Remorse alone doth them and me reueale My wife hath compass'd Caine so cunningly As he hath sworne you by his hand shall dye Mahomet Vncredible it is to thinke men neuer change To thinke they alter easily is as strange Vpon what grounds should this strange malice moue Alaham. Vpon what grounds doe men beginne to loue Mahomet What moued Caine Alah. That which I may not see For they loue well that doe in hate agree Mah. Are truth and friendship but ambitious traps To feed desire with all that she can get Are words and good turnes but hearts counterfeit Alaham. When enemies bid enemies take heed They trust not them and yet they will beware For disaduantage growes of little care Resolue to die or else resolue to feare Mahomet Good Angells still protect the innocent Hell would haue all if harme were ill intent Alah. Mischiefe still hides her selfe from them she hits In hopes and feares of vnresoluing wits Mahomet I well know Caine his nature to excesse Of good or ill is forc'd by industrie In others spite lies his impietie Appease your wife for that must lie in you Alaham. Call vp the dead for that is lesse to doe A womans hate is euer dipt in blood And doth exile all counsells that be good Mahomet Reason and truth shall pleade to her for me Alaham. The eyes of rage it selfe doe only see And truth serues vnto rage but for a glasse To decke her selfe in and bring spite to passe Reason to rage is like hands to a sore Whose often stroking makes the anguish more Mahomet Impossible all counsell doth refuse Alaham. Let Caine be kill'd and then my wife accuse Mahomet My heart shall first take counsell with my fate If it foretell the worst it teacheth feate If it diuines no ill how can it hate If what shall fall it feeles not I must beare The time growes on The King I know makes haste To sacrifice to God For common ioyes Are made much dearer by the sorrowes past CHORVS PRIMVS Of good Spirits WE that are made to guard good men and binde the ill See both miscarried here below against our power and will As if the earth and hers were to the worst left free And we made subiect by their curse to deaths blacke Colonie Yet is our Maker strong and we his first Creation Wheras the state of that darke Quire is meerly our priuation Whence doth this ods then grow which seemes to master all Since we are more than nature is they much lesse by their fall Are we not diligent or is the good not wise Showes Truth lesse glorious in the earth than her ill picture Lies Then Audit vs in grosse at least we equall be And if in minutes men seeke out true inequality Compare words with the life Eternity with time Insulting pride with humble loue pure innocence with crime And if these in their natures equally be weigh'd The one liues euer building vp what others haue decay'd So that to make and marre is our true difference To marre expressing finite power to make omnipotence The obiect then it is from whence this oddes doth grow By which the ill o'reweighs the good in euery thing below And what is that but Man A crazed soule vnfix'd Made good yet fall'n not to extremes but to a meane betwixt Where like a cloud with windes he toss'd is here and there We kindling good hope in his flesh they quenching it with feare We with our abstract formes and substance bodilesse Image by glaunces into him our glories their distresse And in prospectiue Maps make ill farre off appeare Lest it should worke with too great power when it approacheth neare Beauties againe of Truth which those ill spirits conceale With Optike glasses we reflect on man to kindle zeale But whether idle man exceeding orders frame As out of heauen iustly cast must Vulcan-like goe lame Or that those euill spirits so dazle humane eyes As they thinke foule forbidden things more beautifull more wise Wee see though they want power to change our reall frame Yet in the world they striue to gaine by changing of our name Calling the Goodnesse weake Patience a lacke of sense Or seeming not to feele because it dares make no defence True Pietie in Man which vpward doth appeale They doe deride as argument of little strength much zeale And as the Painters art by deeping colors there Here sleighting o're and finely casting shadowes euery where Makes from a flat a face shew off as if imboss'd In which the forme not matter is the summe of all his cost So take these Fayries from or adde vnto our meane With arts fine casting shadows till they seeme to change vs cleane And make a picture which they couet should excell And which yet to be like must lose the life of doing well This image is their wit and so their Deitie Which though not keeping one shape long in all would worship'd be In precept doctrine rite and discipline agree'd That but prosperity on earth there is no liuing Creed Out of which fatall guide Alaham now vndertakes The ruine of his King and father for ambitions sake Against the lawes of Nations power and natiue blood As if the vttermost of ill a Scepter