THE RAGING TURK, OR, BAJAZET THE SECOND.  
A Tragedy written by THOMAS GOFFE, Master of Arts, and Student of Christ-Church in Oxford, and Acted by the Students of the same house.  
Monstra fato, scelera moribus imputes  
Det ille veniam facilè cui venia est opus.  
LONDON: Printed by AUGUST. MATHEWES, for RICHARD MEIGHEN. 1631.   

TO THE NO LESS INGENIOUS THAN ZEALOUS favourer of ingenuity, Sir RICHARD TICHBORNE Knight, etc.  
SIR:  
THis Tragedy, a manuscript, with another of the same Authors, came lately to my hands; He that gave them birth, because they were his Nugae, or rather recreations to his more serious and divine studies, out of a nice modesty (as I have learned) allowed them scarce private fostering. But I, by the consent of his especial friend▪ in that they show him rather Omnium scenarum homo to his glory then disparagement: have published them, and do tender this to your most safe protection, lest it wander a fatherless Orphan, which every one in that respect will be apt to injure with calumnious censure. Now if you vouchsafe to receive and shelter it, you will not only preserve unblemished the everliving fame of the dead Author, but assure me that you kindly accept this humble acknowledgement of  
Your most obliged and ready real Servant▪ RICH, MEIGHEN.   


The Names of the Actors▪  
Bajazet, Emperor. Zemes, Baiazet's brother.  


his Sons.  
Mahomates Tartarian King.  
Achomates Armenian King.  
Corcutus Asmehemedes, Mahomet's followers.  
Selimus  
Thrizham Hamon Baiazet's Physician, jewish Monk.  
Mahomet    
Achmetes a General, Cherseogles Vizeroy of Greece. Herald.  
Dwarf.  


Bassaes.  
Isaac Nemesis.  
Mesithes Captains.  
Mustapha Ambassadors.    
Solyman Selimus son. janissaries.  
Caiubus, Achmetes son. Soldiers.  
Alexander Bishop of Rome. Nuncius.    

THE RAGING TURK, Or the Tragedy of BAJAZET, the second of that name.  

Actus Primi,  

Scena Prima.  Enter, Bassanes Isaac▪ with a Crown in his hand, Mustapha with a Sceptre, Mesithes with a Sword, they Crown Corcutus youngest son to Bajazet. Isaac. 
LEt the world feel thee, and those Demigods,  
Proud with the name of Kings, debase themselves  
To honour thee, this Crown commands as much  He crowns him. 
Wherewith I do invest thy happy brow,  
Happy indeed if that succeeding times  
Shall set up virtue, so to lessen crimes.  
Thus from the ashes of dead Solyman  
Is raised another Phoenix great Corcutus;  
Live equally adored, when Princes bend  
To better courses, all their subjects mend.  Must. 
Crowns make not Kings, nor can that glittering show  
Perfect thine honour, take another sign  Gives him the Sceptre. 
Of thy Imperial dignity, 'tis thine.  
That adds a Godlike grace unto thy brow,  
This binds due honour, that prostrates every knee  
Before thy throne, then live, and may that arm  
Secure thy subjects from all foreign harm.  Mesith. 
What seasoned knowledge, learning's prudent Queen  
Hath blessed thee with, must now initiate thee  
In the paths of war, all studied Arts  
Are but degrees unto some wished end▪  
And steps of hope whereby we do ascend  
Unto the top; and level of our thoughts.  
But Kings than prove most happy when they are  
Watchful in peace, and provident in war.  
Those are their utmost ends, which that they may  
O'ertake, Art, and the sword, make fairest way.  
The Muses nursed thee up, and thou didst draw  
The pleasant juice of learning from their breasts,  
In thy first nonage; here than we bestow  
The second help, to which good Princes owe  
Much of their welfare; swords are the first ground  
Of peace, and war; they both defend and wound.  
Thus are we vowed to thee, let thy dread fame  
Thunder amazement through the spacious world,  
That when thou lifts thine arm, thy foes may say  Shouts 3. 
Not jove, but great Corcutus rules the day.  Corcut. 
Which that applause hath crowned, and with it  
Will ever spite of traitors joying sit  
As now we do; nor shall my watchful care  
Be wanting to you, whilst this subtle air  
Feeds mine industrious spirits, I shall fill  
The good with joy, by cutting of the ill  
Corrupted rags of men; jove let me stand  
An object in thine eye, when thy swift hand  
Fails in the stroke of justice, virtue return  
From thy sad exile, I will purge the walls  
From spotted vice, and make this City free  
To entertain so fair a Queen as she.  
Then (Bassanes) I embrace what you have thrown  
Upon me, and these signs of honour thus  Gives them back. 
We rebestow; their power still stays with us.  
Could this vast body of the Commonwealth  
Stand fast without a soul? each man should see  
I am not greedy of this dignity:  
This burdenous weight which some must undergo,  
The gods are busied with diviner things,  
And put Earth's care into the hands of Kings.   

Actus Primi, Scena Secunda.  After some clamours of applause Enter Ch●rsogl●●, and Achmetes at several doors. Achmet. 
And is Bajazet arrived?  Chers. 
So fame reports  
Yet how he doth digest Corcutus Reign,  
That every Bird sings not; but sure with pain.  
A Turkish Bajazet, and suffer wrong,  
May for a time conceal his grief, not long.  
Eagles soar high, and scorn that shorter Plumes  
Should reach the clouds, which their proud wings can touch,  
Corcutus must not reign, to keep his father's right  
Due to his father, nor will he if he might,  E●nter Isaac▪ 
he's learned, therefore just, Arts not allow  
To were a Crown due to another's brow.  Isa. 
Dar'st thou oppose his greatness? is not Greece  
Already wracked enough? have thy proud Towers  
Reared up their lofty spires? which steeped in blood,  
Threw a reflex of red back to the clouds,  
And blushed at their own ruins, are thy crude wounds  
Already stopped, and is that day forgot,  
In which the Turkish Mavors Ottoman,  
Wielded a sword of death within thy Walls?  
Charon grew weary with hurrying souls to hell,  
When threescore thousand greeks in one day fell.  Chers. 
We know their force, and sad experience says,  
Move not again, Greece welters still in blood  
And every crackling thunder of the heavens  
Speaks the shrill echo of the Turkish drums,  
Then are we drawn by you, so let it be,  
About these great affairs as you decree.  Achm. 
This phrase becomes the greeks, submissive states  
Must bend, 〈◊〉 Conqueror must rule the fates.  Chers. 
And such are you, our vanquished hearts must bend,  
But bad beginnings have a fatal end▪  
Me thinks I see great Bajazet in arms▪  
Spreading his fearful Ensigns in the air,  
Like some prodigious Comet, we may fear  
Speedy revenge vulesse some quick advice  
Work a prevention of his future hate,  
'tis he must sway the Sceptre, or we shall hear  
A dreadful defiance rattled in our ear,  
he's strong in friends, and power, we must descend,  
To our just duty, or our latest end.  Achm. 
Renowned Viceroy, thy persuading thoughts  
Have predeuined most truly these effects,  
And we applaud thy Counsel, let us three  
join our best strength, that these ensuing jars  
May be composed without the stroke of Wars:  
Coroute is wise, and mild, and being so,  
He hates the rumour of a public foe.  Chers. 
Nobly resolved (Greece sings) if the event,  
Prove but so happy, as honest the intent.  
But stand aside, Bajazet is come.  Enter Bajazet. Baia. 
Am I not Emperor? he that breathes a no,  
Damns in that negative syllable his soul,  
Durst any god gainsay it, he should feel  
The strength of fiercest Giants in mine arms,  
Mine angers at the highest, and I could shake  
The firm foundation of the earthly Globe:  
Could I but grasp the Poles in these two hands,  
I'd pluck the world asunder; drop thou bright Sun,  
From thy transparent Sphere, thy course is done,  
Great Bajazet is wronged not shall thine eye  
Be witness to my hateful misery.  
Madness and anger makes my tongue betray,  
The Chaos of my thoughts: under this breast,  
An heap of indigested cares are pressed.  
What is it that I doubt? through every joint  
Dances a trembling agve, this dull blood,  
That courses through my veins divines no good.  shouts of joy within. 
Ha, shouts of joy, at dead men's obsequies?  
I'm in a maze of woes, what thou wilt throw  
On me, jove, let it come, I'll stand thy blow.  Chers. 
Live happy Bajazet.  [Baia. 
Happy in my fear,  
That word sounds sweet in my distracted ear.  
Happy in what?  [Ach. 
In thy friends,  He turns aside to them 
That grieve to see thy wrongs.  [Ba. 
My wrongs,  
There sticks the string my thoughts did harp upon;  
But who hath wronged me in this high content?  
The fates do sometime frown, yet bless th'event,  
And sequel of our woes, it cannot be,  
I should be thwarted in my jollity.  
But if I can unfold it— for the more,  
I know them not the greater is my sore.  Chers. 
In that read all thy woes, take there a brief,  He gives him a paper 
Contract of all thine ills, sad lines of grief.  Baia. 
How's this? my youngest son advanced to my seat.  
Corcutus Imperator, sure I dream:  
These are but apparitions apparitions  
Feigned by the god of sleep to vex my soul,  
Were they not so— ere this black night  
Had thrown her sable mantle o'er the heavens  
To hide me from my shame; but is it so?  
I do but flatter up myself, they are true  
And real griefs, my Passion says they are,  
Isaac, Achmetes, are they not?  [Ach. 
Too true  
Great Bajazet:  [Baia. 
Corcutus Imperator,  reads again 
Would I had seen thy name writ in the book  
Of dark damnation, rather than these lines.  
Cracked not mine eyestrings when I viewed this text?  
See how each letter spreads abroad in pomp,  
As if they scorned my tears, how I could dwell  
On these two words, Corcutus Imperator.  
Hither repair, the watchful paper worms  
That scan old records over to a line:  
Here in two words imprinted shall you see,  
The model of a doleful history;  
Virtue dishonoured, breach of filial love,  
Right shouldered out by wrong, nor can you fain,  
A crime, which these two words do not contain,  
But now I rail, not grieve. O nimble air,  
Let my plaints vanish as they spoken are,  
Off with this womanish mildness, I will find  
A shorter trick than this to ease my mind,  
Pluto beware, I come to reign in hell,  about to kill himself. 
Fates bid me rule, and birthright to excel.  Chers. 
Stay Bajazet, that arm can break a path  
Unto thy earthly Monarch, ere thou come  
To bless the banks of sweet Elysium,  
With thy wished presence: Mahomet forefend  
That thou shouldst seal a Kingdom to thy son,  
By this untimely death, Corcutus reigns,  
But at thy better pleasure; when he shall hear  
Thou art arrived, then he'll 'twixt joy and grief,  
Start from his throne, and nimbly run to meet,  
Thy pomp, and throw his Sceptre at thy feet:  
If he but slack that duty here are by,  
Achmetes strong and bold, Isaac and 1  
Devoted to your service, yet the world stands  
On wavering doubts, ready to clap their hands.  Baia. 
My desires are crowned,  
And from the gate of Limbo, where I sat,  
I feel my spirits knock against the heavens.  
Achmetes? In that name I hear an ease  
Of all my griefs pronounced, he shall suffice  
To banish usurpation from my throne,  
Did furies guard it round, he's able well  
To reach my Kingdoms from the gripes of hell.  Ach. 
My sword, and life, both which are vowed to thee,  
Are still at thy command: walk but along,  
Corcutus shall resign, thou have no wrong.  Exeunt Bajazet, Cherseogles, and Achmetes, Manent Isaac, and Mustapha.  

Actus Primi, Scena Tertia,  Isaac. 
Death, and the furies plunge the obsequious slaves,  
Would he have joined with us? we would have kept  
Corcutus high, and honoured, where he sits  
In spite of a whole host of Baiazet's.  Musta. 
Me thinks your power might have been greater far  
Over Achmetes, one addict to you  
By no less bond of duty, than the son  
Is to the father:  [Isa. 
Mustapha I'll tell you  
Had not my daughter been espoused to him,  
I had named his death, and by some plot  
Worked him a quick destruction long e'er this;  
Now let us temporize with Bajazet;  
Yet keep thy nature ever, and be true  
To thine own profit; Fortune may advance  
Some other Prince, worth both thy love and mine.  Musta. 
we'll stay her leisure,  Isaac 
See more Harpies gathered to catch a Crown,  
O 'tis a charming bait.  Exit uterque. Enter Mahomete, Achmetes, Selinus. Mahom. 
Me thinks these City walls smile on our entrance,  
As if they knew great Baiazet's three sons,  
Were come to grace their beauty.  Sel. 
But We should frown  
On them which harbour such black treasons, Well,  
Were I great Bajazet, I'd ring a noise  
Of spiteful horror, that should make the ground  
Tremble beneath their weight at such a sound:  
A younger son enthroned an Emperor.  Achm. 
Brother contain yourself, come le's away,  
To see the end that waits on this sad day.  Exeunt As they go Trizham and Mahomet, two other Sons of Bajazet go to meet them. Selin. 
What Mahomet?  Achm. 
And Trizham? here's a sight  
Of one man's issue, Noble Bajazet,  
Brothers we have jumped together?  Sel. 
All save one,  
And he's a great deal better so alone.  Triz. 
Corcutus 'tis you mean, who though he reign,  
Above us now, yet must fall back again,  
Into our rank, 'tis Bajazet must rise,  
And he descend, such a report there flies.  Exeunt.  

Actus Primi, Sccena Quarta.  Enter Corcutus, Cherseogles, Mesithes. Corcu. 
Did he not frown, and storm?  Chers. 
It moved him much,  
And wrought strange passions in him, when he read  
Your name, and found your name so entitled.  Corcu. 
Cling to my temples thou blessed ornament,  
Be ever unremoved, though all the gods  
Chide me in thunder for this insolence,  
Am I in heaven? in state placed on the sphere  
Of eminence, but barely to appear,  
With faint, and borrowed lustre, then descend,  
Ranked with the vulgar heads, first let me feel,  
The Tition vulture, or Ixion's wheel;  
And the worst torture hell itself can bring,  
To scourge my soul, o let me dye a King;  
But stay, I must bethink me at what rate,  
I purchase these fair trappings: ha? the curse  
Of him that got me: start my daunted spirits,  
Shall I usurp a throne, and sit above my father,  
Whilst the gaping pit of hell,  
With wide stretched jaws, yawns for my fall,  
O I am struck with horror, and the slaves of styx,  
Already sting my wounded soul.  Cheers, 
Will you fair Prince reject all future hopes  
Of just succession, and afflict your Sire,  
By your unjust detainment of his Crown.  Corcu. 
I am distracted, and me thinks I burn,  
Under these robes of state, a boiling heat,  
Runs from them through my veins, jove's hardy son,  
When he bewrapt himself in Nessus' shirt,  
Felt not more bitter agonies, than I,  
Clothed in the trappings of my Majesty.  
I am resolved; Bassas, go meet our father,  
Allure him home with this: I am begun  Exeunt Mesithes and Cherseogles. 
To be no King, but a repentant son.  
Pallas I ask thy pardon, I have strayed  
A graceless truant from thy happy schools,  
Whither I'll now return; there's not a rank,  
Place, or degree, can sort us out true bliss  
Without thy Temple, there my dwellin●g is:  
Amongst the Sacred monuments of wit,  
Which Classic authors carefully have writ  
For our instruction, I will waste my time;  
So to wash out the spots of this sad crime.  
Court honours, and you shadows of true joy  
That shine like stars, till but a greater light  
Drown your weak lustre, I adjure your sight,  
Even from my meditations, and my thoughts  
I banish your enticing vanities,  
And closely kept within my study walls,  
As from a cave of rest, henceforth I'll see,  
And smile, but never taste your misery.  
I but as yet am floating on the waves,  
Of stormy danger, nor am sure to scape  
The violent blast of angry Bajazet.  
Blow fair my hopes and when I touch the shore,  
I'll venture forth on this rough surge no more.  Enter Bajazet, Cherseogles, Achmetes, Isaac, Mesithes, Mustapha, Mahomet, Achomates, Selimus, Trizham, Mahomet, Zemeses disguised. 
See where he comes, oh how my guilty blood  
Starts to my face, and proves my cause not good.  
Our duty to our father,  kneels. Baia. 
Ours to the Emperor.  kneels Cor, 
Why kneels great Bajazet? I am thy son  
Thy slave: and if thy wrath but frown, undone.  
Why kneels great Bajazet, heavens hide thy face,  
From these preposterous doings.  Ba. 
What, not ashamed  
To circled in thy brow with that bright Crown,  
Yet blush to see me kneel? though filial rites,  
And moral precepts say the son must bend  
Before the Father, yet your high degree  
And power bids you rise, commands my knee.  Core. 
Those ornaments be thine, Here Bajazet  
I Crown thee Monarch of the spacious West,  
Asia, and Africa: if ought be mine,  
Greater than these I here proclaim it thine.  Omnes. 
Live Bajazet our mighty Prince,  
Live, rule, and flourish.  Baia. 
Is this your zeal? is it? did every voice  
Breath out a willing suffrage? I am crowned,  
My joys are fully perfect, and I feel  
My lightened spirits caper in my breast.  
Rise thou starbright mirror of thine age,  To Corcutus kneeling. 
By thee our iron days prove full as good,  
As when old Saturn thundered in the clouds.  
Be an example to succeeding times,  
How sons should use their Parents: and I vow  
(When I shall fail) this honour to thy brow.  
Attend us Bassaes, I'll lead on to joy,  
Never was Father blessed with such a Boy.  Exeunt omnes manet Corcut. Corcu. 
Freed from a Princely burden, I possess  
A Kingly liberty, and am no less  
Princely; observance wait on him, on me  
Thoughts undisturbed, I shall then happy be.  Exit.  

Actus Primi, Scena Quinta.  Enter Zemes the brother of Bajazet alone. Zemes. 
Scarce had I set my foot within these walls  
In expectation of a solemn hearse,  
Due to the wand'ring Ghost of Mahomet;  
But loud alarms of abundant joy  
Ring in mine ears, and every servile groom  
Congratulates the Coronation  A●s●owt within. 
Of Bajazet: hark how they roar it out.  
A cold disturbance like a gelid ●●ost  
Settles my blood within me, and I hate  
His cheerful triumphs, more than mine own Fate.  
'Tis true indeed, I proved not the first fruits,  
An elder offspring of my Fathers breed,  
Yet was it so that Bajazet and I  
Both tumbled in one womb, perhaps the Queen  
Of women's labours doted at our birth,  
And sent him first abroad, or else I slept,  
And he before me stole into the world,  
Must I then lose my glory, and be hurled  
A slave beneath his feet? no, I must be  
An Emperor as full as great as he.  Exit.  

