Classic Poem

[SCENE I.]

Alarum within, and then enter A BDELMELEC , M ULY M AHAMET S ETH , C ALSEPIUS B ASSA , with Moors and Janizaries.

Abdelm . Now hath the sun display'd his golden beams,
And, dusky clouds dispersed, the welkin clears,
Wherein the twenty-colour'd rainbow shows.
After this fight happy and fortunate,
Wherein our Moors have lost the day,
And Victory, adorn'd with Fortune's plumes,
Alights on Abdelmelec's glorious crest,
Here find we time to breathe, and now begin
To pay thy due and duties thou dost owe
To heaven and earth, to gods and Amurath.
And now draw near, and heaven and earth give ear,
Give ear and record, heaven and earth, with me;
Ye lords of Barbary, hearken and attend,
Hark to the words I speak, and vow I make
To plant the true succession of the crown:
Lo, lords, in our seat royal to succeed
Our only brother here we do install,
And by the name of Muly Mahamet Seth
Intitle him true heir unto the crown.
Ye gods of heaven gratulate this deed,
That men on earth may therewith stand content!
Lo, thus my due and duty is done, I pay
To heaven and earth, to gods and Amurath!
Muly Mah. Seth . Renowmed Bassa, to remunerate
Thy worthiness and magnanimity,
Behold, the noblest ladies of the land
Bring present tokens of their gratitude.

[ Enter R UBIN A RCHIS , her Son, a Queen, and Ladies.]

Rub. Ar . Rubin, that breathes but for revenge,
Bassa, by this commends herself to thee,
Resign[s] the token of her thankfulness:
To Amurath the god of earthly kings
Doth Rubin give and sacrifice her son:
Not with sweet smoke of fire or sweet perfume,
But with his father's sword, his mother's thanks,
Doth Rubin give her son to Amurath.
Queen . As Rubin gives her son, so we ourselves
To Amurath give, and fall before his face.
Bassa, wear thou the gold of Barbary,
And glister like the palace of the Sun,
In honour of the deed that thou hast done.
Cal. Bas . Well worthy of the aid of Amurath
Is Abdelmelec, and these noble dames. —
Rubin, thy son I shall ere long bestow,
Where thou dost him bequeath in honour's fee,
On Amurath mighty Emperor of the East,
That shall receive the imp of royal race
With cheerful looks and gleams of princely grace. —
This chosen guard of Amurath's janizaries
I leave to honour and attend on thee,
King of Morocco, conqueror of thy foes,
True King of Fess, Emperor of Barbary;
Muly Molocco, live and keep thy seat,
In spite of fortune's spite or enemies' threats. —
Ride, Bassa, now, bold Bassa, homeward ride,
As glorious as great Pompey in his pride.