Part I

 
The entry is prepared by instrumental musick.
 

The First Entry

The curtain being drawn up, a lightsome sky appear'd, discov'ring a maritime coast, full of craggy rocks, and high cliffs, with several verdures naturally growing upon such situation; and afar off, the true prospect of the city of Rhodes, when it was in prosperous estate; with so much view of the gardens and hills about it as the narrowness of the room could allow the scene. In the part of the horizon, terminated by the sea, was represented the Turkish fleet, making towards a promontory, some few miles distant from the town.

 Q 

 
Enter Admiral.

<- Admiral

 

ADMIRAL

Arm, arm, Villerius, arm!  

Thou hast no leisure to grow old;

those now must feel thy courage warm,

who think thy blood is cold.

 
Enter Villerius.

<- Villerius

 

VILLERIUS

Our Admiral from sea?  

What storm transporteth thee?

or bring'st thou storms that can do more

than drive an admiral on shore?

 

ADMIRAL

Arm, arm, the bassa's fleet appears;  

to Rhodes his course from Chios steers;

her shady wings to distant sight,

spread like the curtains of the night.

 

 

Each squadron thicker and still darker grows;  

the fleet like many floating forrests shows.

 

VILLERIUS

Arm, arm! Let our drums beat  

to all our out-guards, a retreat;

and to our main guards add

files double lin'd from the parade.

Send horse to drive the fields;

prevent what rip'ning summer yields.

To all the foe would save

set fire, or give a secret grave.

ADMIRAL

I'le to our gallies hast,

untackle ev'ry mast;

hale 'em within the peer,

to range and chain 'em there,

and then behind Saint Nic'las cliffs

shelter our brigants, land our skiffs.

 

VILLERIUS

Our field and bulwark-cannon mount with hast;  

fix to their blocks their brazen bodies fast:

whilst to their foes their iron entrails fly:

display our colours, raise our standard high!

Exit Admiral.

Admiral ->

 
Enter Alphonso.

<- Alphonso

 

ALPHONSO

What various noises do mine ears invade?  

and have a consort of confusion made?

The shriller trumpet, and tempestuous drum:

the deaf'ning clamor from the cannons womb;

which through the air like suddain thunder breaks,

seems calm to souldiers shouts, and womens shrieks.

What danger (rev'rend lord) does this portend?

VILLERIUS

Danger begins what must in honour end.

ALPHONSO

What vizards does it wear?

VILLERIUS

Such, gentle prince,

as cannot fright, but yet must warn you hence.

What can to Rhodes more fatally appear

than the bright crescents which those ensigns wear?

Wise emblems that encreasing empire show;

which must be still in nonage and still grow.

All these are yet but the forerunning van

of the prodigious gross of Solyman.

ALPHONSO

Pale shew those crescents to our bloody cross?

Sink not the western kingdoms in our loss?

Will not the Austrian eagle moult her wings,

that long hath hover'd o're the Gallick-kings?

Whose lillies too will wither when we fade;

and th'English lyon shrink into a shade.

VILLERIUS

Thou see'st not, whilst so young and guiltless too,

that kings mean seldome what their states-men do;

who measure not the compass of a crown

to fit the head that wears it, but their own;

still hind'ring peace, because they stewards are,

without account, to that wild spender, war.

 
Enter High Marshal of Rhodes.

<- Marshal

 

MARSHAL

Still christian wars they will pursue, and boast  

unjust successes gain'd, whilst Rhodes is lost:

whilst we build monuments of death, to shame

those who forsook us in the chase of fame.

ALPHONSO

We will endure the colds of court-delays;

honour grows warm in airy vests of praise.

On rocky Rhodes we will like rocks abide.

VILLERIUS

Away, away, and hasten to thy bride!

'Tis scarce a month since from thy nuptial rites

thou cam'st to honour here our Rhodian knights:

to dignifie our sacred annual feast:

we love to lodge, not to entombe a guest.

Honour must yield, where reason should prevail.

Aboard, aboard, and hoyse up ev'ry sail

that gathers any wind for Sicilie!

MARSHAL

Men lose their virtu's pattern, losing thee.

Thy bride doth yield her sex no less a light,

but, thy life gone, will set in endless night.

Ye must like stars' shine long ere ye expire.

ALPHONSO

Honour is colder vertue set on fire:

my honour lost, her love would soon decay:

here for my tomb or triumph I will stay.

My sword against proud Solyman I draw,

his cursed prophet, and his sensual law.

CHORUS

Our swords against proud Solyman we draw,

his cursed prophet, and his sensual law.

Exeunt.

Villerius, Alphonso, Marshal ->

 
 
[Sicily.]

 Q 

<- Ianthe, Melosile, Madina

Enter Ianthe, Melosile, Madina (her two Women) bearing two open caskets with jewels.
 

IANTHE

To Rhodes this fatal fleet her course does bear,  

can i have love, and not discover fear?

When he, in whom my plighted heart doth live

(whom hymen gave me in reward

of vows, which he with favour heard,

and is the greatest gift he e're can give)

shall in a cruel siege imprison'd be,

and I, whom love has bound, have liberty?

Away! Let's leave our flourishing abodes

in Sicily, and fly to with'ring Rhodes.

MELOSILE

Will you convert to instruments of war

to things which to our sex so dreadfull are,

which terrour add to death's detested face,

these ornaments which should your beauty grace?

 

MADINA

Beauty laments! and this exchange abhors!  

Shall all these gems in arms be spent

which were by bounteous princes sent

to pay the valour of your ancestors?

 

IANTHE

If by their sale my lord may be redeem'd,  

why should they more than trifles be esteem'd

vainly secur'd with iron bars and locks?

They are the spawn of shells, and warts of rocks.

MADINA

All Madam, all? Will you from all depart?

IANTHE

Love a consumption learns from chymists' art.

Saphyrs, and harder di'monds must be sold

and turn'd to softer and more current gold.

With gold we cursed powder may prepare

which must consume in smoak and thinner air.

MELOSILE

Thou idol-love, I'l worship thee no more

since thou dost make us sorrowfull and poor.

IANTHE

Go seek out cradles, and with child-hood dwell;

where you may still be free

from love's self-flattery,

and never hear mistaken lovers tell

of blessings, and of joys in such extreams

as never are possest but in our dreams.

They woo apace, and hasten to be sped;

and praise the quiet of the marriage-bed:

but mention not the storms of grief and care

when love does them surprize

with sudden jealousies,

or they are sever'd by ambitious war.

MADINA

Love may perhaps the foolish please:

but he shall quickly leave my heart

when he perswades me to depart

from such a hoord of precious things as these.

IANTHE

Send out to watch the wind! with the first gale

I'l leave thee, Sicilie; and, hoysing sail,

steer strait to Rhodes. For love and I must be

preserv'd (Alphonso!) or else lost with thee.

Exeunt.

Ianthe, Melosile, Madina ->

 
Chorus.

<- Souldiers of several Nations

By Souldiers of several Nations.

1.  

Come ye termagant Turks,

if your bassa dares land ye,

whilst the wine bravely works

which was brought us from Candy.

2.

Wealth, the least of our care is,

for the poor ne'r are undone;

a vous, mounsieur of Paris,

to the back-swords of London.

3.

Diego, thou, in a trice,

shalt advance thy lean belly;

for their hens and their rice

make pillau like a jelly.

4.

