IBRAHIM THE Illustrious BASSA A TRAGEDY Acted at the DUKE'S Theatre Written by Elkanah Settle Servant to His MAJESTY Te Nos facimus Fortuna Deam Iuven. Licensed May the 4th 1676. Roger L'Estrange LONDON Printed by T. M. for W. Cademan at the Popes-Head in the Lower VValk of the New-Exchange in the Strand 1677. TO THE DUTCHESS OF ALBEMARLE Madam WHen I consider what favourable Reception my first humble Supplications in this kind have had from your Graces hand I cannot think my Duty fully paid nor my Adoration sufficiently exprest till I Dedicate my whole Life and Labours to your Grace 'T is not one act of Devotion that can make a Zealot and therefore as I made a Present then I pay you a Tribute now And though this Poem has but little Merit of its own yet encouraged by the Honours it has received like Pages to Princes it owes its Boldness to its Education and since your Grace gave it leave to be a troublesome Guest at New-Hall it lik'd the Entertainment so well that it resolves to Live and Dye there and 't is an Ambition in some respect to be justified for Poetry should always make up part of the Trains of Princes especially theirs whose Excellencies are so Divine a subject for it Vnder that shelter I approach your Grace when I must own I have play'd the Plagiary in making the Dutchess of Albemarle the Pattern for my Roxolana only with this difference that I have copyed below the Life Your Grace has all her Vertue without the allay of her Vanity and this advantage above her that Your Grace possesses those Charms which Story never attributed to Roxolana Her Beauty could subdue but not secure her Solyman But your Graces Victories are more compleat For if our English Chronicle spight of the fashionable liberty of a Licentious Age would Character the perfect happiness of a Princely Pair it must describe the Influence of the Dutchess of Albemarle over the unalterable Affections of her Lord And as in Duty to such eminent Virtues such infinite Perfections even the most ill-natur'd Age unanimously speaks of your Grace with Veneration and to secure that Fame your Virtues have so justly acquired your Grace is as Cautious in the Preservation of it But so impregnable are your Sacred Principles of Honour that your Graces Care in that is but like His who raises Bulwarks to defend that Town which of it self before was inaccessible nor can I more reasonably impute the Duke of Albemarles and your Graces more frequent Residence at New-Hall to any other than a true English Nobleness as knowing that your Greatness can better fill a Court than make a part of one I could be very prolix on so excellent a Theam for 't is easie to Write where all Man-kind Dictates and I must confess 't is the highest Bliss of an Authour to have those Patrons whose Merits are above Flattery where the Titles of Great and Good may he given without a Blush This made Horace speak so largely in the Commendations of his Maecenas and Juvenal say so so little in the praise of Trajan For my part I account it my chief Happiness to have been a Witness of your Graces Greatness and my highest Contemplation to be an Admirer of it The humblest of which Admirers is Madam Your Graces most Obliged Most Devoted and Most Humble Servant Elkanah Settle PROLOGVE APplause is grown a strange Coy Mrs. now Courted by All and yet obtain'd by few 'T is true when any Favourites Plays appear Then Kindness and Good-nature brings you here And to secure the Censures of the Town The Pit is fill'd with Friends in the Fore-noon And those five long expecting hours you stay Are spent in making Proselytes to th' Play Such Favour is not common nor are Wit And Sense the only means of gaining it That happy Man the Author you commend Must be at once a Poet and a Friend Honour'd by the acquaintance of the Great His Conversation Eminent as his Wit And as th' effect of your kind Influence We 've seen such refin'd Fancy so much sense Such Plays as do â—eserve so much Applause They need no Favour to support their Cause But since our Author wants that Interest And those perfections which delight you best And none of those kind leading Votes can boast Let not his Play for his hard Fate be lost What if our Author be not one of You Wit should like Coyâ—e pass current from a Jew And should not its Esteem like Medals hold Where th' Image more than weight gives price to thâ— Gold Gallants let Wit the Fate of Beauty find Be to it wheresoe're you meet it kind I 'm sure Variety best pleases there The Mrs. you maintain Gay Brisk and Fair Does not so much your stock of Kindness reap But you can spend some hours on Ioys more cheap And so On humble Writers let some favours fall Let not the Dons of Wit engross you all Actors Names SOlyman the Magnificent Mr. Batterton Ibrahim the Vizier Bassa M r. Smith Ulama the Sophies Son and Heir of Persia Mr. Harris Morat a Bassa Mr. Medbourn Muphti Mr. Gillo Women Roxolana Mrs. Mary Lee. Asteria Solymans Daughter and Roxolana's Favourite Mrs. Corar Isabella a Christian Princess Mrs. Batterton Mirva Mrs. Hughes Bassaes Mutes Janizaries and other Attend. The SCENE Solymans Seralio IBRAHIM The ILLUSTRIOUS BASSA ACT the FIRST The SCENE the Seraglio Enter Roxolana Mirva Guards and Ladies Mirva THe Turkish pow'r was absolute till now All knees all hearts did to the Sultan bow Nay Beauty too by Heav'n and Nature made To Conquer Kings in the tame crowd obey'd The world was searcht and busie Nations strove To find out Martyrs for a Tyrants Love 2. Lady Even Daughters by their Parents were betray'd Who their fair race a willing Victim made In a Seraglio they Cloyster'd slept For servile Love in shining Fetters kept Till Roxolana the long Bondage broke And by her Influence shook off the yoke Mirva Yes Royal Madam 't was your Eyes alone That could confine his wandring heart to one And singly rule the Conquer'd Solyman Beauty was ne're a Monarch till your Reign The glorious Sun shines by himself most bright When crowds like Stars make but a feeble light Roxolan And Mirva to confirm the Chains I gave By Sacred Rites I 've bound my Royal Slave It has been mine and only my Renown T'hâ—ve joyn'd a Nuptial Wreath t' a Turkish Crown He saw me and he look'd his pow'r away Nor can years raize the Structures of that day The Siege I laid an Age cannot remove His Constancy 's as great as is His Love Men call me Proud yes so might Heav'n be too If its Adorers were but half as true Homage to that inconstant Mortals pay And Heav'n meets with Apostates ev'ry day Brighter their Temples and their pow'r would shine Did God's maintain their Altars as I mine Enter Asteria attended Aster I come to lay new Honours at your Feet In
your returning Lord a Conqu'rour meet The Sultan does from Vanquisht Persia come From being fear'd abroad to be ador'd at home By what the Aâ—ms of Solyman have won The Turkish Moon Eclips'd the Persian Sun Roxol. Your Father dear Asteria has in you A pious Herauld sound and just one too But whilst the Sultans Conquests you express Is not Love shrowded in this Martial dress Amidst the lowder Vows you pay to him Does not the Great and Faithful Ibrahim To whose success the Sultans glory 's due Extort some silent Veneration too Aster I cannot but with blushes own his pow'r Ibrahim is every where a Conquerour Roxol. Nay Blusâ— no more His Victoâ—ies remove Tâ—at Barr which has so long conceal'd your Love All that he is all he has don's your due Life and the Sultan's smiles he gain'd by you At once a Condemn'd Criminal and a Slave You Rescu'd him from Fetters and a Grave He and his Conquests your Creations are To you he owes them and shall pay 'em here Aster Grant this and Heav'n 〈◊〉 make no other pray'r If the kind Destinies this wish fulfil Let all their other works of Fate stand still Roxol. By my Commands you have conceal'd your flame Till his illustrious Deeds had rais'd his Fame Above all Conquerours this Age can shew The only worth that should aspire to you Till then I bid you your low passion hide And see how Heav'n rewards your noble Pride In this high State He may your Kindness know You 've made him God-like e're you treat him so Love like Religion in a mighty mind Should build those Temples which it does not find Aster My Breast thus long has my Loves Jailour been And kept by force the strugling Prisoner in But oh how much is my freed soul at peace When you pronounce the tireâ—ome Slaves Release Enter Solyman Ibrahim Ulama Dorea Bassas and Janizaries Solym. Be this days Pomp your care in th' Aga's room to Dorea Fix you my Standard in the Hippodrome And as my Agent pay that debt I owe My Gratitude in Ibrahims glory show Do it with such Magnificence and State As fits the Triumph which we celebrate Here Solyman approaches and discovers Roxolana Roxol. Welcome the Worlds great Conqueroâ— mine Enough before did your bright Luster shine You needed not new Victories new Charms To welcome you to Roxolana's Arms. Solym. Yes I need all my glories when you 're near I bring my Trophies as a Tribute here Great though I am your pow'r is greater yet The World to me I to your Eyes submit Betwixt Loves pow'r and Majesty's this odds The Vows men pay to Saints Saints pay their Gods Ibrah. Yes Dorea goe raâ—se this Triumphant Seat to Dorea Letâ— th'Entertainment be both rich and great Let it have all that Majesty may dress In spoiles of War or Ornaments of Peace But then consider where that Honour 's due To him alone you must with Homage bow Obey him as my Sovereign not my Friend Ulam Oh Ulama thy heart thy heart defend Gazing on Roxolana Roxol. Great and Victorious you must ever prove Be but your Stars thus constant as your Love Solym. Their influence is secure I cannot fear Success nor Conquest whilst this Arm makes War presents Ibrahim to her For when my Ibrahim did to Persia go Against the Sophy my most pow'rful Foe So small his Forces were so few his Arms That they seem'd only fit to give Alarms Not overthrows sent but to rowze my game But as the Light'ning till my Thunder came Yet when my greater force ith'Field I â—rew Expecting danger and a stubborn Foe Expecting by long Sweat and Toyl t' have gone Through Blood and Ruin to the Persian Throne His Wondrous Arm such Miraclâ—s had done I came but to behold the Fields he won Ibrah. The Sultans pleasure is that shining things Should only be the Favourites of Kings To Roxolana And shews his Godâ—like Bounty when he takes Delight t' adorn the Creatures which he makes Solym. Though Crowns and Empires have his Tryumphs been There was one Trophy left for me to win To Roxolana This Princes heaâ—t the bravest and the â—est Of all my Persian Foes is Solyâ—ans Guest presents Ulama to her I have to shew what to your Beauty's due Brought the great Sophies Son to wait on you Ulama Your generous Lord such favours does confer On Ulama his Ibrahimâ— Prisoner That from my Chains without a Ransom paid Not only freed but Solymans Creature made My overthrow I must Heav'ns blessings call Who owe this Resurrection to my fall Roxola His favours Solyman does not id'ly place Noâ— doubt he found you merited that Grace Ulama So