Classic Poem

ACT III. SCENE I.

Enter King and Haly.

King. B U t Haly , What Confederates has the Prince
In his Conspiracy?
Ha. Sir, I can yet suspect
None but the Turkish Prisoners, and that only
From their laten sudden flight.
King. Are they fled? For what?
Ha. That, their own fears best know; their Entertainment
I'm sure was such as could not minister
Suspicion or Dislike: but sure they're conscious
Or some intended mischief, and are fled
To put it into act.
King. This still confirms me more;
But let 'em be pursu'd: let all the passages
Be well secur'd, that no Intelligence
May pass between the Prince and them.
Ha. It shall be done, Sir.
King. Is the Caliph prepar'd?
Ha. He's without, Sir,
And waits your Pleasure.
King. Call him.

Enter Caliph.

King. I have a great design to act, in which
The greatest part is thine. In brief 'tis this,
I fear my Son's high Spirit; and suspect
Designs upon my Life and Crown.
Ca. Sure, Sir, your Fears are causeless;
Such Thoughts are Strangers to his noble Soul.
King. No, 'tis too true; I must prevent my Danger,
And make the first attempt: there's no such way
To avoid a Blow, as to strike first, and sure.
Ca. But, Sir, I hope my Function shall exempt me
From bearing any part in such Designs.
King. Your Function! [ Laughs ] Do you think that Princes
Will raise such Men so near themselves for nothing?
We but advance you to advance our purposes:
Nay, even in all Religion,
Their Learned'st, and their seeming holiest Men, but serve
To work their Masters ends; and varnish o'er
Their Actions, with some specious pious colour:
No scruples; do't, or by our holy Prophet,
The Death my Rage intends to him, is thine.
Ca. Sir, 'tis your part to will, mine to obey.
King. Then be wise and sudden.

Enter Lords as to Council . Abdal, Morat.

Ca. My Lords, it grieves me to relate the cause
Of this Assembly; and 'twill grieve you all:
The Prince you know stands high in all those graces
Which Nature, seconded by Fortune, gives:
Wisdom he has, and to his Wisdom Courage;
Temper to that, and unto all Success. But
Ambition, the disease of Virtue, bred
Like surfeits from an undigested fullness,
Meets Death in that which is the means of Life.
Great Mahomet , to whom our Sov'raign's Life
And Empire is most dear, appearing, thus
Advis'd me in a Vision; Tell the King,
The Prince his Son attempts his Life and Crown;
And though no Creature lives that more admires
His Virtues, nor affects his Person more
Than I; yet zeal and duty to my Soveraign
Have cancell'd all Respects; nor must we slight
The Prophets Revelation's.
Abd. Remember, Sir, he is your Son,
Indeared to you by a double bond,
As to his King, and Father.
King. And the remembrance of that double bond
Doubles my sorrows: 'Tis true,
Nature and Duty bind him to Obedience;
But being those placed in a lower sphere,
His fierce Ambition, like the highest mover,
Has hurried with a strong impulsive motion
Against their proper course. But since he has forgot
The Duty of a Son, I can forget
The Affections of a Father.
Abd. But Sir, in the beginning of Diseases
None try the extreamest Remedies.
King. But when they're sudden,
The Cure must be as quick; when I'm dead, you'll say,
My fears have been too slow: Treasons are acted,
As soon as thought, though they are ne'er believ'd
Until they come to act.
Mor. But consider, Sir,
The greatness of the attempt, the People love him;
The Lookers-on, and the enquiring Vulgar
Will talk themselves to action: thus by avoiding
A danger but suppos'd, you tempt a real one.
King. Those Kings whom Envy, or the Peoples Murmur
Deter from their own purposes, deserve not
Nor know not their own Greatness;
The Peoples Murmur, 'tis a sulphurous Vapour
Breath'd from the Bowels of the besest Earth;
And it may soil and blast things near it self:
But e'er it reach the Region we are plac'd in,
It vanishes to Air; we are above
The Sense or Danger of such Storms.
Cap. True, Sir, they are but Storms while Royalty
Stands like a Rock; and the tumultuous vulgar,
Like Billows rais'd with Wind (that's with Opinion)
May roar, and make a Noise, and threaten;
But if they rowl too near, they're dash't in pieces
While they stand firm.
Abd. Yet Sir, Crowns are not plac'd so high,
But vulgar hands may reach 'em.
King. Then 'tis when they are plac'd on vulgar Heads.
Abd. But Sir,
Look back upon your self; why should your Son
Anticipate a hope so near, so certain? we may wish and pray
For your long Life: but neither Prayers nor Power
Can alter Fate's Decree, or Nature's Law.
Why should he ravish then that Diadem
From your gray Temples, which the hand of Time
Must shortly plant on his?
King. My Lords,
I see you look upon me as a Sun
Now in his West, half buried in a Cloud,
Whose Rays the vapours of approaching Night
Have render'd weak and faint: But you shall find
That I can yet shoot Beams, whose heat can melt
The waxen Wings of this ambitious Boy.
Nor runs my Blood so cold, nor is my Arm
So feeble yet, but he that dares defend him,
Shall feel my Vengeance, and shall usher me
Into my Grave.
Abd. Sir, we defend him not,
Only desire to know his Crime: 'Tis possible
It may be some Mistake, or Mis-report,
Some false Suggestion, or malicious Scandal:
Or if Ambition be his fault, 'twas yours;
He had it from you when he had his Being:
Nor was't his fault, nor yours, for 'tis in Princes
A Crime to want it; from a noble Spirit
Ambition can no more be separated,
Then Heat from Fire: Or if you fear the Vision,
Will you suspect the noble Prince, because
This holy Man is troubled in his sleep?
Because his crazy Stomach wants concoction,
And breeds ill fumes; or his melancholy Spleen
Sends up phantastick vapours to his Brain:
Dreams are but Dreams, these causless fears become not
Your noble Soul.
King. Who speaks another word
Hath spoke his last: Great Mahomet we thank thee,
Protector of this Empire, and this Life,
Thy cares have met my fears; this on presumptions
Strong and apparent, I have long presag'd:
And though a Prince may punish what he fears,
Without account to any but the Gods;
Wise States as often cut off Ills may be,
As those that are; and prevent purposes
Before they come to Practice; and foul Practices
Before they grow to Act. You cannot but observe
How he dislikes the Court, his rude departure,
His honour from the People and the Soldiers,
His seeking to oblige the Turks , his Prisoners,
Their sudden and suspected flight,
And above all, his restless towring thoughts.
King. If the Business be important,
Admit him.