Let 'em land fine and free;

for my cap though an old one,

such a turbant shall be,

thou wilt think it a gold one.

5.

It is seven to one odds

they had safer sail'd by us:

whilst our wine lasts in Rhodes,

they shall water at Chios.

 
 
The Entry is again prepar'd by instrumental Musick.
 

The Second Entry

The Scene is chang'd, and the city, Rhodes, appears beleaguer'd at sea and land.
Enter Villerius and Admiral.

 Q 

(nobody)

<- Villerius, Admiral

 

ADMIRAL

The bloud of Rhodes grows cold: life must expire!  

VILLERIUS

The duke still warms it with his valour's fire!

ADMIRAL

If he has much in honour's presence done,

has sav'd our ensigns, or has others' won,

then he but well by your example wrought;

who well in honour's school his child-hood taught.

VILLERIUS

The foe three moons tempestuously has spent

where we will never yield, nor he relent;

still we but raise what must be beaten down;

defending walls, yet cannot keep the town;

vent'ring last stakes where we can nothing win;

and, shutting slaughter out, keep famine in.

ADMIRAL

How oft and vainly Rhodes for succour waits

from triple diadems, and scarlet hats?

Rome keeps her gold, cheaply her warriours pays

at first with blessings, and at last with praise.

VILLERIUS

By armies, stow'd in fleets, exhausted Spain

leaves half her land unplough'd, to plough the main;

and still would more of the old world subdue,

as if unsatisfi'd with all the new.

ADMIRAL

France strives to have her lillies grow as fair

in other realms as where they native are.

VILLERIUS

The English lyon ever loves to change

his walks, and in remoter forrests range.

 

CHORUS

All gaining vainly from each others loss;  

whilst still the crescent drives away the cross.

 
Enter Alphonso.

<- Alphonso

 

ALPHONSO

1.  

How bravely fought the fiery French,

their bulwark being storm'd.

The colder Almans kept their trench,

by more than valour warm'd.

2.

The grave Italians paus'd and fought,

the solemn Spaniards too;

study'ng more deaths than could be wrought

by what the rash could do.

3.

Th'Avergnian colours high were rais'd,

twice tane, and twice reliev'd.

Our foes, like friends to valour, prais'd

the mischiefs they receiv'd.

4.

The cheerfull English got renown;

fought merrily and fast:

'tis time, they cry'd, to mow them down,

war's harvest cannot last.

5.

If death be rest, here let us dye,

where weariness is all

we dayly get by victory,

who must by famine fall.

6.

Great Solyman is landed now;

all fate he seems to be;

and brings those tempests in his brow

which he deserv'd at sea.

 

VILLERIUS

He can at most but once prevail,  

though arm'd with nations that were brought by more

gross gallies then would serve to hale

this island to the Lycian shore.

ADMIRAL

Let us apace do worthily and give

our story length, though long we cannot live.

 

CHORUS

So greatly do, that being dead,  

brave wonders may be wrought

by such as shall our story read

and study how me fought.

 
Exeunt.

Villerius, Admiral, Alphonso ->

 
Enter Solyman, Pirrhus.

<- Solyman, Pirrhus

 

SOLYMAN

What sudden halt hath stay'd thy swift renown,  

o're-running kingdoms, stopping at a town?

He that will win the prize in honour's race

must nearer to the goal still mend his pace.

If age thou feel'st, the active camp forbear;

in sleepy cities rest, the caves of fear.

Thy mind was never valiant, if, when old,

thy courage cools because thy blood is cold.

PIRRHUS

How can ambitious manhood be exprest

more then by marks of our disdain of rest?

What less than toyls incessant can, despite

of cannon, raise these mounts to castle-height?

Or less than utmost or unwearied strength

can draw these lines of batt'ry to that length?

SOLYMAN

The toils of ants, and mole-hills rais'd, in scorn

of labour, to be levell'd with a spurn.

These are the pyramids that shew your pains;

but of your armies' valour, where remains

one trophy to excuse a bassa's boast?

PIRRHUS

Valour may reckon what she bravely lost;

not from successes all her count does raise:

by life well lost we gain a share of praise.

If we in dangers' glass all valour see,

and death the farthest step of danger be,

behold our mount of bodies made a grave;

and prize our loss by what we scorn'd to save.

SOLYMAN

Away! range all the camp for an assault!

Tell them, they tread in graves who make a halt.

Fat slaves, who have been lull'd to a disease;

cramm'd out of breath, and crippled by their ease!

whose active fathers leapt o're walls too high

for them to climb: hence, from my anger fly:

which is too worthy for thee, being mine,

and must be quench'd by Rhodian blood or thine.

Exit Pirrhus, bowing.

Pirrhus ->

 

In honour's orb the christians shine;  

their light in war does still increase;

though oft misled by mists of wine,

or blinder love, the crime of peace.

Bold in adult'ries frequent change;

and ev'ry loud expensive vice;

ebbing out wealth by wayes as strange

as it flow'd in by avarice.

Thus vildly they dare live, and yet dare dye.

If courage be a vertue, 'tis allow'd

but to those few on whom our crowns rely,

and is condemn'd as madness in the crowd.

 
Enter Mustapha, Ianthe veil'd.

<- Mustapha, Ianthe

 

MUSTAPHA

Great sultan, hail! though here at land  

lost fools in opposition stand;

yet thou at sea dost all command.

SOLYMAN

What is it thou wouldst shew, and yet dost shrowd?

MUSTAPHA

I bring the morning pictur'd in a cloud;

a wealth more worth then all the sea does hide;

or courts display in their triumphant pride.

SOLYMAN

Thou seem'st to bring the daughter of the night;

and giv'st her many stars to make her bright.

Dispatch my wonder and relate her story.

MUSTAPHA

'Tis full of fate, and yet ha's much of glory.

A squadron of our gallies that did ply

west from this coast, met two of Sicily,

both fraught to furnish Rhodes, we gave 'em chase,

and had, but for our number, met disgrace.

For, grapling, they maintain'd a bloody fight,

which did begin with day and end with night.

And though this bashful lady then did wear

her face still veil'd, her valour did appear:

she urg'd their courage when they boldly fought,

and many shun'd the dangers, which she sought.

SOLYMAN

Where are the limits thou would'st set for praise?

or to what height wilt thou my wonder raise?

MUSTAPHA

This is Ianthe, the Sicilian flower,

sweeter then buds unfolded in a shower,

bride to Alphonso, who in Rhodes so long

the theam has been of each heroick song;

and she for his relief those gallies fraught;

both stow'd with what her dow'r and jewels bought.

SOLYMAN

O wond'rous vertue of a christian wife!

Advent'ring lifes support, and then her life

to save her ruin'd lord! bid her unveil!

Ianthe steps back.

IANTHE

It were more honour, sultan, to assail

a publick strength against thy forces bent,

then to unwall this private tenement,

to which no monarch, but my lord, has right;

nor will it yield to treaty or to might:

where heavn's great law defends him from surprise:

this curtain onely opens to his eyes.

SOLYMAN

If beauty veil'd so vertuous be,

'tis more than christian husbands know;

whose ladies wear their faces free,

which they to more than husband show.

 

IANTHE

Your bassa swore, and by his dreadful law,  

none but my lord's dear hand this veil should draw;

and that to Rhodes I should conducted be,

to take my share of all his destiny:

else I had quickly found

sure means to get some wound,

which would in death's cold arms

my honour instant safety give

from all those rude alarms

which keep it waking whilst I live.