eminent your Sultans Vertues are I wonder not at his success in War The Fates in Duty to such worth are kind Justly th' obsequious Destinies deâ—ign'd No other force should Solyman subdue As being the only Conquest fit for you Was 't not enough I was subdu'd at home Have I a new Captivity to come On envy'd Solyman Oh infinite charms My Eyes are more ambitious than thy Armes Aside Solym. But my dear Ibrahim now is the time I must accuse a Conquerour of a Crime You wear a look unfit for Victory In all the glories you have heap'd on Me In Deeds that ought to make the Actor proud On your daâ—k Brow you wear a sullen Cloud Roxol. I have observ'd him with the same surprize And markt a killing sorrow in his Eyes Solym. In this dejected look There 's sometâ—ing more then modesty Your Friend And King must know from whence those Clouds descend Do you repine at the loud Fame you get Or is 't unwillingly you make me great Ibrah. Unwillingly Forbear that killing sound Give not a Loyal heart so deep a wound Unwillingly not Misers meet their Wealth Lovers success despairing Sinners Health Or Martyrs Heav'n with half the joy that I Can in your Cause subdue obey or dye Aster My life shall pay for one ill thought in Him I 'le answer for the Loyal Ibrahim Solym. But my best Ibrahim your griefs declare Can you have Sorrows which I must not share Your troubles may be just and by my fault Perhaps I have not us'd you as I ought Perhaps your merits are not fully paid The Crowns that Ibrahim won are not on Ibrahims head But though my tardy hand has guilty been 'T is not too late to expiate that sin Crowns thou shalt have Ibrah. Oh Royal Sir no more Bounty was never Cruelty before So great so large a present as a Crown Is fit for Solyman to give alone 'T is great but 't is not kind when you can think My soul t' a mercenary thought can sink My thoughts from a more just Ambition spring 'T is all my Pride Unbrib'd to serve my King Solym. Then tell me Ibrah. Oh the secret must not out Aside Roxol. If not his kindness then his pow'r you doubt Can there be any thing disturbs your rest As cannot be by Solyman redrest Think
World in its last Funeral fires After that infinite Mass consum'd expires Where once so bright an Orbe of glory was Torments and Hell fill up the empty space Ulam Those thoughts whence this disorder'd language grew Have some great cause Solym. Yes and a strange one too I 'm practising the Gyants War agen I 've seen that Heav'n I wou'd unjustly Win. In one mean act my Honour I Dethrone From Ibrahim's Friend I am his Rival grown Ulam For his for hers for your own glories sake Some care of your declining Friendship take Her by your Kingly promise you have made Your Daughter him your Son Rights which t' invade Will so much stain your worth ecclipse your light That your own Mirrour will your soul affâ—ight That he who once made trembling Nations shake Will at his own surprizing Image quake Solym. These reasons my Conversion might have wrought Were I not too much harden'd in my fault But Ulama I Love and must Enjoy No Argument can that Resolve destroy In this extream my desp'rate cause defend Not as my Reasons but my Passions Friend O tell me how I may my Love without a Crime pursue Sooth me and flatter me deceive me do Hide all those stains that make it an offence And cheat me with a glimpse of Innocence Morat What need of Cheats Is there a happiness That the Worlds Lord should wish and not possess You wrong your self and our great Prophet too To yield to grief and not your joys pursue Kings are his care not are their passions fir'd by common heat of blood but things inspir'd 'T is the Eternal Will that does ordain Your Love or Hate nor can that act in vain If your Bliss only by her Love 's attain'd For you then she 's by providence ordain'd Why to your self then are you so unkind To feed your own despair why to man-kind To let their Monarch languish why to Heav'n Thus to refuse what th' High decrees have giv'n Solym. No Kind Morat our Prophet does ordain Monarchs with Honour should their Joys obtain And when that Rock stops our forbidden way Pow'r must not climb where Vertue bids us stay Mor. Honour and Friendship safe with all her charms That Beauty shall be lodg'd within your armes Put his Allegiance to this glorious test Tell him your Love and make her your request When he shall know such ador'd greatness dies If not recover'd by that Ladies eyes What will not so much Loyalty perform To guard his King from such a threat'ning storm By Heav'n he will present her on his knees Solym. Love ne're makes guifts so Prodigal as these Mor. Be not deceiv'd your pow'rful influence try Solym. How not deceiv'd Yes you deceive me Mor. I Solym. Yes and I thank you for the Courtefie Though all that you have said in my defence Are Reasons as remov'd from Truth and Sence As I 'm from Peace Yet such my passion is I 'm charm'd ev'n with imaginary bliss Love when thy pow'rs distracted fancies seize Hope in all formes tho ne're so false can please Ulam Recall your wandering thoughts from such false dreams And free your self from all these wil'd extreams This low desire and humble thought surmount And your own happier Scenes of Love recount Think of that dazling form so far above Natures less lights your Roxolana's Love Solym. There Oh 't is there I 'm lost that only Name Brands my inconstancy with guilt and shame Her right I irreligious I have stole She who so long has singly sway'd my soul To whom I 've sworne that Faith should ne're remove And dedicated an immortal Love A Love so sacred as should neither have An end on this side nor beyond the Grave Down go her Altars and her pow'r decays To a new Saint I a new Temple raise Ex. Sol. Mor. Ulam This secret must to Roxolana she Must hear her faithless Lords Apostacy The early knowledge of this dangâ—â—ous Love May give her means her dangers to remove I 'le waken all the forces of her heart Rowze all her charms her policy and art To re-establish her declining power I to my Trust was never false before But am I false t' oppose his Crimes to serve Such excellence such greatness to preserve To be his Vertues and her Honours guard Friendship 's a Tyrant if 't has Laws so hard But why did I see Roxolana last Why was that Jewel in the Turkish Diadem plac'd To shine so bright and yet be priz'd no higher Can he whom such Raies warm Be led astray by any wand'ring fire Well are thy Ensigns the inconstant Moon Had she been destin'd to adorn my Throne She had met a kinder Clime under a Persian Sun Yet though I Love and Love too late Enter Roxolana and Asteria She 's here The story is not for Asteria's ear I 'le watch the favour of a private hour Exit Rox. There was a time when my commands had pow'r Aster Have they not still Roxol. Then Love that Traytor less And your obedience in your scorn express Aster Love once by your consent my Breast did rule And can your Councels change and not my Soul No sure like Oracles such goodness spoke Pronounced what it meant never to revoke Hate that rough Passion Natures worst disease Should be learnt only amongst Savages Thoughts more refin'd and words of gentler sence Should be the Precepts of such Excellence Roxol. Poor Innocence abuse your self no more Think of Revenge and those fond tears give o're Aster Has Ibrahim deserv'd so ill of me Roxol. Can such apparent Crimes disputed be Such injuries though by th' Offenders Fate You may Revenge you ne're can expiate Aster Talk not of punishing so brave a Man Though hopeless I his Love must never gain Call it his Fate not Cruelty when I Must for some more deserving Beauty dye Roxol. Your anger and disdain should swell the more For being injur'd on a Rivals score Who can t' a meaner choice his thoughts debase And wrong his lifes Protectress and the Race Of Solyman a man so base and rude You ought to scorn for his ingratitude Aster Ah Royal Madam do not lay a Crime Upon the just and guiltless Ibrahim No doubt my Love came in too late an hour When his lost heart was gone beyond his power Seal'd by some Vows which I must ne're recall And should I be so guilty in my fall As against Hâ—av'n and Nature to repine Because they have made Eyes more bright than mine Roxol. If Love the payment of his heart withstood His Honour should have paid you with his blood But since he guilty lives abhor his Name If justice can't convert you then let shame Aster No more already you too much have said When your commands can never be obey'd I ne're can hate him though his Loss must kill My Murderer is my Lov'd Ibrahim still The world has not that man whose worth should buy My life when I for Ibrâ—â—im can dye Yet me thinks Death I would
he does his Joys delay Hee 'l come more glorious to his Nuptial day Isabel. When Solyman's Honour or his Dangers call My Right 's so little and my power so small I can't or if I could I shou'd not stay Their hands who at your feet their Laurels lay Go â—ight and conquer to adorn that brow Pay your vast debt to this great Monarch due to Ibrah. Whatever my own private sufferings be When 't is t' advance your Fame I ought to see Him rather dye for you than live for me to Solym. Solym. Illustrious Maid fear not his safe return Heav'n for your merit must have such concern That if his own yet matchless courage cou'd Not bring him safely back your wishes wou'd Ibrah. My Pride and my Devotion shou'd embrace That glorious task which your Imperial Grace Upon your Creature and your Slave confers But thus t'assert your Fame wou'd ruine Hers Solym. How Ibrahim Ibrah. Great Sir the very sound Of a Seraglio will her Honour wound Virgins their Fame so cautiously support That she 's not safe though lodg'd in Solyman's Court I therefore beg our speedy Nuptials may Drive both her Dangers and my Fears away And till our Stars my safe return decree My Pallace may her Sanctuary be But if the chance of War has not design'd My Life as Fortune is not always kind I at my destiny shall less repine To think my Isabella once was mine Adding the thoughts of one days bliss below To that Eternity to which I goe Solom I can forgive thy fear though 't is unjust My well-known Virtue checks that vain distrust That Constancy which long has been my Fame And render'd a Seraglio but a name Yet e're you go I would compleat your Bliss But Honour which commands that hinders this So bright must Isabella's Nuptials shine And I so great Solemnities design That the o're-hasty Cause which calls you hence Does too few hours for that great work dispence Ibrah. Our Nuptials with less State Solym. It is unkind To think so ill of what 's so well design'd You slight my favours when you treat me so Ibrah. That word has silenc'd me If I must go And go e're I the Sacred Tye can bind Of th'unseal'd Treasure that I leave behind I make a Deed of Trust to Solyman gives her to Solym. Here in my absence as a Father Reign To my great Lord her safety I resign Whilst I subdue your World do you guard mine Solym. Guard her that charge not her best Angels can Perform with half the Zeal of Solyman Oh Ibrahim cou'd thy Innocence but guess With how much