Travells However â—t is no new thing for two pens to employ themselves upon one Subject nor need it seem other to the Reader or Spectator then if thou didst hear the same Song sung first by a Tenor next by a Base voice If thou exceptest against the length of the Play I answer If it be well written all of it is worth thy Reading if ill none of it However I have said enough when I have onely told thee Neque me ut miretur turba laboro Contentus paucis Lectoribus R. B. The Argument ABBAS King of Persia already flesht in blood as having made his way to the Crown by the murder of his eldest Brother the compleatly valiant Emir-hamze-mirza and posting his purblind Father MAHOMET Codoband into Paradise grows jealous so justly feaâ—ful are guilty minds of his only legitimate Son and indubâ—table heir the victorious Mirza who while he had the command of his Fathers Armies having much enlarged the Persian Territories by his acquests from the Mogull towards Candahor fom the Arabian near to Balsora and the Tartar east of the Hyrcanian Sea grew great in the love and admiration of the people This jealousie of its self a blood thirsty passion more cruel thâ—n the Grave irritaâ—ed by some Cabinet Councellours enemies to the Prince about the King begat in him a fear of the Princes growth that a resolve to strangle him which to effect securely that is closely he trains him from his Army by dispatching a Post down to him then sweating in blâ—od to redeem the honour of his Country-men against the Turk with command to hast up to Court where he should know his pleasure The Prince being subject to that only disadvantage of honest hearts credulity assures his Army of his quick return and hasts so bold is innocence to attend his Father from whom he is met by a Messenger certifying him that the King being by reason of some indisposition of health unfit for businesse willed him to repose where that servant should carry him till himself came to welcome hâ—m The credulous Prince like other upright persons fearing no hurt because he meant none follows his guide to his appointed lodgings whereinto so soon as that false servant was departed enter at a trap door seven lusty villains deaâ— and dumb armed with Bowstringâ— and bloody mindâ— whose habit and weapons needed no other interpreters to aâ—sure the amazed Prince that he was betrayed and sealed to destruction Oratory was in vain they were deaf in soul and body and this perhaps is the Reason why the â—urks and Persians use to employ Mutes in these bloody officeâ— resistance was bootless he being single and unarmed yet resolving not to go unattended to the Grave with such weapons at his Rage and Sorrow yeelded him he flew upon them offending them all by rare force and agility a long time preventing the noozes to fasten on him which they threw incessantly towards his neck so that he sent three of them to the Devil the other four reinforced their violence and at last fastned on him who quite spent with rage and opposals fell down as dead The Canibals pursue their cruel cowardize and had surely finished their intent had not the King who was a private spectatoâ— toucht with some remorse stepped forth and commanded only that his tired Arms should be pinnion'd and ere he had fully recovered his senses made an hot flaming steel be drawn before his eyes which though giving no great pain yet took away his eye-sight forever forbidding him any more sâ—ght of what he loved Wife Children Friends and endeaâ—ed Souldiers Then was he cast into Prison together with his Lady an Arabian Princess of the best endowments and their young Son Soffie born to a brighter fortune Thus by the excessive impiety of an unnatuâ—al Father has Asia lost her chiefest Jewel Mars his Darling and Persia her incomparable Treasure at once undone blind imprisoned and hopeless of any joy or honour ever after the cruel remembrance of which soon drave the inraged Prince into madness and thirst of revenge all the effects whereof were frequent with him till his afflicted friends and officers flocked about him and dictated patience which they bettered by relating their own quondam greatness in blood and offices till by the same dislike and mutability of King Abbas his humours they were degraded trod upon mutilated some their eyes put out some their ears and noses cut off others captivated and near famished so truly said it is Solamen miseris so cios habuisse doloris The grand enemy to the Prince that infatuated King Abbas to this cruelty was Mahomet-ally-beg his principall favourite a person raised to that height from so obscure a descent that he knew no further then his Father yet like most mean men hoisted to extraordinary preferment he grew so over ambitious as to aim at the Crown in order to which design his first care was to remove the Prince the Bulwark and Palladium of Persia and his family next to disband the Kings Armies what dishonourable condititions soever were granted to the Turk that no ready forces should be left to oppose him when he should break out One of his Instruments to besot the King to this was one of his Concubines whom he knew to be strong in his affections so dangerous Serpents are they in the bosomes of Princes The Kings unfortunate credulity gave Ally-beg a pretence specious enough to take Arms as but to obtain the Government of the young Prince Soffie and to assure the people of his safety against the dangerous anger of his jealous Grandfather So essential a beginning of all rebellions is a smooth and fair pretence either of Reformation or safety But here a while leave we Allybeg brooding over his design coâ—rupting the great buying the needy and fawning upon all especially insinuating with the discontented who are ever ready to rebell In these unpleasant times the King moving like Saturn in the highest Orbe stood free and firm against all storms giving himself all the variety of pleasures but none took him so much as the beauty and pretty discourse he observed in Fatyma daughter to his blinded and inraged Son which little Lady he took into his Court for his pastime and though not above seven years old she so captivated his doating mind with her blooming yet commanding Graces that nothing relished well without Fatyma none gave him mirth save Fatyma and if inragâ—d against any no better reconcilement then by Fatyma whom when aged two years more he had an inteâ—t to marry with an Arabian King Nor had King Abbas alone all the favour and benefit of this little Princess for though she had all possible pleasure at the Court yet neglected she no part of duty but came very often into the Cittadel to joy her Parents and relieve their wants for none save she durst ask the King for their allowances without apparent danger of displeasure and life wâ—thall whereby the royal but most
miserable prisoners were sometimes near famished none daring to relieve them lest the jealous King might have them in suspition Thus by this child of virtue and innocence gained they what they pined for food and comfort But behold the effects of mad melancholy it exâ—sperates the blinded Prince to this strange resolve He hearing of the immoderate joy and pleasure that the King his father took in his little Grandchild Fatyma being incapable of obtaining any better revenge vowes to rob him of that his Darling though hâ— wounded him through his own sides So strong and so sweet a passion is Revenge So that one time when his sad Wâ—fe and Son were sitting by him in comes pretty Fatyma with relief unto her Father by all actions of love and duty striving to shâ—w her selfe obedient Such time cuâ—sed time as this young Princess played about him the Prince called hâ—r who readily came to him to be mâ—de much of but see a hâ—rrid entertainment for instead of the embraces of love with admirable celerity and rage grasping her tender Neck with his strong and wrathfull hands whirling her about ere she could implore pitty the inraged Son of a cruell Father threw staâ—k dead upon the floor his own daughter Fatyma and in her the chief joy left to himself and his distrested Princess for the comfoâ—t of his revenge how sweet soever in the Act vanâ—shed with it the excessive delight of the aged King and sole ornament and comfort of all that Kingdom that seemed to enjoy the greatest of their condition for the Heir was with his Father buryed alive in a too early and unjust captivity His poor Princess with all the strength of her weakness seeing the Act struggled with him crying out to him that it was Fatyma that he killed little thinking he therefore killed her because Fatyma But he hearing his Son Soffie cry out too in blind sort pursued him who led by his better fate escaped down the stairs and was safe Fatyma dead begat as much sorrow and rage in old Abbas as alive she did love who now sends threats of terrible satisfactions as Famine Chains Strapadoes and all sharp and exquisite tortures to the inraged Prince his Son who by his Messengeâ—s returns his Father as many bitter curses hopes of better and more perfect revenge and wishes of whole Cataracts of miseries to poure themselves upon him In this Rage he spent two sad dayes and in the third with a Roman resolution gave a period to his sufferings in this world by quaffing off a cup of poyson to the confusion of his unnatural Father The sad Princess his Wife like a true Turtle surfeiting with sorrow mew'd her self up and since that time has seldom been seen by any Lastly Allybeg's Treason being discovered by a woman we end with the punishment of the Conspirators the Kings reassuming of the Princes friends into his favour and declaring of his Son Soffie Heir to the Persian Dignity after his Grandfather Abbas his decease which happening in the year 1629. the young Prince took upon him the Empire aged sixteen years hopeful and ingenious so fresh in memory is this sad story The persons of the Play EMIR-HAMZE-MIRZA'S Ghost ABBAS King of Persia. MAHOMETALLY-BEG the Kings Favourite BELTAZAR a privy Counsellour FARRABAN Courtiers creatures to Allybeg SELEVCVS Courtiers creatures to Allybeg ELCHEE A Duke vice-roy of Hyrcania MATZED Collonels and his creatures MOZENDRA Collonels and his creatures BENEFIAN Collonels and his creatures FLORADELLA The Kings Concubine OLYMPA Couâ—t Ladies EARINA Couâ—t Ladies OMAY Couâ—t Ladies CLOE Floradella's woman MIRZA The Prince SOFFIE a child his Son EMANGOLY Duke of Shiras and Lievtenant Generall of the Army under the Prince METHICVLI Noble men Officers in the Army fast friends to the Prince HYDASFVS Noble men Officers in the Army fast friends to the Prince ALKAHAM Noble men Officers in the Army fast friends to the Prince DORIDO a Page to the Prince VASCO Page to Emangoly NYMPHADORA The Princess FATIMA Her Daughter a Child IFFIDA The Princesses woman PAGES Seven MVTES Executioners Two THEEVES OFFICERS SOULDIERS CHORUS THE SCENE PERSIA MIRZA Act. 1. EMIR-HAMZE-MIRZA'S Ghost AND dost thou swim in Pleasures Tyrant still Or hast thou got a Patent to do iâ— When will the date expire hast thou not yet Contracted guilt enough that th' ponderous weight Of all thy Tyrannies Raâ—ines Murders fell May like a Milstone sink thee quick to Hell Are these too light leave thy Adulteries Thy Rapes thy Incests heaps of Perjuries And Ghomorean sports no sting behind Or are the Gods grown all like Fortune blind Or has dull IOVE no Thunder left Doth not 1. The murder of our Sire so soon forgot 2. And Me deserve a Bolt Sleep'st thou with what Philtries is thy strange Pillow stuft do not Ten thousand Furâ—es with their flaring hair And knotted whips of wire at thee still stare And threaten stripes Is our great Fathers Ghost Weary with haunting thee or us'd to 't do'st Account it now familiar and not quake If so behold I come from the dark Lake To be thy evill Genius and distill Into thy darker bosom deeds shall fill The measure of thy sins up and pull down With violent hand heavens vengeance on thy Crowâ— The foul Fiend aid thy councells and unto Thee dictate what he would but cannot do Discovers Abbas in his study Upon thy self and thine own Princely line Revenge our Fathers wronged Ghost and mine Inherit all my fury and obey What jealousie shall prompt mine did I say Alas vain voice how weak is that for thee The spirits of all unnaturall Fathers be Doubled upon thee 3. Act what the Mogull 4. And Turk shall start to hear what 5. th' Tartar shal Pitty what 6. BAHAMAN could not wish should be And 7. the Arabian will lament to see Faulter not in thy course now but pursue New mischiefs till no mischief can be new No cruell actions unlesse throughly done Are done secure Let not thy gallant Son Engrosse the subjects loves all his brave parts And deeds are Privy seales to take up hearts How will he stick arm'd with the strength o' th Land To snatch the Scepter from thy hated hand As thou didst from thy Father Such dire deeds Are still revenged with their like no seeds So fruitfull are as wrongs Who doth not thirst For Soveraign sway or who that may be first Is pleas'd with being second then do thou Begin with him and wait not the first blow But with a Sons and Grandchilds blood appease Fathers and brothers Ghosts What though thine ease Be bought with razing out the family And strangling th' hopes of all Posterity What need'st thou care so here thy race be even If when thou fall'st the Poles and studds of Heaven Be shiver'd the starrs quench'd thy house great names And all the world too with thee sink in flames Free villanies a hated reign assure And swords still drawn dire deeds dire deeds secure ABBAS The vow is
Venetus who first broke the Ice in describing of those parts Monst l. 5. Cosmogr Ortelius Mercator c. 6 BAHAMAN A Prince that had reason to wish as ill to the Persian as any of the rest and deserves to live again in a Tragedy his story is briefly this About fifty years since King Meleck Bahaman raigned in Larry Joon a small and craggy territory in the straits of Mount Taurus his onely aâ—me tending to preserve his birth right and that his grey hairs might go in peace to an eternall dormitory but Abbas the victorious Persian set wholly upon conquest and now at leasure having subdued Hyrcania pretâ—nded that this mountainous Prince took opportunity to â—ansack his Caravans anticipate his progresse to the Caspian Sea c. Reasons though but conjecturall of foâ—ce enough to make Abbas send Methiculi with 30000 chosen men against him Bahaman hearing it plants Garrisons in places of defence leaves the rest being not able to take the field secures himself his Queen their two Sons and 10000 Souldiers in his Castle of Ryna before which inaccessible fortress when the Persian came despairing by reason of its incredible height and perpendicular ascent to expugne it he turns force to fraud desires a parley presents offertures of amity sâ—conds them with presents and strong invitations to the aged King to come down as well to banquet as strike a league with him engaging all the Gods he knew for his safety which strong allurements so wrought upon the old King as he broke through all the teares perswasions and prayer of his Queen Sonnes and Souldiers strongly carryed by his destiny to the Enemies Tent where indeed he was feasted all day but deteyned prisoner at night then summons the Persian the two young Princes to yeeld the Castle and descend or their Father should die they refuse the Persian assaults is forc'd to retreat with losse so sore to his Army that it mutined and vow'd to return home the Generall knowing his Masters severity considered that to return without victory were to run into the nooze first he releases Meleck Bahaman perswades him he used this discourtesie but to try him and gives him his choice of returning up to his Sonnes or perswading them to come down too and seal the easie Articles a Copy of which were with their Fathers doting Letters sent up to them the Souldiers disswade them from crediting the Persian but the Queen to enjoy her husband provoked them down where they are entertain'd with all the greatnesse and feign'd affection that so great an intended treachery could devise whilst they were here congratulating with their Father the Generall then in company at sight of a private token three Souldiers in an instant whipt off their heads with their Scimiters and ere it was divulg'd abroad by inviting the Queene and the rest by counterfeit seals and tokens to come down and partake of their joyes for the new contracted league they made them descend and yeeld the Castle some of which received destruction others mercy Herbert p. 110. c. 7 The Arabian the last of the Persians Enemies that I here recount though not the least against whom our Mirza expressed most heroick prowesse in distressing of their Bassora among other atchievements a Towne where Tygris and Euphrate empty themselves into the gulph of Persia. Herb. 8 Set equal with the Gods Plutarch writes that the Persians honour their King as the Image of the God of nature his words are these recounting that Themistocles desired Colonell Artabanus to help him to the presence of the King he makes him answer thus Amongst all the good Lawes and Customes we have we esteem this above the rest to reverence and honour our King as the image of the God of nature who keepeth all things in their perfect life and state wherefore if thou wilt fashion thy selfe after our manner to honour the King thou maist both see him and speak with him but if thou hast any òther mind then must thou use some third person as thy meane Plut. in vita Themist Justinus lib. 2. Ismenias being sent by the Thebans after their defeat of the Lacedaemonians at the battel of Leuctres into Persia to King Artaxerxes to desire his compliance being commanded to keel to the King he let fall his Ring at his feet and stooped to â—ake it up whereby it was thought of some that he did it to kneel to the King Pâ—utarch in vita Artaxerx 9 And as ador'd as is the Sunne our Brother That the Persians adored the Sun is as clear as the Sun if any doubts it to be informed he needs but open any Book that treats of that Kingdome but to point to one let him consult Justines first Book there where he treats of the fortunate choice of Darius Sonne of Hystaspis to the Monarchy his horse which beast they hallow to the sun seeming first to salute their rising God see more in the seventh Note upon the second Act. That the Kings of Persia yet took upon them so great state as to claim kindred to this adored Planet I find by their inscriptions and directions of Letters and Pattents Sapores Sonne to Mizdates Monarch of Persia in the yeaâ—e after our Saviour 315. wâ—ote thus to Constantius the Empeâ—our I Sapores King of Kings equal to the starres and Brother to the Sunne and Moon c. And Chozroes Father of Ormizda who ruled Persia Anno Dom. 542. Enstiles himselfe thus to the Emperour Mauritius I Chozroes great King of Kings Begler beg or Lord of Lords Ruler of Nations Prince of peace salvation of men among the Gods a man good and ever among men a God most glorious the great conquerour arising with the Sunne giving lustre to the night a Hero in discent c. As blustring and blasphemous Titles and Epithites gives the great Turk to himself as witnesseth M. Sandys Tra. l 1. p. 47. Nor do any of these Oriental Monarch go less everyone thinking himself greatest so good opinions have they of themselves for particulars see Herb. p. 129.130 10 Higher then that in Spawhawn Spawhawn though it stands in Parthia is the imperiall City of all the Persian Monarchy and the best built 't is by some called Spaan by others Spahan Jespaa and Hispahan as their severall Dialects concord in her infancy she was called Dura but whether that Dura wherein Nebuchadnezzar erected his golden Coloss I know not the ancient Greeks called it Hecatompiles from its hundred Gates as the Isle of Crete Hecatompolis as having so many Cities the Persians Hyperbolically term her for her greatnesse Half the world though her circuit is not now much above nine English miles and in that the better halfe is Gardens her form is near round like Paris the number of inhabitants 300000. at most In this City is a monument of our Abbas his mercilesse cruelty being a Pillar compact of severall heads of men Antilopes Bucks Goats Buffols Elephants and Camels 't is at the base about
