University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

Aly writing; to him Ussain Vizier.
ALY.
My good Lord Ussain! what has drawn you forth,
Before the Dawn of Day?

USSAIN.
The Hope of finding
Aly, unbent from other publick Cares,
And ready to admit my Conference:
I choose to settle the Preliminaries
With you, before the Deputies' Arrival:
It may both quicken and facilitate
The Terms and Method of Accommodation.

[Enter Servant.
SERVANT.
My Lord! two Strangers beg Admittance to you.

ALY.
What Characters bear they?

SERVANT.
The one's a Spahi,
The other seems a Person of Distinction.

ALY.
Usher 'em in—Lord Vizier, you'll excuse
[Exit Servant.
My introducing Strangers to your Presence.
[Enter Sultan dressed like a Spahi, and Ussain; Sultan looks stern without speaking.
My Lord! my Sovereign! my Emperor!

[Starts.
OSMAN.
How comes it, Aly, you should pay Respect
To Majesty depos'd, under Disguise;
Yet rise in Arms against me on the Throne?
What Tyranny, what Injustice have I done,
That should exact such heinous Treatment from you?
'Tis true, I purpos'd to withdraw myself
From factious Insolence and mad Caprice:
Err'd I in this? Am I not justified
In my form'd Conduct, from the present Outrage?
—This, notwithstanding, willing to content you,
I acquiesc'd to pretermit my Journey,
Waiting Submission for my Condescension:
But, to return my Favour, you've destroy'd
The Man I chiefly valued—Dilaver:
And is it Aly? is it that same Aly,
On whose Fidelity ('till now untainted)
I would have plac'd the Safety of my Head,
Who leads these miscreant Wretches to dethrone me?
See, Aly, then—that Osman you abhor,
Avoiding Death by a less noble Hand,
Unfolds his Bosom to receive the Stroke;
Strike, Aly, strike; your Emp'ror bids you strike.

ALY.
Alas, my Lord! yourself has giv'n a Wound,
[Kneeling.
More pungent to my Soul, than bitt'rest Death:
Thou Sun! great Minister of Light! no more
Display thy Beams, retract thy Influence;
My glaring Villainy obscures thy Presence;
I am not worthy to behold my Emperor,
Yet cannot die 'till after Expiation,
By sacrificing all in his Defence.

OSMAN.
Rise, live, be faithful; may your Repentance
Be equally sincere with my Forgiveness;
Time's short, make such Proposals to the Rebels
As I may offer, and they best receive;
Myself will here attend the Issue on't.

[Exeunt.
OSMAN
solus.
What dire Events are incident to Royalty,
From those Props destin'd to sustain its Being!
—In what few Hands the Empire of the World!
How many Millions subject to one Man!
Yet all are govern'd by their several Interests:
From whence this Servitude, but from our Interests?
The Prince, Dispenser of all earthly Favours,
Makes Distribution to some chosen Minions;
All others lean on them for a Support,
In just Progression to the meanest Slave:
Those, to preserve themselves, maintain his Rights;
These, for Protection, follow their Example:
Those Numbers, whom one Interest conjoins,
Are only terrible to sov'reign Power,
And may alone be justly stil'd that Power:
This the Condition of my Janizaries;
Their Interests so united in each Member,
No Part can suffer, but the Body feels it,
And Feeling will resent, while Force remains:
My Predecessors, hurry'd by their Passions,
Deserting Reason's Guide, oppress'd Mankind;
Men injur'd, will resist: Those form a Power
Sufficient to maintain their lawless Rule;
Little considering, that very Strength
Bears equal Enmity against themselves,
(With those they're bought to curb) upon Occasion,
Or truly given, or at least presum'd.
—I've press'd too hard upon my Janizaries;
One Chain of Nature holds thro' all Mankind;
And not to act like Men, were to be more:
Fear, join'd to Hate, bears down all Opposition;
Then, lest they fall, they'll think it meet that I should.

[Enter Hussan.
HUSSAN.
Fly! fly, my Lord! I have not Time t'inform!
The cursed Actions of the wicked Janizaries:
O! fly, my Lord!

OSMAN.
Hussan, I will not stir,
'Till I've the Cause.

HUSSAN.
My Lord, the Vizier open'd your Instructions,
With all Benevolence amongst the Troops;
Aly then back'd it with your Royal Word,
And had proceeded, but their instant Fury
Hack'd him to Pieces—took the Vizier's Head,
And ecchoing dreadful Shouts of Amurath,
Are hither on their March, to seize your Highness—
[Noise without.
Fly! fly, my Lord! they're here—

OSMAN.
I'll meet my Fate
Undaunted; conscious Honour be my Guard:
Let them come on—

[The Janizaries force in and kill Hussan.
HUSSAN.
O! spare his Majesty—

[The Janizaries at a Stand.
OSMAN.
Why stand ye trembling thus? Behold your Lord!
'Tis Osman speaks; for Shame, lay down your Arms—
What! Thousands to a single Man?

[Janizaries rushing on him, he resists and kills some.
First JANIZARY.
Don't hear him.

SECOND.
Secure our Enemy—

THIRD.
Bring the Projector
To publick Shame—

FOURTH.
Revenge! we'll be reveng'd!

OMNES.
Revenge! Revenge—Away! Away with him!

[Exeunt with Osman.