Actus Primi, Scena Sexta.  Enter Isaac alone. jaack. 
Divorced my Daughter? fond and insolent man,  
I'll crush thee into nothing, if I can  
Endure the noise of my disgrace I know  
How to return it; I am a flame of fire,  
A chafing heat distempers all my blood.  
Achmetes thou must cool it, when thy limbs  
Are emptied of that moisture they suck in,  
And thy stained blood enchanted from thy veins,  
Then shall I be appeased, mean while I live  
Thy mortal foe: But stay, let me contain  
Mine anger undiscovered. Friend how is't?  Enter Mesithes. Mesith. 
Know you not Isaac?  Isa. 
What?  Mes. 
The flight of Zemes  
Hence to Armenia.  Isa. 
of Zemes?  Mes. 
Yes He walked  
About the City disguised, and unseen  
Till his escape.  Is. 
'tis strange and full of fear.  Mes. 
We meet him frequent in the vulgar mouth.  Isaac. 
Zemes is valiant, and Armenia strong,  
Here's Bajazet, he must beware the wrong.  Enter Bajazet. Baia. 
What is it thou murmur'st, Bajazet and wronged?  
Something it is thou knowest concerning us:  
Take thee fair leave, and speak it.  Isa. 
Yes I know  
Matter of weight, such as concern thy life.  Baia. 
Such as concern my life? Speak out thy tale,  
We are so fleshed in joy, bad news proves strange,  
And touch my sense too harshly.  Isa. 
But you must hear.  
Your brother Zemes, when swift winged Fame  
Told him your father Mahomet was dead,  
Flew quickly hither first to celebrate  
His funeral pomp, then to assume his State,  
His Crown, and Sceptre: which he rightly knew,  
Unto your hand, and head, both to be due.  
But when applausive joys, and peals of mirth,  
Sounded loud Mosique in his troubled ears,  
Of you enthroned; then he began too late  
To brawl at heaven, and wrangle with his Fate.  
So he went hence and cried; revenge be mine:  
Quake thou great City of proud Constantine  
At my fierce anger, when I next return,  
With clouds of misty powder, I shall choke  
Thy breath, and dull thy beauty with its smoke.  
This posted he hence to Armenia's King,  
There to implore his aid, which he will bring  
To front thy power: nor doth he yet despair,  
To dispossess, and fright thee from thy chair.  Baiacet. 
First from my body shall he fright my soul,  
And push me into dust. Isaac make haste  
To muster up our forces, strike up our Drums,  
Let them proclaim destruction through the world.  
Clear up your dusty armour, let it cast  
Such an amazing lustre on the Foe,  
As if Bellona danced on every crest.  
The bright sun of my glory is eclipsed,  
Till Zemes be extinct: he must not shine  
To dull my beams, since the whole heaven is mine.  
Call forth Achmetes, his unconquered arm,  
Shall keep us safe from this intended harm.  Isaac. 
My Liege, you have forgot Archmetes oath,  
In which he vowed never to draw his sword  
In your defence.  Baia. 
I had forgot it,  
But now I remember, such was the vain  
Heat of my youth, but I recall again  
What ever I protested, tell him so.  
Rash words must be dispensed with.  Isa. 
Then I'll go.  Exit. Baia. 
My Father once in ordering of a Camp,  
Preferred me to be Captain of a wing,  
So when the Battles joined, and life and death  
Where struggling who should win power of our breath,  
Our Armies proved the stronger; only my guide  
Failed, and a base repulse fell on my side;  
At which my Father stormed, and in my place  
Seated Achmetes, for which black disgrace,  
I vowed a swift revenge, even by his shame  
That wore mine honour, to redeem my fame▪  
Which when Achmetes heard, he deeply swore,  
Never with wit and strength to guide me more.  
But now he must, see where he comes, and armed.  Enter Achm. 
What strange device is plotting in his brain?  
Honoured Achmetes.  Ach. 
Royal Emperor.  Gives him a sword. Baia. 
Thine arm must then uphold my Royalty.  
Why lies thy valour, prostrate at our feet,  
When like fierce lightnings it should run and meet  
My harms like a rock unmoved? oppose.  
The course, and headlong torrent of my foes.  Achm. 
I am a man of peace, mistake me not.  
I made a vow, nor can it be forgot,  
Till you revoke your oath.  Baia. 
Which here I do,  
Great Mahomet be witness, that I mean  
Sincerely what I speak, Achmetes now  Gives him his sword again. 
we're friends, and thus I nullify my vow;  
Heavens on this concord lend a gracious smile.  
Achmetes I have placed thee in my bosom,  
Gave thee an honoured title in my love;  
And of as lasting constancy, as is  
The sun which looks so cheerfully on this.  
Go fit the janissaries to the wars,  
Kindle new fire of valour in their breasts,  
Thou art their Genius, even the breath they draw,  
Raise then thy plumes, and keep thy foes in awe.  Achm. 
Stood there a Pluto at thy city walls,  
And with a band of furies had besieged  
Thy people, I would conjure them away,  
And send them back to hell: so thou shalt stand  
As fast as in the skies, under mine hand.  Baia, 
I am Crowned in thee, nor can I fall,  
Whilst such a valour breathes within our wall,  
Zemes depose me? he must be more strong,  
Then Mars, that can do Bajazet that wrong.  exeunt  

Actus Primi, Scena Septima.  Enter Zemes, and the King of Armemia, Arm. 
We hate thy brother, therefore lend thee aid,  
'Tis not our duty to expostulate  
Thy right unto the Crown, on to your wars,  
Thrive in your projects, I shall joy to see  
A quarrel fought 'twixt Bajazet and me.  
I'll second thy encounters, and we two  
Like the two Roman thunderbolts of war,  
Will with the flashes of our fiery swords  
Keep their composed ranks, that they shall stand  
Aghast, to see two Scipioes in one band,  Zemes. 
Thanks great Armenian King, and when I am  
Wheeled to that height, which now my brother holds,  
I shall require these benefits, and vow  
That kindness, which I can but promise now.  Arm. 
Come let's away, our armies are well set,  
Ready to march, now tremble Bajazet.  Exeunt  

Actus Primi, Scena Octava.  Enter Achmetes in his General's coat, and Caigubus his son. Achm. 
Caigubus, public dangers call me forth,  
And I must leave thee now unto thyself  
My son, thou seest unto what height of fame  
We are ascended, yet the sun shines clear,  
And not one dusky cloud of discontent  
Dims the unspotted brightness of our joys,  
Not Bajazet is more beloved than I:  
Such strict observance is there showed to me,  
By all that know my worth, and hear me named,  
As if I grasped jove's thunder in my hands:  
By all my hopes, I fear some tragic scene  
Will trouble our calm fortune▪ Son beware,  
The top of honour is a narrow plot  
Of ground, whither we have already got,  
'Tis brittle, and uncertain, if thou tread  
One careless step aside, thou fallest down dead,  
The shoot from thence is deep, and underneath,  
Ruin gapes wide, thy body to receive.  
Stand firm Caigubus: though thou startest not away  
Yet blasts of envy often force aside  
The weariest footsteppe: these where e'er they shall,  
Blow strong▪ will make them stagger if not fall.  Caigu. 
I shall forget to sleep, to breath, to live,  
Sooner than these thy precepts, they are fixed,  
And printed in my thoughts.  Ach. 
Enough, no more,  
That Isaac Bassa trust him not too much:  
I have divorced his daughter from my bed,  
For her adulterate looseness, hence, he hides  
A mass of fretting ranchor in his breast,  
Which he hath varnished yet, and gilded o'er  
With coloured shows of love, but he is false,  
And subtle as a Serpent, that will wind  
Into thy breast, stinging thee ere thou find  
Or once suspect his hatred; I must away,  Trumpet's sound. 
Hasty alarms call me hence, thus, and farewell,  
Envy grows greater, as our states excel:  Exit. Caigu. 
Father, adieu.  Exit.   

Actus Secundi,  

Scena Prima.  A dumb show: Enter Zemes, and the Armenian King, Trumpet's and Ensigns, Soldiers pass over the stage, and in a solemn march. Exeunt.  

Actus Secundi, Scena Secunda.  Enter Bajazet and Trizham, and Mahomet his two sons. Baia. 
Alaready marched so near, Zemes make haste  
To death, as if he longed our wrath to taste.  
Trizham, and Mahomet, it concerns you now,  
To fly hence nimbly to your Provinces,  
Zemes is come too near us to escape,  
He cannot fly the ground whereon he treads,  
But through your countries, hast then, if the wars  
Crack not his thread of life, his flight will be  
When you may intercept it; if we presume  
Only on bold Achmetes, and ourselves,  
In beds of down supinely, sleep at home,  
Zemes may scape the tempest of our wrath.  
Then we hope best, when each event we see,  
Thwarted with their preventing policy.  Trizham. 
Doubt not our haste and truth, he shall as soon  
Break through the fiery fabric of the skies,  
As through my Provinces:  Exit. Maho. 
Through hell as soon as mine.  Exit. Baia. 
Go, I have done my part; Mars and my fate  
Give fair success to my designed plot,  
And Zemes is entrapped, already dead:  
That hand secures me that strikes off his head.   

Actus Secundi, Scena Tertia.  Enter Achmetes, Cherseogles, Mustapha, Mesithes, drums and Trumpets. Achm. 
The battle will prove great and dangerous,  
But were their number double more than ours,  
The justice of our cause bids us go on,  
And like a cheerful drum strikes panting fear  
From every breast. Father, lead you the vanguard,  
The rearward be your charge, the right wing yours,  
Myself will guide the left, this day shall crown  
Your valour in full pride, Zemes must down.  Enter Zemes, Armenia, two Captains. Zem. 
Time hath outstripped our haste, our foes do stand,  
Waving their golden plumes, as if the gods,  
Were come to meet great Zemes in the field,  
Their armies planted, and a distilling cloud,  
Hovers above their heads, as if it wept,  
At their approaching fate. Armenia's King  
Lead you the vanguard, under your command  
The rearward shall march on, the Phalanx  
Be your care brave Captains, as we're informed,  
Achmetes rules the left wing of our foe,  
I'll rule the right wing of ours, so when I meet,  
Him in his pride I'll prostrate at his feet.  Arme. 
Our men are ordered, Zemes lead the way,  
The skies look dusky black on this sad day.  Exeunt Trumpets sound to the battailes, dumb shows in skirmishes, one of Zemes' Captains and Cherseogles meet, Zemes' Captain prevails, his second and Mesithes meet, Mesithes retires, she King of Armenia and Mustapha meet, Armenia prevails, and pursues the battle. Enter Achmetes with his sword. Ach. 
Great Queen of chance; but do I call on this  
Unconstant Stepdame? be thou propitious Mars,  
Rough god of war: steel up this weary arm,  
And put a ten fold vigour in my bones;  
What shall Achmetes fall, and in his loss,  
Great Bajazet, be wronged? it cannot be  
Death comes to wound thee Zemes, I am he.  As he goes out, the King of Armenia meets him, they fight, Achmetes makes him retire from the stage, and pursues him in his fury, enters again at the one door, Zemes at the other, they meet, drums and trumpets sounding. Ach. 
Zemes?  Zem. 
Achmetes? Opportunelie met,  
Here staggers all the fortune of the field,  
This hour must bless me, and a single fight  
Purchase thee honour, and to me my right:  
Honour to thee, to die by Zemes' hand,  
My right to me, an Empire to command.  Achm. 
Brave Prince, I more lament thy case then can thyself  
That runnest with such madness on the edge  
Of desperate ruin, thou art but young and weak,  
Manhood's soft blossoms are not fully spread  
Upon thy downy chin; but riper years  
Have settled the compacture of my joints,  
And they are strongly knit: 'twill vex my soul  
In the clear morn of thine uprising hopes,  
To wrap thee in a fatal cloud of death.  
Submit thee to thy brother, thou shalt find  
Me thy true friend, him merciful and kind.  Zem. 
Submit? had I a right to loves high Throne,  
And stood in opposition of his power,  
Should all the gods advice me to submit,  
I would reject their counsel: much more thine.  
Guard thee Achmetes, I thy stroke abide,  
I cannot gore thy Prince but through thy side.  They fight and breath: fight again. Achmetes takes away Zemes sword. Zem. 
The day be thine, and Zemes stand thy Fate;  
Strike home, I'd lost the day, and life I hate.  Achm. 
Have at thee then.  Offers to run at him with both swords. 
Not stir? now by my sword  
Thou shalt have fairer play before thy death:  
Take back thy sword, in that I recommit  
My forfeit to thy charge, thy life with it.  They fight again and Achmetes wounds him on the head. Zemes falls. Zem. 
Oh! hold thy conquering hand, and give my soul  
A quiet passage to her rest; my blood  
Begins to waste, and a benuming cold,  
Freezes my vital spirits: Achmetes go,  
Tell Bajazet that thou hast slain his foe.  Ach. 
Farewell, brave son of Mars, thy fame shall stay  
With us, although thy soul flit hence away.  Zemes 
I have not lied, Achmetes thou hast slain,  
My hopes, and therefore me, my wounds are shallow,  
But my state desperate, Ha? what shall I do?  
Armenia's King is 〈◊〉 acke to his home,  
Cold entertainment will attend me there;  
The field is empty, every man retired,  
Only a few dead carcasses, and I,  
Then whither shall I bend my steps? to Rome!  
To Rome then let it be: Bishop I come,  
thouart a religious thing, and I will trust,  
My life to one so innocently just.  Exit.  

Actus Secundi, Scena Quarta.  Enter Mahometes, Achomates, Selimus three of Baiazet's sons. Sely. 
Indeed we may be thought upon in time,  
When there be Countries more than there be men,  
We may get some preferment: sit at home  
And prove good boys, and please our father well.  
My thoughts are two unbridled, Bajazet,  aside 
I neither can, nor will endure thy curb,  
My compressed valour like a strangled fire.  
Breaks out in violent flames, and I must rule.  
Trizham and Mahomet are slipped in haste  
Each to their several Province, we must stay,  
That are their Elders for another day;  
This Court will prove our scaffold where we stand  
Placed in the eye of angry Bajazet:  
Who thwarts him in his fury is but dead,  
And in that passions heat, off goes his head.  
I must not line thus.  Maho. 
I could be content,  
He fears not death, whose thoughts are innocent.  Sely. 
I thank you brother, than belike some crimes  
Lie heavy on my conscience, and I fear,  
Unless I shift my station, 'twill be known;  
You think well of me kind Mahomates.  Maho. 
As well as of a brother I can think.  
If by a rash applying to yourself,  
My words have been distasteful, blame not me.  Sely. 
Can I apply them then unto myself?  
Am I so loose in manners? by heaven and earth,  
Thou shalt repent this deeply.  Ach. 
Stop that oath,  
Brothers agree, or walk hence but along  
Into my garden, where each springing herb  
Smiles on my fair content, there you shall see,  
How flowers of one stock, so twisted are,  
One in the others twinings, that they show,  
One stands by th'other's help, both jointly grow;  
These shall suffice your quarrels to remove,  
And dumb examples teach a lively love.  Maho. 
Come let us go.  Exeunt Mahomates. and Achomates. Sely. 
Strait I will follow you.  
Away fond wretches, o that every breast  
Were of so dull a temper as you two.  
But who comes here?  Enter Corcutus 
Brother Corcutus whither are you bent▪  
What from the Court so soon?  Corcu. 
My father bids,  
I go to undertake the charge, his love  
Hath thrown upon me; That's rich jonia.  Sely. 
You go to rule there?  Cor. 
Yes:  Sel. 
Heaven's speed you well.  Cor. 
Dear Selimus adieu.  Sel. 
Brother farewel.  Exit Corcutus 
Revenge and you, three furious twins of night,  
Ascend up to our theatre of ill,  
Plunge my black soul twice in your Stygian flood,  
That by its virtue it may be congealed,  
And hardened against remorse: Pluto every  
My breast, with a diviner policy,  
Then every trifling brain can reach unto;  
I'll fill the world with Treasons, and my wit  
Shall put new tracts to death: Charon shall see,  
His waftage still in use by company,  
Sent thither by my care, o 'twill do well,  
To blast the earth with want, and furnish hell,  Exit  

Actus Secundi, Scena Quinta,  Enter Isaac Bajazet. Isaac. 
Tush, Virtue makes men fools, Isaac be wise,  
Shake off the tender fetters of remorse,  
And hug that chance, that opens thee the way  
To ruinate Achmetes: did he stand  
On terms of conscience, neighbourhood or love,  
When he cashiered my daughter from his house,  
And to the world's broad eye, opened her crime?  
No: he was swift and bitter in his hate,  
And so will I, he is but now returned  
In Triumph from the field, as full of pride  
As I of envy, hence I'll ground my hate.  
When fierce Bellona smiled on Bajazet,  
Amidst the fiery tumults of the War,  
She offered Zemes to Achmetes hand,  
They fought, Achmetes conquered at his foot,  
Fell the proud rebel, wounded, but not slain,  
There might Achmetes with a blow of death  
Cut off our fears, continued in his breath:  
This shall incense the angry Emperor,  
And crush Achmetes in his fairest hopes.  
True politicians work by others hands,  
So I will by the Prince, my plot stands firm:  
See where he comes, now sly Mercurius, whet  
My tongue, to kindle hate in Bajazet,  Enter Bajazet▪ Baia. 
Isaac how thrived Achmetes in his Wars,  
Fame is of late grown dumb of his renown,  
Surely unwelcome news clogs her swift wings,  
Else had she now been freqvent in our Court;  
And we had fully known the chance of all.  Isa. 
We had, yet could not the event,  
Lie so concealed, but Isaac found it out,  
Which when I first discovered, strait it wrought  
Tempests of passions in me, joy and grief  
Reigned at one instant in the self same breast.  Bajazet 
As how?  Isa. 
As thus. I joyed that Zemes fell,  
Was sorry he escaped.  Baia, 
Fell and yet escaped?  Isa. 
Beneath Achmetes feet the traitor fell.  Baia. 
And yet escaped, good love how may this be.  Isa. 
Thus it might be, and was so: when sad death  
Was glutted with the ruin of each side,  
When slaughtering Mars had stained the field with blood,  
And cast a purple colour o'er the earth,  
At length some milder providence desired,  
An end of those hot tumults that were seen,  
To last in Zemes' breath; so that their fire  
Would be extinct, when Zemes should expire  
Then from the middle skirmish forth were brought  
He and Achmetes, being met they fought,  
Zemes was vanquished by a violent blow,  
Which struck him trembling lower than his knees▪  
Now whither flattering, or present gifts  
Redeemed him from his fate I cannot show  
Something they plotted, what, none yet can know.  Baia. 
Canst thou advise me Isaac how to sound  
The depth of all his mischief.  Isa. 
Thus you may,  
He being come from Zemes overthrow,  
And yet lukewarm in blood, and full of joy,  
You may in way of honour and free mind,  
Call him this night to banquet, then being set,  
When the hot spirits of caroused healths,  
Have spoiled his wit of smooth and painted tales,  
And wine unlocked the passage for the truth,  
Bid him relate the manner of his war,  
The chances and events; then when he comes  
To Zemes, if he err about his flight,  
His ends are bad, his bosom black as night.  Baia. 
Thou art my good Angel, Isaac I applaud  
Thy faithful plot, Achmetes were thy soul  
As dark as hell, and thy enclosed thoughts,  
As subtle as a winding Labyrinth,  
By such a guide as can remove each doubt,  
And by a quill of thread ●'de track them out.  
But Isaac, if we trap him in this wiles,  
How shall we kill the traitor? We have a trick,  
Already strange to catch him in the nick.  Isac▪ 
Easily thus: our laws allow a custom,  
Not used of late, yet firm still in effect,  
And thus it is; when there doth breath a man,  
Direfully hated of the Emperor,  
And he in strict severity of right  
Cannot proceed against him, than he may  
O'erwhelm him in a robe of mourning black,  
Which we have called deaths mantle, that thing done,  
The man thus used, is forfeited to fate,  
And a devoted sacrifice to him  
Whom he had er'st offended, neither can  
Strength or entreaty, wrest him from his death,  
Both which are treason, and inexpiable.  
Thus than you may proceed, when banquets done,  
And all their comic merriment run on  
To the last scene, and every man expects  
A solemn gift, due to Achmetes worth,  
Call for a robe therewith to deck your friend,  
And perfect all his glory, let that be  
This robe of fate, in which ready at hand,  
You may entomb the traitor, and bewrappe  
His pampered body in a veil of death,  
So let him dye, dream not on the event,  
Vice is rewarded in its punishment.  Baia. 
I will be fierce and sudden, Isaac invite  
Achmetes to a feast: he dies this night.  Exit Baia. Isa. 
I shall: would not a private warning serve  
But open penance must correct my child,  
And a severe divorcement quite degrade  
Her other honoured Matrimonial rights?  
Were he as strong, as steele-like jointed Mars,  
As much applauded through our popular streets,  
As erst Dictator Fabius was in Rome,  
Or great Augustus, yet the slave should feel  
The wrath of an inflamed father light  
Heavy upon his soul, and that e'er the next sun  
Appear, Achmetes all thy glory's done.  Exit.  

