Lord and hear your Artemira For she has such Words such happy Sounds to speak As would give Balm to wounds as deep as Graves And Life even beyond Death Alt. Speak then sweet Oracle And whilst thy Love breaths raptures in my Ears I will look Blessings from thy Eyes Art What a long year have our contracted Souls Past o'er with smother'd sighs stolen looks and silent hopes Awed with a harsh severe imperious Father Whilst the big Name of Heiress to a Crown Has kept thy just Ambition from my Arms But now our sullen Fears are all blown o'er The Mountain's levell'd and the Prospect's clear Alt. Be quick dear Heav'n explain this dazling Vision Art Know then last night when astonisht Fame Had brought your Conquests to my Father's Ear Charm'd with the News he came to visit me Then with such Emphasis such feeling Pride Your Glories he describ'd and play'd so well Your kind just Herald that my ravisht Sense Could scarce contain my Joys But to compleat My Extasie at last these words broke out Daughter says he so much this gallant Souldier Deserves from Heaven and me that tho' I ne'r Intended less than a Crown'd Head for you Yet my Ambition now shall yield to Justice Daughter I am resolv'd I will reward My Kingdom 's Champion with my Kingdoms Heir At his Return prepare to make him yours Alt. What new-created Light surrounds my Soul With such Coelestial Harmony Spoke that commanding Voice that form'd the World Bid the dark Scene of Night and Chaos vanish To show the shining Universal Theatre Art We who so long have kept our Loves so secret And with that cautious Fear supprest our Sighs Jealous o' th' very Air in which we breath'd 'em Now at one Chance have all our Wishes Crown'd One happy Minute ends an Ages Pain Alt. One happy Minute Yes the happiest That time e'er number'd since the restless Orbs Began th' Eternal Round Henceforward Time Throw by thy common Sand and let thy Glass Run Gold pure sparkling Oar And ye high Powers When you 'd record some new-made Saint Star Angel Or some blest Martyrs Coronation Day Date your immortal Annals from that hour Art All happiness attends my dearest Lord Thou art Heav'ns nearest Care and their best Angels Charge Alt. Where is this more than King this God-like Father My swelling Veins like Mines of Incense burn And my transported Soul already kneels Low as my Grave t' adore his sacred Feet Art We shall obtain that Blessing instantly Each minute I expect him here and your Dear Presence I am sure will give him Wings And if there 's any thing that can detain him It is the Ceremony that he pays To an Imperial Stranger The Usurper Gayland That great Subverter of the Africk Empire Is now my Father's Guest In his return From the reducing some revolted Towns To their Obedience Taking this Kingdom in his March has made A visit here Ros Madam the King approaches Enter Albuzeiden and Lords Altomar kneels Alb. Rise noble Youth thou Darling of the Stars Whilst I have thy Heroick Arm to cut My way to Fame and my triumphant Fleet Has such an Admiral Neptune's my Slave An Arm like thine 's Enough to make the Tributary God And all his floating Globe my Vassals Alt. You raise my little Services too high My Wreaths are but the Branches of your Laurel Alb. Rise my best Friend and grow within my Arms Thy Modesty commends thee and prefers thee But my dear Altomar 't is not enough Thy Conquering Arm has made me great abroad But Triumphs wait me nearer home new Trophies Lie at my Feet whilst pressing Glories crowd Under my Battlements The mighty Gayland The long-fam'd Terror of our Africk World Is Artemira's Slave has seen and loves her Alt. What words are these Aside Art Oh my blasted Ears Alb. And in his name full of a Fathers Joy I come to offer as his Advocate The Tribute of a Crown and call her Empress Now my best Friend since thy Success in Battel And the Alliance of his Royal Blood Have blest my Peace and Wars making my Throne As bright as my Pavilion as I praise Thy Victories do thou congratulate mine Art What killing Sounds are these Alt. Oh cruel Sir What have you done Alb. How Altomar Alt. Ah Royal Sir take heed how you resolve What Heaven and Justice must forbid Dread Sir Forgive me when thus low I fall to tell you Fair Artemira's mine Alb. What do I hear Alt. Only th' unalterable work of Fate The tender Story of two meeting Hearts Whose Loves your Royal Smiles can only Crown Art Yes Sacred Sir your Artemira's Love Her chaste true Love her Joys her only Joys Her generous Fathers Smiles can only Crown And sure you will not cannot frown on me Alb. Fond easie Fool is thy unprincely Soul Fill'd with such flashy Fires are thy high Blood Birth Beauty Sex and Pride such empty Names Art Is this your Promise dear inhumane Father Did you for this with so much cruel Eloquence Repeat the Charming Story of his Conquests Drawing his Picture so Divine so Lovely And bid me when this gallant Prince return'd A Conqueror prepare to make him mine Alb. How 's this Thou easie cheap ignoble Fool. By all that 's good she courted Him because Once in a humor I had an humble Thought And wrapt up with the News of this Success Let slip an idle word She eager Fondling Swell'd with the wanton Joy ran in t ' his arms Told him her Father had prepared a Husband And came to offer him his humble Bride Shame of thy Blood Alt. Oh hold Sir She run into my Arms what Blasphemy is this Easie and cheap Now by my Life you wrong her I won her nobly by yon' bright Eternals I took her Heart by Storm Her guarded Breast Stood my long Siege with all her Sexes Pride By all the Stars and her own brighter Eyes To conquer that inestimable Prize I breath'd such Sighs as might have melted Rocks Offer'd such Prayers as might have woo'd a Deity From my drown'd Eyes made a long Deluge rowl And bath'd her Feet before I mov'd her Soul And if at last her generous vanquisht Pity Can entertain a tender wish for me It is not with the least ignoble Thought Below her self the Daughter of a King And the most Sovereign Beauty of the World Alb. Hold Be that blasted Tongue for ever dumb What do I live to hear By all that 's Sacred This is an old Intrigue The wanton Traytors Have given and seiz'd bargain'd and barter'd Hearts Chang'd their fond Eyes and mixt th' engendering Basilisks Without my Knowledge That rebellious Syren Has pawn'd her Honor sold my Kingdoms Heir Whilst th' insignificant deluded Father Was not thought worthy of the dark Cabal But I 'm too patient Art Is this my King and Father Why was I born with Eyes if this must be their Object Alb. No Disobedient thou wert born With those false Lights to find
