University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

SCENE I.

The Council Chamber.
Sultan, Vizier, Captain Bassa, Kaimacan, Bassa of Bosnia, Aga of the Janizaries, Kisler Aghasi, and others.
OSMAN.
A matter of Importance pressing me,
Wherein I crave your nice Deliberations;
I've summon'd you, my Friends—as Friends indeed,
Not as my Ministers, to Call of Office.
Attend—The Question of this Night imports
Ourself in Person, and our future Conduct:
Let your Advice then be from Reason form'd,
As Circumstances shall be laid before ye.
Let not your Favour to my private Thoughts,
Whate'er they may, or you may judge they be,
Have the least Weight upon your Disquisitions,
But candidly pronounce from Facts presented,
Without Reserve your most impartial Judgments.
I shall premise, it is a Case of Love,
Originated from my Infancy:
The Object, Aphendina, Ashad's Daughter;
Our Loves are mutual, Educations one,
Ages agreeable—we think, act, speak,
Those Thoughts, Deeds, Notions, one Preceptor taught us:
I would enlarge myself to your Apprehensions,
To give the ampler Scope for judging truly:
We both imbib'd the Principles of Virtue,
And have improv'd their Growth by constant Practice;
She more refin'dly, living more recluse;
Myself with Latitude, engag'd in Wars,
And other Occupations of the State.
I, as our Laws require, would fain persuade her,
To honour my Seraglio with her Presence:
She starts, adhering to the Mufti's Precept,
“Take no Man but an Husband to thy Bed.”
I cannot offer Force to the Deserving.
My Question then consists of these four Points;
Whether 'tis lawful for your Prince to marry?
What Law's against it? When? and why 'twas made?
What says our Vizier—

VIZIER.
My Opinion, this;
That it is lawful—and in this presume
I am not alone.

CAPTAIN BASSA.
That's my Opinion.

KAIMACAN.
And mine.

AGA.
Mine—

OSMAN.
Yon Bassa's Look speaks Negative;
Give us your Thoughts, Bassa—

BASSA of Bosnia.
May't please your Highness;
O'er-charg'd with Zeal, and em'lous for your Glory,
I singly care t'oppose the current Voice:
What! shall we flatter? shall we palliate?
Disguise our Sentiments?—Our Prince at stake;
My Head shall pay the Forfeit of my Tongue,
E'er I submit to join my Emp'ror's Ruin.

OSMAN.
O'er-charg'd indeed, Bassa! What Head precarious
Is held for diff'ring from us in Opinion?
Thy Warmth becomes thee not; it speaks Malevolence.

BASSA of Bosnia.
It speaks the Language of an honest Heart—
Your Highness gave Permission to discuss
This Point without Reserve, and weigh it freely.

OSMAN.
'Tis true, Bassa, while Reason holds the Beam,
Not partial Prejudice—Vizier, proceed.

VIZIER.
My Lord, perhaps the Bassa reasons thus—
That Laws divine inforce connubial Bonds,
But Usage subsequent, confirm'd by Law,
Strictly enjoins our Sov'reigns not to wed.

BASSA of Bosnia.
Shall then our Emperor be circumscrib'd?
Abridg'd the Sov'reign's grand Prerogative,
That unrestrain'd permits him now to range
The Wilds of Beauty, subject to his Pleasure?
What! like the Turtle, shall our Empire's Head
(Perhaps too issueless) confine his Appetite
To one cool, pall'd Repast, the World before him
For Propagation of successive Emperors?

OSMAN.
The Bassa makes the Prince's Will his Guide;
If so, the Law conforms but to that Will;
Then may not I (my Pleasure coinciding)
With equal Liberty decline that Law,
As my Progenitors by Choice avow'd it?

BASSA of Bosnia.
What will the Populace, the Soldiery say?
That Osman's noble Nature is subdued
By th'Arms inglorious of a trifling Woman—
Assert the Mornarch—force this techy Bawble
To tame Quiescence, at her Emp'ror's Nod.
This—this, my Lord, proclaims th'Oth'man Glory.