guilt I this fair charge possess 'T would chill thy blood and make an Ague there As great as is the burning Feavour here Aside Me-thinks I in your looks discern a pain That begs this guift some minutes back again Take her Till that just right 's perform'd I 'm gone Your paâ—ting Love admits no lookers on gives her agen to Ibrahim Conquest and Armes on him I did bestow To raise him once but to destroy him now Love of all passions is the most Divine But when encompast with such Câ—imes as mine By th'num'rous frailties that attend it then When we come next to Gods we are but men Aside Exit Solym. and Morat Isabel. I bid you go but guard your precious Life For endless if you dye will be my grief I shall be left in a strange Court unknown Where my dear Fame my suffer when you 're gone Nay worse left in a World not worth my care Or thought when once my Ibrahim's not there Ibrah. Beauty and Love so fair a Seat ne're held Were not the Constant Sultan's bosom seal'd Were not his Heart his Roxoland's prize I should suspect the Magick of your Eyes Isabel. Could Solyman be false and by my pow'r Though absent nay though dead yet rest secure Fear not in Heav'n assaults against her Love Which Crowns can't buy nor Fate it self remove But cou'd he Love there 's little danger here What e're their pow'r is when my Ibrahim's near He 'l find when you are absent in these Eyes More to move pitty than gain Victories Ibrah. Surprizing Vertue so much Extasy In our next happy meeting I fore-see Did not the pain of parting make it less My joys would ev'n grow fatal by th' excess But if the distant prospect is so clear How dazling will the bliss be when 't is near Isabel. When you are gone as 't is resolv'd you mast My tears in solitude will be so just And I 'le perform my Loves sad Rites so well As shall convert a Pallace to a Cell And if the War should take your Life away But oh far distant be that fatal day From Courts and from the tiresome world I 'le flye And your just moâ—â—ner in a Cloyster dye Ibrah. Oh matchless Faith They who would search about The World to find thy Vertues equal out Must take a Journey longer than the Sun And Pilgrims dye e're half their race is run Enter Asteria Asteria here Isabel. Do I my Rival see Is this the Beauâ—y you refus'd for me Aster Fair envy'd Maid 'T is not enough that you Should only Conquer you must Tryumph too Your Beauty has no little Trophy won When it is prais'd by her it has undone See here a Monarchs mourning Daughter brought To speak the glories by a Rival wrought Mâ—s. of more than all the World can boast Mrs. of all Asteria's hopes have lost Isabel. Can so much Beauty mourn If there 's that Breast That can the force of those fair Eyes resist The fault 's in Fortune not your want of pow'r I saw him first and in the luckiest hour You only came too late to gain that heart And are in chance Out-rival'd not desert But am I safe against such charms I view Fresh dangers in the Wonders lodg'd in you Aster O do not fear that I 'd invade your rightâ— I would not make him wretched if I might If Destiny cou'd e're have made me His His Soul all mine in that high state of bliss I shou'd have pitty'd Kings thought Crowns less dear To command worlds not worth obeying here But could he now be mine the dearer joy He lost in you would his Lifes peace destroy But know I 'd ne're cloud him to make me shine I would not shake his peace though to crown mine Ibrah. Mirrour of Vertue stop those Tears and treat Ingratiâ—ude at a much juster rate Your hate and scorn shou'd my deserts repay Cast not so ill those sacred Pearl away Aster Not mourn for Ibrahim yes and dye but if Faâ—e for a while protects my weary Life 'T is only lent me to be kind to you Ibrah. No longer this astonishing theam pursue Aster O Sir there hangs a Comet o're your head A threatning Star in gloomy horrors spread Isabel. Say Madam what 's that Ruine that 's so near Dangers are his Familiars but not fear Aster My Câ—uel Father oh that Sacred Name None
my loss and love you less weeps Solym. How tiresome does unwelcome kindness prove Is there a Blessing or a Plague like Love Roxol. Oh Treacherous eyes what has your weakness done Can an Effiminate soft Tear run down From her fond Eyes that lives to loose a Crown A deposed Queen and have so little gall Did Cleopatra weep before her fall No at her Breast her dearest Vipers hung Whose pointed Tongues her angry bosom stung Swell'd with their Poyson and her blood all fir'd In nobler rage her Roman pride expir'd Her great despair such glorious â—ury felt As burst that heart which was too proud to melt Solym. Hence from my sight Take your vain Threats away Know my fixt Resolution and obey Roxol. Threaten'd to silence and commanded hence Ye Gods must I be taught Obedience Whose Empire did so lately spread so wide At once my Sexes Envy and their Pride Thou despicable King how poor and low Are the mean gifts which from thy bounty flow Glory a fairy Treasure pow'r a Toy An Airy Scene of Visionary Joy Since empty greatness has this fading state Why have I dreamt so long or wak'd so late Solym. What though you 've rul'd an Age The Sun and Stars Tho' they have shin'd so many thousand years Can plead no right to an Immortal state I made you as Heav'n did the World Create In your each part pow'r and perfection raign'd Each look Dominion had each word Command But as th' Eternal Will ordains a Day When this bright Frame its Debt to Fate must pay So when this Universe in Dust shall lye The Gods will be no more unjust than I. Roxol. In that great day Heav'n its Revenge will take The World must burn for wicked Man kind's sake And Nature dye for what her Race has done The Gods will at that Day put out their Sun Because't has shined too long on such as You. Then Perjury will meet it's last just due Solym. This growing storm no longer I 'le endure Her Violent Rage must have a Violent Cure Roxol. But since the faithful Roxolana must Be Sacrific'd to please a Tyrants Lust May my quick Fall like some fierce Earth-quake come When th' opening ground is some tall Pyramids Tomb. Whose Ravenous Jawes once gorg'd and clos'd again No reliques of the ruin'd pile remain To keep its memory alive Since my loud fall must bring eternal shame Oh that you could but kill my very Name And give my memory and me one Grave Then with what scorn should I my wrongs out-brave But when to my Immortal shame they 'l say I lost an Ages Tryumph in a Day There there 's my Torture In all the mortal stroaks great Hearts sustain Honour 's the only part that bleeds with pain Solym. Take her away I 'le hear no more to Morat Roxol. Bold Slave to Morat Solym. Begon I will no longer hear her Rave Roxol. Villain forbear to Morat Draws a Dagger How wretched base art thou by thy Command Forc'd like thy Slave Seiz'd by thy Vassals hand I 've so much Pride for that which I have been No common hands shall touch the Worlds once Sacred Queen Stand off officious Traytor Come not nigh Approach me but with one bold look and dye Enter Ulama Ulam Hold Irreligious Slave to Morat Touch her no more than you wou'd forfeit Heav'n To what wilde rage is Impious passion driven And Madam stay your hand give not that blow For him too glorious and for you too low Roxol. I thank you for the favour you have done Gives Ulama the Dagger which he takes on his Knees You 've Reason but my Griefs have left me none Ulam Sultan I am unwilling to believe 'T is in Fates pow'r to make such Beauty grieve But take her take her and be blind no more To Her your heart â—'your self your Wits restore Be Great Proud Glorious Blest Live Love and Reign In Happiness above the State of Man Consider but how much of Heav'n dwells there And call your self our Prophets Son and Heir Solym. How Ulama Ulam I am your Vertues Friend And with my Blood that Vertue wou'd defend Hither I come by Friendship 's Sacred tye To rowze you from your mortal Lethargy Your sleeping Reason wake and Re-enthrone What Nature made most worthy of a Crown Repair her Injuries and your lost Fame Such influence lodges in that Heav'nly Frame Her Smiles can deifie and her Wrongs can damne Solym. Persian the World had never yet so bold A Man as durst my pleasure have controul'd Had I as many Subjects as I led To win thy Persian Crown that durst have said Half this their Lives for th' Insolence had paid Ulam If all should dye that do abhor your Sin The Massacre would make your Empire thin Tho only I dare tell you How much the best of Wives best of Queens you wrong All Man-kind has my Sence though not my Tongue When I your fury from that Saint divert I but a suffering Kingdoms cause assert Be just to her that Heav'n may be appeas'd And the afflicted groaning World be eas'd Solym. Rash desperate Sir though you 〈◊〉 so high My Charity 's too great to let you dye But Captive do not tempt your Fate that hour You make a forfeit of your head once more Your petulant Frenzy with your Chains I 'le 〈◊〉 And shrink you to that shade from whence you came Roxol. Hold generous Persian you presume too high If in my Cause first ask my leave to dye Forbear t' encrease the violence of his Hate Least you 're involv'd in Roxolana's Fate Tho 't would become the greatness of a Queen T' have Crowds in Death to fill her Funeral Scene Sultan no guiltless soul with mine shall flye I 'le quit my state and singly glorious dye Ulam Do not oppose me in so just a Cause When he breaks Nature Heav'n and Honours Laws In wronging you let his fierce rage proceed Let Justice suffer Truth 's Defender bleed Tame me with Chains to Solym. A Prison is too weak Send me â—'a Grave And if that pow'r o're Souls as Lives you have Send me Where that loud Guilt by which her greatness fell Is writ in Sulphur on Records of Hell And when the blackest of their Hellish train Shall tell the story of her Tragick Scene Attended by a fierce and fiery throng I 'le bring the Furies and all Hell along To tell thee thou hast done a 〈◊〉 so damn'd That thou hast made th' infernal Fâ—ends asham'd Solym. Bold man thy blood but 't is too base to shed Thy baseness from my arm protects thy head But to deserve thy ruin from my hand I give thee leave my Rebels to command Or once again thy rallyed Persians lead If thou hast Honour meet me in their head When all thy glorys do thy brow adorn And on the Wings of Fame I see thee born Be worthy my Anger then till then my Scorn Ulam I 'le meet thee land thy power Undaunted stand Though