could make good But marke how Vice still makes example her owne fate For with like mischiefe Hala shakes both him and his Estate He in his fathers bowels seeks an earthly Throne Whence she supplants his heires againe with bastards of her owne He makes wrong triumph ouer right and innocence She makes her lust religions lord confusion her defence Thus as that Tyrant who cut off the Statues head Which bare the name of Iupiter Olympian christened Euen by this scornfull act to what was God in name Taught people to encroch vpon the sacred Monarch-frame So while the o'reswoll'n pride of this Mahumetan By wounding of his Princely race playes false with God and man He in it doth disperse those clouds of reuerence Which betweene man and Monarchs Seate keep sweet intelligence And while he would be lord of order nature right Brings in disorder that deuouring enemy of might Which with her many hands vnweaues what time had wrought And proues what power obtaines by wrong is euer dearly bought So that our griefe and ioy is in this Tragedy To see the ill amongst her owne act vnprosperity The corne fall to the ground the chaffe in siues remaine Which of the corne was once and yet cannot be corne againe But as their ancient mates the sudden-kindled Windes Broken out of the watry clouds wherein they were enshrin'd Afflict the sturdy Oke are heauy to the Reed And equally spend out thēselues with good or euill speed So of these windy spirits which wander in the ayre By their malignity to blast both what is foule and faire Whether they prosper doe or faile in their intent Their vglinesse disclosed is their violence is spent While we vphold the world and were we all but one By Legions of
I seeke reuenge thou preachest pietie Caine. More easie motions gentle hearts receiue His fault was great yet you may haue redresse In State and honor without such excesse Hala. Excesse the reason is and meane of loue And in the same excesse is malice ioy'd I would be safe and yet haue him destroy'd Caine. If leaue or left the fate of kindnesse be By his example what becomes of me Hala. If blinde to all but to it selfe be loue Whence doe your vowes or whence this question moue Since the true state of true affection is Wonder at others worth Faith without hire Vnwearied Paine vnrecompens'd Desire Caine. Great hearts thus giuen away in prison are Their strength their bands and good beleefe their smart Loue neuer seuers reason from the heart Nala. My shame againe then unto me impart Restore my faith and I doe render thee Those faithlesse vowes which thou hast made to me For since I see the spungie hearts of men Their hollowes gladly fill with womens loue And nothing yeeld to them vncrusht againe What nature workes 't is folly to complaine Mahomet that wretch hath done me iniurie He left my loue and he my life hath sought Caine Line at ease fame is an idle breath My body is enough 'twixt thee and death Caine. Distract I am my reason like a cloud Before a winters storme rides here and there Like reedes my thoughts are straight and crooked too With diuers breaths which diuers passions blow Against the streame of truth must loue still goe Resolv'd I am that Mahomet shall die Hala. Shame spake this word danger appeares not yet Time like a med'cine will asswage this paine And feare perchance bring backe good will againe Caine. It is not I that liue in me but you Whose will hath fashion'd all my thoughts anew Hala. Then on When thoughts vnite all care is ceas'd The heart vnfetter'd and the hope increas'd Out of his death I see occasion borne To greater power than needs to couer scorne For he the Iustice rules you rule the Warre His death diuided powers will vnite And in a broken course where dangers be Only the Crowne can put off miserie Caine. Farre be it off our hopes should be so vaine Our secret loue already tempteth God To warre him more with infidelity Would hasten vengeance and make sharpe his rod Hala. God made strict lawes for vertues exercise An idle word a wish transgresseth them Yet in a Throne remorse hath glorious eyes Alaham doth vndermine the present State When he corrupted hath the peoples faith Thou hast the sword authority makes way Her hand is next when Crownes become a prey Caine. We God and man will first trie with the death Of Mahomet If that doe passe for good Hope easily makes occasion vnderstood Hala. The end agree'd the meane is yet in doubt Caine. By sword Hala. That will be easie to descrie Danger to misse and hard to doe without Caine. By poyson then wherof though doubts may grow What one alone may doe is hard to know Hala. It often failes For instruments are base Slaues haue too slauish hearts a Basshas name Is like a superstitious hallowed place Men must be forc'd or wise that force the same Caine. By these two hands that will not faile their heart It shall be wrought If poyson misse the sword shall compasse it When chances often scape at last they hit Hala. Fortune and Loue Both Gods