Enter Messenger with a Letter.

Mess. Sir, upon your late command
To guard the passage, and search all Packets,
This to the Prince was intercepted.
King. Here Abdal , read it.
Abdal reads. Sir, we are assured how unnatural your Father's Intentions
Are towards you, and how cruel towards us; we have
Made an escape, not so much to seek our own,
As to be Instruments of your Safety: We will be
In Arms upon the Borders, upon your Command,
Either to seek Danger with you, or to receive you
If you please, to seek Safety with us.
King. Now my Lords,
Alas my Fears are causless and ungrounded,
Fantastick dreams, and melancholy fumes
Of crazy Stomachs, and distemper'd Brains:
Has this convinc'd you?
Mor. Sir, we see
Some reason you should fear, but whom, we know not;
'Tis possible these Turks may play the Villains
Knowing the Prince the Life of all our hopes,
Staff of our Age, and Pillar of our Empire;
And having fail'd by Force, may use this Art
To ruin him, and by their Treason here
To make their Peace at home.
Now should this prove a Truth, when he has suffer'd
Death, or Disgrace, which are to him the same,
'Twill be too late to say you were mistaken;
And then to cry him Mercy: Sir, we beseech you
Awhile suspend your doom, till time produce
Her wonted Off-spring, Truth.
King. And so expecting
The Event of what you think, shall prove the Experiment
Of what I fear; but since he is my Son,
I cannot have such violent thoughts toward him,
As his towards me: he only shall remain
A Prisoner, till his Death, or mine, inlarge him.

Solyman peeps in.

