and hee himselfe Hee Offers violence not taste it no I have lost too many houres of pleasure and will no longer suffer my selfe to bee tormented more then Tantalus for he was forc't to fast but foolishly I starve having my hands at libertie and in my power that which will satisfie beyond expression aside Des Oh Sir consider er'e you goe about a deed of so much basenes how will this ranke amongst your noble acts to be a murderer for doe not thinke I will out live my fame for your owne sake be wise then if you love mee and do not rob your selfe of the content you may hereafter finde if you take noble waies and make my heart yours then you may have a lasting pleasure Aside now the deed once done will bring repentance ever Mel. Who would not threaten rape to heare such prettie arguments against it No Despina I have no facultie which is not more obedient to thy will then to my owne each threatening word I utter'd was to my selfe a torment dry those bright eyes that never shall have use of tears againe if not for their own crueltie against Melchoshus consider but my power and thy owne beautie which would inflame old age and from thy justice my temperance must needs find some reward Des If thus you woe mee I dare not say but time and womans weaknes may make me love you and for your this daies temperance this kisse be your reward Mel. I am transported force can bring no such pleasure kisse mee againe and by our Prophet it shall seal your honors freedome by an oath my blood is fir'd one such kisse more would make me breake that promise for making which this kisse was given me Des Oh Sir Mel. But fear not base passion shall not overthrow my wise and nobler resolutions for since I love you as you are altogether excellent I must enjoy Despina not Despina's person onely that 's not halfe your selfe I will not looke on you your eies tho chaste may more encrease my lust which my minds pure love makes me now know to be a crime And hold our Prophet Mahomet unjust That made no lawes against a Princes lust Exeunt Enter Orcanes and Hosa Orc. Hosa is Callibeas gone to court Hos Hee is my Lord Orc. Is there no meanes thinkst thou to see his wife Hos It is impossible his jealousie makes him set spies in every corner Orc. I see thou art not read in tricks of love I have made use of all that art and nature hath bestowed upon me youth and beauty what woman can resist or were these wanting yet a Princes name is a powerfull advocate I never yet laid siege to any femall Fort but either by assault or policie I found a way to conquest yet am I carefull of their honors I enjoy and so dissemble my affection that each Lady thinkes I onely am her servant would my youth and beautie ever last I would not wish to change the life I lead now to enjoy the Kingdome altho my father possesse the greatest beautie of the world yet is it not by stealth securitie takes from the pleasure 't is dull so to enjoy a beautie Hos You 'l finde your present taske full of difficultie if you delight in that I do not think you 'l ever see her more Callibeus having taken notice of your love Orc. He sees but will not say he sees being my father's slave he dares not find the least fault me thinkes shee should corrupt some Eunuch that attends her or from her window drop a letter to expresse the love I am sure shee beares me Hosa How are you sure she loves you Orc. Sure she loves me as sure as if she had told me so nay surer her eyes spoak plainly which I will trust in women more then their tongue but I am so experienced I cannot well misse in either Enter Eunuch Eun. My Lady doth intreat your Highnesse not to walk before her window for if my Lord return and see you he 'l be with her offended Orc. Return and tell your Lady I shall be ready to obey any command of hers though to my own torment Eun. I shall Hos Sir it appears she loves you Callibeus above drops a Letter not by this else she would take delight to look on you Orc. This letter lay not here last turn we made before I open it to let thee see I am the Master of my Art though here 's no superscription I now tell you this Letter is to me and from Ozaca full of affection too Hos I shall another time believe you if 't be retire your selfe here out of sight and read it Orc. The Sun though clouded by jealousie The Letter will shine again not onely to warm but inflame if it have power those who seem to take comfort in his beams If a reciprocall fire be kindled expresse it not in words Here 's wit Hosa besides beauty No fair Ozaca not in word but thus I do expresse my zeal Hosa shee 's at the window but dares not open it for the Eunuch I have a plot which thou must needs assist me in and then shee 's mine spight of her husbands jealousie Enter Callibeus and Eunuch Call How in silence he wooed her and thanks was given for her Letter as he thought Was 't not a good device in me to be assured of his intentions he shall break through forty doores ere he plant here Now to Ozaca which I removed into another Chamber whilst I supplied her place Exeunt Enter Osmond with a Letter Osm It was a happy fate that brought the Emperour so to crosse my yielding how could I have resisted such a motion comming from her that I adore Let me consider become a Christian flie and marry me What a temptation 's this I gave this Beauty to Melcoshus and shall I childishly recall my gift nay basely steal the jewell of his life in whom the Kingdomes weal consists 't were unexampled treason Hence thou enticing charme whose witchcraft almost does enforce me to forsake my faith and vertue Stay become a Christian that 's but to be as she is and can the heavens be cruell to such such sweetnesse shall not their providence preserve what they have fram'd so excellent and me for serving her Say I forsake our Prophet and trust upon that Power which she adores then must I basely flie forsake Melcoshus my dread Lord and what can recompence that losse or seem a plausible excuse for such a falshood Oh yes to marry fair Despina which she offers is to be happy in so high a nature that it would stop the mouth of churlish censure all would excuse a fault that brought so great contentment to the guilty as her embraces must be Enter Melcoshus Mel. Osmond thou hast undone me in thy rich gift Os How Sir Mel. She does and may so justly glory in her own purity that she disdains to mix in love with me and yet till her denyall taught me to