Actus Secundi, Scena Sexta.  Enter Achmetes, and Caigubus his son. Caigu. 
I feared your safety and devoutly prayed  
The sword of justice, which your hand did sway,  
Might be of conquering force.  Ach. 
Thy prayers were heard  
And I am here as safe as I went forth,  
Untouched by the rough hands of desperate war,  
Nor did I once spy danger in the field,  
But when I fronted Zemes, than there met  
Two streams of valour, sith on us was set  
The chance of the whole combat, others stood  
Expecting which of us should lose his blood:  
But heaven was just, and to compose the strife,  
This sword at one sad blow took thence his life.  Caig. 
The heavens were just indeed, but who comes here▪  
Isaac, Mesithes, and Baiazet's three sons,  Enter Isaac, Mesithes, Mahomates, Achomates, Selimus. Ach. 
They come to gratulate my late success,  
I see their errand folded in their smiles,  
How cheerfully they look upon my joys,  Omnes. 
All happiness attend Achmetes.  Ach. 
Thanks Noble friends, how fares the Emperor.  Isaac. 
Well by your guard, and he hath sent us now,  
All to invite your presence to a feast,  
We must be frolic, and this following night,  
Shall Crown your joy with revels and delight,  
Or else deprive thy soul of that good light.  aside Ach. 
We must be frolic Captains, think not then  
On my loud drums, and staring trumpeters,  
Such whose strong lungs roar out a bellowing voice,  
Would make a man dance Antic in the fire,  
we'll have a choicer music, and my feet,  
Shall tread a neater march, than such harsh strains  
Can teach them, with more pleasure, and less pains.  
Since it hath pleased the Emperor to grace  
Our slender merits thus: we shall be there,  
To taste his bounty.  Mes. 
we'll lead on before.  Ach. 
I'll follow you.  Isa. 
Ne'er to return more,  aside Exeunt omnes, Manent, Achmetes, and Caigabus. Ach. 
I am happy above envy, and my state,  
Not to be thwarted with 〈◊〉 fate,  
I could disburden all my jealous thoughts,  
And shake that currish vice suspicion, off  
From my sincere affection, I have wronged  
Sure I have wronged thee Isaac thy chaste love,  
Cloaks not intended mischief, black deceit  
Cannot lie hid under so pure a white,  
But it would cast a coloured shadow out,  
Through such a slender veil, thy generous thoughts,  
Nourish no base detraction; thy free love  
Thy professed actions, say 'twere no just fate  
That good men's deeds should die by ill men's hate.  Caig. 
Pray heaven they do not.  Ach. 
fear not, I am guessed  
To Bajazet, expected at the feast,  Exeunt  

Actus Secundi, Scena Septima.  Enter Bajazet, and Cherseogles. Baia. 
The day's far spent, is not Achmetes come?  Chers. 
Not yet great Emperor.  Baia. 
Viceroy of Greece, say now there were a man  
Whom my mind honoured, and I should command,  
To clothe his body in a suit of gold,  
Studded with gems, worth all the Indian snore,  
durst any tongue gainsay it:  Chers. 
Surely no.  Baia. 
What if I hated him, and should command  
To wrap him in a sable coloured black,  
And sentence him to death?  Chers. 
Then he must die.  Baia. 
My thoughts are troubled.  Chers. 
What should these questions mean,  
Abrupt demands, one to confound the other?  
My liege, your guests are come.  Enter Achmetes, Isaac, Mahomates, Achomates, Selimus, Mesithes, Caigubus. Baia. 
Blessed be the hour in which I see Achmetes safe returned  
Bring in our banquet soldiers: boys kneel round,  Enter a banquet, all kneel. 
A ring of braver lads ne'er blessed the ground,  
Supply us here with nectar, give it me,  takes the cup 
Achmetes, noble warrior, here's to thee,  
A health to thy blessed fortunes, it shall run  
A complete circle ere the course be done.  Ach. 
My duty bids me pledge it. I return  
Good health to Isaac, and in this I've drowned  
All concealed enmities.  drinks Isa. 
jove split me with his thunder, if my breast  
Harbour one bad thought, when this draught is past.  
And so I greet thy son? health to Caigubus.  drinks Caigu. 
Mahomates the turn lights next on you.  drinks Maho. 
I'll pledget freely, Viceroy her's to you.  drinks Chers. 
Achomates, to you I must commend  
The welfare of Achmetes in this cup.  drinks Acho. 
To you Mesithes, thus I prove my love.  drinks Mes. 
Young Prince I do commit this health to you.  drinks Sely. 
I am the last▪ be prodigallin wine,  
Fill up my bowl with Nectar, let it rise  
Above the goblet's side, and may it like  
A swelling Ocean flow above the banks,  
I will exhaust it greedily, 'tis my due.  drinks Omnes. 
we'll drink with Bacchus and his roaring crew.  Baia. 
Already done, so quickly run about,  
One health to me, faith sith you are set to't,  
here's a carouse to all,  Omnes. 
we'll pledge it round.  As they drink round, Bajazet riseth and speaks aside. Baia. 
'Tis the last draught to some, or I shall fail,  
In mine intendments▪ let a foe escape?  
When he was trampled down beneath his feet,  
There must be treason in it; how my blood  
boil in my breast, with anger, not the wine  
Could work such strong effect; my soul is vexed,  
A chafing heat distempers all my blood,  
Achmetes thou must cool it when thy limbs  
Are emptied of that moisture they suck in,  
And thy stained blood vnchanneled from thy veins,  
Then shall I be secure, a quiet rest  
Shall rock my soul asleep, 'tis thy last hour,  
Must set a period to my restless fears.  
What are you merry friends? drink on your course,  
Then all arise: and now to consummate  
Our happy meeting, and shut up our joys,  
Discourse Achmetes of your finished wars;  
After an age of woes it proves at last  
A sweet content to tell of dangers past.  
Let'● know your whole events.  Ach. 
Great Emperor  
Scarce had the rosy daystar through the East,  
Displayed her silver colours through the heaven,  
But all the watchful soldiers ready armed,  
Dimmed her pale cheeks, with their transparent steel,  
And added lustre to the dull sight morn,  
So stood we in full pride till the bright Sun  
Climbing the glass pavement of the skies,  
Roused the slow spirits of the backward foe,  
And urged them to the field; at length stepped forth  
Zemes, in all the trappings of his state:  
And like a well-taught Hector, ranged his troops,  
Into their several orders, all prepared  
Titan being fearful stepped behind a cloud,  
Lest when he saw our limbs bathed all in blood,  
And purple streams gushed from our wounded breasts,  
Like water from their springs; he in a fear  
Should be eclipsed, or startle from his sphere,  
The air was thick and dim, our armies joined,  
The skirmishes grew hot, and angry Mars  
Enthroned upon the battlements of heaven,  
Left either side to tug with their own strength,  
Till their oppressing multitude bore down,  
The justice of our cause, and our whole side,  
Not daring to withstand, scorning to fly,  
Stood trembling on the utmost brink of hope,  
Then the propitious Gods singled me out  
Zemes, the life and spirit of our foes:  
We met and fought, such was my happy fate,  
That at the first encounter Zemes fell,  
And I disarmed him, when in proud contempt,  
He spit defiance in the face of death,  
Opened his breast, and dared me to the stroke,  
Whereby I might have sent him hence to hell,  
But I in admiration of his worth,  
Armed his right hand once more and bad him fight,  
Chance did direct my sword upon his head,  
He fell before me, and cried, Achmetes hold▪  
I'm wounded to the death, and Captain go  
Tell Bajazet that thou hast slain his foe.  
I left the dying Prince, our wars were done  
And ceased with him, by whom they were begun.  Isaac. 
The plot has taken.  aside Baia. 
Treason by Mahomet.  
I left the dying Prince.  Isaac. 
Pursue the project.  Baia. 
Worthy Achmetes,  
Well we may give, but not reward by gifts,  
And thank, but not requite thee, I would hate  
That liberality which would abate  
The worth of the receiver▪ thy true fame,  
Outstrips the length of titles, and a name  
Of weighty honour, is a slender price,  
To grace thy merits with, as for a voice,  
To crown thee after death, thou art the choice,  
Of everliving glory, on thy crest,  
Is her abode, and when the latest rest  
Of nature, hath betrayed thee to thy grave,  
Then shall she print in characters of gold  
How brave a man thou wast, how great, how bold;  
Though we be dumb, yet shall the world uplift,  
Thy name, and thou shalt live without our gift.  
Yet thy blessed fates, have not created thee  
So clearly Godlike, but some other chance,  
May cross thy greatness, and thy high renown  
The envy of some God may shoulder down,  
Then thus we'll make thee happy, future events  
Ne'er shall oppress thy worth nor envious chance  
Blot thy ensuing fame, Achmetes know,  
Death an immortal gift, we 〈…〉  He casts a gown of black 〈◊〉 upon him, called the 〈◊〉 of death. Caigub. 
Treason, treason. O my Father treason,  
Help janissaries.  Excur●●●. Baia. 
Stop the furious youth.  Exeunt Bassaes. 
Bring in an Headsman. Traitor, Zemes' dead?  
He lives to see this hand untwine thy thread.  Enter seven or eight janissaries with swords 〈◊〉. 
What means this outrage?  janiza. 1. 
Cruel homicide.  2. 
Vngratefull wretch.  3. 
Tyrant.  4. 
Meet hilts in's guts.  Circled him. 5. 
First let his own hands take that Mantle off.  Baia. 
Help! Treason! I am slain.  6. 
Help? why? From whom?  
Is not thy Guard about thee.  Baia. 
Hemmed in with death? My friends beset me round  
Not to preserve my life, but murder me.  
Blush you pale heavens at this abhorred fact,  
That they may see their crimes, and be ashamed  
Of this unheard offence: Valiant janissaries,  
Sheath up these weapons of rebellion,  
Print not that ugly sin upon your brow,  
Let my tree pardon woe you to submit.  
Keep your allegiance firm.  Omnes. 
Ha, ha, ha, ha.  1 
One word more damns thee.  2 
How prettily he began to talk  3 
Of sin and pardon. Bajazet behold  
Here stands a man mild, honoured, gracious,  
Valiant, and faithful; gentle in command,  
At home beloved, and feared amongst our foes,  
Yet hath thy hand of cruelty assayed  
The hated murder of so the re a friend:  
Blush you pale heavens at this abhorred fact,  
That he may see his crimes, and be ashamed  
Of this new bloodiness. Wicked Bajazet  
These admonitions fit the teacher well.  Baia. 
But hear me speak.  4 
First set Achmetes free, then speak thy fill.  Baia. 
What shall I be compelled?  5 
And quickly too.  6 
We cannot brook to see him stand thus clothed.  Baia. 
Your anger will have way. Achmetes go.  Takes off the Mantle. 
There take him. They have saved thee from this woe.  Exeunt shouting and leaping. 
Pernicious villains, they have crossed my plot,  
'Twas intercepted e'en in the last deed:  
What should Achmetes mean thus to engross  
The best affections of my janissaries?  
Will he defrand me of my Crown and life?  
My life I weigh not: but to lose my Crown  
Were to be sentenced to a hell of woes.  
I am full stuffed with choler. Slavish Peasants  
Held I a sword of power in mine hand,  
I would disjoint them piecemeal; can I not?  
Am I not Emperor? men call me so:  
A reverend title, empty attributes,  
And a long page of words follow my name,  
But no substantial true prerogative.  Enter Isaac. Isaac. 
Good health to Bajazet.  Baiaz. 
Indeed that's nothing, since your counsel failed.  Isaac. 
Use your best patience it may be regained.  
Affection in your stubborn multitude  
Is a prone torrent not to be withstood.  
Were you as sacred as their household gods,  
Yet when you thwart the current of their will,  
They'll break the bands of duty, and profane  
That holiness to which they bound their thoughts.  
Mine eyes are witness with what lively joy  
They bore him through the streets upon their necks,  
Offering the use of their best strength.  Baia. 
No more.  
I am already gone. Why did not then  
His proud ambitious tongue bid them go fetch  
My Crown, and with quick speed disrobe a wretch?  
'Twas in his power: we are distracted Isaac▪  
Lend us thy wholesome counsel to prevent  
My ruin, and their dangerous intent.  Isaac. 
Mine is a blunt advice, and deep in blood  
To cut off those base Peasants that withstood  
The force of your decree.  Baiaz. 
To cut them off?  
Me thinks I see myself yet circled in  
With their revengeful swords, ha? cut them off?  
Could I but curse the Traitors from the earth,  
Or were my doom pronounced but of effect,  
I'd rattle such new torments in their ears,  
Should stagger their high courage; but my fears  
Strangle my furies, and my envious fate  
Forceth my tongue to flatter, where I hate.  Isaac. 
Here lies the safest course, to rid these griefs  
Give out, you'll go to war, so to enlarge your territories,  
And to this end fetch home,  
Those warlike Soldiers placed in Garrison.  
Let them remain without the walls; at last,  
When things shall fit your purpose, lead them all  
By night into the City, and in one stroke  
Strike off so many thousand perjured heads,  
As shall amaze posterity to hear,  
How many lives redeemed thee from thy fear.  Baiaz. 
The weight of all mine honour leans on thee,  
That or some nearer course shall quell the pride  
Of strong Achmetes, and confound his side.   

Actus Secundi, Scena Ostava.  Enter Zemes and Alexander Bishop of Rome. Bishop. 
If your intents be virtuous, and desire  
Of eminent place quite banished from your thoughts,  
My house shall be your Castle: that I deny  
My men and Arms to aid you in your broils,  
Think it kind usage: should my Holinesle  
Feed your ambition, and make strong your hand  
Against your brother 'twere too light a brand  
Of flaming hot dissension, and to set  
The world in a combustion: all would then  
Quarrel by my example: No sweet Prince  
Rome's holy Bishop must not so transgress.  
If you will dwell within my sacred roof  
Settle irregular Passions, and begin  
A quiet life, repentance wipes out sin.  Zemes. 
My waxen wings are melted, I will soar  
Against the sun, through such thick clouds no more.  
The middle Region shall contain my flight,  
Your counsel sways my wishes, my late deeds  
Were full of sin: now let my brother know  
Zemes reputes; (and that's the greatest woe.)  Exit. Bish. 
To man's aspiring thoughts, how sweet is hope  
Which makes them (like Chameleons) live on air  
And hug their slender plots: till cool despair  
Doth so benumb his thoughts, that he falls dead  
From his sublime height, and his lofty head  
Which levelled at the skies, doth drop below  
His humble feet, this hath experience taught  
In that man's headlong ruin, whose proud thoughts  
Aimed at the Turkish Diadem; but now cross Fates  
Have forced his stubborn Fates to bow.  Enter a Messenger. 
What speaks your entrance?  Messen. 
Health to Rome's Bishop.  
And Peace from Bajazet, who commends his love  
With this his Letter, and expects from you  Gives him a letter. 
A gracious answer. He reads the Letter.  Bish. 
Let Zemes die by an untimely death,  
Else for our love you shall provoke our hate.  
he's not our brother, but our hated foe:  
And in his death you shall prevent our woe.  
Return our service back: tell Bajazet  
What he hath given in charge; shall by my hand  
Be carefully dispatched.  Messen. 
Good peace attend you.  Exit. Bish. 
Imperious Turk,  
Am I not Gods Vize-gerent here on earth,  
And dar'st thou send thy letters of command?  
Or speak to me in threatening menaces?  
It grates my patience to obey this monster,  
Yet must I murder Zemes, what do I know  
Whether my father's soul did transmigrate  
Into his breast or no? be dumb remorse,  
The Turk is great and powerful, if I win  
His love by this, 'twill prove a happy sin.    