Ibrahim's just hand the Traytor fell The Lovers grief wou'd be too sad to tell Let it suffice they 're kept in stricter chains And now no hope of liberty remains Roxol. Poor Innocence What Tears would thy unhappy Mother pay Were she alive to have beheld this day But thou to share her Joys doest upwards go And leavest thy sorrows to thy Friends below Wretched Asteria but more wretched I This will but raise the Sultan's rage more high Now Ibrahim's life for hers too sure must pay And then the Christian is his certain prey Then Roxolana lays her greatness down And this new Love is courted with my Crown But that 's a sight I must not live to see Enter an Attendant of Roxolana's with a bowl of Poyson Zarma the Cup. This this my Guard shall be Mirv. Oh Madam what do you design Roxol. To dye From scorn and shame to peace and Heav'n I 'le flye No perjur'd Kings no ruin no despair Come near that place pow'r is immortal there Drinks the Poyson Enter Ulama Ulam I 'le try what Vengeance joyn'd with Love can do 'T is th' only glorious path that 's left me now Since my successless Zeal in your defence to Rox. And Solyman's rage has Banisht me from hence To morrow I tow'rds Persia must return And make the Eastern World your sufferings mourn Where if I breath my sorrow in that strain As makes an Empire eccho to my pain Oh pardon what my duty does create A Tribute due to Roxolana's Fate Roxol. You are my Friend and Sir to treat you so Take my last secret with you when you go All my long frightful danger disappears I am secure from injuries and fears No wicked hand shall snatch my Diadem now My Guardian Angel hovers round my brow Ulam Oh Madam speak agen Say has your Beauty his Conversion wrought Is his new Love that Meteor-light put out And have your brighter looks restor'd the day Roxol. No my protection comes a safer way A draught of Poyson I have took I scorn To have my glories from my Temples torne And Roman-like do my own Fate command Ulam Poyson'd and by that fair but fatal hand Roxol. Yet though my death 's so sure determin'd I Have still one hour of Life before I dye Which little blast of life I 'le use so well To my false King that parting story tell Shall sting his Soul Ulam What has your fury done Through those soft Veins must th'impious Poyson run Roxol. Impious no Sacred was the word you meant An act so pious might become a Saint Honour and safety this brave work perform I like a Pilot see the rising storm And wisely take my threaten'd glorys in Ulam Must all Man kind be punisht for his sin The World 's a sufferer in your Tragick Fate When you are dead where 's that Majestick state Where 's Natures Pride their Soveraign Leader slain Dull Beauties then like petty States will reign Why to such rage was so much Beauty driven Was it the spight or over-sight of Heaven Which that bright frame of Warring Elements built Such goodness in your eyes and in your hand such guilt Roxol. How is 't a torment to you to behold My greatness unconfin'd and uncontroll'd To be new form'd in an Aetherial mould Art thou an Heir t' a Crown and hast so mean A sense of Honour weret thou born to reign And can thy narrow Soul this Councel give That Roxolana should her pow'r out-live Ulam Madam no more Roxol. When for an act so great The crowding Gods their Royal Guest shall meet And lay their brightest glorys at my feet If thou shalt dare profane my memory And basely say I did not bravely dye From my bright Constellation I 'le look down And all my Stars shall blast thee when I frown Ulam Oh cease your Anger rather then I 'le bring That Curse upon me I 'le say any thing Roxol. Have I no more applause mistaken Prince For once I 'le stoop thy Error to convince Know it has been my-Honour to command The Worlds great Lord I have both lov'd and reign'd And when I see my Vassals disobey My long kept train of Honours shrink away Know 't is the noblest refuge of the great To make their lives before their glories set Since Solyman's short favours fade so soon I 'le mount where 't is all Summer always Noon All Earthly glory does perfection want Here 't is but glass in Heaven 't is Adamant Ulam Hold Madam I 'm a Convert and must own Th'impoverish'd World so bravely you 've undone That it must mourn and yet admire you too You 've done what greatness in despair shou'd do You 'l leave your Fame immortal when you go A Saint above and Heroine below This glorious deed not all th' Angellick Quire You 'l meet can praise enough enough admire But tho your Death I can your Tryumph call I can applaud but not survive your fall Stabs himself Hide not those Eyes do not my Heav'n remove Now I with Innocence may own I Love Roxol. Because my Death 's so near Dare you thus rudely Roxolana treat No guilty Prince I 'm not so little yet I 've still the Pride to scorn a Slave so bold In my last spark of life I still my lightning hold Ulam Oh do not think that I durst ever frame One thought or wish against your Sacred Name Not one Rebellious thought durst ever rise Your Vertue was as God-like as your Eyes My secret pain I did with silence bear And my Devotion paid without a pray'r And do you think because your Death 's so nigh I fear you less No now you stand more high Your greatness points like Mountains tow'rds the sky Roxol. If with such silence you your pains receiv'd How dare you dye more guilty than you liv'd How came you now to find a Tongue Ulam Oh now My love runs pure when my last blood streams too To own a passion for that Face and live Was more than so much Vertue could forgive All this I knew and to have pow'r to speak This only way could my long silence break And now I speak I do not ask your Love Curst be th' Impiety that dares remove That sacred Bond your solemn Vows have seal'd Or ask one look your Honour cannot yield Yet as I'm dying and shall beg no more One blessing let my parting sighs implore That little step let my Ambition climb Roxol. Well Sir you have my pardon for your Crime Ulam And is my Pardon all a little higher Let your poor humble dying Slave aspire Roxol. Then Prince Ulam Oh speak Roxol. You have my pitty too Ulam Dear divine Excellence you 've rais'd me now To all the joyes e're fill'd a Lovers breast You cannot be more kind nor I more blest My life did but my happiness retard Who would not dye when Death has this reward Enter Solyman and the former Bassa Her Tyrant here Solym. My Daughter kill'd in Ibrahim's defence How
Life Pow'r and Crowns Ibrah. I could for you the worst of Fates sustain Death were my Pride and if 't had any pain 'T would be to part so long to meet so late again Isabel. Kings are unlike their sacred pattern Heav'n If their offenders cannot be forgiven Let him go on his utmost rage fulfil And though he cannot frown but he must kill Confirm this constancy and Fate contemn Suffer more boldly than He can condemn And as I doubt not since the fault was mine But th' Author in th' Offenders doom shall joyn As your long Loves reward expect to see The Scene of Martyrdom fill'd up by me As in our Loves in Death together bound With greater pomp and state wee 'l meet the wound Then Victims that were led to Altars crown'd Ibrah. But see the mighty Solyman draws nigh Enter Solyman Ulama Morat and Guards See there the trembling Worlds Idolatry And such a Prince whose merit is so high That he who steals from Heav'n to make a gift Of homage there may justifie the theft Solym. Do you not tremble when you see me here Ibrah. No Sultan I have reverence but no fear Solym. And does not shame your guilty Conscience touch Ibrah. Though Solyman in Thunder should approach Still the same charming Majesty he wears But if so great and sacred he appears To those that meet his Frowns and tread on Graves How Godâ—like is He when he Smiles and Saves Solym. Ibrahim What Guardian Angel have you here My Furies vanish when such charms appear What Lady 's that Ibrah. One for whose sake I can Meet Death and stand the Frowns of Solyman Solym. Thy Love is bold But in her cause I can't admire thy Pride What unknown Nation did that Beauty hide Ibrah. Sir to my torment she ' has been hid too long Too fierce her Jaylor and her Jayl too strong Till Fate at last clos'd up her Dragons Eyes And then by force brought the Illustrious Prize Heav'n this fair Mourner sent t' attend my Grave To see your bleeâ—ing Victim in her Slave Solym. No Ibrahim you could not dye before For Solyman your Lifes protection swore And now you must not suffer if you cou'd Such Beauty can appease my injur'd blood Though you 've wrong'd Friendship Friendship must forgive Who cannot dye for her can less deserve to live Beauteous unknown to Isabel. If thy fair hand the Sacred Contract Seal'd Which must not be by any Pow'r Repeal'd That Present from a Monarchs Hand accept gives Ibrahim to her Which has for thee by Destiny been kept I should unjustly in a Subject chide That Constancy which is a Monarchs Pride Ibrah. By your surprizing goodness overcome Thus let his Duty speak whom wonder has struck dumb Kneels Solym. Rise Ibrahim is Justice in a King So strange and so astonishing a thing Isabel. Is this the Dungeon These the Chains false fear That could suspect such Cruelty raign'd there Sure you mistook the Judge or I the Doom to Ibrah. Who find such vertue out of Christendom Solym. Justice and Nature here shall end their strife Rich in those Charms enjoy a happy Life Ibrah. So vast a gift by so much mercy given If Monarchs in their actions coppy Heav'n Your glory in that List must be the chief Never was coppy yet so near the Life Solym. Tho Fate for this commanding Beauty's sake Will not permit you should my blood partake I will not be by Destiny out-done I in a Friend will still possess a Son Ibrah. What means my King Solym. All kindness to that Name What ever envy'd Monarch does lay claim To this fair Race His glory I 'le partake This Lady my Adopted Daughter make With all the Rites and Pomp due to my blood With all the Regal Ornaments endow'd That ever did or can attend my Race You shall in Her a Sultaness embrace Isabel. Forgive me sleeping Father when I must Thy Honours steal and â—ob thy Sacred Dust To pay new homage here Great Solyman Such matchless Vertues in your Bosom raign As without sin Religion can controul And swell th' Ambition of a Christians soul. Let me thus low the mighty Title meet And fall before a Royal Fathers feet Kneels Solym. Rise and accept Not on my Bounty but your merits score A Fathers Love Raises her 〈◊〉 Pray Heav'n I 've given no more I have approach'd her killing excellence Too nigh and feel in my transported sence Something that says I 'm by my Eyes undone And yet the Lawless wandring lights gaze on Aside Isabel. Those numerous Tâ—ophies you 've in Battle wone Gain you less Fame than this one act has done Your Valour there but Nations overthrew Here Solyman does Solyman subdue Solym. Aâ— fâ—â—st I thought â—gaz'd without a sin Friendshâ—p and Honour kept the Traytor in Now 't is resistâ—ess whilst â—â—ch pains she takes To praise my Conquests she a gâ—eater makes Aside Isabel. How faintly Famâ— does Solyman present In those weak name Great and Magnificent Those Attributes the Christ an World does give And those from Fear and Envy you receive If who but hear your goodness give no less What must she pay whom it vouchsafes to bless Solym. What must you pay O that strange word might I prescribe the way How those fair Eyes their Gratitude should pay I Miser-like shou'd for such payment sue As would t' enrich my self the World undoe But Shame and Friendship interpose between My wand'ring wishes and that splendid Scene Aside Fair Creature Isabel. Generous Sir Solym. No more Think I 've oblig'd you less or if I had done What might deserve applause yet pay me none For since her Eyes have done too much before Why should her Wit advance the Conquerour Since I have the Mortal stroke already found 'T is torturing of me to enlarge the wound Aside Isabel. Then what I must not my whole Sex shall pay For the strange wonders of our Nuptial day Lovers shall in their Temples sing your praise And add their Mirtle Chaplets to your Bayes Solym. Fair excellence no more Here Ibrahim haste Gives her to Ibrahim Begone and hold that Beautious Treasure fast Be gone whilst I have power to bid you goe Ibrah. We have receiv'd his Royal Grace too slow His Daughters struggling wrongs resume their pow'rs To Isabel. Let us retire whilst the blest minute 's ours Solym. Quick flye with your rich prize lest you delay Till that storm rise will drown you if you stay Ex. Ibrahim and Isab. And is she given into a Rivals hand Seiz'd and possess'd and all by my command He from my bleeding heart tears that fair prey And in that Rape forces my life away Ex. Attendants to Ibrahim and Isabella Stay Prince to you and to Morat I dare The nearest secrets of my Soul declare I 'm grown so alter'd and deform'd a thing In Solyman you 'l scarce find out your King An impious and devouring flame has raiz'd All in me that was good all that was great defac'd That like the
