CHERSEOGLES

So fame report Yet how he does 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 Endue to his father, nor will he if he might, He's learned, therefore joust, Arts not allow To were a Crown endue to another's brow. 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. And such are you, our vanquished hearts must bend, But bade 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 advise 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 joust duty, or our latest end. Nobly resolved (Greece sings) if the event, Prove but so happy, as honest the intent. But stand aside, Bajazet is come. Live happy Bajazet. In that read all thy woes, take there a brief, Contract of all thine ills, sad lines of grief. Stay Bajazet, that arm can break a path Unto thy earthly Monarch, ere thou come To bless the banks of sweet Elys um, 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 betwixt 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, Isaacke and I. Devoted to your service, yet the world stands On wavering doubts, ready to clap their hands. It moved him much, And wrought strange passio S in him, when he read Your name, and found your name so entitled. Not yet great Emperor. Surely no. Then he must die. What should these questions mean, Abrupt demands, one to confound the other? My liege, your guests are come. Ach mates, to you I must commend The welfare of Achmetes in this cup. As we could Like A voice of health sent from the careful gods. This news will lay the ury of your sons, And breed low duty in them all in hope Of the reward proposed. Worthy Sir, By the enclosure of my soul I swear— Surely this Can ot be. Worse then 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 Selymus Shall see my strength employed to offend Achomates, and stand thy faithful friend. 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 then 'twould be And happy murder: and behold the men Whom 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. 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. If I shrink in ought That I profess, death strike me to the graven. So thrive all falsehood and each perjured slave. 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 that soul Themselves adore, and cheerfully defend, But time grows fast upon me, hit all right Two Princes, and three Bassa's die this night. A dark and heavy night, as if the gods Winckt 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 pac' feet Shall caper to behold our fea efull scenes Drenched in a scarlet Ocean, 'Tis full twelve— I hear a quiet foot pace, and it beats Directly towards. It's Selymus, Joy of expectation. No less; The quick fallen of great Achmat Can work it. It's 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, heel urge a single fight, Betwixt you and him: after a stroke or two, I have engaged my self closely to start From ambush, and against you take his partly. A Lieg-man to Achomates. Yet noble Prince, and one whose life is vowed To further your desert, and therefore yours. I can unfold and easy stram agem, Would crown the Hope's of great Achomates. To secure your state By Selymus his fallen. 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 Hope's, and you will ind my deed In your defence all promise shall succeed. And you shall find Me here before you. Perhaps the news I bring, may frame excuse For both these faults. 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. Upon my life— Soldier and slave, great Prince at your command, I herd one softly track full hitherward, And think 'tis he; it's 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 you're met, Parley before you fight, till I prepare My self to run upon him unawares, Mean while I'll go to meet him. Both: They are two, we four, lets run upon them, It's very dark, be certain in your aim, And all strike home. Strike home, and sure, and here's at them. It is not Cherseogles we have slain. Achomates and Selymus. None other. Be silent, hear me. There lie the Captains of both Armies dead, Breathless, and so stupid to neglect The use of opportunities. Are you not rich, wealthy in powerful gold, Go while 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 uva to and dearth of Princes, they will Cleave to Isaac, and at length salute You apprehend it right. It's no time for id e compliment. First make some quick dispatch with these now rivals. No wile but strength; are not we two? They are no more; we must encounter them, it's man to man: The match no whit unequal. Achomates? Here comes the , Sure I see bade news Portrayed on the Index of their fronts. I shall, it'll be well done To reconcile a Father and a Son. I swear— By all the heavenly powers I speak the truth, and if I fail in ought, Grind mine accursed body into dust. If I hrinke in ought That I profess, death shall strike me to the grave. So thrive all falsehood, and each perjured slave. I can: Judge of the means; this night I have induced Young Selymus to walk forth in this grove, At the twelve hour, in hope to meet you here Where having urged a combat, and both met In ager conflict I have pawned my vow. To rush from yonder thicket, and with him Join against you. See where he stands, I shall not be flow To second your encounter being met, Parley before you fight, till I prepare My self, to run upon him unawares, Mean while I'll withdraw—now for my Bassa's, See where they stand. 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 slaughterthis.—Oh joust heavens Still I plighted faith to each of these, I with ht that if I failed in one, I vowed Death would thus strike me, I have gained my wish, Then you imperial Fates that intercept The brittle courses of frail mortality, Continue this firm justice, and enact A constant law, that all also meaning hearts That think of oaths as of a puff of wind, May as I do, thus sink into the graven My dying wish: so thrive each perjured knave. None does deny't; You may proceed in your edict for wars, And make Achmetes general of the camp. Peace and health to Selymus. Yet what if Baiaz to our honoured Lord Bid you roll up those flaxen signs of war, And sheath the sword drawn forth against his foe? When duty says obey, what shall say no. Then thus he wills 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, never 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. Most true: and yet It'll prove distasteful. I'll tell it him with joy, which when he hears, He'll be disburdened of a thousand fears. To track 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. I suspect Some plotted mischief, else they durst not leave Your person thus unguarded. Nor this nor that I'll favour, may I Baiaz to shall live to see both bleed. It's true my honoured Lord, nor have I dared For some poor trivial prey thus to remove My self, but for a cause of greater weight The ruin of our enemies. 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 labors vain. Thus Cherseogles hast thou wound thy self, Out of thy self 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 Selymus With his confederate Bassa's lie incampt Just opposite the proud Achomates; The Sun now sunk into the Western lap, Bids either partly, unlace their warlike helms Until to morrow light where both intend 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 fallen of some; Assist my spirits in a deed of blood, Cruel, yet honest and austeerely good. Who? Selymus? as I expected. Cross fortune, wicked chance: But I must make the best of it. Is he dead? 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 graven providence. Will you fair Prince reject all future Hope's Of just succession, and afflict your Sire, By your unjust detainment of his Crown. A sworn friend, a servant to thy greatness. Stand.