English for hereby the Persians took advantage to repine before the Duke that they sat idle whilst the English purloined away their hopes The Duke glad of the occasion bad them be their own carvers which they soon were so liberally as they left nothing for the second commer the confident English all this while carrousing aboard their ships and bragging of their Victories and hopes Onely Captain Woodcock had good luck and bad lighting upon a Frigot laden with Treasure which he made his owne prize worth 1000000. of Rials but soon after hard by the Swally Road without the Barr he lost the Whale his own ship swallowed by the sands and then his life by sorrow The poor City is now disrobed of all her bravery the Persians each moneth conveighing her ribbs of wood and stone to aggrandize Gombroon not three leagues distant out of whose ruines she begins to triumph Ormus has no fresh water but what the clouds weep over her in compassion of her desolation that is preserved in urnes or earthen Jarrs for drink and to cool sleeping places The priviledges which the English enjoy for their service at Ormus are they have a Staple at the new Port Town Gombroon or Bander as the Natives call it their houses and the Dutch Merchants being apparent from the rest by their Ensignes flying a top their Tarrasses In Ianuary here yearly arrive English and Dutch ships from India and here the English are not onely Custome free themselves but their Agents receive Custom of all strangers in recompence of their service at Ormus D't Juigne Heylen Herbert 12 The Costermonger ALLY-BEG The birth-place of this great Persian Favourite Mahomet Ally-beg was Parthia called so from Parah to fructifie and near Spawhawn his parentage so worshipfull that he knew no farther then his Father a man both mean and poor Mahomet had no stomach for the warrs and having a large bulk to maintain and no Camelion his education being simple he became Costermonger and by that made an hard shift for a poor living till in a happy hour the King then in the Hippodrom in Spawhawn in a good humour took notice of him viewed him lik't him and preferr'd him so as in a short time he became sole Favourite and was feared and for that honoured every where among the Persians for so shall it still be done to him whom King honours Nor was their Prince Duke Sultan or other but in an awfull complement sent him yearly some wealthy present to cherish his favour to the great increase of his possessions though in their hearts they despised him and undervalued the King for preferring him as ever in such cases it happened unto Princes but most eminently unto Lewis the 11. the French King who advanced Cottier from a mender of stockings to be Lord Chancellor of France Herbert Peacham c. 13 The Caspian Sea This Sea is so called from the Caspii a people of Scythia whose Southern Coast it washes it s also called the Hircanian Sea of bounding Hircania and Maridi Baccu of the City Baccu Therbestan and Mari di Sala and many other names it takes of the places it washes It hath on the North Media on the West and South the Turks Empire and the Mascovites on the East Persia the Moors and Arabians therefore call it Bohar Corsum i. e. the inclosed Sea It is absolutely the biggest of all them which have no commerce wiâ—h the Ocean being near 3000. miles in compasse from North to South 700. from East to West 600 the form ovall Some say it hath a subterranean Commerce with the Euxine Sea as the flood Zioberis was by Alexander found to have with Rhodago At this Caspian Sea Plutarch makes Alexander astonished deeming it not lesse then the Sea of Pontus though much calmer it alwaies keeping at one height without Ebbe or reflux yet could he not imagine whence it had it sourse but thought it some eruptive Torrent from the lake of Meotis Over this Sea did Prince MIRZA oft make navall expeditions into his Enemies Countries ever returning with wealthy booties and not seldom leaving Garrisons behind him D' Juigne Heylen Herbert c. 14 Driven the Mogul into his Candahor Candahor and much of Arachosia now Cabull once Alexandria for distinons sake Arachosiae belongâ—d to the Mogul till MIRZA first distressed him in them then drave him out Herbert c. 15 Made Balsora c. See the 19. Note upon the Third Act. 16 And bounded th' Tartar with the Hircanian Ocean By regaining what ever he had gotten upon the continent of Persia even to the Hircanian Sea which is the same with the Caspian Sea of which before 17 I I that check't Cycala's insulting Progresse c. Cycala Bassa was a renegado Christian son of a Christian Gentleman of Messina in Sicily and his wife Lucrece both perfect enemies to Mahumetism In the Christian quarrell the Father sacrificed his life but the son through an unhappy ambition became Turk and was circumcised by the perswasion of Ozman Baffa Great Generall against the Persian for Amurath the third Cycala's aim was to succeed his Patron Ozman in that charge however al Amuraths reign hee never was put upon any valuable employment Mahomet the third put him in the head of a Regiment at Karesta in Bulgaria after the famous siege of Buda in Hungary After this he insinuates far into the favour of Achmat son and successor to Mahomet presumptuously promising to ruine and utterly swallow up the Persian being constituted Generall he made many unfortunate attempts against King ABBAS and his Son but I overpasse as many of his defeats by them given to come to that most memorable in or about the year 1604. when he like a violent Torrent with 80000 men resolved to overwhelm Persia first powred himself upon the Georgians a Christian People so called say some of their Patron and first Converter Saint George Bishop of Cappadocia and Patron of England others will have their Province which is a part of the greater Armenia named Georgia from the Georgi its antient inhabitants The people say they received the Gospell in the time of Constantine the great consenting in most Doctrinall Points with the Grecians but not acknowledging the Patriarch of Constantinople having a Patriarch of their own who is for the most part resident in his Monastery on Mount Sinai in Palestine and hath under his jurisdiction 18. Bishops Their Religion was since much reformed by Lodovic Gangier of the society of Jesus and some otheâ—s who in charity departed from Pera near Constantinople crost the black Sea and landed in Mengrellia with intent to rectifie what was erroneous in their Religion and were to that end curteously entertained by Thâ—ebis Prine of Georgia for though the Province be under the Persian it enjoyes its Prince of the antient race and he his Nobility but tributary to King Abbas Cycala found a stout opposition from the Georgians alone to whose aid our MIRZA the admired Prince of
Brass and what Wilt thou sayes she that hast given up thy name To me go wanton in the Courts soft pleasures When yet the field is cover'd with thy Army And new attempts resolv'd Alk. Heare heare her sir. Mâ—r. Then filial duty calls loud from the Temple T' obey is your chiefe honour the contrary Would fix more staines upon your Name then all The Ottoman blood could you set it a Tilt Could ever wash away O strait who sayes not To go is Cowardize to stay Rebellion Ema Excuse me sir were it not blasphemy 'Gainst our great 7 MITHRA to say the Sun wants light When he doth but keep state in gloomy dayes No no your Highness have possess'd the world Enough with your known valour now no spot Will stick to you besides who knows your business Your Highness going may be necessary And so your journey give more honour to you Then kicking ope this Towns Gates with your foot Met. O' th' other side some handsome excuse may Give satisfaction to the King till this Design be over and not incur displeasure Ema It may so yet why should our Lord the Prince Run that hazard his stay may do him hurt In losing th' opportunity of some Action Sure of concernment else the King would not Have sent knowing the weight of his work here Or worse it may provoke his Fathers anger At least suspition His going cannot harm him This Plot is so contriv'd as we may act it Nor need the common Souldier know he 's gone Put one into his Armour to disguize it When he is there if the affair be urgent 'T is well he went if not he may return To us before the Action Mâ—r. I 'm confirm'd Obedience possesses me all over I le up and down again quick as your thought If I be forc't to stay go on and prosper But duty bears me not faster to him Then Love and honour shall again to you And so adieu my Lords Ema Heaven keep your Highness Elc. Go safe Met. And safe return Hyd. And well as safe BELTAZAR EMANGOLY ELCHEE METHICVLI Hâ—DASPVS ALKAHEM MATZED BENEFIAN HAil my Lord Duke of Shiras Ema My Lord BELTAZAR What wind wast drave hither trow In secret Elc. No good one You may be confident Bel. Save you my Lords Ema O my apprehensive soul I 'd give Aside An eye my Lord the Prince were here again Bel. 'T is thus in short my Lords His Majestie Dreading some sickness growing strong upon him Hyd. He was in health even now Aside Alk. Stay sir observe Bel. Thought good to send down for his Sonne the Prince The staffe of his old age to be about him And has done me the honour to command me Hither to stand in joynt Commission over Th' Army with you My Lord EMANGOLY My honour'd Colleague Ema Your standing is my fall Aside Bel. My Lords methinks I see and grieve to see Something like Discontent in all your faces Ema I 'm justly proud sir to be joyned with So eminent a Vertue but this in this Conjuncture of time I think was ill advis'd Now when the Army is neer worried out In a long war to tear their darling from them Will rellish ill Ben. I 'l up and turn Platonick Met. And I Stoick Mat. I le to my Farm and there They whisper Sow Mustard-seed the Prince gone farewell Arms. Elc. This is a trick the Prince nere dreamt of it Alk. A bait to lure him up and lodge him O. Ema My Lord his Highness ere we lost him laid The Plat-form of a Plot to gain this City By a surprize till that be done wil't please you To keep close your Commission lest th'novelty Disturbs the Action Bel. Sir I 'l be advis'd In this and all things by your better judgement Met. We all do know our duties let 's attend them Ema Go then my Lords I 'l follow or I thinke We had as good let this adventure fall 'T was but to please the Prince Bel. Sir as you please I 've some dispatches those over I am yours EMANGOLY ELCHEE METHICULI HYDASPUS ALKAHEM MATZED BENEFIAN THe Prince call'd up to stay and one sent down To take his place and that a Courtier too Plot of some Turk to ruine Persia By striking her good Genius Impudent head Worthy a thousand thunderbolts that durst Once mention it why stay we in the Army There 's not a Captains place now to be given But some Court-Madam must dispose it to Perhaps some little leg'd Gentleman-Usher Ben. Or decay'd Stallion Elc. Though we toil'd and sweat To purchase honour for the Prince we will not That BELTAZAR shall share with us Ema Shall I Be coupled now after so many Triumphs With a Court Spaniell I 'le let the Turk in first Say my good Lords what can you shrug and fawn And complement your Generall is a Courtier Now you must fight in method exercise Your men as in a Dance Met. Pox let all fall Hyd. Best call MOZENDRA back and le ts do nothing Mat. But mutiny Elk. Or at beâ—t raise the Siege Ema The shame wil not be ours but the dul Kings That knowes â—ot how to prize a worthy Son Omneâ— With all our hearts Met. Let'â—hold together then And we are safe Ema You are an Oracle The King shall know that nothing shall be done Lesse we be pleas'd and have again his Son BELTAZAR SELEUCUS SELEUCUS is thy Post upon his wings T' inform thy master of the Princes coming Sel. My Lord I have dispatch'd him Bel. Prethee stay him For my Packet Sel. My Lord I 'l after him Bel. Do so and then the King shall know he must not Pull down his Son and let these great ones stand That are but his dependents pieces of him They 're grown too great to obey any but Their Prince and will not brook my rising ore them And yet to speak my conscience they 're but honest And do but what I should yet now that is not The way to thrive and so may well be lov'd And wished but not practis'd without losse As he that fells an Elm must also fell The Ivy Vine and under shrubbs that dwell Beneath his shade and cling in loving sort About his bole some but for their support Some to suck sap from him So who 'd remove A Prince or great man strong i th' Peoples love Must strike his followers too A mighty man Doth never fall alone no more then can The beams and columns of a Palace and The Rafters and the sparrs unmoved stand CHORUS WHat dire effects evill Counsell workes Even to unhinging greatest states It doth allure with specious baits But underneath foul Poison lurkes The Prince to please a factious few Must rob himself even of his best Of friends and discontent the rest Which he may ever after rue This happens when the Princes ear Is open droâ—n'd in soft delight Unto the bosom Favorite Or undermining Flatterer How hard and difficult a thing Almost above the power of man Or
ruine Base ALLYBEG and impious FLORADELLA And all the rest of their dire Complices This day fell sacrifices to thy wrath SOFFIE is found too and doth here attend thee Mâ—r. Turn then your love to him to him requite My wrongs and from him too expect my duty Now shall I die with much a lighter heart Since I have liv'd to hear those Traytors fall Nym. O this I ever hop'd for from heavens Justice And grieve the more that thou despairedst of it Mir. I come sweet fatyma-FATYMA-Father farewell Use SOFFIE like a Son Abb. O that Heaven would Let me excuse thee Mir. SOFFIE Farewel Obey thy Grandfire as thou wouldst do me Forget my wrongs and eschew Tyranny Sof Ah! that I could forget sense and turn stone Mir. Adieu sweet Spouse Nym. O! Mir. From thee I hardliest go But thy grief will not suffer thee I know To be long from me Nym. O my wretched ears Do you heare this and will you ever hear Any thing after it O woefull eyes Why at this wailfull sight drop you not out Or frighted recoile deep into you holes O stubborn heart can't all this shiver thee Am I turn'd Rock too Mâ—r. Friends adieu make ore To my young Son the love to me you bore Ema O that I could not hear Met. Or I could help Mir. Yet love my memory Bel. O Grief Alk. O Anger That griefe is all we can Mir. Thou DORIDO Art to attend me to the shades below Pag. Yes my dear Lord. Iff. O that he 'd gone before Mâ—r. I shall again live and on some sad Stage Be mourn'd Great wrongs reach further then one Age. O O. Dâ—es Abb. He 's gone he 's gone break heart and follow Omnes O Heavens Nym. Stay winged spirit stay and take Me with thee at least 8 let me suck thy last breath Bel. Madam forbear you will infect your self Nym. O Gods what have been my deserts to be Thus punished or if such be my deserts Why am I yet not punish'd more with death Yet that were to give end unto my woes To joyne me with him were to make me happy That happiness I shortly will obtain In spight of fate if not from thy kind hand O ATROPOS from mine own grief at least Mean while lie soft O loved Corps and thou Adored soul if love to earthly creatures Remain in death think of me in thy shade And oft Petition Fate to send me to thee Sof Unhappy DORIDO how hast thou wrong'd All Ages Alk. And shalt still be curs'd by all Pag. Is 't not too late to say forgive pass'd errors I hâ—st to follow him to his shade I 'l there Wait on him too and try to be more happy They that behold the Sun must see his shaddow And who remembers my brave Lord must cast A thought on me and may they say thus of me I was his faithfull servant waited still On him in life and death good state and ill So used to obey his each command I did it though it to his hurt did tend If any fault of mine be known to time Service mistaken was my onely crime O O. Dyes Iff. He dyes Ema Would 't were our greatest losse Abb. Our losse alasse is above words to ease And we must more then mourn it Do thou see METHICULI all rites of pomp and sorrow Perform'd to that brave body This vile trunk Of DORIDO'S for giving his Lord poyson We will have burnt upon his Tomb. Met. Sad office Nym. Ah sadder sight that 't were Methiculi and Alkahem carry out the Princes body and the Servants the Pages my last Abb. SOFFIE Thou now art our and the Empire 's hope EMANGOLY be thou his Governour And breed him such as you intend to serve Ema My care shall labour to requite the honour Sof And mine t' improve