Edition: SelimusSelimus
Prologue
Enter Prologue.Pro.Sp1Prologue
Exit.
No feignèd toy nor forgèd tragedy,
nor forgèd tragedy,Gentles, we here present unto your view
But a most lamentable history,
Which this last age acknowledgeth for true.
acknowledgeth for true.Here shall you see the wicked son pursue
His wretched father with remorseless spite
And, daunted once, his force again renew,
Poison his father, kill his friends in fight.
You shall behold him character in blood
in bloodThe image of an implacable
king
kingAnd, like a sea or high resurging flood,
All obstant lets down with his fury fling,
down with his fury fling,Which if with patience of you shall be heard,
We have the greatest part of our reward.
Scene 1
Enter Bajazeth Emperor of Turkey, Mustaffa, Cherseoli, and the
Janissaries.
Exeunt all but Bajazeth.
1.Sp2Bajazeth
Enter again Mustaffa, Cherseoli, and the Janissaries.So, Bajazeth, now thou remainst alone,
Unrip the thoughts that harbor in thy breast
the thoughts that harbor in thy breastAnd eat thee up, for arbiter here’s none
That may descry the cause of thy unrest,
the cause of thy unrest,Unless these walls thy secret thoughts declare,
And princes’ walls, they say, unfaithful are.
Why, that’s the profit of great regiment,
,That all of us are subject unto fears,
And this vain show and glorious intent
Privy suspicion on each scruple rears.
rears.Ay, though on all the world we make extent,
,From the south pole unto the northern bears,
,And stretch our reign from East to Western shore,
Yet doubt and care are with us evermore.
.Look how the earth, clad in her summer’s pride,
Embroidereth her mantle gorgeously
gorgeouslyWith fragrant herbs and flowers gaily dyed,
Spreading abroad her spangled tapestry:
Yet under all a loathsome snake doth hide.
Such is our life: under crowns cares do lie,
And fear the scepter still attends upon.
Oh, who can take delight in kingly throne?
Public disorders joined with private cark,
,Care of our friends and of our children dear,
Do toss our lives, as waves a silly bark.
.Though we be fearless, ’tis not without fear,
For hidden mischief lurketh in the dark,
And storms may fall be the day ne’er so clear.
He knows not what it is to be a king
That thinks a scepter is a pleasant thing.
.Twice fifteen times hath fair Latona’s son
Walked about the world with his great light
Since I began—would I had ne’er begun—
—would I had ne’er begun—To sway this scepter. Many a careful night,
When Cynthia in haste to bed did run,
in haste to bed did run,Have I with watching vexed my agèd spirit.
Since when, what dangers I have overpassed
Would make a heart of adamant aghast.
aghast.The Persian Sophy, mighty Ismael,
,Did take the Levant clean away from me,
the Levant clean away from me,And Caraguis Bassa, sent his force to quell,
, sent his force to quell,Was killed himself the while his men did flee.
Poor Hali Bassa, having once sped well
, having once sped wellAnd gained of him a bloody victory,
Was at the last slain fighting in the field,
Charactering honor in his battered shield.
honor in his battered shield.Ramirchan, the Tatarian Emperor,
, the Tatarian Emperor,Gathering to him a number numberless
Of big-boned Tatars, in a hapless hour
hourEncountered me, and there my chiefest bliss
Good Alemshae (ah, this remembrance sour)
Was slain, the more t’augment my sad distress.
, the more t’augment my sad distress.In losing Alemshae poor, I lost more
lost moreThan ever I had gainèd theretofore.
Well may thy soul rest in her latest grave,
,Sweet Alemshae, the comfort of my days.
That thou mightst live, how often did I crave?
How often did I bootless prayers raise
To that high power that life first to thee gave?
Trusty was thou to me at all assays,
,And, dearest child, thy father oft hath cried
That thou hadst lived, so he himself had died.
The Christian armies, oftentimes defeated
By my victorious father’s valiance,
’s valiance,Have all my captains famously confronted,
And cracked in two our uncontrollèd lance.
lance.My strongest garrisons they have supplanted
they have supplantedAnd overwhelmed me in sad mischance;
And my decrease so long wrought their increase,
’Til I was forced conclude a friendly peace.
Now all these are but foreign damages,
Taken in war whose die uncertain is,
uncertain is,But I shall have more home-born outrages,
Unless my divination aims amiss.
I have three sons all of unequal ages,
And all in diverse studies set their bliss:
Corcut, my eldest, a philosopher,
Acomat pompous, Selim a warrior.
a warrior.Corcut in fair Magnesia leads his life
leads his lifeIn learning arts and Mahound’s dreaded laws;
dreaded laws;Acomat loves to court it with his wife,
And in a pleasant quiet joys to pause;
;But Selim follows wars in dismal strife
And snatcheth at my crown with greedy claws.
But he shall miss of that he aimeth at,
For I reserve it for my Acomat.
.For Acomat? Alas, it cannot be.
Stern Selimus hath won my people’s hearts.
The Janissaries love him more than me
And for his cause will suffer any smart.
.They see he is a friend to chivalry,
,And sooner will they from my faith depart,
And by strong hand, Bajazeth, pull thee down,
Than let their Selim hop without the crown.
.Ah, if the soldiers overrule thy state,
And nothing must be done without their will;
If every base and upstart runagate
Shall cross a prince and overthwart him still;
If Corcut, Selimus, and Acomat,
With crowns and kingdoms shall their hungers fill,
Poor Bajazeth, what then remains to thee
But the bare title of thy dignity?
Ay, and unless thou do dissemble all
And wink at Selimus’s aspiring thought,
The bassas cruelly shall work thy fall,
cruelly shall work thy fall,And then thy empire is but dearly bought.
Ah, that our sons, thus to ambition thrall,
Should set the law of nature all at nought.
all at nought.But what must be cannot choose but be done.
—Come, bassas, enter; Bajazeth hath done.
1.Sp3Cherseoli
Dread Emperor, long may you happy live,
Loved of your subjects and feared of your foes.
We wonder much what doth your highness grieve
That you will not unto your lords disclose.
Perhaps you fear lest we, your loyal peers,
,Would prove disloyal to your majesty
And be rebellious in your dying years.
But, mighty prince, the heavens can testify
How dearly we esteem your safety.
1.Sp4Mustaffa
Perhaps you think Mustaffa will revolt
And leave your grace and cleave to Selimus,
But sooner shall th’almighty’s thunderbolt
Strike me down to the cave tenebrious,
,The lowest land and damnèd spirits’ holt,
,Than true Mustaffa prove so treacherous.
Your majesty then needs not much to fear,
Since you are loved of subject, prince, and peer.
First shall the sun rise from the occident,
,And loose his steeds benighted in the East,
benighted in the East,First shall the sea become the continent,
Ere we forsake our sovereign’s behest.
We fought not for you against Persians’ tent,
,Breaking our lances on his sturdy crest;
sturdy crest;We fought not for you gainst the Christian host
To become traitors after all our cost.
1.Sp5Bajazeth
Sound within.Hear me, Mustaffa and Cherseoli.
I am a father of a headstrong brood,
Which if I look not closely to myself,
Will seek to ruinate their father’s state,
their father’s state,Even as the vipers in great Nero’s fen
Eat up the belly that first nourished them.
.You see the harvest of my life is past,
And agèd winter hath besprent my head
my headWith a hoar-frost of silver colored hairs,
The harbingers of honorable eld;
;These branchlike veins which once did guide my arms
my armsTo toss the spear in battellous array,
array,Now withered up, have lost their former strength.
My sons, whom now ambition ’gins to prick,
,May take occasion of my weakened age
And rise in rebel arms against my state.
arms against my state.But stay, here comes a messenger to us.
Enter a Messenger.
1.Sp6Messenger
Health and good hap to Bajazeth,
The great commander of all Asia.
Selim, the Soldan of great Trebisond,
of great Trebisond,Sends me unto your grace to signify
His alliance with the King of Tatary.
.1.Sp7Bajazeth
Said I not, lords, as much to you before
That mine own sons would seek my overthrow?
And see, here comes a luckless messenger
To prove that true which my mind did foretell.
Does Selim make so small account of us
That he dare marry without our consent,
And to that devil, too, of Tatary?
And could he then, unkind, so soon forget
The injuries that Ramir did to me,
did to me,Thus to consort himself with him gainst me?
1.Sp8Cherseoli
Your majesty misconsters Selimus;
Selimus;It cannot be that he in whose high thoughts
A map of many valors is enshrined
Should seek his father’s ruin and decay.
Selimus is a prince of forward hope,
hope,Whose only name affrights your enemies;
It cannot be he should prove false to you.
1.Sp9Bajazeth
Can it not be? Oh yes, Cherseoli,
For Selim’s hands do itch to have the crown,
hands do itch to have the crown,And he will have it or else pull me down.
Is he a prince? Ah no, he is a sea,
,To which run nought but ambitious reaches,
run nought but ambitious reaches,Seditious complots, murder, fraud, and hate.
, murder, fraud, and hate.Could he not let his father know his mind,
But match himself when I least thought on it?
I least thought on it?1.Sp10Mustaffa
Perhaps, my lord, Selimus loved the dame
loved the dameAnd feared to certify you of his love
Because her father was your enemy.
1.Sp11Bajazeth
Sound within.In love, Mustaffa? Selimus in love?
If he be, lording, ’tis not ladies’ love
But love of rule and kingly sov’reignty.
For wherefore should he fear t’ask my consent?
Trusty Mustaffa, if he had feared me,
He never would have loved mine enemy.
But this his marriage with the Tatar’s daughter
Is but the prologue to his cruelty,
to his cruelty,And quickly shall we have the tragedy,
Which though he act with meditated bravery,
bravery,The world will never give him plaudity.
.What, yet more news?
Enter another Messenger.
1.Sp12Messenger
Dread Emperor, Selimus is at hand;
Two hundred thousand strong Tatarians,
Armèd at all points, does he lead with him,
Besides his followers from Trebisond.
1.Sp13Bajazeth
Exeunt all.
I thought so much of wicked Selimus.
Oh forlorn hopes and hapless Bajazeth,
Is duty then exilèd from his breast,
Which nature hath inscribed with golden pen,
Deep in the hearts of honorable men?
Ah Selim, Selim, wert thou not my son,
But some strange unacquainted foreigner,
foreigner,Whom I should honor as I honored thee,
Yet would it grieve me even unto the death,
If he should deal as thou hast dealt with me.
And thou, my son, to whom I freely gave
The mighty Empire of great Trebisond,
,Art too unnatural to requite me thus.
Good Alemshae, hadst thou lived ’til this day,
Thou wouldst have blushèd at thy brother’s mind.
Come, sweet Mustaffa. Come, Cherseoli.
And with some good advice recomfort me.
me.Scene 2
Enter Selimus, Sinam Bassa, Ottrante, Occhiali, and the soldiers.2.Sp1Selimus
Aside Now, Selimus, consider who thou art:
Now, Selimus, consider who thou art:Long hast thou marched in disguisèd attire,
But now unmask thyself and play thy part
And manifest the heat of thy desire;
;Nourish the coals of thine ambitious fire,
And think that then thy empire is most sure
When men for fear thy tyranny endure.
Think that to thee there is no worse reproach
Than filial duty in so high a place.
Thou oughtst to set barrels of blood abroach
And seek with sword whole kingdoms to displace.
Let Mahound’s laws be locked up in their case,
be locked up in their case,And meaner men and of a baser spirit
In virtuous actions seek for glorious merit.
.I count it sacrilege for to be holy
Or reverence this threadbare name of good.
Leave to old men and babes that kind of folly;
Count it of equal value with the mud.
Make thou a passage for thy gushing flood
By slaughter, treason, or what else thou can,
And scorn religion; it disgraces man.
My father Bajazeth is weak and old
And hath not much above two years to live.
The Turkish crown of pearl and Ophir gold
goldHe means to his dear Acomat to give.
.But ere his ship can to her haven drive,
I’ll send abroad my tempests in such sort
That she shall sink before she get the port.
Alas, alas, his highness’ agèd head
Is not sufficient to support a crown.
Then, Selimus, take thou it in his stead,
And if at this thy boldness he dare frown
Or but resist thy will, then pull him down.
For since he hath so short a time t’enjoy it,
I’ll make it shorter, or I will destroy him.
Nor pass I what our holy votaries
Shall here object against my forward mind:
:I reck not of their foolish ceremonies
their foolish ceremoniesBut mean to take my fortune as I find.
Wisdom commands to follow tide and wind:
And catch the front of swift Occasion
Before she be too quickly overgone.
.Some man will say I am too impious,
Thus to lay siege against my father’s life,
And that I ought to follow virtuous
And godly sons, that virtue is a glass
Wherein I may my errant life behold
And frame myself by it in ancient mold.
.Good sir, your wisdom’s overflowing wit
Digs deep with learning’s wonder-working spade.
Perhaps you think that now forsooth you sit
you sitWith some grave wizard in a prattling shade.
.Avaunt such glasses: let them view in me
such glasses: let them view in meThe perfect picture of right tyranny.
I, like a lion, look not worth a leek,
When every dog deprives him of his prey:
These honest terms are far enough to seek.
When angry Fortune menaceth decay,
My resolution treads a nearer way.
Give me the heart conspiring with the hand
In such a cause my father to withstand.
Is he my father? Why, I am his son:
I owe no more to him than he to me.
If he proceed as he hath now begun
And pass from me the Turkish seigniory
To Acomat, then Selimus is free.
And if he injure me that am his son,
Faith, all the love ’twixt him and me is done.
, all the love ’twixt him and me is done.But for I see the schoolmen are prepared
To plant gainst me their bookish ordinance,
,I mean to stand on a sententious guard:
:And without any far-fetched circumstance,
,Quickly unfold mine own opinion
To arm my heart with irreligion.
When first this circled round, this building fair,
,Some god took out of the confusèd mass
(What god I do not know, nor greatly care),
Then every man of his own dition was,
was,And everyone his life in peace did pass.
.War was not then, and riches were not known,
And no man said this, or this, is mine own.
The plowman with a furrow did not mark
How far his great possessions did reach;
The earth knew not the share, nor seas the bark;
, nor seas the bark;The soldiers entered not the battered breach,
not the battered breach,Nor trumpets the tantara loud did teach.
loud did teach.There needed them no judge, nor yet no law,
Nor any king of whom to stand in awe.
.But after Ninus, warlike Belus’ son,
, warlike Belus’ son,The earth with unknown armor did warray,
armor did warray,Then first the sacred name of king begun:
And things that were as common as the day
Did then to set possessors first obey.
Then they established laws and holy rites
To maintain peace and govern bloody fights.
.Then some sage man, above the vulgar wise,
wise,Knowing that laws could not in quiet dwell,
Unless they were observed, did first devise
The names of gods, religion, heaven, and hell,
And gan of pains and feigned rewards to tell:
of pains and feigned rewards to tell:Pains for those men which did neglect the law,
Rewards for those that lived in quiet awe.
Whereas, indeed, they were just mere fictions—
fictions—And if they were not, Selim thinks they were
And these religious observations
observationsOnly bugbears to keep the world in fear
to keep the world in fearAnd make men quietly a yoke to bear.
So that religion, of itself a bauble,
,Was only found to make us peaceable.
Hence in especial come the foolish names
Of father, mother, brother, and such like:
For who so well his cogitation frames
Shall find they serve but only for to strike
Into our minds a certain kind of like.
.For these names, too, are but a policy
To keep the quiet of society.
Indeed, I must confess they are not bad
Because they keep the baser sort in fear.
But we, whose mind in heavenly thoughts is clad,
thoughts is clad,Whose body doth a glorious spirit bear
spirit bearThat hath no bounds but flieth everywhere,
but flieth everywhere,Why should we seek to make that soul a slave
To which dame Nature so large freedom gave?
Amongst us men, there is some difference
Of actions termèd by us good or ill:
As he that doth his father recompence
Differs from him that doth his father kill.
And yet I think, think others what they will,
what they will,That parricides, when death hath given them rest,
, when death hath given them rest,Shall have as good a part as have the best.
And that’s just nothing, for as I suppose
In Death’s void kingdom reigns eternal Night,
kingdom reigns eternal Night,Secure of evil and secure of foes,
Where nothing doth the wicked man affright,
affright,No more than him that dies in doing right.
.Then since in death nothing shall to us fall,
Here while I live I’ll have a snatch at all.
at all.And that can never, never be attained,
Unless old Bajazeth do die the death.
For long enough the graybeard now hath reigned
And lived at ease, while others lived uneath.
.And now it’s time he should resign his breath.
’Twere good for him if he were pressèd out;
Twould bring him rest and rid him of his gout.
.Resolved to do it, cast to compass it
Without delay or long procrastination.
It argueth an unmanurèd wit,
wit,When all is ready for so strong invasion,
To draw out time; an unlooked for mutation
May soon prevent us if we do delay.
Quick speed is good, where wisdom leads the way.
—Occhiali?
2.Sp3Selimus
Lo, fly boy to my father Bajazeth,
And tell him Selim, his obedient son,
Desires to speak with him and kiss his hands;
;Tell him I long to see his gracious face
And that I come with all my chivalry
To chase the Christians from his seigniory.
.In any wise, say I must speak with him.
Exit Occhiali.Now, Sinam, if I speed.
2.Sp5Selimus
What then? Why, Sinam, thou art nothing worth.
I will endeavor to persuade him, man,
To give the empire over unto me;
Perhaps I shall attain it at his hands.
If I cannot, this right hand is resolved
To end the period with a fatal stab.
with a fatal stab.2.Sp6Sinam Bassa
My gracious lord, give Sinam leave to speak.
If you resolve to work your father’s death,
You venture life: think you the Janissaries
life: think you the JanissariesWill suffer you to kill him in their sight
And let you pass free without punishment?
2.Sp7Selimus
If I resolve? As sure as heaven is heaven,
I mean to see him dead or myself king.
As for the bassas, they are all my friends,
And I am sure would pawn their dearest blood
That Selim might be Emperor of Turks.
2.Sp9Selimus
Sinam, if they, or twenty such as they,
Had twenty several armies in the field,
If Selimus were once your emperor,
I’d dart abroad the thunderbolts of war
And mow their heartless squadrons to the ground.
squadrons to the ground.2.Sp11Selimus
Exeunt all.
Tush, Sinam, these are school conditions,
,To fear the devil or his cursèd dam.
Thinkest thou I care for apparitions,
Of Sisyphus and of his backward stone,
and of his backward stone,And poor Ixion’s lamentable moan?
lamentable moan?No, no, I think the cave of damnèd ghosts
I think the cave of damnèd ghostsIs but a tale to terrify young babes,
Like devils’ faces scored on painted posts
Or feignèd circles in our astrolabes.
.Why, there’s no difference when we are dead,
And death once come, then all alike are sped.
Or if there were, as I can scarce believe,
A heaven of joy and hell of endless pain,
Yet, by my soul, it never should me grieve
So I might on the Turkish Empire reign,
To enter hell and leave fair heaven’s gain.
fair heaven’s gain.An empire, Sinam, is so sweet a thing,
As I could be a devil to be a king.
But go we, lords, and solace in our camp
in our camp’Til the return of young Occhiali,
And if his answer be to thy desire,
Selim, thy mind in kingly thoughts attire.
.Scene 3
Enter Bajazeth, Mustaffa, Cherseoli, Occhiali, and the Janissaries.
3.Sp1Bajazeth
Even as the great Egyptian crocodile,
Wanting his prey, with artificial tears
his prey, with artificial tearsAnd feignèd plaints his subtle tongue doth file
T’entrap the silly wandering traveler
And move him to advance his footing near,
That when he is in danger of his claws,
He may devour him with his famished jaws,
So playeth crafty Selimus with me:
:His haughty thoughts still wait on diadems
And not a step but treads to majesty.
.The Phoenix gazeth on the sun’s bright beams;
gazeth on the sun’s bright beams;The echeneis swims against the streams;
swims against the streams;Nought but the Turkish scepter can him please,
And there I know lieth his chief disease.
He sends his messengers to crave access
And says he longs to kiss my agèd hands:
But howsoever he in show profess,
His meaning with his words but weakly stands.
.And sooner will the Syrtis’ boiling sands
Become a quiet road for fleeting ships,
Than Selimus’s heart agree with Selim’s lips.
Too well I know the crocodile’s feignèd tears
Are but the nets wherein to catch his prey:
wherein to catch his prey:Which whoso moved with foolish pity hears
Will be the author of his own decay.
Then hie thee, Bajazeth, from hence away.
thee, Bajazeth, from hence away.A fawning monster is false Selimus,
monster is false Selimus,Whose fairest words are most pernicious.
Young man, would Selim come and speak with us?
What is his message to us, canst thou tell?
3.Sp2Occhiali
He craves, my lord, another seigniory,
,Nearer to you and to the Christians,
That he may make them know that Selimus
Is born to be a scourge unto them all.
unto them all.3.Sp3Bajazeth
He’s born to be a scourge to me and mine;
He never would have come with such an host,
Unless he meant my state to undermine.
What though in word he bravely seem to boast
The foraging of all the Christian coast,
Yet we have cause to fear when burning brands
Are vainly given into a madman’s hands.
Aside Well, I must seem to wink at his desire,
Well, I must seem to wink at his desire,Although I see it plainer than the light.
My lenity adds fuel to his fire,
Which now begins to break in flashing bright.
Then, Bajazeth, chastize his stubborn spirit,
Lest these small sparkles grow to such a flame
As shall consume thee and thy house’s name.
Alas, I spare when all my store is gone
when all my store is goneAnd thrust my sickle where the corn is reaped;
In vain I send for the physician,
When on the patient is his grave dust heaped.
In vain, now all his veins in venom steeped
Break out in blisters that will poison us,
We seek to give him an antidotus.
.He that will stop the brook must then begin
When summer’s heat hath drièd up his spring
And when his pittring streams are low and thin.
streams are low and thin.For let the winter aid unto him bring,
bring,He grows to be of watry floods the king.
And though you dam him up with lofty ranks,
,Yet will he quickly overflow his banks.
.—Messenger, go and tell young Selimus
, go and tell young SelimusWe give to him all great Samandria,
,Bord’ring on Belgrade of Hungaria,
,Where he may plague those Christian runagates
And salve the wounds that they have given our states.