not wish too 〈◊〉 I would not gâ— to Heav'n 〈◊〉 comes there Roxol. Leave me Asteria how can I endure To hear those ills my Councel cannot cure Ex. Asteria Enter Ulama Ulam Pride of the World in Beauty Power and Love Great here below and no less great above To Solyman's Throne by Divine Justice led Which gave such merit to adorn that head Love which in Turkish Kings no limits knew But wide and spreading like their Ensigns flew By the new Miracle your Beauty wrought Its first and only constancy was taught Whilst th' Emperors wishes in a prize so raâ—e Met all the Worlds delight and center'd there Roxol. How Ulama Is Roxolana's power Disputed that it wants an Orator Ulam No Madam there where Empire 's absolute Your pow'r all should obey and none dispute But when some black Tempestuous Vapours rise And with an envious darkness shade the skies We see the Sun behind a Cloud retire Great lights may be Eclips'd though ne're expire Pardon that tongue which must offend your Ear And say There 's a storm rise in Roxolana's Sphear There is a Christian Beauty hither come That has out-done the Arms of Christendom The Turkish Crescents were Triumphant there But their great Leader is a Captive here Roxol. Go on Ulam And that which does his pains increase Is that this fair Invader of his peace Calls Ibrahim Lord by a long-kindled fire In mutual wishes their twin-souls conspire Yet not the pow'r of Friendship nor the sence Of infinite charms th' Almighty influence Of Roxolana not this glorious piece Enricht by nature at so vast a price That 't is undone a workmanship so great As Bankrupt Nature never can repeat Not all this dazling object can restrain Your wand'ring Solyman from thoughts too mean Such thoughts that He that 's blest by your fair eyes And Lord of such a Treasure should despise Rox. And are your Conquer'd fortunes sunk so far That to revenge the injuries of War Wanting the pow'r t' oppose his arms you dare Invade the Sultans breast t' assault him there When by so insolent a Treachery You would raise storms betwixt my King and Me He who dares breath Against th'unblemisht Honour of my Lord That honour which has been so long ador'd By th' World and Me not pray'rs nor off'rings shou'd From my just rage protect the bold Basphemers blood But thy rude Arrogance shall boast no more Th'indulgence of a gen'rous Conqueror My Guards there Enter Guards Seize that Traytor Guards seize Ulama Ulam A command From you I should not ev'n in Death withstand But for some minutes grant him a Reprieve Who only for your service beggs to live Rox. Serv'd by such Treachery Yes thy Canker'd heart Deserves that glory Traytor as thou art Ulam He who dares falsly stain your Sultans Fame And impiously profane that Mighty Name Deserves more Tortures than the rage of Fate Or Hell can give for he deserves your hate But if your alter'd Solyman lays by Once in a Life his bright Divinity For a frail thought must he that knows and he That tells the Miracle Truths Martyr be If such I must be let your pow'r dispence With life enough to prove my Innocence It is enough my Sentence came from you I would not willingly seem guilty too He who from your displeasure meets his Doom Needs no more weight to crush him to his Tomb. Rox. Call Solyman perjur'd and have a pretence After that word to talk of Innocence Ulam But Madam Roxol. Falsehood in Solyman were 't writ i'th'Stars I 'd not believe it Through those Characters Of Night I should Heaven's spite and malice see And call their twinkling lights as false aâ— thee Ulam Would all I 've said were false and I that black And monstrous thing your anger does mistake So much I Roxolana's bliss prefer Before Life Fame and all that men call dear That to unite her wandering Lord and her I wish by Death I could her troubles cease And be that Traytor to secure her peace Roxol. Your forfeit Head but live for should you dye By Death you would but end your Insamy Your blood by me would be too nobly spilt Live branded with my hate and your own guilt Enter Asteria Aster Madam my happy Rival is arriv'd And with such pomp by Solyman receiv'd With so much joy as if the smiles he gave Shou'd build a Monument o're a Daughters Grave Roxol. What do I hear half he has said is true Release him Guards release him What if all shou'd be so too 'T is something strange that Solyman shou'd treat His injur'd Daughters Rival in such state I faign would ask her but a sudden chill Has seiz'd my blood something me-thinks I feel Like a cold damp came from that killing breath What will the truth be then if but the fear be death Ex. all but Ulama Ulam Are scorn and hate my Services reward Death with my Love compar'd's a task less hard Men dye with hopes of bliss I Love with none Yet still I must adore where I 'm undone Though by your pow'r unworthy Solyman Vain are my hopes and endless is my pain My Pride shall be I will my Love pursue For less reward with greater Faith than you Exit The end of the Second Act. ACT the THIRD The SCENE a Room of State Enter Ibrahim and Isabella with Women-Attendants Ibrah. HIs generous Friendship that unites us now Was that which did so long divide us too For when as my long Services reward Quitting my tiresome Honours I prepar'd To beg my Freedom and returning home To meet my only Joys in Christendom One War scarce finisht still succeeded new The Sultan found fresh Kingdoms to subdue And whilst he had Foes t' oppose or Crowns to gain My Passion with my Honour strove in vain Still studying to discharge my mighty Debt I lost my Freedom by deserving it By my success to Solyman I grew Still more endear'd and more remov'd from you Isab. So much this Justice merits my Applause That had you quitted such a Monarchs Cause Ignobly though for me so great a stain Had made me share the wrongs of Solyman Enter Solyman and Morat Solym. Natolia up in Armes I wish no more to Morat Rebelliâ—n ne're was welcome till this hour This Insurrection will auspicious prove And aid me in my bold and dangerous Love My fair Adopted with that care and art To Isab. I 'm bound to treat such infinite desert That tâ—embling I approach you out of fear To loose that favour which I prize so dear When my Necessity my Tongue must force To make a short but an unkind Divorce Start not at what your pleasure my withstand 'T is only my request not my command But if fair Isabella wou'd dispence With Ibrahim's absence to revenge his Prince I 'd beg â—y Valiant Ibrahim's Sword of you The Insolent Natolians to subdue His presence their Allegiance will restore Who felt his Conquering Arm so late before And though a while
if Omnipotence so chang'd could be Fair Celia wonder not to see Thy Vassal as disguis'd and as transform'd as he Aster Oh! now I find the mystery 't is plain This entertainment came from 〈◊〉 No King were thy intended Victim here In vain you 'd court her sence and treat her ear She who possesses Ibrahim's heart Her thoughts no room for such mean charms can yield Her Breast is with more noble Raptures fill'd Enter Solyman and Morat My Father here This sight drives all my blasted hopes away Can his wild passion brook no longer stay Absconds her self amongst Isabella's Women Solym. Th'ascent is dang'rous and no common care Nor hasty steps can make approaches there I must with wide and distant Courtship move Before I â—ally out and call it Love Approaches and finds Asteria Asteria Torture of my Soul what 's here Aside Where is the Christian Princess Oh my fear Aside Aster Your Pardon Royal Sir Solym. My Love 's disclos'd And all my Guilt and Infamy expos'd Aside Where is she Aster Pardon an act of Piety and Love When I to guard your Honour durst remove A threaten'd Rival Solym. Ravish'd from my pow'r And my own Daughter a Conspirator Aside Effeminate Vertue hence flye from my sight Aster Can Solyman in Cruelty delight No be as just as I. Solym. Cease thy fond grief Be gone and to thy absence owe thy Life Aster Then I retire Not for the fear of Death That I can bear but not your angry breath Ex. Aster Solym. This fatal story must take Aire from you To Mor. How came my Love discover'd Traytor how If 't was thy Tongue that durst the secret tell Thou hadst better had thy soul as deep in Hell As I 'm beneath the Stars than speak that word Mor. I tell the Secrets of my Sacred Lord By all that 's good to Heaven I 'm not so true Not half so constant to my pray'rs as you Solym. How got she hence where is she Mor. To me it no less Riddle did appear To find her gone than see Asteria here If my eyes fail'd me not some minutes since I saw this very Lady part from hence And led by Ibrahim Solym. Then she has made escape By the assistance of Asteria's shape Fly seize'em both and bring 'em Prisoners here Do it as thou lov'st happiness find her Or loose thy Life and Me. Enter Roxolana and Mirva My Guards are thine Shew me that Face agen or ne're see mine Roxol. You were discoursing Royal Sir go on I will be silent till my Lord has done For Monarchs sure should speak such Sacred things That all shou'd listen to the Voyce of Kings Solym. Am I with shame on every side beset This Face I till this hour with pleasure met Aside Roxol. I durst not Sir have ventur'd to appear Within this place were the fair Christian here But in her absence I am bolder grown The meanest Star looks out when the Sun 's gone Solym. Is it your Wit or Anger makes you thus Severe against our Christian Guest and us Roxol. Sultan it is my Ruin brings me here The Evening of my glorious Day draws near From all my long blest hours and shining light I take the prospect of Eternal Night Solym. Whence Roxolana should this fear proceed And by what Fate is this black Change decreed Roxol. How Sultan Can you Kill me and not know The cruel hand that gives the fatal blow Th' effect is but too sure too plain the cause When his kind