Actus Tertij,  

Scena Prima,  Enter Selimus alone, Selym. 
Am I so poor in worth? still kept so low?  
Was I begot only to live and dye,  
To fill a place, move idly to and fro  
Like other naturals? unmanly life,  
The world shall take more notice of my fame,  
Else will I with the venomed sting of war,  
Deface the beauty, of the universe.  
Posteritie shall know, once there did breathe  
A Selimus, a mortal deity,  
A man at whose blessed birth the planets smiled,  
And spent their influence to create a boy,  
As brave as Greece e'er hatched, or Rome, or Troy.  Enter Isaac 
here's Isaac Bassa, he's already mine,  
He courts my father, but intends for me,  
And furthers all my counsels; Noble friend▪  
How stand our hopes?  Isaac 
Great Sir, most happily,  
The Bassa's murmur at Achmetes wrong:  
Seize on their wavering love, their breasts are open,  
To him that first will enter there's free scope;  
Drop down thy frank affection in their hands,  
To bribe is lawful, and 'tis strongly proved  
By good examples, Otho ne'er was loved,  
Till he had bought the soldiers, that once done,  
Galba grew out of fashion; so must we  
Addict them to us by a gainful fee:  
Give freely, and speak fairly I'll be gone▪  
Stay, here, the Bassaes will be here anon.  Exit. Enter Mesithes. Sely. 
I shall observe thy precepts, Mesithes welcome,  
How fare you in these days of discontent?  
My duty bids me ask, and wish you well;  
I have been long a barren debtor to you,  
At length I may prove thankful: wear my love,  
'Tis yours without refusal, a sleight gift,  gives him a ring aside 
Yet your looks tells me, 'twill help out my drift.  Mesi. 
This courtesy exceeds my weak deserts  
Sweet Prince but when occasion calls me forth,  
To help you, I'm devoted to your worth.  Sely. 
Your kind acceptance of that recompense,  
Binds me more strictly to you.  Mesith. 
Sir, farewell,  Exit. and enter Mustupha Sely. 
So one hath taken, see where another comes:  
All health to Mustapha.  Musta. 
Thanks gracious Prince,  
Your gentle pardon for my boldness Sir.  Sely. 
Command my pardon, and commend my love  
To thy bright daughter: tell her I admire  
Her virtuous perfection; let that chain  gives him a chain 
Make me remembered often in her mind.  Must. 
When my weak strength, or wealth shall stretch so far,  
As to continue—  Sely. 
No Cynic compliment, good Mustapha.  Musta. 
Then I return you thanks  Exit Sely. 
Health follow you,  
And honour me; here is a third at hand.  Enter Asmehemides. Selym. 
Continuance to your health Sir.  Asme. 
Thanks gentle Prince▪  
Please you to use my service?  Sely. 
Yes, thus far  
Spend me that purse of gold.  gives him a purse. Asme. 
What means your Highness?  Selym. 
But to deserve your kindness, and avoid  
The hated censure of ingratitude,  Asme. 
This is your liberal virtue not my deeds,  
But you shall find me thankful.  Exit▪ Selimus. 
So I hope;  
Three steps are trod already to a Throne,  
And I am rich in friends, these gifts gifts  
Conjure observance from their servile breasts:  
Oh powerful gold, whose influence doth win  
Men with desire for to engender sin.  
Isaac Bassa?  Isaac 
Even the man you wished;  
What did the golden 〈◊〉 work good effect?  
And make the Bassas stoop unto your mind?  Sely. 
Words are but empty shadows, but if deeds  
Answer their words, we cannot doubt their faith,  
They stoop beneath my feet, I seem to be  
As true as jove, but sly as Mercury,  Enter Mesithes 
Here comes Mesithes muttering back again,  
But step aside and we shall know his mind.  Mesith. 
But he is cruel, bloody, and his pride  
Unsufferable great—  Selimus 
Ha?  Mesithes 
Proud Bajazet,  
Thou hast usurped a title, thy defcent  
Could never reach unto, thou wrong'st the world  
Since thou detainest the Crown, which heavens decree  
Due to a better brow, thou art defamed  
With Tyranny and wrong, but Selimus  
Is void of blemishes as truth of lies;  
Bad stocks must be cut down, the good must rise.  Sely. 
He daunted me at first, but now I find  
The golds bright lustre made his judgement blind,  
Mustapha comes.  Enter Mustapha Musta. 
Fortune hath wheeled me up above the stars,  
Under a Monarch I'll not sell my hopes:  
Bold Selimus I'll second thy designs,  
And thou shalt Queen my daughter, that being done  
With mine own splendour I'll eclipse the Sun.  Sely. 
ist so? a while I'll feed thy airy hopes  
Than dash thee into nothing.  
here's a third.  Enter Asmehemides Asm. 
A purse of gold? I can untie the knot,  
The close aengima says, I would be King.  
Brave Selimus I like thy mounting thoughts,  
Work out thy projects, thou canst never need  
Or ask my help, but thou art sure to speed.  Exit Sely. 
What we resolved, stands firm, but the event  
Be scanned when leisure serves, we'll now prevent  
My brother's hopes, and by a sudden fate  
Unto their lives and days give equal date,  
To compass a blessed end: now we begin  
jove hath offended if it be a sin  
To throw a father down: Saturn did dwell  
Once in the heavens, love threw him down to hell.  Enter Bajazet and Achmetes, hand in hand, Cherseogles, Mesithes, Mustapha, Mahomates, Achomates, Trizham, Mahomet, Asmehemides. Sely. 
But stay. Achmetes, and our father's friends?  Baia. 
Achmetes I have injured thy deserts,  
Suborned accusers, wronged my credulous ears,  
And my rash censure undervalved much  
Thy noble spirits, when it first condemned  
Then of intended treason, rinse thy soul  
In the dull river of oblivion,  
We halt beneath the burden of thy hate,  
Think my moved anger made me hot and wild▪  
I cannot sleep till we be reconciled.  Achm. 
The gods neglect my welfare here on earth,  
And when I shall put off this mortal load,  
Let me be outlawed from the Court of heaven,  
If in this bosom there lie hid one thought  
That doth not honour Bajazet.  Baia▪ 
We know—  
Thy virtues make us happy: valiant Sir,  
Thy feet once more must tread a warlike march▪  
Under our fearful banner, thou shalt place  
Even to the walls of Rome, there dwells our foe,  
Where our half Moon reared in the middle camp,  
Like a distempered Meteor in the air,  
Shall strike amazement in the cloistered monks  
And shake the prelate's Mitre from his head,  
Till he yield Zemes up alive or dead.  
When we have moved thee from thy januzaries,  
Thou shalt not travel far.  aside Isaac 
A subtle trick  
And well pretended, I admire thy wit.  aside Achm. 
Let me march hence, and Bajazet shall know,  
How little I befriend my Prince's foe,  
I'll cast a ring of soldiers round 〈◊〉  
The walls of Rome, if Zemes scape thence out,  
Cut of my breath: he that's deep in blame,  
Must hazard boldly to regain his fame.  Triz. 
What means our father, noble Bajazet,  
To work untimely horrors through the world,  
Desolate ruin, public discontent  
Have printed deep impressions in our path,  
Danger and fear scare emptied from our town,  
The shaken members of our common wealth,  
Yet staggers with their wounds, when discord shall  
Make but a second breach, they faint and fall.  Mah. 
Short peace hath charmed your subjects all asleep,  
And thrown a quiet slumber o'er their eyes,  
Whilst with a sweet restorative she heals  
Their Martyred joints, and wipeth out their scars  
Writ on their bosoms by the hand of wars,  
Zemes is safely cloistered up at Rome,  
The prelate dares not aid him, all the gods  
Smile on the entrance of triumphant peace,  
War lies fast bound, nor can she work our pains  
Unless we lose the fury from her chains.  Baia. 
Our sons instruct us? must your pregnant wits,  
Cross my command? Bassaes prepare for war,  
And since your grave discourse argues a will,  
To stay at home▪ you shall; we'll lay you up,  
Where no loud echoing drums shall break your sleep,  
Even in the bowels of your mother earth  
I will entomb you: Put them both to death.  Omnes. 
What means great Bajazet?  Baia. 
To murder you, unless you strangle them.  Ambo. 
But hear us speak.  Baia. 
Stop up the damned passage of their throat,  
Or you are all but ghosts. what; stare you friends?  
Isaac and Selimus, a garter;  
Twist me that fatal string about his neck,  
And either pull and an end,  strangle Trizham. 
Mesithes come  
join force with me, by 〈◊〉 y' best make haste,  
Or thou art shorter lived than is that bratte.  
Tug strongly at it.  strangle Mahomet. 
So; let the bastard drop,  
We have out-liud our tutors: dunghill slaves,  
Durst they breathe out their Stoic sentences  
In opposition of our strict command?  Selym. 
So: things run well along, and now I find  
love hears my prayers, and the gods grow kind.  Baia. 
Did not I send these to their provinces  
To hinder Zemes' flight? and did not they  
Dejected bastards give him open way?  
Mine anger hath been just.  Cherseo. 
None doth deny't;  
You may proceed in your edict for wars,  
And make Achmetes general of the camp.  Baia. 
It is enough: Achmetes go to hell,  stabs him 
The devils have rung out thy passing bell,  
And look for thine arrival.  
Shend me slaves.  Exeunt omnes. 
They fly before my breath like mists of air,  
And are of less resistance, I'll pursue.  Exit Achme. 
Oh! I am slain, Tyrant thy violent hand,  
Hath done me pleasure, though against thy will,  
Had I as many lives as drops of blood,  
I'd not outlive this hour: fly hence vain soul,  
Climb yonder sacred mount, strive upwards, there,  
There where a guard of stars shall hem thee round,  
Build thee a safe tribunal— I am gone—  
Oh tragic cruelty— behold— the end  
Of two right Noble sons— one faithful friend  〈◊〉 Re-enter Bajazet in fury. Baia. 
Have all forsaken me? and am I left  
A prey unto myself; did all their breath  
Pass through his organs? and in his sad death,  
Have I abruptly cracked the vital thread  
Of all my Bassas?  Achmetes groans. 
Ha? where am I now?  
In some Gehenna, or some hollow vault,  
Where dead men's ghosts sigh out their heavy groans:  
Resolve me Mahomet, and rid me hence,  
Or I will spoil the fabric of thy tomb,  
And beat away the title of a God.  
Dost thou not move? a trunk? a stock? to die,  
Is to put on your nature, so will 1  Offering to stab himself, Cherseogles, Mesithes, Mustapha, Mahomates, Achomates, Selimus, Asmehemides, interrupt him. Omnes. 
Hold, hold, and live.  Baia. 
How come these bodies dead?  Filip. 
Father, it was yourself.  Baia. 
Let me revoke  
My wand'ring sense, Oh what a stream of blood  
Hath purged me of my black suspicion,  
Two sons, one valiant Captain hence are wrought  
By mine own hand, to cure one jealous thought,  
As 'tis, they are the happier, I outlive,  
Them whom I wished to fall: only to grave,  
Bear forth their bodies; Bassas carry them out,  
We were cursed in this,  
And shall entomb with them much of our bliss,  
Indeed we had resolved to spend this day  
In things of more solemnity, less woe.  
Now our more wished council shall begin  
And bitter deeds weigh up the scales of sin.  
Amasia is a province rich and strong,  
Mahomates it is thine, keep it as long  
As I have power to give it go, provide  
For thy conveyance, at the next fair tide.  Mahom. 
Farewell dear father.  Baia. 
Worthy son adieu.  
The love my dead sons wanted, falls to you,  
As an hereditary good.  Selimus 
Then we  aside 
May veil our heads in black, no mourners be.  Baia. 
Mahomates, thy worth  
Deserves some trophies of our love,  
Which to let slip unmentioned, were to add  
To this black day, a fourth offence as bad;  
Govern Man●sia, now the people stand  
Disfurnished of an head, let thy command,  
Be great amongst them, so; make speedy haste.  
Honour ayes for thee.  Selym. 
Now the storms are past.  Mahom. 
Father adieu;  Exit. Baia. 
Mahomates, farewell.  Selym. 
Now to my lot, I thought 'twould ne'er a fell,  aside Baia. 
Now Selimus, we know thy hopes are great,  
And thine ambition gapes with open jaws,  
To swallow a whole Dukedom: but young Sir,  
We dare not trust the reins of government  
Into the hands of Phacton. Desire,  
Rashly fulfilled, may set the world on fire;  
Green youth, and raw experience are not fit,  
To shoulder up a Kingdom's heavy weight,  
Mix wit with stayed discretion, and spend  
Wild years in study, than we do intend  
To settle more preferment on thy head  
Then thou canst hope for.  Selimus 
Wilt thou envious dotard  
Strangle my greatness in a miching hole?  
The world's my study Bajazet, my name,  
Shall fill each angle of this round-built frame.  Exit. Baiaz. 
I know he grumbled at it; but 'tis good  
To calm the rebel heat of youthful blood  
With sharp rebukes.  Enter a 〈◊〉▪ Messen. 
Health to the Emperor.  Baiaz. 
What will your message?  Messen. 
Duty first from Rome,  
Commended by the Bishop to your service,  
With a firm promise to dispatch your will  
What ever it employed, and would but stay  
Till times swift circle should bring forth a day  
Secure for the performance.  Baiaz. 
'Tis enough.  Exit. 
Thanks for your care. This was to murder Zemes.  
War with the Bishop? 'thad been pretty sport,  
I knew my powerful word was strong enough  
To make him do my pleasure: simple Priest,  
Only I used it as a trick, to send  
Achmetes from the City and his friends;  
But Fate to smiled upon me, that I found  
A shorter means his life and hopes to wound  
With my sententious sons, that when my foes  
Fled through their Province, finely let him go;  
Which being wholly finished, strait to please  
My friends, I played raging Hercules;  
Then to shut up the Scene, neatly put on  
A passionate humour, and the worst was done.  
But who comes here?  A dumb show. Enter Mahomee●es with store of Turks he as taking his 〈◊〉, they as coremonio●sly with great humbleness, taking their leaves, depart at several doors. 
I like not this. Mahomates beloved  
So dear of the Commonalty: ha?  
he's wise, fair-spoken, gently qualified,  
Powerful of tongue; why he's the better son,  
Not to supplant his Father. I mislike  
The prodigal affection thrown on him  
By all my subject. I belied my hopes  
When I presumed this day had freely rid  
Me of my worst vexation: I was borne  
To be a jade to Fate, and Fortunes scoff,  
My cares grow double-great by cutting off.  Exit.  

Actus Tertij, Scena Tertia.  Enter Caigubus Achmetes son. Caigub. 
If ever man loved sorrow wished to grieve  
Father I do for thee. Could I deprive  
My senses of each object, but thy death,  
Then should I joy to sigh away my breath:  
Be Godhead to my grief, then shall these eyes  
With tributary tears bedeck thy shrine:  
And thus I do invoke thee: nimble Ghost  
What ever Orb of Heaven, what ever coast  
Affords thee present mansion, quickly thence  
Flit hither, and present unto my sense  
Thyself a feeling substance, let me see,  
Acknowledge and admire thy Majesty.  
Put off that airy thinness which denies  
Me to behold thee with these duller eyes,  
Then shall they sending down a powerful flood,  
Rinse thy cold members from each drop of blood,  
And so return thee back, that thou may'st soar  
Up to the skies, much purer than before.  
Had the just course of nature wrought thee hence,  
I would have made the gods know their offence,  
And back restore thy soul: but thou art dead,  
And 'twas a fiercer hand that clipped thy thread.  
Fiercer, and bolder, which did ever thrive  
By mischief, and once coffinde thee alive  
Up in death's mantle, but then would not use  
Such open violence, nor durst abuse  
One of such sacred worth, till fury struck  
His reason dead, and made his treacherous hand  
Creepingly stab thee, both unseen and foul,  
As if he would have stolen away thy soul.  Enter Isaac. 
But oh!  Isaac. 
But of indeed!  Caigub. 
Why what?  Isaac. 
As bad  
A stroke attends thee as thy Father had▪  
Princess suspicion is a flame of fire,  
Exhaled first from our manners, and by desire  
Of rule is nourished, fed, and roars about  
Till the whole matter dye, and then goes out.  Caigub. 
Unfold a Scene of murders: Fates work on,  
we'll make a path to Heaven, and being gone  
Down from the lofty towers of the skies  
Throw thunder at the Tyrant; will he press  
The earth with weight of slaughtered carcases?  
Let him grow up in mischief, still shall her womb  
Gaping, reserve for him an empty tomb.  
We do but tread his path; and Bassa since  
It stands upon thee, now to cure thy Prince  
Of his distempered lunacy, go fetch  
The instrument of death, whilst I a wretch  
Expect thy sad return.  Isaac. 
I go; and could  
It stand with mine allegiance, sure I should  
Employ my service to a better end,  
Then to disrobe the Court of such a friend.  Exit. Caigub. 
He that is judged, down from a steepy hill  
To drop unto his death, and trembling still  
Expects one thence to push him, such a slave  
Doth not deserve to live, nor's worth a grave.  
Then Lachisi●, thou that divid'st the thread  
Of breath, since this day's Sun must see me dead,  
Thus I'll prevent thy pain, thus I'll outrun  
My Fate; and in this stroke thy work is done.  Stabs 〈◊〉. 
Eternal mover, thou that whirl'st about  
The skies in circular motion hear me out  
What I command, see that without control  
Thou make Heaven clear, to entertain my soul,  
And let the nimble spirits of the air  
Print me a passage hence up to thy chair,  
There will I sit, and from the Azure sky,  
Laugh at obsequious base mortality.  
Vanish my soul, enjoy, embrace thy Fate  Stabs himself. dies. Enter Isaac with executioners. Isaac. 
We are prevented; see the fates command  
False deeds, must dye though by the Actor's hand.  
Return to Bajazet, and bear that corpses.  Exeunt. 
So now I am alone, nor need I fear  
To breathe my thoughts out to the silent air;  
My conscience will not hear me, that being deaf  
I may joy freely: first thy hated breath  
Achmetes vanished, next Caigubus fell,  
Thus we climb Thrones, whilst they drop down to hell.  
The glorious eye of the all-seeing sun,  
Shall not behold (when all our plots are done)  
A greater Prince than Selimus; 'tis he  
Must share with jove an equal Majesty.  
But for myself his Engineer I'll stand  
Above mortality, and with a hand  
Of power, dash all beneath me into dust,  
If they but cross the current of my lust.  
What I but speak, 'tis Oracle and Law,  
Thus I will rule and keep the world in awe.  Selym. 
Noble assistant.  Enter Selimus, Mesithes, Mustapha, Asmehemedes. Isaac. 
Happy Selimus.  Selym. 
'Tis thou must make me so, for should I stay  
Waiting my Father's pleasure, I might stand  
Gazing with envy at my Brother's pride,  
Myself lying prostrate, even beneath their feet.  
Towns, Cities, Countries, and what ere so ever  
Can give high thoughts content, are freely theirs,  
I only like a spend thrift of my years  
Idle my time away, as if some god  
Had razed my name out of the roll of Kings,  
Which if he have, than Isaac be thy hand  
As great as his, to print it in again  
Though Bajazet say nay.  Isaac. 
No more: I will;  
An Empire be our hopes; that to obtain  
we'll watch, plot, fight, sweat, and be cold again.  〈◊〉.  

Actus Tertii, Scena Quarta.  Enter Zemes, and Alexander Bishop of Rome. Bishop. 
Cannot my words add solace to your thoughts?  
Oh! you are gulfed too deep in a desire  
Of sovereign pomp, and your high thoughts aspire.  
All the unshadowed plaineness of my life  
Doth but contract thick wrinkles of mislike  
In your Majestic brow, and you distaste  
Moral receipts, which I have ministered  
To cool Ambition's Fever.  Zemes. 
Pardon Sir,  
Your Holiness mistakes my malady,  
Another sickness grates my tender breast,  
And I am ill at heart: alas, I stand  
An abject now as well in Nature's eye,  
As erst I did in Fortunes: is my health  
Fled with mine honour? and the common rest  
Of man, grown stranger to me in my grief?  
Some unknown cause hath bred through all my blood  
A colder operation, than the juice  
Of Hemlock can produce: O wretched man:  
Look down propitious Godheads on my woes:  
Phoebus infuse into me the sweet breath  
Of cheerful health, or else infectious death.  
If there an Angel be whom I have crossed  
In my tormented boldness? and these griefs  
Are expiatory punishments of sin?  
Now, now repentance strike quite through my heart,  
Enough of pains, enough of bitter smart  
Have tied me to't. I have already been  
Bolted from joy, content can enter in,  
Not at the open passage of my heart,  
I neither hear, nor see, nor feel, nor touch  
With pleasure; my vexation is so much.  
My grave can only quit me of annoy;  
That prevents mischief, which can bring no joy.  Exit. Bish. 
Now I could curse what mine own hand hath done,  
And wish that he would vomit out the draught  
Of direful poison, which infects his blood.  
Ambitious fire? why 'tis as clean extinct,  
As if his heart were set beneath his feet,  
Grief hath boiled out the humours of vain pride,  
And he was mere contrition.  
What's the news?  Enter a Messenger. Messen. 
Zemes as now he left you, pale and wan,  
Dragging his weak legs after him, did fall  
Dead on the stony pavement of the Hall,  
Not by unhappy chance, but as he walked,  
Folding his arms up in a pensive knot,  
And railing at his Fate, as if he staged  
The wounded Priam, or some falling King,  
So he, oft lifting up his closing eye,  
Sunk faintly down, groaned out, I die, I die.  Bish 
It grieves my soul: let Bajazet know this  
Could our own shortened life, but lengthen his  
By often sighs I would transfuse my breath  
Into his breast, and call him back from death.  Exit.  

Actus Tertii, Scena Quinta.  Enter Selimus, Mesithes, Mustapha. Selym. 
Let not my absence steal away my love,  
Or local distance weaken the respect  
Which you have ever borne me: I must fly  
To shake the yoke of bondage from my neck:  
My Father's eyes shall not scan out my life  
In every action; then when I am gone,  
Our love like precious mettle shall not crack  
In the protraction, but be gently framed  
Into a subtler thinness, which shall reach  
From either part, not crazed by any breach.  Mesith. 
Return with ruin painted in thy brow,  
Pale death triumphant in thy horrid crest,  
Danger limned out upon thy threatening sword,  
The Turkish thraldom portrayed on thy shield,  
we'll meet thee in thy horror, and unfold  
Our arms as wide as heaven to take thee in.  Selym. 
We trust you: if there lie unspoken love  
Hid in your bosoms? we must bury it  
In silent Farewells.  Mustaph. 
Noble Prince adieu,  
Since thy frank deeds have printed in our hearts  
So true a pattern of thee, we will feed  
Our contemplation with thy memory.  
When thou art really departed, thus  
A better part of thee shall stay with us.  〈◊〉. Selym. 
So the swift wings of flight shall mount me up  
Above these walls into the open air,  
And I will tower above thee Bajazet.  
Farewell soft Court; I have been kept too long  
Within thy narrow walls, and am new borne  
To golden liberty; now stretch out you heavens,  
Spread forth the dewy mantle of the clouds  
Thou powerful Sun of Saturn, and remove  
The terminating Poles of the fixed earth  
To entertain me in my second birth.  Enter Isaac Bassa. Isaac 
Not yet rid from our wars? Fair Prince take heed,  
Treason's a Race that must be run with speed:  
Aelus beckons, and the flattering winds  
join all to help our project: quickly hence:  
All's full of danger. Did your Father know  
he'd stop your flight, and breath at one deaths blow.  Selym. 
Friend I am gone: thou hoary God of Seas,  Exit. 
Smooth the rough bosom of thy wrinkled tide,  
That my winged Boat may gently on it glide.    

