ACHMETES

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. Royal Emperor. 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 rancour in his breast, Which he hath varnished yet, and gilded over 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 oh ce suspect his hatred; I must away, Hasty alarms call me hence, thus, and farewell, Envy grows greater, as our states excel: Great Queen of chance; but do I call on this Unconstant St pdame? be thou propitious Mars, Rough God of war: steel up this weary arm, And put a ten fold vigor in my bones; What shall Achmetes fallen, and in his lose, Great Bajazet, be wronged? it cannot be Death comes to wound thee Zemes, I am he. Zemes? Farewell, brave onne of Mars, thy fame shall stay With us, although thy soul flit hence away. Stop that oath, Brother's 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'others help, both jointly grow; These shall suffice your quarrels to remove, And dumb examples teach a lively love. Thy prayers were herd 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, then 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. They come to gratulate my late success, I see their errand oulded in their smiles, How cheerfully they look upon my joys, Thanks Noble friends, how fares the Emperor. We must be frolic Captains, think not then On my loud drums, and staring trumpeters, Such whose strong gs roar out a bellowing voice, Would make a man dance Antic in the fire, Weel have a choicer music, and my feet, Shall tread a neater march, then such harsh strains Can teach them, with more pleasure, and less pains. Since it hath pleased the E peror to grace Our slender merits thus: we shall be there, To taste his bounty. I'll follow you. I am happy above envy, and my state, Not to be thwarted with ate, 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 Isack thy chased 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 vail, thy generous thoughts, Nourish no base detraction; thy free love Thy professed actions, say t'were no just fate That good men's deeds should die by ill men's hate. fear not, I am guest To Bajazet, expected at the feast, My duty bids me pledge it. I return Good health to Isaac, and in this wee' drowned All concealed enmities. 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 sighed 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 H ctor, ranged his troops, Into their several order, 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 hight, and angry Mars Inthroned upon the battlements of heaven, Left either side to tug with their own strength, Till their oppressing multitude boar 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 dard 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 bade 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. This phrase becomes the Greeks, submissive states Must bend, Conqueror must rule the fates. Renowned Viceroy, thy persuading thoughts Have predeuin'd most truly these effects, And we applaud thy counsel, let us three Join our best strength, that these ensuing arres May be composed without the stroke of Wars: Cor to is wise, and mild, and being so, He hates the rumour of a public foe. Brother contain your self, come lets away, To see the end that waits on this sad day. And Trizham? her a sighed Of one men issue, Noble Bajazet, Brother's we have jumped together? I am a man of peace, mistake me not. I made a vow, nor can it be forgotten, Till you revoke your oath. 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. Caigubus, public dangers call me forth, And I must leave thee now unto thy self 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 then I: Such strict observance is there showed to me, By all that know my worth, and hear me named, As if I grasp't Jove's thunder in my hands: By all my Hope's, 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 God, It's brittle, and uncertain, if thou tread One careless leppe aside, thou fallest down dead, The shute 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 footstep: these where e'r they shall, Blow strong will make them stagger if not fallen. The battle will prove great and dangerous, But were their number double more then ours, The justice of our cause bids us go on, And Like a cheerful drum strikes panting fear From every breast. Father, led you the vanguard, The rearward be your charge, the right wing yours, My self will gui e the left, this day shall crown Your valour in full pride, Zemes must down. Brave Prince, I more lament thy case then can thy self That runnest with such madness on the edge Of desperate ruin, thou art but young and weak, Manhoods 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: it'll vex my soul In the clear morn of thine uprising Hope's, 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. Have at thee then. 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. The gods neglect my welfare here on earth, And when I shall put off this mor all load, Let me be outlawed from the Court of heaven, If in this bosom there lie id one thought That does not honour Bajazet. Let me march hence, and Bajazet shall know, How little I befriend my Princes foe, I'll cast a ring of soldiers round The walls of Room, if Zemes escape thence out, Cut of my breath: he that's deep in blame, Must hazard boldly to regain his fame. O! 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'de not outlive this hour: fly hence vain soul, Climb yonder acred mount, strive upwards, there, There where a guard of stars shall hem thee round, Built thee a safe tribunal—I am gone— O tragic cruelty—behold—the end Of two right Noble sons—one faithful friend In thy friends, That grieve to see thy wrongs. Too true Great Bajazet: And is Bajazet arrived? To you Mesithes, thus I prove my love. To muster arms? canst thou surmise the cause?