thy way to Ruine But I 'll put out th' infatuating Meteor Prepare fond Girl to obey thy Father's Will T' extinguish all thy vaprous wandring Fires And gild thy Brows with an Imperial Diadem Psepare by th' Setting of to morrow's Sun To sleep in Gayland's arms or sleep for ever Alt. Oh hold let not the Breath of Majesty Pronounce those barbarous words as will Un-king you Think think what Cruelty Alb. Take him away Attendants seize him Confine him a close Prisoner to his Chamber The Charge be yours To Morat Alt. Confusion to a Jayl Alb. And to remove all Bars to my Ambition He that amongst you mark me dares but breath One Syllable of this bold Traytor 's Love By Alla the Villain dies And you Morat Perform your Charge If you but let him stir Or in revenge of his defeated Arrogance By Letters or by Messages attempt Ought that may block her way to Gayland's Arms Observe me well thou' rt Food for Dogs and Vultures Art Is this a Father's Voice ye Gods I die Fainting Alt. Oh raise thy drooping head look up fair injured Sweetness And hear those Sounds shall strike Dishonor dead Ungrateful King is this the black Reward Which you return your Conquering Soldiers Toyls Have I for this from all the Ports of Fame Past all the Storms of Fate to make you glorious All dyed your Ocean with the Christian Purple And since you make me vain sent down such Crouds Of your slain Foes to the Infernal Shades Alb. Vain-glorious Fool What if you conquer'd was it not by me Was 't not my Fleet my Arms my Thunder kill'd And I the mighty Genius that inspir'd ' em Take the vain Boaster hence Alt. Yet stay Inspired by thee thy barbarous Genius No. If I subdued 't was Artemira conquer'd For her I fought for her I vanquisht fill'd With her great Love and her immortal Charms I strook my Javelin in the Gates of Death And all the crowding Fates prest out in Arms To aid thy Cause At her dread Name Strength of my arm and Goddess of my Wars Destruction Conquest Ruine hung round my Shield My Cause Life Courage Glory And Guardian Angells all were Artemira's Alb. Proud insolent Boy to make her Vanity As great as thine Her Cause Life Glory Is Gayland's Heart Beneath her Feet a King and Empire lie And 't is a Prize she must accept or die Alt. Oh I am lost Art Hear me but one word If you 're resolv'd I shall be false false to This gallant man the Lord of all my Vows My Loss will break his Heart and I shall be his Murderer You 'll make me crueller than your Venetian Enemies When in a base Return to all his Conquests Your Daughters Scorn must kill your Kingdoms Champion And stab that Heart your Foes could never reach Alt. Great Gods he sees that kneeling Deity Unmoved with all her Prayers Inverted Nature Can man be deaf when Heaven is a Petitioner Art Ah Sir if e'er my gentle Mother pleas'd you If th' only Reliques of her Royal Blood Can move you to Compassion show it now 'T is true dread Siâ— I know you 'd make me great But what 's Ambition where there 's Love above it You 'd fix me high on an Imperial Seat But if you do you kill me No my Lord My Paradise in him him only lies And Love 's a Flower which once transplanted dies Alb. And this is all the Excuse thy Disobedience Can frame for all thy humble abject Folly Alt. Ah Sir though you have no Remorse for Me Look on that Face that Angel-Beauty weeps The pretious Dew falls from those Suns above O see a Chain of Pearl hangs on those Lids Enough to bribe an angry God to Mercy And have her Tears no Power Alb. Yes Ravisher To the disgrace of her degenerate Soul I see that base born Issue of her Eyes But know fond Girl I 'll drein the muddy Stream Art Yes when you 've broke that Heart from whence it flows Oh my loved Lord. To Altomar Alb. Their very Looks are hatching Treasons Take them away and part the brooding Monsters Alt. Oh hold Gods have those dying drowning Eyes No Power One Look from those fair Lights Is worth ten thousand Gaylands Souls Alb. Dull Slaves Art Lord of my Life Exit forced out Alt. My Saint my Heaven Farewel Exeunt all but Altomar and Morat and two more Attendants What 's Conquest Fame and all the flattering Hopes Of towring Love in their Meridian Light Poor airy Bubbles which the Breath of Power Bursts with a Blast and they are seen no more Ye bright Dispensers of our Humane Fate Bring me but back to those clear Streams of Bliss Which I enjoy'd but one half hour ago And I 'd not change my State of Happiness For all that Vanity your Sun looks round And all those worlds your great first Mover rowls Mor. My Lord I hope you 'll pardon that harsh Office Which I with horror bear Believe me Sir My very Soul deplores your rigid Fate Alt. I thank thee kind Morat but be not troubled Alas I 'm fallen and lost ordain'd for Ruine A miserable thing not worth thy Pity 'T is true Once my blest Hopes stood fair the Candidates Of Glory but alas those Guardian Angels That then smiled on me bore me on their Wings And nurs'd me as the Child and Heir of Fortune Now see my sinking State and like false Friends desert me Mor. Your Fate draws Tears even from a Souldiers Eyes Alt. And can Man pity me when Heaven forsakes me For me no matter if my impurer Blood Were set afloat my drossy worthless Ashes Trod by the Tyrants meanest Slaves to Dirt But oh that Tyrant strikes at Artemira His Savage Fury breaks her tender Heart Take heed ye cruel Powers her Fate ye Gods prevent Or all your