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
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
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
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
you his power 's so little Ibrah. No so great When yours joyns too to make that pow'r compleat 'T is infinite like that bright boundless space Where light and Saints their endless glories place Within it all things and beyond it nothing Solym. Say then from whence does all this darkness come Have I done injury to Christendom Have any of my forreign pow'rs by steel Or Rapine wrong'd those Altars where you kneel Ibrah. Love pardon dutys sin when I reveal My lesser sorrows but the great conceal Aside Sir when I bring The Lowness whence you drew me to my thought The change which your Almighty hand has wrought Though he that rais'd it can support my state With trembling I behold my dang'rous height Malice and Envy will my life persue And strive to make me hated be by you How many of my Predecessors fell Nor could their Services their Dooms repel The faithful Vizier Achmat Rais'd Bajazet the Second to his Throne And little less had Valiant Chassan done For your great Father Yet in all their pride Both by their jealous Lords suspected dy'd The fear of death my trouble does not make My Life and Honours you may freely take But when I think the fatal time may be When you will but suspect my Loyalty 'T is that strikes horrour through my staggering sence No Torture like mistaken Innocence Solym. I thought to you I 'had made my breast so clear That you had nothing left to wish or fear But since my kind conjectures are not sure At once your weakness I 'le forgive and cure I swear by Alla and to bind my Vow Heâ—v'n make me happy as I 'm just to you Whilst Solyman Lives his Ibrahim shall not dye By any violent death Ibrah. Your favours are so high Solym. Forbear your thanks 't is only what I owe Men thanks for Gifts and not for Debts bestow Roxol. No Sir your constancy he cannot doubt He knows his Prince too well for such a thought Why this disguise Solym. I 'le take this surer way Though Friendship have no influence Love may Here be your looks as Conqu'ring as your Sword I call you Friend and she shall call you Lord. Gives him Asteria Aster That word my ravish'd sence does overcome I feel my joys too mighty to be dumb Aside Solym. Be to my blood as to my soul ally'd Now have you thoughts you from your King can hide Have I not bought 'em yet Ibrah. What shall I say Aside Aster My Bliss was never perfect till this day Aside Rox. This Lady whom in Chains you could subdue Admiâ—'d by all deserv'd By none but you Enrich'd with Solyman's favours and above All other Ornaments her greater Love Meets you with all the kindness souls e're shar'd Your Glories prize your Loyalties reward Aster Do not too high her little Merit raise Who blushes but too much without this praise Yet Sir By your commands I should all shame remove I need not blush when Duty bids me Love But mighty Sir if the o're-hasty guest to Ibrahim By a too early Raign this Seat possest points to her Breast Let th' easie prize not make the value less Nor Love its merit loose for its excess A Love which could not be by force expell'd And now wants pow'r to keep its joyes conceal'd Solym. To make her yet more worthy Ibrah. Great Sir hold Let me alone this Beauties worth unfold 'T is I can best describe such excellence Aster I feel new raptures in my softn'd sence Aside Ibrah. Some Heroe whom Imperial Crowns adorn To greatness rais'd and as much greatness born Some Prince that has so much Man-Kind ouâ—-done As should make Solyman's equal in his Son 'T is such a one should meet Asteria's charms But I the most unworthy of her Armes Roxol. Where will this end Aside Aster Some God that pitty's Love divert my fear Aside Ibrah. So little pow'r of Gratitude dwells here points to his Breast That I 'am beneath your scorn so wretched I To reconcile my Fate beg leave to dye Yes take my heart but when 't is yours it must Be offer'd up in blood to make it just To give me back my Chains would be too kind Let me in Death Yours and his Justice find Solym. Has Ibrahim crimes make him deserve to dye Ibrah. I Criminal Oh none so much as I. I am below the state of Infidels I view that face where Soveraign Beauty dwells Beauty which homage next to Gods receives And commands hearts more than the Sultan Lives Yet I to neither can Allegiance pay Love my Preserver or my Prince obey Fair Mistress of my Life and Liberty The founder of my Fame all I enjoy Th' ungrateful Creature of your smiles destroy Roxol. Are Solymans favours and his blood abus'd And so much Love thus barbarously us'd Solym. Ibrahim I am unwilling to believe Such Disrespect I can from Man receive Much less from Favourites say then what is That Pow'r has destin'd me to suffer this Aster Ask not the reason of