of humane might You like aduenture see it rightly plac'd You liue in kindnesse see it not disgrac'd Exit Caine. What I haue vow'd both God and Nature hate My heart misgiues my soule doth prophecie That euill thoughts procure an euill fate But ah my loue I gaue and it gaue me The choice is past Thoughts now must thinke to doe Not what I freely am but forc'd vnto Actus secundus Scena quarta Mahomet Caine MAhomet Who euer haue obseru'd the worke of spirits May see how easily men slide downe to ill The world hath strange examples false delights Which make our senses nets to catch our will Who then with men for euery fault falls out Must hate himselfe and all the world about Behold the man I speake of doth appeare Retire aside stand close marke what succeeds His owne destruction or else mine he breeds Caine what is it that thus your minde distracts Counsells of honour alter not the face Hearts only thinke with paine of doubtfull acts Caine. In care they liue that must for many care And such the best and greatest euer are Mah. They purchase care vnto themselues that know The weight of care and yet will it imbrace If care be grieuous why vsurpe you so Caine. I liue but to obey the Princes will Mahomet That is to cherish Prince in their ill For they must flatter good and euill too That vnder Princes all alone will doe Caine. As sweetest vapors couet to the skie So faith and dutie after Princes runne Ill nature neuer can indure a Sunne Mahomet Flatterie so like in all to dutie showes But finelier drest in diligence and care As Kings best plea'sd that most deceiued are Caine. Harsh spirit hates them that do not hate with it Miscensures all the world to seeme seuere Bindes honestie and truth to haue no wit These ill-fac'd vertues not of nature be But peeuishnesse true honors enemie Mahomet A iust seuere and vniuersall care Of people shorne by Princes fauorites To spies of Tyrannie vnpleasing is Which euer like ambitious Adamants So fast from people draw to Princes States As in the end they must draw vp their hares Caine then take heed of your selfe-seeking plot Engrossing offices aspiring all For it offends euen those it toucheth not Nor is it only this that hazards you Ill neuer goes alone if fame say true Caine. Is fame to censure vs that liue aboue And must sell iustice if we purchase loue Mahomet Fame is the peoples voyce to tell their griefe Appealing from inferiors to the chiefe If falsely you and Hala fame abuse Infamie for nothing men vnwisely chuse If fame speake truth which you would not haue knowne Grieue to deserue but not to beare your owne Caine. What doe I that the world can well reproue Mahomet Vniustly suffer or vniustly loue Caine. Suffer I doe for infamie is there Where either malice enuie is or feare Loue I confesse I doe And what is it But natures taxe layd vpon good intent For right and honor vnto excellent Mahomet Reason must iudge of loue not loue of it Else shall loue ground of euery mischiefe be For murther theft adultery and spite Are but loue of reuenge and others right Ah Caine my heart is rackt with inward griefe Iustice hath partie there and so hath loue They both haue wounds and yet they both haue life The one suppressing what the other moues I will speake plaine Hala thou do'st abuse And stayn'st the Princes line with seruile lust Wherin proud courage match'd with guiltinesse Adds wrong to wrong and
wits Ruine lights not amisse where ere it hits My engines worke care is already past My hopes arise out of these Basshas blood If both my wish if either dye my good Hala Good fortunes are together linkt Thy faith stirres vp new light within my minde Behold the Throne descends to take me vp Antiquitie in her vnenuied wombe Now offers vs the fatall president Of sixteene Kings my Predecessors all Blinded and then depos'd by Basshas hand So tickely vnworthinesse doth stand Doth wit and courage only rest in slaues Hath hazard ought more horrible than scorne Haue I occasions sure and shall I stay To giue all but my miserie away No Hala No Thy dowrie shall be fame Thy stile a Crowne thy prospect reuerence The East shall doe thee honor in my name Out shall my fathers and my brothers eyes Authority is only for the wise But since these mighty workes haue many parts And I but one which one cannot doe all I le send thee Caine keepe firme vpon your strengths Beauty and honor natures Scepters be And haue on mens desires authority Exit Hala. Now Hala seeke thy sex lend scorn'e thy wit To worke new patterns of Reuenges in Let rage despise to feed on priuate blood Her honor lies aboue where danger is In Thrones of Kings in vniuersall woe Worke that which Alaham may enuie at And men wish theirs that Ill it selfe may tremble Monstrous incredible too great for words Keepe close and adde to furie with restraint Doe not breake forth vntill thou breakest all Is Wrong so proud Shall Man once dare to fashion A Womans ruine in a womans passion Husband most odious name scorne