Actus Quarti,  

Scena Prima.  Enter Bajazet solus. Baia. 
How the obsequious duty of the world  
Hangs shivering on the skirts of Majesty,  
And mells out all her footsteps: I could yet  
Never steal leisure reform my thoughts,  
Since my pale brow was first hooped in with gold  
Till this blessed hour: and now great Bajazet  
Empty thy breast of her imprisoned joys,  
Which like the smothering winds, could with a blast  
Rip up a passage. I am crowned in bliss,  
Placed on the rocks of strong security,  
Without the reach of Fate. Envy shall gnash  
And pine at my full pleasures; the soft feet  
Of labouring Ambition, shall quite tyre  
Ere touch the starry-height on which I stand.  
Achmotes and his son with my two boys  
Are fall'n, to clear the sunshine of my joys,  
Achomates I fear not, Selimus  
lives caged within the compass of mine eye,  
All that I doubt is of Mahomates,  
That blazing star once darkened, I will throw  
The lustre of my pomp from me, as clear  
As if three Suns were orbed all in one Sphere.  
What news brings Isaac?  Enter Isaac Bassa. Isaac. 
Unwelcome news.  Baia. 
Be quick in the delivery.  Isaac. 
Then thus.  
Young Selimus is fled.  Baia. 
Fled?  Isaac. 
Fled this night to the Tartarian King.  Baia. 
Would he had sunk  
To the Tartarian deep. Isaac, thouart false,  
And every hair dependant from thy head  
Is a twined serpent. Isaac I say thouart false,  
I read it in thy brow.  Isaac. 
By heaven I am not.  Baia. 
Come; answer my demands, first, at what time  
Let he the Court?  Isaac. 
I know not.  Baia. 
Know he is fled,  
And know not when he fled, how can this be?  Isaac 
After our strict enquiry, 'twas our chance  
To light on one that saw him take a ship,  
At the next haven.  Baia. 
On one; bring forth that one,  Exit Isaac 
I'll sound the depth of these villainies.  Enter Isaac with a dwarf. 
What's here?  
A barrel reared an end upon two feet?  
Sirrah, you guts and garbage— did you see  
Selimus leave the Court?  Dwarf 
So please it your—  Baia. 
Please it? thou monster, are you now so pleasing.  Isaac 
My Liege hold in your fury: spend not one drop  
Of your fierce anger, on so base a worm,  
Keep it entire and whole, within your breast,  
That with its vigour it may crush the bulk  
Of him whose treasons move it.  Baia. 
So it shall,  
Neptune reine back thy swelling Ocean,  
Invert the current of thy guilty streams  
Which further treacherous plots, mild Aeolus,  
(That when a peevish goddess did entreat,  
Scatteredst a Trojan Navy through the seas)  
Now Bajazet a Turkish Emperor  
Bids thee send forth thy jarring prisoners,  
Into the seas deep bowels, let them raise  
Tempests shall dash against the firmament  
Of the vast heavens, and in their stormy rage,  
Either confound or force the vessel back,  
In which the traitor sails; now, now begin  
Or I shall think thee conscious of this sin.  Enter a Monke 
What would this monk?  Monk 
Only your blessed alms.  Bajazet 
I'm in a liberal vain—  〈…〉 of a dag at Bajazet, Mesithes, and Isaac kil●●he Monk 
Traitor I'm slain,  
I feel the bullet run quite through my sides,  Isaac. 
Great Mahomet hath kept you safe from harm,  
It never touched you.  Baia. 
Oh— I am slain,  
Open the gates of sweet Elysium,  
Take in my wounded soul: Bring forth that Monk,  
I'll make him my soul's harbinger, he shall  
Forerun my coming and provide a place  
Amongst the gloomy banks of Acheron,  
Then shall he dwell with me in those black shades  
And it shall be my bliss to torture him.  Isa. 
he's gone already, I have sent him hence.  Baia. 
Fly then my soul, and nimbly follow him,  
He must not scape my vengeance: Charon stay,  
One waftage will serve both, I come, away.  Isa. 
Let not conceit thus steal away your life.  Baia. 
Me thinks I feel no blood ebb from my heart,  
My spirits faint but slowly.  Isaac 
Hear me Sir,  
You are not wounded.  Baia. 
Ha? not wounded.  Isaac. 
Untouched as yet;  
His quaking hand deceived him of his aim,  
And he quite missed your body, here behold  
The bullet yet unstained with blood.  Baia. 
Now I believe thee: oh the baleful fate  
Of Princes, and each eminent estate!  
How every precious jewel in a Crown,  
Charms mad ambition, and makes envy dote  
On the bewitching Beauty of its shine;  
Indeed proud Majesty is ushered in  
By superstitious awful reverence,  
But cursed mischiefs follow; and those are  
Treasons in peace, black stratagems in war.  
But where's the dwarf? Isaac go send him in▪  
Bid bold Mesithes, and sage Mustapha  
Quickly attend us; go.  Exit Isaac Isaac 
I shall.  Baiazet 
This hour,  
Hath hatched a richer project in my brain,  
Whose wished event, shall strangle envies breath,  
And strike ambition dead in every breast.  
Sirrah, draw hence the body to the ditch,  〈…〉 
Whither the filth of the whole City runs,  
There overwhelmed in blood; go, quickly do't;  
What dost thou grin thou visage of an ape?  be striketh 〈◊〉 Dwarf 
I'll rather hang myself then endure this.  Baia. 
Nay, come; be patient and I'll use thee well,  
Why— 'twas a Sceptre struck thee, and 'twill work  
Diviner operation in thy blood  
Then thou canst dream of.  Dwar. 
I'd rather be struck cross the teeth with a pudding  
Then cross the back with a sceptre.  Baia. 
A man would guess so, that overviews the dimensions  
But to thy business.  he carries I the 〈◊〉 Enter Bassaes. 
Bassaes stand ye round,  
Stay: who comes here? sure I should know that sature,  
Observe him nearly.  Enter Mahometes disguised. Bassaes. 
'tis no Courtier.  Mahom. 
Mahomates 'tis time to look about,  
Selimus fled? Achomates adored?  
My name scarce heard of through the popular reets?  
Had that unhappy arm of that damned Monk,  
Not staggered from the Mark at which he aimed,  
Who ever sent him hither, I had leapt  
Into the empty throne, and cropped the fruit  
Budding from treasons root; but I'll return  
Back to my Province, this unknown disguise,  
Shall search my Father's closest policies.  Isaac 
Mahomates disguised.  Baia. 
By heaven 'twas he  
He pries into my counsels: let it be.  
we'll forward in our business, which being done,  
we'll cool the hot ambition of each son,  
As mine already is, quick moving time  
Hath cast a snowy whiteness on my hairs,  
And frosty age hath quelled the heat of youth,  
Mine intellectual eyes, which ever yet  
Gazed on the world's rich gilded vanities,  
Are now turned inward, and behold within,  
Dismal confusion of unpardoned sin▪  
E'er since I first was settled on this Throne,  
My cares have clogged the swiftness of the hours,  
And wrought a tedious irksomeness of life,  
Murders have masked the forehead of the Sun  
With purple-coloured clouds, and he hath blushed  
At the bloodsucking cruelty of state.  
there's not one little angle of this Court,  
Whose guilty walls have not concealed a knot  
Of traitors, squaring out some hideous plot,  
Against my safety; now at last I spy  
The dangers of perplexed Majesty.  
And were it not for a religious fear  
Of after-harmes, which wretchedly might tear  
And spoil the body of this Monarchy,  
Here at this instant would I strike the sail,  
And proud top-gallant of mine eminence,  
Hurl up my sceptre, disenthrone myself,  
And let the green heads scramble for the Crown.  
Age hath taught me a staider providence  
Than my rash youth could reach to; I intent  
To place this glittering babble, on the head  
Of some successor, e'er I yet am dead,  
So give it out; thereby I le try the love  
And favour of the people: whom they seem  
Most to affect I'll raise to that esteem,  
How do you like the counsel?  Chers. 
As we could like  
A voice of health sent from the careful gods.  
This news will lay the fury of your sons,  
And breed low duty in them all in hope  
Of the reward proposed.  Exeunt Bajazet, Cherseogles, Manent Mustapha, Isaac, Mesithes, Asmehemides: Isaac 
Awake preventions eyes, we must not sleep  
If we would see proud Bajazet displaced,  
And Selimus elated to his height.  
Name him the people favours;— heeaffects  
Achomates: and knows the multitude  
Wrapped with his heavenly wisdom, cry for him,  
We must be quick and wary, here are keys  
Left, and laid up by Selymus, that store  
Shall visit empty purses, and enchant  
The needy sort of men, that the one's wealth,  
Shall weigh up 'tothers wisdom in the scale  
Of their light judgement; lend your best endeavours  
we'll cross thee Bajazet, and thy hopes shall dye  
By thine own ill-contrived policy.  Exeunt.  

Actus Quarti, Scena Secunda.  Enter Bajazet, takes Asmehemides by the hand, a Courtier belonging to 〈◊〉 Baia. 
Leave us; We would be private with our friend,  
'Tis thou must do't sweet Asmehemides,  
Mahomates and thou are two near friends;  
He will suspect in others close deceit,  
Thee, for thy generous virtues he will stand  
With obvious embracements to receive  
Into his bosom; whither when thou art  
Wound in, be sure to strike him through the heart.  
I am offended, 'tis just piety  
To sacrifice his body at the shrine  
Of my displeasure, do it, I am thine.  Asmehem. 
Were he as dear to me, as the half part  
Of mine own body, as the breath I draw;  
I'd do this charge: we mortals must obey  
When Gods command, and Emperors are they.  Exit Baia. 
So willing to be damned? had I adjoined  
Some virtuous office, surely he would then  
Have said, that good deeds are not deeds of men.  
But let them go; Mahometes must dye,  
And for my other boy fierce Selymus  
The boisterous hand of war must snatch him hence,  
My other son Corcutus liuesimmured  
Within Minerua's cloister, thus I clear,  
A path through which Achomates shall run  
Up to my throne when all their hopes are done.  Exit.  

Actus Quarti, Scena Tert●●  Enter Achomates. Acho. 
The promise was direct and absolute,  
To bless my temples with a sacred Crown,  
With protestations of a quick dispatch,  
Ere his own right were canceled by fate,  
So to cut off all rivals in my joys.  
What intercedent chance hath made his care  
So slack in the performance? by heaven I fear,  
Delays willprove delusions of my hopes  
And that homebred Mercurian Selimus,  
Will split the expectation of my bliss,  
Forefend it Mahomet, or I shall be  
A sad revenger of indignity.  
How now? what speaks this bold intrusion?  Enter a Messenger. Messen. 
Health to Achomates from Bajazet.  Acho. 
From 〈◊〉? unfold thy welcome news,  
How fares our Noble Father?  Messen. 
In full health;  
And will you thus by me: to muster up  
Your surest forces, and with moderate haste,  
Repair unto the Court, where you shall find  
Employments worthy of a valorous mind.  Achem. 
To muster arms? canst thou surmise the cause?  Messen. 
With confidence I dare not; but 'tis said,  
Against that haughty Noble Selimus.  
Who of the Tartar King implored aid,  
To an uncertain end: himself gives out  
To fight with Hungary, and stretch the bounds  
Of the old Turkish regiment▪ But same  
With panting voice, bids Bajazet beware,  
And whispers in his ear, he is the foe,  
Proud Selimus intends to overthrow.  Acho. 
Enough, regret our Father with our love  
Tell him we shall not sleep to his command;  Exit. 
Fly nimbly back▪ dares the audacious boy,  
Trouble the world with his tempestuous arms?  
I'll chastise him with iron whips of war,  
If either strength or stratagems shall serve,  
To spoil the gaudy plumes of his high crest,  
I'll use the strongest violence of both;  
I am swollen big with hate, and I could break  
Untimely passage with a wholesome stab  
To vent the monster strangled in my womb.  
Father I come, he that detains a Crown  
Bequeathed to me, must thunderstrike me down.  Enter Corcutus. Corcu. 
Buzzing reports have piered my sluddy walls,  
And clogged my meditations airy wings,  
By which I mount above the moving spheres  
And search the hidden closerts of the heaven,  
I cannot live retired, but I must hear  
Mine own wrongs sounded in my troubled ear:  
What? will my father falsify that oath;  
In which he vowed successions right to me,  
When I resigned my honours up to him,  
He deeply swore; when the uprising Sun  
Of his bright-shining royalty had run  
It's complete course through the whole heaven of state,  
And fainting dropped into the Western lapse;  
My brightness next should throw its golden beams,  
Upon the world's wide face, and over-peere  
The dusky clouds of hidden privacy,  
And shall Achomates succeed? Shall he  
Shine in the spangled robes of Majesty?  
Then Bajazet is false, let it be so  
I am secured from a huge mass of woe.  
Yet I'll toth'Court, that when Achomates  
Shall spy me, and remember but my due  
'Twill stain his lustre with a blushing hue,  Enter Bajazet, 〈◊〉. Baia. 
My cares are grown to great to be comprised,  
Within the narrow compass of my breast,  
Viceroy of Greece, I'll pour into thy heart  
Part of my secrets; which being entered in,  
Lock them as close up, as thou wouldst a sin  
Committed, yet not known: I must impart  
Things worth thy faithful silence.  Chers. 
Worthy Sir,  
By the enclosure of my soul I swear—  Baia. 
I'll not hear out oath, in brief 'tis thus  
The Bassas are all false and love not us;  
Nor doth my 〈…〉 prompt 〈◊〉 thus,  
I read it in their gestures, 〈◊〉,  
Actions, and counsels, my suspicious eye  
Hath found a great breach in their loyalty.  Chers. 
Surely this cannot be.  Bajazet 
By heaven 'tis true,  
Each man that guards mine honour is my foe,  
I'll shake these splendent robes of Majesty  
From my o'erburdened shoulders, and to ease  
Myself, bequeath them to 〈◊〉.  Cherse. 
Achomates?  Baia. 
Even he, unless the voice  
Of the whole City interdict my choice.  Enter 〈◊〉, Mesithes, 〈◊〉. Cherse. 
here comes the 〈◊〉,  
Sure I see bad news  
Portrayed on the Index of their fronts.  Baia. 
Bad news? We have outlived good days too long,  
We can expect no other, come unclasp  
Volumes of mischiefs, and make deaf my ears  
With an infused multitude of cares.  Bassaes. 
Young Selimus hath crossed Danubius' flood,  
And seized upon the Provinces of Thrace,  
And with a Navy ploughed the Euxine Sea.  Baia. 
Peace bellowing night-ravens, with how cheerful noise  
Their pussing lungs croak out the baleful note,  
Are these the wars against Hungary? you powers  
Of heaven, brush off your cloddy patience,  
If you but wink at these notorious crimes,  
I'll say you dare not check our stubborn times.  
Well as yet, I'll make use of his pretence  
Viceroy of Greece, bear you this Embassy  
To that suspected Traitor Selimus,  
Tell him the wars against th' Hungarian foe,  
Are full of dangers and approved harms,  
Never attempted by our Ancestors,  
Without repulse or damage bid him dismiss  
His rough Tartarian youth, then if he stand  
Unmoved and stiff, feign vengeance is at hand.  
Make thy best speed.  Cherse. 
I shall, 'twill be well done  
To reconcile a Father and a Son.  Baia. 
Though he tumultuous uproars could deserve  
The favour of his Prince: h'as trod awry,  
And missed the path that leads to Majesty.  
These bright Imperious ornaments shall grace  
No rebel-monster nor base runaway.  
My resolution's firm, it shall not be;  
Bassanes, this day an Herald shall proclaim  
In the world's ear, my great successor's name.  
Are you content?  Exit. Mustapha calls in an Herald. Bassaes. 
We are.  Baiaz. 
Call forth an Herald.  Isaac. 
As our allegiance binds us we'll obey.  
But what we grant, the Soldiers will gainsay.  〈◊〉. 
Thou shalt not thrive in this: I dare be bold  
My golden hooks have ta'en a faster hold.  Baia. 
Herald,  
Be my loud Echo, ratify my deed,  
And say Achomates shall next succeed.  Herald. 
Bajazet the second by the appointment of our great Prophet Mahomet, the only Monarch of the World, a mighty God on earth, an invincible Caesar, King of all Kings, from the East unto the West, Governor of Greece, Sultan of Babylon, Sovereign of Persia and Armenia, triumphant Tutor of 〈◊〉, Lord possessor of the Sepulchre of the Crucified God, subverter and sworn enemy of the Christians, and of all that call upon Christ; proclaimeth Achomates his second son next and immediate successor.  An alarm of Trumpets Within. 
None but Bajazet, none but Bajazet.  Baiaz. 
By heaven they are corrupted: none but I?  
'Tis no love borne to me that moves this cry.  Mesith. 
Great Baiazet the cause why they deny  
This just proposal, riseth from an use  
And customary licence long observed;  
To wit, when their crowned Emperor is dead,  
The interposed vacation is a time  
Of lawless freedom: then they dare to spoil  
The jewish Merchants of their traffic wares,  
And prey upon all strangers: so that should  
Your Honour be conferred upon your son  
Whilst you yourself yet breath, than should they lose  
The long expected gains; therefore refuse  
What you proposed.  Baiaz. 
If that be all the cause,  
we'll give them such a Kingly donative,  
As doubly shall buy out those ill-got spoils  
Five hundred thousand Ducats, if they please  
With my free choice to crown Achomates,  
Proclaimed to be their due.  A flourish of Trumpets. Herald. 
Bajazet the second by appointment of our great Prophet  
Mahomet, etc. proclaimeth that he'll attribute 500  
Thousand ducats if you yield allegiance  
To Achomates his successor.  Trumpets sound 〈◊〉. Within. 
None but Bajazet, none but Bajazet.  Baia. 
Achomates I sent for, how he'll digest  
These gross illusions, I may justly fear:  
By this I had discouraged Selimus,  
And killed his hopes; by this I had cut off  
The growth of hate, and choked discords seed.  Exit. Enter Mustapha with a Messenger to the other Bassaes. Mustaph. 
Bear this to Selimus with thy best care.  Mesith. 
And this.  Give him Letters. Isaac. 
And this: fly, let thy winged speed  
Return a sudden answer, ely we bleed.  Exeunt.  

Actus Quarti, Scena Quinta.  Enter Selimus, Tartarian King. Attendants. Tartar. 
Go on brave Prince; Led on thy marshaled troops,  
Degrade the Turkish Monarch, let him faint  
At the deep wounds, which thy revengeful hand  
Shall print upon the bosom of his land.  
Go on; Me thinks I see Victoria sit  
Triumphant on thy steely Burganet.  Exit 〈◊〉 King. Selym. 
Farewell; now I will meet thee Bajazet  
With a career as free as if Heaven's jove  
Had bid me go: bespeak the stoutest gods  
To take thy part; tell them that thou must meet  
A Selymus, who when the wars are done,  
Will scale the Forts and Castles of the Sun,  
Break up the brazen gates of Acheron,  
And bury Nature with the world together.  
Captains lead on; Now shall the sword and fire  
By public ruins crown my just desire.  
Sleep Hungary, I'll not break off thy rest  
With the unwelcome Music of my Drums;  
I'll turn the edge of my revengeful sword  
Upon the bosom of my native soil;  
There dwells the motive of my Tragic wars,  
Whose ruthless sad Catastrophe shall wound  
Posterity in us: Infants shall mourn  
Over their Fathers ' tombs as yet unborn.  
But who comes here? I'll meet him.  
Noble Viceroy.  Enter Cherseo●gles. Cherseo. 
Peace and health to Selimus.  Selym. 
Health, but not peace, whilst yonder light can see  
Mortals, whom Turkish force could ne'er subdue.  Cherseo. 
Yet what if Baiazet our honoured Lord  
Bid you roll up those flaxen signs of war,  
And sheathe the sword drawn forth against his foe?  
When duty says obey, what shall say no.  Selym 
My courage and a proud contempt of all  
Corrival Nations, could send back a no,  
Able to fright a Parliament of gods.  
It could so: but if Bajazet gainsay  
My plumy valour flags, my thoughts gave way.  Cherseo. 
Then thus he will you to discard your force,  
And send the black Tartarians to their home,  
Withal averring the Hungarian foe  
(Against whose power, you have summoned Arms)  
Is full of strength and power, ne'er opposed  
Without the bitter downfall of our side.  
Nor would the world's great Monarch 〈◊〉  
Impair his fame so much, as to be said,  
He tamed a Foe by Tartars borrowed aid.  Selym. 
Ha: I am vilely nonplussed. Courteous Viceroy  
Return our duty back to Bajazet,  
Even in the humblest terms wit can invent,  
Tell him 〈◊〉 hath a son of that high spirit,  
As doth detest a cowardly retreat.  
Were all the dead Heroes of our foes  
All that are now, and all that are to come  
Met in one age, I'd face them drum to drum.  
Bid our dear Father be secure of me  
And my proceedings: then true valour shines  
Most bright, when busied in the great'st designs.  
Is not this answer fair?  Cherseo. 
Most true: and yet  
'Twill prove distasteful.  Selym. 
No, it cannot be:  
If there be too much valour in this breast,  
Blame him that placed it there, even Baiazet.  
My virtues and my blood, are both derived  
From his first influence, and I must either hate  
Disgraceful calumns, or degenerate.  Cherseo. 
All this I'll tell your Father, yet he'll rest  
As much unsatisfied as at the first,  
He will expect the headstrong pride of youth  
Should strike low sail to his grave providence.  Selym. 
And so it shall: sage Viceroy I obey,  
And reverence his counsel more, then fear  
An host of armed foes: tell him I'll come  
To his Court gates with neither man nor drum.  Cherseo. 
I'll tell it him with joy, which when he hears,  
he'll be disburdened of a thousand fears.  Selym. 
Remember my just duty: 'tis no matter,  
I will retain that till I come myself.  
I am not outreached yet by all these tricks,  
My hopes are farther strong, I'll to the Court  
With a close march, in no submissive sort,  
And steal upon them: Instantly I go  
To meet my Father, but a subtle foe.  As he goes out, a Messenger meets him, gives him the Letters. Messen. 
Good health to Selimus.  Selym 
Good health: From whom?  Messen. 
Isaack, Mesithes, Mustapha salute you.  Selym. 
Those good Trinm viri what is't they, speak?  Opens the Letters. 1 
(To feed on hopes is but a slender diet)  
'Tis short, but full of weight: to feed on hope  
Is but a slender diet. Let it be.  Descants. 
I'll mend my table though no feast with me.  2 
(Fair opportunity is bald behind)  Reads second. 
'Tis true indeed Mesithes. Never fear  
I'll twist my fingers in her golden hair.  
What speaks the third? This writes more at large,  
And comments on the prefixed principals.  
(Your Father did proclaim who should succeed  Reads. 
Public denials nullified his deed,  
Your haste will be convenient; things concur  
To bless your hopes, Fate bids you not demur)  Yours Isaac Bassa. Isaac 
I am thine,  
And come to finish up our great design.  Exit.  