his disrespect Let her describe the Cause who feels th' effect My sighs with scorn too fatally are paid My Love 's despis'd for some more happy Maid Look Sir on this sad object and in me to Ibrah. The sudden change of fading Greatness see When I came hither oh my short-liv'd Bliss I 'd not have chang'd my hopes of happiness To have been Empress of the World but now Not the most wretched of my Sex so low Nor am I in my slighted Love alone Unfortunate but guilty too I 've done What neither to my Sex nor Birth was due Transgrest the Laws of modesty for you So weak my heart so great my sufferings are I cannot hide my Love nor my Despair offers to go Roxol. What do I live to hear Asteria stay Aster No! let me take my hated sight away This freedom to the lost Asteria give In Crowds the Prosperous not the Wretched live Exit Asteria Roxol. Who is that pow'rful Rival for whose sake Your stubborn heart her Beauty cannot shake For whom Asteria's favours and her blood Are priz'd as little as they 're understood Yet name her not already I have heard Too much if Solyman you lov'd or fear'd You would not treat him thus You 've wrong'd him more Then all your Victories oblig'd before Exit Solym. Go tryumph in her suff'rings and my shame And add this one proud Title to your Fame You from an injur'd King this Grace receiv'd You are the first disturb'd my peace and liv'd Exit with his Train all but Ibrahim Ibrah. Ruin'd at once so sure Fate has made haste Who could believe that so few hours are past Since this undone lost despicable thing Was fear'd by all the World and favour'd by his King But now her Love refus'd his blood disgrac'd How are those Titles at one blast defac'd Oh Love Oh Isabella When thy Ear Shall the dire sound of my misfortunes hear Give me at once thy pitty and applause And whilst my
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
but a Daughter to pronounce his shame My Father Sir has laid his Vertue down Has shaded all the lustre of his Crown And in that black degenerate disguise Has seen his Ibrahim's Saint with impious eyes Ibrah. Tortures and Hell Isabel. Oh would this sound of Death Had found a passage from some Villains breath Some Inâ—idel or Hellish minister There might be hopes then my deluded ear Had been abus'd and some brib'd Traitor spoke But there 's too great Credentials in that look Ibrah. Quick quick dear Madam Kill apace go on Say what black hour this Cruelty begun How fatally the sudden Tempest â—ise That would put out my light and Ecclipse his Aster To Ulama he has reveal'd his shame 'T is from his Mouth the fatal secret came And that your sight may not his hopes debar He takes th' occasion of th' approaching War To make his passage free whilst you are sent To conquer 't is a splendid banishment But fly dear Sir leave an Inhumane Court Where glorious ills their gaudy pomp support Fly to some kinder Clime Where both from dangers and from fears remov'd For ever Love and be for ever Lov'd Free from all Jealousie Cares and distrust Live a long happy Life when I am Dust And Madam do not think I am unkind To Isabel. In courting him to leave his pow'rs behind And all his Honours quit You who can dwell Securely with such merit in a Cell Will make your Joys the loss of Crowns supply If you but love him half so well as I. Isabel. Great Solyman has found an early Heir Vertue has left his breast t' inhabit here Aster But when I bid you flye and from all harms Remove you to be safe in Ibrahims Armes I make you happy but with all the pain Despairing Love and bleeding hearts sustein Forc'd by my Piety and Love I must A Rival bless to make a Father just Ibrah. But Madam when she 's safe safe in my pow'r From splendid Jailes and Rival Kings secure Then what requital can I make who owe My Life and all that makes Life dear to you Aster The payment I shall ask will easie be Only remember you were sav'd by me And if my Memory be worth your care Then I 'm o're paid for all my favours here Ibrah. Fear not my payment then if that be all On you as on my Tutelar Saint I 'le call Aster What you resolve must instantly be done Whilst we discourse the precious minutes run Morat and his Confederates haunt this ground And ev'n her Guards already watch her round But for her safety I have found the way Ibrah. Speak Author of my Heav'n and I 'le obey Aster You know what Turkish custom Has with th' Imperial Daughters long prevail'd A Sultaness ne're walks abroad Unveil'd She then by my retinue and my shape Shall in my borrow'd Veile make an escape My Women I 've engag'd t' attend her flight And to avoid all dangers by my sight To keep the Cheat from all discovery Till she 's gone safe I will her place supply Isabel. I must not buy my freedom at that rate Expose you to incur your Fathers hate Have I no other way t' attain my bliss Aster What other way or where 's the fault in this Isabel. If on no other ground