Heaven too late will the dire deed repent At her black Doom I shall not sigh alone Your shaking World at her last Pangs will groan The waning Lamps of your pale trembling Skies At her closed Lights will shut their aking Eyes By Heav'ns not your own God-heads shall go free You too shall all my Fellow-mourners be And hang your sad and drooping Heads like me Exeunt ACT II. SCENE II. The Scene a Room of State Meroin andIshmael Disney Mer. THE Cause of all her Pride and Scorn is plain By all the Witchcrafts of the Sex 't is plain 'T is Altomar's the Man No wonder she has Been Deaf to all my Prayers all her warm Gales Were th' happy Altomars whilst nothing but Her Winter Stormy Northern Blasts were mine Ish Wer 't my Cause my Lord I would nor curse nor fret my Spleen in vain Return her Scorn with Scorn Beautie 's a Flower that whilst 't is kind is fragrant But when Disdain has canker'd all its Sweets 'T is a rank weed Mer. A rank one 't is indeed And if that poysonous weed the Bane of all My Peace must root in my curst Rival's Arms Lend
remembrance Your black Ingratitude to your kind King For all the numerous Honors I had given you That glorious Structure my vast Hopes had rais'd Thou hast at one blast blown up And the only Remnant of my Royal Blood Thou hast made for ever wretched Art Wretched can my Altomar's Dear Love make Artemira wretched No Mistaken King I 've loved so well that know To die for Altomar has more of Heav'n in 't Than Ages on the World 's Imperial Throne King Take Hence the Syren Oh Love thou unextinguishable Brand Of Vengeance take her from his Sight be gone She from this Minute ne'er shall see him more Art Stay merciless Villains savage Blood-hounds stay Alt. And art thou gone Exit forced out Snatcht from my panting Side Remorsless King how can you be so cruel To a poor dying Wretch at his last Gasp To tear that Beauty from my bleeding Arms Thro' all the Graves my gaping Wounds can show You never stab'd me till this killing Blow King What Sounds are these Trumpets heard Enter Messenger Mess An Envoy from the Army Enter Envoy Env. Great Sir I come from the Imperial Camp To tell you that the mutinous Souldiers tired With an Usurper's Yoak demand a Successor From the true Royal Line And by their Threats And Clamors to the General Abdalla Have forced him to discover that Prince Altomar A noble Youth residing in your Court But Stranger to his own great Quality Is the true Heir to th' Empire of Morocco And in th' united Peoples Voice I come To call him to a Throne King How Sir is Altomar The Royal Heir to th' Empire of Morocco Env. Yes Sir the Blood of their last murder'd Monarch Muly Labas runs in his Veins his true Name Muly-Mesude but by a borrow'd Title Preserved an Infant in the Court of Egypt T' escape the mortal Rage of the old Bloody Empress King What Words are these Env. But all his Injuries Are cancell'd in his Coronation day From his long Night like a gay Bridal Sun He to his new wedded World sets out in Glory King Oh never never will that morning rise See there that Glorious Sun is set for ever Haste take that Sacred Martyr from the Wrack Be quick ye Slaves They cut him down and set him on a Chair Env. What have ye done King Yes Fates what have I done A deed for which the Furies want a Name Martyr'd a Monarch on a Gibbet Damnation shape me such a Deed in Hell In Vengeance to a base Usurper's Blood Like an infatuated Savage Indian I 've built an Altar to a worshipt Devil And sacrifie'd a King t' a Rebell 's Ghost Alt. And was I born an Empire's Heir for this King Oh Altomar most sacred injured Lord What dismal Wrongs does Heaven ordain for thee What Plagues what Hells for me The only man of all Heav'ns whole Creation That could have made me great my Daughter blest Her Love immortal and my Name eternal I have most barbarously massacred The noblest Blood that Royal Veins e'er held I have let out to drown the sinking World Alt. Ah Sir did you not name your beauteous Daughter For sure methought I felt new Life shoot thro' me King Fly bring that mourning Sweetness to his Arms Tell her her Royal Altomar's hard Fate And her repenting Father's killing Horrors Alt. There 's something in that Breath so kind so wondrous kind Had I more Lives to lose I could forgive 'em all Enter Artemira Art Oh my dear dying Lord Alt. Oh name not dying For thou' rt my Bride and this our Nuptial Day And now let Death and Ruine do their worst One minute in my Artemira's Arms Has all the Raptures of Eternity Art Yes my loved Lord in spite of Fate this day's At once our Nuptial and our Coronation And sure if Love can Crown us in the Stars We shall shine there the brightest Pair in Heav'n Alt. Oh Love what is thy Power Art Now cruel Father Kill'd by my dear Lord's Wounds I 'll save you all Th' Expence of Steel or Poyson for my Fall King No live you best of Lovers live for ever Oh that I could supply from my own Veins That Blood I 've rob'd from thine from my torn Limbs With my own Flesh new cloath thy naked Bones Ye Gods why are your Miracles all ceas'd No Art in Heav'n to save his precious Life Alt. Sir your untimely Kindness comes too late But to acknowledge these last Sparks of Pity You Sir that come t' invite me to a Throne To the Envoy Bear back my dying Sighs to my kind Subjects Tell 'em I have a Brother call'd Cialto A Souldier in the Persian Sophy's Camp Let him be call'd to fill my empty Throne But let him know e'er the Imperial Diadem Circles his radiant Brow that 't is the last Request of his expiring Brother that The Wrongs of Altomar be ne'er remember'd No Schriech-owl Fame dare croak my dying Wounds But let him cherish this dear Sacred Prince For he 's the Father to my Royal Bride And his kind Hand has given me Artemira King Bright Miracle prodigious Goodness Gods Must so much Worth and so much Honor die Alt. Oh stop your violent Griefs Alas great Sir I am your Son we 're both your Children now And cannot bear our drooping Father's Woe Art Oh cruel Sir why are you