King. Away, away, we're serious.
Sol. But not so serious to neglect your Safety.
King. Art thou in earnest?
Sol. Nay, Sir, I can be serious as well as my Betters.
King. What's the matter?
Sol. No, I am an inconsiderable Fellow, and know nothing.
King. Let's haer that nothing then.
Sol. The Turks , Sir.
King. What of them?
Sol. When they could not overcome you by force, they'll
Do it by treachery.
King. As how?
Sol. Nay, I can see as far into a Milstone, as another Man.
They have corrupted some ill-affected Persons.
King. What to do?
Sol. To nourish Jealousies 'twixt you and your Son.
King. My Son, Where is he?
Sol. They say he's Posting hither.
King. Haly , we are betray'd, prevented, look to the Ports, and let
The Guards be doubled: how far's his Army hence?
Is the City in Arms to join with him?
Sol. Arms? and join with him? I understand you not.
King. Didst thou not say the Prince was coming?
Sol. I heard some foolish people say you had sent for
Him, as a Traitor, which to my apprehension was on
Purpose spoken to make you odious, and make him desperate;
And so divide the People into Faction. A Plot of
Dangerous consequence, as I take it, Sir.
King. And is this all, thou sawcy trifling Fool?
Haly. Sir, this seeming Fool is a concealed dangerous Knave;
Under their safe disguise he thinks he may say or do
Any thing: you'll little think him the chief Conspirator,
The only Spy t'inform the Prince of all is done in Court.
King. Let him be rack'd, till he confess
The whole Conspiracy.
Sol. Rack'd! I have told you all I know, and more:
There's nothing more in me, Sir, but may be squeezed
Out without racking, only a stoop or two of Wine;
And if there had not been too much of that, you had
Not had so much of the other
King. That's your cunning, Sirrah,
Sol. Cunning, Sir! I am no Politician; and was ever thought to have
Too little Wit, and too much Plain-dealing for a States-Man
King. Away with him.
Ha. But something must be done, Sir, to satisfie the People:
'Tis not enough to say he did design,
Or plot, or think, but did attempt some Violence;
And then some strange miraculous Escape:
For which our Prophet must have publick thanks:
And this false colour shall delude the Eyes
Of the amuzed vulgar.
King. 'Tis well advis'd.

Enter Messenger.

Mess. Sir, his Highness is return'd.
King. And unconstrain'd? But with what change of Countenance
Did he receive the Message?
Mess. With some Amazement;
But such as sprung from Wonder, not from Fear
It was so unexpected.
King. Leave us.
Haly , I ever found thee honest; truer to me
Than mine own Blood, and now's the time to shew it:
For thou art he my Love and Trust hath chosen
To put in action my design: Surprise him
As he shall pass the Galleries. I'll place
A Guard behind the Arras; when thou hast him,
Since blinded with Ambition, he did soar
Like a seel'd Dove, his Crime shall be his Punishment
To be depriv'd of sight, which see perform'd
With a hot steel: Now as thou lov'st my safety
Be resolute, and sudden.
Ha. 'Tis severe;
But yet I dare not intercede, it shall be done:
But is that word irrevocable?
King. Ay, as Years, or Ages past; relent not, if thou dost — —

Enter Mirvan.

Mir. Why so melancholy? is the design discover'd?
Ha. No, but I am made the Instrument,
That still endeavour'd to disguise my Plots
With borrow'd Looks, and make 'em walk in darkness;
To act 'em now my self; be made the mark
For all the Peoples Hate, the Princess Curses,
And his Son's Rage, or the old King's Inconstancy.
For this to Tyranny belongs,
To forget Service, but remember Wrongs.
Mir. But could you not contrive
Some fine pretence to cast it one some other?
Ha. No, he dare trust no other: had I given
But the least touch of any private quarrel,
My Malice to his Son, not Care of him,
Had then begot this Service.
Mir. 'Tis but t'other Plot, my Lord; you know
The King by other Wives had many Sons:
Soffy is but a Child, and you already
Command the Emperor's Guard; procure for me
The Government o' th' City; when he dies,
Urge how unfortunate those States have been
Whose Princes are but Children; then set the Crown
Upon some other's head, that may acknowledge
And owe the Empire to your Gift.
Ha. It shall be done; Abdal , who commands
The City, is the Prince's Friend, and therefore
Must be displac'd, and thou shalt straight succeed him.
Thou art my better Genius, honest Mirvan ;
Greatness we owe to Fortune, or to Fate;
But Wisdom only can secure that state.