OSMAN.
Forbid it, Mahomet! that this were Glory.
Like a benighted Traveller thou wander'st,
Led by the glimm'ring Meteor of false Fancy,
Devious in Error—Thou mistak'st the Truth,
Or speciously deprav'd, confound'st its Essence.
Offer no more—Virtue alone is Glory;
Thy Argument retorts upon itself:
What! shall the Vulgar Voice controul their Emperor?
Then were they Sov'reigns in Will, not I.
Vizier, point out the Law against our Marriage.

VIZIER.
'Twas made soon after Bajazet's Decease,
By Reason of an Insult on his Queen,
To prevent future like Indignity.

OSMAN.
Say, thou Defender of the vulgar Clamour;
Say, that I perish in the holy Mosque,
Shall no Prince offer there his Pray'rs to Heaven,
Because I fell beneath the sacred Dome?
Go, preach to Babes, who judge not for themselves;
I dare do right, who will oppose—My Lords!
I think, you're clear, by God's Law, all may marry?

OMNES.
We are, great Sir.

OSMAN.
Then let his Will be done—
You tell me, Custom and the old Law forbid.

[To the Bassa.
BASSA of Bosnia.
'Tis true, my Lord.

OSMAN.
Who then confirm'd that Law?

BASSA of Bosnia.
Your Royal Predecessors.

OSMAN.
Have not I
Their Power deriv'd on me, to make, t'abolish?
[To the Bassa.
Nay—do not hesitate—but answer me.

BASSA of Bosnia.
You have, great Sir.

OSMAN.
Then what's their Will to me?

BASSA of Bosnia.
It has been thought to have giv'n our Monarch's Freedom.

[Surlily.
OSMAN.
But may not I abridge myself at Will?
Or where's my Freedom?—Yet, I'd not be singular,
And act against my Predecessors' Rules,
Without a Precedent—Look back; Great Ottoman,
(My Family's Founder) Orcan, Amurath,
And Bajazet his Successors, were married;
The second Amurath, and Solyman,
Had both their proper Wives—Then, why not I?
Yet—tender in Pursuit of my Devices,
(You've heard what has been said) I now enjoin
To answer—Shall I marry?—Shall I not?

VIZIER.
We're so assur'd, by what our Lord has offer'd;
Nought has escap'd his penetrating Eye,
That we must wholly acquiesce with him,
And gratefully bear of those nice Distinctions,
We might have slipt without your Highness Guidance;
Nor can your Majesty, in our Opinions,
Trace any Steps more worthy Imitation,
Than of your fore-nam'd glorious Ancestors.

OSMAN.
'Tis well—this Secret as a Mark of Confidence
I have committed to your Privacy.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Kiosem's Apartments.
Kiosem. To her the Bassa of Bosnia.
KIOSEM.
What News, dear Bassa, from the Sultan's Council?

BASSA of Bosnia.
Alas! my Princess, all his Ways confound me;
Surely his Soul is not of human Temp'rament,
Ever aloft above the Reach of Mortals.

KIOSEM.
Thy tedious Preface racks me with Suspence;
Speak, Bassa, speak; give, give me the Result.

BASSA of Bosnia.
Scorning to lord it over the Female World,
His Highness has declar'd a Resolution
To constitute his Aphendina Empress.

KIOSEM.
Confusion! What Opposition met he?

BASSA of Bosnia.
Myself oppos'd him singly; but his Arguments
Rested on Demonstration so convictive,
That Malice self-abash'd, blush'd Acquiescence.

[Enter an Eunuch of Kiosem, who on Sight of the Bassa seems shy of speaking.
KIOSEM.
Here's only Friends; dispatch, say what bring'st thou?