cause but would grieve something deal freely would it not move you ha if so then thinke what I now suffer who heaven knowes did love this Lady as my sister 2. Sol. Sir we grieve with you and wish the Emperour had not bin so cruell Osm Thanks soldiers but where wishes faile we must apply our reason to ease our griefe My ease alone consists in shedding his heart blood That gain'd and then destroyd earths cheefest good Exeunt Enter Ozaca Oza Shall I rejoyce or shall I grieve my present fortune rejoyce most certainly though all difficultie and danger attend my love for my Orcanes is a Prince so excellent in all that though I ne'ere againe enjoy him yet am 〈◊〉 happy but his affection sure which seem'd to equall mine will make him study some way how we againe may meet but soft here comes my husband with a joyfull Countenance Enter Callibeus Calli. My deere Ozaca I bring ease to thy vext soul I had bin here long since but that the Emperours expresse command upon affaires with held me and far too happy was the newes for any other but my selfe to bring kneele down with me and pray the Gods to prosper long Melco•hus Oza Why Sir what 's the occasion speak I pray you Calli. I knew his justice could not slacke what er'e he emd Oza What justice speak oh my feares Calli. The Prince Oza Speake what of him Calli. The lustfull Prince my deere Ozaca hath by his blood washt cleane thy staine Oza Ha. Shee Sownds Calli. Ozaca my Ozaca oh speake the joy of her revenge overcomes her know my deer wife the Prince Orcanes for his foule rape on thee is by his noble father justly put to death oh praise Melcoshus in thy soul who would not be unjust to save his son being a villaine Oza Is the Prince dead then Calli. I my best love to my great comfort now I may kisse thee joyfully the wound thy honour did receive is cur'd Oz. Forbear I must not kisse you till I know by whom the cure was wrought if any other then your selfe inform'd against O•canes and so provok'd the father to kill his son nay if you did not extoll justice and cry down mercy quite though it be the greatest attribute belonging to the gods hope not that I should ever look on you with love or come within your bed Cal. Thinks my Ozaca I so little love her that I did sleep in my revenge How often did I urge unto Melcoshus all arguments that might incense him against his son nay told him as I well might do O•canes could not be his Offspring that had so basely given himselfe to vice However I alledg'd in putting him to death he should perform a justice that would make him famous through the world since naturall affection the gods appointing him to hold the ballance could not yet weigh down justice Oz. Did you alledge all this and did this move him to put the Prince to death Cal. It did Me thinks thou lookst not kindly on me for all this Oz. And shall I live after Orcanes No Cal. What saies Ozaca Oz. Nothing but is he dead dead certainly and by your means Cal. He is Oz. Umh umh gone for ever gone Cal. Ozaca speak to me Oz. He died to save my honour and shall I live behinde him and live with him too that triumphs in his death It must not it shall not be I am too far indebted I 'l first make eeven with some Oh husband if you had kill'd Orcanes your selfe then the revenge had stood more noble You should stabs her husband and her selfe have struck him thus and thus Cal. Ozaca Oz. And then your selfe to escape shamefull death Cal. What can this cruelty in thee Ozaca mean Oz. Know thou dull beast I was so far from being forc'd that I did burn in a more ardent flame then he Yet had thy jealous brain not taught thee to frame that Letter for thine own dishonour I had been innocent in act perhaps how ere my will had horn'd thee But having once enjoyed a Prince so perfect I never would admit thy loathed embraces and so have rather chose death with revenge on thee too boot who wert the cause Orcanes suffered death Being thus divorc'd from thee I hope I in Elizeum shall enjoy him Enter Servants Cal. Help ho help ho I finde that this is truth my wounds are witnesse and that there is no trusting womens tears I durst have sworn thee more innocent than now I see thee wicked yet however live and repent thy sins for I can forgive thee nay perchance never cease to love thee Oz. D•ll fool canst thou believe my resolutions are so weak as for the fear and pain of death to give them over lesse for the love of thee wer 't thou the Monarch of the whole world I would not live after Orcanes to be the partner of thy glories but as it is this knife is far more welcome to me than thy sight flie my soul flie and leave this loathed prison to meet Orcanes. So so let this witnesse I for thee die Orcanes and hope I have revenged thee dies Cal My wound is far more dangerous than I thought and I for ought I know may bear thee company but we shall soon part waies if there be any justice in the gods I would live bear me to my chamber and for that wicked woman one my wife let her be buried honourably Exeunt servant with him Enter Melcoshus Mel Night dark thoughts and justly so since by my cruelties obscured that light which was my only comfort Oh Despina pardon me most penitent and now no more afflict me in my dreams if thou beest mercifull I will erect an Altar in this obscure Walk and in the dead of night offer thee sacrifice nay even at noon day would I perform it and in the sight of all but that I know it must appear too plainly that I to thee performed all rites with greater reverence than to our sacred prophet and so the people might rebell for fear of which and losse of my neere-fading honour I did become thy cruell butcher Bear me cold earth till I have some way reconciled my selfe to my dear saint Enter Haly and Captains Hal. Are they come over 1. Cap. They are How are we sure hee 's here now Hal. 'T is not so dark but we shall finde him stand close a little perchance he 's not come down yet Enter Osmond Osm You just powers be this night auspicious in aiding my revenge guide you this instrument as right unto his tyrant heart as I will give it strength to pierce it but soft by the Moons light I see some men before me what can it mean 't is death for any but Melcoshus to enter here 'T would grieve my soul to die and misse revenge too Behinde this bush unseen I shall observe Mel. Oh my Despina Hal. Hee 's in the Arbour I heard him groan let 's lose no time but