Cherseoli, go and provide a gift,
, go and provide a gift,A royal present for my Selimus,
for my Selimus,And tell him, messenger, another time
He shall have talk enough with Bajazeth.
Exeunt Cherseoli and Occhiali.And now what counsel gives Mustaffa to us?
I fear this hasty reck’ning will undo us.
will undo us.3.Sp4Mustaffa
Make haste, my lord, from Adrianople walls,
walls,And let us fly to fair Byzantium,
,Lest if your son before you take the town,
the town,He may with little labor win the crown.
3.Sp5Bajazeth
Exeunt all.
Then do so, good Mustaffa; call our guard
And gather all our warlike Janissaries.
Our chiefest aid is swift celerity.
.Then let our wingèd coursers tread the wind,
tread the wind,And leave rebellious Selimus behind.
Scene 4
Enter Selimus, Sinam Bassa, Occhiali, Ottrante, and their soldiers.
4.Sp1Selimus
Exeunt.
And is his answer so, Occhiali?
Is Selim such a corsive to his heart
to his heartThat he cannot endure the sight of him?
Forsooth, he gives thee all Samandria,
From whence our mighty Emperor Mahomet
Was driven to his country back with shame.
.No doubt thy father loves thee, Selimus,
To make thee regent of so great a land
Which is not yet his own: or if it were,
What dangers wait on him that should it steer?
?Here the Polonian he comes hurtling in
he comes hurtling inUnder the conduct of some foreign prince
To fight in honor of his crucifix!
Here the Hungarian with his bloody cross
Deals blows about to win Belgrade again.
.And after all, forsooth Basilius,
,The mighty Emperor of Russia
Sends in his troops of slave-born Muscovites,
Muscovites,And he will share with us or else take all.
In giving such a land so full of strife,
His meaning is to rid me of my life.
Now by the dreaded name of Termagant
And by the blackest brook in loathsome hell,
Since he is so unnatural to me,
I will prove as unnatural as he.
Thinks he to stop my mouth with gold or pearl?
?Or rusty jades fetched from Barbaria?
from Barbaria?No, let his minion, his philosopher,
Acomat and Corcut, be enriched with them.
, be enriched with them.I will not take my rest ’til this right hand
Hath pulled the crown from off his coward’s head
And on the ground his bastards’ gore-blood shed.
’ gore-blood shed.Nor shall his flight to old Byzantium
Dismay my thoughts which never learned to stoop.
March, Sinam. March in order after him.
Were his light steeds as swift as Pegasus
as swift as PegasusAnd trod the airy pavement with their heels,
Yet Selimus would overtake them soon.
And though the heavens ne’er so crossly frown,
In spight of heaven shall Selim wear the crown.
Scene 5
Alarum within. Enter Bajazeth, Mustaffa, Cherseoli, and the
Janissaries at one door; Selimus, Sinam Bassa, Ottrante, Occhiali, and their soldiers
at another.
5.Sp1Bajazeth
Is this thy duty, son, unto thy father,
So impiously to level at his life?
at his life?Can thy soul, wallowing in ambitious mire,
Seek for to reave that breast with bloody knife,
that breast with bloody knife,From whence thou hadst thy being, Selimus?
Was this the end for which thou joinst thy self
With that mischievous traitor Ramirchan?
?Was this thy drift to speak with Bajazeth?
Well hopèd I (But hope, I see, is vain)
Thou wouldst have been a comfort to mine age,
A scourge and terror to mine enemies,
That this thy coming with so great an host
Was for no other purpose and intent
Than for to chastise those base Christians
Which spoil my subjects’ wealth with fire and sword.
.Well hopèd I the rule of Trebisond
Would have increased the valor of thy mind
To turn thy strength upon the Persians.
strength upon the Persians.But thou, like to a crafty polypus,
Dost turn thy hungry jaws upon thyself.
.For what am I, Selimus, but thyself?
When courage first crept in thy manly breast,
And thou beganst to rule the martial sword,
How oft said thou the sun should change his course,
Water should turn to earth, and earth to heaven,
Ere thou wouldst prove disloyal to thy father.
O Titan, turn thy breathless coursers back,
, turn thy breathless coursers back,And enterprise thy journey from the West.
.Blush, Selim, that the world should say of thee,
That by my death thou gainst the empiry.
5.Sp2Selimus
Exit Selimus and his company.
Now let my cause be pleaded, Bajazeth,
For father I disdain to call thee now.
I took not arms to seize upon thy crown,
For that, if once thou hadst been laid in grave,
Should sit upon the head of Selimus
In spight of Corcut and Acomat.
of Corcut and Acomat.I took not arms to take away thy life:
The remnant of thy days is but a span,
,And foolish had I been to enterprise
That which the gout and death would do for me.
I took not arms to shed my brothers’ blood
Because they stop my passage to the crown.
For while thou livst, Selimus is content
thou livst, Selimus is contentThat they should live, but when thou once art dead
Which of them both dares Selimus withstand?
I soon should hew their bodies in piecemeal
As easy as a man would kill a gnat.
But I took arms unkind to honor thee
to honor theeAnd win again the fame that thou hast lost.
And thou thoughtst scorn Selim should speak with thee,
Selim should speak with thee,But had it been your darling Acomat,
You would have met him half the way your self.
I am a prince, and though your younger son,
Yet are my merits better than both theirs.
But you do seek to disinherit me
And mean t’invest Acomat with your crown,
So he shall have a prince’s due reward
That cannot show a scar received in field.
We that have fought with mighty Prester John
And stripped th’Egyptian Soldan of his camp,
,Venturing life and living to honor thee,
For that same cause shall now dishonored be.
Art thou a father? Nay, false Bajazeth,
Disclaim the title which thou dost not merit.
A father would not thus flee from his son,
As thou dost fly from loyal Selimus.
A father would not injure thus his son,
As thou dost injure loyal Selimus.
Then, Bajazeth, prepare thee to the fight;
Selimus, once thy son but now thy foe,
Will make his fortunes by the sword and shield,
,And since thou fearst as long as I do live,
as long as I do live,I’ll also fear, as long as thou dost live.
5.Sp3Bajazeth
Exit Bajazeth and his company.
My heart is overwhelmed with fear and grief;
What dismal comet blazèd at my birth,
Whose influence makes my strong unbridled son,
son,Instead of love, to render hate to me?
Ah, bassas, if that ever heretofore
, if that ever heretoforeYour emperor ought his safety unto you,
his safety unto you,Defend me now gainst my unnatural son:
Non timeo mortem: mortis mihi displicet auctor.
.
Scene 6
Alarum. Enter Mustaffa and Selimus at diverse doors. Mustaffa beats Selimus in, then Ottrante and Cherseoli enter at diverse doors.
6.Sp1Cherseoli
Yield thee, Tatarian, or thou shalt die.
Upon my sword’s sharp point standeth pale death
Ready to rive in two thy caitiff breast.
breast.6.Sp2Ottrante
Art thou that knight that like a lion fierce,
Tiring his stomach on a flock of lambs,
his stomach on a flock of lambs,Hast broke our ranks and put them clean to flight?
and put them clean to flight?6.Sp3Cherseoli
Ay, and unless thou look unto thyself,
This sword, ne’er drunk in the Tatarian blood,
in the Tatarian blood,Shall make thy carcass as the outcast dung.
6.Sp4Ottrante
They fight. Ottrante killeth Cherseoli and flieth.
Nay, I have matched a braver knight than you:
a braver knight than you:Strong Alemshae, thy master’s eldest son,
Leaving his body naked on the plains.
.And Turk, the selfsame end for thee remains.
Scene 7
Alarum. Enter Selimus.7.Sp1Selimus
Exit Selimus.
Shall Selim’s hope be buried in the dust,
And Bajazeth triumph over his fall?
Then O, thou blindful mistress of mishap,
,Chief patronness of Rhamnus’ golden gates,
,I will advance my strong revenging hand
And pluck thee from thy ever-turning wheel.
.Mars, or Minerva, Mahound, Termagant,
, or Minerva, Mahound, Termagant,Or whosoe’er you are that fight gainst me,
Come and but show your selves before my face,
And I will rend you all like trembling reeds.
you all like trembling reeds.Well, Bajazeth, though Fortune smile on thee
And deck thy camp with glorious victory,
Though Selimus, now conquerèd by thee,
Is fain to put his safety in swift flight,
to put his safety in swift flight,Yet so he flies, that like an angry ram,
He’ll turn more fiercely than before he came.
Scene 8
Enter Bajazeth, Mustaffa, the Janissaries, a soldier with the body of Cherseoli,
and Ottrante prisoner.
8.Sp1Bajazeth
Thus have we gained a bloody victory,
And though we are the masters of the field,
Yet have we lost more than our enemies.
Ah, luckless fault of my Cherseoli,
my Cherseoli,As dear and dearer wert thou unto me
Than any of my sons, than mine own self.
When I was glad, thy heart was full of joy,
And bravely hast thou died for Bajazeth.
And though thy bloodless body here do lie,
Yet thy sweet soul in heaven forever blest
Among the stars enjoys eternal rest.
What art thou, warlike man of Tatary,
Whose hap it is to be our prisoner?
8.Sp5Bajazeth
Exeunt all.
Off with his head and spoil him of his arms,
him of his arms,And leave his body for the airy birds.
Exit one with Ottrante.The unrevengèd ghost of Alemshae
Shall now no more wander on Stygian banks
But rest in quiet in th’Elysian fields.
.Mustaffa and you worthy men-at-arms
That left not Bajazeth in greatest need,
When we arrive at Constantine’s great tower,
,You shall be honored of your emperor.
Scene 9
Enter Acomat, Visir, Regan, and a band of soldiers.9.Sp1Acomat
Perhaps you wonder why prince Acomat,
wonder why prince Acomat,Delighting heretofore in foolish love,
Hath changed his quiet to a soldier’s state
And turned the dulcet tunes of Hymen’s song
tunes of Hymen’s songInto Bellona’s horrible outcries.
’s horrible outcries.You think it strange, that whereas I have lived
Almost a votary to wantonness,
to wantonness,To see me now lay off effeminate robes
lay off effeminate robesAnd arm my body in an iron wall.
.I have enjoyed quiet for long enough
And surfeited with pleasure’s surquidry;
with pleasure’s surquidry;A field of dainties I have passèd through
I have passèd throughAnd been a champion to fair Cytheria.
to fair Cytheria.Now, since this idle peace hath wearied me,
I’ll follow Mars and war another while
And dye my shield in dolorous vermeil.
.My brother Selim, through his manly deeds,
Hath lifted up his fame unto the skies,
While we, like earthworms lurking in the weeds,
Do live inglorious in all men’s eyes.
What lets me from this vain slumber rising
And by strong hand achieve eternal glory
That may be talked of in all memory?
?And see how Fortune favors mine intent:
:Heard you not, lordings, how prince Selimus
Against our royal father armèd went,
And how the Janissaries made him flee
To Ramir, Emperor of Tatary?
, Emperor of Tatary?This his rebellion greatly profits me,
For I shall sooner win my father’s mind
To yield me up the Turkish empiry,
Which if I have, I am sure I shall find
Strong enemies to pull me down again
That fain would have prince Selimus to reign.
Then civil discord and contentious war
Will follow Acomat’s coronation.
Selim, no doubt, will broach seditious jar,
,And Corcut, too, will seek for alteration.
Now, to prevent all sudden perturbation,
,We thought it good to muster up our power
That danger may not take it unprovided.
.9.Sp2Visir
I like your highness’ resolution well,
For these should be the chief arts of a king:
of a king:To punish those that furiously rebel
And honor those that sacred counsel bring;
To make good laws, ill customs to expel;
To nourish peace from whence your riches spring;
;And when good quarrels call you to the field,
quarrels call you to the field,T’excel your men in handling spear and shield.
Thus shall the glory of your matchless name
Be registered up in immortal lines.
.Whereas that prince that follows lustful game,
,And to fond toys his captive mind inclines,
toys his captive mind inclines,Shall never ’pass the temple of true fame,
the temple of true fame,Whose worth is greater than the Indian mines.
.But is your grace assurèd certainly
That Bajazeth doth favor your request?
Perhaps you may make him your enemy;
You know how much your father doth detest
Stout obedience and obstinancy.
and obstinancy.I speak not this as if I thought it best
Your highness should your right in it neglect,
But that you might be close and circumspect.
.9.Sp3Acomat
We thank thee, Visir, for thy loving care.
As for my father Bajazeth’s affection,
Unless his holy vows forgotten are,
forgotten are,I shall be sure of it by his election.
.But after Acomat’s erection,
after Acomat’s erection,We must forecast what things be necessary,
Lest that our kingdom be too momentary.
9.Sp4Regan
First let my lord be seated in his throne,
Installèd by great Bajazeth’s consent.
As yet your harvest is not fully grown
But in the green and unripe blade is pent:
:But when you once have got the regiment,
,Then may your lords more easily provide
Against all accidents that may betide.
9.Sp5Acomat
Exeunt all.
Then set we forward to Byzantium,
That we may know what Bajazeth intends.
Aside Advise thee, Acomat, what’s best to do.
Advise thee, Acomat, what’s best to do.The Janissaries favor Selimus,
And they are strong undaunted enemies,
Which will in arms gainst thy election rise.
Then will them to thy will with precious gifts
them to thy will with precious giftsAnd store of gold: a timely largition
largitionThe steadfast persons from their purpose lifts.
But then beware lest Bajazeth’s affection
Change into hatred by such premunition,
,For then he will think that I am factious
that I am factiousAnd imitate my brother Selimus.
Besides, a prince his honor doth debase
That begs the common soldiers’ suffrages,
,And if the bassas knew I sought their grace,
It would the more increase their insolence.
.To resist them were overhardiness,
,And worse it were to leave my enterprise.
Well, howsoe’er, resolve to venture it;
Fortune doth favor every bold assay,
,And ’twere a trick of an unsettled wit,
,Because the bees have stings with them alway,
,To fear our mouths in honey to embay.
our mouths in honey to embay.Then resolution for me leads the dance,
,And thus resolved, I mean to try my chance.
Scene 10
Enter Bajazeth, Mustaffa, Cali Bassa, Hali Bassa, and the Janissaries.10.Sp1Bajazeth are drawn.
Music withinWhat prince soe’er trusts to his mighty pow’r,
Ruling the reins of so many nations,
nations,And feareth not lest fickle Fortune lour
fickle Fortune lourAnd thinks his kingdom free from alterations.
.If he were in the place of Bajazeth,
He would but little by his scepter set.
For what hath rule that makes it acceptable?
?Rather, what hath it not worthy of hate?
First of all is our state still mutable
And our continuance at the people’s rate,
,So that it is a slender thread whereon
Depends the honor of a prince’s throne.
.Then do we fear, more than the child newborn,
Our friends, our lords, our subjects, and our sons.
Thus is our mind in sundry pieces torn
By care, by fear, suspicion, and distrust.
In wine, in meat, we fear pernicious poison;
At home, abroad, we fear seditious treason.
Too true that tyrant Dionysus
tyrant DionysusDid picture out the image of a king
When Damocles was placèd in his throne,
And o’er his head a threatning sword did hang,
Fastened up only by a horse’s hair.
.Our chiefest trust is secretly distrust,
For whom have we whom we may safely trust,
If our own sons, neglecting awful duty,
duty,Rise up in arms against their loving fathers?
Their heart is all of hardest marble wrought
That can lay wait to take away their breath,
to take away their breath,From whom they first did suck this vital air.
this vital air.My heart is heavy, and I needs must sleep.
Bassas, withdraw yourselves from me awhile
That I may rest my overburdened soul.
They stand aside while the curtains are drawn.Eunuchs play me some music while I sleep.
play me some music while I sleep..
10.Sp2Mustaffa
Good Bajazeth, who would not pity thee,
Whom thine own son so vilely persecutes?
persecutes?More mildly do th’unreasonable beasts
beastsDeal with their dams than Selimus with thee.
10.Sp3Hali Bassa
Mustaffa, we are princes of the land
And love our emperor as well as thou:
Yet will we not for pitying his estate,
Suffer our foes our wealth to ruinate.
.If Selim have played false with Bajazeth,
And overslipped the duty of a son,
the duty of a son,Why, he was moved by just occasion.
Did he not humbly send his messenger
To crave access unto his majesty?
And yet he could not get permission
To kiss his hands and speak his mind to him.
Perhaps he thought his agèd father’s love
Was clean estranged from him, and Acomat
Should reap the fruit that he had labored for.
.’Tis lawful for the father to take arms,
Ay, and by death chastise his rebel son.
Why should it be unlawful for the son
To levy arms gainst his injurious sire?
10.Sp4Mustaffa
You reason, Hali, like a sophister,
,As if ’twere lawful for a subject prince
To rise in arms against his sovereign
his sovereignBecause he will not let him have his will,
Much less is’t lawful for a man’s own son.
If Bajazeth had injured Selimus,
Or sought his death, or done him some abuse,
Then Selim’s cause had been more tolerable.
cause had been more tolerable.But Bajazeth did never injure him,
Nor sought his death, nor once abusèd him,
Unless because he gives him not the crown,
Being the youngest of his highness’ sons.
Gave he not him an empire for his part,
The mighty empire of great Trebisond?
?So that if all things rightly be observed,
Selim had more than ever he deserved.
I speak not this because I hate the prince,
For by the heavens I love young Selim,
,Better than either of his brethren,
But for I owe allegiance to my king
And love him much that favors me so much.
Mustaffa, while old Bajazeth doth live,
Will be as true to him as to himself.
10.Sp5Cali Bassa
Why, brave Mustaffa, Hali and myself
Were never false unto his majesty.
Our father Hali died in the field
Against the Sophy in his highness’ wars,
And we will never be degenerate.
.Nor do we take part with Prince Selimus
Because we would depose old Bajazeth,
But for because we would not Acomat
That leads his life still in lascivious pomp,
,Nor Corcut, though he be a man of worth,
Should be commander of our empire.
For he that never saw his foeman’s face
faceBut always slept upon a lady’s lap,
Will scant endure to lead a soldier’s life.
And he that never handled but his pen
Will be unskillful at the warlike lance.
Indeed, his wisdom well may guide the crown
And keep that safe his predecessors got:
But being given to peace as Corcut is,
He never will enlarge the empire,
So that the rule and power over us
Is only fit for valiant Selimus.
10.Sp6Mustaffa
Sound within. A Messenger enters. Curtains are opened. Bajazeth
awaketh.
Princes, you know how mighty Bajazeth
, you know how mighty BajazethHath honorèd Mustaffa with his love.
He gave his daughter, beauteous Solyma,
To be the sovereign mistress of my thoughts.
.He made me captain of the Janissaries,
And too unnatural should Mustaffa be
To rise against him in his dying age.
Yet know, you warlike peers, Mustaffa is
Mustaffa isA loyal friend unto Prince Selimus,
And ere his other brethren get the crown,
For his sake, I myself will pull them down.
I love, I love them dearly, but the love
Which I do bear unto my country’s good
Makes me a friend to noble Selimus,
,Only let Bajazeth while he doth live
Enjoy in peace the Turkish diadem.
When he is dead and laid in quiet grave,
Then none but Selimus our help shall have.
10.Sp7Bajazeth
How now, Mustaffa; what news have we there?
, Mustaffa; what news have we there?Is Selim up in arms gainst me again?
Or is the Sophy entered our confines?
entered our confines?Hath the Egyptian snatched his crown again?
Or have the uncontrollèd Christians
Unsheathed their swords to make more war on us?
Such news or none will come to Bajazeth.
10.Sp10Regan
Mighty commander of the warlike Turks,
Acomat, Soldan of Amasya,
,Greeteth your grace by me his messenger.
He gives him a letter.And ’gratulates your highness’ good success,
your highness’ good success,Wishing good fortune may befall you still.
10.Sp11Bajazeth.
Mustaffa, read.
He gives the letter to Mustaffa and speaks the
rest to himself.Aside Acomat craves thy promise, Bajazeth,
Acomat craves thy promise, Bajazeth,To give the empire up into his hands
And make it sure to him in thy lifetime.
in thy lifetime.And thou shalt have it, lovely Acomat,
, lovely Acomat,For I have been encumbered long enough
And vexèd with the cares of kingly rule.
Now, let the trouble of the empiry
Be buried in the bosom of thy son.
of thy son.Ah, Acomat, if thou have such a reign
So full of sorrow as thy father’s was,
Thou wilt accurse the time, the day, and hour
In which thou was established emperor.
Sound. Enter a messenger from Corcut.—Yet more news?
10.Sp12Messenger
Long live the mighty Emperor Bajazeth.
Corcut, the Soldan of Magnesia,
Hearing of Selim’s worthy overthrow
And of the coming of young Acomat,
Doth certify your majesty by me
your majesty by meHow joyful he is of your victory.
And therewithal he humbly doth require
he humbly doth requireYour grace would do him justice in his cause.
His brethren both, unworthy such a father,
Do seek the empire while your grace doth live,
And that by indirect sinister means.
But Corcut, mind free from ambitious thoughts
from ambitious thoughtsAnd trusting to the goodness of his cause,
Joinèd unto your highness’ tender love,
Only desires your grace should not invest
Selim nor Acomat in the diadem,
Which appertaineth unto him by right,
,But keep it to yourself the while you live.
And when it shall the great creator please,
Who hath the spirits of all men in his hands,
Shall call your highness to your latest home,
Then will he also sue to have his right.
10.Sp13Bajazeth
Aside Like to a ship sailing without the stars,
Like to a ship sailing without the stars,Whom waves do toss one way and winds another,
Both without ceasing, even so my poor heart
Endures a combat betwixt love and right.
love and right.The love I bear to my dear Acomat
Commands me give my suffrage unto him,
But Corcut’s title, being my eldest son,
Bids me recall my hand and give it him.
Acomat, he would have it in my life,
But gentle Corcut, like a loving son,
Desires me live and die an emperor
And at my death bequeath my crown to him.
.Ah, Corcut, thou I see lovst me indeed;
Selimus sought to thrust me down by force,
And Acomat seeks the kingdom in my life,
And both of them are grieved thou liv’st so long.
But Corcut numbreth not my days as they;
Oh, how much dearer loves he me then they.
—Bassas, how counsel you your emperor?
?10.Sp14Mustaffa
My gracious lord, myself will speak for all,
For all, I know, are minded as I am.
