University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

A Rich Chamber.
A Table with Lights, Abdelazer sullenly leaning his head on his hands;— after a little while, still Musick plays.
SONG.

After which he rouzes, and gazes.
Abd.
On me this Musick lost?—this sound on me
That hates all softness?—What ho, my Slaves!

Enter Osmin, Zarrack.
Osm.
My gracious Lord—

Enter Queen, Elvira.
Qu.
My dearest Abdelazer—

Abd.
Oh, are you there?—Ye Dogs, how came she in?
Did I not charge you on your lives to watch,
That none disturb my privacy?

Qu.
My gentle Abdelazer, 'tis thy Queen,
Who 'as laid aside the bus'ness of her State,
To wanton in the kinder joys of Love.—
Play all your sweetest Notes, such as inspire
To the Musick; they play softly.
The active Soul with new and soft desire,
Whilst we from Eyes—thus—dying, fan the fire.

[she sits down by him.
Abd.
Cease that ungrateful noise—

[Musick ceases.
Qu.
Can ought that I command displease my Moor?

Abd.
Away, fond woman—

Qu.
Nay, prithee be more kind.—

Abd.
Nay, prithee good Queen, leave me,—I am dull,
Unfit for dalliance now.—

Qu.
Why dost thou frown?—to whom was that Curse sent?

Abd.
To thee.—

Qu.
To me!—it cannot be;—to me, sweet Moor!—
No, no, it cannot;—prithee smile upon me;—
Smile whilst a thousand Cupids shall descend
And call thee Jove, and wait upon thy smiles,
Deck thy smooth brow with flowers;
Whilst in my Eyes, needing no other Glass,
Thou shalt behold and wonder at thy beauty.

Abd.
Away, away, be gone.—

Qu.
Where hast thou learnt this language, that can say
But those rude words,—Away, away, be gone?
Am I grown ugly now?

Abd.
Ugly as Hell.—

Qu.
Didst thou not love me once, and swore that Heav'n
Dwelt in my face and eyes?

Abd.
Thy face and eyes!—Bawd, fetch me here a Glass,
[to Elvira.
And thou shalt see the balls of both those eyes
Burning with fire of Lust.—
That bloud that dances in thy Cheeks so hot,
That have not I to cool it
Made an extraction ev'n of my Soul,
Decay'd my Youth, only to feed thy Lust!
And wou'dst thou still pursue me to my Grave?

Qu.
All this to me, my Abdelazer!

Abd.
I cannot ride through the Castilian Streets,
But thousand eyes
Throw killing looks at me;—
And cry,—That's he that does abuse our King;—
There goes the Minion of the Spanish Queen,
Who, on the lazie pleasures of his Love,
Spends the Revenues of the King of Spain:—
This many-headed-beast your Lust has arm'd.—

Qu.
How dare you, Sir, upbraid me with my Love?

Abd.
I will not answer thee, nor hear thee speak.

Qu.
Not hear me speak!—Yes, and in thunder too;
Since all my passion, all my soft intreaties
Can do no good upon thee,
I'le see (since thou hast banisht all thy Love,
That Love, to which I've sacrific'd my Honour)
If thou hast any sence of Gratitude,
For all the mighty graces I have done thee.

Abd.
Doe;—and in thy story too, do not leave out
How dear those mighty graces I have purchas'd!
My blooming Youth, my healthful vigorous Youth,
Which Nature gave me for more Noble Actions
Then to lie fawning at a womans feet,
And pass my hours in idleness and Love.—
If I cou'd blush, I shou'd through all this Cloud
Send forth my sence of shame into my Cheeks.

Qu.
Ingrate!
Have I for this abus'd the best of men?
My noble Husband!
Depriving him of all the joys of Love,
To bring them all intirely to thy bed;
Neglected all my vows, and sworn 'em here a-new,
Here, on thy lips;—
Exhausted Treasures that wou'd purchase Crowns,
To buy thy smiles,—to buy a gentle look;—
And when thou didst repay me,—blest the Giver!—
Oh Abdelazer, more then this I've done.—
This very hour, the last the King can live,
Urg'd by thy witchcraft I his life betray'd:
And is it thus—my bounties are repaid?
What e're a crime so great deserves from Heav'n,
By Abdelazer might have been forgiv'n.—
(weeps.
But I will be reveng'd by penitence,
And e're the King dies, own my black offence.—
And yet that's not enough—Elvira—
(pawses.
Cry murder, murder, help, help.—

She and her woman cry aloud, he is surpriz'd, the Queen falls, he draws a Dagger at Elvira.
Elv.
Help, murder, murder.—

Abd.
Hell, what's this!—peace Bawd,—'sdeath,
They'le raise the Court upon me, and then I'me lost.—
My Queen,—my Goddess,—Oh raise your lovely eyes,
I have dissembled coldness all this while;
And that deceit was but to try thy Faith.—
takes her up, sets her in a Chair, then kneels.
Look up,—by Heav'n 'twas Jealousie,—
Pardon your Slave,—pardon your poor Adorer.