kind too late Why was not I my dear Lord's Bride till now Why did not your poor Artemira In these dear Arms these circling Glories shine Could nothing but an Empire make him mine Oh the ill judging World King Poor injur'd Girl Art Has he more Love more Charms more Hearts to give me Because he 's Heir t' a Crown Ah no he was To me my King my World my Heaven before And Crowns and Empires could not make him more Alt. Oh Artemira take me on thy Breast My Royal Saint what Heavn of Bliss Should we possess if I had Life to love thee But Oh a Cloud o'ercasts my Rising Sun Just when my Joys begin my Life is done Dies Art He 's gon he 's gon and do I stay behind King Farewell dear martyr'd Saint That parting Sigh that breaks thy Heart stabs mine Art Oh Murder Ruine Horror and Despair That ghastly Scene of Blood Blood did I say Fye these are Ruby Bracelets on his Arms Those Scarlet Love-Knots my kind Father tied To bind two dying bleeding Hearts together King Poor injur'd Innocence look up and live Art Live cruel Father love like me and live Not to be Empress of a thousand Worlds A Love like mine Oh Father Love's a God-head Yes a blind God his Lights all drown'd like mine And is he blind indeed how came he blind Say did he weep his Eyes out for my Altomar Oh my sick Soul King Speak to thy wretched Father Art Ha! is 't my Love that calls me See His mounting Chariot hastens me away I come my Altomar my Life I come Stabs her self Oh see the Gods our Nuptials do prepare See Altomar see Artemira there The Feasting Gods with Bridal Chaplets crownd Whilst to the Poles the jocund Orbs resound And all the Nectar of their Heav'n goes round In thy chaste Arms thy glittering Bride enfold Her Palace archt with Gemms and paved with Gold Dies King Was ever wretched Father damn'd as I am But I am safe his dying Breath forgave me No generous Prince thy Mercy soar'd too high Thou mayest forgive thy Murder but not I. Stabs himself Mor. Why this rash Deed King No 't is a Noble Deed. Should Guilt and Shame survive when Vertue bleeds I 'm but the meanest Wretch this Storm has wrack'd That pair of faithful Lovers died before me When Natures Wealth all her rich Fraught sinks down Surely the Lumber of the World may drown Morat as e'er thou lov'st thy dying King See my Bones lodg'd in that wrong'd Prince's Grave But let me humbly his blest Relicks meet Lay my Head low beneath his Royal Feet Dies Mor. See here the dire Effects of unkind Parents Our whole World bleeds for their unhappy Loves How calm a Stream is Love when unoppos'd But stop'd the impetuous Torrent does o'erturne Whole sinking Kingdoms and makes Empires mourn Exeunt Omnes The EPILOGUE Spoken by Mrs Coysh's Girl as a CUPID LAdies the Poet knew no better way Than to send me to prattle for his Play I am yâ—ur Cupid and you cannot sure Drive such a small young Beggar from your Door Do you be but as kind as you are fair And by my Quiver Bow and Darts I swear The little Tiny God whose help you want Shall hear your Prayers and all your wishes grant The Country Lady shall come up to Town And shine in her old Coach and her new Gown The City Wife shall leave her poor Tom Farthing And take a harmless Walk to Covent Garden Those very Eyes shall still look young and gay That Conquer'd on the Coronation-day But you the brighter Beauties of the Court You who the World undo but Stage support You shall subdue all Hearts while I sit still I 'll break my Bow and leave your Eyes to kill Nay the Court-Star your Beauties to advance Has left her Dazling Sphere to set in France FINIS
THE HEIR OF MOROCCO WITH THE Death of Gayland Acted at the THEATRE ROYAL By E. SETTLE Rectius Iliacum Carmen deducis in Actus Quam si proferres ignota indictaque primus Hor. LONDON Printed for William Cademan at the Popes Head in the Lower Walk of the New Exchange 1682. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LADY HENRIETTA WENTWORTH BARONESS OF NETTLESTED MADAM I Ought to beg your Ladyships Pardon when I lay so inconsiderable a Trifle as a Play at your Ladyships Feet the access to so much Divinity being that difficult awful Blessing that nothing mean or unhallowed should dare to aspire to Yet Greatness and Beauty whatever Awe they may strike into all other Adorers are not defended from the bolder Devotions of Poetry For such is the Poets Presumption that they have so long convers'd with Princes in Effigie till they have borrowed their Ambitition from the Heroes they write and their Confidence from the Stage that represents them 'T is true we live in an Age so Critical and so severe that the Muses melancholy Groves grow every day more desolate and even their softest Ayres to the late untunable Ears sound harsh and unpleasant poor Poetry being so maliciously persecuted that nothing but the Patronage of a Great Name can give it a Pass to go peaceably and unmolested And in these Circumstances Self-preservation and Security make our Boldness a little more excusable The poorest ragged Traveller that seeks a Shelter in a Storm though under the Battlements of an Imperial Palace is not much to be blamed This 't is that makes Poetry always come into the World under the Umbrage of Quality whilst Poets like their blind Original never venture abroad without a Guide Nor can even the weakest Brother of the Muses fail when Greatness and Beauty are at once its powerful Supporters The Lady Henrietta's Name will prove a Charm against the sharpest Criticks What Malice dares strike where so much Beauty shields And indeed Wit can hope for no Success but when favored by the Fair and 't is by their Influence alone the Poets if ever can be made immortal who in return can but faintly pay their Tribute to a Power so favorable since your Ladyship has a far greater Title to be Eternal in the Records of Fame from the vast Merits of your Illustrious Ancestors than all the Poetry since the World began can make you The Famous Earl of Cleveland and the no less Famous Lord Wentworth both Generals under