of subiection Is loue to women but your rage of thoughts Are your desires let blood by your enioying Ah fooles We see your lusts relent you see not ours And from that change aduantage hath her powers But on Still vse thy craft Thy strength lies there Ignorance that sometimes makes the hypocrite Wants neuer mischiefe though it oft want feare For while thou thinkst faith made to answer wit Obserue the iustice that doth follow it Caine Mahomet and me thou hat'st alike For vnlike cause and craftie wayes do'st take That each may ruin'd be for others sake Shall I for thee hazard Caines life I loue And weigh downe my affection with my hate Can highest thoughts haue any thing aboue Ah! but perchance my safety in the blood Of Mahomet doth rest the good of Caine Then were it losse to make occasion vaine And shall I looke but only to be safe Can Iniurie and Malice adde no more Ah coward sex faint shallow Passion Farre from me be A worke that no age dares Allow yet none conceale I must attempt Furie then spurre thy selfe embedlam wit Poyson my thoughts to make my reason see Pleasure in crueltie Glorie in spite Rage to exceed examples doth delight Thoughts doe you blush To Alaham what 's ill His death O barren wit and sandie rage No marble pillars no enamells rich Buried in silence worne away with age Are furies that no greater plagues deuise Horrors they be that haue eternities What saith my heart Grow millions out of one Doth passion leaue her infancie by vse And shall I by the death of Mahomet More skill at least more crueltie beget Then let him die But can I venture Caine And leaue misfortune power ouer loue Triumphs to Alaham if both be slaine Ah sleepy Sexe how slow is their progression That would exactly measure infinite By tender feares or minutes of delight Then Hala leaue this circle of selfe-loue Beginne goe on hate must stride ouer feare Who are secure And nothing venture all things must endure For Alaham that traytors ouerthrow My rage is yet too yong to worke vpon What to resolue of him I dare not thinke Till this great frame wherein our fortunes lie Be surer linkt vnto prosperitie Then shall occasion horrors strange deuise Fooles only lose their ends to tyrannize Actus secundus Scena Tertia Caine Basha Hala CAine Princesse of me I finde care in your face Woe smothered vp I came to know your will Nothing which you command me can be ill Hala. That which I least did feare is fall'n on me Wrong and mishap which needing others loue Makes them vnlouely that vnhappy be From Kings themselues when fortune turnes her face Then need they most yet least may vse their owne So dearly Mans unthankfulnesse is knowne Caine. What is the cause that makes you thus accuse The world of faults your selfe of inward feare Hala. The little faith which all the world doth vse The iniuries which strength of heart must beare Euui'd of all if it be set aboue If humble then too low for men to loue Caine. Doe not forsake your selfe For they that doe Offend and teach the world to leaue them too Mortall our God shall be the truth shall lie Darkenesse shall see her selfe fame lose her voyce Er'e I will leaue my loue or my loue you Afflictions wounds affection doe renew Hala. Perchance you loue both those I hate and me Affections then against affection be Perchance a vow good turnes and good beleefe Are mists betweene your loue and my releefe Caine. You know I loue speake plaine and doe not feare That reason other is than kindnesse there Hala. Then heare and if my iudgement you disproue You shall haue cause to thinke I trust and loue Mahomet the faultie is his faults be these Enuious of thee to my loue treacherous The King must lose his sight his Crowne his Sonne This wickednesse hath Mahomet begunne Caine. O hell and is thy seate in fleshly hearts Be mans ill thoughts his owne ill spirits become I well can thinke that Mahomet aspires For loue of greatnesse may with goodnesse goe But cannot thinke that he our death conspires Perchance he seekes to doe your brother Right Which makes our owne desires to doe vs spite Hala. Mischiefe that may be help'd is hard to know And danger going on still multiplies Caine. Let care as fast then adde vnto her eyes Hala. Where harme hath many wings care armes too late Caine. Hastie attempts make chance precipitate What shall I doe Hal. Goe forward in thy feare Danger doth giue thee choice to doe or beare Caine. My loue of him and truth doe make me loth To thinke them wrong'd And shall I wrong them both Hala. The good beleefe of mankinde is a sea Where honor drownes iniquitie goes free Whose thoughts like sailes for euery weather be Caine. With shaking thoughts no hands can draw aright True hearts to doe vnnobly haue no sp'rit Hala. The feare of some is guilt with honestie Others with loue thine with false noblenesse Yet thinke not Coward wit can hide the shame Of hearts which while they dare not strike for feare Would make it vertue in them to forbeare No Caine In men we women when we loue Aske faith and heart Our selues haue feare and wit In loue how can thy soule and mine agree