SOLYMAN

Hast thou ingag'd our prophet's plight

to keep her beauty from my sight,

and to conduct her person free

to harbour with mine enemy?

 

MUSTAPHA

Vertue constrain'd the priviledge I gave:  

shall I for sacred vertue pardon crave?

SOLYMAN

I envy not the conquests of thy sword:

thrive still in wicked war;

but, slave, how did'st thou dare,

in vertuous love, thus to transcend thy lord?

Thou did'st thy utmost vertue show:

yet somewhat more does rest,

not yet by thee exprest;

which vertue left for me to do.

Thou great example of a christian wife,

enjoy thy lord, and give him happy life.

Thy gallies with their fraight,

for which the hungry wait,

shall strait to Rhodes conducted be;

and as thy passage to him shall be free,

so both may safe return to Sicilie.

IANTHE

May Solyman be ever far

from impious honours of the war;

since worthy to receive renown

from things repair'd, not overthrown.

And when in peace his vertue thrives,

let all the race of loyal wives

sing this his bounty to his glory,

and teach their princes by his story:

of which, if any victors be,

let them, because he conquer'd me,

strip cheerfully each others brow,

and at his feet their laurel throw.

SOLYMAN

Strait to the port her gallies steer;

then hale the centry at the peer.

And though our flags ne'r use to bow,

they shall do vertue homage now.

Give fire still as she passes by,

and let our streamers lower fly.

Exeunt several ways.

Solyman, Mustapha, Ianthe ->

 

CHORUS OF WOMEN

1  

Let us live, live! for being dead,

the pretty spots,

ribbands and knots,

and the fine French dress for the head;

no lady wears upon her

in the cold, cold, bed of honour.

 

 

Beat down our grottoes, and hew down our bowers,  

dig up our arbours, and root up our flowers.

Our gardens are bulwarks and bastions become:

then hang up our lutes, we must sing to the drum.

 

2.

Our patches and our curls

(so exact in each station)

our powders and our purls

are now out of fashion.

 

 

Hence with our needles, and give us your spades;  

we, that were ladies, grow coorse as our maids.

Our coaches have drove us to balls at the court,

we now must drive barrows to earth up the port.

 
 
The entry is again prepar'd by instrumental musick.
 

The Third Entry

The further part of the scene is open'd, and a royal pavilion appears display'd; representing Solyman's imperial throne; and about it are discern'd the quarters of his bassas, and inferiour officers.
Enter Solyman, Pirrhus, Mustapha.

 Q 

(nobody)

<- Solyman, Pirrhus, Mustapha

 

SOLYMAN

Pirrhus, draw up our army wide!  

then from the gross two strong reserves divide;

and spread the wings;

as if we were to fight,

in the lost Rhodians sight,

with all the western kings!

Each wing with janizaries line;

the right and left to Haly's sons assign;

the gross to Zangiban.

The main artillery

with Mustapha shall be:

bring thou the rear, we lead the van.

PIRRHUS

It shall be done as early as the dawn;

as if the figure by thy hand were drawn.

MUSTAPHA

We wish that we, to ease thee, could prevent

all thy commands, by ghessing thy intent.

SOLYMAN

These Rhodians, who of honour boast,

a loss excuse, when bravely lost:

now they may bravely lose their Rhodes,

which never play'd against such odds.

To morrow let them see our strength, and weep

whilst they their want of losing blame;

their valiant folly strives too long to keep

what might be render'd without shame.

 

PIRRHUS

'Tis well our valiant prophet did  

in us not only loss forbid,

but has enjoyn'd us still to get.

Empire must move apace,

when she begins the race,

and apter is for wings than feet.

MUSTAPHA

They vainly interrupt our speed,

and civil reason lack,

to know they should go back

when we determine to proceed.

 

PIRRHUS

When to all Rhodes our army does appear,  

shall we then make a sudden halt,

and give a general assault?

SOLYMAN

Pirrhus, not yet, Ianthe being there:

let them our valour, by our mercy prize.

The respit of this day

to vertuous love shall pay

a debt long due for all my victories.

MUSTAPHA

If vertuous beauty can attain such grace

whilst she a captive was, and hid,

what wisdom can his love forbid

when vertue's free, and beauty shews her face?

SOLYMAN

Dispatch a trumpet to the town;

summon Ianthe to be gone

safe with her lord. When both are free

and in their course to Sicily,

then Rhodes shall for that valour mourn

which stops the hast of our return.

PIRRHUS

Those that in Grecian quarries wrought,

and pioneers from Lycia brought,

who like a nation in a throng appear,

so great their number is, are landed here:

where shall they work?

SOLYMAN

Upon Philermus Hill.

There, ere this moon her circle fills with days,

they shall, by punisht sloth and cherish'd skill,

a spacious palace in a castle raise:

a neighbourhood within the Rhodians view;

where, if my anger cannot them sudue,

my patience shall out-wait them, whilst they long

attend to see weak princes make them strong:

there i'le grow old, and dye too, if they have

the secret art to fast me to my grave.

Exeunt.

Solyman, Pirrhus, Mustapha ->

 
 
The Scene is chang'd to that of the town besieg'd.

 Q 

<- Villerius, Admiral, Alphonso, Ianthe

Enter Villerius, Admiral, Alphonso, Ianthe.
 

VILLERIUS

When we, Ianthe, would this act commend,  

we know no more how to begin

than we should do, if we were in,

how suddenly to make an end.

ADMIRAL

What love was yours which these strong bars of fate

were all too weak to separate?

which seas and storms could not divide,

nor all the dreadful Turkish pride?

Which pass'd secure, though not unseen,

even double guards of death that lay between.

VILLERIUS

What more could honour for fair vertue do?

What could Alphonso venture more for you?

ADMIRAL

With wonder and with shame we must confess

all we our selves can do for Rhodes, is less.

VILLERIUS

Nor did your love and courage act alone.

Your bounty too has no less wonders done.

And for our guard you have brought wisely down

a troop of vertues to defend the town:

the only troop that can a town defend,

which heav'n before for ruine did intend.

ADMIRAL

Look here, ye western monarchs, look with shame,

who fear not a remote, though common foe;

the cabinet of one illustrious dame

does more then your exchequers joyn'd did do.

 

ALPHONSO

Indeed I think, Ianthe, few  

so young and flourishing as you,

whose beauties might so well adorn

the jewels which by them are worn,

did ever musquets for them take,

nor of their pearls did bullets make.

IANTHE

When you, my lord, are shut up here

expence of treasure must appear

so far from bounty, that, alass!

it covetous advantage was:

for with small cost I sought to save

even all the treasure that I have.

 

IANTHE

Who would not all her trifling jewels give,  

which but from number can their worth derive,

if she could purchase or redeem with them

one great inestimable gemm?

ADMIRAL

Oh ripe perfection in a brest so young!

VILLERIUS

Vertue has tun'd her heart, and wit her tongue.

ADMIRAL

Though Rhodes no pleasure can allow

I dare secure the safety of it now;

all will so labour to save you

as that will save the city too.

IANTHE

Alass! the utmost I have done

more then a just reward has won,

if by my lord and you it be but thought,

I had the care to serve him as I ought.

VILLERIUS

Brave duke, farewell, the scouts for orders wait,

and the parade does fill.