our late Sacred Majesty are those never-to-be-forgotten Heroes that whilst the World shall have an Ear and Wonder a Tongue shall never want a Name Worthies of that generous Zeal and indefatigable Allegiance till they drein'd their Estates so low that the fought even to the Nakedness of a Gladiator Their Loyalty and the Service of their King being not only their Study but their Religion insomuch that like him that resignes his Share in the World for an Interest in Heaven they were so little dejected even at Ruine it self when in a Cause so Glorious that they bore the very Pouerty of Philosophers with the Pride of Triumphers and the Pleasure of Martyrs And to attain the highest Character of Perfection that Humanity ever reacht with the Bravery and Courage of an Alexander they had the Peace and Content of a Diogenes But their Honorable Losses your Ladyships kinder Stars have amply repaid And all those Debts of Providence those Loyal Sufferers did not live long enough to receive their Arrears of Glory are in your Ladyships compleater Happiness entail'd on their Posterity The Lady Henrietta has a Person and a Mind so richly endowed and to these that Prodigious Mass of Worldly Blessings as if Providence had studied to adde new Ornaments to Her whose Birth Charms and Vertues in themselves alone render'd her a Beauty inaccessible So just it is that such Infinite Perfections should be no little Care of Heaven that are so great a part of it But in the strange and prosperous Recovery of your Ladyships exhausted Patrimonies the unexampled Industry of the Lady Philadelphia your Ladyships pious Mother to her immortal praise will never be forgotten When Fate by a too early Stroak had rob'd her of her dear Lord she stept into a Seat so strangely demolish'd beheld those Ruines of an Estate where the Thunder of the War had made the Desolation so low and the Breaches so wide that the frightful Prospect would have daunted a more than Female Spirit where all hopes of Re-building would appear an Attempt altogether impossible Yet that Attempt the bolder Lady Philadelphia resolved and finish'd stemm'd all the adverse Tides of Fortune to gather up her Family's Shipwracks and with that incredible Pains and no less wonderful Success that she has rather created than repaired an Estate has miraculously heaped together an infinite Treasure with no less Toil than if she had labor'd in the Mine and dig'd the very Oar that form'd it Never was a losing Hand so ingeniously play'd nor a last Stake so artfully managed Her Happiness her Love and Life were so lodged in her only Hopes her fair young Darling Henrietta that for her dear sake to advance her growing promising Glory she acted with a Zeal so vigorous as if she had taken a Resolution even to out-do the Pelican And as your Ladyships Loyal Ancestors those two memorable English Champions are that shining Original that Fame when she paints any thing that 's Heroick might for ever Copy from So they are no less blest in an Heiress whose Majestick Beauty to theirs and her own Eternal Monument might sit for a Britannia Your Royal Godfather might very frankly and largly promise Wonders in the Lady Henrietta's Name For 't was impossible there should be any common Branch from a Stock so perfectly Illustrious How then am I beyond all measure happy thus Gloriously protected methinks I look with Scorn upon the censorious World and can defie my Enemies with as great Assurance as if I had the Souls and Swords of those prodigious Heroes And 't is no small Pride to me when I consider I am the first of those many Writers to come that have attained the glorious Preferment of thus publickly writing my self Madam Your LADYSHIPS most dutiful and most humbly devoted Servant E. Settle ACTORS NAMES Albuzeiden King of Algiers Mr. Oriffin Altomar his Admiral Mr. Goodman Gayland Mr. Clerk Meroin Mr. Perin Artemira the King's Daughter Mrs. Cox Rosalin her Confident Mrs. Ishmael a Friend of Meroin ' s Mr. Disney Mirvan an Eunuch Mr. Saunders Morat Mr. Powel Messengers Envoy Torturers Executioners Guards and Attendants The PROLOGUE HOw finely would the Sparks he catch'd to Day Should a Whig-Poet write a Tory-Play And you possess'd with Rage before should send Your random Shot abroad and maul a Friend For you we find too often hiss or clap Just as you live speak think and fight by hap And Poets we all know can change like you And are alone to their own
have me do If I Love Altomaer can I love Gayland too Love is the very Soul of the Creation And Constancy the Soul of Love And then Can I love twice She whose divided Heart Admits more Loves than one does but like her That breaks a precious Diamond into Sparks And makes that worthless was before inestimable King Alas I do not court thee to be false 'T is then thou' rt false when thou lovest Altomar False to thy Blood thy Honor and to me To love below the Daughter of a King But fix thy Eyes on an Imperial Head And then thou' rt truly Just Thou canst not guess The Charms of Love within a Monarch's Arms Thy Beauty on a Throne shall not shine only For thy long Youth but be even in thy Age triumphant Whilst to pursue the Trophies thou hast won Thy young Heroick Sons shall conquer Kingdoms And their fair Sisters Kings Art Oh misery King Nor is this all t' embrace the Crown I offer Consider thou wilt make thy Father great All my Ambition bounds in this Alliance In this blest Marriage from my Blood will spring That Race shall fill the Africk Throne for ever Art Oh Ruine Mer. Your Gracious Father Art Dares that Villain speak Remove that hated Monster from my Sight Mer. And that proud Devil from the World Aside Art Alas what is that gay vain thing call'd Empire You 'd have me lose my Peace and Heav'n to purchase When from this Heart my Altomar's dear Throne Its Lord I banish 't is a pain so great Horror and Hell will fill the empty Seat King A Daughter Death why was she born to plague me Ye Gods what ways ye find to make Man wretched Our very