Qu.
Thou didst upbraid me with my shamefull passion.

Abd.
I'le tear my tongue out for its profanation.

Qu.
And when I woo'd thee, but to smile upon me,
Thou crydst,—Away, I'me dull, unfit for dalliance.

Abd.
Call back the frighted bloud into thy Cheeks,
And I'le obey the dictates of my Love,
And smile, and kiss, and dwell for ever here.—
Enter Osmin hastily.
How now!—why star'st thou so?—

Osm.
My Lord,—the King is dead.

Abd.
The King dead!—'twas time then to dissemble.
(aside.
What means this rudeness?—

(one knocks.
Enter Zarrack.
Zar.
My Lord,—the Cardinal enquiring for the Queen,
The Court is in an uproar, none can find her.

Abd.
Not find the Queen! and wou'd they search her here!

Qu.
What shall I do? I must not here be found.

Abd.
Oh, do not fear,—no Cardinal enters here;
No King,—no God, that means to be secure.—
Slaves, guard the doors, and suffer none to enter,
Whilst I, my charming Queen, provide for your security:—
You know there is a Vault deep under ground,
Into the which the busie Sun ne're entred,
Bue all is dark, as are the shades of Hell;
Through which in dead of night I oft have pass'd,
Guided by Love, to your Apartment, Madam.—
They knock agen;—thither, my lovely Mistress,
(knock.
Suffer your self to be conducted.—
Osmin, attend the Queen,—descend in haste,
Qu. Osm. and Elv. descend the Vault.
My Lodgings are beset.

Zar.
I cannot guard the Lodgings longer,
Don Ordonio, Sir, to seek the Queen.

Abd.
How dare they seek her here?

Zar.
My Lord, the King has swounded twice,
And being recover'd, calls for her Majesty.

Abd.
The King not dead!—go Zarrack, and aloud
Tell Don Ordonio and the Cardinal,
He that dares enter here to seek the Queen,
Puts his hand to his Sword.
Had better snatch the She from the fierce side
Of a young Amorous Lion, and 'twere safer.—
Again, more knocking!—

[knocking.
Zar.
My gracious Lord, it is your Brother, Don Alonzo.

Abd.
I will not have him enteer,—I am disorder'd.—

Zar.
My Lord, 'tis now too late.

Enter Alonzo.
Alon.
Saw you not the Queen, my Lord?

Abd.
My Lord?

Alon.
Was not the Queen here with you?

Abd.
The Queen with me!
Because, Sir, I am married to your Sister,
You, like your Sister, must be jealous too:
The Queen with me! with me! a Moor! a Devil!
A Slave of Barbary! for so
Your gay young Courtiers christen me:—but Don,
Although my skin be black, within my veins
Runs bloud as red, and Royal as the best.—
My Father, Great Abdela, with his Life
Lost too his Crown: both most unjustly ravisht
By Tyrant Philip; your old King I mean.
How many wounds his valiant breast receiv'd,
Ere he wou'd yield to part with Life and Empire:
Methinks I see him cover'd o're with bloud,
Fainting amidst those numbers he had conquer'd,
I was but young, yet old enough to grieve,
Though not revenge, or to defie my Fetters;
For then began my Slavery: and e're since
Have seen that Diadem by this Tyrant worn,
Which Crown'd the Sacred Temples of my Father,
And shou'd adorn mine now;—shou'd! nay and must;—
Go tell him what I say,—'twill be but death:—
Go Sir,—the Queen's not here.—

Alon.
Do not mistake me, Sir;—or if I wou'd,
I've no old King to tell,—the King is dead;—
And I am answer'd, Sir, to what I came for,
And so good night.—

Exit.
Abd.
Now all that's brave and Villain seize my soul,
Reform each faculty that is not Ill,
And make it fit for Vengeance; noble Vengeance!
Oh glorious word! fit only for the Gods,
For which they form'd their Thunder,
Till man usurpt their Power, and by Revenge
Swayed Destiny as well as they,
And took their trade of killing.—
And thou, almighty Love!
Dance in a thousand forms about my Person,
That this same Queen, this easie Spanish Dame
May be bewitcht and dote upon me still:
Whilst I make use of the Insatiate flame
To set all Spain on fire.—
Mischief, erect thy Throne,
And sit on high; here, here upon my head;
Let Fools fear Fate, thus I my Stars defie,
points to his Sword.
The influence of this—must raise my glory high.

Exit.