ALPHONSO

Great Master, I'll attend your pleasure strait,

and strive to serve your will.

Exeunt Villerius and Admiral.

Villerius, Admiral ->

 

ALPHONSO

Ianthe, after all this praise  

which fame so fully to you pays,

for that which all the world beside

admires you, I alone must chide.

Are you that kind and vertuous wife,

who thus expose your husband's life?

The hazards, both at land and sea,

through which so boldly thou hast run,

did more assault and threaten me

then all the sultan could have done.

Thy dangers, could I them have seen,

would not to me have dangers been,

but certain death: now thou art here

a danger worse than death I fear.

Thou hast, Ianthe, honour won,

but mine, alass, will be undone:

for as thou valiant wer't for me,

I shall a coward grow for thee.

IANTHE

Take heed Alphonso, for this care of me,

will to my fame injurious be;

your love will brighter by it shine,

but it eclipses mine.

Since I would here before, or with you fall,

death needs but becken when he means to call.

ALPHONSO

Ianthe, even in this you shall command,

and this my strongest passion guide;

your vertue will not be deny'd:

it could even Solyman himself withstand.

 

 

To whom it did so beauteous show:  

it seem'd to civilize a barb'rous foe.

Of this your strange escape, Ianthe, say,

briefly the motive and the way.

IANTHE

Did I not tell you how we fought,

how I was taken, and how brought

before great Solyman? but there

I think we interrupted were.

ALPHONSO

Yes, but we will not be so here,

should Solyman himself appear.

 

IANTHE

It seems that what the bassa of me said,  

had some respect and admiration bred

in Solyman; and this to me increast

the jealousies which honour did suggest.

All that of Turks and tyrants I had heard,

but that I fear'd not death, I should have fear'd.

I, to excuse my voyage, urg'd my love

to your high worth; which did such pitty move

that straight his usage did reclaim my fear;

he seem'd in civil France, and monarch there:

for soon my person, gallies, fraight, were free

by his command.

ALPHONSO

O wondrous enemy!

IANTHE

These are the smallest gifts his bounty knew.

ALPHONSO

What could he give you more?

IANTHE

He gave me you;

and you may homewards now securely go

through all his fleet.

ALPHONSO

But honour says not so.

IANTHE

If that forbid it, you shall never see

that I and that will disagree:

honour will speak the same to me.

ALPHONSO

This christian Turk amazes me, my dear!

How long, Ianthe, stay'd you there?

IANTHE

Two days with Mustapha.

ALPHONSO

How do you say?

two days, and two whole nights? alas!

IANTHE

That it, my lord, no longer was,

is such a mercy, as too long I stay,

e'r at the altar thanks to heav'n I pay.

ALPHONSO

To heav'n, confession should prepare the way.

Exit Ianthe.

Ianthe ->

 

 

She is all harmony, and fair as light  

but brings me discord, and the clouds of night.

And Solyman does think heav'n's joys to be

in women not so fair as she.

'Tis strange! Dismiss so fair an enemy!

She was his own by right of war,

we are his dogs, and such as she his angels are.

 

O wondrous Turkish chastity!  

Her gallies, fraight, and those to send

into a town which he would take!

Are we besieg'd then by a friend?

Could honour such a present make,

then when his honour is at stake?

Against it self, does honour booty play?

We have the liberty to go away!

Strange above miracle! But who can say

if in his hands we once should be

what would become of her? For what of me

though love is blind, ev'n love may see.

Come back my thoughts, you must not rove!

For sure Ianthe does Alphonso love!

Oh Solyman, this mystique act of thine,

does all my quiet undermine:

but on thy troops, if not on thee,

this sword my cure, and my revenge shall be.

Exit.

Alphonso ->

 
 
[The scene changes to Solyman camp.]

 Q 

<- Roxolana, Pirrhus, Rustan

Enter Roxolana, Pirrhus, Rustan.
 

RUSTAN

You come from sea as Venus came before;  

and seem that goddess, but mistake her shore.

PIRRHUS

Her temple did in fruitfull Cyprus stand;

the sultan wonders why in Rhodes you land.

RUSTAN

And by your sudden voyage he doth fear

the tempest of your passion drove you here.

ROXOLANA

Rustan, I bring more wonder than I find;

and it is more than humour bred that wind

which with a forward gale

did make me hither sail.

RUSTAN

He does your forward jealousie reprove.

ROXOLANA

Yet jealousie does spring from too much love;

if mine be guilty of excess,

I dare pronounce it shall grow less.

PIRRHUS

You boldly threaten more than we dare hear.

ROXOLANA

That which you call your duty is your fear.

RUSTAN

We have some valour or our wounds are feign'd.

ROXOLANA

What has your valour from the Rhodians gain'd?

Unless Ianthe, as a prize, you boast;

who now has got that heart which I have lost.

Brave conquest, where the taker self is taken!

And, as a present, I

bring vainly, e're I dye,

that heart to him which he has now forsaken.

RUSTAN

Whispers of eunuchs, and by pages brought

to Licia, you have up to story wrought.

ROXOLANA

Lead to the sultan's tent! Pirrhus, away!

For I dare hear what he himself dares say.

[Exeunt.]

Roxolana, Pirrhus, Rustan ->

 
Chorus.
Of Men and Women.
 

MEN

Ye wives all that are, and wives that would be,  

unlearn all ye learnt here, of one another,

and all ye have learnt of an aunt or a mother:

then strait hither come, a new pattern to see,

which in a good humour kind fortune did send;

a glass for your minds, as well as your faces:

make haste then and break your own looking-glasses;

if you see but your selves, you'l never amend.

WOMEN

You that will teach us what your wives ought to do,

take heed; there's a pattern in town too for you.

Be you but Alphonsos, and we

perhaps Ianthes will be.

MEN

Be you but Ianthes, and we

Alphonsos a while will be.

BOTH

Let both sides begin then, rather than neither;

let's both joyn our hands, and both mend together.

 
 
The Entry is again prepar'd by Instrumental Musick.
 

The Fourth Entry

The scene is vary'd to the prospect of Mount Philermus: artificers appearing at work about that castle which was there, with wonderful expedition, erected by Solyman. His great army is discovered in the plain below, drawn up in battalia, as if it were prepar'd for a general assault.
Enter Solyman, Pirrhus, Mustapha.

 Q 

(nobody)

<- Solyman, Pirrhus, Mustapha

 

SOLYMAN

Refuse my pass-port, and resolve to dye;  

only for fashion's sake, for company?

Oh costly scruples! But I'le try to be,

thou stubborn honour, obstinate as thee.

My pow'r thou shalt not vanquish by thy will,

I will enforce to live whom thou would'st kill.

PIRRHUS

They in to morrow's storm will change their mind,

then, though too late instructed, they shall find,

that those who your protection dare reject

no humane power dares venture to protect.

They are not foes, but rebels, who withstand

the pow'r that does their fate command.

SOLYMAN

Oh Mustapha, our strength we measure ill,

we want the half of what we think we have;

for we enjoy the beast-like pow'r to kill,

but not the god-like pow'r to save.

Who laughs at death, laughs at our highest pow'r;

the valiant man is his own emperour.

MUSTAPHA

Your pow'r to save, you have to them made known,

who scorn'd it with ingratefull pride;

now, how you can destroy, must next be shown;

and that the christian world has try'd.