your honour by my profit Abb. Daughter your losses we can ne'r requite Yet as we can let us attempt amends But that must come from you look ore your wishes And be the Mistress of your own desires Nym. ' Las sir what is there left for me to wish But a short term of wretched life mean while Some humble Country seat shall be my Cell Free from the trouble of all tongues and eyes I being unworthy either waiting their Kind deaths cold hand to lead me to my Lord. Abb. If that be your desire you must enjoy it But we could wish we could deserve you still Nym. Wilt thou partake of my retirement IFFIDA Iff. Madam it would seem hard to me to spend My years which my youth promise will be many In solitude I 'm an ill comforter And then my fortunes arâ— before me too Nym. Be happy in them Ema Poor ingratitude Nym. Farewell great sir if ever you remember You had a Daughter-in-law deserv'd your love Pay it to my poor Son at least forget not You had a Son that did deserve it well Abb. To him we 'l pay the love we ow'd his Father Adieu sweet Princesse BELTAZAR attend her Nym. I thank your Grace Farewell my dearest Boy But that thou still wilt dwell in my best thoughts I would I could forget I ere was happy Be thou so ever Sof Madam if you please not To stay still with us you 'l I hope admit Me in your solitude to do my duty Nym. Things of more weight will take thee up be happy And so shall I when sighs have spent this breath A mortalls happinesse begins in death Abb. Comâ— SOFFIE and leaâ—n to be a Prince But 9 when thy hand shall close mine aged eyes And on thy head my Diadem shall shine Learn by my harms to eschew Tyranny It was thy dying Fathers Legacy And shall be mine too and I leave thee more In that then in my splendid wreath of Oare For cruell Acts in them their torment have Guilt on our souls blots on our names they leave THE END ANNOTATIONS READER IF by perusing the former pages thou deservest that name Thou hast in them perhaps met with divers historicall matters which unexplained may defraud thee of the content I wish thee therefore I here offer thee a Key for every Lock ANNOTATIONS which if thou shalt find usefull I am glad I inserted them if superfluous they cost thee nothing for they are so few theâ— have not swell'd the Play to a much greater rate I will not trouble thee with tedious digressions upon the Poetick Names and â—â—gments strew'd up and down the Poem those if thou beest Learned thou knowst already if not a Dictionary may inform thee and spare my paines I only touch and that lightly upon such historicall concernments and customary rites of the Persians essentiall to our Scene as every Scholar is not bound to know for to such chiefly I wrote this Tragedy ANNOTATIONS UPON THE FIRST ACT. 1. THE Murder of our Sire This King Abbas being a younger Son was onely King of Heri near Tartaria by birth but aiming at the Persian Empire he to make his way to it privily
prendre en la queuë D'vn grand cheval tant horrible à la veuë Qu' aussi souuent que sa teste il hausoit On eust pense que cela menacoit 11 Seraglio Those Palaces or Bawdy houses royalâ— are called Seraglio's in which the noble men and Princes in Persia Turkie and indeed all over Asia keep their Concubines every great Man has one commonly plentifully stored Emangoly as I have said had 300. women in his But that belonging to the Great Turk in Constantinople excells all in the world yet his Predecessours did not more exceed others then of late years Sultan Achmat did them in this point having his furnished with 1500. women whereof more then 500. of the choicest were Virgins all of them his slaves either taken in the Warrs or from their Parents Christian or others but the chosen Beauties of the Empire onely a free woman is not to be made a Concubine unlesse she consents and herein onely is the Grand Signiors power limited They were attended onely by women and Eunuchs nor were they presented to the Emperor untill certain months after their Entrance in which time they were purged and dieted according to the custom of the antient Persians when it was his pleasure to have one they stood rankt in a Gallery and she prepared for his bed to whom he gave his handkercher This custom is still continued and the Grand Signior sometimes bestowes some of his cast Concubines upon some of his Bassas and principall Favourites as rewards of prime services which is taken for a transcendent favour a certificate that they have pleased him being accounted a noble Dowry In so besotted a subjection are the minds as well as the bodies of those people to the Ottoman Tyrants For more of this subject I referre you Mr. Sandys his Relation and to a description of the Grand Signiors Seraglio in particular lately published c. 12 Persepolis was the head City of Persia according to Pliny and of the whole Orient according to Curtius so called from Perseus its founder say some and father of the Nation The Persians say Jamshet was the founder whose Image is frequently carved in most places hee ruled over Persia in nine descents from Noe and is by Historiographers supposed son of Ouchange fourth King of Persia. Others will have her built by Sosarinus who lived in the Median Dynasty and was the third Emperor from Arbaces who gave end to Sardanapalus and the Assyrian Monarchy which had continued from Belus Father of Ninus 1480. years in succession of 41 Monarchs Howbeit she was most beautified by Cambyses Son to Cyrus and second K. of the second Monarchy and continued the mightiest City in Asia from Cambysses to Darius Codomanus Son to Arsamus in the line of 13. Monarchs 230. years at which time it fell under the Macedonian Victor whose Historiographer Q. Curtius reports her built of Cedar Trees but improbably for the Country produces none if hee meant Cypresses 't is credible for they every where crown the bankes of the River Byndamir which waters this City Adjoyning are whole Mountains of black Marble of which the imperiall palace was extracted and cut out in which the Kings Throne was Gold and Orientall Gemms the Roof shined with Gold and Silver Amber and Ivory now a heap of ruines by the Inhabitants called Chil-manor or forty Towres their Ancestors may have seen so many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 now there are but ninteen standing and one below to the East though the ruines of eighty more are yet extant The Hall was cut out of black shining Marble wherin were placed 100. white Marble Pillars each Pillar fifteen foot high and forty squares round each square three inches From hence is a Prospect of all the Plains thirty miles about The ascent to it is hewn out of the Marble Rock as if the structor presaged fire and defied it the stairs reserving their durance and beauty to this day are 95. So broad that 12. horsmen may ride up a breast The immediate ascent is 22. foot high at which is the Gate in breadth six paces in height 30. foot very elegantly hewn out of the Marble fixt and durable for ever engraven with a mighty Elephant on the one side and a Rhynoceros on the other A little further from the Entrance are two Towers or Pillars of like shape and bignesse to the former near which is another part of the Gate wherein is engraven a Pegasus these are the Portalls to that Apollo supported by 100. white Marble Pillars Adjoyning to this was another four-square Room each square 90. paces 360 round it had eight doors four of which are six paces broad the other half so much each door has still seven engraven Marble stones fixt one upon another each stone four yards long and five quarters high all which eight doors are exquisitly carved with Lions Tigers Griffins and Bulls of rarâ— sculpture and proportion on the top of each door is in stonâ— the Image of an Emperour in State holding in his hands â— staff and Scepter this was the Dyning room The next waâ— the Queens and her Ladies room 't is Quardrangular but noâ— equall in form 2 sides being 60 the other 70. paces The fourth Room not yet quite obscured was the Nursery two sides 20 the other 30. paces long the black Marble wals are rarely wrote with Images of huge stature and have been illustrated with Gold yet in some places visible the stones so well polished they equall in lustre a steel mirâ—our At the highest of thiâ— Palace is cut out of the pependicular Mountain the Image of a King perhaps Cambyses adoring three Deities the Fire the Sun and a Serpent So far Master Herbert of whose exact description I have used the more because none have so well done it as he as also for the worthinesse of the subject this having been saith Diodorus Siculus the richest which you may guesse at anon when you see what wealth Alexander found in it and the most lovely City under the Sun It had saith the Historian a high stately â—ower environed with a threefold wall the first wall was sixteen Cubits high bâ—autified with battlements the second was as high again and the third as much exceeded that to sixty Cubits composed of hard Marble polished like a looking-glasse and as bright fixt with brazen gates To the East of which was a Hill of four Acâ—es wherein were Entombed the Monarchs of the world Nor was the glorious Temple of Diana here of lesse credit being as Josephus writes covered with refined gold Arist. lib. de mundo averreth the admirable ingenuity of the Persian Magi such combined with the immense cost of those Emperours that by well disposing of pipes in a wall reaching to this City they could hear in one day of all affairs though that bulkie Empiâ—e even from the Hellespont unto India Magin in Geogr. makes this City still in circuit 28. miles and to contain 60000 Families notwithstanding all
made nor shall thy flattering Fate O MIRZA contradict it though thy Troops Stood like a wall about thee nay though IOVE Presse all the Gods to guard thee and should arme Them every one with Thunder I would through I 'l tear the groundsells of thy Towers up And make their nodding spires kisse the Centre But I will reach thy heart thy heart proud Victor The power that I have climb'd to ere my time Cannot be safe if any reach too near it I feel my Crowns totter upon my head Me thinks and see him ready stand to latch them Was I a Prince born to the Persian greatnesse 8. Set equall with the Gods and as ador'd As is 9. the Sun our Brother and shall I Be bearded by a Son a beam of me And like a Cypher add but to his value I will hereafter call thee viper ever If thou canst lose thy filiall Duty I Can lose my Bowells and on thy ruines build A Pyramid to my revenge and safety I that would wrest an Empire from a Father And Brother will not lose it to a Son Still may he fear that dares not to be cruell ABBAS FLORADELLA WHo 's that Flo. 'T is I. Abb. My FLORADELLA Flo. Yes Abb. Enter my sweet welcom as earliest light To th' infant world and with thee ever bring A thousand Comforts to my thoughtfull breast But why doth sadnesse invade Beauties Kingdom And these faire eyes eclips their glorious He kisseth them splendour With vailes of melancholly is 't possible So firmly inthron'd in thy ABBAS Love That all the Gods should make thee know a grief Flo. Alas my Lord the peoples common theam Still grates mine ears no other voice is heard But MIRZA's praises the Gods hear no vowes No prayers but for MIRZA's safety who 's So dull a soul that cannot since he first Led out your armies count his victories As if all were Historiographers And for each blow he dealt return a statue Abb. I 'le kick their sandy fabricks into dust And rear a lasting one of their own heads 10 Higher then that in Spawhawn is to which Their Idolls own shall be the Cupola Flo. They all read Lectures on his actions Till out of breath they pause and then admire Till his encomiums hit the starrs and stick His Idolized name amongst them swearing The lustre of that one puts out the rest You my dear Lord they say lie wallowing here In pleasures and will one day take a surfet A good effeminate Prince whose only act Of worth is that you gat so brave a son Whom as the rising they adore for you They think have passed your Meridian And now are nere your setting Abb. Setting yet I 've heat enough to scorch them all to cinders And see they not the Sun ne'r look so bloody As when he sets Flo. Ah! but my noble Lord How can I look upon this pompous Palace Furnished with spoiles of nations the long train Of early clients that wear my Thresholds out Nay on your honored selfe my excellent Lord But as the Prisoner late condemn'd to death Doth on the pleasant meads the curled groves And silver brooks he passes by as led To execution These he alass must leave She weeps And well I know how dead Kings Paramours Are dealt by by their cruell successors Abb. Why dead why successour but why these tears Which I 'le drie up with kisses and revenge With as much blood of thy fea'rd enemies Be a good huswife of these pearles my dear Too pretious ere to spend ' lesse when I die Thou 'lt shed a few of them t'enbalm me with Who 's that It is the voice of Beltazar Flo. Or Mahomet Allybeg or both Abb. Sit still ABBAS MAHOMET ALLYBEG BELTAZAR FLORADELLA COme come my Lords I 've long expected you Mah. We met i' th way a stop a giddy stream Of people with broad eyes and right-up ears Powring themselves from all parts to 11 the Buzzarr The novelty made us too mixe among them What then made all this concourse â—â—t to hear A Panegyrick sung by hired Eunuchs In adulation of the valiant Mirza Abb. The mountain brought forth a ridiculous Mouse Flo. Heaven grant it proves ridiculous Abb. Heaven it selfe Can't make it otherwise Bell. There were all the deeds Of 12 your great ancestors from Mortys Ally Recounted not as copies to be followed But made as soiles to set off his the better And brought but by comparison to shew How his green valour conquers all example So said the flattering pamphlet Peleus name Stoops to ACHILLES and so SATURN joyes To be ore-topt by JOVE Abb. O most felt flattery Mah. And there exposed they his armed figure In a triumphall Chariot drawn by 13 CYRUS And great 14 DARIUS yoak'd with this inscription As the new Moon the light o' th old devours So do thy actions all thine Ancestours Abb. No more no more seem'd any man of name To countenance this fairy Pagentry Bel. No lesse then great Duke ELCHEE at whose cost It was performed he 's hasting down to 's charge I' th army this was his farewell to 's friends Abb. There 's musick in that voice would many more Of his rank durst oppose us There is gain In mighty rebells Flies and moths may buz About our beard and are not worth the notice Or if we crush them they but foul our fingers 'T is noble prey deserves a Princes stroak And by my Fathers soul they shall not want it Flo. Spoke likâ— thy selfe Mah. Heroick god-like ABBAS Bel. Let not my Soveraign doubt my proved faith That 15 would ope MAHOMET's Shrine at your command If humbly I play the Princes friend And urge but their objections as thus What ever glorious actions are atchiev'd By him or his redound to the Kings glory As all the souldiers to the generalls What common souldier ever gained a Triumph And yet what Generalls single valour conquer'd How then are you made lesse if he grows great Since all his greatnesse is not his but yours Do not the flourishing of the branches adde To the Trees beauty Abb. But luxuriant boughs Not prun'd suck too much moisture from the Tree Bel. What cares the Sea how great the Rivers swell Since all their pride flow into her Abb. But what The Sea doth get in one place in some other It loses and the more he wins upon Th' affections of the people the more I lose Minions too great argue a King too weak Maâ— Great Favourites should be set neare Kings as foiles To set them off not to vie lustre with them A Partner once admitted to a Throne Soon justles out the other th' snakes new skin Once come she casts the old one 16. No where are Two Kings in safety but in Tenerâ—ff And there the one is dead but one alive Bel. But 't is not known the Prince intends a danger Mah. It is not prov'd Abb. 'T is then too late when prov'd To be prevented Flo. Cockatrices eggs Must not be brooded over