Heirs the Branches of our selves Are not our own The Gallant and the Great Mix active Fires to mould their Likenesses Whilst some malignant Planet sheds his Venom Clubs in his Dross to bastardize their Souls And grafts a Fool upon a Royal Stock Enter Messenger Mess My Lord the Emperor King Now Rebel Daughter I must be short prepare to entertain This mighty man with all yout kindest Looks Breath one harsh Note to shew your Soul 's untuned Ruffle that Face but with one angry Blast And the next hour your Darling breathes his last Obey me or expect the Traytor 's Head Enter Gayland attended Art Nurs'd in a Palace and a King my Parent And yet thus wretched would I had met my Altomar In some more hospitable Desart born What tho' we lived with Brutes and Savages They would be kinder than inhumane Fathers King Great Sir I leave you to your Fate Success And Victory your long-known Slaves attend you Exit Gayl Majestick Excellence I come to lay A Monarch at thy Feet So Lov 's soft Goddess War 's fierce God disarms Melts down his Native Fury in her Arms Softens the Influence of his angry Fires And blunts the Edge of Fate Art Excellent Vanity Gayl Madam I ne'er was truly great till now What are the Courts of Kings if Love 's not there What 's the unpolisht slaughtering Warrier but A nobler Savage till by Love refined War Victory and Crowns But the rude Oar and the rough Minerals bring Whilst 't is Love melts and Beauty stamps the King Art In what big Tone this gilded Organ speaks Aside But now to answer him Oh Love assist me Great Sir Gayl Speak fair Divinity Art Methinks You magnifie Love's little God too much And add too glittering Plumes to the blind Boy Alas his unfledg'd Wings soar not so high Does not th' exploding World at best call Beauty A short-liv'd Bloom Love Man's Effeminacy And Woman only Natures fair Defect Gayl Hold beauteous Brightness Artemira's Eyes Shall make a Convert of that senceless World Ascend my dazling ThronÄ— and then see what The Tributary World shall pay to Beauty Thus Crown'd thou shalt not only be adored By prostrate Nations but those Nations Lord. Thus the Imperial Monarch of the Skies Melts his Eternal Day in Juno's Eyes So shalt thou reign like her but blest above Her humbler Joys in a more faithful Jove Art Insufferable Vanity Oh Love how vast A difference is betwixt the God-like Altomar Aside And this poor Image of a King Gayl By Heavens So glorious shall my Artemira shine That Humane Eyes shan't dare look up so high But blinded stand with thy o'erflowing Light Art Great Sir your Bounty promises such Wonders That to experience your prodigious Favors I have a Boon to beg Gayl Speak and command it Art It will offend you Gayl By my Crown it shall not Art Have I your Promise Gayl Upon the word of Majesty Art I 'm satisfied and now dare freely speak Great Sir no common Pride ought to embrace Those Glories you intend for me but Sir Suppose I lov'd before and love an Object Below your Royal Greatness For alas All Beauties are not born to conquer Kings Yet may be happy far below a Crown And tho' the mighty Gayland only ought To storm and conquer yet I hope you 'l promise me You 'll win me bravely and not seek to force My Heart till you have nobly conquer'd it Enter Altomar disguised and Morat Gayl By these white Charms I swear Kissing her Hand By Alla and my own Imperial Honor I 'll never wear this Jewel till I 've won it Mor. Keep your Disguise or we are lost for ever To Altomar Alt. Her yielding Hand snatcht to his greedy Lips Seiz'd and devour'd by that invading Tyrant Aside Art Then I 've my Wish now my loved Altomar I 've cut off all his Hopes t' invade thy Right He 'll never wear thy Jewel till he has won it Aside And that is never For this Heart 's invincible And if there 's Strength in Vows or Oaths or Honor I 'll make him know he 's perjur'd but t' attempt it Alt. What riotous pleasures revel in her Eyes By Hell he has talk'd her to an Extasie Aside Gayl A favor'd Rival the only thing I wanted By Heav'ns she 's now a Conquest fit for me Who e'er thou art poor Wretch love on court on Guard all the Forts of her encompast Heart That when I storm I may have the Charm to try How at my Sun such poor thin Shadows fly Art Now Royal Sir your Gallantry Alt. Oh horror Aside Art Your matchless Gallantry has so much Honor And so much Charm that it has given me all My utmost wish could ask Alt. She 's gon She 's gon Aside Gayl Oh my fair Saint what infinite Mass of Glory Do my vast Hopes embrace Come bright illustrious fair let Fools and Cowards Invoke the help of the kind Powers above Call on each Star to aid their dastard Love On my own Strength my Tug of Fate shall lie And let the gazing Gods stand Neuter by Exeunt Manent Altomar and Morat Alt. Oh I am lost not the dark Womb of Earth That teems with tortur'd Ghosts in the black Realms Of Vengeance has a Soul so lost
Emperor Will raze my City lay my Kingdom waste All buried in one heap of Desolation Alt. Revenge their Tyrant Emperor Yes Sir I kill'd him and so kill'd him that Th' applauding World must justifie the Blow An Emperor like a mean-spirited Slave He came and poorly braved me in my Chains Then in the basest most unmanly fury He struck his Dagger at my naked Breast But from his hand unarm'd I snatch'd the Ponyard And in a brave Defence thus stain'd thus goar'd Tript up the Heels of the Gigantick Coward And with his weight I made his Grave shake under him King Hold Brutish Impudence canst thou plead excuse For this infernal Deed Better a thousand low-born Souls like thine Should float in Shoals through Tides and Seas of Blood Than the least Vein of Majesty should bleed Or a Crown'd Head but ake Alt. A Crown'd Head so at that rate a Villain May be an Emperor at his Coronation Murder and Hell held up the Canopy Whilst Blood and Treason dyed his Royal Purple No Voice of Majesty no Sound of Glory But Massacre Rebellion Desolation King Silence this Blasphemy What profane Breath Has Treason in Despair