my safety 's built I must reâ—use that Bliss t' avoid this Guilt Aster Were I to flye with Ibrahim I should find Not half these Arguments to stay behind Isabel. Rather than let my Guardian be undone I 'le perish by that storm I must not shun Tortures and Death's the worst and those I 'le bear Rather than sin against my Honour here Aster I am his Daughter and have pow'r t' asswage With a few Tears an angry Fathers rage But you he Loves Loves with a lawless flame And no small pow'r can violent passions tame Ibrah. Madam the kind Sultana's gift embrace Stop not the Torrent of her Royal Grace Isabel. Must she then stay to suffer in my place Must I requite her with returns so rude And buy my safety with ingratitude Aster Oh flye Sir I conjure you do not stay Will you not once not once my will obey You 'l pay a Life's obedience to her pow'r And shall not I command you for an hour Ibrah. Let not her soft entreaties be withstood Since she like Heav'n is pleas'd with doing good To her a Father cannot be unkind The breach your absence makes her prayers may bind Isabel. Were I assur'd her dangers were not great 'T were hard when she commands and you entreat T' oppose such force Aster Have I the Conquest won Now all my bus'ness in the World is done I cannot fall more low nor raise you higher Ibrah. Farewell And generous excellence when we retire Oblig'd by goodness as this vast excess We 're happy but must blush at Happiness Aster Stay yet If I must never see you more One favour let my breaking heart implore When Miser-like you with a greedy eye to Isabel. Seize those kind looks for which I mourn and dye Amidst your scenes of Joy shall Ibrahim be Permitted but to steal one sigh for me Isabel. Permit his Sighs yes and command'em too By my Commission he shall pay that due Aster And when I 'm dead but I shall ask too far Shall He At poor Asteria's Name let fall a Tear Isabel. A thousand But be far that hour remov'd Such vertue must of Heav'n be more belov'd Then t' have a Raign so short yet if we shall Survive the generous Asteria's fall Doubt not the pious Tribute of his Tears My Eyes shall be his griefs Remembrancers Each Sigh he takes each Tear he sheds shall warm My Breast and to our Loves be a fresh charm Aster And will you do all this to Ibrah. Ibrah. Do 't with as true A Zeal as the fam'd Vestals ever knew With Piety more constant and entire Your ashes I 'le adore than they their fire Aster Now I have all my wishes dare implore You cannot grant nor must I ask you more But Sir if e're You are distrest agen which Heav'n forbid Call on my Name I 'le be your Guard tho dead For sure in Love there is so strong a tye That even my Ghost will be as kind as I. Exit Ibra and Isabel with Asteria's Attendants Oh Isabella thus to set thee free What has Love done for him despair for thee I 've giv'n hopes happiness and life away And dearly for that generous act must pay I in his absence feel his killing pow'r Alas my Ruine was too near before Yet now as if it came too slowly pac'd I have turn'd Prodigal to make more haste Musick directed here what can this mean A Song is sung from within SONG No Art Loves Influence can destroy In vain would Captive Kings their Chains unloose When the blind Boy The Thunderer himself could ne're oppose Drest up in various forms his Heav'n he left And practis'd in disguise the amorous theft But
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
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
thy Victorious Arms the World command Thy Sword 's grown weak plac'd in a guilty hand Solym. T' increase your Courage think it weaker yet And to chastise thy rudeness when we meet When in an Armys Head thy Fâ—ce I see I 'le tell thee then thou 〈◊〉 fit to fall by Me. Exit Solym. Roxol. When Empress of the World I stood on hallow'd ground With all my pomp and greatness circl'd round Then 〈◊〉 train of Worshippers what crowd Of Vassaâ—â— as my 〈◊〉 all prostrate bow'd On humble Mortals I in state look'd down Who gaz'd on glorys sparkling from my Crown Life waited on my Smiles Death on my Frown Fear'd and ador'd on their bow'd Neeks I trod Whilst to my Throne I mounted like a God But in my â—all where 's that Devotion gone Of all those thousands Fate has left but one Ulam So great your Merit and your Slaves so few Those thousands lost be God-like and raise new Permit me but to meet this Threatning King And see what force so just a Cause can bring To right your Honour and rebuild your Throne Vouchsafe to call my Sword and Life your own Rather than your lowd wrongs shall go unpaid I will exhaust an Empire in your aid Here at his Gates I will his Guâ—lt defie I and my Persia nay the Gods and I Roxol. Hold Angry Prince your Zeal in my just Cause Whilst it was Innocent had my applause Forbear then to pull down my hate tho He Has lost his Vertue broke his Faith to Me I have not lost the Duty of a Wife Tho