in Hala sometimes breed remorse At least a doubt that euill hath no force Thou makest Caine in vndertaking slow Who must to serue thy turne like goodnesse show Those Scenes still tedious are those Acts too long Where thy vnresolute Images be strong For while you feare your true tormentor Shame I swallow all at once with honors name Then glory not since where thy links excell There we inlarge not but contract our hell Corrupt reason Peace you base Subalterns and striue no more That but the Carriers be of my rich store Perchance you thinke me th' obiect of you all And so no Furie but the Furies thrall Where I giue forme and stuffe to make you worse And so become your Lord and not your Nurse I breake the banks of dutie honor faith And subiect am to no power but to death Charge me I grant Delayes grow out of wit And are not all your false webs wrought by it To time I haue respect to person place I crosse my selfe to giue my owne acts grace I am Base to you all and so the chiefe Equall with truth where I finde good beleefe I beare the weight of feare the rage of lust With selfe-loue enuy malice left in trust I calme Mans windy pride distempered rage Giuing to each a shape for euery age Wrong I attire in purple robes of might That State may helpe it to be infinite And who is fitter here to rule you all Than I that giue you being by my fall Know therfore all you shadow-louing Spirits Who haue no being but in mans demerits That infinite desires and finite power At once can neuer all mankinde deuoure Though men be all ours and all we but one The vice yet cannot build or stand alone Be it mans weaknesse that doth interrupt Or some power else that cannot be corrupt Or be there what there may be else aboue Which may and will maintaine her owne by loue Yet haue we scope enough to marre this State And to the euer being what is late As men in your names image vglinesse To checke beloued childrens wantonnesse When they would haue them doe things or for beare And call you when they know you are not there So I enammell your deformity Making all your excesses like to me And that you may beleeue this to be true We are not like For what am I but you Euill Spirits Reason You marre our Mart by coueting Not to be equall with vs but our King For though you now like Romane Augurs be Who but your staffe haue no true mysterie Yet doe you striue to rule adde or diminish And idly so protract what we could finish Else how could Alaham or Hala stay So long from making to our ends a way Lusts open face this Age will easily beare And hope here currant is to all but feare Wrong needs no veile where times doe tyrannize And what but lacke of heart is then vnwise Age hath descri'd those toyes to be but name Which in the worlds youth did beare reall fame Iustice Religion Honour Humblenesse Shaddowes which not well mixt make beauty lesse They helpe to smother not inlarge our fire By putting painted maskes on mans desire And giue time to vnactiue Theorie Which rage it selfe would not doe were it free So that we Circe-like change men to beasts Which beasts turne men againe Too base a crest For vs that would quite banish doing well And so at once change heauen and earth to hell In which course who doth well obserue each part Shall finde mankinde to haue so strange a heart As being all ill yet no one ill serues To worke him to that mischiefe he deserues Feare hope desire loue courage being mixt So nicely in him as none can be fixt Which is our glorie as for euery state To haue a Tempter fitted and a fate A feare in Great men still to lose their might And in the meane ambition infinite Truth in the witty held but as a notion Honor the Old mans God the Youths promotion All which opposing powers yet doe agree To worke corruption in humanity Then on This time is ours What need we haste Since till time ends our raigne is sure to last Actus tertius Scena prima ALAHAM alone ALaham. I march aboue the wits and hearts of men Chance at my feet and power in my hand Now King indeed Obedience doth become Men that can strength by wisdome ouercome It honour was euen worthy more than Crownes To passe the Basshas in aduenturing They were possest I dispossest of all But liberty to liue or dye a thrall Truth was in vaine no peecing vp with might For me I saw I had too good a cause Counsell is slow each minute infinite When resolution to her ripenesse drawes I saw corruption was the way to rise And with that shot I pierc'd their tyrannies Their guard I did corrupt Base seruile spirits I knew lackt wit to see or heart to beare Temptation For desire is infinite In them that wanting honour cannot feare Triall is made The King I doe possesse My right is more why should my hope be lesse And am I King And doe my foes still liue Can wounded Greatnesse slumber in a Throne Or that be glory which I feele alone No No Let