What if his Dagger Aim'd at thy naked Breast So angry Gods Strike impious Men. Does Thunder aim at Thunder Or should an injured Monarch play the Dueller Thy Pride I 'm sure provok'd his sacred Rage And 't was but just thy forfeit Life should pay for 't Enter Arremira and Women King But bold Assassinate thy impious Fury Could lift thy Hand against the Life of Majesty The best of men thou hast traiterously kill'd And like a Traytor thou shalt die Alt. A Traytor Art Die Oh my startled Soul Alt. No cruel Lord I kill'd him nobly bravely kill'd him King No grapling Roman in Romes Amphitheater Took an encountring Lion by the Throat And tore his Heart out with a Rage more manly King Oh Giant Insolence But I lose Breath he dies and instantly His Execution Achmat be thy Charge First publish him a Traytor to the State Then build a Scaffold in the open Forum A Wrack and Torturers prepared be ready T' appease the Blood of this great murder'd Monarch By all my Hopes th' Assassinate shall die With the same solemn Form of Death our Law And Custom dooms a Traytor to our Crown Alt. Ah Sir you ne'er was barbarous till this Hour Die for an honorable piece of Justice Done in my own Defence and like a Traytor Proclaim'd a Traytor branded and exposed T' a trayterous publick Shame My Death I scorn to fear But to die infamous is more than dying Shame is the only Wound great Souls can feel Art Oh hear me Sir whilst I have Life to speak Look on that Gallant Youth that Mine of Honor Faith Truth and Love the very Soul of Angels And Model of a God Alt. Oh matchless Sweetness Art And must that Throne that bright Celestial Temple Be rased by sacrilegious impious Hands Inhumane King but Oh I can no more Faints King No Traytress thou hast done too much Thy Eyes young Witch light this dire Conflagration And only blaze t' a King and Kingdoms Ruine Art Ah my dear Lord I 'm going unkind heart To break so soon and not to stay for Altomar Swoons Alt. She faints she faints that injur'd Beauty dies Look up my Star shine out dear clouded Brightness Now King thou' rt more than exquisitely cruel For if your Tyranny must break that Heart My Wrongs are Pageants to this last dire Blow King Why Villain let her faint and die what then Sleep on thou Scandal of my Blood sleep on For ever whilst I never sleep again Exit King Alt. Divine sweet Excellence look up and live 'T is thy kind Altomar that bids thee live Art From Deaths cold Sleep what voice of Pity wakes me Ah my dear Lord is 't you What a blest Change Is here Did not my cruel Father Fright my poor Soul away with the Ghastly Vision Of my dear murder'd Lord And do I wake in Altomar's kind Arms Alt. Yes Royal Sweetness thy Tyrannick Father Though he has decreed thy Altomar must die Art Nay then why were my closing Eyes Torn open to behold this hated Light More terrible than Death's eternal Night Alt. Let not the Torrent of thy Sorrow swell Too high Thy Altomar is not so lost He has Glories Pleasures Joys and thy kind Father Has through his burning Rage some Sparks of Pity He has left this Treasure in my dying Arms And kindly crowns the Victim e'er it bleeds Art And must you die I cannot will not bear it Ye angry Gods if this be the Reward Of Truth and Love and unkind Providence Ordains two faithful Hearts a Fate so dismal Poor Love I fear has but few Friends in Heav'n Alt. Indeed my sweetest Saint 't is very hard That I must gaze on those bright Eyes no more Grasp thy dear Knees lie at thy Feet no more Till we shall meet agen above the Stars A very sad long Journey for a Lover But we shall meet agen and what tho' 't is Beyond the Grave To win this glorious Prize The Race can never be too long The way too craggy nor the Goal too far No my best Life the Stars are not so distant Nor are the Battlements of Heav'n too high To scale for so much Beauty Art Oh my Altomar How sad a Story shall we leave behind us Henceforward when some melancholy Virgin Looks out a lonely Cell to mourn and die She 'll read no more the tender mournful Tales Of ravisht Philomel or bleeding Lucrece But turning o'er our more unhappy Loves Read till she has sight her dying Taper out And drown'd her Eyes in Artemira's Woe Oh let me sigh my Soul into thy Arms And powre a flowing Deluge on thy Bosom Alt. Best of thy Sex thou softest Virgin Sweetness Who would not die thus mourn'd thus loved thus pitied With thy kind tender Sighs and melting Eyes Such gentle Showers and fragrant Gales around him When the luxurious Anthony In dissolved Pearl drank Kingdoms at a Draught He lived not with that Pleasure that I die I in this Nectar taste Eternity Enter Achmat and Guards Ach. My Lord I come to make a harsh Divorce Art Oh bloody Tyrant Father Alt. Hold yet stay Ach. My Lord our Haste Alt. Black Instrument of Hell May I not stay to take my last Farewell My only Life a long and last Adieu But he that goes to die sure ought to take His leave upon his Knees So have I seen The Beauteous Image of the Queen of Love Adorn'd with all her Graces her fair Hand Her blushing Cheeks and murmuring Lips all Sweetness And at the Feet of the Celestial Form Her humble Cupid hanging round her Knees Oh Love let me make up that pious Figure Low at the Feet of my dear Goddess bow And mourn and weep till I 'm as blind as thou Ach. Sir our Commission brooks no more delay Alt. Merciless Slaves Art My dearest Altomar