I abhor his Crimes I prize his Life Who holds a Sword against his Breast wounds me His Foe is Roxolana's Enemy Exit Roxol. Ulam Fool that I was to ask her her consent Without her leave her ruin I 'le prevent Her pious Vengeance points me out the way 'T was but her superstition bad me stay To morrow I 'le towards Persia go and bring My utmost pow'r against this Perjur'd King If time enough I 'le stop her Fall if late Revenge it if I fail I 'le share her Fate Lost though I am and in despair I 'le try To wast an Empire in her Cause and dye Exit Ulam The End of the Fourth Act. ACT the FIFTH The SCENE a Chamber Enter Ibrahim meeting Isabella and Morat Morat SIr from the Sultan I am hither sent To Councel you your ruin to prevent If by consent you can for ever part And make a present of a Mrs. Heart You have your Life else when he sleeps you dye You have an hour allow'd for your reply Ex. Morat Isabel. 'T is a hard choyce you must be false or dye To save your Life what is 't I would not give Ibrah. What would you have me quit your Love Live Isabel. No though I value you so high above My Ibrahims Life I prize my Ibrahims Loâ—e If nothing but Inconstancy can give You Life dye mine since mine you cannot live But do not think when you are gone I shall Have pow'r long to out-live your Funeral There 's a Contagion in a Lovers fall Weak are his Threats and vain his subtlest Art His Tyranny may all but Lovers part Ibrah. Do I not dye to seal my Faith to you What juster act what braver can I do Then do not murmur at my glorious Fall Is this his Cruelty Is dying all What 's Death The meanest Slaves dye every day Even Infancy and Age that Debt to Nature pay A Feavourish fit can stop our fleeting breath Our Tast Smell Touch each Sence can let in Death And we who Beauties infinite pow'r adore For great Almighty Love can do no more Isabel. But can I say I love and bid you dye No! for your safety this one Art I 'le try I 'le strait to Solyman and Summon all Those angry pow'rs that injur'd Love can call Not depos'd Kings shall rage so much as I. With so much scorn his baseness I 'le defie Till I 've incenst his rage to that degree That he shall spare your Life and Murder me In me he can but Isabella Doom In you he takes a prop from Christendom Live Ibrahim then Religion to defend His Favourit live to be the Christians Friend Leave Death to me and think my Life well given At once in saying you and serving Heav'n Ibrah. These melting sounds all sence of Death destroy Who wou'd not choose my Fate for half my Joy But do not hope to dye for me Think not your charms so little nor my King So Savage though unkind that any thing Will make him dare to shed your precious blood No my best life he must not if he cou'd Isabel. Must I so tamely then behold your Fall No 'gainst your Murderer I 'le muster all My Rage Despair Revenge what is 't I will not do I 'le treat him so but why this passion now Since 't is decreed we must so soon divide My parting looks shou'd all their fierceness hide Furies till then lay all your Scorpions by Our last dear minutes shou'd more gently flye Kind Heav'n let but this span of Life be blest Love reign this hour and horror all the rest Ibrah. Best of thy Sex Embracing her But I in vain shall this short Tryumph boast Gazing on what must be for ever lost Isabel. For ever why can death destroy our Love Shall we not meet and be as blest above Cease Sir oh cease this too unkind despair Are there all Joys in Heav'n and Love not there Ibrahim Fill'd with that hope I 'le my short time improve And sum an Ages bliss in one hours Love Low at your Feet your humble Vassal bows Kneels And here on this fair hand seals his last Vows kisses her hand Turn turn your eyes this way look all Divine In your full Lustre let your kindness shine Oh Love I am all Extasie delight Soaring in joys I 'm giddy with my height kissing her hand often But hide those eyes take this soft Magick hence lets go her hand My happiness so much transports my sence That such another look will make me grow Too fond of Life ever to let you go Isabel. Great blessings like swiâ—t torrents always run Too rapid to stay long Ibrah. What have I done Restore those pleasing looks give me your hand agen My Light Day Sun shut not your glories in Spight of his pow'r in this soft knot I 'le fold She gives him her Hand agen And when I dye let him cut off my hold I 'le twine so fast that when he gives the blow And cuts me by the Roots up from below These dying branches still shall grasp you all And grasp and grasp and wither e're they fall Enter Asteria Mirva and Morat Aster So close so kind how happy should I be aside entring Were half this dear Devotion paid to me Mor. Madam the Sultans orders were severe But Solymans command admits you here And I dare take your word to Asteria No doubt she 's come By th' offer
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