EUNUCH.
The Janizaries so impatient grow,
And ripe for Mutiny, they make no Secret
Of their Resentment to the Sultan's Measures:
They have expell'd their Aga and Lieutenant
For their Attachment to his Majesty:
They say, from several recent Executions,
They're sure his Highness spurs their Leaders on,
To less'n their Numbers, by Degrees reduce 'em,
And make them useless to the State; nay, farther,
Alledge their Corps is not recruited yet,
Or like to be, since the late Devastation
They suffer'd, in the needless War with Poland.
They make some Murm'rings about Arrears,
And blame the Sultan's squandering his Cash
On gaudy Shews, while they remain unpaid.

KIOSEM.
My Wish! keep them alarm'd, abet their Courage,
And let them know, they want not Friends at Court:
[Exit Eunuch.
What think'st thou, Bassa? This bespeaks Rebellion!

BASSA of Bosnia.
I see your Highness tow'ring 'bove your Foes,
And wayward Fate lies couchant at your Feet.

KIOSEM.
Let's lose no Time; Occasion on the Wing
Beckons away, to snatch the glorious Prize.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

The Mufti's Palace.
Ashad, musing.
ASHAD.
The Sultan's Rage will issue forth in Vengeance,
If once he breaks the Bands of his Benevolence.
He seem'd, methought, cooler than usual,
Avoided Interchange of Looks, and turn'd
Unwonted from me, as I stept toward him.
This Love of his, meeting with Disappointment,
Ponders Revenge, and Fury knows no Bounds.
I wish his next Rencounter with my Daughter,
Don't terminate in some severe Event.
I durst not yet inform her of my Fears;
She'll not permit me even to suspect him;
But Power unlimited is hard to trust,
When Youth especially and Love conspire.

[Enter Aphendina.
APHENDINA.
Why hangs this Heaviness upon my Father?
You are not us'd to look so cold upon me:
You're so reserv'd, you do not smile to Day:
Is it ill News? or what you've heard abroad
Has caus'd this unaccustom'd Pensiveness?

ASHAD.
My Child, at present you'd better leave me:
Thoughts of your Welfare never quit my Breast;
I may clear up again, anon; then leave me.

APHENDINA.
If they're on my Account, I ought to share them;
Let me intreat you, Sir, unfold your Meaning.

ASHAD.
I know thou'lt be impatient at my Fears.

APHENDINA.
Indeed I won't, but strive to yield you Comfort.

ASHAD.
Thou wilt, if they should strike at Osman's Actions.

APHENDINA.
O! let me hear them; they can't be hurtful,
If they treat of Osman.

ASHAD.
I've only Doubts;
They may be vain, my Dear.

APHENDINA.
And must be so,
If you've Doubts of Osman.

ASHAD.
Howe'er I can't
Dismiss them yet—his Love may ruin thee.

APHENDINA.
And is that all creates my Father's Grief?
His Love's too generous; each Act bespeaks
The strictest Honour; too great, too noble
For deluding Stratagems.

[Enter Servant.
SERVANT.
My Lord! the Sultan!

[Enter Sultan, looking sternly.
OSMAN.
Madam, you've almost made me desperate;
Your Noncompliance with my late Request,
Has put me on pursuit of other Measures,
In which, I will be trifled with no longer.
I've fix'd my Resolution, and demand
Your ready Entrance into my Seraglio:
My Passion's obstinate; I'll be obey'd.

ASHAD.
Daughter! where find you now the Man of Honour?

APHENDINA.
My Lord! I little thought your Love would prompt you,
To this ungen'rous Treatment of your Slave.
My Duty binds me to obey your Orders,
And I'll attend your Call; but know, my Lord,
The Bars of the Seraglio are too weak,
Long to retain a Soul designed for Paradise;
Your Love, I see, aims only at my Person,
My inward Mind, my Virtue's Excellence,
Weigh little in the Ballance of your Hope,
So both deserted fall to my Disposal;
I want not Means, my Lord, to die unspotted.