was delivered Osmond so well I like cover her gives him his hand to kisse face lest I doe surfet with beholding nor must the vulgar equall me in such a happiness my envie makes me finde a torture for my selfe Off with that vail the meanest of creatures may behold the Sun and as his beames in showry April breakes through the clouds so does the lightening of her glorious eyes breake through their watery circle and grow more powerfull by that opposition so powerfull that a conquering Prince descends his throne and beggs that hee may heare you whom fortune hath made his slave yet to command both him and fortune for sure your tongue cannot be lesse powerfull then your eyes Des Ah me unhappie Despina Mel. Divinest creature rise and know thy happines thou shalt command Melcoshus King of the Tartars who not content with that intends to make all Asia the subject of his victories Haly. Sir feare and amazement have not yet forsook her let her be kept by your Eunuchs till time and they make her more capeable of your desires Mel. Thou counsellest well see it perform'd but let entertainment be such as may most delight and soonest free her from her grief I shall but languish till I may enjoy her Osm Lady you may boldly promise to your selfe all joy the earth affords Des The Gods reward your piety in saving of my life and honour but joy be ever far from me Exeunt Haly Despina Mel. Tell me thou noble youth how didst thou finde this glorious creature and what her name is Osm Shee calls her selfe Despin I found her so neere being unworthy of me to give or you to accept that being saved it does encrease her value Two Souldiers being fir'd with lust strove which should first enjoy her but seeing her a creature of such excellence I thought my soveraigne only worthy her embraces and she a fit present for me to offer which made me to oppose them both and my intention being nobler gave victory to my weake arme aided by this your guift Mel. Had they not perished so they should have found a death with studied torments name some Province thy reward Osm Other reward then your acceptance would marke me for the server of your pleasure an Eunuches office and soyle my act of dutie when I shall overthrow an enemy in field or in some doubtfull battaile guard your sacred person then Sir advance me to some honor if you please for so I shall become the powerfuller to serve you but for Despina thinke not of any recompence to me for by the Gods the Empire were too little did not my love and adoration of your sacred person force me to think she was created for You not for a subject Mel. This freedome in any other had bin death in thee it but augments our love be neere Us From whence Enter Messengers Mes From your Sonne Orcanes who is arrived Mel. We have already appointed Callibeus for his hoast to morrow he shall kisse Our hand Exeunt Enter Callibeus Cal. Our Great Cham out of his love appoints his son Orcanes to be my guest this were an honour I confess to one that were not old and had a beautious wife such as my Ozaca is but when the Prince shall view her and shee him their very eyes shall speake to my dishonour conclude me a Cuckold in their desires though they should nere converse I le let her know his comming hither and from her behaviour gather how she approves of it Ozaca Enter Ozaca Ozaca Your will Cal. Ozaca the Prince Orcanes will strait bee here he for whose sake 't is thought nature wil turne a bankrupt she hath in every part of him so plaid the prodigall his face such as might make you take him for the beautifullest of women yet through that beauty shines his fathers spirit Great Melcoshus how her blood boyles a personage equall to that but then so courteous though a Prince eloquent with all that every woman that but heares him speak modestly throwne by woes him to acts of love in which he far outgoes belief by all my hopes my feares are true I see a lustfull languishing in her eyes speak Ozaca could you not be content I being absent to pass an hour in conference upon your couch with this young Prince speake could you not ha Oza Oh sir your needless jealousies doe make me miserable but your selfe more Cal. I see thy heart strumpet and it writes a resolution to dishonour me and so revenge that which thou call'st a needless jealousie in me but by our sacred Prophet if thou shalt see this Prince except by chance I le pull thy eyes out if converse with him thy tongue or write thy hand is forfeit Oza I finde I am a woman I long extremely Aside they say indeed hee 's wondrous handsome and I have heard seeing by chance my picture he did not contemne my beauty Cal. It shall be so goe walke in the back garden I charge you till I send for you I would not have him see her nor shee him no not at a window it may bee the Emperor will send him away ere long but should he see Ozaca I feare he would never leave my house about this houre I expect him Exit Enter Orcanes and Hosa Ho. My Lord you see this back way you are free from the multitude of people by whom I would not have you seen till you appeare to morrow like your selfe I have sent to advertise your host Callibeus that you are entred this way by the back-garden Orc. T is well they say this Cham is most extreamely jealous of his wife we shall not see her sure Enter Ozaca Ho. Shee 's wondrous handsome he hath reason Oza O that I might but see this Prince Orc. Whose's that sure 't is the Lady of the house Oza My wish 't is certainely the Prince I le seeme to goe away Orc. Nay fly not Lady Oza If y' are the Prince Orcanes which I beleeve my duty is a warrant for my stay Orc. Lady I am Orcanes who come to be your guest Shee unvailes Oza Sir that assurance warrants me this further expression of my duty Orc. The Painter was a niggard of his skill or grossely ignorant that drew your picture but Art must ever yeeld to Nature in a peice so excellent and come far short since 't is but imitation Rise beautious Lady my father would not suffer this Enter Callibeus Cal. Hell and confusion what 's this I see peace hee 's thy Soveraign's Oza My husband Cal. Behold your humble servant who yeelds up the power both of himselfe and all that 's his to your command Or. Thanks Callibeus Cal. I am sorry your Highness came the worst way into the house Orc. I did it to avoid the press of people but trust me I found the passage very pleasant Calli. He meanes his kissing you but whoore thou hast a life to lose Orc. I never saw a Garden where I
