not banisht?—
How dares the Traytor venture into th' Presence?—
Guards, spurn the Villain forth.

Abd.
Who spurns the Moor
Were better set his foot upon the Devil!—
Do, spurn me; and this hand thus justly arm'd,
Shall like a Thunder-bolt, breaking the Clouds,
Divide his body from his soul;—stand back!—
(to the Guards.
Spurn Abdelazer!—

Phil.
Death, shall we bear this Insolence!

Alon.
Great Sir, I think his Sentence was unjust.

(to the King.
Men.
Sir, you're too partial to be Judge in this,
And shall not give your Voice.

Abd.
Proud Cardinal,—but he shall,—and give it loud,
And who shall hinder him?—

Phil.
This,—and cut his Wind-pipe too,
(offers to draw.
To spoil his whisp'ring.

Abd. offers to draw, his Attend. do the same.
King.
What means this violence?
Forbear to draw your Swords,—'tis we command.

Abd.
Sir, do me Justice, I demand no more,
kneels, and offers his Sword.
And at your feet we lay our weapons down.

Men.
Sir, Abdelazar has had Justice done,
And stands by me banisht the Court of Spain.

King.
How, Prince Cardinal!
From whence do you derive Authority
To banish him the Court without our leave?

Men.
Sir, from my care unto your Royal Person,
As I'me your Governour;—then, for the Kingdoms safety.

King.
Because I was a Boy, must I be still so?
Time, Sir, has given me in that formal Ceremony,
And I am of an age to Rule alone;
And from henceforth, discharge you—of your care.
We know your near relation to this Crown,
And wanting Heirs, that you must fill the Throne,
Till when, Sir, I am absolute Monarch here,—
And you must learn obedience.

Men.
Pardon my zealous duty, which I hope
You will approve, and not recall his Banishment.

King.
Sir, but I will; and who dares contradict it, is a Traytor.

Phil.
I dare the first, yet do defie the last.

King.
My hot-brain'd Sir, I'le talk to you anon.

Men.
Sir, I am wrong'd, and will Appeal to Rome.

Phil.
By Heav'n I'le to the Camp;—Brother, farewell,
When next I meet thee, it shall be in Arms;
If thou canst get loose from thy Mistress Chains,
Where thou ly'st drown'd in idle wanton Love.

Abd.
Hah!—his Mistress!—who is't Prince Philip means?

Phil.
Thy wife! thy wife! proud Moor, whom thou'rt content
To sell (for Honour) to eternal Infamy.—
Does't make thee snarle!—bite on, whilst thou shalt see,
I go for Vengeance, and 'twill come with me.

(going out, turns and draws.
Abd.
Stay! for 'tis here already;—turn, proud Boy.

(Abd. draws.
King.
What mean you, Philip?—

(talks to him aside.
Qu.
Cease! cease your most impolitick Rage!—
(to Abd.
Is this a time to shew't?—Dear Son, you are a King,
And may allay this Tempest.

King.
How dare you disobey my will and pleasure?

(to Abd.
Abd.
Shall I be calm, and hear my wife call'd Whore?
Were he great Jove, and arm'd with all his Lightning,
By Heav'n I could not hold my just Resentment.

Qu.
'Twas in his passion, noble Abdelazer:—
King talking to Phil. aside.
Imprudently thou dost disarm thy Rage,
And giv'st the Foe a warning, e're thou strik'st;
When with thy smiles thou might'st securely kill,—
You know the Passion that the Cardinal bears me,
His power too o're Philip, which well manag'd
Will serve to ruine both;—put up your Sword,—
When next you draw it, teach it how to act.

Abd.
You shame me, and command me.

Qu.
Why all this Rage?—does it become you, Sir?
(to Men. aside.
What is't you mean to do?

Men.
You need not care, whilst Abdelazer's safe.

Qu.
Jealousie upon my life;—how gay it looks.

Men.
Madam, you want that pitying regard
To value what I do, or what I am;
I'le therefore lay my Cardinals Hat aside,
And in bright Arms, demand my Honour back.

Qu.
Is't thus, my Lord, you give me proofs of Love?
Have then my eyes lost all their wonted power?
And can you quit the hope of gaining me,
To follow your Revenge?—go,—go to fight,
Bear Arms against your Country, and your King,
All for a little worthless Honour lost.

Men.
What is it, Madam, you would have me do?

Qu.
Not side with Philip, as you hope my Grace.—
Now Sir, you know my pleasure, think on't well.

Men.
Madam, you know your Power o're your Slave,
And use it too tyrannically;—but dispose
The Fate of him, whose Honour, and whose Life,
Lies at your mercy,—
I'le stay and dye, since 'tis your gracious pleasure.