[Weeping.
OSMAN.
O! no; die all the World but Aphendina:
[Embracing.
Thou shalt indeed be borne to the Seraglio,
Not as a Slave, but as thy Osman's Bride:
Thou shalt in equal Share partake my Glory.
And you, my Father! as I ever call'd you,
Henceforth art so, upon a double Claim
Be happy then, Old Man, as we can make you;
Behold in us your Sultan and your Empress;
Be third in our Dominions—why not chief?
He by whose Hand the Blessing is conferr'd,
Should rank in Excellence, beyond the Blest.

APHENDINA.
Sir, do I dream! I'm too amaz'd to thank you!
This Mark of Favour and Benevolence,
Would seem Delusion from another Man;
But Osman's Tongue can't falsify his Heart.
O! think not, Sir, my Stop to your Desires,
Proceeded from a Prospect of this Issue;
Nought so remote from probable, hath ever
Painted a faint Idea in my Mind,
Of any Blessing to compare with this:
This could be only gender'd in your Breast;
No other Soul capacious to admit it

OSMAN.
Fair Excellence! thy Beauties struck my Heart,
Thy Virtues gain'd Dominion o'er my Soul;
Thank not your Osman for the happy Moment;
'Tis your Perfections Due—unequal Tribute!
It were unjust to make no Difference,
Betwixt Divinity, and earthly Objects.
Madam, my Orders wait you at the Palace,
[Takes her Hand.
Reception meets you as befits our Queen;
To-morrow's Sun shall hail our Titles equal.

[Exeunt omnes.

SCENE IV.

Vizier, Master of the Works, and Secretary.
VIZIER.
Is all prepar'd according to my Plan,
To grace my Royal Master's Nuptials?

MASTER.
My Lord, the Shortness of the Time prevented;
Some slight Embellishment might have been added,
But nought can equal in Magnificence
The whole Design, most exquisitely form'd.

[Exit.
VIZIER.
Have all the Heralds had their full Instructions?
[To the Secretary.
Are proper Orders sent the Military?
Let all the Officers of the Seraglio
Attend their Posts upon the Trumpet's Sound;
Those of the Cavalcade must move betimes;
The whole Procession ends with Half the Day:
Beware, let nothing wait.

SECRETARY.
I will, my Lord.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V.

Apartment in the Palace.
Mirza and Kiosem, meeting.
KIOSEM.
I joy to see your Highness—more to see
Your Looks are alter'd, since our former Meeting;
Those Charms preserv'd, may cause a Doubt in Osman,
And bring him back repentant to your Arms.

MIRZA.
My Beauty, Madam, was it tenfold more,
Could have no Force without an Eye to view it.

KIOSEM.
The Sultan has been with you since we met.

MIRZA.
Not once so much as thought of me, I fear.

KIOSEM.
Ungrateful, barb'rous Prince! to use you thus;
Surely these Men think Women have no Passions,
Or can subdue them with a Nod of theirs:
My good Lord Achmet, the young Osman's Father,
Tho' he lov'd roving, never shook me off,
But trusted me with all his new Amours;
And in Return, I favour'd his Designs,
Always contributed to his Delights;
However, with this Caution, still to keep
Myself the sov'reign Partner of his Bed:
Thus, while he reign'd, I held the Royal Sway;
But had his Majesty abandon'd me,
His Crown had sat precarious on his Head.

MIRZA.
By Mahomet! thou'st rous'd my tardy Soul;
The ebbing Tide of lull'd Ambition,
Flows thro' each Vein, and swells me into Action.

KIOSEM.
Was I Sultana Queen, I'd scorn to stoop;
Disdain t'accept the Refuse of his Love—
I have not seen this new engaging Creature;
This Aphendina—but—

MIRZA.
O! name her not,
Unless thou mean'st to agitate my Fears,
With wild Variety of distracting Fancies.

KIOSEM.
'Tis said, a pompous Embassy attended,
To introduce her to her Father's Tent;
Where she and Osman spent whole Hours together.

MIRZA.
Furies and Hell! why would'st thou rack me thus?