Enter Prince at one Door, and Princess at another.

Princess. You're doubly welcome now, my Lord, your coming
Was so unlookt for.
Prince. To me I'm sure it was;
Know'st thou the Cause? for sure it was important,
That calls me back so suddenly.
Princess. I am so ignorant,
I knew not you were sent for.
Waking I know no cause, but in my Sleep
My Fancy still presents such dreams and terrors,
As did Andromache 's the night before
Her Hector fell; but sure 'tis more than Fancy.
Either our Guardian Angels, or the Gods
Inspire us, or some natural Instinct
Fore-tells approaching dangers.
Prince. How does my Father?
Princess. Still talks and plays with Fatima , but his Mirth
Is forc'd and strain'd: in his Looks appears
A wild distracted fierceness; I can read
Some dreadful purpose in his Face, but where
This dismal Cloud will break, and spend his fury,
I dare not think: pray Heav'n make false his fears.
Sometimes his Anger breaks through all disguises,
And spares not Gods, nor Men; and then he seems
Jealous of all the World: suspects, and starts,
And looks behind him.

Enter Morat, as in haste .

Mor. Sir, with hazard of my Life I've ventur'd
To tell you, you are lost, betray'd, undone,
Rouze up your Courage, call up all your Counsels,
And think on all those stratagems which Nature
Keeps ready to encounter sudden dangers.
Prince. But pray, my Lord, by whom? for what offence?
Mor. Is it a time for story, when each minute
Begets a thousand dangers? the Gods protect you.
Prince. This Man was ever honest, and my Friend,
And I can see in his amazed look,
Something of danger, but in act or thought,
I never did that thing should make me fear it.
Princess. Nay, good Sir, let not so secure a Confidence
Betray you to your Ruin.
Prince. Prethee Woman
Keep to thy self thy Fears, I cannot know
There's such a thing in Nature; I stand so strong,
Inclosed with a double guard of Virtue,
And Innocence, that I can look on dangers,
As he that stands upon a Rock
Can look on Storms and Tempests. Fear and Guilt
Are the same thing; and when our actions are not,
Our Fears are Crimes.
And he deserves it less that guilty bears
A Punishment, than he that guiltless fears.

Enter Haly and Torturers.

Ha. This is the place appointed, assist me Courage!
This hour ends all my Fears; but pause a while:
Suppose I should discover to the Prince
The whole Conspiracy, and so retort it
Upon the King, it were an handsom Plot,
But full of difficulties, and uncertain;
And he's so fool'd with down-right Honesty,
He'll ne'er believe it; and 'tis now too late;
The Guards are set, and now I hear him coming.

Enter Prince, stumbles at the Entrance .

Prince. 'Tis ominous, but I will on; Destruction
O'retakes as often those that flye, as those that boldly meet it.
Ha. By your leave Prince, your Father greet; you.
Prince . Unhand me, Traitors.
Ha. That Title is your own, and we are sent to let you know it.
Prince. Is not that the Voice of Haly ?
Haly . Ay, Virtuous Prince, I come to make you exercise
One Virtue more, your Patience.
Heat the Irons quickly.
Prince . Insolent Villain, for what Cause?
Ha. Only to gaze upon a while, until your Eyes are out.
Prince . O Villain, shall I not see my Father,
To ask him what's my Crime? who my Accusers?
Let me but try if I can wake his Pity
From his Lethargick sleep.
Ha. It must not be, Sir.
Prince . Shall I not see my Wise, nor bid farewel
To my dear Children?
Ha. Your Pray'rs are all in vain.
Prince . Thou shalt have half my Empire Haly , let me but
See the Tyrant, that before my Eyes are lost,
They may dart pois'nous flashes like the Basilisk,
And look him dead; These Eyes that still were open,
Or to foresee, or to prevent his dangers,
Must they be closed in Eternal Night?
Cannot his thirst of Blood be satisfied
With any but his own? And can his Tyranny
Find out no other object but his Son?
I seek not Mercy; tell him, I desire
To die at once, not to consume an Age
In lingring Deaths.
Ha. Our Ears are charm'd: Away with him,
Prince . Can ye behold (ye Gods) a wronged Innocent?
Or sleeps your Justice, like my Father's Mercy?
Or are you blind? as I must be.