Your highness knows the Janissaries’ love,
How firm they mean to cleave to your behest,
As well you might perceive in that sad fight
When Selim set upon you in your flight.
Then we do all desire you on our knees
To keep the crown and scepter to your self.
How grievous will it be unto your thoughts,
If you should give the crown to Acomat,
To see the brethren disinherited
To flesh their anger one upon another
one upon anotherAnd rend the bowels of this mighty realm.
.Suppose that Corcut would be well content,
Yet thinks your grace, if Acomat were king,
That Selim ere long would join league with him?
Nay, he would break from forth his Trebisond
And waste the empire all with fire and sword.
Ah, then too weak would be poor Acomat
To stand against his brother’s great puissance
puissanceOr save himself from his enhancèd hand,
hand,While Ismael and the cruel Persians
And the great Soldan of th’Egyptians
Would smile to see our force dismembered so.
Ay, and perchance the neighbor Christians
the neighbor ChristiansWould take occasion to thrust out their heads.
.All this may be prevented by your grace,
If you will yield to Corcut’s just request
And keep the kingdom to you while you live.
Meantime, we that your grace’s subjects are
May make us strong to fortify the man
the manWhom at your death your grace shall choose as king.
10.Sp15Bajazeth
Exeunt all.
O, how thou speakest ever like thyself,
Loyal Mustaffa: well were Bajazeth
If all his sons did bear such love to him.
Though loth I am longer to wear the crown,
I am longer to wear the crown,Yet for I see it is my subjects’ will,
Once more will Bajazeth be emperor.
But we must send to pacify our son,
Or he will storm as erst did Selimus.
.Come, let us go unto our counsel, lords,
And there consider what is to be done.
Scene 11
Enter Acomat, Regan, Visir, and his soldiers. Acomat reads letter and then rents it.
11.Sp1Acomat
Thus will I rend the crown from off thy head,
,False-hearted and injurious Bajazeth,
To mock thy son that lovèd thee so dear.
What? For because the head-strong Janissaries
For because the head-strong JanissariesWould not consent to honor Acomat,
And their base bassas, vowed to Selimus,
Thought me unworthy of the Turkish crown?
Should he be ruled and overruled by them,
Under pretence of keeping it himself,
To wipe me clean forever being king?
being king?Doth he esteem so much the bassas’ words
And prize their favor at so high a rate
their favor at so high a rateThat for to gratify their stubborn minds
He casts away all care and all respects
Of duty, promise, and religious oaths?
?Now by the holy prophet Mahomet,
Chief president and patron of the Turks,
and patron of the Turks,I mean to challenge now my right by arms
now my right by armsAnd win by sword that glorious dignity
Which he injuriously detains from me.
from me.Haply, he thinks because that Selimus,
, he thinks because that Selimus,Rebutted by his warlike Janissaries,
Was fain to fly in haste from whence he came
That Acomat, by his example moved,
Will fear to manage arms against his sire.
Or that my life, forepassed in pleasure’s court,
in pleasure’s court,Promises weak resistance in the fight.
But he shall know that I can use my sword
And like a lion seize upon my prey.
If ever Selim moved him heretofore,
Acomat means to move him ten times more.
11.Sp3Acomat
Exeunt all.
Visir, I am impatient of delay,
And since my father hath incensed me thus,
I’ll quench those kindled flames with his heart blood.
Not like a son but a most cruel foe
Will Acomat henceforth be unto him.
unto him.March to Natolia; there we will begin
; there we will beginAnd make a preface to our massacres.
our massacres.My nephew Mahomet, son to Alemshae,
Departed lately from Iconium,
,Is lodgèd there, and he shall be the first
Whom I will sacrifice unto my wrath.
.Scene 12
Enter the young Prince Mahomet, the Beylerbey of Natolia, and one or two soldiers.
12.Sp1Mahomet
Lord Governor, what think you best to do?
If we receive the Soldan Acomat,
Who knoweth not but his bloodthirsty sword
Shall be embowellèd in our countrymen.
in our countrymen.You know he is displeased with Bajazeth
And will rebel, as Selim did tofore,
,And would to God with Selim’s overthrow.
Selim’s overthrow.You know his angry heart hath vowed revenge
On all the subjects of his father’s land.
12.Sp2Beylerbey
Young prince, thy uncle seeks to have thy life
Because by right the Turkish crown is thine.
the Turkish crown is thine.Save thou thyself by flight or otherwise,
And we will make resistance as we can.
Like an Armenian tiger that hath lost
that hath lostHer lovèd whelps, so raveth Acomat:
And we must be subject unto his rage,
his rage,But you may live to venge your citizens.
your citizens.Then fly, good prince, before your uncle come.
12.Sp3Mahomet
Exeunt all.
Nay, good my lord, never shall it be said
That Mahomet, the son of Alemshae,
Fled from his citizens for fear of death,
But I will stay and help to fight for you,
And if you needs must die, I’ll die with you.
And I among the rest with forward hand
handWill help to kill a common enemy.
Scene 13
Enter Acomat, Visir, Regan, and soldiers.
13.Sp1Acomat
Enter all to a parley, Mahomet, the Beylerbey of Natolia, and soldiers
on the wallsNow, fair Natolia, shall thy stately walls
Be overthrown and beaten to the ground.
.My heart within me for revenge still calls.
Why, Bajazeth, thoughtst thou that Acomat
Would put up such a monstrous injury?
such a monstrous injury?Then had I brought my chivalry in vain
And to no purpose drawn my conquering blade,
Which now unsheathed shall not be sheathed again
’Til it a world of bleeding souls hath made.
Poor Mahomet, thou thoughtst thyself too sure
In thy strong city of Iconium
To plant thy forces in Natolia,
Weakened so much before by Selim’s sword.
.Summon a parley to the citizens
to the citizensThat they may hear the dreadful words I speak
And die in thought before they come to blows.
.
13.Sp3Acomat
That thou and all the city yield themselves,
Or by the holy rites of Mahomet,
His wondrous tomb and sacred Alcoran,
and sacred Alcoran,You all shall die: and not a common death,
But e’en as monstrous as I can devise.
as monstrous as I can devise.13.Sp4Mahomet
Uncle, if I may call you by that name,
Which cruelly hunt for your nephew’s blood,
You do us wrong thus to besiege our town
That ne’er deserved such hatred at your hands,
,Being your friends and kinsmen as we are.
13.Sp9Acomat
Wilt thou? Then know assuredly from me,
I’ll seal the resignation with thy blood:
Though Alemshae, thy father, loved me well,
Yet Mahomet, his son, shall down to hell.
son, shall down to hell.13.Sp17Acomat
Alarum. They scale Beshrew me, but you be the wiser, Mahomet,
me, but you be the wiser, Mahomet,For if I do but catch you, boy, alive,
’Twere better for you run through Phlegethon.
.Sirs, scale the walls and pull the caitiffs down!
I give to you the spoil of all the town.
the walls. Exit all above. Reenter Acomat,
Visir, and Regan with Mahomet.
13.Sp18Acomat
Now youngster, you that bravst us on the walls,
And shook your plumèd crest against our shield,
against our shield,What wouldst thou give, or what wouldst thou not give,
That thou wert far enough from Acomat?
How like the villain is to Bajazeth.
.Well, nephew, for thy father loved me well,
thy father loved me well,I will not deal extremely with his son:
Then hear a brief compendium of thy death.
of thy death.Regan, go cause a grove of steelhead spears
Be pitchèd thick under the castle wall,
And on them let this youthful captain fall.
fall.13.Sp19Mahomet
Exit Regan with Mahomet.
Alarum. Enter a soldier with ZonaraThou shalt not fear me, Acomat, with death,
me, Acomat, with death,Nor will I beg my pardon at thy hands.
But as thou givst me such a monstrous death,
So do I freely leave to thee my curse.
, sister to
Mahomet.
13.Sp23Zonara
If ever pity enterèd thy breast,
Or ever thou wast touched with woman’s love,
Sweet uncle, spare wretched Zonara’s life.
Thou once wast noted for a quiet prince,
Soft-hearted, mild, and gentle as a lamb.
Ah, do not prove a lion unto me.
13.Sp29Zonara
Thou art not, false groom, son to Bajazeth;
, son to Bajazeth;He would relent to hear a woman weep,
But thou wast born in desert Caucasus,
,And the Hyrcanian tigers gave thee suck,
tigers gave thee suck,Knowing thou wert a monster like themselves.
13.Sp30Acomat.
Exeunt all.
Let you her thus to rate us? Strangle her.
They strangle her us? Strangle her..Now scour the streets, and leave not one alive
To carry these sad news to Bajazeth,
That all the citizens may dearly say
This day was fatal to Natolia.
Scene 14
Enter Bajazeth, Mustaffa, Aga, and the Janissaries.
14.Sp1Bajazeth
Mustaffa, if my mind deceive me not,
Some strange misfortune is not far from me.
I was not wont to tremble in this sort.
Methinks I feel a cold run through my bones,
As if it hastened to surprise my heart.
Methinks some voice still whispereth in my ears
And bids me to take heed of Acomat.
14.Sp2Mustaffa
Enter two soldiers with the Beylerbey of Natolia in a chair’Tis but your highness’ overchargèd mind,
Which feareth most the things it least desires.
, and the bodies of Mahomet and Zonara in two coffins.
14.Sp3Bajazeth
Ah, sweet Mustaffa, thou art much deceived;
My mind presages me some future harm,
some future harm,And lo, what doleful exequy is here.
is here.Our chief commander of Natolia?
What caitiff hand is it hath wounded thee?
And who are these covered in tomb-black hearse?
?14.Sp4Beylerbey
Bajazeth falls in a swoonThese are thy nephews, mighty Bajazeth,
, mighty Bajazeth,The son and daughter of good Alemshae,
Whom cruel Acomat hath murderèd thus.
These eyes beheld when from an ayrie tower
towerThey hurled the body of young Mahomet,
Whereas a band of armèd soldiers,
Received him falling on their spears’ sharp points.
His sister, poor Zonara, luckless maid,
,Entreating life and not obtaining it,
Was strangled by his barbarous soldiers.
and then recovers.
14.Sp5Bajazeth
Oh, you dispensers of our hapless breath,
,Why do you glut your eyes and take delight
and take delightTo see sad pageants of men’s miseries?
Wherefore have you prolonged my wretched life,
To see my son, my dearest Acomat,
To lift his hands against his father’s life?
Ah, Selimus, now do I pardon thee,
For thou didst set upon me manfully,
And moved by an occasion, though unjust.
, though unjust.But Acomat, injurious Acomat,
Is ten times more unnatural to me.
Hapless Zonara, hapless Mahomet,
The poor remainder of my Alemshae,
Which of you both shall Bajazeth most wail?
Ah, both of you are worthy to be wailed.
Happily dealt the froward Fates with thee,
Fates with thee,Good Alemshae, for thou didst die in field,
And so prevented this sad spectacle,
this sad spectacle,Pitiful spectacle of sad dreariment,
,Pitiful spectacle of dismal death.
But I have lived to see thee, Alemshae,
By Tatar pirates all in pieces torn,
,To see young Selim’s disobedience,
To see the death of Alemshae’s poor seed,
,And last of all to see my Acomat
Prove a rebellious enemy to me.
14.Sp6Beylerbey
He dies.
Ah, cease your tears, unhappy Emperor,
And shed not all for your poor nephews’ death.
death.Six thousand of true-hearted citizens
In fair Natolia Acomat hath slain.
The channels run like riverets of blood,
run like riverets of blood,And I escaped with this poor company,
Bemangled and dismembered as you see,
as you see,To be the messenger of these sad news.
And now mine eyes, fast swimming in pale death,
Bid me resign my breath unto the heavens;
Death doth stand before, ready for to strike.
Farewell, dear Emperor, and revenge our loss,
As ever thou dost hope for happiness.
14.Sp7Bajazeth
Exeunt all.
Avernus’ jaws and loathsome Taenarus,
jaws and loathsome Taenarus,From whence the damnèd ghosts do often creep
Back to the world to punish wicked men,
Black Demogorgon, grandfather of night,
, grandfather of night,Send out thy Furies from thy fiery hall,
from thy fiery hall,The pitiless Erinyes armed with whips,
armed with whips,And all the damnèd monsters of black hell
To pour their plagues on cursèd Acomat.
.How shall I mourn, or which way shall I turn
To pour my tears upon my dearest friends?
Couldst thou induce false-hearted Acomat
induce false-hearted AcomatTo kill thy nephew and his sister thus,
sister thus,And wound to death so valiant a lord?
And will you not, you all-beholding heavens,
Dart down on him your piercing lightning brand,
,Enrolled in sulphur and consuming flames?
in sulphur and consuming flames?Ah, do not Jove; Acomat is my son
; Acomat is my sonAnd may perhaps by counsel be reclaimed
And brought to filial obedience.
Aga, thou art a man of perceant wit;
wit;Go thou and talk with my son Acomat
And see if he will any way relent.
.Speak him fair, Aga, lest he kill thee too.
, Aga, lest he kill thee too.And we, my lords, will in and mourn awhile
Over these princes’ lamentable tombs.
lamentable tombs.Scene 15
Enter Acomat, Visir, Regan, and their soldiers.15.Sp1Acomat
Enter Aga and one with himAs Tityus in the country of the dead,
in the country of the dead,With restless cries doth call upon high Jove,
The while the vulture tireth on his heart,
on his heart,So, Acomat, revenge still gnaws thy soul.
I think my soldiers’ hands have been too slow
In shedding blood and murd’ring innocents.
innocents.I think my wrath hath been too patient,
Since civil blood quencheth not out the flames
blood quencheth not out the flamesWhich Bajazeth hath kindled in my heart.
.
15.Sp4Aga
Great Prince, thy father mighty Bajazeth
Wonders why your grace, whom he loved so much
And thought to leave possessor of the crown,
,Would thus requite his love with mortal hate,
,To kill thy nephews with revenging sword
And massacre his subjects in such sort.
15.Sp5Acomat
Aga, my father, traitorous Bajazeth,
Detains the crown injuriously from me,
Which I will have if all the world say nay.
I am not like the unmanurèd land,
Which answers not his Honor’s greedy mind.
greedy mind.I sow not seeds upon the barren sand:
A thousand ways can Acomat soon find
To gain my will, which if I cannot gain,
Then purple blood my angry hands shall stain.
.15.Sp7Acomat
Tush, Aga, Selim was not wise enough
To set upon the head at the first brunt.
.He should have done as I do mean to do:
Fill all the confines with fire, sword, and blood,
with fire, sword, and blood,Burn up the fields and overthrow whole towns,
And when he had endamagèd that way
Then tear the old man piecemeal with his teeth
And color his strong hands with his gore-blood.
with his gore-blood.15.Sp8Aga
Oh see, my lord, how fell ambition
ambitionDeceives your senses and bewitches you:
Could you unkind perform so foul a deed
perform so foul a deedAs kill the man that first gave life to you?
?Do you not fear the people’s adverse fame?
?15.Sp9Acomat
It is the greatest glory of a king
When, though his subjects hate his wicked deeds,
Yet are they forced to bear them all with praise.
15.Sp10Aga
Whom fear constrains to praise their prince’s deeds,
That fear eternal hatred in them feeds.
.15.Sp11Acomat
He knows not how to sway the kingly mace
the kingly maceThat loves to be great in his people’s grace:
:The surest ground for kings to build upon
Is to be feared and cursed of everyone.
What though the world of nations me hate?
the world of nations me hate?Hate is peculiar to a prince’s state.
a prince’s state.15.Sp12Aga
Where there’s no shame, no care of holy law,
No faith, no justice, no integrity,
That state is full of mutability.
15.Sp13Acomat
Bare faith, pure virtue, poor integrity
faith, pure virtue, poor integrityAre ornaments fit for a private man;
Beseems a prince for to do all he can.
a prince for to do all he can.15.Sp15Acomat
’Tis lawful, graybeard, for to do to him
, for to do to himWhat ought not to be done unto a father.
Hath he not wiped me from the Turkish crown?
me from the Turkish crown?Preferred he not the stubborn Janissaries
And did hear the bassas’ stout petitions
the bassas’ stout petitionsBefore he would give ear to my request?
?As sure as day, mine eyes shall ne’er taste sleep
Before my sword have riven his perjured breast.
15.Sp17Acomat.
Yes, thou shalt live but never see that day,
Wanting the tapers that should give thee light:
Acomat pulls out his eyes that should give thee light:.Thou shalt not see so great felicity,
,When I shall rend out Bajazeth’s dim eyes
And by his death install myself a king.
15.Sp18Aga
Ah, thou cruel tyrant and unmerciful,
More bloody than the anthropophagi
That fill their hungry stomachs with man’s flesh,
Thou shouldst have slain me, barbarous Acomat,
Not leave me in so comfortless a life
To live on earth and never see the sun.
15.Sp19Acomat
Nay, let him die that liveth at his ease;
;Death would a wretched caitiff greatly please.
.15.Sp20Aga
And thinkst thou then to scape unpunishèd?
No, Acomat, though both mine eyes be gone,
Yet are my hands left on to murder thee.
15.Sp21Acomat and give them to Acomat. and puts them in.
’Twas well remembered: Regan cut them off.
They cut off his hands and give them to Acomat.Now, in that sort go tell thy emperor
go tell thy emperorThat if himself had but been in thy place
I would have used him crueller than thee.
Here take thy hands: I know thou lovst them well.
Acomat opens Aga’s bosom and puts them in.Which hand is this? Right? Or left? Canst thou tell?
15.Sp22Aga
I know not which it is, but ’tis my hand.
But O, thou supreme architect of all,
First mover of those tenfold crystal orbs,
,Where all those moving and unmoving eyes
Behold thy goodness everlastingly,
See, unto thee I lift these bloody arms,
For hands I have not for to lift to thee;
And in thy justice dart thy smold’ring flame
Upon the head of cursèd Acomat.
O, cruel heavens and injurious Fates,
Even the last refuge of a wretched man
Is took from me: for how can Aga weep
Or rain a brinish show’r of pearlèd tears,
a brinish show’r of pearlèd tears,Wanting the watry cisterns of his eyes?
cisterns of his eyes?Come, lead me back again to Bajazeth,
,The woefullest and saddest ambassador
That ever was dispatched to any king.
15.Sp23Acomat
Exeunt all.
Why so, this music pleases Acomat.
, this music pleases Acomat.And would I had my doting father here,
I would rip up his breast and rend his heart,
Into his bowels thrust my angry hands,
,As willingly, and with as good a mind,
As I could be the Turkish emperor.
And by the clear declining vault of heaven,
of heaven,Whither the souls of dying men do flee,
Either I mean to die the death myself
Or make that old false faitour bleed his last,
bleed his last,For death no sorrow could unto me bring,
So Acomat might die the Turkish king.
Scene 16
Enter Bajazeth, Mustaffa, Cali Bassa, Hali Bassa, and Aga, led by a soldier and kneeling before Bajazeth and holding his legs.16.Sp1Aga
Is this the body of my sovereign?
Are these the sacred pillars that support
that supportThe image of true magnanimity?
Ah, Bajazeth, thy son false Acomat
Is full resolved to take thy life from thee.
’Tis true; ’tis true; witness these handless arms.
Witness these empty lodges of mine eyes.
of mine eyes.Witness the gods that from the highest heaven
Beheld the tyrant with remorseless heart
Pull out mine eyes and cut off my weak hands.
out mine eyes and cut off my weak hands.Witness that sun, whose golden-colored beams
Your eyes do see, but mine can ne’er behold.
Witness the earth that suckèd up my blood,
Streaming in rivers from my trunkèd arms.
arms.Witness the present that he sends to thee.
Open my bosom; there you shall it see.
Mustaffa opens Aga’s bosom and takes out his hands.Those are the hands which Aga once did use
To toss the spear and in a warlike gyre
To hurtle my sharp sword about my head.
my sharp sword about my head.Those sends he to the woeful emperor,
woeful emperor,With purpose so to cut thy hands from thee.
thy hands from thee.Why is my sovereign silent all this while?
16.Sp2Bajazeth
Ah, Aga, Bajazeth fain would speak to thee,
But sudden sorrow eateth up my words.
Bajazeth, Aga, fain would weep for thee,
But cruel sorrow drieth up my tears.
Bajazeth, Aga, fain would die for thee,
But grief hath weakened my poor agèd hands.
How can he speak, whose tongue sorrow hath tied?
How can he mourn, that cannot shed a tear?
How shall he live, that full of misery
Calleth for death which will not let him die?
16.Sp3Mustaffa
Let women weep, let children pour forth tears,
, let children pour forth tears,And cowards spend time in bootless moan.
moan.We’ll load the earth with such a mighty host
Of Janissaries, stern-born sons of Mars,
,That Phoeb’ shall fly and hide him in the clouds
shall fly and hide him in the cloudsFor fear our javelins thrust him from his wain.
.Old Aga was a prince among your lords;
among your lords;His counsels always were true oracles,
And shall he thus unmanly be misused
And he unpunishèd that did the deed?
Shall Mahomet and poor Zonara’s ghosts
And the good governor of Natolia
Wander in Stygian meadows unrevenged?
unrevenged?Good Emperor, stir up thy manly heart,
And send forth all thy warlike Janissaries
To chastise that rebellious Acomat.
Thou knowst we cannot fight without a guide,
And he must be one of the royal blood,
Sprung from the loins of mighty Ottoman.
.And who remains now but young Selimus?
?So please your grace to pardon his offence,
And make him captain of th’imperial host.
16.Sp4Bajazeth
Exeunt all.
Ay, good Mustaffa, send for Selimus,
So I may be revenged I care not how.
The worst that can befall me is but death;
’Tis that would end my woeful misery.
would end my woeful misery.Selimus, he must work me this good turn.
I cannot kill myself; he’ll do’t for me.
; he’ll do’t for me.Come, Aga. Thou and I will weep the while:
Thou for thy eyes and loss of both thy hands,
I for th’unkindness of my Acomat.
Scene 17
Enter Selimus and a messenger with a letter from Bajazeth.17.Sp1Selimus
ExitWill Fortune favor me yet once again?
favor me yet once again?And will she thrust the cards into my hands?
into my hands?Well, if I chance but once to get the deck,
To deal about and shuffle as I would,
Let Selim never see the daylight spring,
Unless I shuffle out myself a king.
.Friend, let me see thy letter once again
That I may read these reconciling lines.