love to see these Actions they will put Spirit into me Is the Princesse ready Iff. She will be presently You stand on thorns now Fat Shall I see 't too Iff. Yes yes my pretty Lady If you 'l sit patient there and weep no more Fat Indeed I will not but I could not hold Lâ—st day they were so cruell could you IFFIDA To see hard-hearted PROGNE stab her Son And all the while the boy cling to her breast And for each wound she gave return a kisse Sof Go y' are fainthearted If. Nay Sir she 's good natur'd Fat This too is some sad story tell me IFFIDA Why do's this woman look so angry here Sof What ailes that old man so to weep I can't Indure to see a man weep it showes cowardly Iff. That fierce Lady MEDEA resolv'd to fly With her new servant JASON from her Father To hinder his pursuit she tore in pieces Her brother ABSYRTUS and bestrewd i th' way His limbs which that old man their father finding He stopt his vaine pursuit oâ—'s cruell Daughter To gather up by peace meal his torn son And seems to bath each piece with teares as if He thought them Cement strong enough to set The tatter'd joynts and flesh again together Fat Was she a sister O I could not do So by you SOFFIE for all the world I care not now for seeing it presented I hate all cruelty so perfectly Yet could I bear a part with that old man And weep as fast as he so infectious Is a just sorrow chiefly in old persons NYMPHADORA SOFFIE FATYMA IFFIDA PAGE WHat ailes my FATYMA to drown her blossomes Of beauty thus in tears Child art not well Fat Yes Madam but this piece is limnd so lively As it doth strain tears from me to embalm Poor torn ABSYRTUS with Nym. Pretty compassion I like this tendernesse in thee but we think This a feign'd story O may reall griefs Ne'r touch thy breast poor thing wilt see it acted Fat It will I fear make me too melancholy Nym. Do as thou wilt my Heart Fat This piece shall be My mâ—lancholly study and sad Tutor When I have either cause or will to weep I le take up this and sit and think I see The tender boy stretcht out his hands unto me For help and sigh because I cannot rescue'him Then think again the old man calls out to me To help him gather up his sons limbs and weep Because I cannot Iff. Pretty innocence Sâ—f Pray Madam let me wait upon your Highnesse To th' Tragedy Nym. Thou shalt sweet-heart Iff. What now Pag. If 't please your grace the Lady FLORADELLA Is lighted at the gate and means a visite Nym. She 's welcome Sof Pish pish now her idle chat Will keep us beyond time Nym. Soft my young Gallant NYMPHADORA FLORADELLA SOFFIE FATYMA IFFIDA HAil my good Lady Flo. Mighty Princesse hail Nym. Please you to sit Flo. How does my little Lady Fat I thank you Madam Flo. And you my Lord Sof Madam At your service Flo. Troth an early courtier How happy are you Madam in these copies Of your fair selfe and your renowned Lord By which you 've fild times sharp teeth and secur'd Your names your formes and natures from the wast Of death and eating age nor is it fit So eminent a beauty and cleer vertue Should for lesse then eternity grace the world Nym. Why Madam give you me the trouble to Speak your words over for these heights of courtship Are but like sounds made in a hollow room In expectation of the Eccho's answer FLo. No Madam by your beauty and that is The greatest Power that I can swear by I Oft lose my self in pleasing Contemplation Of you as Natures and as Fortunes darling By whose best gifts yet can you never be So highly grac'd as you do grace their gifts And them too by your bare receiving them What had the Gods in all their Treasury Oâ— greater worth or lustre then the Prince Your excellent Lord A Prince that striketh dumb Envy and slander and gives Fortune eyes And who could they find worthy to bestow This great result of all their sweat upon But you who yet deserve him every inch Nym. In him indeed I am compleatly happy But he is so far above all deserving As I can plead no merit yet the Gods Themselves have sometimes deign'd a mortall love Flo. In which of all the Gods fortunate Princesse Could you have been so happy as in him With better grace thou Phoebus dost not hold Thy gorgeous rein nor from thy glistring Throne Scatter more beauty or more Majesty A Majesty indeed too great to know Any Superior And now that the King Is bow'd down with the burden of old age The heavy weight of the unweildy Empire Grow but a trouble to his aged shoulders His Crownes are to his head a load no more An ornament It 's fitter his white Age Should now indulge his genius and release His thoughts from all the ruffle of the world And give him time to contemplate the place He tends to every day So should the Prince Make his few daies brighâ—er and easier to him By taking on himself now fit for labour That load of care we call the Soveraignty Nym. Pray Madam give such thoughts no longer breath Thoughts that the loyall Prince and I detest 'T is the base viper gets a life by forcing A violent passage through his Parents bowells 19 My Country Phoenix when he duly mounts His Fathers spicie Throne brings on his wings His honour'd ashes and his funerall odours To shew he climb'd not till his death his seat Flo. Your Highnesse rather should assist his rising By gaining more to 's party which is done With but a gracious look or smile from you ' So prevalent an Oratour is beauty Nym. No by his life and all the love I bear him I 'd rather follow him fairly to his Tombe Perfum'd with that unblemish'd stock of honour He now stands in then that so fouly broke See him untimely thrust into the Throne And justifie my self a loyaller wife In loving more his honour then his life Flo. Unconquerable Vertue if the Gods in secreâ— Give me a Plague 't will be for th' injury I do this noble pattern of all goodnesse Well Madam you may feed upon that air But there are those wish the design on foot And promise to themselves a fair successe So great 's the love they have for the brave Prince An expâ—ctation of a braver King ' For 't is Authority declares the man Nym. I 'l thrive their trai'trous plots Iff. My Lord speak to her Nym. But in his face I read my SOFFIE think 's This conference might be spar'd as well as I For he was wooing me to carry him To see MEDEA play'd at Madam OMAY'S And I am loth to disappoint his hopes Flo. I 'le be no cause of that I 'le wait you thither Nym. You 'l honour me Flo. I 'le go before you one day
Father Mother brother But for a dungeon She weeps Abb. Come these thoughts will over As time and more discretion wins upon thee â—ts fit thou be as free from the reward Of his foul treasons as thou wert from them He may be yet restor'd how ere his Name Though stain'd with this one blot shall ever stand Full and Majestick in great Historie For noble acts yet shall those Histories And after times boast thee his chiefest Act That fame him most But which of all the pleasures That court thee here dost thou most favour child Fat Musick it feeds my melancholy and Brings Paradise into my thoughts OLYMPA Tells me the soul is only harmony And Musick built the world Abb. Come child within Thou shalt have some shall please thee Fat 'T must be sad then MAHOMET-ALLYBEG ELCHEE HE was indeed the very soul of war The thunderbolt had TYPAEUS fought like him Great JOVE had been his Prisoner Elc. Heavens whose ears Have not his Trumpets tingled in what fears In Persia's foes have his brac'd Drums awak'd What enemies face has not his hand besmear'd With blood and glorious dust what land what fields Has not his sword manur'd with hostile blood Whose triumphs have not his deafned his heard To and beyond 1 Byzantiums walls of fire Mah. But now O lost lost is our hope our glory And fortune of our name except Elc. Except My Lord and can yet all the Gods if they Should sit in counsell form a remedie Mah. Yes yes dear ELCHEE there 's a way yet open To rescue Persia's glory and our comfort Elc. O speak it and be our good Genius Mah. And 't is my Lord a way wherein the Love I bear to you would have you high and eminent Nature and vertue have done their parts in you And Art and education better'd both The dignities and honours that you hold Are no more then your birth assign'd you to Were your parts lesse I 'd have those scores of merit You 've put upon the age paid double to you But how the course the King now takes will do it Your new disgrace at Court assures you So that if justice honour or endearments Were silent all the many disobligements The King has given you call you loud enough To th'Princes Party Elc. I my Lord have studied Not to divide my soveraigne from himselfe His interest and the Princes I count one How ere his anger has now sever'd them And were I once assured in my reason That his dis-favour of the Prince were just I 'd onely mourn his fall as much from Vertue As from his honours Mah. 'T is but the jealousie Of 's guilty mind perswades this cruelty To th' Prince and to himselfe he being his hope Good JOVE what fears what doubtful apprehensions Do wicked Actions leave in cruell minds His Fathers Ghost and Brothers haunt him daily And MIRZA he thinks must needs requite the blows He gave to them Nor will this humour cease But grow upon him still with its fond Nurse Old testy age that 's subject in its self To fears and doubts and sees all dangers double Elc. That 's his disease my Lord but now the cure Mah. What but a hard and seeming violent one Why may'nt you martiall men rally your powers Free the brave Prince secure his hopefull Son And then maintain 't and force his frenzy from him Elc. That looks too like Rebellion Mah. O successe Is a rare paint that which succeeds is good When the same Action if it failes is naught Elc. Indeed would the young SOFFIE were safe Mah. To wish it onely is but womanish Attempt it and he is Think but my Lord The innocent Babe calls from his prison to us And are these hands that never could deserve them So soon for fetters Believe it DAMOCLES sword Hung not by a less threed then the Kings doth Ore that sweet hope of Persia one mad fit Destroyes the race and glory of the Empire He grows apace and the old Tyrant knows The children whose Parents have been wrong'd Inherit all their hatred and are dangerous What factions then what numbers of Pretenders Will not with force assert their fancied Titles And shalt thou fairest Mother Persia be Torn by the factious hands of thine own Children Forbid it Heaven Elc. MIRZA'S deserts plead too Mah. Yes and that loud shall I that spar'd no blood No toyl dear quondam Souldiers to adorne Your heads with Palm your memories with fame Now pine and find no courteous hand will knock My unworthy shackles off Is Honour Love And Gratitude all blinded with me too Elc. Who should begin Mah. It works it works why you Or Lor any body well begun The work 's more then halfe ended A small force And handsome Declaration will find none Such Enemies to themselves as to oppose Nor do the Princes high deserts his Sons Apparant danger or our Honours call Louder then our own safeties they are too At stake He whose wild rage could reach a Father Brother Son and I may say a Grand-child Will not spare us but you or I or any May daily feed the monster of his fury Elc. 'T is but too probable like a mad man he 'l Hurl stones at all alike Mah. And like a mad man His present state appears with sorrow I See him like one distracted about to murder His best friends and himselfe and doth not this Condition call for helpe O let us pitty The Father of our Country and interpose Betweene his fury and his violence 'T is Duty not Rebellion We 'l restore him To 's wits againe and then he 'l thank us all For hindring's making of himselfe away How would the young mad Greek have hugg'd that servant Had hindr'd him in 's drunken frolick from Murdering his friend Elc. Our ABBAS jealousie Is no lesse wild then ALEXANDER'S wine Both perfect madnesse and the fit once over He 'l see his error and be sorry too Mah. Then how shall they appeare lovely in story Firm in the Kings the Princes Peoples loves That like good Angels sav'd all that was deare Mong us to Gods to Honour and the Empire An Action no lesse glorious then is ATLAS His bearing up the sinking Globe from ruine Elc. My Lord EMANGOLY is well belov'd And now enough incens'd to make the head Of the design 't will work his reconcilement With the King too Mah. No no my Lord why should you Thrust from your selfe so fair a fortune do 't And let me serve you in 't your hand my head Our Purses and our friends together do it Besides EMANGOLY is too much disgrac'd And men will say his hatred to the King And not his love or to the Prince or Empire Put him in Armes Elc. They 'l say the same of me Bear you the name head both the act and Plot. Mah. I ne'r meant other 2 good aside Gelden but to ride you Elc. I shall have honour enough in serving you Mah. Well Sir I le be no courtier with
the Scorpions of Cushan sting thee Nym. Ah! cruell Father Mâ—â— First TISIPHONE Lead me to TANTALVS I 'd faine talk with him Iff. Why TANTALVS Mâ—r. 'Cause he kill'd his Son too I 'd see if's punishment be great enough Then I 'l Petition PLVTO my hard Father May have the same Nym. O that the Comparison Held whole in thee He murdered his PELOPS To entertaine the Gods but ABBAS thee To feast the furies of his frantick mind To PELOPS too the yellow Goddesse gave A whiter shoulder for his own she tasted And with new better life requited him O that some Deity would thine eyes restore Or close up mine Mâ—r. Hah that 's PROSERPINA She 's in love with me and condoles me too But I 'l not wrong my NYMPHADORA though PROSERPINA where's 7 my Uncle and 7 my Grandsire Two Persian Princes murdered by their Son And brother I 'd faine speak with them and sit Comparing fortunes with them Nym. O they are Bathing themselves in blisse in their sweet Grove Mâ—r. And shall I be there too CERES bright daughter Let me sweet Empresse Nym. Yes if you will rest Your head here in my lap and there lie still Mâ—r. But will not PLVTO then be jealous of me Nym. No. Mir. Come then 8 Now tell me more of Paradise Nym. There'midst the fragrant flowre-enammell'd fields Do golden Pallaces their shining heads Erect with richest Arras each one floor'd Christalline Rivers flow to moat them round For state not strength and with their wanton murmurs Lull every sence and make soft sleep yet softer Their banks are fring'd with Trees of Gold that feast With goodly forms the eye with fruits the tast Fruits that pluck't ne'r so oft straight spring againe So the rich boughs still with like mettall shine Under whose fragrant shades they spend their course Of happy time with amorous Virgins who Regard alone their own particular loves Not such as tyred out in the world a life But there created for it with best form 9 Cows eyes and beauteous as the Hyacinth Still their Virginities return and still Their beauties flourish as their Paradise For ever young yet ripe and fresh full blown Yet alwaies free from naturall pollutions Still as in their third lustre men ith'fixt Their Boyes of divine feature minister To them and proffer hourly to their choices The most delicious Viands Drinks and Voyces Mir. But when but when dear Queene of darknesse shall I Inherit all this bliss Nym. When thou art fit for 't Mir. And how shall I make my selfe fit Nym. By sleep Sleep will much purge thee from thy earthy humours Mir. Sweet PROSERPINE there is in Persia The fairest Lady that ere blest the Earth Sweet NYMPHADORA thou must needs have heard Of her many worthy Hero's have Dyed for her love one frown if such a face Can frown of hers have given a hundred Princes Their Pasport hither didst nere heare them sit And sigh her name or see 't carv'd in the rind Of some faire Tree Nym. Yes O that love should last Longer then reason Mir. She PROSERPINA Will be with you ere long the noble heart Has taken such a griefe for her wrong'd MIRZA It can't last long unbroke but when she comes Let not thy PLUTO see her lest he falls In love with her and so turn thee away He will PROSERPINA let him not see her Nym. Well then he sha'nt Mir. You talk of women too That we shall have in Paradise when she comes Let me have her she was mine own above And I 'le not change her for all natures store Nym. Admired constancy sleep and you shall Mâ—r. Boy GANYMED give me a draught of Lethe To make me sleep wilt not I 'le try without it Nym. Alas what noise is that A noise withoâ—t Look IFFIDA Iff. Madam here comes my Lord EMANGOLY And three or four with him Nym. He were welcome If 's comming now could be without disturbance MIRZA NYMPHADORA SOFFIE EMANGOLY METHICULI HYDASPUS ALKAHEM IFFIDA PAGE HAh hah who 's that do's PLUTO come Nym. No no Lie still Ema We'd best retire Nym. No joyn your help With me to calm his fury Ema O that my selfe Had bit my unhappy tongue from th'panting roâ— And spit it in the Tyrants face which falling Had trembling murmur'd curses at hs foot When I gave counsell to my Lord t' obey His cruell message Met. O who ever yet Saw the returning steps oth'credulous beasts That visited the counterfeit sick Lion Hyd. And yet O ABBAS what fierce ravenous Lion Did ever Lybâ—a's fiery womb produce Or what fell Tyger thy Hyrcania Of so prodigious cruelty as thou art Alk. Lions are tame as Lambs and Tygers mild As frisking kids to that outragious monster Ema There is no perilous desart but his breast Where teeth and armed fangs do tear the strong And treacherous toiles t' insnare the innocent Are ever ready set Met. O th'cruelty Of hate disguis'd like love Ema And how O Gods Is vertue dear to you if thus the Serpent Of Treason be permitted to turn Dove To flatter it by unsmelt means to ruine Mir. I knew on earth a voice like that sure 't is My good EMANGOLY's and is he here too Ema Here my deer Lord but O that I had been Under the earth when my unlucky judgment Advis'd you hither Sof O you 've spoil'd all my Lord. Mâ—r. Why are we still ith'upper world I thought I 'de past the ford Cheats cheats He starts up and fantasies Quick then EMANGOLY go muster all Our force and see them paid I 'le march to morrow And never make a halt till I have kickt Bizantâ—um's selfe to dust 10 Let an Iron Cage Be made to carry with us for proud MORAâ— I 'le try yet if his stomach be as stout As BAJAZET'S but line it all with furrs To hinder him from the pleasure of a death Nym. Would he but cool with sleep his high distemper All these wild thoughts would vanish with his frenzy Emâ— Repose Sir till the Army needs your conduct Nym. Yes my dear Lord restore thy selfe again Unto my care and make my lap thy pillow Mâ—r. I will my sweet and ne'r would rise from hence Did not dear honour call as loud as thunder Such is my love to thee yet could I not Love thee so much lov'd I not honour more Nym. IFFIDA call for musick and a song Gentle and soft as Notes of dying Swanns To woo him into slumbers Sof That will charm him Mir. The Turks already made thy Prisoner when I next return my selfe to thy soft breast His head 's a present for thee Nym. Hark! my Lord soft musick How gentle rest courts thee in her best language SONG HE 's great that masters his own soul As he whose nod shakes either Pole Not he that Kings in chains can bring But that subdues himselfe 's a King That 's ever in himselfe at home And ne'r lets his Queen Reason roam On whom all passions waiting stand As hand-maids on