received greater content the Roses and the Lillies are so finely mixt that I could stand a yeere onely to gaze on them Cal. By Mahomet he meanes the beauty of my wife which is my curse Oh that she were a Negro Speake Negro alone Orc. What 's that you say a Negro Cal. I say my Lord those flowers you like were planted by a Negro a skilfull Gardiner Orc. There are some other rarities that I would praise but that I want words to expresse them they are so excellent I wish I did possesse some such Cal. Palpable by all my feares she conceaves his meaning too and with the joy of it I see her lustfull heart leap in her bosome but hush wil 't please your highnesse enter the house Orc. The superstitious More Callibeus does not behold the rising sun with greater reverence than I his setting in a bright evening like to this who knowes when we shall have the comfort of his glorious beames againe either some envious clouds may interpose themselves betwixt us that bright planet jealous that we are not enough thankefull may withdraw his comfortable heat without which I would not wish to live Cal. 'T is true indeed the Sun gives life to all and the most witty and industrious men make great profit by him those who prepare the soyle apt it for his beames receive greatest increase Your highness I feare takes occasion by the Evenings brightness to excuse your entring under so mean a roofe but since the great Cham appointed you my guest to honour me goe Ozaca and let the diligence of Servants strive to supply every defect I le send way the Sun he meanes Or. Nay Callibeus I would not have you thinke that we misdoubted your lodging or entertainment wee 'l enter when you please there is a cloud ready to oppose it selfe betwixt the Sun and us Exit Orcanes. Cal. The Prince in his discourse makes the Sun his bawd his father I think did intend to torture me no house but mine you must be walking whoore and entertaine the Prince but by our prophet thou shalt see no Sun Exeunt Omnes Finis Actus primi Actus Secundus Enter Despina and an Eunuch Des What shall I say I finde I am a weake unconstant woman sure I have lost my selfe at least my grief how pleasure and greatnesse gaines upon our natures I who wept at first each time their Eunuchs did me reverence thinking they mockt me now take a great delight in their observance sent you for Osmond Eunuch He waits without to know your pleasure tho sildome hath been permitted by the great Cham that any should enter here but he intends not to denie you any thing Enter Osmond Des Bring him in and leave us Osm Thus low as to my Princes Mistress what was it you intended Des That which civility tied me to the offer of my lipps and not my roabe to kiss you sav'd my honour a modest kiss to you could not impaire it then Osm Should I have kist you been seen death was my sure reward nor had the purchase been too deare if so I had not been a traitor to my selfe and vertue in my disloyaltie unto my prince Des Thinke it no immodesty in me but ignorance of your strict customes a salutation amongst Christians breeds no suspition of ill Osm Did ever any under the degree of a prince receave that honor Des They have if you call that an honor Osm Then it cannot bee in me presumption to kisse your hand yet I in this too farre doe stretch my dutie Des You Tartars beare a greater reverence to your earthly Lords then Christians though you neglect him that should bee most honor'd but this is from the cause I sent for you In all that you have done or said that did concerne me if I be not an ill observer of mans passion you have exprest a love not to be equall'd withall so great a spirit that even in midst of all my griefs your merits found a passage to my heart and tho I see I shall be able to command Melcoshus and in him the world yet if you dare applie your courage to the performance of what I shall offer and that effected become a Christian I shall thinke my selfe happy to be againe wholly at your disposing as I was when you did unkindly to your selfe and mee bestow me on another Enter Melcoshus Osm The Great Cham. Exit Osmond Mel. Despina accuse thy owne excellence that makes me interrupt thy privacies rather then me for I so wholly am become thine that but to live a minute from thee is a torment Say beautie abstract shall this day be more favourable then many that are past may he who can command all yet hope to obtaine his suite Des Could you command all you would command that passion in your selfe which makes you strive to ruine my honor Mel. Can it be ruine to your honor to set you on the highest point of honor to make you the possessour and disposer of all that your imagination can propose Des How can this be when I cannot dispose of my poore unworthy self give me my libertie Mel. You should have libertie were you what you alleadge unworthy but it is your inestimable value makes you a prisoner what all Poets have fain'd sweet or lovely in other women is truth in you these doe so tie you to my heart that should I grant you libertie you would beare it a long so all the empire should be govern'd by a heartless man yet bribe me with one loving kisse and trie With how much scorne you turne awaie I wrong that power that 's given me from above it was ordain'd I should command not sue to any Woman beautious woman for more thou art not what ere my dotage makes thee thinke thy selfe consider I who may command entreate but if refus'd the violence of my affection will compell me to use force Des I know you will not you have too much prais'd Osmond for relieving me from rape your selfe now to performe it tho you now seem cruell yet doe I hope you are just for I have heard the world esteem you so Mel. The act will not be wholly mine your not to be-resisted beautie first made a rape on me inforcing me to love you that love made me desire to enjoy the happines of your embraces which you denying reason steps into right my wrong'd affection and bids me force you assuring mee that nature who does nought in vaine had never taken such paines in framing you so sweet and lovely but that shee meant some one or other should enjoy that sweetnes and shall I so farre yield to any others merit or wrong my fortune which bestow'd you on me as not to think I am the happie man appointed by wise nature to enjoy you the Gods cannot in justice after so great victories appoint Melcoshus the office of a slave to be the keeper of such daintie fruit for any other man