Reads the letter..Thou hast a pardon, Selim, granted thee.
Mustaffa and the forward Janissaries
Have sued to thy father Bajazeth
That thou mayst be their captain general
Against th’attempts of Soldan Acomat.
Why, that’s the thing that I requested most:
requested most:That I might once th’imperial army lead.
And since it’s offered me so willingly,
Beshrew me but I’ll take their courtesy.
.Soft, let me see, is there no policy
T’entrap poor Selimus in this device?
?It may be that my father fears me yet,
Lest I should once again rise up in arms,
And, like Antaeus quelled by Hercules,
,Gather new forces by my overthrow;
And therefore sends for me under pretence
Of this and that: but when he hath me there,
He’ll make me sure for putting him in fear.
for putting him in fear.Distrust is good when there’s cause of distrust.
Read it again; perchance thou dost mistake.
Read.Oh, here’s Mustaffa’s signet set thereto.
set thereto.Then, Selim, cast all foolish fear aside,
For he’s a prince that favors thy estate
And hateth treason worse than death itself.
And hardly can I think he could be brought,
can I think he could be brought,If there were treason, to subscribe his name.
Come, friend; the cause requires we should be gone.
requires we should be gone.Now, once again have at the Turkish throne.
the Turkish throne. both.
Scene 18
Enter Bajazeth leading Aga, Mustaffa, Hali Bassa, Cali Bassa, Selimus, and the Janissaries.18.Sp1Bajazeth
Come, mournful Aga; come and sit by me.
; come and sit by me.Thou hast been sorely grieved for Bajazeth,
for Bajazeth,Good reason then that he should grieve for thee.
Give me thy arm. Though thou hast lost thy hands
And livst as a poor exile in this light,
,Yet hast thou won the heart of Bajazeth.
18.Sp2Aga
Your grace’s words are very comfortable,
And well can Aga bear his grievous loss,
Since it was for so good a prince’s sake.
18.Sp3Selimus
Father, if I may call thee by that name,
Whose life I aimed at with rebellious sword,
In all humility thy reformèd son
thy reformèd sonOffers himself into your grace’s hands
And at your feet layeth his bloody sword,
Which he advanced against your majesty.
He lays down his sword.If my offence do seem so odious
That I deserve not longer time to live,
Behold, I open unto you my breast,
,Ready prepared to die at your command.
He bares his breast.But if repentance in an unfeignèd heart
heartAnd sorrow for my grievous crime forepassed
May merit pardon at your princely hands,
Behold where poor inglorious Selimus
SelimusUpon his knees begs pardon of your grace.
18.Sp4Bajazeth
Stand up, my son. I joy to hear thee speak
But more to hear thou art so well reclaimed.
Thy crime was ne’er so odious unto me,
But thy reformèd life and humble thoughts
Are thrice as pleasing to my agèd spirit.
pleasing to my agèd spirit.Selim, we here pronounce thee by our will
Chief general of the warlike Janissaries.
Go lead them out against false Acomat,
Which hath so grievously rebelled gainst me.
Spare him not, Selim. Though he be my son,
Yet do I now clean disinherit him
As common enemy to me and mine.
enemy to me and mine.18.Sp5Selimus
Exit Selimus with all the rest, save Bajazeth and Aga.
May Selim live to show how dutiful
And loving he will be to Bajazeth.
Aside So now doth Fortune smile on me again,
So now doth Fortune smile on me again,And in regard of former injuries,
former injuries,Offer to me millions of diadems.
millions of diadems.I smile to see how that the good old man
Thinks Selim’s thoughts are brought to such an ebb
As he hath cast off all ambitious hope.
But soon shall that opinion be removed,
For if I once get mongst the Janissars,
,Then on my head the golden crown shall sit.
Well, Bajazeth, I fear me thou wilt grieve,
That e’er thou didst thy feigning son believe.
18.Sp6Bajazeth
Now, Aga, all the thoughts that troubled me
Do rest within the center of my heart,
,And thou shalt shortly joy as much with me,
When Acomat by Selim’s consuming sword
Acomat by Selim’s consuming swordShall leese that ghost which made thee lose thy sight.
that ghost which made thee lose thy sight.18.Sp7Aga
Sound within. "Long live Selimus, Emperor of Turks!"
Enter MustaffaAh, Bajazeth, Aga looks not for revenge
But will pour out his prayers to the heavens
That Acomat may learn by Selimus
To yield himself up to his father’s grace.
..
18.Sp9Mustaffa
Enter Cali Bassa, Selimus, Hali Bassa, Sinam Bassa, and the
Janissaries.
Ah, gracious lord, the captains of the host
With one assent have crowned Prince Selimus,
,And here he comes with all the Janissaries
To crave his confirmation at thy hands.
18.Sp10Sinam Bassa
Bajazeth, we, the captains of thy host,
,Knowing thy weak and too unwieldy age
ageUnable is longer to govern us,
Have chosen Selimus, thy younger son,
son,That he may be our leader and our guide
Against the Sophy and his Persians,
,Gainst the victorious Soldan Tonombey.
.There wants but thy consent, which we will have
Or hew thy body piecemeal with our swords.
18.Sp11Bajazeth
Bajazeth sets it on his headNeeds must I give what is already gone.
He takes off his crown.Here, Selimus, thy father Bajazeth,
Wearied with cares that wait upon a king,
Resigns the crown as willingly to thee
As e’er my father gave it unto me.
..
18.Sp13Bajazeth
Exit Bajazeth and Aga.
Live thou a long and a victorious reign
And be triumpher of thine enemies.
Aga and I will to Dimoticum
And live in peace the remnant of our days.
18.Sp14Selimus for Abraham..
Now, sit I like the arm-strong son of Jove,
son of Jove,When, after he had all his monsters quelled,
,He was received in heaven ’mongst the gods
And had fair Hebe for his lovely bride.
for his lovely bride.As many labors Selimus hath had
And now at length attainèd to the crown.
to the crown.This is my Hebe, and this is my heaven.
is my Hebe, and this is my heaven.Bajazeth goeth to Dimoticum,
And there he purposes to live at ease,
But, Selimus, as long as he’s on earth,
on earth,Thou shalt not sleep in rest without some broil,
,For Bajazeth is unconstant as the wind.
To make that sure I have a platform laid:
sure I have a platform laid:Bajazet hath with him a cunning Jew,
Professing physic, and so skilled therein,
, and so skilled therein,As if he had pow’r over life and death.
Withal, a man so stout and resolute
, a man so stout and resoluteThat he will venture any thing for gold.
This Jew with some intoxicated drink
drinkShall poison Bajazeth and that blind lord;
Then one of Hydra’s heads is clean cut off.
is clean cut off.Go some and fetch here Abraham the Jew.
Exit one Abraham the Jew. for Abraham.Corcut, thy pageant next is to be played,
next is to be played,For though he be a grave philosopher,
Given to read Mahomet’s dreaded laws,
,And Razi’s toys, and Avicenna’s drugs,
, and Avicenna’s drugs,Yet he may have a longing for the crown.
Besides, he may by devilish necromancy
Procure my death or work my overthrow;
The devil still is ready to do harm.
still is ready to do harm.Hali, you and your brother presently
Shall with an army to Magnesia;
There you shall find the scholar at his book.
And hearest thou, Hali? Do strangle him.
Exeunt Hali Bassa and Cali Bassa. him.Corcut once dead, then Acomat remains,
Whose death will make me certain of the crown.
These heads of Hydra are the principal;
When these are off, some other will arise,
As Amurath and Aladin, sons to Acomat,
My sister Solyma, Mustaffa’s wife.
All these shall suffer shipwrack on a shelf,
on a shelf,Rather than Selim will be drowned himself.
Enter Abraham the Jew.Jew, thou art welcome unto Selimus.
I have a piece of service for you, sir,
But on your life be secret in the deed.
be secret in the deed.Get a strong poison, whose envenomed taste
May take away the life of Bajazeth
Before he pass forth of Byzantium.
18.Sp15Abraham
Exit Abraham.
I warrant you, my gracious sovereign,
He shall be quickly sent unto his grave,
For I have potions of so strong a force
That whosoever touches them shall die.
Speaks aside.And would your grace would once but taste of them,
I could as willingly afford them you,
,As to your agèd father Bajazeth.
agèd father Bajazeth.To SelimusMy lord, I am resolved to do the deed.
18.Sp16Selimus
Exeunt all.
So this is well: for I am none of those
That make a conscience for to kill a man.
for to kill a man.For nothing is more hurtful to a prince,
Than to be scrupulous and religious.
I like Lysander’s counsel passing well:
passing well:If that I cannot speed with lion’s force,
To clothe my complots in a fox’s skin.
in a fox’s skin.For th’only things that wrought our empiry
our empiryWere open wrongs and hidden treachery.
wrongs and hidden treachery.Oh, they’re two wings wherewith I use to fly
two wings wherewith I use to flyAnd soar above the common sort.
If any seek our wrongs to remedy,
With these I’ll make his meditation short,
his meditation short,And one of these shall still maintain my cause:
Or fox’s skin or lion’s rending paws.
lion’s rending paws.Scene 19
Enter Bajazeth and Aga in mourning cloaks, Abraham the Jew with a cup.
19.Sp1Bajazeth
Come, Aga, let us sit and mourn awhile,
,For Fortune never showed herself so cross
To any prince as to poor Bajazeth.
They sit.That woeful emperor, first of my name,
Whom the Tatarians locked in a cage
To be a spectacle to all the world,
Was ten times happier than I am now.
For Tamburlaine, the great scourge of nations,
of nations,Was he that pulled him from his kingdom so.
.But mine own sons expel me from the throne.
Ah, where shall I begin to make my moan?
Or what shall I first reckon in my plaint?
?From my youth up I have been drowned in woe,
And to my latest hour I shall be so.
You swelling seas of never-ceasing care,
Whose waves my weather-beaten ship do toss,
Your boisterous billows too unruly are
too unruly areAnd threaten still my ruin and my loss:
Like hugy mountains do your waters rear
mountains do your waters rearTheir lofty tops and my weak vessel cross.
Alas, at length allay your stormy strife
And cruel wrath; within me rage is rife.
.Or else my feeble bark cannot endure
Your flashing buffets and outragious blows.
and outragious blows.But while thy foamy flood doth it immure,
,It shall soon be wracked on sandy shallows.
Grief, my lead boatswain, stirreth nothing sure,
, stirreth nothing sure,But, without stars, gainst tide and wind he rows
, gainst tide and wind he rowsAnd cares not, though upon some rock we split,
A restless pilot for the charge unfit.
But out, alas, the god that vails the sea,
, alas, the god that vails the sea,And can alone this raging tempest stent,
,Will never blow a gentle gale of ease
But suffer my poor vessel to be rent.
.Then O, thou blind procurer of mischance
That stayst thyself upon a turning wheel,
thyself upon a turning wheel,Thy cruel hand, even when thou wilt, enhance
And pierce my poor heart with thy thrillant steel.
steel.19.Sp2Aga
Cease, Bajazeth. Now, it is Aga’s turn.
Rest thou awhile and gather up more tears,
The while poor Aga tells his tragedy.
poor Aga tells his tragedy.When first my mother brought me to the world,
,Some blazing comet rulèd in the sky,
in the sky,Portending miserable chance to me.
My parents were but men of poor estate,
,And happy yet had wretched Aga been,
If Bajazeth had not exalted him.
.Poor Aga, had it not been much more fair
T’have died among the cruel Persians
Than thus at home by barbarous tyranny
To live and never see the cheerful day
And to want hands wherewith to feel the way?
19.Sp3Bajazeth
Leave weeping, Aga. We have wept enough.
Now, Bajazeth will ban another while
another whileAnd utter curses to the concave sky,
Which may infect the regions of the air
And bring a general plague on all the world.
.Night, thou most ancient grandmother of all,
, thou most ancient grandmother of all,First made by Jove for rest and quiet sleep,
When cheerful day is gone from th’earth’s wide hall,
Henceforth thy mantle in black Lethe steep
in black Lethe steepAnd clothe the world in darkness infernal.
Suffer not once the joyful daylight peep,
But let thy pitchy steeds, ay, draw thy wain,
, ay, draw thy wain,And coal-black silence in the world still reign.
in the world still reign.Curse on my parents that first brought me up
And on the cradle wherein I was rocked.
Curse on the day when first I was created
The chief commander of all Asia.
Curse on my sons that drive me to this grief.
Curse on myself that can find no relief.
And curse on him, an everlasting curse,
That quenched those lamps of ever-burning light
And took away my Aga’s warlike hands.
And curse on all things under the wide sky.
Ah, Aga, I have cursed my stomach dry.
.19.Sp4AbrahamSteps forward.
I have a drink, my lords, of noble worth,
,Which soon will calm your stormy passions
And glad your hearts if so you please to taste it.
19.Sp8Abraham
He drinks.
Aside Faith, I am old as well as Bajazeth
Faith, I am old as well as BajazethAnd have not many months to live on earth;
I care not much to end my life with him.
He sits. to end my life with him.To Bajazeth and Aga Here’s to you, lordings, with a full carouse.
19.Sp9Bajazeth
Here, Aga, woeful Bajazeth drinks to thee.
Abraham, hold the cup to him while he drinks.
Bajazeth and Aga drink.19.Sp10Abraham
He dies.
Now know, old lords, that you have drunk your last:
This was a potion which I did prepare
To poison you, by Selimus’ instigation,
And now it is dispersèd through my bones,
And glad I am that such companions
Shall go with me down to Proserpina.
.19.Sp11Bajazeth
He dies.
Ah, wicked Jew. Ah, cursèd Selimus.
How have the Destins dealt with Bajazeth
dealt with BajazethThat none should cause my death but mine own son?
If Ismael and his warlike Persians
Piercèd my body with their iron spears,
,Or had the strong unconquered Tonombey
With his Egyptians took me prisoner
And sent me with his valiant Mamelukes
To be prey unto the crocodilus,
,It never would have grieved me half so much.
But welcome death, into whose calmy port
portMy sorrow-beaten soul joys to arrive.
And now farewell my disobedient sons,
Unnatural sons unworthy of that name.
Farewell, sweet life, and Aga now, farewell,
’Til we shall meet in the Elysian fields.
19.Sp12Aga
He diesWhat greater grief had mournful Priamus
Than that he lived to see his Hector die,
His city burnt down by revenging flames,
And poor Polites slain before his face?
?Aga, thy grief is matchable to his,
For I have lived to see my sovereign’s death,
Yet glad that I must breath my last with him.
breath my last with him.And now, farewell, sweet light, which my poor eyes
These twice six months never did it behold.
.Aga will follow noble Bajazeth
And beg a boon of lovely Proserpina,
of lovely Proserpina,That he and I may in the mournful fields
Still weep and wail our strange calamities.
Scene 20
Enter Bullithrumble the shepherd, running in haste and laughing
to himself.
20.Sp1Bullithrumble
Eats. While he is eating, enter Corcut and his PageHa, ha, ha! Married, quoth you? Marry, an Bullithrumble were to
begin the world again, I would set a tap abroach and
not live in daily fear of the breach of my wife’s ten
commandments. I’ll tell you what. I thought myself as
proper a fellow at wasters as any in all our village, and yet
when my wife begins to play club’s trump with me, I am fain to sing:
, an Bullithrumble were to
begin the world again, I would set a tap abroach and
not live in daily fear of the breach of my wife’s ten
commandments. I’ll tell you what. I thought myself as
proper a fellow at wasters as any in all our village, and yet
when my wife begins to play club’s trump with me, I am fain to sing:What hap had I to marry a shrew,
had I to marry a shrew,For she hath given me many a blow.
And how to please her, alas, I do not know.
From morn to even, her tongue ne’er lies.
, her tongue ne’er lies.Sometime she laughs; sometime she cries:
And I can scarce keep her talents fro my eyes.
fro my eyes.When from abroad I do come in,
Sir knave, she cries, where have you been?
, she cries, where have you been?Thus please, or displease, she lays it on my skin.
.Then do I crouch, then do I kneel,
And wish my cap were furred with steel
To bear the blows that my poor head doth feel.
But our Sir John, beshrew thy heart,
Sir John, beshrew thy heart,For thou hast joined us; we cannot part,
us; we cannot part,And I, poor fool, must ever bear the smart.
I’ll tell you what. This morning while I was making me ready, she came with a
holly wand and so blessed my shoulders that I was fain to run through a whole
alphabet of faces. Now at the last, seeing she was so cammock with me, I began to
swear all the criss-cross row over, beginning at great A, little a, til I came to
w, x, y, and snatching up my sheephook and my bottle and my bag, like a desperate
fellow, ran away. And here now I’ll sit down and eat my meat.
. This morning while I was making me ready, she came with a
holly wand and so blessed my shoulders that I was fain to run through a whole
alphabet of faces. Now at the last, seeing she was so cammock with me, I began to
swear all the criss-cross row over, beginning at great A, little a, til I came to
w, x, y, and snatching up my sheephook and my bottle and my bag, like a desperate
fellow, ran away. And here now I’ll sit down and eat my meat., disguised
like mourners.
20.Sp2Corcut
Bullithrumble spies them and puts up his meat.
O hateful hellish snake of Tartary
That feedest on the soul of noblest men,
Damned ambition, cause of all misery,
Why dost thou creep from out thy loathsome fen
And, with thy poison, animatest friends,
friends,Who gape and long, one for the other’s ends?
and long, one for the other’s ends?Selimus, couldst thou not content thy mind
With the possession of the sacred throne,
Which thou didst get by father’s death unkind,
Whose poisoned ghost before high God doth groan,
But thou must seek poor Corcut’s overthrow
That never injured thee so nor so?
?Old Hali’s sons with two great companies
with two great companiesOf barded horse were sent from Selimus
horse were sent from SelimusTo take me prisoner in Magnesia,
And death, I am sure, should have befell me,
,If they had once but set their eyes on me.
So thus disguisèd, my poor page and I
, my poor page and IFled fast to Smyrna, where in a dark cave
, where in a dark caveWe meant t’await th’arrival of some ship
That might transfrete us safely unto Rhodes.
us safely unto Rhodes.But see how Fortune crossed my enterprise.
my enterprise.Bostangi Bassa, Selim’s son-in-law,
son-in-law,Kept all the sea coasts with his brigantines,
all the sea coasts with his brigantines,That if we had but ventured on the sea,
I presently had been his prisoner.
These two days have we kept us in the cave,
Eating such herbs as the ground did afford.
And now through hunger are we both constrained,
Like fearful snakes, to creep out step by step
And see if we may get us any food.
And in good time, see, yonder sits a man,
, see, yonder sits a man,Spreading a hungry dinner on the grass.
dinner on the grass.20.Sp3Bullithrumble
These are some felonians that seek to rob me. Well, I’ll make
myself a good deal valianter than I am, indeed, and if they will needs creep into
kindred with me, I’ll betake me to my old occupation and run away.
that seek to rob me. Well, I’ll make
myself a good deal valianter than I am, indeed, and if they will needs creep into
kindred with me, I’ll betake me to my old occupation and run away.20.Sp5Bullithrumble
Good lord, sir, you are deceived. My name’s Master
Bullithrumble. Aside This is some cozening
conicatching crossbiter that would fain persuade me he knows me, and so under a
’tence of familiarity and acquaintance, uncle me of victuals.
. Aside This is some cozening
conicatching crossbiter that would fain persuade me he knows me, and so under a
’tence of familiarity and acquaintance, uncle me of victuals.20.Sp7Bullithrumble
My name, sir, oho lord yes, and if you will not believe me, I
will bring my godfathers and godmothers, and they shall swear it upon the
font-stone and upon the church book, too, where it is written. Aside Mass, I think he be some justice of peace,
ad quorum and omnium
populorum. How he famines me.To Corcut A Christian,
yes, marry am I, sir; yes, verily, and do believe: an it please you, I’ll go
forward in my catechism.
, and they shall swear it upon the
font-stone and upon the church book, too, where it is written. Aside Mass, I think he be some justice of peace,
ad quorum and omnium
populorum. How he famines me.To Corcut A Christian,
yes, marry am I, sir; yes, verily, and do believe: an it please you, I’ll go
forward in my catechism.20.Sp8Corcut
Then, Bullithrumble, by that blessèd Christ
And by the tomb where he was burièd,
By sovereign hope which thou conceiv’st in him,
hope which thou conceiv’st in him,Whom dead, as ever living thou adorest
20.Sp10Corcut
By all the joys thou hopst to have in heaven,
Give some meat to poor hunger-starvèd men.
20.Sp11Bullithrumble
Aside Oh, these are, as a man should say, beggars:
Now will I be as stately to them as if I were Maister Pigwiggen our constable.
To Corcut and Page Well, sirs, come before me. Tell me, if I
should entertain you, would you not steal?
Oh, these are, as a man should say, beggars:
Now will I be as stately to them as if I were Maister Pigwiggen our constable.
To Corcut and Page Well, sirs, come before me. Tell me, if I
should entertain you, would you not steal?20.Sp13Bullithrumble
A good, well nutrimented lad. Well, if you will keep my sheep
truly and honestly, keeping your hands from lying and slandering, and your tongues
from picking and stealing, you shall be Maister Bullithrumble’s servitures.
lad. Well, if you will keep my sheep
truly and honestly, keeping your hands from lying and slandering, and your tongues
from picking and stealing, you shall be Maister Bullithrumble’s servitures.20.Sp15Bullithrumble
Exeunt Corcut and Bullithrumble.
Then come on and follow me. We will have a hog’s cheek and a
dish of tripes, and a society of puddings, and to field: a society of puddings,
did you mark that well used metaphor? Another would have said a company of
puddings. If you dwell with me long, sirs, I shall make you as eloquent as our
parson himself.
, and a society of puddings, and to field: a society of puddings,
did you mark that well used metaphor? Another would have said a company of
puddings. If you dwell with me long, sirs, I shall make you as eloquent as our
parson himself.20.Sp16Page
Exit Page.
Now is the time when I may be enriched.
The brethren that were sent by Selimus
that were sent by SelimusTo take my lord Prince Corcut prisoner,
Finding him fled, proposèd large rewards
To them that could declare where he remains.
Faith, I’ll to them and get the portagues,
,Though by the bargain Corcut lose his head.
Scene 21
Enter Selimus, Sinam Bassa, the corses of Bajazeth and Aga with
funeral pomp, Mustaffa and the Janissaries.