FLORADELLA COme MAHOMET what need hadst thou t' employ Any tongue but thine own in thy just suit Thou maist do more with me my MAHOMET raise For thy securitie what guards thou pleasest Mah. I willingly could have spar'd this needlesse state Could I securely attend your service But though arm'd with my innocence I fear not JOVES Thunder-bolts yet Wise prevention Is the first point of wisdome in a Peer Sir here is a commission please you hear It read and sign it Abb. Give me it MAHOMET We 'l sign it without reading we dare trust thee Farther then this Flo. Your Highnesse may Abb. We know it Flo. Dear thou knowest when to They whisper meet at Madam OMAY's The consultation's there you had the watchword Mâ—h I know the time and will not loiter deerest Since 't is for thee I work Flo. And I for thee Abb. A Masque attends me thou shalt sweet partake it Thou MAHOMET hast something else to do MAHOMET-ALLYBEG YEs I have that to do shall undo you I erre 't is done not Heaven can hinder it But should th' whole Machine o th' design crack which Would more amaze the world then brutish thunder The pleasure I have given my selfe to see To what a height I 've wound this strumpets soul Would almost pay my pains How sure she makes Her selfe of what I never mean her fortune Then when I rise fresh in my summer glory And throw her off like a course robe I wore Only to shield me from my colder winter Who will not say I cunnings Master am That can deceive and that in their own game Greatest deceivers when they me shall know Out-cheat a woman and a strumpet too VASCO AM I awake or do I live what torrent Of evills have over spread thee Persia Is justice cripled and the furies all Let loose to act their Gambols in the world Dire secret of the direst Treason how It swells within me till I be delivered Of it at my Lords ear He happily May stop its course then was my love well plac't To sift out this and though I die this night I 've liv'd to be most happy and the ages To come shall pay thanks to my memory MIRZA â—n his Couch alone BLinded imprison'd pining here for want Of what each debaucht Ruffian spends in riot And by command of my own Tyrant Father A proper Patrimony If the Turk Had us'd me thus my fall had been with honour And heart held up with hope whilst I had had A Father to command Revengâ— and friends To act it home But when those friends are thus Fetter'd disgrac'd and torn from my assistance And nature too turn'd backward in my Father What have I left me but to curse my starrs Starrs ignes fatu glittering Meteors That made a show of greatnesse and in snuff Now loose their glimmering false light and stink Unnaturall Monster have I left so oft For thee and for thy safety the embrace Of my fair Princely spouse abandoned My self to all the sufferings and hazzards Of bitter and long war to have this Triumph O that I could relieve my soul with vengeance In my last sleep I saw the wandring Ghosts Of my great Uncle and wrong'd Grandfather Squallid and pale attended with an Army Of murder'd spirits all my Fathers crimes Calling loud to me for revenge revenge Both for the love I bear them and my self I'â—h ' head of these gnashing her teeth with ire Came frowning NEMESIS offering a whip Of folded snakes to my impartiall hand My soule 's now like a boistrous working Sea Swelling in billows for disdain of wrongs And tumbling to and fro from Bay to Bay Nothing can calm it but full wrought Revenge Stern Goddesse I adore and give my self To thy dispose O point me but a way To work thy ends and mine My arm is short And shackled thus with Irons I can't reach The Tyrants heart how shall I serve thee then When strait she calls to me with bended brows Reach him in 's Favourites ' las ALLYBEG Is strong i th' Courts and Tyrants affections But he has Marble walls and Iron barrs T'ween him and me But FATYMA comes to thee She saiâ—s and she 's the Idoll of his soul Rob him of her Shall I through my own sides Wound him and to deprive him of a Grandchild Tear from my self a daughter no lesse dear And dutifull to me then she 's to him But I am great with child of indignation And cannot be delivered but by vengeance And no revenge but this is in my reach I shall but send her to the pleasant Groves Give her at once Heaven and the Tyrant Hel Hell in his thoughts Hell in his Conscience And that same Hell of his is Heaven to me It is decreed She dies to make him do so O sweet revenge how I thirst now for blood And burn more then I lately did for drink In my wild feaver hottest fit who waits there SOFFIE MIRZA NYMPHADORA IFFIDA CAll'd you my Lord Mir. Yes child is FATYMA come Sof Not yet Sir Mir. SOFFIE art thou prepar'd For freedom when she comes Sof Sir as you please Mir. yes thou shalt go to Libertie though I Repent thy absence O my great resolve in secret If I must fall I 'l pul down Persia with me And have no lesser Monument then an Empire Nym. And when th' art free and in EMANGOLY'S care Think o th' restraint thy Parents here endure And seek with all discreet care to redresse it Sof I shall not rest till then Iff. Here 's FATYMA MIRZA NYMPHADORA SOFFIE FATIMA IFFIDA COme child Faâ— Fate is not yet all cruelty Nym. What 's this I see child in thy face of mirth Fat Madam I have got Licence of the King For all you can desire but Liberty Mir. And without that what can we here desire Worth satisfying Come hither FATYMA Stand here between my knees Sweet in secret innocent Ah! that I could but now forget all Father Or else be like mine own and leave all goodnesse Sweet child art thou contented to stay here And let thy Brother'scape in thy attire Fat Most willing Sir Nym. Thy Grandsire will not let Thee lie here long in misery like us Fat Would I might still stay here to wait on you I 'd rather so My Lord METHICULI Is at the Castle gate waiting for some body Sof That is for me Fat Come Brother let 's change cloaths Mir. Stay FATYMA suppose thy Grandfather Why say I so thy Fathers Murderer Should now grow angry with thee for this change How wilt thou bear his wrath child canst thou die Fat Yes Sir if you will have me to die and sleep They say is one and after Death we wake In a fresh Paradise where joyes abound Mir. All joyes are there there once for all the world Thou wouldst not be a minute here again Fat But Sir shall I not want your Presence there And my dear Mothers and my Princely Brothers I love you better then all joyes
there whither we now will hast To rescue our Son and make our self deserve This benefit the Gods were pleas'd to give us Met. My Liege I will Abb. O who can be a Tyrant And plague the innocent on bare surmises When gracious Heaven passe by our reall ills And oft to gain us save us 'gainst our wills MIRZA PAGE FIe DORIDO and did I ever think I should check thee for disobedience Now I importune thee sha'nt I obtain My last draught of thee Pag. I can hold no longer 'Gainst his command Sir here 's a bowl well spic'd Will send you to your Paradise in a moment Mâ—r. Give me it DORIDO Pag. Ah my hand trembles In the delivery Mâ—r. Thankes good faithfull youth Now that my Father could see me quaff this A health to the confusion of the Tyrant he drinks Pag. Sir leave some and I 'l pledge you Mâ—r. As thou wilt Now call my wife to take her last farewell I come sweet FATYMA i 'm coming to thee And doubt not but thou'lt thank me for releasing Thee from this Prison the world calls a life NYMPHADORA IFFIDA to him PAGE WHat would my Lord Mir. Be reconcil'd to thee I know th' art angry with me for the losse Of FATYMA Nym. Not angry sir but grieved Mâ—r. Come I have sent the child t' a place fit for her A sacred place of rest worthy her goodnesse This world was not it was her Hell and mine And I am following her I sent for thee To take my last leave Nym. I conceive you not Mir. Thy eyes shall make it plain I have drunk poyson Nym. O Heavens forbid Iff. O Gods how came he by 't Pag. I gave it him he drank and here I pledge him He drinkes Iff. O wretch Nym. Wer't lawfull would I 'd pledge him too Pag. I still was us'd t' obay all his commands And this was one nor could I abide to see Him miserable my duty did gainsay it Mir. And my own honour faithfull youth and courage Nym. Self-murder's a false colour of true courage Rising from fear of torment or of shame T' out-face ill Fortune and malicious Fatâ— And this I hop'd from you then should the Heaven First have dissolv'd but you should have been righted Heaven sets us Captains of our bodily Forts Which without Treason cannot be delivered Till redemanded Mâ—r. Sure if Heaven had made us Masters of any thing 't is of our lives Which if we may not without leave lay down We must not without warrant leave a joynt If in these little Castles we be Heavens Lieutenants sure we may give up our charge When Heâ—ven leaves us void of good means to keep it Nym. We must not doubt Heavens goodness who is nothing But goodnesse nor limit it since the last Instant is scope enough for th' heavenly Powers To revoke all things to ones own desire Why pluck'st thou then their work out of the hand Of Justice and become thy own revenger When she would surely have don 't and better Mir. I feel the poyson working O be happy Nym. Hast IFFIDA some antidote may help yet Pag. Nay spare that paines not natures self can help him 'T was strong enough Nym. To break my heart I hope Pag. It works with me too my eyes swim in death And dizzinesse tosse over all my braines Iff. Fie DORIDO thou art the greatest Traytor Of all to poyson thy dear Lord. Mir. Peace fool He 's faithfull and my good deliverer ABBAS EMANGOLLY BELTAZAR to them ALKAHEM Servants NO that is yet my part I 'm thy deliverer Rise injur'd Son arise and meet thy freedom Mâ—r. Who 's that Iff. The King Mâ—r. The Tyrant in good time He comes to see me rescu'd from his rage Nym. His eyes blast me I can't with patience see him But what means this yet why are these friends with him Pag. All are prov'd false and mock our misery Nym. And is this then a spectacle of pleasure That I could form a curse great as his guilt Abb. Spare them sweet daughter if I yet am worthy So near alliance to so bright a vertue Mâ—r. O death why com'st no faster Ema Heavens what means he Bel. He thinks he comes to torture him Alk. He looks ill Abb. No art of words can now more aggravate My guilt then mine own Conscience nor dost thou Feel sharper pangs of Grief then I of horror I 'm undeceived I see my hasty error And hadst thou now a window into my brest Thou wouldst confesse th' unfeign'd integrity Of my repentance when thou seest my soul Weep freely tears of blood to bath her crime in Mir. Croâ—odiles tears Ema Indeed my Lord you erre Abb. Thou err'st brave Son for yet I 'l call thee so And will henceforth appear a Father to thee I 've been a Tyrant nay a Monster long Which as I have bewail'd I will redresse Repentance has made Rivers of mine eyes My eyes weep themselves blind for loss of thine My breast is hardened as brawn with strokes My head turn'd grey with sorrow more then age Insense makes the offended Gods relent For that I 'l spend my very soul in sighs To be penitent bears a pardon with it A pardon I that yet ne'r beg'd of any Now beg of thee A Father of a Son Let the relation at least obtain it Nym. So when the house is burnt the fire goes out O that this true remorse for so I think it Had come before when yet it had been usefull Bel. Madam 't is ne'r to late to redresse wrongs Nym. Yes when the wrongd's not capable of redress The Prince alas inflamed with despair Got his unhappy Page to give him poyson Abb. O Heaven and slightest thou our Penitence Mir. Poyson so strong defies all remedies As it will soon make me all injuries Ema O Act of Horror Bel Dire event of wrongs Aâ—k Which when in time we' are carelesse to redresse We justly when we would do 't are deny'd it Abb. I mourning to my grave must ever go then At least before thou leav'st this upper world O speak thy self but reconciled to me Mâ—r. I freely do it and implore your pardon If I exasperated with my wrongs Have vented any undecent words of you Of other crimes towards you my soul acquits me Abb. And mine own too this piety adds load Unto my grief and melts my very soul. METHIâ—VLIE SOFFIE SEe sir their joy has drown'd them all in tears Sof This looks not yet like joy Iff. Ah! no my Lord. All joyes have fled us Alk. The brave Prince tir'd out With suffering wrongs took poyson Sof O just Gods Met. Not just they are grown Tyrants too mock Our best intentions O Abb. What a blest day Had this been had not this draught clouded it That balefull draught descends in a diâ—e storm And not ecclipses but our Sun-shine onely But batters with fierce dropps our springing hopes How mightst thou else have triumph'd in the Justice Done on the cursed causers of thy
20. foot in compasse in height about 60 It was erected upon this occasion when Abbas was proclaimed King the Spawhawnians would not admit him but charged him with the death of Mahomet his Father and the murther of Emir-hamze the Prince his elder Brother This netled Abbas who stoutly swoâ—e for this Rebellion he would chastise them bravely and cut off 40000. of their heads to raise a Pillar of terrour and admiration as a ready Sacrifice unto Mahomet At length he Conquers and ransacks the City kills 1000. of them and miâ—dfull of his oath gives order to behead 40000. A lamentable cry is raised but to small purpose the vow of the Persians never alters nor could he be disswaded till the Mufti or sacred Messenger assures him Mahomet by revelation told him his oath might be dispensed with so 40000. were beheaded no matter what at length he consented whereupon ensued a massacre of all sorts of beasts of whose heads this barbarous Columne was reared higher then any Mosque in that City though now grown ruinous Herbert p. 89. c. 11 The Buzzarr In our language the Market place Hâ—rbert p. 147. 12. Your great Ancestors from MORTYS ALLY the present King of Persia will have himself of true discent from Mortys-alâ—y or Haly an honor he conceives so great as he puts it among his titles This Ally was Cosin to Mahomet the Persian Prophet to whom he gave in marriage his daughter Fatyma born of his first wife and made him his heir and head of his superstition by the title of Caliph but after his death Abubacer Father of Aissa Mahomets 2d wife taking ill the preferment of Ally by the aid of Omar and Ottomar Mahomets kinsmen whose desires were in hope of succession by reason of the old mans years and for kindreds sake rather to see Abubacer then Haly Caliph resisted Haly and set up himself after him Omar and Ottomar succeeded Omar was slain by a slave Ottomar in a private Quarrell after them Haly reigned against him arose Mavius who accusing him as accessary to the death of Ottamar caused him to be slain near Cafe a City some two daies journey from Babylon where he lies buried and there in his honour the Persian Kings have ever since used to be consecrated the place is called Massadell or the house of Haly. Ossan or Hussan his Son was pâ—oclaimed but resisted by Mavius and by him poisoned about the year 657. He had twelve Sons eleven whereof were murdered with him and with him lay buried at Cafe or Massad the twelfth Son escaped from whom the now King derives his pedegee his name was Mahomet Mahadin alias Musa or Prince Cherisim The Persians so highly honour Mortys-ally as still they place him in their devotions with Mahomet and sware by his name their usuall oaths being by Serrey Mortys Ally the head of Mortys-Ally or Serrey Shaw by the Kings head and putting one finger upon their eye and then you may beleeve them if you list they honour no less his son Hussan whose death they yearly celebrate with many ceremonies nine severall daies in great multitudes in the streets altogether crying out Hussan Hussan so long and so fiercely till they have spent their voices on the ninth day they find him whom they imagine lost in a Forrest or one in his place and then in a tumult crying out Hussan Hussan with drums fifes and all sorts of loud Musick they bring him to the Mosque where after some adoration and thanks giving their Orgie end Most believe that Hocem or Mahomet Mahadin is not dead but strongly expect his return to convert the world wherefore their Prophet Mahomet also having promised them his second glorious coming after 1000. year which they seriouysl late looking for and seeing themselves gulled by such credulity began to stagger till the Mufti assured them the figures were mistaken and that upon better view of the Originall he found 2000. when he would not fail to visit them till the first thousand years end the King of Persia ever kept in the Mosque of Massadella a horse ready sadled richly camparison'd and well attended which with one of his daughtrs he reserved for Mahomet the Prophet or for Mahadin his Nephew first come first sarved The lineal descent of this King of Persia from Mortys Ally superfluous and tedious here to insert as also of the difference in religion between the Persian and Turk raised by his family An. 1375. or at least by Syet Guynet who pretended to be so read at large in Mr. Herberts Travells and Mr. Sandies his Relation 13 14 CYRVS and DARIVS The Alpha and Omega of the Persian Monarchy when it was the second and greatest in the world and stretched from East to West from India to Ethiopia if it can be that any is not yet acquainted with the memory of these two mâ—ghty Princes they may soon be so by the means of Quintus Curtius and Iustine They were both the most fortunate and unfortunate the one overcome by Thomyris Queen of Scythia the othor by great Alexander The two examples they wâ—re of the fragility of mundane gâ—eatnesse wheâ—eof the last that led an Army of 1000000. fighting men against Alexander professed it his mishap at his death that hee had not werewith to requite Polystratus for a draught of cold water but was forced to leave it to his noble Enemy to do And the first that possessed so large a Dominion and had 200000. men to attend his fall was content with this modest Epitaph over his narrow doâ—mitory O man whatsoever thou art and whencesoever thou comest for I know thou shalt come I am Cyrus that conquered the Empire of Persia I pray thee envie me not for this little earth that covereth my body Words powerfull enough to pierce even the heart of Alexander considering the instability of worldly things as witnesseth Plutarch in vit Alex. 15 Would ope MAHOMETS shrine Mahomet the Saracen Law giver died in his 63. year his great Clymacterick giving his seduced sect a promise of his Resurrection the third day after till when they kept him unburied and as Anthonius writes 30. daies after the reckoning till smelling he was a lier the air being infected with the monstrous stink of his carkass by Abubecher or Ebbubecher his Father in law he was purified entombâ—d and laid in a new Sepulcher at Medina Talnby some two daies journey from Mecha to which place is daily resort by such of his sect as have zeal to Pilgrimage and those not onely are ever after accounted Syets or holy men and cannot lie from that time forward but their Camels and apparell also are of such esteem that they never after do them service in vile carriages or servile occasions The lay people are not permitted to approach much lesse to look into his Monument But the vulgar Tradition that he hangs in an Iron Chest attracted to the roof of a Mosque by a loadstone there placed I find approved of