smiles my alter'd Lord with-draws Solym. Why to your self will you such pains contract And fear those injuries I scorn to act If from my Smiles your greatness takes its Fate I will Smile on since that supports your State Roxol. Nay then I feel my certain Destiny Are empty Smiles all you have left for me Sultan that 's not your Love but Charity And of your Charity must I the object grow Can Roxolana have a fall so low Christian thou hast perform'd a Tyrants part To make this change in my dear Sultan's heart Solym. Well Empress Since such pow'rful Tears I find To mourning Roxolana I 'le be kind Roxol. O my faint hopes Solym. Dissembling in a King Would be too abject and too base a thing And therefore I this favour will impart I 'le give you the true Picture of my Heart I Love that Princess Roxol. O my Death Solym. And to that height that nothing can remove My resolution to pursue my Love I 'le prosecute all the long-practis'd Arts That Majesty e're found to conquer Hearts Roxol. Nay now you are more Cruel than before Was 't not enough I did your Loss deplore But t'heighten my despair must your own breath To make my fall more lowd proclaim my Death 'T had been enough t' have met a silent Doom Must the black Cloud have Thunder in its Womb Solym. Why is your Fall and Death by Solyman wrought By Heav'n I 've no such mallice in my thought My thoughts flow purer No black stream runs here Love fills my breast and makes the Current clear And Love that 's the impetuous Tide of Souls No Majesty no Sacred name controules But from its pow'r its Innocence does hold As th' Acts of Heav'n are good because they 're uncontroul'd Roxol. There was a Time but oh That Roxolana lives to speak that word When my still Lov'd and my once loving Lord Vow'd an Eternity of Faith to Me And call'd on Heav'n to witness that Decree But now unkindly does that Heav'n invoke To see his Vows and Sacred Promise broke The Days the Seasons and the Years go on And Nature her unalter'd course does run But why 's not the United World unhing'd When that bright Vertue which should rule 't is chang'd Since Honour can be Violated there Why does not Nature your Confusion share Is Solymans World more constant than its Lord Solym. 'T is true I gave you my imperial word To Love you and have done it to the height Beauty was never treated in more State A Nuptiall Tye and sharer in a Throne To all my Predecessors was unknown Roxol. Yes Sir you rais'd me to a Crown forsook The rude delights your wilde Fore-fathers took When from the feeble Charms of multitude And change your heart with one pure flame endu'd Was all entire to Roxolana giv'n As Converts quit Idolatry for Heav'n To that I ow'd my Happiness but know 'T is to that too I do my Ruine owe. Solym. Death how she tortures me Is this Diversion for a Lover in my pain aside No news of Isabella here again Roxol. Had Solyman lov'd like other Turkish Kings And I been one of those â—ame suffering things Who as your Slaves your scatter'd favours caught I in the crowd had had no higher thought But from that hour I was the Sultan's Wife My Soul grew with the glories of my Life My infinite Knowledge makes my pains excess Remembrance is the Plague of Greatness in distress Solym. When to those eyes
I swore I would be true â—Twas to the Worlds Variety in you All your whole Sex for you I did forsake Who had all that Beauty which they joyn'd could make And as I constantly perform'd 〈◊〉 Vow For the same 〈◊〉 I am alter'd now Then call me not inconstant nor unkind Who greater charmes in Isabella find Ex. Solym. Roxol. Neglected was too much but slighted too Who could expect these barbrous wrongs from you Sultan what e're thy falsehood shall design My Lustre through thy hate and scorn shall shine Just Gods Defend my Vertue Guard my sacred Fame Then whom none nearer to your God-heads came Do 't as your Honour and your Pow'rs divine Prove your own Greatness by your care of mine Mirv. Doubt not th' Immortal Justice in your Cause Since your Apostate Lord his heart with-draws Heav'n will Revenge the wrongs to such a Saint If there can be a greater punishment Then th' offence to hold so rich so bright A Treasure and want sence to value it Roxol. False though he is So much respect is to his greatness due I may impeach his Treasons but not you Mirv. But say the World could yield as great a Man In Birth in Love more great than Solyman Who did for Roxolana's Beauty dye And with a Love as Innocent as high That wish'd no greater a reward t' obtain Than his fair Murderers pitty of his pain Could you permit Roxol. That He should tell me so Mirv. Only to ease your grief and let you know Your Love is not unfortunate alone Since there are miseries beyond your own Roxol. If such a Traytor to my Fame there be That thinks Love Innocent when spoke to me Conceal his Name as you would guard your Life But if a silent Death can ease his grief Let him Love on and dye without my frown For if his Insolence his Love dares own And breath th'aspiâ—ing thought he shall receive The cruell'st Doom that Hate and Rage can give Enter Ulama Mirv. Take heed Great Sir suppress your dang'rous flame There 's Death and Ruine in the very Name aside to Ulam Ulam Fair Empress They who so much Beauty meet Ought to strow Flow'rs and Laurels at your Feet The voyce of Tryumph should your ears delight But I approach you like those Birds of Night Which hovering near great Pallaces still come With their harsh Notes t' express some threat'ning doom Such your hard Fortune is and such is mine Your cruel Lord but oh that Fate shou'd joyn With Cruelty by his wild passion led Has seiz'd the Christian Princess as she fled Roxol. More weight to my destruction Ulam How much this accident may his fierce rage 'Gainst an Offending Rivals Life engage Is yet not fully known Only thus far He has gâ—ven away the Conduct of the War From Ibrahim Such Madam is my fear For you so great my dread of dangers here That though my Vows and Pray'rs pay you that Debt Which all Man-kind does owe and to compleat Your glory wish you all your pow'r can meet The World at your Command and Monarchs at your Feet Yet whilst th' imaginary pomp goes on And my fierce Zeal exalts you on a Throne As high as Heav'n and no less glorious too Not all these thoughts can guild my fears for you Roxol. Obliging Prince so great has been your sence Both of my Wrongs and of my Innocence That in return of such a generous part I 'le trust you with the secrets of my heart This false unkind ungrateful Solyman Does o're my heart that absolute Monarch reign That to what-ever Crimes his Rage dares flye My Love 's Immortal though my Pow'r can dye So th' Indian Worships the Infernal pow'rs And perishes by that which he adores Exit Ulam How mortal would this sound of horror be To one that Loved unless he Lov'd like me Her Vertue to her Beauty lends new fire And both their charms I equally admire Mirv. I 've us'd my pow'r but your vain hopes forbear Should but the name of Love reach her chaste ear Her pride scorn would into Vengeance flye Ex. Ulam I thank her for so just a Cruelty And blush to think I durst her Vertue try For could she yield to hear one sigh from me Her Vows and Nuptial Faith would injur'd be And true Love were a stranger to my breast If I could wish her Ill to make me blest Be Constant still and all my pride shall be To Reconcile thy Faithless Lord and Thee For since I must expect those wounds she gave Will quickly bring me drooping to my Grave My unstain'd soul will then Tryumphant flye When thus for the Worlds Empress I shall dye Others Love only as their Hope stands fair Bâ—t I Love on to propagate despair Exit The End of the Third Act. ACT the FOURTH The SCENE the Seraglio Enter Isabella Guarded by Morat and other Attendants Morat PArdon an act of Violence from his Hand Who only Executes his Kings Command Enter Solyman Solym. Fair Cruelty how cou'd you flye from him Whose only fault was Love and that 's a Crime The Gods must pardon for they practise it Love ev'n in Paradice does Tryumphant sit Isabel. How can you thus the name of Love profane Give no more breath to words of such a strain Then you would lend a Tongue to Blasphemy Solym. Can you make wounds so deep you start to see And wilfully be deaf to all my pain To Sighs sent from the heart in which you reign Some pitty of your Captives tortures take That breathe but like Conâ—essions from a Wrack The Gods are only to the Damn'd so strict To shut their Ears'gainst Torments they inflict Isabel. Is this a Fathers Voyce Is this a Friend To Ibrahim Can Majesty descend T' a Crime so low the meanest Slaves have scorn'd Were we for this with splendid names adorn'd He call'd your Son and I your Daughter made Only to be more cruelly betray'd Solym. 'T is true I gave him all I had pow'r to give I bid him happy in your favour live And ignorantly past that blind Decree Till in your Loss I did my Ruin see Your pow'rful form prest nearer to my soul And thence my Peace and Soveraign freedom stole My fancy painted all the joyes of life in you And in your loss ten thousand horrors drew Isabel. Oh Cruel King how can you wound my earâ— With those dire sounds I scarce have life to hear When the most sacred Vows you dare invade That Heav'n e're heard or Lovers ever made Solym. How Merciless can you your pow'r disguise Can you that question ask and wear those Eyes Isabel. If from their Influence your guilt arise Wou'd'I had been born of some black Aethiop-race Wor'n a dark Veile of Nature o're my Face And for the want Of outward force which Ibrahims heart should blind Had caught him only with a beautious mind Thus free from dang'rous eyes and fading charms My peace secur'd from a Wild King's Alarmes You had not then