21.Sp1Selimus the Temple of Mahomet.
Exeunt all.
Aside Why, thus must Selim blind his subjects’ eyes
Why, thus must Selim blind his subjects’ eyesAnd strain his own to weep for Bajazeth.
They will not dream I made of him away,
,When thus they see me with religious pomp
To celebrate his tomb-black mortuary.
.And though my heart, cast in an iron mold,
Cannot admit the smallest dram of grief,
of grief,Yet that I may be thought to love him well
I’ll mourn in show, though I rejoice indeed.
Selimus speaks to the corses.Thus after he hath five long ages lived,
The sacred Phoenix of Arabia
of ArabiaLoadeth his wings with precious perfumes
And, on the altar of the golden sun,
Offers himself a grateful sacrifice.
Long didst thou live triumphant, Bajazeth,
A fear unto thy greatest enemies,
And now that death, the conqueror of kings,
Dislodgèd hath thy never-dying soul
To flee unto the heavens from whence she came
And leave her frail, earth pavilion,
,Thy body, in this ancient monument,
,Where our great predecessors sleep in rest,
Bajazeth placed in the Temple of Mahomet.Thy woeful son Selimus thus doth place.
Thou wert the Phoenix of this age of ours
And didst thou die wrapped in the sweet perfumes
wrapped in the sweet perfumesOf thy magnific deeds, whose lasting praise
deeds, whose lasting praiseMounteth highest heaven with golden wings.
with golden wings.Princes, come bear your emperor company
, come bear your emperor companyIn, till the days of mourning be o’erpassed,
And then we mean to rouse false Acomat
And cast him forth of Macedonia.
.Scene 22
Enter Hali Bassa, Cali Bassa, Corcut’s Page, and one or two soldiers.
22.Sp1Page
My lords, if I bring you not where Corcut is, then let me be
hanged. But if I deliver him up into your hands, then let me have the reward due to so good a deed.
due to so good a deed.22.Sp2Hali Bassa
Enter Corcut and Bullithrumble.
Page, if thou show us where thy maister is,
Be sure thou shalt be honored for the deed
And high exalted above other men.
above other men.22.Sp4Corcut
The sweet content that country life affords
Passeth the royal pleasures of a king:
For there our joys are interlaced with fears,
our joys are interlaced with fears,But here no fear nor care is harborèd
But a sweet calm of a most quiet state.
Ah, Corcut, would thy brother Selimus
But let thee live, here shouldst thou spend thy life,
Feeding thy sheep among these grassy lands.
But sure I wonder where my page is
gone.
I wonder where my page is
gone.22.Sp7Hali Bassa
Hali, the governor of Magnesia.
.Poor prince, thou thoughtst in these disguisèd weeds
To mask unseen; and happily thou mightst,
But that thy page betrayèd thee to us.
And be not wrath with us, unhappy prince,
with us, unhappy prince,If we do what our sovereign commands.
’Tis for thy death that Selim sends for thee.
22.Sp8Corcut
Thus I, like poor Amphiaraus, sought
By hiding my estate in shepherd’s coat
T’escape the angry wrath of Selimus.
But as his wife false Eriphyle did
Betray his safety for a chain of gold,
So my false page hath vilely dealt with me.
Pray God that thou mayst prosper so as she.
.Hali, I know thou sorrowst for my case,
for my case,But it is bootless. Come and let us go.
Corcut is ready, since it must be so.
22.Sp12Bullithrumble
Exeunt all, but Bullithrumble stealing from them closelyWho I? Alas sir, I have a wife and seventeen cradles rocking,
two ploughs going, two barns filling, and a great herd of beasts feeding, and you
should utterly undo me to take me from such a great charge.
such a great charge.
away.
22.Sp14Bullithrumble
Exit, running awayThe more’s the pity. Go with you, quoth he. Marry, that had
been the way to preferment, down Holborn up Tyburn. Well, I’ll keep my best joint
from the strappado as well as I can. Hereafter, I’ll have no more servants.
. Go with you, quoth he. Marry, that had
been the way to preferment, down Holborn up Tyburn. Well, I’ll keep my best joint
from the strappado as well as I can. Hereafter, I’ll have no more servants..
Scene 23
Enter Selimus, Sinam Bassa, Mustaffa, and the Janissaries.23.Sp1Selimus
Sinam, we hear our brother Acomat
Is fled away from Macedonia
To ask for aid of Persian Ismael
And the Egyptian Soldan, our chief foes.
.23.Sp2Sinam Bassa
Herein, my lord, I like his enterprise,
For if they give him aid, as sure they will
Being your highness’ vowèd enemies,
You shall have just cause for to war on them
For giving succor gainst you to your foe.
gainst you to your foe.You know they are two mighty potentates
And may be hurtful neighbors to your grace,
And to enrich the Turkish diadem
With two so worthy kingdoms as they are
Would be eternal glory to your name.
23.Sp3Selimus Enter Cali Bassa and Hali Bassa with Corcut and his Page.
By heavens, Sinam, th’art a warrior
And worthy counselor unto a king.
Sound within. Enter Cali Bassa and Hali Bassa with Corcut and his Page.How now, what news?
23.Sp4Cali Bassa
My gracious lord, we here present to you
Your brother Corcut, whom in Smyrna coasts,
Feeding a flock of sheep upon a down,
of sheep upon a down,His traitorous page betrayèd to our hands.
23.Sp5Selimus
Thanks, ye bold brethren, but for that false part,
brethren, but for that false part,Let the vile page be famishèd to death.
23.Sp7Selimus
O sir, I love the fruit that treason brings,
But those that are the traitors, them I hate.
But Corcut, could not your philosophy
Keep you safe from my Janissaries’ hands?
We thought you had old Gyges’ wond’rous ring,
,That so you were invisible to us.
23.Sp8Corcut
Selim, thou deals unkindly with thy brother,
To seek my death and make a jest of me.
of me.Upbraidst thou me with my philosophy?
thou me with my philosophy?Why this I learned by studying learnèd arts:
That I can bear my fortune as it falls
And that I fear no whit thy cruelty,
thy cruelty,Since thou wilt deal no otherwise with me
with meThan thou hast dealt with agèd Bajazeth.
23.Sp12Corcut
Selimus strangles himThen, Selim, hear thy brother’s dying words,
And mark them well, for ere thou die thyself,
Thou shalt perceive all things will come to pass
That Corcut doth divine before his death.
before his death.Since my vain flight from fair Magnesia,
Selim, I have conversed with Christians
And learned of them the way to save my soul
And please the anger of the highest god.
the anger of the highest god.’Tis he that made this pure crystalline vault
Which hangeth over our unhappy heads,
From thence he doth behold each sinner’s fault.
And though our sins under our feet he treads
And for a while seems for to wink at us,
for to wink at us,But it is to recall us from our ways.
to recall us from our ways.But if we do, like headstrong sons, neglect
To hearken to our loving father’s voice,
to our loving father’s voice,Then in his anger will he us reject
And give us over to our wicked choice.
.Selim, before his dreadful majesty,
There lies a book written with bloody lines,
Where our offences all are registered,
all are registered,Which if we do not hastily repent,
We are reserved to lasting punishment.
Thou, wretched Selimus, hast greatest need
To ponder these things in thy secret thoughts,
If thou consider what strange massacres
And cruel murders thou hast caused to be done.
Think on the death of woeful Bajazeth.
Doth not his ghost still haunt thee for revenge?
Selim, in Chiurlu didst thou set upon
didst thou set uponOur agèd father in his sudden flight.
In Chiurlu shalt thou die a grievous death.
And if thou wilt not change thy greedy mind,
Thy soul shall be tormented in dark hell,
Where woe, and woe, and never-ceasing woe
Shall sound about thy ever-damnèd soul.
Now, Selim, I have spoken. Let me die.
I never will entreat thee for my life.
Selim, farewell. Thou God of Christians,
Receive my dying soul into thy hands.
.
23.Sp13Selimus
Exit Selimus, Sinam Bassa, and the Janissaries, all save
Mustaffa and a JanissaryWhat, is he dead? Then Selimus is safe
And hath no more corrivals in the crown.
in the crown.For as for Acomat, he soon shall see
His Persian aid cannot save him from me.
cannot save him from me.Now, Sinam, march to fair Amasya’s walls,
Where Acomat’s stout queen immures herself,
,And girt the city with a warlike siege.
the city with a warlike siege.For since her husband is my enemy,
I see no cause why she should be my friend.
They say young Amurath and Aladin,
Her bastard brood, are come to succor her.
brood, are come to succor her.But I’ll prevent this their officiousness
And send their souls down to their grandfather.
down to their grandfather.Mustaffa, you shall keep Byzantium,
Byzantium,While I and Sinam girt Amasya.
..
23.Sp14Mustaffa Amurath and Aladin..
It grieves my soul that Bajazeth’s fair line
that Bajazeth’s fair lineShould be eclipsèd thus by Selimus,
thus by Selimus,Whose cruel soul will never be at a rest
’Til none remain of Ottoman’s fair race
But he himself. Yet for old Bajazeth
old BajazethLoved Mustaffa dear unto his death,
unto his death,I will show mercy to his family.
Go, sirrah, post to Acomat’s young sons
, post to Acomat’s young sonsAnd bid them, as they mean to save their lives,
To fly in haste from fair Amasya,
,Lest cruel Selim do put them to the sword.
Exit one to to the sword. Amurath and Aladin.And now, Mustaffa, prepare thou thy neck,
For thou art next to die by Selim’s hands.
Stern Sinam Bassa grudgeth still at thee,
And crabbèd Hali stormeth at thy life.
Hali stormeth at thy life.All repine that thou art honorèd so
that thou art honorèd soTo be the brother of their emperor.
Enter Solyma..But wherefore comes my lovely Solyma?
23.Sp15Solyma
Mustaffa, I am come to seek thee out.
If ever thy distressèd Solyma
Found grace and favor in thy manly heart,
and favor in thy manly heart,Fly hence with me unto some desert land,
For if we tarry here we are but dead.
This night, when fair Lucinae’s shining wain
Was past the chair of bright Cassiopeia,
,A fearful vision appearèd to me.
appearèd to me.Methought, Mustaffa, I beheld thy neck,
So often folded in my loving arms,
In foul disgrace of bassa’s fair degree,
,With a vile halter basely compassèd.
basely compassèd.And while I poured my tears on thy dead corpse,
A greedy lion with wide gaping throat
Seized on my trembling body with his feet,
And in a moment rent me all to nought.
.Fly, sweet Mustaffa, or we be but dead.
23.Sp16Mustaffa
Exeunt.
Why should we fly, beauteous Solyma,
Moved by a vain and a fantastic dream?
and a fantastic dream?Or if we did fly, whither should we fly?
If to the farthest part of Asia,
Knowst thou not, Solyma, kings have long hands?
Come, come, my joy, return again with me,
And banish hence these melancholy thoughts.
Scene 24
Enter Aladin, Amurath, and a messenger.
24.Sp1Aladin
Messenger, is it true that Selimus
Is not far hence encampèd with his host?
And means he to disjoin the hapless sons
the hapless sonsFrom helping our distressèd mother’s town?
24.Sp2Messenger
’Tis true, my lord, and if you love your lives,
Fly from the bounds of his dominions.
of his dominions.For he, you know, is most unmerciful.
24.Sp3Amurath
Exeunt.
Here, messenger, take this for thy reward.
Exit messenger. for thy reward.But we, sweet Aladin, let us depart
Now in the quiet silence of the night,
That ere the windows of the morn be ope,
,We may be far enough from Selimus.
I’ll to Aegyptus.
.Scene 25
Enter Selimus, Sinam Bassa, Hali Bassa, Cali Bassa, and the Janissaries.25.Sp2Hali Bassa
Certain, my lord. I met the messenger
As he returnèd from young Aladin
And learned of him Mustaffa was the man
Mustaffa was the manThat certified the princes of your will.
the princes of your will.25.Sp3Selimus
It is enough. Mustaffa shall abye
At a dear price his pitiful intent.
intent.Hali, go fetch Mustaffa and his wife.
Exit Hali Bassa.For though she be sister to Selimus,
Yet loves she him better than Selimus,
better than Selimus,So that if he do die at our command,
And she should live, soon would she work a mean
To work revenge for her Mustaffa’s death.
Enter Hali Bassa, Mustaffa, and Solyma.False of thy faith and traitor to thy king,
Did we so highly always honor thee,
And dost thou thus requite our love with treason?
For why shouldst thou send to young Aladin
And Amurath, the sons of Acomat,
To give them notice of our secrecies,
,Knowing they were my vowèd enemies?
25.Sp4Mustaffa
I do not seek to lessen my offence,
my offence,Great Selimus, but truly do protest
I did it not for hatred of your grace,
So help me God and holy Mahomet,
,But for I grieved to see the famous stock
I grieved to see the famous stockOf worthy Bajazeth fall to decay;
Therefore, I sent the princes both away.
Your highness knows Mustaffa was the man
That saved you in the battle of Chiurlu,
When I and all the warlike Janissaries
Had hedged your person in a dangerous ring.
your person in a dangerous ring.Yet I took pity on your danger there
thereAnd made a way for you to ’scape by flight.
by flight.But those your bassas have incensèd you,
Repining at Mustaffa’s dignity.
.Stern Sinam grinds his angry teeth at me.
Old Hali’s sons do bend their brows at me
do bend their brows at meAnd are aggrievèd that Mustaffa hath
Showèd himself a better man than they.
And yet the Janissars do mourn for me;
for me;They know Mustaffa never provèd false.
Ay, I have been as true to Selimus
As ever subject to his sovereign,
to his sovereign,So help me God and holy Mahomet.
25.Sp5Selimus
You did it not because you hated us
But for you loved the sons of Acomat.
Sinam, I charge thee, quickly strangle him;
He loves not me that loves mine enemies.
As for your holy protestation,
,It cannot enter into Selim’s ears:
For why, Mustaffa? Every merchantman
Will praise his own ware, be it ne’er so bad.
, be it ne’er so bad.25.Sp6Solyma
For Solyma’s sake, mighty Selimus,
Spare my Mustaffa’s life, and let me die.
Or if thou wilt not be so gracious,
,Yet let me die before I see his death.
25.Sp7Selimus
Sinam Bassa strangles Mustaffa.
Nay Solyma, yourself shall also die
Because you may be in the selfsame fault.
fault.Why stayst thou, Sinam? Strangle him I say.
25.Sp8Solyma
Ah, Selimus, he made thee emperor,
,And wilt thou thus requite his benefits?
?Thou art a cruel tiger and no man
That couldst endure to see before thy face
So brave a man as my Mustaffa was
Cruelly strangled for so small a fault.
25.Sp9Selimus
ExeuntThou shalt not after live him, Solyma.
him, Solyma.’Twere pity thou shouldst want the company
Of thy dear husband. Sinam, strangle her.
Sinam Bassa strangles Solyma.. Sinam, strangle her.And now to fair Amasya let us march.
Acomat’s wife and her unmanly host
hostWill not be able to endure our sight,
Much less make strong resistance in hard fight.
.
Scene 26
Enter Acomat, Tonombey, Visir, Regan, and their soldiers.26.Sp1Acomat
Welcome, my lords, into my native soil.
my native soil.The crown whereof by right is due to me,
is due to me,Though Selim, by the Janissaries’ choice
Through usurpation, keeps the same from me.
You know, contrary to my father’s mind,
He was enthronized by the bassas’ will
by the bassas’ willAnd, after his installing, wickedly
By poison made good Bajazeth to die,
,And strangled Corcut, and exiled me.
, and exiled me.These injuries we come for to revenge
And raise his siege from fair Amasya’s walls.
his siege from fair Amasya’s walls.26.Sp2Tonombey
Prince of Amasya and the rightful heir
Unto the mighty Turkish diadem,
With willing heart great Tonombey hath left
Egyptian Nilus and my father’s court
and my father’s courtTo aid thee in thy undertaken war.
And by the great Usumcasane’s ghost,
’s ghost,Companion unto mighty Tamburlaine,
From whom my father lineally descends,
,Fortune shall show herself too cross to me,
herself too cross to me,But we will thrust Selimus from his throne
And revest Acomat in the empiry.
Acomat in the empiry.26.Sp3Acomat
Exeunt all.
Thanks to the uncontrollèd Tonombey.
uncontrollèd Tonombey.But let us haste us to Amasya
To succor my besiegèd citizens.
None but my queen is overseer there,
And too too weak is all her policy
Against so great a foe as Selimus.
Scene 27
Enter Selimus, Sinam Bassa, Hali Bassa, Cali Bassa, and the Janissaries. A parley: Enter the Queen of Amasya and her soldiers on the walls.
27.Sp2Queen
What cravest thou, bloodthirsty parricide?
?Is’t not enough that thou hast foully slain
Thy loving father, noble Bajazeth,
And strangled Corcut thine unhappy brother,
Slain brave Mustaffa and fair Solyma
Because they favored my unhappy sons,
But thou must yet seek for more massacres?
Go, wash thy guilty hands in lukewarm blood.
.Enrich thy soldiers with your robberies.
.Yet do the heavens still bear an equal eye,
eye,And vengeance follows thee, even at the heels.
27.Sp4Queen
First shall the overflowing Euripus
Of swift Euboea stop his restless course
stop his restless courseAnd Phoeb’s bright globe bring the day from the west
bright globe bring the day from the westAnd quench his hot flames in the Eastern sea.
.Thy bloody sword, ungracious Selimus,
Selimus,Sheathed in the bowels of all thy dearest friends,
Thy wicked guard which still attends on thee,
Fleshing themselves in murder, lust, and rape,
themselves in murder, lust, and rape,What hope of favor? What security?
?Rather, what death do they not promise me?
do they not promise me?Then think not, Selimus, that we will yield,
But look for strong resistance at our hands.
27.Sp5Selimus
Alarum. Selimus beats them off the walls.
Alarum. Exeunt.Why then, you never daunted Janissaries,
Advance your shields and uncontrollèd spears,
Your conquering hands in foemen’s blood embay,
For Selimus himself will lead the way.
Scene 28
Enter Selimus, Sinam Bassa, Hali Bassa, Cali Bassa, and the Janissaries, with Acomat’s Queen prisoner.28.Sp1Selimus
Now, sturdy dame, where are your men of war
dame, where are your men of warTo guard your person from my angry sword?
What? Though you braved us on your city walls,
us on your city walls,Like to that Amazonian Melanippe,
Leaving the banks of swift-streamed Thermodon
To challenge combat with great Hercules,
,Yet Selimus hath plucked your haughty plumes.
.Nor can your spouse, rebellious Acomat,
Nor Aladin or Amurath, your sons,
Deliver you from our victorious hands.
28.Sp2Queen
Selim, I scorn thy threatnings as thyself.
And though ill hap hath given me to thy hands,
Yet will I never beg my life of thee.
Fortune may chance to frown as much on thee.
And Acomat, whom thou dost scorn so much,
May take thy base Tatarian concubine
thy base Tatarian concubineAs well as thou hast took his loyal queen.
Thou hast not Fortune tièd in a chain,
,Nor dost thou, like a wary pilot, sit
, sitAnd wisely steer this all-containing barge.
this all-containing barge.Thou art a man as those whom thou hast slain,
And some of them were better far than thou.
28.Sp3Selimus
Exeunt all.
Strangle her, Hali. Let her scold no more.
Hali Bassa strangles her. no more.Now let us march to meet with Acomat.
He brings with him that great Egyptian bug,
,Strong Tonombey, Usumcasane’s son.
son.But we shall soon with our fine-tempered swords
swordsEngrave our prowess on their burgonets,
,Were they as mighty and as fell of force
of forceAs those old earth-bred brethren, which once
, which onceHeaped hill on hill to scale the starry sky,
,When Briareus, armed with a hundred hands,
, armed with a hundred hands,Flung forth a hundred mountains at great Jove,
And when the monstrous giant Monichus
Hurled mount Olympus at great Mars his targe
And darted cedars at Minerva’s shield.
cedars at Minerva’s shield.Scene 29
Alarum. Enter Selimus, Sinam Bassa, Cali Bassa, Hali Bassa, and the Janissaries at one door, and Acomat, Tonombey, Regan, Visir, and their soldiers at another.29.Sp1Selimus
What, are the urchins crept out of their dens,
crept out of their dens,Under the conduct of this porcupine?
?Dost thou not tremble, Acomat, at us,
To see how courage masketh in our looks
And white-winged Victory sits on our swords?
Victory sits on our swords?Captain of Egypt, thou that vauntst thyself
, thou that vauntst thyselfSprung from great Tamburlaine the Scythian thief,
,Who bade thee enterprise this bold attempt,
this bold attempt,To set thy feet within the Turkish confines
Or lift thy hands against our majesty?
29.Sp2Acomat
Brother of Trebisond, your squarèd words
, your squarèd wordsAnd broad-mouthed terms can never conquer us.
terms can never conquer us.We come resolved to pull the Turkish crown,
Which thou dost wrongfully detain from me,
from me,By conquering sword from off thy coward crest.
.29.Sp4Tonombey
Should he accept the combat of a boy,
Whose unripe years and far unriper wit,
years and far unriper wit,Like to the bold, foolhardy Phaeton
That sought to rule the chariot of the sun,
to rule the chariot of the sun,Hath moved thee t’undertake an empiry?
an empiry?29.Sp5Selimus
Alarum. Tonombey beats Hali Bassa and Cali Bassa in.
Selimus beats Tonombey in. Alarum. Reenter Tonombey. Exeunt all but Tonombey.Thou that resolv’st in peremptory terms
in peremptory termsTo call him boy that scorns to cope with thee.
thee.But thou canst better use thy bragging blade
bladeThan thou canst thy overflowing tongue.
tongue.Soon shalt thou know that Selim’s mighty arm
Is able to overthrow poor Tonombey.
29.Sp6Tonombey
Exit Tonombey.
The field is lost, and Acomat is taken.
Ah, Tonombey, how canst thou show thy face
To thy victorious sire thus conquerèd.
thus conquerèd.A matchless knight is warlike Selimus,
And, like a shepherd mongst a swarm of gnats,
Dings down the flying Persians with their swords.
down the flying Persians with their swords.Twice I encountered with him hand to hand
And twice returnèd foilèd and ashamed.
For never yet since I could manage arms
Could any match with mighty Tonombey,
But this heroic emperor Selimus.