by few good Authors therefore wave it Sandys Herbert c. No where are 16 Two Kings in safete but in Teneriff Teneriff is one of the Canary Ilands in the Atlantique Sea in former ages called Fortunate Plinie counts onely six of them others ten but the moderns reckon their number 7. viz. Grand Canaria La Palma Teneriffa Lancerota Hierro La Gomera and Forte ventura their commodities are Honey Wax Sugar and the best Sack They were unknown to Romes greatnesse being first discovered as Galvano writes by a French Gentleman called John de Betancour An. 1417. though some report it of another and in the year 1330. at which time the inhabitants were rather monsters then men they knew no God but Nature were ignorant of the use of fire they shaved their heads with flints their Children were given to Goats to suck they cultivated the earth with hornes of Goats and Oxen. In Gomera they had their wives in common they gave adoration to all Aetheriall Bodies Their Dead they washed exceeding clean then put the carkasse into a Cave standing upright with a staff in his hand and a pale of Milk and Wine placed by him good Coadjutors to his imaginarie Pilgrimage They were conquer'd by Don Henerico Infant of Spain Anno 1418. De' Juigne saies long before viz. in the year 1346. or thereabouts But my purpose was onely to speak of that one of them Teneriffa equall to the rest in circuit or if not exceeding them in height allowing it's immediate ascent from the Ocean the high peak is by most Geographers reputed 15. miles high happily the highest in the world by reason of its affinitie with the middle aerie Region seldom without snow it is seen by Seamen in a Serene skie 120. English miles and serves as an apt Sea-mark In this I le they had a Custome and I think among the Natives continued which occasioned this note to have ever two Kings one dead the other living keeping him that died last unburied all the reign of his Successour peâ—haps to be to him a memento of Mortality and so a Monitor to rule well Herb. p. 3. c. 17 Sworn by the Eight Refulgent Orbes This though a ranting one was one of King Abba's usuall oaths when hee was serious Herbert recounts more of this strein as by his Crown by the eleven hundred names of God and the honour of his Prophet Mahomet and by his Fathers soul which last I made use of 170. lines before To swear by the souls and ashes of the deceased was no lesse frequent among the Antients then Moderns to instance but in one example Ovid making Briseis avouch to Achilles her own chastity and Agamemnos civility towards her makes her take these imprecations Per tamen ossa viri subito mala tecta sepulcro Semper judicis ossa verenda meis Perque trium fortes animas mea numina fratrum Qui bene pro patria cum patriaque jacent Epist. 3. â—or by my Fathers bones too ill interr'd Bones by me ever to be honour'd By my three valiant Brothers souls my Pride That bravely for and with their Country dy'd 18 Sultan in our language as much as an Earle Herb. p. 171. 19 My Country Phoenix Mirzas wife who speaks this was according â—o Master Herbert an Arabian Princesse of which Country Plinie L. 6. c. 28. with the consent of all or most Authors makes the Phoenix nor could any land bring forth such a Princesse as we would have her seem but that which produces the Phaenix a bird Claudian calls Far Superis equall to the Gods but because his rare Epigram of this rare Bird is too long to be inserted here I will shut up these Annotations upon our first Act with what Ovid sings of this precious Fowl in as precious numbers Vna est quae reparet seque ipsa reseminet ales Assyrii Phoenica vocant nec fruge nec herbis Sed thuris lacrymis succo vivit amomi Haec ubi quinque suae complevit saecula vitae Ilicis in ramis tremulaeque cacumine palmae Vnguibus duro nidum sibi construit ore Quo simulac casias nardi lenis aristas Quassaque cum fulva substravit cinnama myrrha Se super imponit finitque in odoribus aevum Inde ferunt totidem qui vivere debeat annos Corpore de patrio parvum Phaenica renasci Cum dedit huic aetâ—s vires onâ—rique ferendo est Ponderibus nidi ramos levat arboris altae Fertque pius cunasque suas patriumque Sepulchrum Perque leves auras Hyperionis urbe potitus Ante fores sacras Hyperionis aede reponit Ovid. Met. l. 14. One Bird there is repairs and sowes agen Her self call'd Phoenix by th' Assyrian Frankincense tears her happy life not grain Or herbes and juyce of Amomum sustain On Oak or Palm when the fifth age is past She with horn'd beak and tallons builds a neast This strew'd with Cassia bruized Cinamon Delicious Nard and yellow Myrrh thereon She sitteth and her age in odors ends A little Phoenix thence 't is said ascends To live as long Grown strong and fit to bear So sweet a load her Parents Sepulcher And her own Cradle loosing from the Tree Upon her wings with devout Piety She to the City of the Sun conveighs And it in 's Fane before his Altar laies See the Tradition of the Phoenix excellently enquired into by Doctor Brown in his Pseudodoxia Epidemica l. b. 3. cap. 12. ANNOTATIONS UPON THE SECOND ACT. 1 NOr hope we better fruit since that the Persians Begun to follow the Lacedaemonians Bringing in a Persian taxing the Luxury of his Countrymen I make him bewail that that the Persians followed the Lacedaemonians when indeed nothing is truer then the contrary the Grecians being then exemplarily valiant and wise Martiall and Learned the Persians as Plutarch taxeth them wholy bent upon softnesse â—nd ease riches pomp and vanity curiosity and fair women Yet is the Antiphrasis antient and recorded by Plutarch the occasion this In the time of the reign of Artaxerxes over Persia the Lacedaemonians seeing the Persians lost in riot determined to deliver the Grecians that dwelt in Asia from the Persian bondage and to that end perswaded their King Agesilaus to undertake the expedition He invaded and at his first conflict overthrew Tisaphernes Artaxerxes his Lievtenant and made most of the Cities held by Grecians rebell against him Artaxerxes to divert the war sent into Greece Hermocrates a Rhodian of great credit with him with a marvellous summe of mony to bestow in raising a faction in Greece to invade Lacedaemon now their powers were abroad Hermocrates so wisely executed his commission as he raised the chief Cities of Greece against Lacedaemon so that all Peloponnesus being up in armes the Ephori or controllers of the Senate at Lacedaemon were forced to intreat Agesilaus home again so much sharper even in those daies was gold then steel and that Agesilaus sorrowfully leaving Asia said
they do to its particular inhabitants for Plutarch reports In vit Pomp. That Pompey going to invade Hyrcania as far as Mare Caspium he was compelled to turne back againe into Armenia the lesse for the infinite numbers of deadly venemous Serpents which he met with being come within three dayes Journey of it These Woods yet befriend them against winter colds and shade them from the parching sun both which in â—heir seasons are there extream and besides hurtfull creatures they are plentifully stored with Apes for European Merchandise and Antilopes and Red and fallow Deere for food The â—rime Cities of this Kingdom are Farrabant Asharaffe Perisâ—â—w Omoall Barsrushdea and Derbent most watered by the Rivers Araxis Connack Osbel Cyre Rha and Cheisell who from the deserts of Larr and together with the 70. mouthed Volga from Muscovia empty themselves into the Caspian Sea These Rivers abound with fish and are furnished with little Canoes or Boats made of one Tree capable to receive eight men in fair weather In the River of Farrabant which bears a stream of 40. paces over are some long deep prams sowed together with hemp and cord but unpitcht or calk't in these the Muscovian Merchants sail down Volga over the Caspian Sea to Farrabant to traffique for raw silkes which they transport to Mosco and through Russia These ships ordinarily come thither in March and return in July This Country being both pleasant and rich viz. a fine Plain abounding with Corn chiefly Rice Barley and Ric Wine Honey and â—ll sorts of fruits and being an usefull passage into Tartarie and Turcomania allured Abbas of Persia to attempt it who had the fortune to win it To hold it the better he oft afforded it his presence residing much at Farrabant where hee built a sumptuous Palace and Asharaff where Master Herbert tells you he was when he received Sir Dodmore Cotton Embassadour from our King Charles and in his absence there resides the Vice-roy The people speak the Language of Persia their apparell is like the Irish trooses their heads have a high woollen Cap furred with their owne sheeps skinns They are affable and delight in Noveltie being much civilized as say the Persians since they called Abbas their Conqueror and had the honour to afford him a Mother and a Wife which though not the least shall bee the last praise of Hyrcania which I will here remember that it produced the Grandmother and Mother of MIRZA 7 The Grand Signior The Great Turk so called in the same sense as we call the Great Mogor the Great Japan the Great Duke of Muscovie the Great Cham the Great Duke of Tuscany c. 8 The Gelden Duke King Abbas his Vice-roy for Hyrcania whom I call Elchee liking a Boy whose Father was poor and under his command against the boyes wiâ—â— his Parents knowledge and the Law of Nature made him Sodomite which crying sin though licensed by their Alcoraâ— yet force is not to be used and therefore are Ganymeds 〈◊〉 each great City tollerated The Father of this wronge Child prostrates himself before the King and acquaints hiâ— with that villany The King seeing sorâ—ow and truth in thâ— Peasants look demanded of the Duke who then was sittinâ— there how true it was his countenance bewrayed him Thâ— King having at that instant a knife in his hand gave it to thâ— poor Father and bad him Eunuchize him The Duke durâ— not startle or intercede the Law of the Persian never alters the poor man executed as was enjoyned him The King yeâ— continued to the Duke his jurisdiction His Seraglio onelâ— lost most by it Herbert p. 99. 9 There I 've disarm'd a Foe and the most potenâ— too in the whole Empire This foe of Ally-Beg's was the above mentioned Duke Emangoly the greatest subject in Persia hiâ— Father and Grand-father were Dukes before him a Genealogie of that Antiquity as many Sultans and Dukes in India and Persia cannot equall it they know so little that way Hee was one of the Kings four great Dukes each of which hath under him 12. Sultans each Sultan 5000. Gouzel-Bashaws no worse warriers then the Janizaries His Titles without ostentation were these Emangoly Chawn Lord of Persia which they call Farsee Great Duke of Shiras Sultan of Larr and the Mountains of Jaaroon Lord of Ormus Ruler of Carmania Mergiana Susiana Gedrozia Aria and Sigestan Prince of the Gulph of Arabia Great Beglerbegg or Lord of Lords Commander of twelve Sultans Flowre of Courtesie second in Glory Protector of Mussullmen Nutmeg oâ— Comfort and Rose of delight He was very martiall and fortunate he subdued all Larr Ormus and unto Jasques for his Soveraign of which in the 18. and 19. notes upon the 4th Act He got footing in Arabia for himself in this manner Two Arabian Princes contending for Soveraignty he that was vanquished demanded succour from this Duke who entertained him and with 20000. Horse fought and kill'd his Adversary and became Lord of both their Tertitories The relieved Prince thanks him and desires to return home Emangoly refused could he with any honesty leave him that had so succour'd him The Prince must stay and in fine becomes his Son in Law and Father at once for he wedded the Dukes Daughter and the Duke his Signiory and kept him Prisoner the usuall fruit of Auxiliary or mercenary forces When he hunts the Tygre Lion Bores and such like which he did once in four years hee set 20000. men to rouze them and when they were herded together on some Mountain he impaled it with a huge toil of wire cords and wood a toil and burden for 600. Camels and so commanded them Answerable to his State was his Estate his plate and Jewells were valued at 300000. pounds He had 300 women in his Seraglio called there Haram at Shira His Revenues according to the Merchants computation were 400000. Tomaynes a year a Toman is 3. l. 6. s. So Herbert which of our money comes to 1328000. l. a year a Revenue equall to some European Kings not superfluous here to be â—emembred because it shews the greatnesse of Subjects in those parts 10 MORATS Horse-tail standard The Turkes royall Standand born by the Janizaries is no other then a horse-tail tied to the end of the staff So Sandys which though seeming rude and answerable to their Originall doth smell much of Antiquities Coloured Horse-hairs being a most antient Ornament for Crests Homer sticketh the like in the Helmet of the gallantly aâ—med though not so spirited Paris being to fight the great deciding Combate with Menelaus for Helena 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Then on his head his well wrought Helm he set Plum'd with Horse-tail that horribly did threat Hear how this passage sounds in French rendred by the great Poitique and much admired Abbot of Saint Cheron Salel Et puis couurit sa teste D'vn riche armet ayant vne grand ' oreste Faite du poil qu'on voit
space and the losse of 300000 men desisted At this siege was that fire invented which we for the violence of it call wild fire and the Latines because the Greeks were the Authors of it Graecus ignis by which the Saracen ships were no lesse molested then the Romans were at the siege of Syracusa by Archimedes his engines or military burning-glasses the like stratagem was used at this Town of Constantinople about the the year 500. in the reign of the 14th Emperour Anastatius in whose time the City suffered much by the Scythians till Proclus a famous Mathematition with artificial Glasses fired 3000 of their Gallies The first siege was long before when she sided with Pescennius Niger against the Emperour Severus and held out three yeares against him and almost all the forces of the world During this time she endured such a famine that men meeting in the streets would as it were with joynt consent draw fight the victor stil eating the vanquished For want of Artillery to discharge on the assailants the Citizens flung at them whole statuas of brasse and the like curious Imagery Houses they plucked downe to get Timber for shipping the women cut off their hair to inch out their tacklings and having thus patched up a Navy of 500 sayle they lost it all in one Tempest When starved out they had yeelded the Conqueror having put to the sword the chiefe of the Nobles and given the rest as a spoile to the Souldiers dismantled the Towne and left it almost in Rubbish yet there appeared such signs of beauty and strength in the very ruines Vt mireris saith Herodian an eorum qui primi extruxerunt vel horum qui deinceps sunt demoliti vires sint praestantiores About 106 years after this she was rebeautified by the Christian Emperour Constantine the Great who called it after his own name Constantinople and removed the seat of his Empire hither He called it also New Rome enduing it with the priviledges of Rome the Citizens of one being free of the other and capable of the dignities of either But the chief cause of his remove was that by being near and drawing into those parts his principal forces the Empire towards the East might be the better defended then greatly annoyed by the Persian He intended first to have built at Chalcedon on the other side of the Thracian Bosphorus in view of this and a little below it whereof the Megarians were the builders called blind by the Oracle for that first arriving at that place they made choice of the worse and lesse profitable site It is reported that when the workmen began to lay the platform at Chalcedon certain Eagles conveyed their lines to the other side of the streight and let them fall right over the old Bizantium whereupon Constantine altered his determination and re-edified that City as if appointed so to do by the Deity finished it was on the 11th of May Anno 331. and consecrated to the blessed Virgin Rome he bereft of her Ornaments to adorne it fetching from thence in one yeare more Antiquities then twenty Emperours had brought thither before in 100. among others the Placation that huge obelisk of Theban marble the brazen statue of Dedalian work supposed the image of Apollo translated from Ilium the Trojan Palladium c. according to the Omen of the Eagles this City was by destiny appointed and by nature seated for soveraignty it was first the seat of the Roman Emperours then of the Greek now of the Turkish Built by Constantine the Sonne of Helena and lost by another Constantine the Sonne of a Helena also a Gregorie then Bishop whose first Bishop was a Gregory to Mahomet the second Anno 1453. 1121 years after Constantine the great had finished it and the succession of eighty Emperours and they have a Prophesie that a Mahomet shall lose it such fatal contrarieties in one and the same name may be observed So a Baldwin Anno 1200. was the first of the Latines Emperours in her and a Baldwin Anno 1260 the last So Philip the Father of Alexander laid the first foundation of the Macedonian Monarchy and Philip the Father of Perseus ruined it So Augustus was the first established Emperour of Rome and Augustulus the last Darius the Son of Histaspes the restorer and Darius the Son of Atsamis the overthrower of the Persian Monarchy Warner in his Albions England l. 8. cap. 44. observes the Letter H. to be ominous to this Iland producing much good or ill too long here to remember but to return to Constantinople Saint Andrew first preached here the Christian faith to whom succeeded 23. Bishops untill Saint Alexander who was her first Patriarch or Metâ—opolitan for hee alone presided over all the Greek Churches dispersed through the Orient his Diocesse grew ample enough to inable his successor John to contend for the Primacie with the Pope of Rome about the year 608. in the time of Boniface the third but by the Judgement of Phocas the Emperour the Church of Rome carried the Supremacie Blond l. 9. decaâ— 1. Plat. Onuphr In the time of Nicolas the first about the year 860. Photius the Patriarch separated himself from the Roman Church withall denying that the Holy Ghost proceeded from the Son at all but onely from God the Father drawing to his errouâ— the whole Greek Church in which it still persevereth Zonar Tom. 3. But since the invasion of the Turk his Patriarkship is much lessened by three Patriarchs more set up though under him one at Jerusalem one at Alexandria and one at Antioch Here have been held many of the Generall Councells as the second by Pope Damasus against Macedonius for the Divinity of the Holy Ghost An. 381. The fifth by Vigilius against the Origenists and Theodore An. 553. The sixth by Agathon against the Monothelites An. 680. The eighth by Adrian the second against Photius the iconiclast Many brave spirits has this City produced as Gennadius Cassian and that Golden Mine of Eloquence Saint John Chrysostom her Archbishop It stands on a Cape of Land near the Entrance of the Bosphorus In form triangular on the East side washed with the same on the North with the Haven adjoyning on the West to the Continent walled with brick and stone intermixed orderly having four and twenty Gates and Posterns wherof five do regard the Land and ninteen the water being about thirteen miles in circumference The noblest Structure was Saint Sophias Church once a Christian Temple twice burnt but happily in that so sumptuously reedified by the Emperour Justinian excceding not onely the pattern but all other fabricks in the world one of the Gates thereof is by the superstitious people thought to be made of the planks of Noahs Ark It is now a Mahometan Mosque It fronteth the Sultans Seraglio where formerly stood the antient Bizantium divided from the rest of the City by a lofty Wall three miles in circuit That Palace not to describe it but say