Actus Quarti, Scena Sexta.  Enter Achomates 〈◊〉. Achom. 
Unquiet anguishments and jealous fear  
Fly from any thoughts, like night before the Sun:  
I'm lifted to the highest Sphere of joy,  
My top enveloped in the azure cloud,  
And starry rich habiliments: my feet  
Set rampant on the face of Nature's pride,  
The rarest work weaved by her handmaid Art  
clothes my soft pleasures, I'm as great as jove.  
Only I rule below, he reigns above.  
Oh! the unspoken beauty of a Crown,  
Whose empty speculation mounts my soul  
Up to an heavenly Paradise of thoughts.  
Father, I come that thou may'st crown my head,  
Whilst apprehensive reason stands amazed,  
Amidst the blissful shades of sweet conceit.  
Then I'll call back my wand'ring intellect  
From dreams, and those imaginary joys,  
I'll teach my soul to twine about a Crown  
To sweat in raptures, to fill up a Throne  
With the big-swelling looks of Majesty,  
I'leamble through a pleasure's Labyrinth,  
And wander in the path of happiness,  
As the true object of that faculty.  
Great Bajazet I come. Thou must descend  
From Honour's high Throne, and put off thy right  
To build me up an heaven of choice delight.  Exit.  

Actus Quarti, Scena Septima.  Enter Mesithes, Mustapha, Isaac. Mesith. 
The Emperor begins to smell deceit.  
I know by his ill looks and sparkling eye  
That he affects us not.  Musta. 
I doubt as much.  
Young Selimus has wronged our loyalty  
In his so slack proceedings; we were rash  
And indiscreetly-forward in consent,  
When we joined on to raise his government.  Isaac. 
Peace, 'tis too late to chide at what is done,  
We have so deeply waded in the streams  
Of those procellous plots, nor can revoke  
Repentant footsteps, or securely creep  
Back to the Throne of safety, 'tis now good  
To venture on, and swim quite through the flood.  
Here comes the emperor.  Enter Bajazet and Asmehemedes. Baia. 
Attend us Bassaes.  
Art sure he's dead?  Asm. 
Mahomates is dead.  
There's nothing moving of him but his soul,  
And that robbed of his body by this hand.  Baia. 
Enough. That soul revives to see him dead  
That wronged the body; Oh! my bloody heart,  
Must in his frenzy act an horrid part.  
Follow thy Prince to hell.  Stabs him. Asmeh. 
To death! Oh devilish ingratitude:  
I'm slain. I die.  Moritur. Baia. 
And justly: would each foe  
And Traitor to my state were thwarted so.  
Bassas convey this hated body hence,  
The sight of that damned villain moves offence:  They carry him out. 
Now pause a while my soul, and reckon up  
What obstacles are yet to be removed  
Achomates must stay the people's leisure.  
Corcutus dally with Minor●aes Nymphs.  
The last and worst, proud Selimus shall dye.  
Thus I'll compose a firm security.  Enter Bassanes with Cherseogles. Baia. 
Arrived already noble Cherseogles?  
You're careful in our cause: but speak the news  
From our pert Soldier. What means Selimus?  Cherseo. 
To tract the path backward from whence he came,  
To strip himself of martial ornaments,  
And to fill up the duty of a Son,  
Come visit you in low submission.  Baia. 
These are too fairly promised, to be meant,  
Ambition hath already chained his soul  
Too surely in the captive bonds of pride,  
Then that he now should clothe his stately hopes  
In the plain sordid weeds of penitence,  
He doth but varnish o'er some treacherous plot  
In this smooth answer: come, wee'●e lead along  
To our Imperial seat of 〈◊〉,  
That strongly fortified, we need not fear  
The weak attempts an homebred foe can dare.  Exeunt Bajazet and Cherseogles. Mesith. 
Ha! we are sweetly plunged, if cold despair  
Benumb his youthful courage, and he faint,  Mustaph. 
Would I were fairly rid of all these cares,  Isaac. 
Dejected Cowards: are you not ashamed  
Thus to give up the goal of dignity  
To heartless fear? Here comes the Messenger.  
What news from Selimus?  Messen. 
Even nothing certain:  
Ambiguously he promised to be here  
As soon as 1  Mesith. 
ist even so?  Musta. 
We are quite dashed— undone.  Isaac 
Lift up your downcast spirits— who comes here?  Mesith. 
Who? Selimus?  Enter Selimus. Musta. 
Where? sweet Isaac do not tell him,  
That we were sending forth faith's latest breath.  Isaac. 
Enough, I will not— happy Selimus.  Bassanes 
Long live great Selymus.  Sely. 
We thank you friends:  
Your care hath fostered up our infant hopes  
Beyond the pitch of expectation.  
We hear that Bajazet is going now  
From hence to Constantinople; my men  
Lie closely ambushed in the middle way,  
Close by a ruinous city, there expect  
A sudden onset, but till then farewell.  
When we meet next, our ensigns waved on high,  
Shall shine like Meteors blazing in the sky.  Exit. Isaac 
Fortune's best care go with thee.  Mesith. 
Brave boy i'faith.  Musta. 
I shall adore him whilst I breathe for this.  Isaac 
Again in heart?  
Let's follow Bajazet, come lads away,  
The sun of all his glory sets this day.  Exeunt. Enter Selimus with soldiers. Selym. 
Come on the honoured youth of Tartary,  
My brothers and joint sharers of my woe,  
Draw forth the weapons of inflamed revenge,  
Against this horrid monster's Tyranny;  
I seem like Rome's great Caesar, when oppressed  
With Pompey's grating malice he led forth  
His noble Frenchmen through the snowy Alps,  
I have my Curio Isaac in the Court,  
And Cherseogles like grim Cato's ghost,  
Soothes the rough humour of fierce Bajazet,  
These men's examples, were we faint and loath  
Would set sharp spurs unto ourslow paced wrath,  
And whet our dull-eged anger▪ but I see  
In your smooth brow perfect alacrity;  
We stand to thwart the passage of a fiend,  
Through whose wide yawning throat hath coasted down.  
The blood of Princes, in continual streams,  
Has fed and pampered up his appetite  
With the abhorred destruction of his own,  
And glutted on the blood of innocents.  
Stood we like marble statues in his way,  
And had no use of policy and wit,  
Our Ireful Prophet Mahomet would send  
Sense, life, and valour through our stony joints,  
That we might ruinate this ghastly boar,  
Made by some hellish fury to confound  
The order of this wondered Universe.  
I'll grapple with the monster, he's at hand,  
If you stand firm▪ the Common Wealth may be,  
A slave to Bajazet, but I'll live free.  Enter Bajazet, Cherseogles, Isaac, Mesithes, Mustapha. Baia. 
No Drum nor Trumpet hath disturbed the air,  
Within the reach of mine attention.  Isaac. 
And I admire it, '●were a miracle  
If that ambitious boy intent no harm.  Omnes. 
What noise is that?  A confused noise of exclamation within, arm, arm, arm. Soldier 
Help Bajazet, the vanguard's almost slain,  
The Tartars lay in ambush.  Baia. 
What? so near?  
Set up our standard, I'll give battle here,  
Hang out defiance, scorn, and proud contempt,  
Write in the blood-red colours of your plumes,  
Summon our Army  Enter a drum 
From these skirmishes,  
Speak out the traitor's doom in thine alarms.  
Thought he to daunt our courage?  Drum sounds. Enter Souldiers severally, dropping in sweeting, as from fight. 
Valiant soldiers;  
When I behold the manner of this war  
Then treason copes with awful Majesty,  
A graceless son, with his own aged Sire,  
Me thinks to bid you fight, were full as vain  
As to bid heavy clouds fall down in rain:  
But when I view the Chaos of the field,  
And wild confusion striking valour dead,  
I called you, not (as Captains do to boys)  
To read a lecture of encouragement,  
But that your ancient virtue may be shown  
In this my last defence: I wish to dye  
Revenged, that death sorts best with Majesty,  Drums sounding, A confused noise, with clashing of armour. Ex●urrunt Bajazet, and Selimus. Baia. 
Selimus?  Selym. 
Bajazet?  Baiaz. 
jove lend me but a minute's patience.  
Unnatural son.  Selimus. 
Vencharitable Father.  Baia. 
Father? My sword shall hew that title off.  
And cut in twain kindreds continued line,  
By which thou canst derive thy blood from mine.  
Abortive monster— thou first breath of sin,  
We had but slender shadows of offence,  
Till thou creptst forth to the offended light,  
The very mass, and stock of villainy.  
Crimes in all others, are but thy influence.  
Nature has planted viperous cruelty,  
In thy dark breast, the scandal of her works  
Her error, and extract perfection  
Of vices; the first wellhead of bad things  
From whence the world of ills draw their weak springs,  Selym 
Then hear me speaketoo: you have been to me  
No Father, but a sour Pedantic wretch,  
One that with frosty precepts, strived to kill  
The flaming heat of my ambitious youth,  
As vainly as to strangle fire with straw:  
You sit so daily hover on your Throne,  
As if you'd hatch new Monarchies to feed  
The hungry gulf of your unbridled pride,  
Y'ave surfettted on titles, y'ave engrossed  
Honour, you are the moth of eminence,  
And liberal fortunes answered your desires;  
You had deflowered th'infinity of Crowns,  
With your adulterate ambition,  
Y'are Sovereignty's horseleech, and have spilt  
The blood of State, to have your own veins filled.  Baia. 
Hold, hold thy venomed tongue, if there be hid  
More of this kind unuttered, I le rip up  
Thy full fraught bosom, and to save mine ear  
Mine eyes shall overview what I'll not hear.  
Dar'st thou fight Traitor?  Selym. 
Dare I be ealed a King?  
Dare I unsheathe my sword, or gather might?  
If I dare aught of these, I dare to fight.  Baia. 
Guard thee, I'd not omit the sweet desire  
And pleasure of revenge, were heaven my hire.  They fight, Selimus is beaten off, Baziazet pursues, reenters at another door. 
The slave has scaped the power of my wrath,  
Midst the disseured troops of scattered foes  
I lost him in a smoky cloud of dust,  
So thick as if the tender Queen of love,  
Had wrapped her brat Aeneas from my sight.  Enter Isaac, Mesithes, Mustapha. Isaac 
joy to my Liege, of his last victory.  Mesith. 
The bold Tartarians flew like fearful Hearts  
Before the hunters rage.  Baia. 
So let them fly;  
Heaven rain down vengeance on their cursed heads;  
It is our honour that the frighted slaves  Enter a 〈◊〉 
Owe their life's dearest safeties to their heels.  
How now, whence come you?  Dwar. 
From yonder hayricke Sir.  Baia. 
Didst thou see Selimus when he fled the field?  Dwar. 
No indeed, I was two far crept in.  Baia. 
O you are brave attendants.  
Let's forward in our journey; these affairs  
Achomates must know, his golden wish,  
The people have delayed, perhaps he'll frown,  
And trample filial duty under feet  
As this hath done: but let them storm their fill  
virtue's not shipwrecked in a sea of ill.    

Actus Quinti,  

Scena Prima.  Enter Achomates alone, with a bloody sword in his hand. Achom. 
An honoured Legate? an Ambassador?  
As if that title like Medeas charm  
Could stay the untamed spirit of my wrath,  
Had he been sent a messenger from heaven,  
And spoke in thunder to the slavish world;  
If he had roared one voice, one syllable  
Cross to my humour, I'd a searched the depth  
Of his unhallowed bosom, and turn out  
His heart, the profane seat of saucy pride.  
Slain an Ambassador? no less: 'tis done,  
And '●was a noble slaughter, I conceive  
A joy ineffable to see my sword  
Bathed in a blood so rare, so precious,  
As an Ambassador s; must we be told  
Of times delays, and opportunities?  
That the basesoldier hath gainsaid our bliss?  
Thought Bajazet, his son so cold, so dull,  
So innocently blockish, as to hear  
An Embassy most harsh and grossly bade  
The people to deny me? we contemn  
With strange defiance Bajazet, and them.   

Actus Quinti, Scena Secunda.  Enter 〈◊〉, Mesithes, Mustapha. Mesith. 
Mischief on mischief, all our hopes are dead,  
Slain in the hapless fall of Selimus.  Mustapha 
I think the devils fought for Bajazet  
And all the infernal hags; how could he else  
With a confused army, and half slain,  
Break the well-ordered ranks of a strong foe?  Mesith. 
And unexpected to— now Isaac! what  
Sadly repenting for thy last misdeeds.  
Plots and conspiracies against thy Prince?  
Faith we must hang together—  Isaac 
Good Mesithes  
'Tis nothing so: they say 〈◊〉  
Disdaining to be mocked out of his hopes,  
And most desired possession of the Crown,  
Has in contempt of Bajazet and all,  
Slain the Ambassador, and vows revenge  
On every guilty agent in his wrong.  Mustaph. 
I looked for that; and therefore first shrank back,  
When Bajazet made choice of one to send  
On such a thankless errand as that was.  Mesith. 
Grant the report be true: what's that to us?  Isaac 
Fame in mine ear ne'er blabbed a sweeter tale,  
This shall redeem our low dejected hopes,  
To their full height. no more; be it my charge,  
To chase out the event— what's this comes here?  Mustaph. 
Upon my life, the body of the slain  
Ambassador.  Enter the Ambassadors followers with the dead body Mesith. 
'Tis so.  Isaac 
We greet you friends,  
And your sad spectacle.  Followers 
'tis sad enough  
To banish peace and patience, from each breast  
That owes true loyalty to Bajazet.  Isaac 
And so it shall; lay down the injured corpse.  
Achomates has wronged his Father's love,  
To grossly, in the murder even of him  
That bore his sacred person, and should stand  
Inviolably honoured by the law  
Of men and nations,  
But here comes Bajazet.  Enter Bajazet and Cherseogles. Baia. 
A tragic spectacle? whose trunk is this?  Follow. 
The body of your slain Ambassador.  Baia. 
Slain? by what cursed violence? what slave  
Durst touch the man that represented me?  Follow. 
Achomates.  Baia. 
Achomotes?  Follow. 
The same  
Highly displeased with the unexpected news  
Of a denial from the people's mouth,  
His reason slipped in fury, and contempt  
Hath thus abused your gracious Majesty.  
Withal, he threatened to maintain this sin  
With force of arms, and so resolved to win  
Your Crown, without such tarriance—  Baia. 
Oh! no more,  
I am unfortunate in all my blood.  
Hath he thus guerdoned my fair promises,  
My daily sweat and care, to further him,  
And fix him in the paradise of joy?  
Nations cry out for vengeance of this fact,  
I'll scourge this black impiety to hell.  
Muster our forces to the utmost man,  
Once more I'll bury this my aged corpse  
In steely armour, and my coloured crest  
Like a bright star shall sparkle out revenge  
Before the rebels faint amazed eyes.  
Lose not a minute, Bassas hence, be gone  
Muster our men, stay not; that from the tide  
Of our fierce wrath, no drop may ebb away  
By causeless linger.  Musta. 
Whom speak you General?  Baia. 
Whom but myself? whom doth the cause concern  
More nearly then myself?  Isaack 
My honoured Liege,  
Bear your best care about you; 'tis a time  
Of double danger, but remove the one,  
The other strait called forward, Selymus  
Great in the favour of Tartaria's King,  
Is maned afresh with soldiers; his assault  
Threatens as much as fierce 〈◊〉,  
And must be borne off with your ablest forces,  
Then if you leave the City to subdue,  
One of these two, expect ere you return  
T'other possessed, and seated on your throne.  Baia. 
Distraction rends my soul: what shall I do?  Isaac. 
Force out one nail with other of these two,  
Choose him you most affect, and best dare trust,  
Allure him fairly home, wink at his crimes,  
And then create him your high General,  
To lead against his brother, since yourself  
Cannot at once oppress two foes so stout  
Try if one heat can drive another out.  Baia. 
Isaac we like thy counsel: but of these  
Which can we pardon? either so deboyst,  
So guilty of rebellion, so 〈◊〉  
From pious loyalty, that my soul even both  
With bitter hatred equally may loathe.  Isaac 
First weigh their faults, the one a brainsick youth,  
Endeavoured to supplant your Majesty,  
The other in defiance, and contempt,  
Of God and man profaned the holy rights  
Of an Ambassador.  Mesi. 
For which dire fact,  
Should it slip up unpunished, the name,  
The fearful name of 〈◊〉 would prove  
The subject of each libel, and the scoff  
Of petty Princes.  Baia. 
Enough, we have decreed  
Achomates shall quake beneath the stroke  
Of our fierce anger. Isaac speed away  
To Selimus, he shall confront the slave  
The best of two so bad, go— stay— yet go,  
'Tis hard when we beg succour of a foe:  
Beg? stay again— first will I drop before  
The sword of proud Achomates— go— tell him,  
Upon his low submission we will deign  
To make him Champion to his sovereign.  Enter Corcutus to his Father. Exit Isaac. 
My dear Corcutus welcome.  Corcu. 
Royal Father.  〈◊〉. Baia. 
Arise thou only solace of mine age,  
It was a night of harmless innocence,  
Of peace and rest, in which kind nature laid  
Thee in thy mother's womb: Right virtuous boy,  
How hast thou lived untainted with the breath  
Of that infectious vice Rebellion,  Corcut. 
Right noble Father, 'tis a faithful rule  
In moral rites, that who desires a good,  
And most suspects his right to it, is bold  
And turbulent, and eager in pursuit,  
Whereas the man to whom this good is due,  
Rests happily contented; till time fit  
Crown him in the possession of his wish.  Baia. 
Well moralised: I understand thee Boy,  
My grant shall melt thy prayers in full joy.  Exeunt.  

Actus Quinti, Scena Tertia.  Enter Selimus and soldiers. Selym. 
Once more (in hope to gain, and fear to lose  
A Crown and Kingdom) we have marched thus near  
The seat of a dread Emperor, to try  
The chance of war, or resolutely die.  
Fear no cross blow, for with this hand I move  
The wheel of Fate: and each success shall run  
Even with our pleasures, till our hopes are spun  
Up to their full perfection, this day's light  
That looks so cheerfully, shall see as bright  
As it, my crown and glory.  Makes a stand. As they march on, enter Isaac Bassa. 
What stranger's this? my blessed Genius haunts me.  
Isaac I take thee in with open love.  
What speaks they Presence?  Isaac. 
Good news to Selymus.  Selym. 
From whom?  Isaac. 
From Bajazet.  Selym. 
'Tis strange if good.  Isaac. 
And full as good as strange March quickly hence.  
I'll tell you as we walk; if constant Chance  
Smile on our project e'er this Sun go down,  
We may salute you with a glorious Crown.  Selym. 
I follow even to death. Grand Mars to thee  
I'll build an Altar if thou prosper me.  Exeunt.  

Actus quinti, Scena quarta.  Enter Achomates and Soldiers. Achom. 
Revenge my black impiety; each brow  
Seems with a scornful laughter to deride  
Those empty Menaces of 〈◊〉.  
And Bajazet is not our Father now,  
Sith he hath wronged the duty of a Son,  
But a scorned Enemy whose prostrate soul  
Shall make a step by which I will ascend  
Up to the heavenly throne of heavenly state,  
If you but lend your help and free consent.  Soldiers. 
Lead us along the misty banks of hell  
Through Seas of danger, and the house of death,  
We are resolved to follow, and by one  
To second each step of Achomates.  Achom. 
This resolution is as great as just,  
Continue it brave spirits: he's a slave  
That having sinned, dares not defend his sin,  
The world shall know I dare: For though our cause  
Be wrong, yet we'll make good the breach of laws.  〈◊〉.  