my Persecutor turn'd Nor the fair Injur'd Roxolana mourn'd We had lived â—afe from Tortures and despair Not wrong'd by th'Great nor envy'd by the Fair. Solym. Are you so faithful then to Ibrahim That you would rob the World in Love to him To wish those eyes obscure yet if they were Had those eyes been those twins of light less fair Then Crowns and Empires might my peace have bought And a wide World had fill'd my bounded thought Isabel. Oh hold this too unkind discourse give o're My Ibrahim's dear but my bright Honour more Think how you do not only injure him Conspire against your once Lov'd Ibrahim But whilst I 'm forc'd to hear the frightful name Of Impious Love you wound my tender Fame Solym. If of your Honour you so tender prove Express it by your scorn of Ibrahim's Love You only wrong your Fame in loving him Unworthy as he is but end that Crime Isabel. Oh Heav'n what do I hear Solym. He is a Thief A Traytor for a mean and base reliefe Against my dang'rous Love he stole you hence Isabel. If that's a Crime 'T was mine not his offence Your black designs had made me dread your sight So much I used not only Prayers t' invite But my Commands to make him aid my flight Solym. Fair Torturer of my soul since you could be So kind to him and so severe to me Expiate that sin of which you are the cause His head is forfeit by the Turkish Laws Now if you love him reconcile our strife Your heart 's the only Ransom of his Life 'T is true I 'm led by passion to disclaim My Vertue wrong my Friendship stain my Fame I see the Precipice but cannot stay Love runs me down and drives my soul away My Passion for that Beauty is so high This I resolve this I must do or dye Isabel. In vain you threaten me with Ibrahims Death Think not my long inviolable Faith Poorly at last will be o'recome by Fear No Sir there 's no such weak Dominion here Tho you can aim Your fury at his Heart To persecute Me in the tenderest part Tho Ibrahims Life I prize above my own Think as much worth lodg'd in that Breast alone As Man-kind e're possest or Heav'n e're gave Yet even his Life I wou'd not basely save Solym. Gods must I find A Heart so fixt and Vertue so sublime Has my bold Love such craggy way to climbe Isabel. Hope not t' assault me there rather than he Should live to see me perjur'd I would see Him bleed see him in purple horror dy'd See the dear Lord of all my hopes destroy'd Nor think this Doom in cruelty design'd No His just Love wou'd rather call it kind Solym. Oh my distraction Isabel. But whilst I stay To prove my Vertue I my Vertue wrong And my chaste ear has guilty been too long Here Jailour to my Prison take me hence to Moâ— Now you may act a welcome violence Solym. Stay Madam Isabel. I can hear no more in vain Solym. Oh Madam stay one minute and t' obtain That favour Ibrahim shall live and live To see me wretched till he sees you give My mortal wound as but too soon you will For so much scorn can do no less than kill When those fair Eyes shall like a winter-Sun Give only light not life whose influence gone All things below decay'd and wither'd turn And drooping Nature does his distance mourn When thus my blasted greatness shall decay And by your frowns my life shall droop away My pains my griefs my horrors shall be such As shall so near my generous Vizier touch Till my sad state his soften'd pitty move And pitty grant what is deny'd by Love Till his compassion does my life defend And quit a Mistress to preserve a Friend Isabel. Do not his Constancy so much mistake Yet if for you he could my Love forsake That heart which justly as his falsehoods due I took from him I could not give to you Though you such Irreligous thoughts admit Your Honour and your Nuptial Vows forget I cannot Solym. Is Religion then my Foe And does my Marry'd state my hopes o'rethrow That shall not cloud the glories of your life You shall be mine a Christian and a Wife Isabel. Defend me Heav'n what 's this Solym. You shall in state be to a Temple led I 'le take the Crown from Roxolana's Head Thus you shall meet my Love Isabel. 'T was too much crime alone T' oppose my Vows wou'd you deface your own Break your long Faith to Roxolana given And by your rage thus doubly injure Heav'n Solym. I injure Heav'n no you mistake me now I am pious not profane in what I doe What greater homage can to heav'n be paid Then with Imperial Crowns t' adorn the Head Of the Divinest Creature it e're made Isabel. Oh! let me go this place of horror flye Send me t' a dungeon to a Grave to dye Rather then stay to heighten your impiety Solym. Retire then since my presence is a sin But Cruel Fair when we shall meet agen Assume a mercy that befits that brow Isabel. If I must find you as I leave you now Meet me no more nor time nor force employ Against that Faith no pow'r can e'r destroy And for those Tales of Death you seem to fear Attend my frowns there 's no such danger near Despair in guilty Loves ne're soares so high None but just Lovers love enough to dye Exit Guarded Solym. Was ever scorn so high or King so low Mor. To Constancy you all this rudeness owe. But if you e're expect to be belov'd The causes of this scorn must be remov'd Ibrahim must dye and though 't will seem severe To take that life which once you held so dear Yet since his Life has th'hopes of yours debarr'd His Destiny can be your only Guard This is the way will take Her Lover dead And the Crown taken from your Empress head Though some few tears may fall at Ibrahim's death Marriage and Crowns will tempt her Christian Faith This only course your desperate Love secures Solym. And this dark course I 'le take Mor. Do and She 's yours Solym. For Love o'recomes and I must kill or dye Let it be done e're I think how or why Haste Let the news of Ibrahim's Death be brought Exit Morat And whilst he 's dying I 'le divert the thought With a forc'd Lethargy I 'le damp my soul Friendship may else return and my resolves controul O Love what is thy power Morat return He must not dye Morat Re enters He must not dye I have by Alla sworne That he shall never bleed whilst Solyman lives Mor. Is it the voyce of Majesty Reprieves An Enemy a destroyer of your peace Can humble penitence great Spirits seize Solym. No I would have him still destroy'd but if I must be Perjur'd when I take his Life I must protect his Life though against mine Though Love can yield to any lesser sin
of her Love t' avert his Doom aside Grant Her success let Ibrahim live and may The Sultans hopes be Crown'd the gentler way Exit Aster Though life and happiness must ne're be mine Yet I 'le take care that I 'le secure 'em thine Accept that Mirva gives him a Sword Mirv. Sent from Roxolana's hand This Princess Love conspires with her command They 've both design'd your freedom to redeem Aster Which to effect we 've found this Stratagem Though of your Fate this is th' appointed Scene Yet in respect to that which you have been His Friend and Vizier you 're allow'd this Grace None but Morat has entrance to this place Mirv. The Mutes th' intended Murderers wait all Without at distance and beyond his call And but approach that minute when you fall Aster When False Morat returns to take her hence Produce this Weapon as your last defence Disarm him bind him leave him in your room Change habits with him and his form assume Lead hence your Princess and by th'help of Night Pass undiscover'd and secure you flight The Guards too not suspecting an escape Will let you pass deluded by that shape Ibrah. Alas I was before a Bankrupt made And owed too much where I 'had so little paid But now your goodness swells the Debt so high That I with shame must Live Aster Shame Dear Sir why You owe me nothing By Religious tyes When Vertue in distress and danger lyes Its rescue and defence should be the care Of all Man kind and that 's my bus'ness here Isabel. Thou art so excellently good thou best Of Rivals so much Heav'n dwells in thy Breast In Duty to perfections so Divine All my best thoughts and half my prayers are thine Enter Morat Mor. I come to tell you that your hour is past ha starts Ibrah. Keep in thy tongue or speaking speak thy last Morat How came you by that Sword Ibrah. gets between him and the Door Ibrah. No matter how Jaylor my Flight must be contriv'd by you Morat Your Flight Ibrah. 'T is a proposal may seem strange But Sir we two our habits must exchange And you must yield to stay here gag'd and bound Till by your shape we move t' a safer ground If at this price you 'l buy your Life you may Morat What do you think to frighten me to play The Traytor Ibrah. Know 't is Death to disobey Morat Submit to save my Life for one hours time To dye the next by tortures for my Crime No though your Arm is so renown'd I 'le try My chance for Life Ibrah. Then take thy choyce and dye they fight Aster Hold Villain hold how dare you lift an arm Against his Life Interposing Ibrah. Dear Madam fear no harm Mor. How dare you Save what Solyman Condemnes to Aster Ibrah. Do not dispute her goodness nor my Crimes But yield and Live Mor. Yield no at thy false heart fights agen Hold thou hast kill'd me Traytor as thou art Bears himself up reeling upon his Sword In all my hopes all my Ambition crost By a fond foolish Girl betray'd and lost Aster You are not wounded Ibrah. No! you Genius was my guard Mor. Thou Treacherous Fool take that for thy reward Kills Aster and falls Ibrah. Down to thy Hell and there in torments howl Sticking him to the ground Oh speak dear Madam ease my tortur'd soul The Gods their charge must better understand Then to ordain your Fate from such a hand Say you 're not hurt Aster No! let your trouble cease He has only sent a wretched thing to peace Isabel. She bleeds she bleeds Ibrah. Oh! this detested hour Aster Alas Sir I was dying long before Deaths cold hand strook me when I first lost you A lingering Fate the slow Consumption drew Then do not Sir this happy stroke deplore That ends a tedious Journey in an hour Isabel. A Lovers absence and a Fathers hate My three years pains were easie to this weight Horror ne're seiz'd me in this dismal shape Ibrah. Infernal Dog Aster Think think of your escape Ibrah. Is an escape a fit reward for him Who bears the weight of my accursed Crime Aster My Death is not your Crime Kind dear Sir flye Oh do not stay leave me alone to dye Ibrah. Desert you Aster I conjure you do not stay I' th path to Heav'n the Good can never stray I need no help to guide me in my way Ibrah. How can I flye Aster This unkind language cease Fly as you 'd have my Soul in Heav'n find peace Ibrah. How can I promise you Aster Oh Sir you must Will you deny me Rest when I am Dust Is saving of your Life so hard Ibrah. Is leaving you So easie basely to desert you now And guard my forfeit blood when I have been A fatal instrument in shedding thine Aster Nay then I 'm destin'd to dye wretched all I beg'd of Heaven was to divert your fall My saving Ibrahim's Life was all my pride And must that only blessing be deny'd Ibrah. Well Madam I 'le submit to any thing Aster Now with an Angels voyce I hear you speak And at that word my heart-strings gently break My well-pleas'd Ghost will find eternal rest To think that I have made my Ibrahim blest And must I dye in my dear Ibrahim's Arms Now you transport me with too mighty charms In this dear Heav'n like a blest Star I 'm plac'd But oh my Joy's too violent to last dies Ibrah. She 's gone Yes generous Saint I 'le do thee right But if I flye my Death must be my flight I 'm too much loaded with my shame and grief To leave this killing â—ight to save a life Isabel. Farewell unhappy Maid sure there must be No common joys above reserv'd for thee Thou had'st so little happiness below Heav'ns debts are certain though the payment 's slow Enter a Bassa as sent from Solyman Bassa Morat stays long What 's here Guards Guards Exit Bassa retreating at the same door he enterd Ibrah. Stay stay I am your Prisoner and your pow'r obey Alas there needs no Crowds to take me now Re-enter the Bassa with Guards Bassa Seize him Guards seize him Ibrah. It is the kindest office you can do Bassa Remove the Bodys hence And keep those Prisoners safe till my return Till from the Sultan's will their Fates I learn Exit Ibrahim and Isabel. led in by Guards part of the Guards carry off Morat and Asteria and the Bassa returns at the same door he entred at Manet Mirva Mirv. How dismally to Roxolana's ear Will this strange story sound But see she 's here Enter Roxolana Roxol. Have I success Is Isabella fled Has that dire Planet hid its threatning head I fear thy Answer will not be so kind An Ominous load hangs on my burden'd mind Mirv. Let me in silence my Allegiance pay Roxol. No Mirva speak the worst thou hast to â—ay Mirv. The fair Asteria's dead kill'd by Morat But in revenge of her unhappy Fate By