Foul with Virgin faces purging ere Their Paunches arm'd with tallons bent to tear And still with famine pin'd The Harpyes are feigned to be the daughters of Neptune and Tellus of old esteemed the Parents of Monsters some lay them to Neptune alone the Sea for the most part being Father of Prodigies and not without cause for according to Thales Milesius all things are ingendred of Humour whence it commeth that the Ocean is called Father Some will have them take their name of Harpalyce Phineus his wife being sent to revenge the wrongs done to her Sonns but it seems more probable that they were so called of of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rapio being the Emblemes of Rapine and wrong They are said to be Virgins in that barren because goods so gotten descend but seldom to posterity To fly in that they are swift in extorting to be covered with plumes for cloaking their prey and to have talons of vultures for griping and fast holding of their ill gotten riches These qualities are also charactered in their names Aello Ocypetes and Celaeno signifying a taking away that which is anothers celeritie in the Act and subtilty in concealing those three Virgil mentions Hesiod names but the two first Homer calls the last Podarge and saith that of her the wind Zephyrus engendred the Chariot Horses of Achilles named Balius and Ximphus The Harpyes are said to have the faces of women in that Avarice of which they are the Hieroglyphicks allures with a beauteous pretence but ends in a Serpent to this allusion some Mythologists and among them our excellent Sandys restrain the whole Fable making Phineus said to have put out his sonnes eyes in having abandoned wisdom and Liberality to have lost his sight and to suffer perpetuall Famine in that so blinded with Avarice that he could not see into hâ—mâ—elf nor afford himself the necessaries of life The Harpyes called elsewhere his Daughters are his covetous desires not suffering him to eat of the meat that was set before him himselfe polluting it with his sordid disposition being infected with Solomons evill to have riches and not a heart to use them therefore tormented with furies those being said as Servius observes to be afflicted with Furies who covetously abstained from the use of their own excellently expressed by Virgil in the punishment of Tantalus Aen. l. 8. Calais and Zetes import a calling of himself to account and a diligent inquiry into his own condition by a speedy Reformation expelling those ravenous Harpyes though forbidden utterly to destroy them in that they are the Dogs of Iupiter the Ministers of his wrath upon the covetous who are ever their own Tormentors Neither is this Fable of the Harpyes unnaturally wrested to Flatterers Delators prodigall Sycophants and greedy Officers who devour the Treasure and pollute the fame of Princes abused in their trust and blinded in their understandings Calais and Zetes are no other then timely advice and swift execution they are therefore winged in freeing Courts of such Monsters Natales Comes makes a somwhat different Mythologie understanding by the Harpyes the winds l. 7. Mythol Du Bartas in his third day called the petty fogging Lawyers Harpyes it being a common Metaphor to expresse any by that are rapacious injurious or blood-suckers of poor people The misery Phineus sustain'd by them and his happy deliverance from them are wittily described by Ronsard in his Hymn of Calais and Zethes 6 Mâ—y all the Scorpions of Cushan sting thee Cashan or for the better sound Cushan is a famous City in Parthia some six miles distant from Spawhawn the Metropolis The people are orderly and more given to trade then in the â—eighbour Cities Silkes Sattens and cloath of Gold are her ordinary Commodities plentifull and at a reasonable 〈◊〉 She is well seated well peopled and well built Here is a Carravansraw or common Inne which exceeds all in Persia and is fit to entertain the greatest Prince in Asia yet built by King Abbas onely for Travellers to lodge in upon fâ—ee cost 'T is two large stories high the material Brick varnished and coloured with knots and Arabian Letters Poâ—es of Azure red and white From the Basis 't is built six foot high of good stone The Fabrick is Quadrangular and each proportionable Angle 200. paces In the middle is a fair large Court whereof in the midst is a foursquare Tanck or Pond of puâ—e Water about it are spacious and fragrant Gardens This civility of the King to strangers is secondâ—d as they say there even by the stinging Scorpions and Serpents that infest this City and the neighbour Country in great abundance whose Love and understanding the inhabitants report to be such to Travellers as that they never hurt them Thâ—se Scorpions so numerous here as it is a frequent curse throughout all the Persian Empire May a Scorpion of Cushan sting thee Herbert 7 My Vncle and my Grandsire meaning Emir-hamze-Mirza and Mahomet Cadoband See the fiâ—st and second notâ—s upon the first Act. 8. Paradise The Paradise which Mahomet pâ—omises to his sect exceeds the vanity of a Dream and all old wives Fables though it is to be more then conjâ—ctured that he took his Pattern from the Pâ—ets Elyzium but hath so far mistoâ—â— his copy as of an ingenious Fancy to present an absurd extravagancy Thus Tibullus describes Elyzium Sed me qui facilis tenero sum sâ—mper amori Ipsa Venus câ—mpâ—s ducet in Elysios Hic choreae cantusque vigent passimque vagantes Dulce sâ—nant tenui gutture carmen aves Fert cassiam nâ—n culta seges totosque per agros Floret odoratis terra â—enigna rosis Ac juvenum serâ—es teneris immista puellis I â—â—it assiduè praelia miscet amor Ilâ—â—â— est quicunque rapax mors venit amanti Et gerit insigni myrtea serta coma Fleg l. 1. Eleg 3. But me whose heart to soft Love easily yields Venus shall lead to the Elyzians fields Here Song and dance abound Their slender throats The tripping Birds still strain for pleasing notes The wildest shrub doth odorous Casia yeeld And Roses each where paint the beautious field Youths mixt with tender Virgins there disport And still encounter in an amorous sort What Lover e're untimely dies is there A Myrtle wreath crowning his glorious hair And thus Virgil speaking of Aeneas his going thither to visit his Father Anchises Devenere locos laetos amaena vireta Fortunatorum nemorum sedesque beatas Largior hic campos aether lumine vestit Purpureo Solemque suum sua sidera norunt Pars in gramineis exercent membra palaestris Contendunt ludo fulva luctantur arena Pars pedibus plaudunt choreas carmina dicunt Nec non Threicius longa cum veste sacerdos Obloquitur numeris septem discrimina vocum Jamque eadem digitis jam pectine pulsat eburno Hic genus antiquum Teucri pulcherrima proles Magnanimi heroës nati melioribus annis Ilusque Assaracusque
Treason as is generally believed by his next Brother Abbas who had formerly but in vain conspired to have betraid him to the Turkish General Turk Hist. Herbert c. ANNOTATIONS UPON THE FIFTH ACT. 1 IF we cannot recover him give out he is baptiz'd and so incapable 'T is no new way in India ASAPH did it Duke Asaph chief Favorite and Brother in Law to Shaw Selyn or Jangheer the Mogul he having married for his laâ— wife Normal Asaphs Sister and his Son Sultan Curroon who afterwards because by that name he was proclaimed Traytor by his Father changed his name to Shaw Iehan or King Iohn having married Asaphs Daughter he sent his Powers to set the Crown upon his Son in Law Curroons head but the old Mogul Selym made the Nobles swear not to accept Curroon because he muâ—dered his elder Brother but Bloche the young son and lawfull heir of that murdered Prince Selym being dead not without suspition of poyson given him by Asaph Blockee is set up The Queen Normal pretends for her Son Seriare youngest Son to Selym Her brother Asaph for his Son in Law Curroon and two Sons of the old Kings elder Brothers Morad or Amurath for themselves The other two young Princes Asaph found meanes to murder outright but these two last by circumstance causing them against their wills by some Portugals to be baptized into the faith of Christ so making them utterly uncapable of the Crown or Kingdom for the Alcoran forbids a Christian to wear a Crown where Mahomet is worshipped though afterwards for his further security he destroy'd them at Lahore and without further difficulty set up his Son in Law Curroon Herbert 2 The Injury c. See the eighth note upon the 3d. Act. 3 ABBA'S Thirty Kingdoms King Abbas his title over 30. Kingdoms runs thus The most high most mighty most invincible Emperor Abbas King of Persia Farthia Media Bactria Chorazon Candahor Heri of the Ouzbeg Tartar Hircania Draconia Evergeta Parmenia Hydaspia Sogdiana Aria Paropaniza Drawginna Arachosia Mergiana Carmania as far as stately Indus Ormus Larr Arabia Sufiana Chaldea Mesopotamia Georgia Armenia Sarcâ—hia and Van. Lord of the imperious Mountains of Ararat Taurâ—s Caucasus and Periardo commander of all Creatures from the Sea of Chorazen to the Gulfe of Persia. Of true descent from Mortys-dly Prince of the four Rivers Euphrates Tygris Araxis and Indis Governour of all Sultans Emperor of Mussulmen Bud of Honour Mirrour of Vertue and Rose of delight Though the Râ—â—der may know that among these he claims some Kingdoms which he enjoyes not as the Turk and others of his neighbours do sone others of these in his Possâ—ssion An usuall thing with all Princes Herbert Lodovic De Wellen de Reg. Pers. c. 4 Delights as far fetch 't as dear bought It was an antien nicitie among the Persian Monarchs still continued that nâ— wine could please their palate but the Chalydonian in Syria â—or no bread but what grew at Assos in Phrygia no salt but what was brought from Aegypt though Ormus nearer hand by much afforded much better nor no water but that of the River Copaâ—paes the same which Pliny calls Euleus and Daniel cap. â— Vlai it waters Shushan now called Valdack in Susiana and at length imbowells her selfe into the Persian Gulfe not far from Balsâ—ra one stream of it runs 'twixt Shiras and old Persaepolis over which there is a well-built bridge called Fullychawn Herbert c. 5 The antient death of Boats Mithridates vainly boasting in his drink that it was he that had slain Cyrus whom indeed he wounded in his rebellious competition with his elder Brother Artaxerxes the second surnamed Mnemon of great Memory for the Crown of Persia was accused to the King who was desirous of the honour to have it believed that it was hee himself that slew him wherefore esteeming himself touched in his credit by Mithridates his report he condemned him to the antient death of boats usuall among the Persians for hainous offendors the manner this They took two boats made of purpose so even that the one exceeded not the other neither in length nor in breadth then laid they the offendor in one of them upon his back and covered him with the other then did they fasten both boats together so that the Malefactors feet hands and head came out at holes made purposely for him the rest of his body being all hidden within They gave him meat as much as he would eat which if he refused they forced him to take by thrusting aules into his eyes having eaten they gave him to drink honey mingled with milk which they did not onely pour into his mouth but also all his face over turning him full against the Sun to tempt the flies and waspes to his face and of his excrements in the bottom of the boat engendred worms that fed upon his body so that being dead they found his flesh consum'd with them even to the entrals Seaventeen daies together did Mithridates languish in these torments and then died for his folly in not contenting himself with ornaments and gifts which the King had given him for wounding of his rebellious Brother but he must rob him of the honour of his death which he knew he most desired so procuâ—ing his own Crimine laesae Majestatis Plutarch in vit Artaxerx 6 Beat her brains out i th' antient way ordain'd for poysoners c. Parysatis the mother of Ataxarxes King of Persia took a grudge against his wife because she thought she exaspented him too much against his Rebellious Brother Cyrus insomâ—ch as in her revengfull mind she plotted the death of her daughâ—er in Law the beautious Statira the wicked determination was executed by poyson by the help saith Dinon of Gigis one of the women of her Chamber The King was so favourable to hiâ— Mother as he onely confined her according to her own Petition to Babylon swearing that whilst she lived he would never see Babylon but Gigis he condemned to suffer the paines of Death ordained by the Persians for poysoners in this manner They lay the head of the Malefactor upon a large plain stone and with another stone they presse and strike it so long til they have dashed the brains out so died Gigis Plutarch in vit Artax 7 Then burn her limbs with Cats dung This may seem a ridiculous kind of Punishment but 't is very antient and frequent all over Asia sometimes but by favour it is performed with Dogs dung So Mr. Herbert tells us that when it was told King Abbas that Nogdibeg his quondam Embassadour into England had poisoned himself wilfully for four daies feeding onely upon Opium not daring to see his Master or justifie himself against his adversary Sir Robert Sherley then on his journey to the Court to purge his honour before the King of the staines which the aspersions of Nogdibeg had thrown upon him the King said it was well he had poysoned himself for had he come to Court his body should have been cut in 365. pieces and burnt in the open market place with dogs dung but for the greater terror and shame its usually performed with cats dung the Cat being the baser beast as only used to destroy vermine 8 Let me suck thy last breath 9 When thy hand shall close mine aged eyes Theâ—e two concluding notes I put together because they reâ—ate to customes about the same subject viz. the parting office of friends to friends observed by the antient Romanes and others and still retained by the Persians and Grecians when any one was dying the next of the Kin used to receiue the last gaspe of breath from the sick person into his mouth as it were by kissing hiâ— to shew thereby how unwillingly and with what regret tâ—ey parted with their friend and closed his eyes being deceased Virgil makes Anna say of her Sister Dido newly dead Vulnera lymphis Aâ—luam extremus si quis super halitus errat ore legam Aen. 4. Some water I the wound may bath And if yet wanders any of her breath My lipps shall gather it And Ovid makes Penelope wishing that her Son Telemachus might outlive her self and his Father write thus to her husband Di ' precor hoc jubeant vt euntibus ordine fatis Ille meos oculos comprimat ille tuos Aepist 1. This may Heaven grant whilst fate in order goes That his hand mine eyes and thine too may close Statius hath both the customes together Sociosque amplectitur artus Herentemque animam non tristis in ora mariti Transtulit charae pressit sua lumina dextra Stat. Silv. l. 5. She him imbrac't delivering in glad wise Between his lips her cleaving soul and dies With his dear 〈◊〉 closing her sinking eyes FINIS Errata PAg 13. l. 14. for any r. and. p. 24. l. 24. for whose r. who p. 47. l. 14. for Son r. Sun p. 67. l. 3. dele not l 30. for for r. fore p. 93. l. 24. for do r to p. 97. l. 29. for mind r. mine p. 98. l. 9. r. besprinkled p. 112. l. 1. dele good p. 119. l. 23. after me add as p. 123. l. 31. for pleasant r. peasant p. 137. l. 2. add not p. 144 l. ult r. in p. 152. read in the beginning these two lines And fear is contrary to noble Courage The passive valour is the greatest still pag. 99.100.101 102 103 104. (*) Five hundred years (*) Haeliopolis in Aegypt