Actus quinti, Scena quinta.  Enter Bajazet and Corcutus. Corcut. 
Would I had slept with Trizham, and that hand  
That strangled Mahomet, had stopped my breath,  
Rather than live to see myself thus wronged.  Baia. 
Despair not sweet Corcutus, what I promised  
I'll keep most true, and here again I vow  
When I am dead, this honour to thy brow.  
I have called home that rebel Selimus,  
Only to tame a Traitor: And that done,  
We have no other heir, no other son  
Beside Corcutus, to whose free command  
We do bequeath the duty of this land.  Enter Mesithes and Mustapha. 
Is Isaac not returned?  Mesith. 
My Liege he is.  Mustaph. 
And Selymus with him.  Enter Selimus and Isaac, as they enter speak. Baia. 
Let them approach.  Isa. 
Let your high spirit shrink below itself  
In a dissembled show of penitence.  Selym. 
Tush I can bow, as if my joints were old,  
And tumble at his feet.  Isaac. 
Practise your skill.  Selimus falls at Bajazet's feet. Baiaz 
Less show, and more good meaning Selimus.  
Arise: these crouching feats, give slender proofs  
Of inward loyalty.  Selym. 
Right noble Father,  
Mine expedition to avenge your cause  
Upon the head of proud Achomates,  
Be my just trial.  Baia. 
Hast then: May thy arm  
By breathless treason raise up a full joy,  
And turn that monster back unto the earth  
From whence it leapt, a most prodigious birth.  Selym. 
We fly to the performance; who both dare  
And will correct his boldness: now we tread  
The path to honour, and me thinks I hear  
The people's Viva, a Echo in mine ear.  Exit Selimus with the Bassaes. Baia. 
New insolence: The Bassas slipped away,  
How the obsequious villains  
As if he were their Godhead.  Cherseo. 
I suspect  
Some plotted mischief, else they durst not leave  
Your person thus unguarded.  Baia. 
Plot and hang.  
We weigh not all their treasons at a straw,  
One must not rule too long, 'tis subject's law.  Exeunt. Pass over the stage Bassanes and Soldiers carrying Selimus aloft, and crying out 
Long live Selymus, Vivat Selimus,  
Magnificent Emperor of the Turks.  Exeunt. Enter Bajazet and Cherseogles. Baia. 
Hell and the furies vex their damned souls.  
What people? Ha? what Nation is't we live in?  
Is't our State and Monarchy? good gods  
Two Emperors at once. Live Selimus?  
Can slavish vassals thus supplant their Prince?  
What's this enshrines my head? a type for fools  
To fleare at a divided ornament:  
Fail not my sense and courage, let me live  
To find myself again. Viceroy of Greece,  
Didst thou not see a Bajazet withdraw  
And vanish hence? tell thou most faithful man,  
What is become of that forgetful name?  
Or who hath stole it from me? Selimus!  
Oh that damned villain with his treacherous plot,  
Hath robbed me of that glory. Death a sense  
If t'have a soul of Adamant or Steel,  
Else had that hated noise reft it in twain:  
What are thou? or whence comest thou?  Enter Mesithes. Mesith. 
From a Prince.  Baia. 
Yet I believe thee.  Mesith. 
From thine enemy.  Baia. 
Yet I believe thee.  Mesith. 
From the Emperor.  Baiaz. 
And I believe thee still; yet slave thou liest,  
These parts must know no Emperor but me,  
unless base usurpation hath stept-up  
Unto my chair of honour. Right, 'tis so:  
'Tis so indeed. Well then, what will your Emperor?  Mesith. 
That by my hand you yield him up his crown!  Baiaz. 
Traitor his crown? so: now I am resolved.  
I have forgone myself, else had this hand  
Tore out thy spotted heart, and that one word  
Of yielding had been cause enough to spoil  
Thee and thy generation. Heartless slave,  
Why sneakest thou from our presence? stay, behold  
Here I commend this gorgeous ornament,  
These trappings to thy Emperor, as full  
Bestead with curses as my heart with woes,  
That it may clog his ears, and vex his head  
With daily terrors. Hence thy Prince is sped.  Exit Mesith. 
Viceroy of Greece, to thee our last farewell,  
Thou worthiest truest best deserving man,  
That ever made us happy: if thy faith  
Respect me, not my fortune, Do this charge,  
Fly to Achomates, and rather aid  
Him then this faithless Bastard Selimus,  
The scandal of our race, the mark for heaven  
To shoot revenge. But all in vain,  
I strive to word away my inward pain.  Cherseo. 
Nor this nor that I'll favour, may I 〈◊〉  
Baiazet shall live to see both bleed.  Exit. Baia., 
Mask up thy brightness Phoebus, lovely night,  
Hurl thy thick mantle over all the heavens,  
Let this black day for ever be forgot  
In the eternal registers of time:  
Which of you sacred powers are not ashamed  
To see a Prince so sinfully abused  
By his own issue and unrevenged.  Enter Selimus and Bassaes. 
But stand we, who comes here? a face of brass.  
Else would it blush: now thou Saturnine jove,  
Thou God of great men, thunder that the world  
Drenched all in sin, may shake and fear the noise  
That horrid scourge of villainies.  Selym. 
Father?  Baia. 
Slave  
Avaunt: ● feele a strong Antipathy  
Twixt thee and me, thy sight makes my dead heart  
Distil fresh drops of blood, and work new smart.  Exit. Selym. 
What furious Baiazet, and raging hot?  
I hug the amorous pleasure that I feel  
Creep through my joints: observe our Father,  Exeunt Bessaes'. 
Else by some wilful murder he'll prevent  
My purposed project, I'd not lose the guilt  
Of his destruction for a crown: heaven knows  
I love him better than to let him dig  
Himself a grave, whilst I may take the pains.  
Now mount my soul, and let my soaring plumes  
Brush the smooth surface of the Azure sky.  Crown in his hand. 
With this I charm obeyfance from the world:  
Thou golden counterfeit of all the heavens:  
See how the shining stars in careless ranks  
Grace the composure; and the beauteous Moon  
Holds her irregular motion at the height  
Of the four poles; this is a complete heaven,  
And thus I wear it: but me thinks 'tis fixed  
But weakly on my brow, whilst there yet breath  
Any whose envy once reflect on it,  
And those are three: the angry Bajazet,  
Puling Corcutus, proud Achomates:  
One of these three is cared for, that's Corcutus  
Who ere the blushing morn salutes the Sun,  
Shall be dispatched by two most hideous slaves,  
Whom I have bred a purpose to the fact:  
The other rival, wise Achomates,  
I'll bear aside by force of men and arms,  
Which ready Mustered, but attend the stroke,  
Then attend our Fathers.  Enter Hamon. 
Here's one deals for him,  
Shall send him quick to hell. It is decreed.  
He that makes lesser greatness soon shall bleed,  
Hamon draw near, most welcome my dear Hamon,  
What guess of your patient Bajazet?  
Is he all healthful?  Hamon. 
No my gracious Prince.  
Neither his body nor his mind is free  
From miserable anguish.  Selym. 
A sad case.  
Hamon I love him, and would rid him from't.  
Were I so skilled in naturals as you.  Hamon. 
All that my art can work to cure his grief  
Shall be applied.  Selym. 
Unapprehending fool:  
I must speak broader. Hamon is he ill  
In mind and body both?  Hamon. 
Exceeding ill.  Selym. 
Then should I think him happier in his death,  
Then in so hateful life and so weak breath.  Hamon. 
And that's the readier way to cure his ill.  Selym. 
(H'as found me now) but Hamon can thy Art  
Reach to the cure?  Hamon. 
With easy diligence.  Selym. 
Then let it.  Haman. 
I'm yours.  Exit Hamon. Selym. 
Walk, and thy pains,  
Shall be rewarded highly, with the like  
As thou bestowest on Bajazet: the Court  
Makes it a fashion now first to bring the event  
About, and then hang up the instrument.   

Actus Quinti, Scena Sexta.  Enter Cherseogles above disguised like a common Soldier. Cherseog. 
Thus Cherseogles hast thou wound thyself,  
Out of thyself to act some fearful plot,  
By which the Authors of this public woe,  
Shall skip into their graves, it is confirmed  
A deed of lawful valour to defeat  
Those of their lives, that robbed the world of peace.  
On this side the false hearted Selimus  
With his confederate Bassas lie encamped  
Just opposite the proud Achomates;  
The Sun now sunk into the Western lap,  
Bids either part, unlace their warlike helms  
Until to morrow light where both intent  
The hazard of a battle: but you powers  
That with propitious cares, tender the world  
And us frail mortals, help me to pre●ent  
A general enemy by the fall of some;  
Assist my spirits in a deed of blood,  
Cruel, yet honest and austerely good.  
Who? Selimus? as I expected.  Enter Selimus. Selym. 
What?  
A soldier thus licentious in his walks,  
A stranger? Ha? What art thou?  Chersee. 
A sworn friend, a servant to thy greatness.  Selym. 
Then return  
Back into thy ranks and orders, no edict  
From me hath ratified this liberty,  
To scout at random from the standing camp.  Cherseo. 
'Tis true my honoured Lord, nor have I dared  
For some poor trivial prey thus to remove  
Myself, but for a cause of greater weight  
The ruin of our enemies.  Selym. 
How's that?  
The ruin of our enemies?  Cher. 
No less;  
The quick fall of great Achomat●  
Can work it.  Sely. 
Soldier as thou hop'st to live,  
Mock not my thoughts with false and painted tales,  
Of a supposed stratagem.  Cherse. 
I swear—  Sely. 
What wilt thou swear?  Cherse. 
By all the heavenly powers  
I speak the truth, and if I fail in aught,  
Grind mine accursed body into dust.  Sely. 
Enough, unfold the meaning and the way  
By which this happy project must be wrought.  Cher. 
'Tis thus; at the twelfth hour of this black night.  
Achomates I have induced to walk  
Forth to this valley weaponed, but unmanned,  
In expectation of your presence there,  
Where being met, he'll urge a single fight,  
'twixt you and him: after a stroke or two,  
I have engaged myself closely to start  
From ambush, and against you take his part.  Selym. 
Then thou art a traitor?  Chers. 
Worse than a devil, should my heart  
Have made that promise with my tongue;  
But heaven bear witness that my inward thoughts  
Labour his welfare only, whom you powers  
Have proved most worthy, therefore only yours.  
Meet but this foe, whom I have flattered thus,  
To his destruction: and great Selimus  
Shall see my strength employed to offend  
Achomates, and stand thy faithful friend.  Sely. 
Oh were thou faithful—  Cherse. 
If I shrink in aught  
That I profess, death shall strike me to the grave.  
So thrive all falsehood, and each perjured slave.  Selimus, 
thoust won our credit, bear a noble mind  
About thee, then to find me forward trust  
This night when sleep triumphant hath subdued  
Her wakeful subjects, and the midnight clock  
Sounded full twelve, in this appointed place,  
Expect my presence, and till then adieu  
Our next shall be a tragic interview.  Enter Acho●●ates. Cherseo. 
The first is cared for— here a second comes,  
Assist me thou quick jssue of jove's brain,  
And this one night shall make their labours vain.  Achom. 
It shall be so, my fears are too to great,  
To join all in one onset: a strong band  
Shall with a circle 'em the traitor round,  
And intercept the passage of their flight;  
How now? from whence comest thou? what at thou?  Cher. 
A Liegman to Achomates.  Achom. 
To me?  Cher. 
Yet noble Prince, and one whose life is vowed  
To further your desert, and therefore yours.  Achom. 
We thank you, and pray you leave us.  Cher. 
I can unfold an easy stratagem,  
Would crown the hopes of great Achomates.  Achom. 
What means the fellow?  Cher. 
To secure your state  
By Selimus his fall.  Achom. 
What is't thou breathest?  
Speak it again, for many careful thoughts  
Possess my soul, that every blessed voice,  
Steals in the passage 'twixt my ear and haste,  
By Selimus his fall, to secure my state?  Cherse. 
I can:  Achom. 
Delude me not, and I will rain  
Such an unmeasured plenty in thy lap,  
Heap such continual honours on thy head  
That thou shouldst snrinke, and stagger with the weight.  Cherse. 
judge of the means; this night I have induced  
Young Selimus to walk forth in this grove,  
At the twelfe hour, in hope to meet you here▪  
Where having urged a combat, and both met  
In eager conflict I have pawned my vow.  
To rush from yonder thicket, and with him  
join against you.  Acho. 
Villain.  Cher. 
And devils had,  
My heart made promise with my tongue,  
But heaven bear witness that my soul affects  
None but Achomates, try but my faith,  
And meet this foe, whom I have baited thus,  
With golden hopes, and you will find my deed  
In your defence all promise shall succeed.  Acho. 
I'm resolved soldier, when day is past▪  
And the full fancies of mortality  
Busie in dreams and playing visions,  
At the sad melancholy hour of twelve,  
I'll meet thee in this plain.  Cher. 
And you shall find  
Me here before you.  Achom. 
Be so; Who denies  
To strike in time, can seldom hope to rise,  Exit Chers. 
These two will meet, and I must take both parts.  
Now for a trick to send them both to hell,  
In the full growth of expectation;  
Heavens know they have deserved it than 'twould be  
An happy murder: and behold the men  Enter Bassaes 
Whom I have decreed should do it, once again  
I must betake me to my former note;  
Health to the friends of our great Emperor,  
The three strong pillars that uphold true worth.  Isaac 
Sir, your intrusion is unseasonable.  Musta. 
And your salute, impardonably bold.  Cher. 
Perhaps the news I bring, may frame excuse  
For both these faults.  Mesith. 
Speak out thy mind in brief.  Cher. 
Then thus: to night here present on this plain,  
You may encounter two fierce enemies,  
Achomates, and Cherseogles, both at the full stroke of twelve.  Isaac 
How (Mesithes) we're blessed.  Musta. 
This night at twelve of the clock?  Cher. 
Upon my life—  Omnes 
What shall we do?  Chers. 
But meet me on this plain  
At the appointed hour, and I will place  
You three aside, from whence you shall oppress  
Your foes at unawares.  Mesith. 
Is it a match?  Isaac. 
'Tis done at twelve a clock.  Mustap. 
See thou prove faithful.  Chers. 
If I shrink in aught  
That I profess, death strike me to the grave.  
So thrive all falsehood and each perjured slave.  Exeunt Bassanes 
How easily base minds are drawue to strike  
Their foes at least advantage— beauteous morn,  
Pale witness to a thousand deeds of sin  
Veil up thy light, that darkness may help on  
These black stratagems, and unhallowed hands  
Strike in mistaken bodies, even soul soul  
Themselves adore, and cheerfully defend,  
But time grows fast upon me, hit all right  
Two Princes, and three Bassas die this night.   

Actus Quinti, Scena Septima.  Enter Corcutus with his Lute. Corcu. 
Heaven whither run these projects? is the thought  
Of man so senseless, void of wit, yet fraught  
With threatening ambition? to what end  
Doth this distempered madness headlong bend?  
Bless me my Genius from these hated toils  
Of murdering warfare, and these sweeting broils,  
Of watchful policy; Phoebus let it be  
That I may know no other god but thee.  
Learned experience says, ambiguous fates  
Vex eminent fortunes, and he only stands  
Without the beams of envy, whom the hands  
Of some propitious power, hath ranked below  
Those short delights that troubled thoughts do know;  
A Crown's a golden mark, which being hit,  
Falls not alone, but off the head with it:  
Honours are smoky, nothing, then let the Queen  
Of learning, great Minerva, and the nine  
chaste sisters, that adorn the Grecian hill,  
Devote me to themselves, but let me still  
Within Apollo's sacred Temple sit,  
And spend my body to increase my wit;  
Reign Selimus, for I shall ne'er thee hate,  
Thy supreme power, nor envy thy state,  
Corcutus stands divorced from a life,  
Engaged to vain ambition factious state,  
And empty power of Kings; he's great in fame  
Not who seeks after, but neglects the same.  
Since thou hast grieved me Phoebus, free my wit,  
That I my ease my grief by speaking it;  
If thou deniest fond god, 'twill be in vain,  
Sorrow can sing, though thou not tune the strain.  Sings to his Lute. 
Then thou sweet Muse from whence there flows,  
words able to express our ill,  
Teach me to warble out my woes,  
and with a sigh each accent fill:  
Infuse my breast with doleful strains,  
Whose heavy note may speak my pains,  
O let me sigh, and sighing weep,  
Till night deprive my woes with sleep.  
The pleasing murmurers of the air,  
that gently fan each moving thing,  
I being heard, strait do repair,  
and bear a burden whilst I sing,  
An heavy burden doleful song,  
The father's grief the subjects wrong,  
O let me sigh, and sighing weep,  
Till night beguiles my woes with sleep.  
The grieved Flora hangs the head  
Of every youthful plant and tree  
And flowery pleasures are stark dead,  
at my lamenting melody,  
Then all you Muses help my strain  
To reach the depth of bitter pain.  
Oh let me sigh, and sighing weep  
Till night beguiles my woes with sleep.  
Me thinks I hear the singing spheres,  
tune their melodious strains to mine,  
The dewy clouds dissolve in tears,  
as if they grieved to see me pine;  
Thus each thing joins to help my moan,  
Thus seldom come true sighs alone;  
Then let me sigh, and sighing weep,  
Till night beguile my woes with sleep.  
He sleeps: Then enter two murderers  
Who slaying him, bear him away.  Exeunt  