in will shortly bring me to him nay be assistant whilst he ravisht me again but you would rather use it against me than him if so behold this breast sometime the subject of your praise imploy it then and take away the cause of your dishonour No give it me she offers to pul out his sword then and you shall see Cal. Hold what wouldst thou do Oz. Free my selfe from misery since you refuse to do it Cal. Ozaca I confesse I was too cold in my revenge indeed I doubted whether thou hadst yielded willingly or not but now that I do know thy vertue and am my self collected by my reason I finde indeed there was no cause of jealousie in thee at all how e're my extream love made me suspitious I shall forgive the offence I hope nay 't was none since 't was against thy will and after some small time receive thee to my bed For my revenge I have a way that without blood I 'le find my satisfaction Oz. For that Sir as you please but never will I come within your bed I am not worthy as a soyl'd garment throw me by seeing another man hath us'd me Cal Not for the world my Ozaca thou art still worthy Oz. Too worthy since Orcanes loves to be enjoyed by thee Aside Exeunt Enter Melcoshus and Osmond Mel. Oh my dear Osmond grant me but one request Osm you may command Sir Mel. Become my partner in the Empire for thou hast given me more then the whole in my most kinde Despina for shee 's no longer cruell I have enjoyed her freely by her own consent which does expresse more happinesse then all the tongues of men can utter Osm You owe me nought for this When I presented her then she was coy and cruell if by your noble usage you have won her to crown your wishes the debt was due unto your sufferings and you now are paid which I rejoyce in Mel. The joy my Osmond is so great that if I do not by communicating delay it something it will be dangerous Osm Sir I believe there is none living that sooner could conceive your happinesse than I since none doth more admire and reverence Despina For were a love from me to her as warrantable as 't is from me to you grounded on vertue I sure should equall if not exceed you in affection nay could she love again be happier for all the love that she can render you is to your merits and your fortunes due But if she that 's above me shal descend my happiness beyond yours must extend This Sir I speak only to let you know I see the way which the gods by chance had left open to my happines in Despina but knowing that it was by chaunce and that they did not intend to any subject such a beautie I forbore nay thought my selfe most happie in that they chose me for their instrument to salve the error by presenting you with what they had provided for you and which it seemes they ment to crowne your conquests with Enter Despina Haly Captains Mel. Osmond in all thy words and actions thou are perfect next her that now appears I do esteeme thee for if there be one corner in my heart that is not filld with her thou dost possesse it nay thou art mingled with each loving thought of her Oh my Despina how glorious thou appear'st the Sunne is but a cold and obscure lampe compar'd with thy two heavenly eies from whose sparkling fires all that behold except my selfe must perish but I by their more gentle influence breath-in a temperate pleasant ayre or should I be consum'd with others yet t' is permitted mee to kisse these lips which might restore me but should this more enflame me which is possible yet would those eies produce such pearly drops for their owne crueltie in haveing so consum'd their faithfullest adorer that it would quench even their owne fire and so preserve me still the happiest of men Des May I prove worthy of your favours and in my future love and service make satisfaction for the time of ignorance and disobedience that 's past my present happines best makes me see my errour Mel. No more least I do surfet had you kill'd my father nay revild our Prophet the highest crime this were too much Haly. Our Prophet should have appeard unjust if he had made Melcoshus so farre in worth above all other men not rewarded that unequall'd merit which what could so well do as this rare creature The Prince Orcanes Enter Orcanes. Mel. Now my sonne Orcanes are all things ready for our sports Orc. Sir all attend you Mel. Orcanes tell me hadst thou a beautie like to this wouldst thou go hunt and leave her tho but for an hower could all varietie of pleasures els be joynd and in one minuts time their quintessentiall part enjoy'd I would not lose her companie that minute nor wouldst thou hadst thou once tasted my delights but as it is hunt my Orcanes and in that enjoy the greatest delight of mortalls but for me I have pleasure in my divine Despina far above sense tho sense convaie it to my understanding and am immortalizd by my vast joyes Exeunt Haly. Was ever such dotage is this a man to governe us no fellow soldiers no 1 Cap. Hee must not long if we be men and have but sense to see our miseries in him and what a happie people we should be under some other Haly. Farewell most trustie friends Exit 2. Cap. We shall rule the world we that are soldiers 1. Cap. Who can tell Haly being advanc'd may grow as lazie 2. Cap. Then downe with him and choose another 1. Cap. Is that the friendship you beare him 2. Cap. My profit and my pleasure are those with whom I onely keep friendship nor have you on my knowledge any other resolution each man pursues his owne desires there 's no such thing as faith left in the world but amongst our Mufti 1. Cap. Are they there 2. Cap. Yes in their bookes and now and then upon occasion we heare on 't 1. Cap. Doe they no more we speake of vertue too and seem to showe our love too 't our present designes are to be sheltred under a pretence of love to our countrie 2. Cap. And so t is man come neere examine these things Haly hath power and will advance us with himselfe let that satisfie The Emperour and Callibeus stand close we may perhaunce heare some thing that will availe us the Emperour trusts him much Enter Melcoshus and Callibeus Mel. Now Callibeus what 's the important cause that you thus presse upon my privacies have you receav'd intelligence of any forraine Enimie or that our person here at home 's in danger say if not so you have presum'd tho we esteeme you much to rob us of Despinaes companie a minute Cal. Dread Sir your pardon then I come for justice Mel. Justice Callibeus to whom is it denied within our kingdome Cal.