SOLYMAN

'Tis such a single pair

as onely equal are

unto themselves; but many steps above

all others who attempt to make up love.

Their lives will noble history afford,

and must adorn my scepter, not my sword.

My strength in vain has with their vertue strove;

in vain their hate would overcome my love.

My favours I'le compell them to receive:

go Mustapha, and strictest orders give,

through all the camp, that in assault they spare

(and in the sack of this presumptuous town)

the lives of these two strangers, with a care

above the preservation of their own.

Alphonso has so oft his courage shown,

that he to all but cowards must be known.

Ianthe is so fair that none can be

mistaken, amongst thousands, which is she.

Exeunt.

Solyman, Pirrhus, Mustapha ->

 
 
The Scene returns to that of the town besieg'd.

 Q 

<- Alphonso, Ianthe

Enter Alphonso, Ianthe.
 

IANTHE

Alphonso, now the danger grows so near,  

give her that loves you leave to fear.

Nor do I blush, this passion to confess,

since it for object has no less

than even your liberty, or life;

I fear not as a woman, but a wife.

We were too proud no use to make

of Solyman's obliging proffer;

for why should honour scorn to take

what honour's self does to it offer.

ALPHONSO

To be o'rcome by his victorious sword,

will comfort to our fall afford;

our strength may yield to his; but 'tis not fit

our vertue should to his submit;

in that, Ianthe, i must be

advanc'd, and greater far than he.

IANTHE

Fighting with him who strives to be your friend,

you not with vertue, but with pow'r, contend.

ALPHONSO

Forbid it, heav'n, our friends should think that we

did merit friendship from an enemy.

IANTHE

He is a foe to Rhodes, and not to you.

ALPHONSO

In Rhodes besieg'd, we must be Rhodians too.

IANTHE

'Twas fortune that engag'd you in this war.

ALPHONSO

'Twas providence! Heaven's pris'ners here we are.

IANTHE

That providence our freedom does restore;

the hand that shut, now opens us the door.

ALPHONSO

Had heav'n that pass-port for our freedom sent,

it would have chose some better instrument

than faithless Solyman.

IANTHE

O say not so!

To strike and wound the vertue of your foe

is cruelty, which war does not allow:

sure he has better words deserv'd from you.

ALPHONSO

From me, Ianthe, no;

what he deserves from you, you best must know.

IANTHE

What means my lord?

ALPHONSO

For I confess, I must

the poyson'd bounties of a foe mistrust:

and when upon the bait I look,

though all seem fair, suspect the hook.

IANTHE

He, though a foe, is generous and true:

what he hath done declares what he will do.

ALPHONSO

He in two days your high esteem has won:

what he would do I know; who knows what he has done?

Done?

[Aside.]

Wicked tongue, what hast thou said?

What horrid falshood from thee fled?

Oh, jealousie (if jealousie it be)

would I had here an asp instead of thee!

IANTHE

Sure you are sick, your words, alas!

gestures, and looks, distempers shew.

ALPHONSO

Ianthe, you may safely pass;

the pass, no doubt, was meant to you.

IANTHE

He's jealous sure; oh, vertue! can it be?

Have I for this serv'd vertue faithfully?

Alphonso...

ALPHONSO

Speak, Ianthe, and be free.

IANTHE

Have I deserv'd this change?

ALPHONSO

Thou do'st deserve

so much, that emperours are proud to serve

the fair Ianthe; and not dare

to hurt a land whilst she is there.

Return (renown'd Ianthe) safely home;

and force thy passage with thine eyes

to conquer Rhodes will be a prize

less glorious than by thee to be o'rcome.

But since he longs (it seems) so much to see,

and be possest of me,

tell him, I shall not fly beyond his reach:

would he could dare to meet me in the breach.

Exit.

Alphonso ->

 

IANTHE

Tell him! tell him? Oh no, Alphonso, no.  

Let never man thy weakness know;

thy suddain fall will be a shame

to man's and vertue's name.

Alphonso's false! for what can falser be

than to suspect that falshood dwells in me?

Could Solyman both life and honour give?

And can Alphonso me of both deprive?

Of both Alphonso; for believe

Ianthe will disdain to live

so long as to let others see

thy true, and her imputed, infamy.

No more let lovers think they can possess

more than a month of happiness.

We thought our hold of it was strong

we thought our lease of it was long:

but, now, that all may ever happy prove,

let never any love,

and yet these troubles of my love to me

shall shorter than the pleasures be.

I'l till to morrow last; then the assault

shall finish my misfortune and his fault.

I to my enemies shall doubly ow,

for saving me before, for killing now.

Exit.

Ianthe ->

 
Enter Villerius, Admiral.

<- Villerius, Admiral

 

ADMIRAL

From out the camp a valiant christian slave  

escap'd, and to our knights assurance gave

that at the break of day

their mine will play.

VILLERIUS

Oft Martiningus, struck and try'd the ground,

and counter-digg'd, and has the hollows found:

we shall prevent

their dire intent.

 

VILLERIUS

Where is the duke, whose valour strives to keep  

Rhodes still awake, which else would dully sleep?

ADMIRAL

His courage and his Reason is o'rethrown.

VILLERIUS

Thou sing'st the sad destruction of our town.

 

ADMIRAL

I met him wild as all the winds,  

when in the ocean they contest:

and diligent suspition finds

he is with jealousie possest.

VILLERIUS

That arrow, once misdrawn, must ever rove.

O weakness, sprung from mightiness of love!

O pitty'd crime!

Alphonso will be overthrown

unless we take this ladder down,

where, though the rounds are broke,

he does himself provoke

too hastily to climb.

 

ADMIRAL

Invisibly, as dreams, fame's wings fly every where;  

hov'ring all day o're palaces of kings,

at night she lodges in the people's ear:

already they perceive Alphonso wild,

and the belov'd Ianthe griev'd.

VILLERIUS

Let us no more by honour be beguil'd;

this town can never be reliev'd;

Alphonso and Ianthe being lost,

Rhodes, thou dost cherish life with too much cost!

 

CHORUS

Away, unchain the streets, unearth the ports.  

Pull down each barracade

which womens fears have made,

and bravely sally out from all the forts!

Drive back the crescents, and advance the cross,

or sink all human empires in our loss!

[Exeunt.]

Villerius, Admiral ->

 
 
Enter Roxolana, Pirrhus, Rustan, and two of her women.

 Q 

<- Roxolana, Pirrhus, Rustan, two women

 

ROXOLANA

Not come to see me e're th'assault be past?  

PIRRHUS

He spoke it not in anger but in haste.

RUSTAN

If mighty Solyman be angry grown

it is not with his empress, but the town.

ROXOLANA

When stubborn Rhodes does him to anger move

'tis by detaining there what he does love.

PIRRHUS

He is resolv'd the city to destroy.

ROXOLANA

But more resolv'd Ianthe to enjoy.

RUSTAN

T'avoid your danger cease your jealousie.

ROXOLANA

Tell them of danger who do fear to dye.

PIRRHUS

None but your self dares threaten you with death.

1ST WOMAN

Do not your beauty blast with your own breath.

2ND WOMAN

You lessen't in your own esteem

when of his love you jealous seem.

1ST WOMAN

And but a faded beauty make it

when you suspect he can forsake it.

2ND WOMAN

Believe not, empress, that you are decay'd,

for so you'l seem by jealous passion sway'd.