rigour speake which all men heare Life is the worke of Nature death of Kings Ruine it is that reputation brings My Guard is strong their first imployment is The murther of those men my father trusts Not all for that were cruelty not wit Some simple being some indifferent sp'rits Their ends and honours being but delights Others ambitious rash and violent No inward strength of nature or of grace Of present power the noblest instruments Transforme and vse wit vertue doth exceed For it is all or none as men haue need Only my care is how the Plot should proue Which for the Basshas now in ambush lies My wife hath art and rage which iointly moue Her head-strong spirits vnto cruelties But if her craft serue not to plucke them downe The sword wants not pretences for the Crowne My friends and Mates You vpon whom I lay My life and honour with this State in trust Be resolute For scruple doth betray Since all great works haue great examples must Take Assem Zeraphus and Velladoune Blood asketh blood with rauine they did spoyle The people first and now betray the Crowne Reuenge your parents Countrey-men and kin Blood here is iust true honor and no sinne The cancred Calchas scourge of Tyrannies Great master of deceipt Artisan of spoyle The spie of faults and spring of subsidies Naked deliuer him into the Sea To plague those faults it cannot wash away The rest to bonds who though they want no spite Their frailty yet for innocence shall stand All else exile Obey in euery thing They happy are that serue a rising King Actus tertius Scena secunda Caine Alaham CAine Plac'd in a Throne Guarded Ador'd and Crownd What meanes this change These signes of
Maiestie Goodnesse gets not so soone a great Estate Mischiefe's foule way to Soueraignity This secret haste is sure all is imbound What shall I do Hold on the course I meant Why not The death of Mahomet will still content Thy will is done and Mahomet is slaine Alaham. My minde misgaue it selfe my thoughts did feare Yet knew I they of nothing guilty were By fate or malice is the Bassha slaine Caine. By fate I thinke for Iustice fatall is As Gods bequest to them that doe amisse Alaham. By suddaine death by thunder lightning fire Or by what other anger of the skie I pray thee shew how Mahomet did die Caine. By these hands that owe seruice to the State And by his blood haue made it fortunate Alaham. What execration did he dying vse Against this violence of broken faith Which wounds good soules more than the bodies death Caine. In falling downe these only words he spake Helpe people helpe My death your bondage brings Behold these wounds receiue I for your sake Reward of them that friend you vnder Kings Vile Caine that like the Axe do'st goe about To cut thy selfe an helue to weare thee out Alaham. Most wicked act Could neither faith nor law Reuerence of State remorse of doing ill The paines of iustice nor the hopes withdraw Thy raging hand And do'st thou thinke the world can suffer this That thou should'st glory to haue done amisse Caine. Is thy desire growne wanton in her ioy Or do'st thou seeme to say thy wishes nay More kindly in the end with them to play Alaham. By fires of hell which burne and haue no light By those foule spirits which ill men only see I sweare thy death shall Mahomets requite Caine. Vnto the world although I guilty be I did thy will let me be cleare to thee Alaham. In vaine I should command his death by sleights That placed am vpon the fathers seat Where power can easlier doe things than intreat Caine. The State of Kings is large yet lacks in this That easie each thing but not lawfull is Besides you then a second brother were Nor knew I when this plot we did deuise You should see clearer by your fathers eyes Alaham. Rumor complaints and scornfull thoughts of power Are wayes of priuate hearts that from below Misiudge those higher powers they doe not know But now borne vp into a Princes Throne Beneath I see that world of discontent Where error teacheth vse of punishment Away with him Entreatie is in vaine Thy death to him is due whom thou hast slaine Caine. Ah fearefull friendships with superior powers Whose two parts they themselues and their Estates Diuide or ioyne like nets and be the snare Where loue and feare to power entrapped are Alaham aduow thy deed To constant wickednesse men honour beare Where truth it selfe hath iniurie by feare Alaham. I say Let him be slaine His fault is this That Mahomet most trayterously he slew Caine. Stay Sir I say that he still liuing is And my confession of my selfe vntrue Alaham. Traytor vnto thy selfe and false to me What riddles of contempt and wickednesse Are these which of thy selfe confessed be If Mahomet be dead then shalt thou die For murther of thy friend deserues no lesse If Mahomet do liue yet shalt thou die For if no murther scorne thou do'st confesse Away with him Actus tertius Scena tertia Hala Alaham HAla. What tumult 's this my Lord Alah. The play of Chance Which without