strangely am I crost by Providence Yet no ill Fate can drive my Princess Image hence My Vizier still must dye and Love will have it so Ulam Turn Tyrant turn see what your guilt dares do That Beauteous form has not an hour of Life She has drank a draught of Poyson a relief Against thy rage Behold that setting light And may her ruin blast thee with the sight I loved her without hopes of a return Yet I in tears of blood her Fate cou'd mourn Thou envy'd Rival did'st her Conquest boast In that fair prize all Natures wealth engrost Yet prodigally that curst stroke hast given As looses thee thy Fame thy Soul thy Heav'n I 'le tell that story of thee in the skyes Till at thy head all their just thunder flies There Beauteous Martyr when we meet above I will pursue my never dying Love dyes Roxol. Oh Sultan what reward does falsehood bring What judgments persecute a Perjur'd King Your Empress dyes your Friend and Daughter bleed To pull down Vengeance on your guilty head Of th'unjust torments I have undergone Heav'n has a sence though Solyman has none Solym. Why foolish Woman have you vext the Gods And set your Prophet and your King at odds Why have you wilfully sought this rash Fate To ruin yours and to disturb my State You might have liv'd and liv'd uninjur'd still Your greatness safe and unconfin'd your will Roxol. Yes Sir I might have liv'd and liv'd t' have been An humble Vassal to your Christian Queen Solym. Why will your Frenzy still thus blindly erre What if t' a Throne the Christian I prefer Must I impoverish you to enrich her You make us Monarchs very abject things If greatness is but once the gift of Kings I should not lessen you but give her pow'r As your Companion not your Successor Roxol. Do not these wild and vain excuses feign Seek not such Coverts when your guilt 's too plain But could you make two Suns together shine And her new Greatness not diminish mine Hers were the true Mine but a Pageant Crown I 've lost my Sultans heart my dearest Throne Could we in Crowns in that we cannot share There 's no dividing of an Empire there Solym. What-ever Charms I in her Eyes descry I love you still too well to see you dye Roxol. You loved me not enough t' avert my Fate Your Kindness and my Life have but one Date When I lost you I rather chose to cease To be at all than ever to be less I Lived so glorious and I Lov'd so well That all beneath my Paradice was Hell Sultan No more If I am guilty you have been My Punâ—sher rash and unhappy Queen But as some kind requital of your strange And passionate resentment of my change I have this sence of Roxolana's Fate I will in tears deplore her wretched state Roxol. 'T will to my Sufferings be some relief If Roxolana's Fall can cause your grief So much dear Sir does this kind promise ease My torments and my drooping Spirits raise That of your Cruelty I 'le not complain But tune my dying voyce to that soft strain That not one groan shall pass my parting breath Shall stifle all the horrors of my Death And treat you with the pleasures of my life Solym. Oh how she sets my Crimes before my sight And holds the mirrour at too fierce a light Roxol. When I was made the Mighty Sultan's Bride Led to the Temple in my Royal pride My Coronation did so splendid shine I charm'd a Nations Eyes and you charm'd mine I bow'd under the Glorys which you gave You crown'd my Head but made my Heart your Slave Then then my infinite happiness began Monarch was the lest part of Solyman Pow'r held the Reins 't is true whilst the great Chariot ran But Love the Soul of Empire sat above Reigning was but an Interval to Love Then from your Voyce I could this Musick hear My Roxolana Oh my charming Fair Angellick Sweetness Miracle of Light Pride of both Worlds Mine and the Gods delight And whilst your Love these tender sounds exprest You claspt me thus and leaning on my Breast Your languishing soft looks spoke out the râ—st Solym. If she proceeds at this bewitching rate By Heav'n she 'l make me grow Effeminate Such Eloquence have Lovers when they dye And thus we value Treasures when they flye Roxol. Nor had I passion less than Solyman Through every Vein the pleasing Feavour ran I shar'd your thoughts your pains your extasies Love melted in my heart and â—â—zl'd in my eyes My Raptures were so great my Joys so high That I 've liv'd happy though I wretched dye My hopes my tears my prayers were all for you You will scarce find a second Love so true Solym. What suddain alteration do I find Veâ—tue returns that Stranger to my mind Once more its long lost right has repossest Keep keep thy seat thou dear Celestial guest Roxol. Your Christian Favourite sees not with my Eyes She hates you and your kind embraces flyes But if at last Time Force or Empires charms Prevail to lodge her in my Sultans Armes If 't is her Destiny to live to see You false to Her as you have been to Me Her grief will never my despair pursue She will not dye to loose you as I do Solym. Kind Roxolana thou hast made me good Thou hast wrought a Cure in my distemper'd blood Shall this great Persian Rival bleed Shall He Who only saw but ne're possest like Me Plung'd in his blood a floating Victim swim Shall not your Loss move me that Murders him And shall not Heav'n my wandering sence recall Warn'd by a Daughters and an Empress fall Roxol. And do I live once more to call you mine What Divine change is this Solym. Yes 't is Divine My long benighted Soul is with new light array'd A change more Heav'nly the great Gods ne're made Since the contending Elements they appeas'd And a fair World from a wild Chaos rais'd But cruel Roxolana could you bring No gentler Reasons to confute an impious King What though you saw my Crimes and knew me false All Frenzy has some lucid Intervals You might have liv'd till my enlighten'd sence Had made me just without this violence Wou'd you had try'd Roxol. All gentler means you know I try'd before But Tears and Prayers had both too little pow'r Solym. Yes they 'd too little oh my torturing pain Now I remember how you wept in vain Begg'd Threaten'd Courted with such eloquence As ought t' have vanquish'd my too Brutal sence Such tender words you spoke as might inspire More softness than the famous Thracian Lyre Whose harmony the Lyons rage subdu'd Tamed the wild Herds and charm'd th' Infernal God But my more Hellish rage obdurate prov'd By Tears unmelted and by Pray'rs unmov'd Roxol. Be not disturb'd what though I wonted pow'r To make you just till in this latest hour I 'm pleas'd in Death to have your Conquest wronght Solym. It
is a Victory too dearly bought Bid that Inchantress and her Favourite Strait leave my Court my Empire from my sight For ever be remov'd Bid 'em make hast They cannot flye too far nor move too fast So distant may she be that not the sound Of Isabella my just ears may wound Exit Bassa I 'd not converse so much as with her Fame Nor live within the hearing of her Name Roxol. Oh I 'm all fire The raging Poyson does my heartâ—strings seize And on a burning Throne the Tyrant plays Within within I bear my Funeral flame Yet since my Fall does Solyman reclaim Since dying I my Sultans heart regain This dear Conversion takes off all my pain Wing'd with that Bliss my Soul Triumphant flyes Prepare ye Gods for Roxolana Dyes Dyes Solym. Prepare ye Gods To grace your Stars she 's gone A brighter Saint ne're fill'd a Heav'nly Throne Enter Ibrahim and Isabella Ibrah. Great Sir though you 've restor'd my Princess given Me all the wealth I cou'd have beg'd of Heav'n The dismal story of your sufferings So damps my frighted soul such horror brings That from great Solyman I cannot part Till at his feet I lay a bleeding heart Sâ—lym Draw nearer Ibrahim and blast thine eyes Ibrah. Here cruel Fate the mighty Victim lyes My happy Love can little Tryumph boast Gaining so much when you so much have lost Solym. For this kind loyal pitty thou hast shown In all my Kingdoms choose thy self a Throne Ibrah. Sir for that proffer'd Throne thus low I bow But must refuse the Royal gift For now A Christian Coronet best fits my brow There I 'le be happy if I can be so Leaving my King a Mourner when I go Isabel Is this great Roxolana was so fair A Pallace built to entertain despair Is there that Man that could that Godâ— like Creature wrong Withdraw that heart such charms had seal'd so long Had you a thousand Crimes and every 〈◊〉 More horrid than your broken Vows have been By what you 've lost in this unhappy stroke Heav'n at one blow a full revenge has took Solym. Speak not a word not cast one look this way I wou'd not have thee lead one thought astray Thou fatal Cause but ev'n to speak's a â—in Thine Roxolana now I 'le be all Thine Ibrah. Success at last our mutual wishes win But by such Scenes of horror usher'd in The way to Love 's like that to Paradice The roughest path leads to the greatest bliss Exeunt Ibrahim and Isabella Solym. Since Loves soft pleasures in thy Fall must end In Wars my last remains of life I 'le spend Vertue thy gift I 'le to the World proclaim And dedicate my Trophies to thy Name Exit omnes FINIS EPILOGUE HOw many has our Rhimer kill'd to day What need of Siege and Conquest in a Play When Love can do the work as well as they Yet 't is such Love as you 've scarce met before Such Love I 'm sure as English ground ne're bore Had half the injur'd Ladys of this Age His Roxolana's kindness and her Rage What heaps on heaps of Female-suff'rers here Would your good Men make Martyrs in one year But thanks to Heav'n you 've not her fond Disease E'ne let 'em range and wander where they please You 're not such Fools to think of Poysoning yet You want her Love but you have twice her Wit Dying's a Mode your wiser thoughts contemn You 've a more pleasing way to punish ' em And should our Brood of Gallants take this rule And turn such Lovers as his Persian Fool Kind Husband then might peaceably discover An Assignation made 'twixt Spouse and Lover Leave you at Cribbedge let you see a Play Or take the Ayre in a fair Summers day Let you stay out in Masquerade whole Nights With twenty other Innocent delights And no harm done And yet how wilde soe're The humours of this brisk mad Age appear 'T is ten to one but th' Author still will say Your Vertues were the patterns of his Play And swear you down His Love and Honour both were stol'n from you And from your Features he his Heroes drew There 's ne're a Comick Writer but will say You 're all of you the Patterns of his Play Yet takes your Pictures at so damn'd a light Paints you so Ugly that your Looks would fright And yet their Plays are your most dear delight Why in your hearts may not th' Heroicks share Those make you worse these better than you are And Flatt'rers sure should not successless prove When those that do abuse you have your Love