KIOSEM.
Nay, sent her home guarded with equal Splendor.
Th'imperious Thing! I'm told, in wanton Merriment,
Droll'd on the Prince's Death, and vaunting boasted
Osman her own—Regardless too of Mirza,
He join'd the Laugh, and with a fleering Smile
Approv'd her Raillery.

MIRZA.
Ten thousand Curses!
Am I then fall'n thus low, to be their Mirth?
By all my Injuries, I swear Revenge:
Hence to the Winds each tender Sympathy;
O! for the savage Fierceness of the Lynx,
That I might hurl my Vengeance on their Heads,
Sport with their Anguish, and enjoy their Ruin.

KIOSEM.
Mirza is now herself, again the Queen;
This glorious Spirit may surmount your Wrongs,
And foil your Enemies—May Heaven direct you.
[Exit Kiosem.

MIRZA
sola.
Curse on my Fate—Was e'er such Wretchedness!
Sequester'd from a Throne, from Osman's Love;
O! that I had never reach'd the Height of Majesty!
Never been blest within my Osman's Arms—
What! be the Jest of that insulting Minx—
Hold! hold my Brain! there's Frenzy in the Thought!
Distraction aid me!—O! that I could not think—
Perdition seize the Globe and Aphendina—
Chaos and endless Night resume your Reign!
Envellope all! I'm weary of the Light—
[Enter Aphendina. Mirza starts.
What Fiend has sent her to oppose my Way?
Madam, your Arts prevail; nay, smile, exult
And triumph i'th'inglorious Spoil you've made.

APHENDINA.
Heav'n only knows—

MIRZA.
Dar'st thou to talk of Heaven!
Thy sully'd Soul bears no Affinity
To its pure native white; thou'rt black as Hell;
Thou kill'st my Sight, art more distasteful to it
Than the dun Toad bloated with Pride, as thou art.
Curse on thy Artifice—dissembling Wretch!

APHENDINA.
Madam, compose—

MIRZA.
Bid the loud Tempest cease
When the fierce North is rous'd! Think'st thou to calm
My Passion's Hurricane, by pedant Preachments
Of Composure!—in vain, proud Minx! in vain;
Hast thou not robb'd me of my Osman's Love?
What do'st thou meanly think my Spirit's form'd
Of that coarse Refuse, sordid as thine own?
That I've so little of the Woman in me,
As to sit loose to all the Pomp of Life;
To part with Sov'reignty without a Struggle,
And tamely wear your lavish Insolence?
No, by our Prophet! my Revenge shall crush you.
[Aphendina weeps.
Weep, till your Heart-strings crack; it joys me much
T'indulge me o'er thy Tears—Away to Osman,
He'll listen to thy Whine; at ev'ry Pause
Will sigh, I love—Believe the Hypocrite,
And be as curst as the forsaken Mirza.

APHENDINA.
Think not these Tears self-interested flow;
They owe their Current to a nobler Source,
Pure as my Heart.

MIRZA.
Thy Heart! 'tis scribbl'd o'er;
The Character of Truth is no where legible,
One Mass of foul Dishonour! 'way Dissembler.

APHENDINA.
I cannot leave you thus distrest—My Queen!
Permit me share your Grief; I cannot bear
To see such Excellence so greatly mov'd.
Thus let me bend to beg your patient Ear;
[Going to kneel.
—If e'er Ambition swell'd my humble Breast,
If e'er Desire revell'd in my Mind
Incontinent—let Mirza then despise me.
—But Osman—If thou'st felt what 'tis to love,
And be belov'd by Osman, thou'lt forgive me.

MIRZA.
O Aphendina! well I know his Power.
[Pausing.
Yes—he would charm a Syren with his Tongue—
Whene'er he speaks, the Accents softer flow,
Than the Lute's gentlest Trill; but when he'd wooe,
The Turtle's plaintive Notes are harsh to his.
O! were he but as true—Such Dignity,
Such Grace 'waits each Act—I must forgive thee,
If thou lov'st my Osman.