ROXOLANA

He follows passion, I pursue my reason:

he loves the traitor, and I hate the treason.

 
Enter Haly.

<- Haly

 

HALY

Our foes appear!  

PIRRHUS, RUSTAN
in Chorus

Th'assault will strait begin.

They sally out where we must enter in.

ROXOLANA

Let Solyman forget his way to glory

increase in conquest and grow less in story.

That honour which in vain

his valour shrinks to gain,

when from the Rhodians he Ianthe takes,

is lost in losing me whom he forsakes.

Exeunt several wayes.

Roxolana, Pirrhus, Rustan, Haly, two women ->

 
Chorus of Wives
1.

1ST WOMAN

This cursed jealousie, what is't?  

Sfondo schermo () ()

2ND WOMAN

'Tis love that has lost it self in a mist.

3RD WOMAN

'Tis love being frighted out of his wits.

4TH WOMAN

'Tis love that has a fever got;

love that is violently hot;

but troubled with cold and trembling fits.

'Tis yet a more unnatural evil:

CHORUS

'Tis the god of love, 'tis the god of

love, possest with a devil.

 
2.

1ST WOMAN

'Tis rich corrupted wine of love;

which sharpest vinegar does prove.

2ND WOMAN

From all the sweet flowers which might honey make,

it does a deadly poyson bring.

3RD WOMAN

Strange serpent which it self doth sting!

4TH WOMAN

It never can sleep, and dreams still awake.

5TH WOMAN

It stufs up the marriage-bed with thorns.

CHORUS

It gores it self, it gores it self, with imagin'd horns.

 
 
The entry is again prepar'd by instrumental musick.
 

The Fifth Entry

The scene is chang'd into a representation of a general assault given to the town; the greatest fury of the army being discern'd at the English station.
Enter Pirrhus.

 Q 

(nobody)

<- Pirrhus

 

PIRRHUS

Traverse the cannon! mount the batt'ries higher!  

More gabions, and renew the blinds!

Like dust they powder spend,

and to our faces send

the heat of all the element of fire;

and to their backs have all the winds.

 
Enter Mustapha.

<- Mustapha

 

MUSTAPHA

More ladders, and reliefs to scale!  

The fire-crooks are too short! Help, help to hale!

That battlement is loose, and strait will down!

Point well the cannon, and play fast!

their fury is too hot to last.

That rampire shakes, they fly into the town.

PIRRHUS

March up with those reserves to that redout!

Faint slaves! the janizaries reel!

They bend, they bend! and seem to feel

the terrours of a rout.

MUSTAPHA

Old Zanger halts, and re-inforcement lacks!

PIRRHUS

March on!

MUSTAPHA

Advance those pikes, and charge their backs!

 
Enter Solyman.

<- Solyman

 

SOLYMAN

Those plat-forms are too low to reach!  

Haste, haste! call Haly to the breach!

Can my domestique janizaries flye!

And not adventure life for victory!

Whose child-hood with my palace milk I fed:

their youth, as if I were their parent, bred.

What is this monster death, that our poor slaves,

still vext with toyl, are loth to rest in graves?

 

MUSTAPHA

If life so pretious be, why do not they,  

who in war's trade can only live by prey,

their own afflicted lives expose

to take the happier from their foes?

PIRRHUS

Our troops renew the fight!

And those that sally'd out

to give the rout,

are now return'd in flight!

 

SOLYMAN

Follow, follow, follow, make good the line!  

In, Pirrhus, in! Look, we have sprung the mine!

Exit Pirrhus.

Pirrhus ->

 

MUSTAPHA

Those desp'rate English ne'r will fly!  

Their firmness still does hinder others flight,

as if their mistresses were by

to see and praise them whilst they fight.

SOLYMAN

That flame of valour in Alphonso's eyes,

outshines the light of all my victories!

Those who were slain when they his bulwark storm'd,

contented fell,

as vanquish'd well;

those who were left alive may now,

because their valour is by his reform'd,

hope to make others bow.

MUSTAPHA

E'r while I in the English station saw

beauty, that did my wonder forward draw,

whose valour did my forces back disperse;

fairer than woman, and than man more fierce:

it shew'd such courage as disdain'd to yield,

and yet seem'd willing to be kil'd.

 

SOLYMAN

This vision did to me appear:  

which mov'd my pitty and my fear:

it had a dress much like the imag'rie

for heroes drawn, and may Ianthe be.

 
Enter Pirrhus.

<- Pirrhus

 

PIRRHUS

Fall on! the English stoop when they give fire!  

They seem to furl their colours and retire!

SOLYMAN

Advance! I onely would the honour have

to conquer two, whom I by force would save.

[Exeunt.]

Solyman, Mustapha, Pirrhus ->

 
Enter Alphonso with his sword drawn.

<- Alphonso

 

ALPHONSO

My reason by my courage is misled!  

why chase I those who would from dying fly,

enforcing them to sleep amongst the dead,

yet keep my self unslain that fain would die?

Do not the pris'ners whom we take declare

how Solyman proclaim'd through all his host,

that they Ianthe's life and mine should spare?

Life ill preserv'd is worse than basely lost.

Mine by dispatch of war he will not take,

but means to leave it lingring on the rack;

that in his palace i might live, and know

her shame, and be afraid to call it so.

Tyrants and divels think all pleasures vain,

but what are still deriv'd from other's pain.

 
Enter Admiral.

<- Admiral

 

ADMIRAL

Renown'd Alphonso, thou hast fought to day,  

as if all Asia were thy valour's prey.

But now thou must do more

than thou hast done before;

else the important life of Rhodes is gone.

ALPHONSO

Why from the peacefull grave

should I still strive to save

the lives of others, that would lose mine own?

ADMIRAL

The souldiers call, Alphonso! thou hast taught

the way to all the wonders they have wrought;

who now refuse to fight

but in thy valour's sight.

ALPHONSO

I would to none example be to fly;

but fain would teach all human kind to dye.

ADMIRAL

Haste, haste! Ianthe in disguise

at th'English bulwark wounded lies;

and in the French, our old Great Master strives

from many hands to rescue many lives.

ALPHONSO

Ianthe wounded? where? alas!

Has mourning pitty hid her face?

Let pitty fly, fly far from the opprest,

since she removes her lodging from my brest!

ADMIRAL

You have but too great cruelties to chuse

by staying here; you must Ianthe lose,

who ventur'd life and fame for you;

or your Great Master quite forsake,

who to your childhood first did shew

the ways you did to honour take.

 

ALPHONSO

Ianthe cannot be  

in safer company:

for what will not the valiant English do

when beauty is distress'd and vertue too?

ADMIRAL

Dispatch your choice, if you will either save

occasion bids you run;

you must redeem the one

and I the other from a common grave.

Alphonso, haste!

ALPHONSO

Thou urgest me too fast.

This riddle is too sad and intricate;

the hardest that was e're propos'd by fate.

Honour and pitty have

of both too short a time to choose!

Honour the one would save,

pitty, would not the other lose.

ADMIRAL

Away, brave duke, away!

Both perish by our stay.

ALPHONSO

I to my noble master owe

all that my youth did nobly do:

he in war's school my master was,

the ruler of my life;

she my lov'd mistriss; but, alass,

my now suspected wife.

 

ADMIRAL

By this delay we both of them forsake!  

Which of their rescues wilt thou undertake?