Why stand I still and rather do not fly
The great occision which the victors make?
which the victors make?Scene 30
Alarum. Enter Selimus, Sinam Bassa with Acomat prisoner,
Hali Bassa, Cali Bassa, and the Janissaries.
30.Sp1Selimus
Thus, when the coward Greeks fled to their ships,
The noble Hector, all besmeared in blood,
Returned in triumph to the walls of Troy.
.A gallant trophy, bassas, have we won,
trophy, bassas, have we won,Beating the never-foilèd Tonombey
TonombeyAnd hewing passage through the Persians,
As when a lion, raving for his prey,
for his prey,Falleth upon a drove of hornèd bulls
of hornèd bullsAnd rends them strongly in his kingly paws.
Or Mars, armed in his adamantine coat,
coat,Mounted upon his fiery shining wain,
,Scatters the troops of warlike Thracians
And warms cold Hebros with hot streams of blood.
.Brave Sinam, for thy noble prisoner,
Thou shalt be general of my Janissaries
And Beylerbey of fair Natolia.
.Now Acomat, thou monster of the world,
Why stoopst thou not with rev’rence to thy king?
to thy king?30.Sp2Acomat
Selim, if thou have gotten victory,
Then use it to thy contentation.
.If I had conquered, know assuredly
I would have said as much and more to thee.
Know I disdain them as I do thyself
as I do thyselfAnd scorn to stoop or bend my lordly knee
To such a tyrant as is Selimus.
Thou slewst my queen without regard or care
Of love or duty or thine own good name.
.Then, Selim, take that which thy hap doth give;
Disgraced, displaced, I longer loath to live.
30.Sp3Selimus
Exeunt.
Then, Sinam, strangle him. Sinam Bassa Strangles Acomat. Now he is dead,
Now he is dead,Who doth remain to trouble Selimus?
Now am I king alone and none but I.
For since my father’s death until this time
I never wanted some competitors.
some competitors.Now, as the weary wandering traveler
That hath his steps guided through many lands,
Through boiling soil of Africa and Ind,
,When he returns unto his native home
Sits down among his friends and with delight
Declares the travels he hath overpassed,
So mayst thou, Selimus, for thou hast trod
The monster-garden paths that lead to crowns.
paths that lead to crowns.Ha, ha. I smile to think how Selimus,
Like the Egyptian ibis, hath expelled
Those swarming armies of swift-wingèd snakes
That sought to overrun my territories.
.When sweltring heat the earth’s green children spoils,
heat the earth’s green children spoils,From forth the fens of venemous Africa
The generation of those flying snakes
Do band themselves in troops and take their way
themselves in troops and take their wayTo Nilus’ bounds: but those industrious birds,
Those ibises, meet them in set array
And eat them up like to a swarm of gnats,
Preventing such a mischief from the land.
But see how unkind nature deals with them:
:From out their eggs rises the basilisk,
,Whose only sight kills millions of men.
When Acomat lifted ungracious hands
Against my agèd father Bajazeth,
They sent for me, and I, like Egypt’s bird,
Have rid that monster and his fellow mates.
that monster and his fellow mates.But as from ibis springs the basilisk,
Whose only touch burneth up stones and trees,
So Selimus hath proved a cockatrice
And clean consumèd all the family
all the familyOf noble Ottoman, except himself.
And now to you, my neighbor emperors,
,That durst lend aid to Selim’s enemies,
Sinam, those soldans of the Orient,
Egypt and Persia, Selimus will quell,
,Or he himself will sink to lowest hell.
.This winter will we rest and breathe ourselves.
But soon as Zephyrus’ sweet-smelling blast
’ sweet-smelling blastShall greatly creep over the flow’ry meads,
creep over the flow’ry meads,We’ll have a fling at the Egyptian crown
at the Egyptian crownAnd join it unto ours, or lose our own.
Epilogue
Enter Conclusion.
Epi.Sp1Conclusion
Exit Conclusion.
Thus have we brought victorious Selimus
Unto the crown of great Arabia.
.Next shall you see him with triumphant sword
shall you see him with triumphant swordDividing kingdoms into equal shares,
Giving them to his warlike followers.
them to his warlike followers.If this first part, Gentles, do like you well,
,The second part shall greater murders tell.
Annotations
Prologue
Speaking Prologue characters can be found in a number of plays from the period.
See, for example, the beginning of The True Tragedy of Richard III and David and Bethsabe.
No … reward.
These fourteen lines constitute a sonnet rhymed ababbcbcdedeff, like the prologue
in Romeo and Juliet.
No … view
Compare with the prologue in The Three Ladies of London and in 1 Tamburlaine:
From iygging vaines of riming mother wits, / And such conceits as clownage keepes in pay, / Weele lead you to the stately tent of War(A3r).
last age
the early sixteenth century
character
imprint, reproduce
implacable
not appeasable
obstant lets
opposing barriers
Bajazeth
Bajazethrefers to the historical Bayezid II, Ottoman Emperor ruling from 1481 to 1512. He was the eldest son of Mehmed II.
The form here of
Bajazeth,as opposed to
Bajazetin other modern editions, is taken from Marlowe’s Tamburlaine plays, first published by Richard Jones in 1590.
Janissaries
The first standing army in Europe, the Janissaries were elite infantry troops conscripted
to serve the household of the Ottoman Emperor. Established in the mid 14th century,
they were a formidable force, often wielding significant political power.
Exeunt all but Bajazeth
As McMillin and MacLean point out, the exit of such a large group immediately after
its entrance underscores the symbolic importance of this procession.
So … are.
These lines are organized into a sestain stanza rhyming ababcc.
So … breast
Compare to Shute where Bajazeth’s ruminations are mainly sparked by premonitions of
his own mortality (N1v).
unrip
open, unseal
descry
describe
Why … evermore.
These lines are the first instance in the play of ottava rima (abababacc), a verse
stanza form associated in England with the epic poetry of Boccaccio, Ariosto, and
Tasso.
The rest of Bajazeth’s speech (Sc1 Sp2) along with much of the rest of the scene is divided into this heightened language.
scruple
doubt, hesitation
make extent
make an assessment (as property)
northern bears
the northern constellations of Ursa Major and Ursa Minor
bark
small sailing vessel
He knows … thing.
In 1600, the booksellers Nicholas Ling, Cuthbert Burby, and Thomas Hayes published
an octavo edition of Robert Allott’s England’s Parnassus, an extensive collection of quotations from the drama and poetry of the time. This
and five other passages are taken from Selimus; each is ascribed to Robert Greene.
Compare with the version of these lines in England’s Parnassus:
He knowes not what it is to be a King, / That thinkes a Scepter is a pleasant thing(L7r).
Latona’s son
Apollo, son of Jupiter (Zeus) and god of the sun. His mother, Latona, is goddess of
the moon.
Bajazeth has been Ottoman Emperor for thirty years.
Compare with 1 Tamburlaine:
Or as Latonas daughter bent to armes, / Adding more courage to my conquering mind(F2r).
Twice fifteen … Since I began
It has been 30 years since I became emperor.
It is 1511. Bayezid II became Ottoman emperor in May 1481.
Cynthia
Greek personifying name for the moon goddess
adamant
incredibly hard rock
The Persian Sophy, mighty Ismael
A title for the supreme ruler of Persia.
The next seven lines closely follow Ashton F7v-8v.
Mighty Ismaelrefers to the Persian Emperor Ismael Safi, ruler of what was a new, eponymous Safavid state, who rose to power at the end of the fifteenth century as a teenager and ruled until 1524.
Ismael was an active supporter of the minority Shia branch of Islam in opposition
to the Ottoman’s Sunni branch. Historically, Bayezid II had sympathy with Ismael’s
more mystical brand of Islam, even while Selim waged constant battles with Ismael
from his adjoining province of Trabzon (i.e. Trebisond). According to Çipa, these
campaigns made Selim a hero among the common people and soldiers alike (Çipa 36–37). At the same time, Ahmed (i.e. Acomat in the play) saw Selim’s actions as insubordination
in the face of his more nonconfrontational father, and he used these to gradually
turn Bayezid II against Selim.
Did take the Levant clean away from me
The Levant is a region of the Eastern Mediterranean that today together consists of
Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, and Palestine.
Bajazeth here alludes to the early-sixteenth-century rise of Ismael as leader of the
new Safavid state.
Ashton describes Ismael’s early successful military encroachments upon the Levant
beginning in a short section dedicated to Ismael (Ashton H8v-I1r).
Did take
Metrically, the addition of
Didregularizes the pentameter line.
Caraguis Bassa
Caraguis Bassa here refers to Goragnes Bassa, the Ottoman commander and governor of
Karaman, a city in south central Turkey.
It is from Ashton that the play derives Bajazeth’s description of Ismael’s defeat
and execution of Caraguis Bassa (Ashton G3r-v).
Hali Bassa
Hali Bassa here refers to the Turkish statesman and commander Hadim Ali Pasha; he
is the father of the play’s Hali Bassa.
Hadim Ali Pasha was a strong supporter of Ahmed, and he died in 1511 while leading
a force against a Shia uprising inspired by Ismael’s religious teachings.
Charactering
stamping
Ramirchan
Vitkus (144) has suggested that Ramirchan might refer to Ramazan-oghlu, a Turkoman leader.
hapless
unlucky
and there … slain
This account of the death of Bayezid II’s eldest son is neither in Ashton, Shute,
nor Whetstone. As it contains over a dozen references to Alemshae and his fate, the
play may possibly be drawing from another unknown source.
Well … grave
The equation of death with rest is very much a Senecan sentiment. The play regularly
shows the influence of Seneca both in its philosophizing about politics and violence
and in the affective registers of its main characters. See, for example, Sc8 Sp5, Sc14 Sp7, Sc16 Sp3, and Sc19 Sp3 below.
The Christian … peace
Bayezid II signed a peace treaty with the Hungarians in 1495, this after losing campaigns
and territory in Belgrade, Transylvania, and Croatia (Riad 95). He also suffered setbacks against Venetian forces during his sultanship.
As Dimmock has pointed out (Dimmock 171), though, Bajazeth’s lament about his losses to Christian forces is greatly overstated
here.
assays
trials
victorious father
Mehmet II (i.e.
Mehmet the Conqueror) who ruled from 1444 to 1446 and then from 1451 to 1481.
Throughout his reigns, Mehmet II led a series of successful campaigns against Christian
forces, including the defeat of Byzantium (then renamed
Istanbul) and the Byzantine Empire in 1453.
garrisons
body of soldiers positioned for defensive purposes
die
singular form of dice
Corcut … laws
These descriptions of Corcut and Acomat closely follow Ashton G5r-v, I4v-I5r. In Shute, Ahmed is described as
a man of no trauayle nor vnderstandinge of the warres(Ashton O2v).
Historically, Korkud (i.e. Corcut in the play) was in fact an active Ottoman general
like his brothers, leading a number of military campaigns for his father.
Selim
Metrically, the shortened form of the name is preferable.
Magnesia
southeastern area of the Thessaly region in central Greece
Mahound’s
Mahomet’s (Muhammed’s).
Mahound’s dreaded lawsrefers to the strictly observed religious beliefs and practices of Islam.
Acomat … pause
Historically, Ahmed was in fact an active general like his brothers, leading a number
of military campaigns before turning against his father.
Compare with Ashton which describes Acomat as
delighting more in ease & pleasure then in battaill(Ashton G5r).
For I … Acomat
In 1510, Bayezid II planned to abdicate in favor of Ahmed.
The Janissaries … smart
In Ashton, the Janissaries recoil from the
quiet kynde of lyfe of Selimus’s brothers(Ashton G5v); whereas in Shute, Selimus actively wins the Janissaries over with
liberalitie and actiuitie(Shute N2v).
Then … crown
Compare with The True Tragedy of Richard III:
Or ile make them hop without their crownes that denies me(B4r).
bassas
Turkish officers of high rank, as military commanders or provincial governors (OED n.1). Variously rendered as
bashawsor pashas.
law of nature
love of family
peers
Members of a rank of hereditary nobility (OED n.4).
This is not a term used to describe the Ottoman elite and thus, like the play’s use
of
seigniory,betrays a particularly English perspective on the play’s social hierarchy.
tenebrious
dark
holt
hold, as in the interior cavity of a ship of vessel
occident
the west
steeds
horses pulling the chariot of the sun, as often represented in Greek and Roman mythology
against Persians’ tent
the forces of Ismael, the Persian Sophy
his
Ismael’s, the Persian Sophy
ruinate
destroy, reduce to ruins
great Nero’s fen
low lying swampy area surrounding Rome, here being associated with the Roman Emperor
Nero
that first nourished them.
It was proverbial that new-born snakes consumed their own mother after birth. Bajazeth
frequently effeminizes himself in the play. It is ironic that he identifies himself
here with the despot Nero.
eld
old age
’gins to prick
begins to spur on
Soldan
supreme ruler of a Muslim state, often spelled
sultan
great Trebisond
Trabzon, an empire running along the southeastern coast of the Black Sea.
Historically, Bayezid II appointed Selimus governor of this distant province in 1487.
The great distance between Trabzon and Istanbul strongly suggests that Bayezid II
was trying to keep Selim from obtaining the Ottoman emperorship after he died.
In 2 Tamburlaine, the
King of Trebizonis a supporter of Callapine against Tamburlaine.
Tatary
An exonym for a region comprised of land that includes parts of what is now known
as Siberia and northeastern China.
Ashton recounts Selimus marrying the daughter of the Tatar king (Ashton G3v-G4r).
Selim’s
Metrically, the shortened form
Selim'sregularizes the pentameter line.
To which
Metrically, the shortened
To whichregularizes the pentameter line.
luckless messenger
a messenger not bringing luck
Does Selim … of Tatary?
Both Ashton and Whetstone mention this marriage (Ashton G4r, Whetstone E6r).
besprent
besprinkle, connoting wastefulness (OED
besprent, v.)
misconsters
misreads
reaches
ploys
Perhaps, my lord, Selimus
It makes more sense that Mustaffa is addressing Bajazeth here with
my lordthan calling Selimus his
lord.
prologue
beginning
meditated
calculated
plaudity
approval
unacquainted
with whom Bajazeth is unaquainted
Now, Selimus, consider who thou art:
As pointed out by many commentators, this long Machiavellian monologue and Selimus’s
comments to his followers thereafter are reminiscent of a number of speeches in other
professional plays of the period.
Compare with Richard III’s opening soliloquy in Richard III, the Prologue in The Jew of Malta, and Tamburlaine’s
sweet fruition of an earthly crownspeech in 1 Tamburlaine B5v. In Shute, the machinations of Selimus come later, directly inspired by Acomat visiting with Bajazeth (Shute N2r).
Aside
This is the first of many unmarked asides in the play. Here, Selimus is directing
this long speech to himself. As McMillin and MacLean point out, the large processional
entrance here (
and the soldiers) is used to signify Selimus’s power at this point. That the entrance is immediately followed by an aside underscores its symbolic importance.
Selimus … thy desire
Compare with Doctor Faustus’s opening soliloquy in Doctor Faustus, Barabas’s opening soliloquy in The Jew of Malta, the Guise’s soliloquy at the end of the second scene in The Massacre at Paris, and Richard III’s opening soliloquy in Richard III. Each of these long speeches launches the arc of a dominant and destructive tragic
hero.
Think … merit.
These lines constitute the first instance in the play of rhyme royal (ababbcc). The
rest of Selimus’s speech (Sc2 Sp1) is divided into stanzas of this rhyme scheme.
to thee there is no worse reproach
there is no worse reproof to be directed at him
Mahound’s laws
Muhammad’s laws, the tenets of Islam
be locked up in their case
Selimus here imagines that a copy (or copies) of the Quran can be locked up, presumably either by a binding clasp or in a trunk or a press (i.e.
cupboard).
Ophir
an area referenced by the Old Testament as renowned for its gold
my forward mind
reck not of
do not worry or care about
And … catch overgone
Occasion was sometimes personified as a woman with a lock of hair hanging down from
the front of her forehead while otherwise bald; in order to catch her by the hair,
you needed to act quickly before she passed you by (Vitkus 69).
that virtue … mold.
Selimus is reminded that some see virtue as being like a mirror by which one can both
see one’s failings and fashion one’s self virtuously within it along the lines of
ancientwisdom.
Perhaps you think … prattling shade.
After
digging deep with learning’s wonder-working spade,Selimus’s imagined interlocutor now rests with him (the
grave wizard) and
prattles(talks foolishly or gossips) in the shadows.
forsooth
truly
Avaunt
an order to leave, here to leave such virtue-seeking
glassesbehind
seigniory
Lordship.
This is a term often associated with feudalism and thus not one usually applied to
the Ottoman empire.
Faith
In faith, truly
bookish ordinance
an authoritative moral decree derived from books
without far-fetched cicumstance
Without hollow excuses.
An almost identical version of the following lines (76–138) appeared in two 1603 manuscripts
entitled
Certaine hellish verses devysed by that Atheist and traitor Ralegh.They were likely recorded around the same time as Sir Walter Ralegh’s arrest for treason in July.
Some have argued that these lines were derived from an original, now-lost poem by
Ralegh, others that they were derived from the play and falsely attributed to Ralegh.
Selimus’s articulation of a Golden Age myth here has been connected with similar passages
in Hesiod’s Works and Days and to Ovid’s Metamorphoses.
circled round, this building fair
Earth.
Also,
circled roundconnotes an amphitheatre playhouse.
And everyone his life in peace did pass.
This line is missing from the
hellish versesof 1603.
There needed them in awe.
These lines have been condensed to
they neided then nothing of whom to stand in awein the
hellish versesof 1603.
unknown armor
armor that was not yet known (a new phenomenon)
Ninus
Ninus is the mythical inventor of warfare as well as the founder of Nineveh (a city
in Iraq near Mosul) and the Babylonian Empire.
Then they … bloody fights.
These lines are missing from the
hellish versesof 1603. In their stead are
and with a common muttering discontent / gave that to tyme which tyme cannot prevent(Jacquot 1).
vulgar
common people
gan
began
were just mere
Metrically, the addition of
justregularizes the pentameter line.
bauble
a small ornament of little value
like
Though the meaning of Q1’s
loueis here preferable, the
likeof the
hellish versesrhymes with
likeand
strike,thus regularizing the rhyme scheme of the rhyme royal.
others
Selimus is thinking of a plurality here.
parricides
children who kill their fathers
void
deserted
No more than him that dies in doing right.
This line is missing from the
hellish versesof 1603.
gout
A very painful form of arthritis.
In Ashton, Bajazeth is described as
olde and unweldy, yea and gowtye also(Ashton G2r).
unmanurèd wit
uncultivated mind
To draw out time, an unlooked for mutation.
Garbled syntax here. Either this line translates to
To draw out time because of an unlooked for mutationor
To draw out time so long that an unlooked for mutation occurs.
kiss his hands
Ashton also has Selimus asking to kiss his father’s hand (Ashton G4v); in Shute, however, Selimus ends up kissing Bajazeth’s feet (Shute N2r).
seigniory
The territory under the dominion of a lord (OED n.3).
See Sc1 Sp3 n. Similarly, Ashton has Selim at this point assuring Bayezid II that he only comes
with an army to request that he be given territories closer to
the enemyes of Mahometans fayth(Ashton G4r).
period
time of negotiation with Bajazeth
venture
risk
I’d dart … ground.
Selimus promises to unleash his armies as so many lightning strikes. Compare with
Locrine:
How brauely this yoong Brittain, Albanact, / Darteth abroad the thunderbolts of warre, / Beating downe millions with his furious mood(Anonymous D4v).
heartless
cowardly
Sisyphus
King of Corinth who was punished by Zeus in Hades by forever having to push a boulder
(
stone) up a steep hill. At the top, it rolled back to the bottom, forcing him to roll it up again.
Ixion’s
Greek King who was punished by Zeus by being attached to a fiery wheel that was forever
rolling.
Like devils’ faces scored on painted posts
Scored: drawn or carved.
Painted devils could still be found within medieval churches, even after the Reformation.
Or feignèd circles in our astrolabes
Astrolabes were portable instruments used for making astronomical measurements (OED n.).
Selimus may be suggesting here that the heavenly spheres (
circles) that astrolabes measured were imaginary.
But go we … attire.
This is an example of what McMillan and MacLean describe as the Queen’s Men’s dramaturgical
strategy of
narrative overdetermination,Selimus here predicting the action of a scene to come.
Enter Bajazeth, Mustaffa, Cherseoli, Occhiali, and the Janissaries.
This scene takes place within the town of Andrianople in Northwest Turkey. See Sc3 Sp4 n.
Even as … with me:
Crocodiles were long thought to use tears and baby-like cries to draw in their prey.
This is one of a number of epic similes (or extended metaphors) to be found in the
play.
The prevalence of such figurative language is reminiscent of David and Bethsabe. While Selimus is most often compared with the two Tamburlaine plays, the play has much in common
with Peele’s biblical drama where Absalom, like Selimus and Acomat, rises up against
his own father King David. Most commentators believe that Peele’s play was written
a year or two before Selimus.
Wanting
lacking
His haughty … to majesty.
Compare with Orlando Furioso:
A Scepter then comes tumbling in my thoughts. / My dreames are Princely, all of Diademes(Greene B3v).
diadems
crowns
the Phoenix
The phoenix was a mythological bird associated with the worship of the sun that, after
living 500 years (five ages), collected aromatic plants and perfumes for its nest.
It then burst into flames at its death and was reborn from its own ashes.
In one tradition, it was reborn from its own ashes after its corpse was laid on a
sun altar by Egyptian priests. Compare with England’s Parnassus:
The Phaenix gazeth on the sunnes bright beames, / The Echinaeus swims against the streames(Allott Kk6v).
echeneis
Sucking fish.
During the period, the echeneis was thought to have incredible strength, able to pull
large ships. Here, in imagining that Selimus like this fish swims against the streams,
Bajazeth is suggesting the power and rebelliousness of his son.
His meaning … weakly stands
his real intentions are barely perceptible in his words
Syrtis boiling sands
Two Mediterranean inlets in North Africa known for quicksand.
He craves … seigniory,
Here, Ochiali delivers a slightly different message from what he was given by Selimus
above.
Historically in 1511, Selim requested governorship of a province in Rumelia (a territory
in southeastern Europe consisting mostly of the Balkan Peninsula). This would have
given Selim closer access to Istanbul. See Sc2 Sp11 n.
scourge
A person that is an instrument of divine chastisement (OED v.2).