The person against whom I must complaine Sir is exempted from all punishment excepting that which your selfe shall lay upon him Mel. Name him Cal. The act Sir is so foule that I dare name him it is your son Orcanes whom I accuse as a guiltie person I beseech you look on him and do me justice my wife by him is ravish'd dishonor'd the lawes of hospitalitie were of no other then onely to performe his wickednes oh Sir consider that you lodg'd him in my house and if you punish not you shall appeare an accessarie Mel. What proofe of this Cal. Oh Sir too much I tooke him all most in the violent act besides he glories in it too Mel. Degenerate bastard for could a sonne of mine commit so base an act had I usd force where had my joyes in Despina bin but yet I must not seeme as if did intend to punish for the injurer is my sonne the injur'd but my slave Cal. Oh justice Sir Mel. Why Callibeus art not thou my slave and if my son have forc'd thy wife is shee not more my slave whom thou commandest t was disobedience either in h•r or thee that did not offer what hee was pleas'd to like he too much honor'd thee and like a common guest fed of the same dish with thee go be gone and hold thy self happie that I do not inflict a punishment upon thee both for the evill thou wisht upon my sonne and for thy present troubling Exit Ca•li. You Gods is this Melcoshus justice for which he hath bin so renowned but his fond love hath ruin'd all his vertue farewell all faith and dutie which hitherto hath bin by me inviolately kept 1. Cap. Lose not this opportunitie hee 's discontented let 's strive to make him ours my Lord by accident we overheard your injuries and grieve so much that we will assist you to redresse them you know wee still have honor'd you Calli. I know you are my friends t is true that I am injurd past sufferance 1. Cap. We will give you ease Exeunt omnes Finis Actûs Tertü Actus Quartus Enter Osmond Osm I Was too scrupulous my dutie did not bind me to give that to another without the which I could not live my selfe 't was against reason I was drunk with zeale els I had never done it I with the danger of my life did purchase her and heaven did ratifie it seem'd the conquest since they made her love equallie shee is not wanting in affection yet for ought I know shee now sent for me to tell me although her person be the Emperours yet her heart is mine nay both by stealth this this corrupt flesh blood would basely have me thinke but vertue honor which must rule my soul tells me these are ignoble thoughts and ill befit the faith of Osmond who allwaies hath applied himselfe to vertue how ever weake in his performances nay something noble bids me arme my selfe so strongly in my vertue that tho she should become a suiter yet not to grant and by our Prophet if my flesh against my faith rebell and shee consent He free my nobler soul and send this trunck to hell but all these feares are needles for so much goodnes shines in her face that sure her heart is far from being emptie rather a magazine from whose aboundance all that do want might be supplied could they be sensible of their povertie According to your command behold your slave Enter Despina Des Osmond how ere the Emperour in my command ore him makes all the empire subject to my will yet if you kneele I must not be exempt for well you know I love you Osm I feare Des Yet not so as heretofore t is now a sisterlie affection Osm Thanks heaven Des Which that I may witnes more then in words accept this from me not as they in themselves are rich but as they are made so to you in being my gift and let them tell you when you look on them that there is nothing in Despinas power her faith kept sacred to Melcoshus whom now I in my soul adore but that you may command as freely as you might a sister that entirely loves you Osm Vertue I see is ne're without reward how far I am exalted in this joy above what sin could have produc'd your pardon madam though my thanks come slow yet they are sure I am overjoyed and want words to expresse my selfe not in the riches of what you have given but in your protestation that you love me so as my owne soul desir'd Des The emperour knowes I love you more then any and is pleas'd it should be so nor need you keep that distance that all others doe but freely visit me I have a suit concerning the releasing some poore prisoners for which you from the Emperour must receave order who strait will visit me Osm I am too happie to continue long so Exeunt Enter Melcoshus and Odmer Od. Did not my love unto your sacred selfe make me preferr dutie before danger I should as others do in silence onely mourn the ruines of your state and murderd honor Mel. Ha. Odm. But though I know that he which thus undermines you hath power to give me death with studied torments by turning that which loyaltie makes me utter to rash presumption in your acceptation yet I 'le become a zealous priest and sacrifice my selfe to shew your danger what though your passion will not let you reade a faithfull warning writ in my bloody intralls and so you 'l thinke the sacrificer mad I from the Gods shall finde a recompence having discharged a faithfull Subjects part to heaven and you th' end of my creation Mel. Odmer thou still hast found beleefe nor have thy feares at any time bin idle name what thou mean'st Od. First draw your sword then promise you will heare me out ere you make use of it for I shall move you highly the sore I come to launch is too much festerd to be cur'd with flatterie Mel. Ti 's strange I promise thee how is my honour tainted or my state in danger Od. I should not neede to let you see the perill and dishonor that attends your too much Love I dare not call it dotage on Despina if your owne judgment were at libertie that better could informe you Mel. Traitor thou canst not speake eternally then I shall be reveng'd for blasphemie and breake no oath Can love to her be dotage Od. Consider Sir what you have lost by loving her oh could you see but you are hood winck'd by your lust from what a pitch of honour you are faln you would finde that word too little to expresse it consider what you were at taking of the city to you accurst though gotten by a glorious victory all neighbour Princes fear'd you so as does the lesser hawke the Kingly Eagle when he takes his flight no one durst keep the skies to search a prey but glad to flag their fearfull wings