ALPHONSO

Hence, Admiral, and to thy master hy!

I will as swiftly to my mistris fly;

through ambush, fire, and all impediments

the witty cruelty of war invents:

for there does yet some taste of kindness last,

still relishing the vertue that is past.

But how, Ianthe, can my sword successful prove,

where honour stops, and only pitty leads my love?

Exeunt, several wayes.

Alphonso, Admiral ->

 
Enter Pirrhus.

<- Pirrhus

 

PIRRHUS

O suddain change! repulst in all the heat  

of victory, and forc'd to lose retreat!

Seven crescents, fixt on their redouts, are gone!

Horse, horse! we fly

from victory!

Wheel, wheel from their reserves, and charge our own!

Divide that wing!

More succours bring!

Rally the fled,

and quit out dead!

Rescue that ensign and that drum!

Bold slaves! they to our trenches come:

though still our army does in posture stay

drawn up to judge, not act, the business of the day;

as Rome, in theaters, saw fencers play.

 
Enter Mustapha.

<- Mustapha

 

MUSTAPHA

Who can be loud enough to give command?  

Stand, Haly, make a stand!

Those horses to that carriage span! Drive, drive!

Zanger is shot agen, yet still alive!

Coyns for the culv'rin, then give fire

to cleer the turn-pikes, and let Zanger in!

Look, Pirrhus, look, they all begin

to alter their bold count'nance, and retire!

[Exeunt.]

Pirrhus, Mustapha ->

 
 
The scene returns to that of the castle on Mount Philermus.

 Q 

<- Solyman

Enter Solyman.
 

SOLYMAN

How cowardly my num'rous slaves fall back:  

slow to assault, but dext'rous when they sack!

Wild wolves in times of peace they are;

tame sheep, and harmless, in the war.

Crowds fit to stop up breaches; and prevail

but so as shoals of herrings choak a whale.

This dragon-duke so nimbly fought to day,

as if he wings had got to stoop at prey.

Ianthe is triumphant but not gone;

and sees Rhodes still beleaguer'd, though not won.

Audacious town! thou keep'st thy station still;

and so my castle tarries on that hill,

where I will dwell till famine enter thee;

and prove more fatal than my sword could be.

Nor shall Ianthe from my favours run,

but stay to meet and praise what she did shun.

 
 
The scene is chang'd to that of the town besieg'd.

 Q 

(nobody)

<- Villerius, Admiral, Ianthe

Enter Villerius, Admiral, Ianthe.
 
She in a night-gown and a chair is brought in.
 

VILLERIUS

Fair vertue, we have found  

no danger in your wound.

Securely live,

and credit give

to us, and to the surgeons' art.

IANTHE

Alas! my wound is in the heart;

or else, where e're it be,

imprison'd life it comes to free,

by seconding a worser wound that hid doth lie:

what practice can assure

that patient of a cure,

whose kind of grief still makes her doubt the remedy?

ADMIRAL

The wounded that would soon be eas'd

should keep their spirits tun'd and pleas'd;

no discords should their mind subdue:

and who in such distress

as this, ought to express

more joyful harmony than you?

'Tis not alone that we assure

your certain cure;

but pray remember that your blood's expence

was in defence

of Rhodes, which gain'd to day a most important victory:

for our success, repelling this assault,

has taught the Ottomans to halt;

who may, wasting their heavy body, learn to fly.

VILLERIUS

Not only this should hasten your content,

but you shall joy to know the instrument

that wrought the triumph of this day;

Alphonso did the sally sway;

to whom our Rhodes, all that she is does owe,

and all that from her root of hope can grow.

IANTHE

Has he so greatly done?

Indeed he us'd to run

as swift in honour's race as any he

who thinks he merits wreaths for victory.

This is to all a comfort, and should be,

if he were kind, the greatest joy to me.

Where is my alter'd lord? I cannot tell

if I may ask, if he be safe and well?

For whil'st all strangers may his actions boast,

who in their songs repeat

the triumphs he does get,

I only must lament his favours lost.

 

VILLERIUS

Some wounds he has; none desperate but yours;  

Ianthe cur'd, his own he quickly cures.

IANTHE

If his be little, mine will soon grow less.

Ay me! What sword

durst give my lord

those wounds, which now Ianthe cannot dress?

ADMIRAL

Ianthe will rejoyce when she does hear

how greater than himself he did appear

in rescue of her life; all acts were slight,

and cold, even in our hottest fight,

compar'd to what he did,

when with death's vizard she her beauty hid.

VILLERIUS

Love urg'd his anger, till it made such haste

and rusht so swiftly in,

that scarce he did begin

e're we could say, the mighty work was past.

IANTHE

All this for me? somthing he did for you:

but when his sword begun

much more it would have done

if he, alas! had thought Ianthe true.

ADMIRAL

Be kind, Ianthe, and be well!

It is too pittifull to tell

what way of dying is exprest

when he that letter read

you wrote before your wounds were drest;

when you and we dispair'd you could recover:

then he was more than dead,

and much out-wept a husband and a lover.

 
Enter Alphonso wounded, led in by two mutes.

<- Alphonso

 

ALPHONSO

Tear up my wounds! I had a passion coorse  

and rude enough to strengthen jealousie;

but want that more refin'd and quicker force

which does out-wrestle nature when we dye.

Turn to a tempest all my inward strife:

let it not last,

but in a blast

spend this infectious vapour, life!

IANTHE

It is my lord! Enough of strength I feel,

to bear me to him, or but let me kneel.

He bled for me when he atchiev'd for you

this day's success; and much from me is due.

Let me but bless him for his victory,

and hasten to forgive him e'r I dye.

ALPHONSO

Be not too rash, Ianthe, to forgive.

Who knows but I ill use may make

of pardons which I could not take

for they may move me to desire to live.

IANTHE

If ought can make Ianthe worthy grow

of having pow'r of pard'ning you,

it is, because she perfectly does know

that no such pow'r to her is due.

Who never can forget her self, since she

unkindly did resent your jealousie.

A passion against which you nobly strove:

I know it was but over-cautious love.

ALPHONSO

Accursed crime! Oh, let it have no name

till I recover bloud to shew my shame.

IANTHE

Why stay we at such distance when we treat?

As monarchs' children, making love

by proxy, to each other move,

and by advice of tedious councils meet.

ALPHONSO

Keep back, Ianthe, for my strength does fail

when on thy cheeks I see thy roses pale.

Draw all the curtains, and then lead her in;

let me in darkness mourn away my sin.

Exeunt.

Villerius, Admiral, Ianthe, Alphonso ->

 
Enter Solyman, Roxolana, and women attendants.

<- Solyman, Roxolana, Women

 

SOLYMAN

Your looks express a triumph at our loss.  

ROXOLANA

Can I forsake the crescent for the cross?

SOLYMAN

You wish my spreading crescent shrunk to less.

ROXOLANA

Sultan, I would not lose by your success.

SOLYMAN

You are a friend to the besiegers grown!

ROXOLANA

I wish your sword may thrive,

yet would not have you strive

to take Ianthe rather than the town.

SOLYMAN

Too much on wand'ring rumour you rely;

your foolish women teach you jealousie.

1ST WOMAN

We should too blindly confident appear,

if, when the empress fears, we should not fear.

2ND WOMAN

The camp does breed that loud report

which wakens eccho in the court.