Actus Quinti, Scena Octava.  Enter Cherseogles. Chers. 
A dark and heavy night, as if the gods  
Winked at our projects, and had clad the heavens  
In a propitious black, to bless my plot;  
Revenge, to thee I dedicate this work,  
And I will pamper thy wild appetite  
With blood and murder, thy dull slow paced feet  
Shall caper to behold our fearful scenes  
Drenched in a scarlet Ocean,  
'tis full twelve—  
I hear a quiet foot pace, and it beats  
Directly towards. 'Tis Selimus,  
joy of expectation.  Enter Selimus Selym. 
Thou Queen of shades;  
Bright Cynthia, and you starry lamps of heaven,  
What sphere hath told you? oh y'are envious all,  
And therefore hate to grace the time, in which  
I ruinated my latest foe; this is the sand  
On which I am to wrestle for a Crown,  
And I am entered full of greedy lust,  
To meet my adverse champion; here's my god,  
Whom I adore with greater confidence  
Than all those beauties, Sun, or Moon, or Stars  
That with malicious absence have disrobed,  
This gracious hour of its due respect.  
Oh thou the silent darkness of the night,  
Arm me with desperate courage and contempt,  
Of gods— loved men, now I applaud the guile,  
Of our brave roarers which select this time,  
To drink and swagger, and spurn at all the powers  
Of either world, blessed mortals, had that mother  
Strangled her other infant, white faced day,  
And brought forth only night, my limbs are stiff,  
And I must bathe them in my brother's blood,  
I'll steep this grass in a red purple gore,  
Scatter the carcase piecemeal, and that done  
I'll rear a lasting monument, I'll sign  
A trophy, which inscribed, shall speak my deeds  
To after ages, that's my chief intent,  
he's coldly praised that's written innocent;  
who's there? my soldier?  Cher. 
Soldier and slave, great Prince at your command,  Sely. 
I will jnoble thee place thee my second self  
In all my power for thy rare faith.  
where's our Achomates?  Cher. 
I heard one softly track full hitherwards,  
And think 'tis he; 'tis needful that I meet him,  
And give some proof that I continue his,  
Else jealous of my faith, he will return,  
And we be both deluded; when y'are met,  
Parley before you fight, till I prepare  
Myself to run upon him unawares,  
Mean while I'll go to meet him.  Exit Selimus. 
Go, make haste,  
But if this base rascal should deceive  
My trust? a trifle— my nerves are plumped up  
And filled with vigour, strong enough to fright,  
A million of such big backed, drowfie slaves;  
I hear them both approach.  Enter Cherseogles and Achomates. Cherse. 
See where he stands, I shall not be flow  
To second your encounter being met,  
Parley before ye fight, till I prepare  
Myself, to run upon him unaware,  
Mean while I'll withdraw— now for my Bassas,  Exit Achom. 
A time of dismal blackness, and my soul  
Is dull and heavy, as if envious night,  
Strived to subdue my fatal watch fullness.  
But I have rushed upon my foe: whose there?  Sely. 
Answer thy Prince first I say, what art thou?  Acho. 
He that vsurp's the title of a villain.  Sely. 
But he that wears it is a Saint, and such am I  Achom. 
thouart a treacherous slave.  Sely. 
Achomates thou liest, this night shall prove  
I shrink not to unmake what I have done.  Achom. 
Oh heavens so impudently bad?  Selimus. 
Good brother we know your virtues, one that  
Gain country, gods, and men,  
Slew an Ambassador which here we must revenge.  Achom. 
Hark in thine ear,  
I'll whisper forth thy mice 〈◊〉, lest the heavens  
Should tear and snatch them hence from my reuenge,  
In greediness of wrath— they whisper.  E●ter Cherseogles, Isaac, Mesithes, Mustapha. Cherse. 
See where they stand.  Isaac 
Achomates and Selimus?  Cher. 
Both:  
They are two, we four, le's run upon them,  
'Tis very dark, be certain in your aim,  
And all strike home.  Omnes. 
A match.  Mes. 
Isaack, and I will take the nearest.  Must. 
And we the other.  Cher. 
Strike home, and sure, and here's at them.  Stab him, stab him. uterque meritur. Selym. 
I have the Crown, and I will, Oh, oh, oh.  Achom. 
Oh, òò, O villain I am slain.  Cher. 
It is not Cherseogles we have slain.  Isa. 
Not Cherseogles villain, whom then? speak.  They confer. Cher. 
Achomates and Selimus.  Isaac. 
Ha.  Cher. 
None other.  Isaac. 
Hast thou betrayed us so?  Cher. 
Be silent, hear me.  
There lie the Captains of both Armies dead,  
Breathless, and so stupid to neglect  
The use of opportunities.  Isaac. 
What use?  Cher. 
Are you not rich, wealthy in powerful gold,  
Go whilst the Soldiers lie thus destitute  
Of any Leader, frankly bribe both parts  
Buy their unsettled love at any rate,  
And creep into their bosom, then in this  
Dead want and dearth of Princes, they will  
Cleave to Isaac, and at length salute  Isaac. 
Me Emperor?  Cher. 
You apprehend it right.  Isa. 
What blessed angel art thou?  Cher. 
'Tis no time for uncle compliment.  Isaac. 
Thy counsel's good.  
I would not let slip this sweet occasion,  
For all the precious plenty of the world.  
Come let's away.  Cher. 
First make some quick dispatch with these now rivals.  Isa. 
True, they'll not endure my Sovereignty.  
Hast no sudden wits how to remove them both?  Cher. 
No wile but strength; are not we two?  
They are no more; we must encounter them, 'tis man to man:  
The match no whit unequal.  Isa. 
I am thine:  
I hate to have copartners in my state:  
There shall not breathe a man whose envious eye  
Dares look a squint on my dread Majesty.  Mes. 
They that bring news first, are still most welcome.  Musta. 
Experience speaks it true.  Mes. 
Let us haste, now Selimus we come to gratulate  Isaac. 
Stay—  Cherse.. 
Stand.  Mes. 
How?  Mustaph. 
What means this?  Isaac 
Fate to your lives.  They fight, Isaac is slain. Musta. 
Sweet doings.  Isaac. 
'Tis no less, Sir witness this,  
Traitor I'm slain.  Moritur. Cherseog. 
Cross fortune, wicked chance:  
But I must make the best of it. Is he dead?  Mes. 
Villain he is, and thy bad turn is next:  
What devil did incite thee, to incite  
Isaac against friends? Injurious slave.  Musta. 
Urge him to no confession, till the rack  
Force from his closest thought unwilling truth,  
He shall be doomed for this notorious fact  
Unto continual pains,  
Hunger, oppression, want and slavery.  Mes. 
That struck me full.— Have at thee:  
Hold thou art victor. I have met the price  
Of treason death, and as I hoped to raise  
By blood, I fall, so have I missed my scope;  
Delusion is the end of lawless hope.  Moritur. Cherse. 
Mesithes stay one moment, art thou gone,  
I am not far behind, I feel the blood  
By slow degrees ebb, from my fainting breast,  
I am heart struck, and wounded even to death,  
A Scene of slaughterthiss.— O just heavens  
Still I plighted faith to each of these,  
I wished that if I failed in one, I vowed  
Death would thus strike me, I have gained my wish,  
Than you imperial Fates that intercept  
The brittle courses of frail mortality,  
Continue this firm justice, and enact  
A constant law, that all false meaning hearts  
That think of oaths as of a puff of wind,  
May as I do, thus sink into the grave  
My dying wish: so thrive each perjured knave.  Moritur. Enter Soldiers. Sould. 1. 
The night overblown, and five a clock,  
I wonder at their absence; what are these  
Our Generals murdered, our dear Selimus,  
With his three Bassas, and Achomates,  
Whose bloody hand is guilty of this fact?  Sould. 2. 
A trembling shakes me, 'twas some power  
That frowned at our proceedings.  Sould. 3. 
Bajazet is new born to his Sovereignty.  Sold 4. 
Let's take their bodies, bear them hence in pomp  
Unto their greatness, and advise the foe  
Of their slain General stern Achomates,  
Sound peaceful rumours; we must resubmit  
To Bajazet, so heaven hath thought it fit.  Exeunt.  

Actus Quinti, Scena Nona.  Enter Bajazet and Haman with a Book and Candle. Baiaz. 
Set down the Book and Candle, go and provide  
The Potion to prevent my Fever-fit,  
Till when I mean to study: go make hast.  Exit Haman. 
Fortune I thank thee, thou'rt a gracious Whore.  
Thy happy anger hath immured a Prince  
Within the walls of base security.  
Farewell thou swelling sea of Government,  
On whose bright crystal bosom along along  
The gravelled vessel of proud Majesty.  
Ambition empty all thy bag of breath,  
Send forth thy blast among the quiet waves,  
And work huge tempests to confound the Art  
Of the usurping Pilate Selymu●s.  
Treason and envy like to bickering winds,  
Shake the unsettled abrick of his State,  
That from my study windows I may laugh,  
To see his broken fortune swallowed up  
In the quick sands of danger, and the sail  
Puffed with the calm breath of slattering Chance,  
By furious whirlwinds rended into rags,  
And piecemeal scattered through the Ocean:  
But peace my chiding spirit; Come thou man  
Of rare instinct, blessed Author of a book  Takes the book. 
Worthy the studies of a reading God,  
Thou dost present before my wearied eyes,  
Tiberius sweeting in his policies,  
Dull Claudius gauged by dull flattery,  
Nero unboweling Nobility,  
Galba undone by servants hardly good,  
Otho o'erwhelmed in love, and drenched in blood,  
Vittelli●s sleeping in the chair of State,  
Vespasian called to government by Fate,  
Still as thy Muse doth travel o'er their age,  
A Prince's care is writ in every Page.  
Thus I unfold the volume of thy wit,  
The chiefest solace of my moving wit,  
Caedes eo fuit nobilior, quia filius  He reads. 
Patrem interfecit. Tacit. Hist. lib. 20.  
Avaunt thou damned wizard, did thy god  
Apollo teach thee to divine my fall?  
What hath thy cursed Genius tract my steps  
Through the Meanders of dark Privacy,  
And will he dwell with me in these close shades  
To vex my banished soul, banished from joy,  
Removed from the world's eye? I am accursed,  
And hated by the Synod of the gods,  
A knot of envious deceits, the day will be  
When they shall smart for this indignity.  Enter solemn Music, the Ghost of Mahomates, Zemes, Trizham, Mahomet, Achmetes, Caiubus, Asmehemides, with each a sword and burning Tapers, led in by Nemsis', with a sword, they encompass Bajazet in his bed. Nem. 
Triumph my Plaintiffs, Nemesis your Queen  
Is Pierced quite through with your continual groans.  
See, see, the prostrate body of a King,  
Clad in the weeds of pining discontent,  
Lieth open to your wrath, and doleful hate:  
But I conjure you not to touch his skin,  
Nor hurt his sacred person, those three Fates  
(Those srightfull sisters) told me they decree  
For Bajazet another destiny:  
But vex his soul with your deluding blows,  
And let him dream of direful anguishments,  
Each in the proper order of his Fate,  
Vent the compressed confusion of his hate.  One after another strike at Bajazet with their swords, Nemesis puts by their blows. Exeunt in a solemn dance. Nemes. 
Awake, awake thou tortured Emperor,  
Look with the eye of fury on the heavens,  
Threaten a downfall to this mortal stage,  
And let it crack with thee, thy life is run  
To the last Scene, thy Tragic part is done.  Exit. Bajazet awakes in fury, ariseth. 
You meager devils, and infernal hags,  
Where are you? Ha? what vanished? am I found?  
Did I not feel them tear and rack my flesh,  
And foreamble it amongst them? heaven and earth  
I am deluded, what thin airy shapes  
Durst fright my soul, I'll hunt about the world,  
Search the remotest angles of the earth,  
Till l've found out the climate hold sthese fiends,  
Or build a bridge by Geometric skill,  
Whom lineal extension shall reach forth  
To the declining borders of the sky,  
On which I'll lead mortality along,  
And break a passage through those brazen walls,  
From whence jove triumphs o'er this lower world:  
Then having got beyond the utmost sphere,  
Besiege the concave of this universe:  
And hungerstarve the gods till they confess  
What furies did my sleeping soul oppress.  
Ha? did it lighten? or what nimble flame  
Has crept into my blood? me thinks it steals  
Through my distempered joints, as if it feared  
To urge Medeas to i●n●atience.  
Hamon, accursed Hamon stand my soul  
Above the power of these inuenomed drugs:  
Am I in hell alive? the Stygian flames  
Could not produce an heat so violent  
As burns within my body: Oh I feel  
My heart drop into cinders, I am dust;  
jove for thine own sake jove, confine my soul  
Within these walls of earth: for in the sky  
When I am there, none shall be jove but I.  
Still, still I boil, and the continued flames  
Are aggravated: He is done, subdued  
(By the base Art of a damned Empiric)  
Whose empty name sent terror through the world:  
Is not the heaven bespangled all with stars,  
And blazing Meteors, whose bright glimmering flames  
Like ceremonial Tapers should adorn  
My solemn Hearse? what doth the golden Sun  
Ride with its wont motion? are the waves  
Bridled within their narrow Continent  
No deluge? not an earthquake? Shall a Prince,  
An Emperor, a Batazet decease  
And make no breach in nature? fright the world  
With no prodigious birth? Are you asleep  
You thundering beggars that so awe the world?  
I'll hasten to revenge this strong neglect  
Of my deceasing spirits, mount my soul,  
Brush off this cloddy heavy element:  
So jove I come excorporate, divine,  
Immortal as thyself, I must contest  
With thee proud god, with thee to arm my mind,  
Only my soul ascends earth stays behind.  Moritur. Enter the Ghosts as before him, and bear him out.  

Actus Quinti, Scena Decima.  Enter Solyman as newly Crowned. Soldiers, Attendants, warlike Music. Solym. 
Is Selymus deceased?  Sould. 
He is my Lord.  Solym. 
Who Solymus? what Fate durst be so bold:  
Oh, I could act an holy frenzy now  
Selimus deceased? What did not Atlas tremble  
At such a burden? Can he support the Orb  
That holds up Selimus? is not yet the Pole  
Cracked with his weight? do not the heaven's preparr  
His funeral Exequys? jove I invoke thee now,  
Command the heavens that the prone Chandler shops  
Command that idle Phoebus, that he exhale  
Matter from earth to make thy funerall Tapers:  
Or I'll make Torches of the universe  
In stead of Comets; flaming Countries, Cities  
Shall be thy ceremonial Tapers:  
Or if not this; I'll ransack Christendom,  
King's Daughters I'll embowel for a Sacrifice,  
Their fat with vestal fire will I refine,  
And offer virgins ware unto thy shrine.  
Start back bright Phoebus, let thy fiery Steeds  
Keep Holiday for Selimus. tell thy host  
Proud Neptune now expects another's deluge,  
That all the earth may weep for Selimus.  
What do you smile you Heavens? are ye conscious,  
And guilty of this execrable treason?  
What dare the fields to laugh when I do mourn?  
I'll dye your motley coloured weeds in scarlet,  
And clothe the world in black destruction.  
Nemesis, I'll nail thee to my greedy sword,  
Destruction shall serve under me a Prenticeship.  
Courage brave Sel●xie, with thy Princely boat  
Through Styx even all mortality shall float;  
I'll levy Soldiers through the Universe,  
With which thou shalt begirt Elysium;  
Thus barren Nature shall repent thy fall,  
Grieving that she did not the event forestall;  
Death I will hate thee: the world shall wear  
Thy sable livery embroidered with fear:  
Thy Trophies every where the world shall gaze on:  
Thy Arms in sable and in gules I blazon.  Sould. 
My Lord this Crown entreats you leave off these  
Ground-creeping meditations, and to think  
Of Majesty, wherefore we invest your brow  
With this rich robe of glory, and do vow  
To it our due allegiance: thus you shall  
Mount up aloft above your Father's fall.  Solym. 
Thus our dear Father, those bright robes of state,  
For which so lately thou hast sweat in blood,  
Thou wearest upon my shoulders in thy stead:  
Thus are we crowned, and thus our labours be,  
Made gainful unto thine, though not to thee.  Sould. 
Live then, and reign most mighty Emperor,  
Whilst that our care and watchful providence,  
Shall fence thy safety, and keep Sentinel  
Over thy sacred person, were black treasons,  
Hatched in the Centre of the darkest earth,  
The massy element should be prospective  
For all our piercing eyes; should Pluto send  
His black Apparator to summon thee  
To appear before him, by that Mahomet  
We would confront him boldly, and excuse  
Thy absence unto Pluto, by our presence;  
Death we'll disarm thee, if thou dar'starrest  
Thy fury on our Solyman, or we'll bale his person  
With our imprisonment.  
By our death thou shalt live; our City walls  
May with warlike ruin be battered,  
But our allegiance, that European Bull,  
Shall never push from us, with his golden horns;  
Nor shall his guilded showers quench our loves:  
No golden Engineer shall undermine  
The Castles of our faith, nor blow them up  
With blasts of hoped preferment, were thy walls▪  
But paper, were they made of brittle glass,  
Our faiths should make them marble, and as firm  
As Admant: not walls, but subjects love,  
Do to a Prince the strongest Castle prove.  
Behold great Prince allegiance mixed with love  
Locked in our breasts: thou art the living key  
To shut, and to unlock them at thy pleasure:  
No golden picklock shall e'er serve itself  
Into these faithful locks, whose only springs  
Can be no other than our own heart strings,  
Our greedy swords which erst imbrued in blood,  
Did seem to blush at their own Master's acts,  
And upbraid us with our bloody facts  
Though peace hath now condemned to pleasing rust,  
Yet at thy beck we'll sheathe them in the breast  
Of daring Christians, thus in war we'll fight  
For thee, whilst thou dost strive for victory:  
Here to describe such Princely virtues, which  
Should more adorn thy Crown then Orient pearls,  
Were but to show a glass, and to commend  
Thyself unto thyself. Be gracious,  
Magnificent, courageous, or mild,  
Or more compendiously, be more thyself,  
Reign then, and Mahomet grant that thou may'st pass  
Nestor in years, as much as now thou dost  
In wisdom and in valour; Herald proclaim  
To the world his title, and let swift-winged Fame  
Second thy trumpet.  Her. 
Long live Soliman, etc.  Solym. 
We thank you friendly Actors of our bliss,  
Our patience hath at length tired out the gods;  
Our Empire hath been racked enough with treasons,  
And black seditions, as if no Christians  
Were left to conquer, we yield our Turkish blades  
Against ourselves, imbowelling the State  
With bloody discord, by our strength we fall  
A scorn to Christians, with our hands we shed  
That blood which might have conquered Christendom;  
Thus while we hate ourselves we love our enemies,  
And heal them with our sores, whilst we lie weltering  
in bloody peace: the die of the public safety  
Hath been already cast by th'hand of war,  
Treasons have made a blot, which may provoke  
The enemy to enter, and bear our men  
To dark Avernus, Envy might have blushed,  
Though always pale at all our projects: now  
This bloody deluge is quite past, return  
Sweet Peace with th'olive branch, enough of wars,  
'Tis thou must pour oil into our scars.  
Fly hence Hereditary hate, discords dead,  
Let not succeeding omnities and hatred live.  
Let none presume to cover private sores  
With public ruins, nor let black discord  
Make an Anatomy of our too lean  
Empire, let it w●● sat again; when peace  
Hath knit her knots, then shall the wanton sounds  
Of Bells give place to thundering bombards,  
And blood wash out the smoothing oil of Peace,  
Every Soldier I'll ordain a Priest  
To ring a fatal knell to Christians,  
And every minute unto earth's wide womb,  
Shall sacrifice a Chrisitians' Hecatomb:  
Then shall we make a league with Aeolus,  
The winds shall strive to further our proceedings,  
Then will we load the Seas, and fetter Neptune  
With chains that hold our Anchors; he shall quake  
Lest he to Pan resign his watery Empire,  
And three forked-mace unto my awful Sceptre;  
The Whales and Dolphins shall amazed stand,  
That they shall yield their place to Bears and lions,  
Sylla shall howl for fear when she shall see  
The Sea become a Forest, and herself  
Mountanie, then let Siren's quake  
For fear of Satyrs, then let the Christians think,  
Not that our Navy, but the Country itself  
Is come to move them from the growing earth;  
Comets, fiery swords shall be my Heralds,  
Threatening to th'world sudden combustion:  
Let our arms be steely bows, our arrows  
Thunderbolts, and in stead of warlike drums,  
Thunder shall proclaim black destruction;  
Vulcan I'll tax thee, exercise thy Forge,  
Prepare to me for all the world a scourge,  
The Fates to me their powers shall resign,  
Which with this hand will rend the strongest twine  
Of humane breath, first for the I'll of Rhodes  
Destruction there shall keep his mournful Stage:  
Th'inhabitants shall act a bloody Tragedy,  
And personate themselves; Then for Nayos I'll  
Death there shall keep her Court, than I will make  
Vienna all a Shambles; yea gaping Famine  
Ever devouring, always wanting food,  
Shall gnaw their bowels, and shall lean them nothing  
Besides themselves to feed on; their dead corpses  
Shall be entombed in their neighbour's bellies.  
There every one shall be a living Sepulchre,  
An unhallowed Churchyard; famine shall feed itself,  
Then shall they envy beasts, and wish to be  
Our jades, our Mules, Matrons shall strive to bring  
Into the hateful light abortive Brats;  
The Infants shall return, and the lean womb  
Shall be unto the Babes a sudden tomb.  
Then shall they hoard carcases, and strive  
Only to be rich in Funerals; I'd rejoice  
To see them stand like Screech-owls, gaping when  
Their Parents should expire, and bequeath  
To hell their wretched souls, to them their death.  All. 
Long live great Soliman our noble Emperor.  Soly. 
All this, and more than this I'll do, when peace  
Hath glutted our new greedy appetites,  
When it hath filled the veins of the Empire full  
With vigour, then lest too much blood should cause  
Armies of vices, not of men to kill us,  
And strength breed weakness in our too great Empire,  
Then, then, and only than we shall think good,  
With war to let the body politic blood,  
Mean time we'll think on our Father's Funeral:  
Oh, I could be an holy Epicure,  
In tears, and pleasing sighs, Oh I could now  
Refresh myself with sorrow, I could emblame  
Thy corpses with holy groans from putrefaction:  
Oh, I could powder up thy thirsty corpses  
With brinish tears, and wipe them off with kisses,  
And that I might more freely speak my grief,  
These eyes should be still silent Orators,  
Till blindness shut them up were I a woman:  
But I am Solyman, Emperor, the Turk,  
Blood shall be my tears, I'll think thee slain  
Amongst the Christians, and translate my grief  
To fury, every member of my body  
Shall execute the office of a weeping son.  
Thus in my tears an Argus will I be,  
My head, heart, hands, and all shall weep for or thee.  
Oh that the cruel Fates were half so mild  
As to drive streams of tears from forth the springs,  
Great sorrows have no leisure to complain,  
Lest ills vent forth, great griefs within remain:  
See Selimus, sometimes a fore-string instrument  
Feeding his Soldiers with sweet Harmony,  
Doth now tune nought to us but Lacrymy,  
Could not Aesculapius be found to tune  
His disagreeing elements treasons cracked  
The string which else an headache would untune.  
Every disease is a ragged fort  
To wear these strings asunder, treason did lend  
Death, which both age, and sickness did intend;  
What then remains, but that his Funeral rites  
With our Grandfather, Uncles be solemnised,  
That so black discord may be with them buried:  
But noble Selimus what Tomb shall I prepare  
For thy memorial? shall a heavy stone  
Press thy innocent ashes? Shall I confine  
Thy wand'ring ghost in some high marble prison?  
Or shall I hither fetch the flying I Tomb  
Of proud Mausolus the rich Carian King?  
No; Religion shall cloak no such injury,  
No hired Rhetoric shall adorn thy coarse,  
No prattling stone shall trumpet forth thy praise,  
The world's thy tomb, thy Epitaph I'll carve  
In Funerals, destruction is the book  
In which we'll write thy annals, blood's the Ink,  
Our sword the Pen; A Tragedy I intent,  
Which with a Plangity, no Plaudity shall end.  
FINIS.