[Enter Osman hastily, running to embrace Aphendina; Mirza unperceiv'd.
OSMAN.
My Life! my All!
Thus let me clasp thee to my glowing Breast,
And gaze for ever on thy rising Beauties.
Sure Nature triumph'd when she form'd Perfection,
And nam'd the lovely Model Aphendina:
The smiling Love's i'th'Dimples of thy Cheek,
Hold here their Fairy Court; unbounded Joy,
[Looking on her.
In mystic Dance, revels within these Eyes.

MIRZA.
O! that deluding Tongue.

OSMAN.
Ha! Mirza here!

[Turning.
MIRZA.
Yes, Osman, Mirza's here; your once lov'd Mirza.
Such was the Language won my foolish Heart;
Then you would kneel, implore, nay, sigh and swear,
That Mirza's Beauty triumph'd o'er the Sex:
But thou art false.

OSMAN.
Thou wrong'st me, I am just;
'Twas my Opinion then.

MIRZA.
Think'st thou by Casuistry,
And Subterfuges mean, t'elude me still?
Perfidious Man!—Has my Affection fail'd?

OSMAN.
Madam, Obedience to our Will best speaks
Affection to our Person—Retire—no more.

MIRZA.
So lordly! Yes, Imperious! I will be gone;
My tow'ring Soul shall ne'er descend so low,
To crave thy Love, to beg it as a Favour:
Hence with the slavish Coz'nage—Thank thee, Osman!
Thou'st freed me of my Chains; a nobler Passion
Reanimates my Breast, more worthy Mirza;
Revenge, Revenge shall right her Injuries.
[Ex. Mirza.

OSMAN.
Mirza so warm! by Mahomet! I am mov'd—
[Pauses.
But when I gaze on thee, illustrious Maid!
My ruffled Bosom's hush'd, the Storm's no more:
But say! my Aphendina! why this Change?
Why are the glowing Beauties of thy Face,
(The Seat of endless Joy) thus clouded o'er?
Whilst thy fond Osman's Heart beats high with Rapture,
O'erflows with Transport, and is lost in Ecstasy.

APHENDINA.
Forgive me, Osman, that I thus offend;
Ne'er till this Instant did my constant Heart
Know what it was, not to be wholly your's:
Now, as two meeting Streams by Force repellent,
Stagnate each other in their wonted Course;
So Love and Pity in my Breast at Variance,
Sway my divided Soul, dispute the Passage,
Nor leave a Current for each other's Flow.
O! Osman—I cannot—but feel for Mirza.

OSMAN.
By Heav'n! this Softness gains upon my Soul,
Beyond the boist'rous Air, the big-swoln Pride
Of haughty Beauty on its Charms presuming:
There was no Need of this, my Aphendina,
T'insure a Conquest over Osman's Heart.
I pity her, but Virtue has its Bounds;
Excess is faulty, we must sometimes wave
Too rigid Right—Osman, when blest with thee,
His utmost Wish replete, shall then expatiate,
Look round the various Globe, pursue each Plan
Where Glory points the Way, and bless Mankind.

APHENDINA.
Osman! thy Words steal gently on my Senses,
And bear me smoothly down th'inchanting Stream
Of soft Persuasion—We're prepar'd to admit
Whate'er our Wishes prompt us to believe.

OSMAN.
Clear up my Fair! and give a Loose to Joy;
Rival the Glories of the Delian God,
When in his Chariot flaming thro' the East,
He dissipates the Gloom, and brightens Day:
Let then that Radiance beaming thro' those Eyes,
Shed kinder Influence, dispel each Cloud.
Let not my Empress' Bosom chill with Fear,
But glow with Prospect of our future Joys:
Anxiety and Care shall stand aloof,
In Wonder wrapt pay Homage to these Charms,
Nor dare t'intrude, where Love, and Peace, and Joy,
Triumph enthron'd on Aphendina's Breast.

[Exeunt.