1ST WOMAN

The world our duty will approve,

if, for our mistress sake,

we ever are awake

to watch the wand'rings of your love.

SOLYMAN

My war with Rhodes will never have success,

till I at home, Roxana, make my peace.

I will be kind, if you'l grow wise;

go, chide your whisp'rers and your spies,

be satisfy'd with liberty to think;

and, when you should not see me, learn to wink.

[Exeunt.]

Solyman, Roxolana, Women ->

 

CHORUS OF SOULDIERS

1.  

With a fine merry gale,

fit to fill ev'ry sail,

they did cut the smooth sea

that our skins they might flea:

still as they landed, we firkt them with sallies;

we did bang their silk shashes,

through sands and through plashes

till amain they did run to their gallies.

2.

They first were so mad

as they jealousies had

that our isle durst not stay,

but would float strait away;

for they landed still faster and faster:

and their old Bassa Pirrhus

did think he could fear us;

but himself sooner fear'd our Grand-Master.

3.

Then the hug'ous great Turk,

came to make us more work;

with enow men to eat

all he meant to defeat;

whose wonderfull worship did confirm us

in the fear he would bide here

so long till he dy'd here,

by the castle he built on Philermus.

4.

You began the assault

with a very long hault;

and, as haulting ye came,

so ye went off as lame;

and have left our Alphonso to scoff ye.

To himself, as a daintie,

he keeps his Ianthe;

whilst we drink good wine, and you drink but coffee.

 
The curtain is let fall.
 

The end (Part I)

Part I Part II

A maritime coast; full of craggy rocks, and high cliffs; and afar off, the true prospect of the city of Rhodes. In the part of the horizon the Turkish fleet, some few miles distant from the town.

<- Admiral
Admiral
<- Villerius

Each squadron thicker and still darker grows

Our field and bulwark-cannon mount with hast

Villerius
Admiral ->
Villerius
<- Alphonso

What various noises do mine ears invade?

Villerius, Alphonso
<- Marshal

Still christian wars they will pursue, and boast

Villerius, Alphonso, Marshal ->

Sicily.

<- Ianthe, Melosile, Madina

To Rhodes this fatal fleet her course does bear.

If by their sale my lord may be redeem'd

Ianthe, Melosile, Madina ->
<- Souldiers of several Nations

Rhodes beleaguer'd at sea and land.

 
<- Villerius, Admiral

The bloud of Rhodes grows cold: life must expire!

Villerius, Admiral
<- Alphonso

He can at most but once prevail

Villerius, Admiral, Alphonso ->
<- Solyman, Pirrhus

What sudden halt hath stay'd thy swift renown

Solyman
Pirrhus ->
Solyman
<- Mustapha, Ianthe

(Ianthe is veil'd.)

Great sultan, hail! though here at land

Vertue constrain'd the priviledge I gave

Solyman, Mustapha, Ianthe ->

Beat down our grottoes, and hew down our bowers

 

Hence with our needles, and give us your spades;

The royal pavilion with Solyman's imperial throne; and about it are discern'd the quarters of his bassas, and inferiour officers.

 
<- Solyman, Pirrhus, Mustapha

Pirrhus, draw up our army wide!

When to all Rhodes our army does appear

Solyman, Pirrhus, Mustapha ->

The town besieg'd.

<- Villerius, Admiral, Alphonso, Ianthe

When we, Ianthe, would this act commend

Who would not all her trifling jewels give

Alphonso, Ianthe
Villerius, Admiral ->

Ianthe, after all this praise

It seems that what the bassa of me said

Alphonso
Ianthe ->

She is all harmony, and fair as light

Alphonso ->

Solyman camp

<- Roxolana, Pirrhus, Rustan

You come from sea as Venus came before

Roxolana, Pirrhus, Rustan ->

Prospect of Mount Philermus: artificers appearing at work about that castle which was there, erected by Solyman. His great army is discovered in the plain below, drawn up in battalia, as if it were prepar'd for a general assault.

 
<- Solyman, Pirrhus, Mustapha

Refuse my pass-port, and resolve to dye

Solyman, Pirrhus, Mustapha ->

The town besieg'd.

<- Alphonso, Ianthe

Alphonso, now the danger grows so near,

Ianthe
Alphonso ->
Ianthe ->
<- Villerius, Admiral

Where is the duke, whose valour strives to keep

Admiral and Villerius
I met him wild as all the winds

Invisibly, as dreams, fame's wings fly every where

Villerius, Admiral ->

Solyman's camp.

<- Roxolana, Pirrhus, Rustan, two women

Not come to see me e're th'assault be past?

Roxolana, Pirrhus, Rustan, two women
<- Haly

Our foes appear! / Th'assault will strait begin

Roxolana, Pirrhus, Rustan, Haly, two women ->

Representation of a general assault given to the town; the greatest fury of the army being discern'd at the English station.

 
<- Pirrhus

Traverse the cannon! mount the batt'ries higher!

Pirrhus
<- Mustapha

More ladders, and reliefs to scale!

Pirrhus, Mustapha
<- Solyman

Those plat-forms are too low to reach!

Follow, follow, follow, make good the line!

Mustapha, Solyman
Pirrhus ->

Those desp'rate English ne'r will fly!

Mustapha, Solyman
<- Pirrhus

Fall on! the English stoop when they give fire!

Solyman, Mustapha, Pirrhus ->
<- Alphonso

My reason by my courage is misled!

Alphonso
<- Admiral

Renown'd Alphonso, thou hast fought to day

Alphonso, Admiral
Ianthe cannot be

By this delay we both of them forsake!

Alphonso, Admiral ->
<- Pirrhus
Pirrhus
<- Mustapha

Who can be loud enough to give command?

Pirrhus, Mustapha ->

Castle on Mount Philermus.

<- Solyman

How cowardly my num'rous slaves fall back

The town besieg'd.

 
<- Villerius, Admiral, Ianthe
Villerius, Ianthe, Admiral
Fair vertue, we have found

Some wounds he has; none desperate but yours

Villerius, Admiral, Ianthe
<- Alphonso

(Alphonso wounded, led in by two mutes)

Tear up my wounds! I had a passion coorse

Villerius, Admiral, Ianthe, Alphonso ->
<- Solyman, Roxolana, Women

Your looks express a triumph at our loss

Solyman, Roxolana, Women ->
 
The First Entry The Second Entry The Third Entry The Fourth Entry The Fifth Entry
A maritime coast; full of craggy rocks, and high cliffs; and afar off, the true prospect of the city... Sicily. Rhodes beleaguer'd at sea and land. The royal pavilion with Solyman's imperial throne; and about it are discern'd the quarters... The town besieg'd. Solyman camp Prospect of Mount Philermus: artificers appearing at work about that castle which was there, erected... The town besieg'd. Solyman's camp. Representation of a general assault given to the town; the greatest fury of the army being discern'd... Castle on Mount Philermus. The town besieg'd. A prospect of Rhodes beleaguer'd at sea and land by the fleet and army of Solyma Camp of Solyman, the tents and guards seem near, and part of Rhodes at a distance. The town besieg'd. The camp. The town beleaguer'd. Roxolana's rich pavilion; Ianthe sleeping on a couch; Roxolana at one end of it, and Haly at the... Prospect of Rhodes by night, and the grand Master's palace on fire. The town besieg'd. Roxolana's pavilion.
Part II

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