other beauties and when you have beheld her outward forme know that her mind as farr exceeds that as the soul is more worthy then the body which does indeed admit of no comparison Haly. She is more excellent then can be spoke and all that should but taxe you if you should even adore her deserve death for their grosse ignorance 1. Cap. Haly hath spoke what all confesse and we have too unjustly murmur'd at your pleasures 2 Cap. No man could go abroad to War that might enjoy such happiness in peace Haly. Who would not for her sake neglect even heaven it selfe Mel. Unto her excellence add the consideration of the difficulty I had in obtaining her which ties mans nature faster to the object 1 Cap. We all acknowledge that your joyes are infinite in her and that it lyes not in the power of man to quit such happiness Mel. To make you know the difference then twixt you and me and that I value the good of you my subjects and my honour far above fading pleasures be this my witness thus cut I from my selfe such a content that Mortals nere enjoy'd Des Oh me my fault lay in my blood let that expiate my sin against heaven mercy mercy Om. Oh crueltie Od. An act noble above example yet it moves my pitty this was no end of mine heaven knowes Mel. Now by this act judge whether your Emperour be able to governe his passions or no when they oppose themselves against his honour and that you may know that pleasure hath not chang'd my nature prepare for war and what the neighbour Princes whilest we slept by stealth obtain'd By force which interest back shall be regain'd See the body noblie intumb'd I dare not view it Exit Od. Now Haly was not this unlook'd for Exit Haly. Yes Odmer on the first opportunity we are lost else Exit 1 Cap. It must be so this act will gaine the people 2 Cap. It must be so Enter Osmond Osm What meant the Emperour to send me from this meeting on such a sleevless errand ha what bloody object is this I hope I dreame if not may I be blind for ever 't is she which of the gods fearing to be transplanted by her greater excellence hath done this no mortall man durst or could have the heart to execute such mischief lay down the sacred load and let me know the bloody villaine art thou gon say whose hand was it that let out her pure soul at these grim wounds and in the bloody act parted more excellence then ere shall meet again 1. Sol. One that dares justifie it Osm Villaine thou liest hee dares not though thou and all thy generation should assist him who wast 1. Sol. I am a soldier take your lie againe for know it was Melcoshus Osm Slave dost thou mock my griefes 2. Sol. Hold noble Osmond and know we manifest our love unto your virtues in forbearing to cut you all in peices for daring to offer this violence for by the honor of soldiers he tells you truth the Emperour with his owne hands here perform'd it before all chiefe commanders with an intent I thinke to get againe the soldiers love which he had lost by her Os I do confesse my rashnes let my cause of rage excuse it the Emperour do it say you it is impossible now by Mahomet you are all traitours and by some bloody statesmen are subornd to do this wickednes and being found to save your guilty selves from justice you lay it on the Emperour you might as well make me beleeve that he had pull'd his eies out or his heart for shee was far more deere and therefore He deferre revenge no longer Enter a Captaine 2. Sold. Wound him not onely defend your selves hee s mad with passion Cap. Hold noble friend what meanes this Osm These villaines here have kill'd the Emperours Mistris and would escape by laying it on him when he when he shall know it once will wish no longer life Capt. Pacifie your rage and heare mee by Mahomet what you have heard is truth and never was there act gain'd more applause amongst the old souldiers whose loss of blood hath quite extinguished the desire of women but for my part me thought though it be brave in the consideration yet it was a horrid spectacle to see Osm I st even so then had he tane a surfet by being too happie Capt. No sure he lov'd her when he kill'd her Osm Shall I die with thee my deer sister for so it was thy will I should esteeme thee oh looke upon this face and tell me if there remain'd the least spark of humanity in him that could but once have said that shee should thus be murderd what was he then that could himselfe perform it horrid horrid deed shee in whose armes he slept the night before and had no doubt more joyes then tounges can utter but if there be those Gods which punish villainies he may hereafter pay for 't Capt. Osmond this ill becomes your dutie which hitherto hath led the way even to the forwardest in zeale Osm Why friend I speake not of Melcoshus he could not do it some furie enterd him Capt. Sir I love you so well that I dare not stay to heare you beare off the body Exit Osm Oh stay good souldiers let me take my last leave what shall I say shee cannot answer it may be her faire Soul hovers about to see how they will use her deere Companion if so oh let it heare my vow by Mahomet and all the powers of heaven I swear with speed to be reveng'd upon thy cruell murderer all his brave former acts are by thy innocent blood washt from my remembrance for his love to me and paiment of my dutie they in it are cancelld I was not more his slave then he was thine confirm'd with many thousand oathes and most unjustly he hath not onely broke those bands but with thy deere blood died his villainie in grain so that they cannot change their horrid colour in my memorie till I take equall vengeance but I must needes come short both that I am by his example taught and that I shall but kill a murderer when thou diedst innocent 1. Sol. Wee in this stay hazzard our lives Osm I have done now let me after death do that which love and duty to Melcoshus whilst shee liv'd would never suffer me these pale cold lips have yet the power to make me burne in revenge and these deere eies sometimes the maister peece of nature can yet command me to extinguish their extinguisher Now soldiers take her hence and I will beare you company to see her buried the passion I have shewed you may excuse since all know I did first present her to Melcoshus for which of you that had but given a horse or dog excellent in their kinde and seeing it at first as it deserv'd lov'd and cherisht by him that did receave it and after thus us'd without a