mischiefe nothing can aduance Hala. Yet good Sir tell me what this tumult is Alaham. The fall of him whose heart hath done amisse Hala. His name and crime sweet Lord I long to know Alaham. Report of mischiefe doth infect the heart And wisdome bids they should in silence goe For nature feeleth euery bodies smart Hala. Women belike are still in infancy That must not feare or prouocation see The glasse of horror is not fact but feare Opinion is a Tyrant euery where Alaham. If I shall tell you what you long to know What boots it If you thinke it is not so Hala. What leades your reason leades my reason too That all your words conceiue in kindnesse doe Alaham. The man that was and is not now is he That neuer was the man he seem'd to be Caine What need more to shew with him are dead His fault and our goodwills to him mislead Hala. What heare I now O false and weake estate Of good beleefe Wherin shall peace be found Since Gods be not and mankinde made to hate Caine dead Euen Caine whom now we loued best In instants both growne wicked and opprest Caine slaine by you Hath Caine deserued this O God! Like strange his crime and killing is Perchance not dead my Lord how was he slaine Alaham. By sword Hala. Wounds let forth spirits yet liue againe Alaham. Nay dead he is These eyes did see his breath Beare all his spirits into the world of death Hala. Necessity that from infernall night Fatally linked art vnto the skies Beare thee we cannot yet we beare thee must Now hopes appeare euen now my heart resolues Reuenge and silence is the way to it Did he confesse his fault What spake he last Alaham. Ah Mahomet whose hopes were on me plac'd Hala. Hasty beleefe my Lord hath hasty deeds And with their wounds oft truth and wisdome bleeds Alaham. When wickednesse is ripe a minute showes What chance the dice of Innocency throwes Hala. Pardon me Lord Good thoughts doe liue aboue In highest region of vnfeined loue Doubt and reuenge Nature hath plac'd below Meaning the space should make the passage slow Alaham. God meaning we should rule and you obey Gaue men cleare sight and women good affection In vs not in your selues lies your election Hala. My Lord 'T is true Our frayle and weake Estate Doth labor in excesse A womans heart Still in the feuer is of loue or hate Hardly the loue which I did be are to Caine Could thinke he err'd much lesse approue him slaine But now his falls approu'd by heauenly doome Our losse in him foretells our gaine to come Then Sir Take care his death be not in vaine Your sillie Sire is blinde if he were dead This reeling State by you might stand againe True ioy is onely hope put out of seare And honour hideth error euery where A forme the world expects in worldly things Caine was a man a Bassha and our friend Sepulture as a man honor to his estate Teares doe become a guilty friendships end Excesse of honour done to them that die Makes liuing men see our humanity Besides thought-feeding rumor forth will goe And occupie vnquiet peoples spirits While in this pile for Caine you may bestow Their blinded weaknesse which with-hold your right People doe power not persons apprehend Strength showes like truth Mankinde loues policie Defended Kings but not reuenged be Alaham. Enuy will rise and both wayes fall on vs Either as hauing slaine an innocent Or highly err'd by burying treason thus In penall
against the truth you haue an easie foe For in the world all that are hers can neuer currant goe Vnder the next good shaddow your deform'd excesse Yet shall your masked arts and hornes your clouen feet expresse Wherby your beauties be so priz'd among your owne As they will blush for yours by name or nature to be knowne Againe take all the world if it one soule content Then freely let Mankinde beleeue you are omnipotent But if your Legions here doe in their glories raue Tormented while they liue on earth and much more in the graue If to be nothing be the best that could be fall Your subtile Orbes to reall beings then must needs be thrall And so proue to the good but like those showres of raine Which while they wet the husbandman yet multiply his gaine Actus quartus Scena prima King Celica KIng Celica thou only child whom I repent Not yet to haue begot thy worke is vaine Thou run'st against my Destinies intent Feare not my fall the steepe is fayrest plaine And error safest guide vnto his end Who nothing but mischance can haue to friend We parents are but Natures nursery When our succession springs then ripe to fall Priuation vnto age is naturall Age there is also in a Princes State Which is contempt growne of misgouernment Where loue of change begetteth Princes hate For hopes must wither or grow violent If fortune binde desires to one Estate Then marke Blinde as a Man Scorn'd as a King A Fathers kindnesse loath'd and desolate Life without ioy or light what can it bring But inward horrour vnto outward hate O safety thou art then a hatefull thing When childrens death assures the fathers