Interest true Can write against all Sense nay even their own The Vehicle call'd Pension makes it down No fear of Cudgells where there 's hope of Bread A well-fill'd Panch forgets a broken Head But our dull Fop on every side is damn'd He has his Play with Love and Honor cram'd Rot your Old fashion'd Heroe in Romance Who in a Lady's Quarrel breaks a Launce Give us the modish Feat of Honor done With Eighteen well-chew'd Ballets in one Gun Charg'd but with Eighteen Bullets did I say Damn it if that won't do we 'll bring one day Queen Besse's Packet Pistol into Play Give us Heroick Worthies of Renown With a revenging Rival's Mortal Frown Not by dividing Oceans kept a sunder Whilst angry Spark comes on like Jove with Thunder Gives out in Harlem Gazette Blood and Wounds In Foreign Fray to sculk on English Ground And scorning Duels a poor Prize at Sharps He only fights for Fame in Counterscarps Do not you follow his Revenge and Fury Be you those tender-hearted things his Jury Give us Old-Baily mercy for our Play Ah no! no Pray'rs nor Bribes your Hearts can sway Your cruel Talents lie the other way Criticks Are Polish Bullies fire and lightning all The Blunderbuss goes off and where you hit you maul ACT I. SCENE I. A Seraglio Artemira and Rosolin Art OH Rosolin thou art a subtle Charmer To treat thy Princess with the sacred Glories Of her Victorious Altomar His Praise Is so sublime a Theme that sure 't was such a Subject That once inspired the ancient Theban Lyre When even th' inanimate Woods and Rocks Felt the inchanting Sounds and borrowed Ears T' attend the powerful Song Amir Madam Alas To sing his Praise is but that humble Tribute Which the united World should pay and when His mighty Triumphs speak so loud as crack The very Voice of Fame can I do less Than make a part in th' Universal Quire Art Ah Rosolin thou paint'st but half his Conquests 'T is not enough that in his floating Walls He rides triumphant Lord o' th' Wat'ry Main But after all this gallant God-like Man Returns a Conqueror returns to these Kind Arms his dearest Artemira's Arms. Where am I going I shall talk my Sence away Love wraps me up so high my soaring Soul Grows giddy with the Airy Maze it treads Enter Mirvan Mirv. Madam Lord Meroin desires admittance Art What brings him here Go tell him I am private That hated Sight 's enough to damp my Joys What is his Business Mirv. Madam the Success Of your Illustrious Father's Conquering Arms Has brought him big with Wonder to repeat The pleasing Miracle Art Admit him Exit Mirvan I know the Villain hates my Altomar And me but my dear Altomar's Applause Has Musick in the Sound tho' set by Hell And sung by Envy Enter Meroin Mer. Madam when the Gods Design'd such Beauty for a Kingdoms Heir In Justice to your infinite Deserts They strow your way with Trophies to a Crown Your Royal Father to enlarge his Throne Fit for so bright a Form to fill has Heav'n His Friend and Fate his Vassal builds his Glory High as the Stars and makes the binding Cement Of this vast Pile his vanquisht Enemies Blood Art Indeed Sir our late wonderful Success Over our proud Venetian Enemies Shews us no little Favorites of Heaven Merv. Our wonderful Success where lies the Wonder Could your great Fathers Arms be less victorious When led by Altomar the Valiant Altomar Now Flattery and and all the artful Pow'rs Of slighted Love assist me If she loves him I have an Art to track her hidden Fires I 'll tune her Favorite's Praise so high till I Aside Have rais'd such Pleasures in her wanton Eyes As shall betray the burning Lake within ' em Art My Lord you have begun a noble Subject And in the Generous Altomar's just Praise You but express a Kingdom 's Obligation Merv. His Praises just just yes from all Mankind Such Courage and such Conduct is a Theme As would make Malice court and Envy flatter He managed Ruine with so proud a Port His very dying Foes in their last Groans Could do no less than praise their fatal Conqueror By all the Gods a nobler braver Chief Ne'r grac'd an Armies Head since that great day When th' angry Angels met and their bright Generals Led out th'embattell'd Seraphim to fight Whilst the vast Storm of War shook down the Stars Art Oh that a Villain should describe a Hero What Style has Love if Hate has so much Rhetorick Aside Mer. Imagine here the bold Venetians Their gaudy Fleet with all their glittering Flags Whilst th' humbler Gallies round their taller Galeasses Crouching like Porpusses beneath the Whale Cut the salt Foam to meet the enrag'd Altomar Suppose on th' other side the fierce The Fiery Altomar our Algier Glory The God-like Genius of your Fathers Arms With his proud Navy all his moving Castles Meets the vast Foe Art Oh that a hand so loath'd should draw so sweet a Picture Aside Mer. Imagine now the Warlike Fleets engaged Ruine and Death with all their Pomp and Noise Alarm the Globe and frighted Nature shakes Whilst Victory that Eagle Bird of Prey Hovers above the floating Massacre The trembling Shore around the reeking Sea Below and all the smoaking Air above Together joyn joyn with his ratling Fires All the contending Elements conspire To grace their Lord the Conquering Altomar Art My Lord I know not from what Mystick Source All this kind Language flows but if there 's Riddles In your Applause there shall be none in mine You draw this gallant Prince's shining Picture Below the bright Original The highest Description you can make is but your Duty And know his Vertue Courage Loyalty And all the Graces that can write man great Make his name worthy to be welcome here Mer. By all the Sulphur in her burning Veins My Fears are true she loves and has the Pride To own it is her own vain boasting Trumpet Aside Enter Mirvan Mirv. Madam Prince Altomar Mer. Return'd already Aside Art Hast and conduct him in Exit Mirvan Mer. Curst be the Name And doubly curst the hour I saw that Face Aside Art My Lord The Illustrious Prince's Praise is a large Theme And if you have more to say some other time You will oblige me with the pleasing Subject Mer. Death with what Scorn and Pride she drives me hence To make more room for my accursed Rival Aside Perdition be his Guide and Plagues his Ushers And burning Irons pave the way that leads him Exit Art He comes he comes now breaks my rising day In the new Sun shine the kind Cupids play Olive and Myrtle show his fragrant way Enter Altomar Alt. Health of my Soul and Mirror of my Eyes Light of my World and Goddess of my Prayers Do I once more embrace thy Sacred Knees My Joy's too dazling for my Soul to bear I would gaze on but thou' rt too killing fair Art Oh rise my