strike him dead before he draw his sword or call for help if he see to morrow's Sun he 'l know too much of our designes ere night for us to see it set Odmer suspects our conspiracy shrewdly and suddainly will finde the truth 2 Cap. Delay no time then Osm What 's this I hear how ere in me it is but justice to take Melcoshus life in them 't is damn'd treason which I 'le prevent nor shall they frustrate me of my revenge their hands are far too base Hal. Draw and dispatch him They sight Haly be Captains slain Osm Sink down to hell Haly thou root of treason with these thy cursed branches Mel. Osmond let me embrace thee in these wounded armes I fear to death Thou wert ordained to be the lasting pattern of love and duty Osm Forbear this kindnesse for know how e'rel did preserve you from their swords I come my selfe to kill you for Despina's sake her innocent blood cries for revenge and by those powers I am ordained to see their j•stice satisfied by taking life from him who cruelly extinguished that pure light which for a long time they intended should have been a comfort to the world and a great witnesse of their power Mel. Nay if my Osmond be a traitour but in thought once he shall not need to use his sword I would not wish to live beyond his faith for can there be a love or truth left in a subject when 't is not to be found in him Now I perceive the murder I committed was most horrid since he that lov'd me more then her she she being alive would now rob me of life to revenge her Osm Know Tyrant I lov'd thee once when thou wert worthy to be my Prince and Master more than my selfe But thou when thou hadst satisfied thy beastly lust to please the ignorant multitude thou mad'st a sacrifice of her to them to whom thou rather shouldst have made them offer sacrifice on perill of their lives Mel. Osmond thou art here more cruell in thy accusation then in thy intent to kill me For from the danger of thy sword there 's a divinity that waits upon the person of a Prince that would protect me but against the thoughts of thy unexpected treason there is no armour for thy unkindnesse so invades my soul that all that blood that should supply these nerves flies to my heart to tell it Osmond no longer does wish to have a being there if so to split it will be kindnesse Osm Me thinks I finde my resolution of revenge begin to bate its force Mel. If the consideration of your faith and love to me so far prevail above your own affection that you dispens'd with it to make me happy believe likewise from the consideration of that care a King should have over his subjects which wholly was and ever should have been whilst she did live by me neglected I rather kill'd her than that my love was ought diminished for had I lov'd her lesse she might have lived but I believing her to be so excellent could think of nothing whilst she lived but her embraces Osm And therefore would you make her suffer for your sault was that the justice of Melcoshus Your Son offended and you punished him but here you spared your selfe striking an innocent Mel. 'T is true I struck her being innocent yet did not injure her or any but my selfe I broke no Lawes of Gods nor men to prove which I ask no more of heaven but that the taper of my life which now growes dim may burn some minutes longer then shall I shew my Osmond by their light of reason that my unhappy Starrs are rather guilty of Despina's death than I she was a Captive and a Christian which by our Lawes we freely may dispose of as we please her death then had I been but a subject was no breach of them Osm She was a creature for whose sake you would have once have broken all Lawes Mel. I could break none my power being unconfin'd But interrupt me not lest I do faint ere I can make an end The Souldiers were so far from being displeased that they acknowledged her death a Jubilee Our prophet Mahomet might most rejoyce to see her breathlesse whose perfections being a Christian so far out-went all those that honour'd him that some in time might justly doubt our God to be lesse powerfull than theirs and so the reverence we now pay grow cold Osm All this I grant but for your injuries to her what art can salve them Mel. She was the advocate of all those of her faith and at my hands procured much mercy for them The perfect Christian is so proud of nought as Martyrdom and the more innocent from crime the greater joy they take in death Although Despina was not martyred for her faith I grant but by the force of her unequall'd beauty made a sacrifice to save my honour yet amongst those of her sect she cannot misse the adoration of a Saint And so I only sent her to a greater happinesse You may alledge it was a happinesse Osm Oh divine Despina Mel. She did not yet desire to dy but rather wisht to live with me she lov'd To this again I answered that I so much did doat upon her excellence that I should have forgot to rule and she must then have liv'd to see me miserably depriv'd of state and honour Yet as it now falls out my fortune then had been more favourable for then had Osmond's love been left a pattern to posterity and I should sure have found the comfort of his faith when all men else were traitours But now Osm He hath delivered this Apologie with so much griefe majesty and love that my own reason makes me know 't is truth and bids me justly turn that hatred which I hither brought against him upon my guilty selfe for I have been a heinous traitor Oh dread Sir your pardon But why should I once hope I that have stood so strictly on my faith and by a thousand obligations been fast tyed in bands of duty yet thus to break without a just cause just cause as if there could be any pretence for treason Shall injuries make men cease to be vertuous Mel. Let my soul part with joy since Osmond sees his errour thy love to me to vertue and Despina have fought so nobly that it still overcames which was most vertuous thy love made thee present her to me thy faith made thee refuse to take again what thou hadst given when she did offer it and when thou thoughtest that cruelly and most unjustly I had killed Despina thy noble anger made thee pursue revenge but now that thou dost finde that anger was unjust thy faith overthrowes it nay turns it on thy selfe since 't was my fate not I was guilty of her death which let my pardon mitigate so at my death thou shalt expresse obedience for now I feel his messenger approach nor does it grieve