State No Safe I am not though my sonne were slaine My frailty would beget such sonnes againe Besides if fatall be the heauens will Repining adds more force to destinie Whose iron wheeles stay not on fleshly wit But headlong runne downe steep Necessity And as in danger we doe catch at it That comes to helpe and vnaduisedly Oft doe our friends to our misfortune knit So with the harme of those who would vs good Is Destinie impossibly withstood Celica then cease importune me no more My sonne my age the state where things are now Require my death Who would consent to liue Where loue cannot reuenge nor truth forgiue Celica. Though feare see nothing but extremity Yet danger is no deep sea but a Ford Where they that yeeld can only drowned be In wrongs and wounds Sir you are to remisse To Thrones a passiue nature fatall is King Occasion to my sonne hath turn'd her face My inward wants all outward strengths betray And so make that impossible I may Celica. Yet liue Liue for the State King Whose ruines glasses are Wherin see errors of my selfe I must And hold my life of danger shame and care Celica. When feare propounds with losse men euer choose King Nothing is left me but my selfe to lose Celica. And is it nothing then to lose the State King Where chance is ripe there counsell comes too late Celica by all thou ow'st the Gods and me I doe coniure thee Leaue me to my chance What 's past was errors way the truth it is Wherein I wretch can only goe amisse If Nature saw no cause of suddaine ends She that but one way made to draw our breath Would not haue left so many doores to death Celica. Yet Sir if weaknesse be not such a sande As neither wrong nor counsell can manure Choose and resolue what death you will endure King This sword thy hands may offer vp my breath And plague my lifes remissenesse in my death Celica. Vnto that dutie if these hands be borne I must thinke God and Truth but names of scorne Againe this iustice were if life were lou'd Now meerly grace since death doth but forgiue A life to you which is a death to liue Paine must displease that satisfies offence King Chance hath left death no more to spoile but sense Celica. Then sword doe Iustice office thorough me I offer more than that he hates to thee King Ah! Stay thy hand My State no equall hath And much more matchlesse my strange vices be One kinde of death becomes not thee and me Kings plagues by chance or destinie should fall Headlong he perish must that ruines all Celica. No cliffe or rocke is so precipitate But downe it eyes can leade the blinde a way Without me liue or with me dye you may King Celica and wilt thou Alaham exceed His crueltie is death you torments vse He takes my Crowne you take my selfe from me A Prince of this falne Empire let me be Celica. Then be a King no Tyrant of thy selfe Be and be what you will what nature lent Is still in hers and not our gouernment King If disobedience and obedience both Still doe me hurt in what strange state am I But hold thy course It well becomes my blood To doe their parents mischiefe with their good Celica. Yet Sir harke to the poore oppressed teares The iust mens moane that suffer by your fall A Princes charge is to protect them all And shall it nothing be that I am yours The world without my heart within doth know I neuer had vnkinde vnreuerent powers If thus you yeeld to Alahams treacherie He ruines you 't is you Sir ruine me King Celica Call vp the dead awake the blinde Turne backe the time bid windes tell whence they come As vainly strength speakes to a broken minde Fly from me Celica hate all I doe Misfortunes haue in blood successions too Celica. Will you doe that which Alaham can not He hath no good you haue no ill but he This Marre-right yeelding's honors Tyranny King Haue I not done amisse Am I not ill That ruin'd haue a Kings authority And not one King alone since Princes all Feele part of those scornes wherby one doth fall Treason against me cannot treason be All lawes haue lost authority in me Celica. The lawes of power chain'd to mens humors be The good haue conscience the ill like instruments Are in the hands of wise authority Moued diuided vsed or layd downe Still with desire kept subiect to a Crowne Stirre vp all States all spirits hope and feare Wrong and reuenge are currant euery where King Put downe my sonne For that must be the way A fathers shame a Princes Tyrannie The Scepter euer shall misiudged be Celica. Let them feare rumor that doe worke amisse Blood torments death horrors of Cruelty Haue time and place Looke through these skinnes of feare Which still perswade the better side to beare And since thy sonne thus trayterously conspires Let him not prey on all thy race and thee Keepe ill example from posterity King Danger is come and must I now vnarme And let in hope to weaken resolution Passion be thou my Legacie and Will To thee I giue my life Crowne reputation My pompes to clouds and as forlorne with men My strength to women hoping this