In Marlowe’s Tamburlaine plays, Tamburlaine is often called a
scourge of god,by himself and by other characters.
burning brands
either a torch, a match or linstock (OED n.2), an iron instrument for making brands (OED n.5), or a sword or the blade of a sword (OED n.8)
[Aside]
The next two-dozen lines are self-directed speech.
spare
conserve
antidotus
Latin for antidote
He that … his banks.
With this image, Bajazeth accuses his son of destructive ambition.
Compare with England’s Parnassus:
He that will stop the brooke must then begin / When sommers heat hath dried vp the spring: / And when his pittering streames are low and thin, / For let the winter aid vnto them bring, / He growes to be of watry flouds the king: / And though you damme him vp with loftie rankes, / Yet he will quickly ouerflow his bankes(Allott E4r).
pittring
small, insignificant
ranks
Bajazeth here fashions a mixed metaphor,
lofty ranksof soldiers attempting to damn up Selimus who, in this extended metaphor, is being imagined to be a river.
Messenger
the character Occhiali
Samandria
Territory surrounding the fortress city of Smederevo in Serbia.
Historically, Bayezid II gave Selim a choice of governorships; Selim chose Samandria
(Çipa 41). This gift frustrated Ahmed, as it was very close to Istanbul (Çipa 42).
Ashton has Bayezid II at this point giving Selim Samandria (Ashton G4v); Bayezid II’s conferring of Samandria is not in Shute.
Hungaria
Latin for Hungary
Cherseoli
The 1594 quarto mistakenly prints this as a speech prefix.
a royal present
In Ashton, Bayezid II’s
royall rewardeis
great treasure, costlye apparell, horses, and seruantes(Ashton G4v).
Adrianople
City in Northwest Turkey now called Edirne
Byzantium
Constantinople, or now Istanbul
take
settle in
celerity
speed
wingèd coursers
swift footed horses
Enter Selimus, Sinam [Bassa], Occhiali, Otrante, and their soldiers.
Though Cherseoli is sent by Bajazeth with Occhiali to deliver a gift to Selimus in
the previous scene (Sc3 Sp3), he does not enter with Occhiali in this stage direction. Presumably, we are to
assume that Cherseoli delivered the item off stage before this exchange.
Emperor Mahomet … with shame.
Mahomet, i.e. Mehmet II, Bajazeth’s father.
Mehmet II was defeated in 1456 at the Battle of Belgrade and forced to retreat.
steer
lead
Polonian
Polish person
Basilius
Vasili (Basil) III, czar of Russia, who ruled from 1479 until 1533.
slave-born
This was a common epithet directed at Russian people during the period.
Termagant
Perjorative Christian name for a Muslim god who was thought to be violent and overbearing.
stop my mouth with gold or pearl
silence (as a result of bribery)
rusty jades from Barbaria
old, decrepit horses from the Northeast (Barbary) coast of Africa
Acomat and Corcut
Parallelism here requires brothers be listed in this order.
his bastards’
Acomat’s and Corcut’s
Pegasus
mythical winged flying horse
Alarum within.
According to Ashton (Ashton G5v-6r), Selim waylaid Bayezid II in Chiurlu (i.e. Corlu), a city in Northwest Turkey about
75 miles from Istanbul.
In Shute, he attacked his father fifty miles outside of the capital (Shute N3r-v). Historians, however, disagree about whose forces were the first to engage the other
(Çipa 50).
Ottrante
Ottrante is called a Tatarian in the following scene. He presumably joined Selimus
after the marriage of Selimus.
those base … sword.
For other references to Ottoman encounters with Christians, see Sc1 Sp2, Sc1 Sp4, Sc2 Sp3, Sc3 Sp2, Sc3 Sp3, and Sc4 Sp1, and Sc10 Sp7, Sc10 Sp14.
polypus
A
polypusis a cephalopod having eight or ten tentacles (OED).
Octopuses, a cephalopod with eight tentacles, have long been known for self-cannibalism.
Titan
Hyperion, the sun god
enterprise thy journey from the West
Embark on a journey back from the West (i.e. reverse course).
The 1594 quarto has
East,but as Hopkinson pointed out (105), this makes little sense. Bajazeth’s is calling on Titan to reverse the natural course of things just as Selimus is doing in trying to depose his father.
For that … Corcut and Acomat.
This is another garbled sentence. Selimus seems to be saying here that he would not
have tried to kill his father because (
For that) the attempt or result would have led to
spightbeing directed at him from his brothers.
Should sit … In spite
the crown would sit in spite
in piecemeal
into separate pieces
unkind
unsympathetic, perhaps with a pun on
kind(i.e. kin) suggesting unnatural
thoughtst scorn
scornfully thought
prince’s due reward
become emperor
Prester John
Mythical Christian King from Asia who was believed to have become the King of Ethiopia.
The various accounts arise from popular collections of medieval romance, depicting
Prester John as a descendant of the Three Magi. See Prester John.
Compare with 2 Tamburlaine:
And I haue martch’d along the riuer Nile / To Machda, where the mighty Christian Priest / Cal’d Iohn the great, sits in milk-white robe(Marlowe G2v).
stripped … of his camp
As Riad points out (119), this appears to be an anachronistic claim as the Ottomans’ defeat of the
Egyptian Soldandid not occur until years after Selimus had become emperor (i.e. in 1516 and 1517).
sword and shield
Words appear to be missing from Q1.
fearst
fears that Selimus means to dispossess him of the crown
Ah, bassas
Ashton also describes Bayezid II eloquently addressing the Janissaries at this point
(G6r).
Non timeo … auctor.
I do not fear death: it is the cause of death that distresses me (Latin).
Alarum … then Ottrante
Q1 does not include an entrance stage direction for Mustaffa and Selimus. It stands
to reason that they would enter through different doors, as Ottrante and Cherseoli
do.
Upon … my caitiff breast.
Compare with 1 Tamburlaine:
Behold my sword, what see you at the point? / […] / For there sits Death, there sits imperious Death(E3r). See Sc29 Sp1.
Tiring
exhaust through eating
broke our ranks
disrupted military formations
ne’er drunk in the Tatarian blood
that has never yet shed Tatarian blood
blindful mistress of mishap
the goddess Fortune who was sometimes represented as blind and spinning a wheel that
could randomly land on a good or bad fate
Rhamnus’ golden gates
An allusion to the town of Rhamnous in Greece where the sanctuary of Nemesis, a goddess
of retribution, was located.
ever-turning wheel
the wheel of Fortune
Mars
Roman god of war
Termagant
perjorative Christian name for a Muslim god who was thought to be violent and overbearing
Minerva
Roman goddess of wisdom and military strategy
rend
tear
[the Janissaries a] … Cherseoli
It stands to reason that the Janissaries would also enter at this point in order to
celebrate their victory. Also, Cherseoli’s body would need to be removed at the end
of scene 6 as Selimus does not refer to the body in scene 7. Q1 does not include a
stage direction managing the removal.
luckless fault of
luckless in the absence of
Chief captain of the Tatar’s mighty host.
sire
father
spoil
strip
The unrevengèd … fields.
Alemshae’s initial fate as described by Bajazeth here is reminiscent of the wandering
of Andrea at the beginning of The Spanish Tragedy. His resting in Elysian fields, equating death with relief, is very much a Senecan
sentiment.
Stygian banks
In Greek mythology, these were the banks of the Styx, a river dividing earth from
the underworld.
Elysian fields
In Greek mythology, this was the joyous realm of the blessed in the underworld.
Constantine’s great tower
A tower (or column) in Byzantium (i.e. Istanbul) built by Constantine in the fourth
century to commemorate the city’s founding.
Perhaps you
Like Bajazeth’s and Selimus’s, Acomat’s first entrance is marked by his delivering
a long speech. Unlike his father and brother, he speaks to his followers.
dulcet
sweet
Hymen
Greek goddess of marriage
Bellona
Roman goddess of war.
Compare with 2 Tamburlaine:
As if Bellona, Goddess of the war, / Threw naked swords and sulphur bals of fire, / Upon the heads of all our enemies(H2v).
iron wall
armor
for long enough
Metrically, the addition of
forregularizes the pentameter line.
surquidry
Excess (OED n.2).
Ashton uses this rare word to describe the excess of one of Selimus’s governors (N2r).
A field of dainties
Things, fine, pleasing, and/or delightful (OED n.5).
Acomat talks here of things like food, wine, erotic pleasure, and song.
champion
one who fights on the behalf of someone
Cytheria
another name for Venus or Aphrodite, classical goddesses of love
in dolorous vermeil
in grief-inducing red, in blood
What lets in all memory?
Another garbled sentence. Acomat is asking here what prevents (
lets) him from abandoning his pleasurable indulgences (i.e. keeping him in
vain slumber) and achieving glory on the battlefield.
broach seditious jar
spur on rebellious discord
perturbation
disturbance
danger may not take it unprovided
danger will not arrive unprepared for
peace from whence your riches spring
Visir suggests that, unlike peace that can create favorable economic conditions, war
and uncivil unrest are expensive for an emperor.
good
justifiable
immortal lines
as rendered in books, possibly through inheritance (
lines)
lustful game
amorous pursuits
captive mind
captive because driven by amorous desire
’pass
compass, reach
Indian mines
Indian mines refers to the lucrative mines in Peru (
Indian,i.e. Incan) operated by the Spanish.
stout obedience
prideful though obedient
close and circumspect
secret and cautious
holy vows
In act 1, Bajazeth tells us that he has
reserve[d]the crown for Acomat. Acomat here suggests that this involved some kind of
holy vow.
election
Bajazeth choosing Acomat as the next emperor.
In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the Ottoman Empire did not have a rationalized
system of succession unlike in England where primogeniture dictated that the crown
be passed to or through the line of the eldest male heir.
Instead, succession was assumed to be dictated by fortune which was in turn dictated
by god. In practice, this meant the successful occupation of the Ottoman throne in
Byzantium by a male in the Osman line after an emperor’s death. This system has been
called
unigeniture.An emperor could manipulate the process by granting a prince or favorite a governorship close to the Ottoman capital and by political machinations. Mehmed II made it common practice for Ottoman Emperors to eliminate all rivals to the throne.
erection
installation on the throne
As yet is pent:
Regan reminds Acomat that his election to the throne is not yet completed and as such
he is not in a position to plan for his future as emperor.
Aside
Though the 1594 quarto does not indicate an aside here, Acomat’s
Advise thee, Acomatsuggests a self-directed speech.
will
Q1’s
willas in an exertion of will makes sense here.
a timely largition
A well timed bestowal of gifts.
Metrically, the addition of
aregularizes the pentameter line.
he will think
Metrically, the addition of
willregularizes the pentameter line.
factious
mutinous, inclined to rebel
suffrages
support
insolence
Metrically, the shortened form is preferable.
overhardiness
too bold
assay
attempt
unsettled wit
restless, turbulent mind
alway
Always.
Archaic form is meant to rhyme last word of next line.
embay
bathe
leads the dance
takes the lead, takes preeminance
What prince … alterations
Compare with Locrine:
What prince so ere, adornd with golden [crown] / Doth sway the regall scepter in his hand: /And thinks no chance can euer throw him downe, / Or that his state shall euerlasting stand(G3r).
lest
Bajazeth is imagining here a prince who does not fear the
lourof Fortune.
so many
Metrically, the addition of
soregularizes the pentameter line.
lour
frown
acceptable
agreeable
So that … prince’s throne.
Bajazeth complains that his authority, because dependent upon the people’s
rate,hangs by a thin thread.
Too true … horse’s hair.
Damocles, a flatterer, having extolled the happiness of Dionysius, tyrant of Syracuse,
was placed by him at a banquet with a sword suspended over his head by a hair to impress
upon him the perilous nature of that happiness (
Damocles,OED).
Compare with England’s Parnassus:
Too true that tyrant Dyonisyus / Did picture out the image of a king: / When Damocles was placed in his throne, / And ore his head a threatening sword did hang, / Fastened vp only by a horses haire(N7v).
lay wait
lay in wait
did suck
Metrically, the substitution of
did suckregularizes the pentameter line.
From whom … vital air.
For a similar representation of Bajazeth’s paternity, see Sc5 Sp1. Compare with David and Bethsabe:
Behold my sonne which issued from my flesh(G1r).
curtains
A number of plays in the 1580s and 1590s include stage directions having to with curtains
on stage (e.g. David and Bethsabe, Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay, Old Wives Tale, and A Looking Glass for London and England). In this case, the directions seem to be referring to fabric that could be drawn
across an opening in a tiring-house wall.
Eunuchs
Castrated males.
Compare with A Looking Glass for London and England:
And let the Eunickes plaie you all a sleepe(F4r).
Music within.
This is one of the rare instances of a stage direction in an early modern play specifying
the location of musicians. Here, the implication is that musicians were located somewhere
within a tiring house or behind some kind of screen.
Yet we will … to ruinate.
Hali Bassa argues here that he cannot support Bajazeth’s disinheritance of Selimus
because Selimus as emperor would, through his martial exploits, ensure that Hali Bassa’s
wealth will remain intact.
the fruit that he had labored for
the crown
subject prince
a prince who is also subject to a king
against
Metrically, the two-syllable
againstregularizes the pentameter line.
Selim’s
Metrically, the shortened form of Selimus regularizes the pentameter line.
Selim
Metrically, the shortened form of Selimus regularizes the pentameter line.
we would not … lascivious pomp,
Cali Bassa declares that he will not accept Acomat who still pursues splendid celebrations
and entertainments.
Compare too with Shute where the Janissaries oppose Acomat not just because he was
addicted to
ease and pleasuresbut because he was
not liberalland
a fatte manwho could not well handle a horse (N4r-v).
Compare with Edward II when the Mortimers at the end of the fourth scene discuss Edward’s failing as a king.
foeman’s
foe’s
guide the crown
inform his decisions as emperor
He gave … my thoughts.
Bajazeth gave his daughter in marriage to Mustaffa.
I love … Selimus
Compare with Cornelia:
I loue, I loue him deerely. But the loue, / That men theyr Country and theyr birth-right beare / Exceeds all loues(G1r).
How now
How is it now?
Hath the Egyptian … again?
For an earlier reference to past Ottoman encounters with the Egyptians, see Sc5 Sp2 above.
Amasya
An area in north central Turkey.
Historically, shortly after he became Emperor in 1481, Bayezid II conferred the governorship
of this coveted province onto Ahmed. This was a clear sign of Bayezid II’s preference
for Ahmed over his other sons.
’gratulates
congratulates
Aside
The preceding stage direction makes it clear that this is an aside.
make it sure to him
pass it on to him
And thou shalt have it
Bajazeth is pressured by Acomat days later in Byzantium. This stresses Acomat’s ambition
as well as Bajazeth’s passivity.
In both Ashton (G6v-7r) and Shute (N3v), Bayezid II resolves to confer the emperorship on Ahmed immediately after defeating
Selim.
buried in the bosom
Become the responsibility and continual worry.
This ironically foreshadows future scenes in the play involving Aga.
Sound … Corcut.
In Ashton, Korkud only asserts his claim to the throne after Ahmed rages against his
father (H2r-v).
certify
attest to
invest
install
Aside
Almost the entirety of this speech is self-directed.
by right
Corcut may be reminding Bajazeth that he is his eldest surviving son and thus has
a
rightto the throne. This claim founded in primogeniture, however, derives not from the Ottoman but the English system of monarchy.
Under the terms of this system, it is Alemshae’s eldest son, Mahomet, who in fact
enjoys this
right.He might also be referring to Bayezid II promising the emperorship to him after his death when Korkud was young. See Ashton E6v-E7r where Bayezid II promises to eventually cede the throne to a thirteen-year-old
Corcuthuswhen he is older.
sailing without the stars
Metrically, the addition of
theregularizes this pentameter line.
Like to a ship … betwixt love and right.
Reminiscent of Wyatt’s extended metaphor in
My Galleywhich had been in print since 1557, this is the first in a number of maritime epic similes in the play.
While Q1 does not label this speech an aside, Mustaffa’s following lines make no
reference to what Bajazeth has just said.
Compare with James IV:
Like to an ship vpon the Ocean seas, / Tost in the doubtfull streame without a helme(E1r).
And at my death … to him.
This is not exactly what Corcut’s messenger relates above. Compare with Sc10 Sp12.
Bassas, how counsel you your emperor
In Shute (N4r-v), the Janissaries riot in favor of Selim, and they end up forcing Bayezid II to name
Selim heir. In Ashton (G7r-8r), the Janissaries are moved to advise Bayezid II to retain the emperorship by the
possibility of Ahmed being made Emperor.
Ashton will later record that Korkud asked his father for the emperorship (H2r-v). Corcut’s offer here, then, is an addition.
brethren disinherited
Selimus and Corcut
flesh their anger
to use anger like a sword and stab (OED v.3b), or possibly incite their anger (Riad) or satiate their anger (Hopkinson)
rend the bowels of this mighty realm
To cut into or tear (OED v4).
The play four times forwards different versions of this image (see also Sc12 Sp1,Sc15 Sp23, and Sc27 Sp4).
Marlowe’s Edward II famously ends with Edward being murdered by a hot poker thrust into his anus, and
the play was likely written a year before Selimus. Compare too with David and Bethsabe:
Souldiers of Israel / That haue contended in these irksome broiles, / And ript old Israels bowels with your swords(H1r).
puissance
power, strength
great puissance
Metrically, the addition of
greatregularizes the pentameter line.
thrust out their heads
decapitate Selimus and Acomat
strong to fortify
strongly fortify
loth
Disinclined, unwilling (OED adj.1).
In Ashton, Bayezid II retains the crown partly because he was moved by a
certen inward & sweete lust to reigne al his lyfe(G8r).
But we … Selimus.
This is an example of what McMillin and MacLean describe as the Queen’s Men’s dramaturgical
strategy of
narrative overdetermination,Bajazeth here predicting the action of a scene to come.
and then rent[s it.]
Q1’s unusual stage-direction command
sayis repeated in the 14th scene below.
Thus will I … head
In Ashton, Ahmed
conceyued a grudge and malice(G8r) but did not attempt to depose his father. In Shute, Ahmed does not seek revenge against his father. Instead, he holes up in a fortified city, resolving to wait on God to depose Selim for his wicked deeds. In Whetstone (E6r), however, it is suggested that Ahmed, like he does here in the play, violently revolted against his father.
What?
Why did my father do this?
wipe me clean forever
keep me forever from
prize
value
detains
keeps
supply
supply of soldiers
Natolia
Anatolia.
Previously known as Asia Minor, this large peninsula is bounded by the Black Sea to
the north and the Mediterranean to the south. Here and below, Acomat is referring
to Iconium (now
Kolya), one of Anatolia’s principle cities, as
Natolia.
In Ashton, Ahmed eyes Anatolia not because he wants to take revenge on Bajazeth’s
nephew but because
by the ayde and power of this prouince he might after his fathers death recouer the Empyre(G8r). Moreover, in Ashton, Ahmed only ends up
chace[ing] out(G8v) his nephew from Natolia.
make a preface to
begin
My nephew my wrath.
In both Shute (O3r) and Ashton (I3v), it is Selim who murders his nephews not Ahmed. The coming violent scene involving
the son and daughter of Alemshae is an addition by the playwright(s).
Iconium
Konya.
A large city south of Ankara in central Turkey. In these confusing lines, Acomat seems
to be suggesting that Alemshae lately died (
departed) in the city.
one or two soldiers
These kinds of permissive stage directions have long been taken as indicators that
a printed play was derived from an authorial manuscript. Paul Werstine and others
have recently questioned such claims.
embowellèd
To put, to convey into the bowels (OED v.3).
Though not identified by the OED as such, this would be the earliest use of the term in this sense. For similar images,
see Sc10 Sp14, Sc12 Sp1, Sc15 Sp23, and Sc27 Sp4.
tofore
before
would to God with
wishes to God for
by right
The Beylerbey assumes that Mahomet is now the rightful heir of the Turkish emperorship
because he is the eldest son of Bajazeth’s eldest son Alemshae. This primogeniture
practice in fact was not followed by the Ottomans.
Armenian tiger
Now extinct, the Armenian (or
Caspian) tiger was thought to have been especially fierce.
venge
revenge
Now, fair Natolia … ground.
This scene is vaguely reminiscent of Richard III’s murder of his two nephews in Richard III. It is also the first of two siege scenes (see also scene 27 below) which feature
characters appearing above, which in the amphitheatre playhouses likely would have
been the lords’ rooms. A number of plays during the period like David and Bethsabe, Edward I, Orlando Furioso, James IV, and 1 and 2 Tamburlaine had similar scenes.
put up
put up with
sure
safe
Weakened … sword.
Acomat is suggesting here that Mahomet’s
forcesaided Bajazeth’s early defeat of Selimus.
walls
This is a fictional designation for a level above the main platform (Dessen and Thomson). See 27 and 27 below.
wondrous tomb
This probably refers to the belief that Muhammad’s tomb levitated in the air after
he was entombed within it.
Alcoran
another word for the Qu’ran, the sacred book of Islam
e’en
Metrically, the shortened form of
evenregularizes the pentameter line.
You do us wrong … at your hands.
The rhetorical workings of the rest of this exchange are reminiscent of a number of
professional plays of the period (e.g. The Spanish Tragedy
B4v and C4v as well as Richard III 1.2 and 4.4).
kin
Metrically, the shortened form of
kinsmanregularizes the pentameter line.
Why, I am thy nephew; doest thou frown?
Metrically, the deletion of
forregularizes this pentameter line.
Why, I am thy nephew. … the crown.
The first instance of stichomythia in the play whereby rhymed lines of dialogue are
split between two characters, the responding character often expressing an antithetical
or repetitive sentiment.
Here, this stichomythian exchange between Acomat and Mahomet will continue for almost
twenty lines. Some of Acomat’s following exchange with Zonara also deploys stichomythia.
See also Acomat’s exchange with Aga in scene 15 below.
hinderers
agents who stand in the way of Acomat’s ambitions
do bear an equal eye
Mahomet suggests that
the godswill ensure that justice is served.
Acomat
The 1594 quarto mistakenly substitutes
Mahomethere.