To death it shall I 'le kisse it out of him Mâ—h My better Angell ah how poor am I That there are not more worlds then one that I Might cast their crownes into thy lap for this Flo. Your love my Lord shall set me higher then if I rode with HECATE in her ebon Charriot Or held the reins of JUNO's yoaked Peacocks To hold that heart is above all dominion FLORADELLA CLOE HOw stately a thing it is to be a Queen O that I now could but look into Heaven To see how our great sister IUNO shakes Her Scepter ore the world and learn her carriage We now must speak i th' plurall number CLOE Dost thou not see new Majestie spring in us And all our looks speak Queen Clo. Madam I would Fortune had been as free to you as nature Then had that honour long ago rewarded That beauty which did ever merit it Flo. CLOE bestow thy wishes on the needy Fortune has humbled her selfe to us and Ask'd pardon for so long keeping our right From our possession a fault she 'l now amend And be our servant ever Go provide State Ornaments and regall Robes for us Jewells will cost whole Provinces to purchase And yet receive new lustre from our wearing Hast any sisters friends or kinswomen Prefer them to us thou shalt have the favour T' appoint our maids of honour and a set Of servants for us 'gainst our Coronation Dull and insensible what didst thou meet Thy Mothers Ghost this morning fasting that Thou starest so do not our eyes proclaime it And all our steps say they are towards a Throne The poverty of thy soule Clo. She 's mad and raves aside Flo. Have we not taken care for all events That can betide us Have not we remov'd All that stood stiffe and many in our way Goes not the levy's on flow not friends to us Is not the Castle ours and Shiras too Is not all ours Or shall be when I 've given Th' old Dotard King his pasport in a kisse To th' other worâ—d thither a Dag or draught Shall send the Prince and a Plumb SOFFIE Who then is Emperour wench but MAHOMEâ— His head has laid it and his hand shall act it His ready Army shall crush all gain-sayers Clo. Perhaps you too aside Flo. What mutter you me too Clo. O how her Plumes would fall now should I tell her aside What I ore-heard Flo. What is 't you mumble Gossip Clo. Madam you 'l pardon me at your last meeting But one with my Lord MAHOMET I was curious To listen and ore-heard some doubtful words As if he 'd onely serve his turn of you Flo. Pish pish He knew you listned therefore spoke so If so he spoke to try my confidence Perhaps or mock your curiosity No well he knows he never can requite My love with a lesse dowry then the Empire I have deserv'd it of him and I 'l never Be jealous of his love â—lo What toyes doth fancy aside Suggest to us in favour of our selves Well I had best comply Indeed perhaps His great wit play'd with me but could he see me Flo. Yes my selfe saw you Clo. Then 't was so but yet Me thought the maner spoke him serious But sure the Army do's not mean his rule But to restore the Prince Flo. Tush Soldiers know not Their own intents 't is as the Generall pleases Who has an Army up and a strong Purse May work them easily unto any thing 'T is done 't is done my CLOE 't is high time For us to practice Queen-ship thus do we Indulge our hand our trusty maid of honour Clo. May 't please your Majestie then Cloe kisses her hand must I begin To know my selfe and set a higher price Upon my beauty Flo. 'T is indeed a virtue To prize our selves enough CLOE as we passe Bear up our traine so Not so neer our Grace â—lo High ho my Heart I shall have a sweet place MIRZA NYMPHADORA SOFFIE IFFIDA PAGE O The seven Bandogs are let loose againe Upon me HERCULES HERCULES canst not heare Prethee lend me thy club the Lubber's sore With 's labours still and sleeps and hears me not Nym. Why let you him come out thus Sof Alas Madam He broke through's all and cals us all his Hangmen Mir. See! Lightning flashes from their eyes Sof Hark Madam Mâ—r. Every one of them is a match for CYCLOPS Yet will I charge them all alone O O. Nym. O. Iff. Help help Sof Page hold him from violence Mir. Th' hast hit me right TYPHAEUS He runs his head against a Post and falls The Princess turns away astonished and weeps the rest fall down about him thou hast Centaure Nym. O heavens if there be any powers that pitty The miseries of their Creaturâ—s look down on him The fight 's enough to move a heavenly nature Mir. So MIMAS hold PORPHYRIO strike no more I am TYPHAEUS Prisoner Nym. Lay not hands Upon him keep him but from farther hurt Mir. CHARON oh CHARON Pag. Nay my Lord. Mir. Come CHARON Quick sirrah Sculler row me to Elyzâ—um Nym. Alas the frenzies high talk not much to him Mâ—â— But now ha'nt I a halfe-penny for the waftage No matter though I 'l snatch the slaves Oare from him And if he grumbles knock his brains out with it And CERBERVS his too if the Cur snarls at me So I am pas't without a Sop now which Of all my friends shall I first meet Nym. O Gods Give me more ease or else more punishment For I with this can neither die nor live Mir. Who 's that That 's PROSERPINE bewailing of Her Rape the silly wench would faine be with Her Mother again Nym. O make me either happy Again or wretched till you can no more Mir. 'T is so t is she she 's warm and Takes her hand sofâ— as air Sweet PROSERPINE Sof Madam apply your selfe A little to his passion Mâ—r. Beauteous Queen O'th'under world do'nt men when they come hither Though blind above have here their eyes restor'd Nym. Alas I cannot flatter his wild frenzy Sof Pray Madam seem to be what he conceits you Mâ—r. What art thou GANYMED and if thou bee'st Good yellow-tressed Boy intreat thy Master When next he thunders to bestow a bolt On ABBAS head 't will not be cast away The man deserves it but that plague's too quick Desire him rather send him 5 PHINEVS Harpyes He merits them as much as the Arcadian He've put out his Sons eyes too hear'st small skinker Sof Yes and when next I wait I 'l do the errand Iff. He wants no Furies he has all in 's breast Mir. Hah art thou a Furie good TISIPHONE Get thee to Persia then and take thy sister ERINNYS with thee and torment the Tyrant Iff. Well sir he shall not want for torments Mir. Hark yet Prethee new wire thy whip before thou goest And tie more knots on 't take fresh Snakes too with thee He is my Father I 'd have him want nothing 6 May all
murdered his Father Mahomet Codâ—band or purblind Herbert's Travells pag. 89.127 c. 2. And me viz. Emir-hamze-Mirza King Abbas his Elder Brother whom also he murdered as standing between him and the Crown A crime most usuall in these Eastern Princes especially in Persia in this line of Guzpan Acuculu or white sheep of whom few attended patiently the death of their Predecessours but by impious means laâ—oured their own untimely establishment Herb. p. 100. c. Of Emir-Hamz's bravery and prowesse See more in the 32. note upon the fourth Act. 3. mirza's Ghost irritating his Brother Abbas to revenge him upon himself bids him act those things upon his Son which his very enemies shall pitty not without the example of the matchless Johnson who in his Catiline which miraculous Poem I propose as my pattern makes Sylla's Ghost perswade Catiline to do what Hannibal could not wish of the Persians Enemies I set the Mogull in front against whom our Prince Mirza served in Person in his Fathers wars and gained much from him towards Candahor The great Mogul according to others Mogor or Emperour of East India boâ—ders upon the Persian by the River Oxus and is at continual enmity with him somtimes for Religion somtimes for Empire though it is no smal let to the accquests of the Mogul against him that the Frontiers of Persia are on every side hem'd in with those outstreatches branches of Caucasus which the Grecians call Paropamise more defensive then any artificiall rampire to Persia making it inaccessible to the Moguls horse wherein the chief sinewes of his force consist About the year 1300. as Barros writes the great Sanosardin King of Delos conquered much of these parts and attempted the Conquest of all Asia but died by the Persian Powers The present Mogul boasts himself of the race of Tamberlain which abridgeth his antiquity and saieâ— he is the tenth from him The probable opinion indeed is that they descended of the Tartar or from the antient Massagetae from whose coasts they came whose chief City is Shamascand from whence came Tamberlain A word of this Princes Puissance may not seem superfluous because it magnifies our conquering Mirza his bounds are one way divided from the Persian by the River Indus betwixt which and Ganges hee swaies far and wide a territory no lesse puissant then pleasant a temperate air over a fertile soyl abounding with all sorts of commodities rich and curious stately beasts as the best horses Elephants and Dromedaries precious stones especially Diamonds and Cornelians most delicious spices and fruits among which is most of note a Tree they call Moses whose fruit is so delicate as the Jewes and Mahometans which are the religions of those parts the last swaying the first believe to be the same that tempted Adam This Prince enjoyes 47. Kingdomes the chief are Mandao Citor Bengala Delly where he keeps his Court and to name no more Cambaia a Kingdom enjoying a City of the same name consisting of 130000 houses this one Province is also reported to have 60000. Burroughs a number great and admirable if we compare it to the best of our European Kingdomes to name but two Ptome saith there are in France excepting Burgundie and as I take it Normandie 27000. Burroughs having parish Churches though D' Juigne will have the number of Parishes 132000. Guiccardine recounts that in the Netherlands within the Territory of the 17. Provinces are 208 walled Townes and 150. Boroughs enjoing the priviledges of Cities and 6300. Villages having parish Churches In Bohemia are 780. Towns and 32000. Villages But because no absolute judgement can bee made of the power of any Province by the number of parishes see the forces of Cambaia Maffeus writes that Bandurius who about the year 1536 ruled in Cambaia by what right he dâ—termines not had under his standard 150000. horse wher of 35000. were barbed and 500000. foot among these only 15000. were forraigners some 80. Christians French and Portugals The force that this Prince can on a short warning bring into the field are reputed 300000. horse infinite foot proportionable ships and 50000. Elephants beasts which they yet find usefull in war so that in the year 1571. Idalcano had 60000. of them at the Siege of Goa Nor let any wonder that this Prince ingrosses not all the Orient for he has as potent neighbours as himself as the King of Barma the Persian and others besides he is so shut up with Rocks as he has no good egresse for his Armies nor have those vast multitudes of men so much true strength as they carry terror they sink with their own weight are long gathering together but not long held together the numberlesse Army Marhumedius led against Cambaia did not onely wast the regions where through it passed but by devouring all things that the earth yeilded bereaved its selfe of sustenance against such mighty impressions the way is to draw the warre out in length and onely to stand upon the defensive for such armies will soon waver either for want of provision scarcity of coin infection of the air or infirmities of their own bodies as the inundations of Attila into Italie and of Tamberlain into Asia were but as running marches in comparison of what the Romans Grecians Macedonians Carthaginians English Guales and Portugals have done with more nimble powerâ— 800. onely of which last named at Demain upon the Coast of Cambaia setled in spight of this mighty Mogor as another small number of them did at Diu at which two places they have built and do maintain two most invincible Citadells thâ—t shut up the whole gulf of the Cambaian Sea a greater detriment to him then the losse of an inland Kingdom for on one side he has no haven and on the other the Portugals are his jealous neighbours 4 And Turk He is another and the greatest of the Persians Enemies He enjoyes an Empire the greatest that is or perhaps that ever was from the beginning comprehending the better part of the antient threefold division of the Earth His government is like his Neighbours Tyrannycall his strength lies in his Janizaries as the Moguls do in his Nairs His Religion is Mahumetan of which sect he is the chiefe patron and more then slights the Persian for being lesse zealous then himselfe so that in ballancing the state of Christianity with Mahumetism I have heard these two Princes compared to the two Kings of France and Spain the French to the Persian the Spaniard to the Turk For the state of those differences and for the quality of the Ottoman Empire I refer the Reader to the most elaborate and accurate discourse of M. Sandys and M. Knolles his Turkish History c. See more of the Turk in the third note upon the second Act. 5 The Tartar or great Cham against whom also our Mirza had watâ—es and gain'd much from him east of the Hyrcanian Sea Herb. p. 9â— Of this Princes Empire larger then strong see Paul
Persia by his Fathers command joyned himself with 12000 Horse and prosecuted Cycala as in the Text. First chased him to the utmost confines of Armenia and there in a bloody battel slew 30000 of his Turks with the losse of 9000 Persians and Georgians and though Cycala himself hardly escaped by flight the Persian recompenced missing of him with the masâ—acres of the Turkish Garrisons regaining all that in the sad year 1537 King Tamas of Persia lost to Solyman the Magnificent 4th Emperour of the Turkes Cycala to redeem his honour if possible after his Apologie to the grand Signior the very next year invades the Persian again but the Prince hearing that the Bassa of Caramania had expresse Command to joyn with him to prevent their conjunction fell upon Cycala first with 30000. men His suddain charge and unexpected comming routed the whole body of the Turks of whom he slew 15000 and took all their great Ordnance and Baggage Cycala himself with but 300 Souldiers with much ado escaped to Adena to which City the brave Persian pursued him and sat down before it This news distressed Sultan Achmat beyond measure who vowed to Cycala his reward but first sent command to the Bassa of Trebezond with all speed to succour him The Bassa resolved to try all wayes of recovery with a vast but hastily gathered Army put himself upon his march towards the City Cycala having got notice of his approach the better to direct him caused himself with 10 of his Souldiers whom he best trusted secretly by night to be let down over the wall of the City having given order to the Governour that as soon as he perceived the battel to be joyned he should salley out upon the rear of the Persians so by holding them in a doubtful battel to further the Victory all which the valiant Persian doubting he divided his Army and leaving one body to maintain the siege led the other against the Succours wherein he used so incredible expedition as falling upon them before they could rank their battel he made of the Turks now confusedly and without all order fighting more for the safeguard of their lives then for any hope they had of victory such an exceeding great slaughter that few of them escaped his sword Cycala himself with only 2 or 3 more made hard shift by getting into a little Boat to change the danger of the Land for that of the Water The Persian returned to the Town which after many a sharp assault he had cast in to augment his honour Others write that this was not a surprise but a well fought Battel for 7 hours together victory doubtfully hovering between either Champion till by an ambush of the Georgians towards night she rested upon MIRZA's head However all agree that the Turks that survived this day bound themselves by oath never to follow more so unfortunate a Leader as Cycala and upon the rehearsal of his overthrow the great Turk was so transported with rage as he gave Cycalas Treasure to be rifled by the Janizaries Spaheis and to extirpate his memory bad them pull down his Palaces though to have been just he should have punished his Fortune for upon her lay the blame of his defeat and not upon the mans ill conduct or cowardize Turk Hist. Herbert c. 18 I that gave Ormus Scepter to his hand and brought her captive King c. The description of the Isle of Ormus with the taking thereof by Emangoly you have in the 11th Note upon this Act. It rests only to tell that he brought thence captive the King thereof then Tributary to the Portugize and the two Princes his Sons to all whom King Abbas allowed only 5 Marks sterling by the day for their maintenance Herb. 19 I that subdu'd Larrs Sandy Kingdom for him mauger her wall of Rock am now accus'd c. As to the description of the Kingdom of Larr enough hath been said in the 23. Note upon the 3d Act. It remains only to say that she was confined by a huge wall cut by incredible labour out of the solid Rock as a secure defence against the invading Persian notwithstanding Abbas to whose fortune all things were possible commanded Emangoly to subdue it which he did after all the sufferings and toyls imaginable in so difficult an enterprize He ruined one Castle and built another slew many of the Citizens Ransackt the Town and sent home to Shiras as much Treasure as burthened 700 Camels As for the poor King thereof though his life was granted him when he was forging of others matters an unexpected Scimiter to end his stratagems took off his head and by the extirpation of his progeny established the soveraignty unto the conquering Abbas Herbet 20 I that won the Realm of Larry Joon c. See the 6 Note upon the first Act. 21 What signified his wrong to the poor Christians About the yeâ—r 1609. Some envious person in spight to the Armenian and Georgian Christians feigned Letters as from their Patriarch to the Pope knowing well the hatred that King Abbas bore to the Sea of Rome that they were willing to become obedient to the Church of Rome and to acknowledge him head of the Catholick Church entreating him to write to the King of Persia in their behalf that they might freely enjoy their Consciencâ—s under him These Letters their Authors intercepted and presented to King Abbas who saying that if they would be obedient to the Pope he could expect no further service or obedience from them grew thereat so inraged that no lesse then the lives of 1000 some say 1200 of those innocent Christiaâ—s could slack his fury threatning to take further revenge if â—e could prove the Letters aâ—thentick as some still affirm they were but most believe them suppositions Turk Hist. Herb. c. 22 His murdering of his Embassadour to the Turk c. About the year 1612. after many conflicts between the Turke and Persian they were both so prest by neighbour Countries as they propounded Articles for peace to which end King Abbas sends his Embassadour to Constantinople who returning but with mean conditions his Master denyed the Turks Agent to confirm them and in a rage struck off the head of his ill-advised Embassadouâ— for consent in to them Herb. 23 His treachery to the Magicians c. Betwixt Chilmanor and Mogown in Persia is a high inaccessible Mountain on whose top stood a Castle so fortified by nature and industry as it was held impregnable a Rebellious Sultan weary of slavery man'd it against his Prince the victorious Abbas who in person came to reduce him but after six months fruitlesly spent could perceive no sign of Victory whereat inraged he proposed a considerable Reward to him that could by any means enter it an old covetous Magician undertakes it and wrought so by his Spels that the Sultan came down forced by the Devil who assured his pardon but for all that the block rewarded him for his Rebellion and