King.
Philip, upon your life,
Upon your strict Allegiance, I conjure you
To remain at Court, till I have reconcil'd you.

Phil.
Never Sir,—
Nor can you bend my temper to that tameness.

King.
'Tis in my power to charge you as a Prisoner;
But you're my Brother:—yet remember too
I am your King.—No more.—

Phil.
I will obey.

King.
Abdelazer,
I beg you will forget your cause of hate
Against my Brother Philip, and the Cardinal;
He's young, and rash, but will be better temper'd.

Abd.
Sir, I have done, and beg your Royal pardon.

King.
Come Philip, give him your hand.

Phil.
I can forgive without a Ceremony.

King.
And to confirm ye Friends,
I invite you all to Night to Banquet with me,
Pray see you give Attendance:—Come Brother,
You must along with us.

(Exeunt all but Abd. Queen, and Women.
Qu.
Leave me.—
(To the Women, who Ex.
Now my dear Moor—

Abd.
Madam.—

Qu.
Why dost thou answer with that cold Reserve?—
Is that a look,—an action for a Lover?

Abd.
Ah Madam.—

Qu.
Have I not taken off thy Banishment?
Restor'd thee to thy former state and honours?
Nay, and heapt new ones too, too mighty for thy hopes;
And still to raise thee equal to this heart,
Where thou must ever Reign.

Abd.
'Tis true, my bounteous Mistress, all this you've done,—
But—

Qu.
But what, my Abdelazer.

Abd.
I will not call it to your memory.

Qu.
What canst thou mean?

Abd.
Why was the King remov'd?

Qu.
To make thy way more easie to my arms.

Abd.
Was that all?

Qu.
All!—

Abd.
Not but it is a blessing, Gods would languish for;—
But as you've made it free, so make it just.

Qu.
Thou meanst, and marry thee.

Abd.
No, by the Gods!—
(aside.
Not marry me, unless I were a King.

Qu.
What signifies the Name, to him that Rules one?

Abd.
What use has he of life, that cannot live
Without a Ruler?

Qu.
Thou wouldst not have me kill him.

Abd.
Oh by no means, not for my wretched life!
What, kill a King!—forbid it Heav'n!
Angels stand like his Guards, about his Person.
The King!
Not for so many Worlds as there be Stars
Twinkling upon the embroider'd Firmament!
The King!
He loves my wife Florella, shou'd he dye—
I know none else durst love her.

Qu.
And that's the reason you wou'd send him hence.

Abd.
I must confess, I wou'd not bear a wrong,
But do not take me for a Villain, Madam;
He is my King, and may do what he pleases.

Qu.
'Tis well, Sir.

Abd.
Again that frown, it renders thee more charming,
Than any other Dress thou cou'dst put on.

Qu.
Away, you do not love me.

Abd.
Now mayst thou hate me, if this be not pretty.

Qu.
Oh you can flatter finely—

Abd.
Not I, by Heav'n!
Oh that this head were circled in a Crown,
And I were King, by Fortune, as by Birth!
And that I was, till by thy Husband's power
I was divested in my Infancy.—
Then you shou'd see, I do not flatter ye.
But I, instead of that, must see my Crown
Bandy'd from head to head, and tamely see it;
And in this wretched state I live, 'tis true;
But with what joy, you, if you lov'd, might guess.

Qu.
We need no Crowns; Love best contented is
In shadie Groves, and humble Cottages,
Where when 'twou'd sport, it safely may Retreat,
Free from the noise, and danger of the Great;
Where Victors are ambitious of no Bays,
But what their Nymphs bestow on Holy-days;
Nor Envy, can the amorous Shepherd move,
Unless against a Rival in his love.

Abd.
Love and Ambition, are the same to me,
In either, I'le no Rivals brook.

Qu.
Nor I;
And when the King you urge me to remove,
It may be from Ambition, not from Love.

Abd.
Those scruples did not in your bosom dwell,
When you a King, did in a Husband kill.

Qu.
How Sir! dare you upbraid me with that sin,
To which your Perjuries first drew me in?

Abd.
You interrupt my sense, I only meant
A sacrifice, to Love, so well begun,
Shou'd not Devotion want to finish it;
And if that stop to all our joys were gon,
The envying world wou'd to our Power submit:
But Kings are Sacred, and the Gods alone
Their Crimes must judge, and punish too, or none.—
Yet he alone destroys our happiness.

Qu.
There's yet one more—

Abd.
One more! give me his name,
And I will turn it to a Magick Spell,
To bind him ever fast.

Qu.
Florella.

Abd.
(aside).
Florella! Oh I cou'd gnaw my Chains,
That humble me so low as to adore her:
But the fond blaze must out,—whilst I erect
A nobler fire more fit for my Ambition.
—Florella, dies,—a Victim to your will.
I will not let you lose one single wish,
For a poor life, or two;
Though I must see my Glories made a prey,
And not demand 'em from the Ravisher,
Nor yet complain,—because he is my King!
But Philip's brow, no Sacred Oyntment Deifies,
If he do wrong, stands fair for the Revenger.

Qu.
Philip! instruct me how t' undoe that Boy I hate;
The publick Infamy I have receiv'd,
I will Revenge, with nothing less than death.

Abd.
'Tis well we can agree in our Resentments,
For I have vow'd he shall not live a day;
He has an art to pry into our secrets:
To all besides, our love is either hid,
Or else they dare not see;—but this Prince
Has a most dangerous spirit must be calm'd.

Qu.
I have resolv'd his death,
And now have waiting in my Cabinet
Engines to carry on this mighty work of my Revenge.

Abd.
Leave that to me, who equally am injur'd;
You, like the Gods! need only but command,
And I will execute your sacred will.—
That done, there's none dare whisper what we do.

Qu.
Nature be gone, I chase thee from my soul,
Who Love's Almighty Empire does controul;
And she that will to thy dull Laws submit,
In spight of thee, betrays the Hypocrite.
No rigid Virtue shall my soul possess,
Let Gown-men preach against the wickedness;
Pleasures were made by Gods! and meant for us,
And not t' enjoy 'em, were ridiculous.

Abd.
Oh perfect, great and glorious of thy Sex!
Like thy great self 'twas spoke, resolv'd and brave!—
I must attend the King;—where I will watch
All Philip's motions—

Qu.
And—after that—if you will beg admittance,
I'le give you leave to visit me to night.

Abd.
Madam, that blessing now must be deferr'd;
leads her to the door.
My wrongs and I will be retir'd to Night,
And bring forth Vengeance, with the Mornings light.

Osm.
My gracious Lord—

Abd.
Come near—and take a secret from my lips;
And he who keeps not silence, hears his death.—
This night the Prince, and Cardinal—do you mark me—
Are murder'd!

Osm.
Where Sir!—

Abd.
Here in the Court.

Osm.
By whom, Great Sir!

Abd.
By thee!—I know thou dar'st.—

Osm.
Whatever you command.

Abd.
Good!—then see it be perform'd.
—Osmin, how goes the Night?

Osm.
About the hour of Eight,
And you're expected at the Banquet, Sir:
Prince Philip storms, and swears you're with the Queen.

Abd.
Let him storm on! the Tempest will be laid;—
Where's my Wife?—

Osm.
In the Presence, Sir, with the Princess and other Ladies.

Abd.
She's wondrous forward!—what—the King—
(I am not jealous tho')—but he makes Court to her;
—hah, Osmin!
He throws out love from Eyes all languishing;—
Come tell me,—he does sigh to her;—no matter if he do:—
And fawns upon her hand,—and—kneels;—tell me, Slave!

Osm.
Sir, I saw nothing like to Love; he only treats her
Equal to her Quality.

Abd.
Oh damn her Quality!

Zar.
I came just now,
From waiting on his Person to the Banquet,
And heard him ask, if he might visit her to night,
Having something to impart to her, that concern'd his life.

Abd.
And so it shall, by Heav'n!

(aside.
Zar.
But she deny'd, and he the more intreated,—
But all in vain, Sir.

Abd.
Go Osmin, (you the Captain of my Guard of Moors)
Chuse out the best affected Officers,
To keep the Watch to night:—
Let every Guard be doubled;—you may be liberal too,—
And when I give the word, be ready all.—

Osm.
What shall the word be?

Ex. Zarrack.
Abd.
Why—Treason:—mean time make it your bus'ness,
To watch the Prince's coming from the Banquet;
Heated with Wine, and fearless of his Person,
You'l find him easily to be attaqu'd.

Osm.
Sir, do not doubt my management nor success.

Ex. Osmin.
Abd.
So, I thank thee Nature, that in making me
Thou didst design me Villain!
Fitting each faculty for Active mischief:—
Thou skilful Artist, thank thee for my face,
It will discover nought that's hid within.—
Thus arm'd for ills,
Darkness! and Horrour! I invoke your aid,
And thou, dread Night! shade all your busie Stars
In blackest Clouds,
And let my Daggers brightness only serve
To guide me to the mark,—and guide it so,
It may undoe a Kingdom at one blow.

Exit.