Beshrew
an expression, like, for example,
the devil take me
Phlegethon
a fiery river in Hades, the classical underworld
scale
Climbing of walls using a ladder (Dessen and Thomson).
Q1 does not indicate that the characters exit above. 2 Tamburlaine contains a similar scene (K3r).
shook your plumèd crest
Acomat accuses Mahomet of defiantly shaking a heraldic emblem at him and his forces
(figured as a
shield), a prideful gesture.
How … to Bajazeth.
Acomat again points out how near Mahomet is to the emperorship, in this case even
looking like Bajazeth.
for
because
Regan, go … fall.
There is no stage direction suggesting that this horrific punishment was meant to
be staged. Compare with The True Tragedy of Richard, Duke of York:
Had I beene there, the souldiers should have tost / Me on their launces points(274–275).
fear
scare
O … my father’s purse.
Acomat sarcastically responds to Mahomet’s curse.
Zonara
Zonara is not to be found in the play’s sources and as such is most likely an imaginative
addition. This entrance marks the first appearance of a female character in the play.
kin
Q1’s article is unnecessary, and cutting it regularizes the pentameter line.
wants so long thy company.
lacks your company in the afterlife.
groom
A man of inferior position, a serving-man (OED n.3).
Zonara suggests that Acomat is a lower-order imposter.
Caucasus
An area between the Caspian and Black Seas. In the period it was associated with wildness.
Hyrcanian
A desolate area south of the Caspian Sea.
Compare with Dido Queen of Carthage (
But thou art sprung from Scythian Caucasus, / And Tygers of Hyrcania gaue thee sucke[F4r-v]) and The True Tragedy of Richard, Duke of York (
But you are more inhumaine, more inexorable, / O ten times more then Tygers of Arcadia [i.e. Hycania][621]).
They strangle her
This vague direction was common in plays of the time. In rare instances, a cord is
specified. In the next scene, the Beylerbey of Natolia recounts that Zonara was strangled
by Acomat’s barbarous soldiers.
rate
berate
Mustaffa, [Aga,] and the Janissaries.
Though Bajazeth sends him as a messenger to Acomat at the end of this scene, Aga is
mistakenly not included in the group entrance here.
chair
A chair used to transport the sick, wounded, or dying (Dessen and Thomson).
A number of plays during the period employ such chairs (e.g. Edward I, The Battle of Alcazar, and Locrine).
coffins
Coffins sometimes appear in professional plays before the 17th century (e.g. Titus Andronicus.) For examples in later plays, see Q1 Hamlet, A Chaste Maid in Cheapside, and The Witch of Edmonton.
presages me
predicts
exequy
funeral rite
nephews
This refers to both Mahomet and Zonara. In the sixteenth century,
nephewcould apply to a male or a female (OED n.2b).
ayrie
The nest of a bird of prey, figuratively used here to suggest a high vantage point
(OED n.1a, 1b).
Compare with Arden of Faversham:
Oh that some ayrie spirit, / Would in the shape and liknes of a horse / Gallope with Arden cross the Ocean(A3r).
luckless maid
This addition to what is a short line was first suggested by Grosart in the 19th century.
swoon
A fainting fit (OED n.) indicating a figure falling to the stage (Dessen and Thomson).
Compare with The first part of the contention betwixt the two famous houses of Yorke and Lancaster:
The King falls in a sound(E2v).
dispensers of our hapless breath
the gods,
hapless: unlucky
glut your eyes
overly fill your eyes with
occasion
An occurence giving grounds for an action (OED n.2a).
Bajazeth is referring to his refusal to admit Selimus into his presence. See Sc3 Sp3 above.
And so prevented
Alemshae’s death on the field of battle meant that he did not end up having to see
the horrible spectacle of his childrens’ murdered bodies.
seed
children
riverets
Small rivers, streams (OED n.).
Compare with Edward II (
And made the channels ouerflow with blood[H2v]) and David and Bethsabe (
as sure as / Ionathan, Abinadab, and Melchisua / Watred the dales and deepes of Askaron / With bloudy streames that from Gilboa ran / In channels through the wildernesse of Ziph[E1r]).
Bemangled and dismembered
cut and mutilated
doth stand before, ready to strike.
Metrically, addition of
dothregularizes the pentameter line.
Avernus jaws … Acomat.
Bajazeth’s invocation here is reminscent of similar speeches of declamatory furor
in Seneca, who is a significant influence on the play.
Avernus
Volcanic crater in Italy that was thought in classical times to be an entrance to
the underworld.
Taenarus
A town in Greece in which there is a cavern that was thought in classical times to
be an entrance to the underworld.
Erinyes
Another name for the furies.
Compare with Locrine:
Come fierce Erinnis horrible with snakes, / Come vgly Furies, armed with your whippes(G1r).
thou
the
all-beholding heavens(see below)
Jove
another name for Jupiter, Roman supreme deity
Go thou … relent.
Bajazeth’s sending a messenger to Acomat is neither in Ashton nor Shute. In Ashton,
Acomat ends up catching Bayezid II’s
oratour(G8v).
wit
understanding
Speak him fair
speak to him with pleasing words
princes’
This refers to both Mahomet and Zonara. During the period,
princewas used to refer to a male or female.
Tityus
The giant son of Zeus, Tityus was forever punished in the underworld by his father
for trying to kill Leto, the mother of Apollo and Artemis. There, his liver was continually
devoured, in this version of the myth, by a vulture.
Acomat’s analogy is one of many epic similes in the play. Compare with A Looking Glass for London and England:
Slaues fetch out tortures worse than Titius plagues(E3r).
Just sent
Metrically, the addition of
Justregularizes the pentameter line.
Wonders … so much
Metrically, the addition of
whyregularizes the pentameter line.
mortal hate
of enmity, hatred, etc.: pursued to the death; unappeasable, unrelenting, deadly (OED adj.1c)
I am not … shall stain.
In this strained extended metaphor, Acomat asserts that he is not like uncultivated
land in that Bajazeth’s
greedyactions in withholding the crown have succeeded in growing hatred in him. He promises that his actions against Bajazeth will bear fruit.
Honor’s
Acomat offers a garbled analogy here (he’s either the
landor the sower). His
Honorhere refers either to Bajazeth or to some generalized country lord.
hasty purposes have hated ends
Aga points to Selimus’s defeat at the hands of his father earlier in the play.
To set … first brunt.
to set his sights immediately on Bajazeth during his attack
with his teeth
Acomat is referring to Selimus here, and as such it should be
his.
color his strong hands
Acomat is still referring to Selimus here, and as such it should be
his
unkind
unkindly
the man that first gave life to you
Another instance of Bajazeth being represented as a life-giving father. See Sc1 Sp5 and Sc5 Sp1 above.
the people’s adverse fame
a reputation with the people that is harmful
Whom fear … feeds.
In yet more lines of garbled syntax, Aga warns that subjects who are forced to praise
their leaders through fear will necessarily hate these leaders.
Compare with England’s Parnassus:
Whom feare constraines to praise their Princes deeds, / That feare eternall, hatred in them feeds(G5r-v).
sway
wield
mace
staff of office
What though
What would happen if
peculiar to
Particularly associated with (OED adj.2c).
Compare with England’s Parnassus:
Hate hits the hie, and windes force tallest towers / Hate is peculiar to a Princes state(K1r). A version of the first line (
Hate climes vnto the head; winds force the tallest towers) appears in Thomas Lodge’s Wit’s Misery which was first printed in 1596.
state
circumstances
That state … integrity
Another instance of stichomythia in the play whereby rhymed lines of dialogue are
split between two characters, the responding character often expressing an antithetical
or repetitive sentiment.
poor integrity
a poor person’s integrity
Beseems
it befits
sacrilegious
intent on the injurious treament of a holy person, site, or object
graybeard
old man
wiped
permanently removed
did hear
Metrically, the addition of
didregularizes the pentameter line.
tapers
Acomat speaks figuratively of the eyes as candles that bring the light of vision.
Acomat pulls out his eyes.
As no command is given here, it seems most likely that Acomat himself blinds Aga.
Years later, Shakespeare may have been influenced by this violent scene when having
Cornwall blind Gloucester in King Lear. In Ashton, Ahmed only cuts off the nose and ears of Bayezid II’s
oratour(G8v). Dessen and Thomson calls this a
distinctive actionas far as a stage direction goes (173).
felicity
Happiness.
Acomat sarcastically laments that Aga will not be able to enjoy seeing him kill Bajazeth.
rend out Bajazeth’s dim eyes
blind Acomat, metaphorically suggesting murder
anthropophagi
Cannibals.
Compare with Locrine:
Or where the bloodie Anthropomphagie / With greedie iawes deuours the wandring wights(G1r).
at his ease
without the embarassment of sins
Death … greatly please.
Acomat refuses to kill Aga because death would be welcome to a
wretched caitifflike him.
They … hands
Presumably,
theyhere refers to Regan’s soldiers.
This scene is reminiscent of Aaron cutting Titus Andronicus’s hand off in Titus Andronicus. Though it’s impossible to know the direction of influence, most theatre historians
have dated the plays to have been written and staged within a year or two of one another.
Disturbing violence and grim humor (i.e. Acomat’s confusion over which hand he holds)
are characteristics of both scenes. Compare with the second act of Edmund Ironside.
in that sort
mutilated
tenfold crystal orbs
In the sixteenth century, it was widely thought that the planets and stars were variously
distributed onto a series of rotating spheres.
Peter Apian in his Cosmographia (1539) theorized that there were ten such spheres, with the closest to earth containing
the moon, the second closest Mercury, and so on.
smold’ring flame
Lightning bolt.
brinish
salty
pearlèd
pearl-like, round
watry
watery
Come, lead me back again to Bajazeth.
Though Q1 does not indicate it, Aga’s exiting at this point is a staging possibility
here.
Why so
an expression of contentment
music
Aga’s laments
Into … hands,
Compare with 2 Tamburlaine:
I long to pierce his bowels with my sword, / That hath betraied my gracious Soueraigne(H4v).
clear declining vault
Acomat describes the sky descending to the horizon.
pillars
legs
lodges
sockets
hurtle
Brandish, wave.
so to cut
Metrically, the addition of
toregularizes the pentameter line.
Let women weep
Ashton records that Bayezid II here was
wrothe and angryand called for an army to be sent to Anatolia (H1r). He was not overwhelmed by grief.
Phoeb’
Phoebus, the sun
wain
A large open vehicle, drawn by horses or oxen (OED n.1a).
Mustaffa alludes to the classical image of the sun god driving a horse-drawn carriage
across the sky.
Stygian meadows
These were along the river Styx in the classical underworld. This image of unrevenged
souls was recurrent in Elizabethan and Jacobean revenge tragedy (Riad 152), a genre derived from Seneca.
Thou knowst … mighty Ottoman.
It was a practice of the Janissaries to go into battle led by a decendent of Osman
I, founder of the Ottoman empire. Such a practice is described in Ashton H1r-v.
And who … Selimus
Similarly, in Ashton it is Mustaffa who counsels Bayezid II to pardon Selim and appoint
him captain of his forces (H1v).
I cannot kill myself
This is presumably because Bajazeth is too old to fight himself. There is also an
ironic second meaning in this line: if Bajazeth cannot kill himself, Selimus will.
Will Fortune …
Q1 does not indicate that this speech is delivered as an aside. In plays of this period,
it was conventional for messengers to be present when characters delivered confidential
musings.
cards
A deck of cards representing the randomness of fortune. In the this extended metaphor,
Selimus’s possession of these signifies his control over fate.
And will … myself a king.
Compare with The Massacre at Paris:
Then Guise since thou hast all the Cardes / Within thy hands to shuffle or cut, take this as surest thing, / That right or wrong, thou deale thy selfe a King(A6r).
reconciling lines
lines asking for reconciliation
policy
scheme
device
plan, project
like Antaeus quelled by Hercules
Son of Poseidon and Gaia (the earth), Antaeus was a giant who was energized by contact
with his mother; thus, if he were thrown to the ground in combat (
overthrown) he would immediately be reenergized.
The Greek hero Hercules defeated the monster by choking it to death on his shoulders.
hardly
barely
the cause
Bajazeth’s offer; also Selimus’s kingly ambitions
have at
make an attempt at
Exit
Q1’s
Exeuntis redundant.
Come, mournful Aga
The beginning of this scene is reminiscent of Titus Andronicus 3.2 when Titus addresses his mutilated daughter Lavinia.
in this light
In this circumstance.
Bajazeth here is suggesting that the lit world is now an unfamiliar place for the
blind Aga.
In all humility
Compare with Ashton which has Bayezid II pardon Selimus after being swayed by two
of his counsellors (H1v).
In Shute (N4v-O1r), the Janissaries, fearing that Bayezid II intended to make Ahmed emperor, reach
out to the defeated Selim to return to Istanbul and be crowned emperor.
open unto you my breast
Selimus lays bare his breast so that he might be stabbed at Bajazeth’s command. This
is reminiscent of Richard III baring his breast to Queen Ann in the second scene of
Richard III.
unfeignèd
sincere
inglorious
humbled
Aside
Selimus is plotting to himself at this point.
in regard of
on account of
Offer to me
Metrically, the addition of
toregularizes the pentameter line.
Janissars
Janissaries
Do rest … heart,
An elusive expression, Bajazeth’s sentiment here stresses the new
restingof his thoughts.
consuming
destroying
leese
To set free, deliver, release (OED v.1).
Bajazeth assures Aga that Selimus will kill Acomat, thus setting free Acomat’s
ghostfrom his body.
Enter Mustaffa.
Q1 contains no stage direction for Mustaffa’s reentry after exiting at line 54. Bajazeth’s
How nowappears to be directed at him, and as such it makes the most sense to have him enter after the shouting within.
Ah, gracious lord … Selimus,
In Ashton, it is Mustaffa who entreats Bayezid II to give up the emperorship (H3r).
host
army
younger
youngest
victorious Soldan Tonombey
See Sc5 Sp2 above. Historically, Tonombey (i.e. Tuman Bey II) was the last Egyptian sultan to
rule before Egypt was defeated by Selim I in 1517.
As he did not rise to power until 1516, years after the death of Bayezid II, this
is yet another anachronistic reference. A few years before Selimus was first staged, George Saltern wrote the Latin closet drama Tomumbeius about Selim I’s defeat of Tuman Bey II.
Here, Selimus … unto me.
Bajazeth ironically refers to the fact that his father Mehmet II favored his brother
Cem over him as his heir, suggesting his frustration.
Contemporary accounts, however, disagree about the course of Bayezid II’s abdication,
some argue that Bayezid II resigned quickly and willingly (Shute O1r-v), others that he was forced to resign against his will, still others that his resignation
was the product of a lengthy negotiaton (Çipa 54–55).
sets it on his head
For a comparable deposition scene, see Alphonsus King of Aragon D3r, D3v.
Dimoticum
Dimoticum is a City in Turkey that was the birthplace of Bayezid II. Compare with
Ashton H4r, from which this detail seems to have been drawn.
Now, sit I … Jove
Compare with Edward II (
As for my selfe, I stand as Ioves huge tree, / And others are but shrubs compard to me, / All tremble at my name, and I feare none, / Lets see who dare impeache me for his death?[M1r]) and Locrine (
The armestrong offspring of the doubted knight, / Stout Hercules Alcmenas mightie sonne, / That tamde the monsters of the threefold world[F4r] and
Now sit I like the mightie god of warre[F3v]).
arm-strong
strong armed
son of Jove
Hercules
after he had all his monsters quelled,
An allusion to the twelve labors of Hercules which he successfully completed. See
Sc28 Sp1.
Hebe
The personification of youth, Hebe was the daughter of Zeus and Hera. She married
Hercules after he was made a god and entered the heavens.
This
Selimus gestures at the crown, symbol of his emperorship.
he’s
Metrically, the contraction
he’sregularizes the pentameter line.
broil
turmoil, confrontation
To make that sure … cut off.
Similarly, Ashton describes Selim commanding a
Iew phisitionto poison his father (H4r). Shute says that Bayezid II died naturally or was poisoned (O1v), making no mention of a Jewish physician.
that
his emperorship
platform
The ground, foundation, basis of an action, event, calculation, condition, etc. (OED n.3).
Compare with Arden of Faversham:
heeres the Angels downe, / And I will lay the platforme of his death(C4v).
physic
medicine
Withal
in addition
Hydra’s heads
Hydra was a many-headed monster killed by Hercules as one of his twelve labors. As
its heads regrew if cut off, Hercules had to burn every neck-stump with a fiery torch
in order to kill it.
Selimus understands that Bajazeth is only one of the Hydra’s heads that he will have
to deal with as Emperor. In the following lines he describes the other
principleheads (Sc18 Sp14). Contemporary accounts and histories of Selim’s reign have mostly absolved the historical Selim of responsibility for his father’s death, either attributing it to natural causes or glossing over it all together (Çipa 57–58). Shute, for example, vaguely imagines that Bajazeth died suddenly of sickness brought on
by thought, or els of poyson(O1v).
fetch here
Metrically, the addition of
hereregularizes the pentameter line.
one
Yet another permissive stage direction. One of the Janissaries could exit at this
point.
Mahomet’s dreaded laws
as written in the Qu’ran
Razi’s toys
Selimus refers to the writings of Abu Bakr Muhammed al-Razi, a Persian philosopher,
alchemist, and physician of the ninth and tenth centuries.
Avicenna’s drugs
Selimus refers to the medicines of Persian astronomer and physician Ibn Sina who lived
in the tenth and eleventh centuries.
necromancy
sorcery, witchcraft
the devil
Corcut
Do strangle
Metrically, the addition of
Doregularizes the pentameter line.
And hearest thou, Hali? Do strangle him.
Metrically, the addition of
Doregularizes the pentameter line.
shipwrack
shipwreck
Abraham the Jew
This representation of a Jew is vaguely reminscent of representations in professional
plays of the period like The Three Ladies of London and The Jew of Malta.
Moreover, Abraham’s initial entrance late in the play is somewhat akin to Lightborne’s
in Edward II. Historically, Bayezid II is famous for welcoming Jewish people into his Ottoman
territories after they were outlawed by Spain in the early 1490s, and thus it is ironic
that his murderer here will be a Jew.
on your life
on penalty of your life
Lysander’s counsel
Selimus invokes the proverbial counsel of the Spartan admiral who forced the Athenians
to capitulate at the end of the Peloponnesian War. His point was that cunning is sometimes
better than force.
Compare with Alphonsus Emperor of Germany:
I’l imitate Lysander in this point, / And where the lion’s hide is thin and scant, / I’l firmly patch it with the Foxes fell(B2v).
complots
covert plans
open
out-in-the-open
meditation
plotting
Or fox’s skin or
either … or
Abraham the Jew with a cup.
As he is not noticed by them until he speaks at line 81, Abraham probably needs to
be imagined to be at some distance from Bajazeth and Aga at the beginning of this
scene.
Come, Aga, let us mourn awhile
This scene is reminiscent of Marlowe’s Edward II when towards the end of the play Edward II mourns his fate with Spencer and Baldock
(
come sit downe by me.[H4v]).
A similar scene can be found in Shakespeares Richard II (
Many commentators have also argued that the scene is a source for King Lear’s madness scene in the third act.For Gods sake let vs sit vpon the ground, / And tell sad stories of the death of Kings[1515–1516]).
cross
angry
That woeful emperor … kingdom so.
Bajazeth here refers to his grandfather (historically,
Bayezid I) who ruled the Ottoman Empire from 1389 to 1402 and who was defeated by the Tatar conqueror Timur the Lame in 1402 at the Battle of Ankara.
In calling him
woeful,Bajazeth alludes to his defeat, capture, humiliation, and torture by Tamburlaine that was famously staged in the of Marlowe’s 1 Tamburlaine. The myth of Timur emerged in England at the end of the fifteenth century. Of Marlowe’s invention was that Tamburlaine was a thief from Scythia (a large region in Eurasia) before rising to power.
in a cage
Metrically, the addition of
aregularizes the pentameter line.
great scourge
Metrically, the addition of
greatregularizes the pentameter line.
reckon in my plaint
consider in my complaint
From my … to be rent.
Yet another instance of a character considering his fate with a maritime analogy (Compare
with Sc1 Sp2; Sc2 Sp1; Sc10 Sp13).
This extended metaphor is particularly reminiscent of Wyatt’s
My Galley,a sonnet he adapted from Petrarch.
boisterous billows
rough swelling waves
And cruel wrath; within me rage is rife.
Adding semicolon to the line and replacing
rages rifewith
rage is rifeclarifies the meaning. Metrically, the addition of
isregularizes the pentameter line.
rage is rife
rage is in abundance
flashing buffets
strokes; flashing because quick and lightning-like
It shall … shallows.
Metrically, the addition of
Itregularizes the pentameter line.
stirreth nothing sure
does nothing with certainty
stars
guidance
stent
stop
blind procurer of mischance
Fortune
thrillant steel
Thrilling sword.
The obselete word
thrillantcomes from Spenser.
The while
while
brought me to the world
gave birth to me
rulèd
dominated
poor estate
economic condition
exalted him
elevated him in rank
fair
pleasant
Now … all the world.
Compare with Locrine:
Where may I finde some hollow vncoth rocke, / Where I may damne, condemn and ban my fill, / The heauens, the hell, the earth, the aire, the fire, / And vtter curses to the concaue skie, / Which may infect the airey regions(F4v).
another while
again
regions of the air
portions into which the atmosphere is divided according to height (OED regions n.3a)
Night … my stomach dry.
Bajazeth’s invocation and curses here are reminscent of similar speeches of declamatory
furor in Seneca.
Night
Bajazeth summons Nyx, Roman goddess of night.
Compare with Arden of Faversham:
Black night hath hid the pleasurs of ye day, / And sheting darknesse ouerhangs the earth, / And with the black folde of her cloudy robe, / Obscure vs from the eiesight of the worlde(D1v).
mantle
cloak
Lethe
Lethe was a river in the classical underworld associated with forgetfulness.
pitchy steeds
Black horses.
Bajazeth here draws on the conventional image of night as traveling across the sky
in a
wain(carriage) pulled by horses.
coal-black silence
Bajazeth fashions a synaesthetic image, mixing sight and sound.
lamps of ever-burning light
eyes
cursed my stomach dry
Bajazeth imagines cursing as an act of purgation (i.e. throwing up).
of noble worth
worthy of noblemen
Aside
The next three lines are clearly self-directed speech.
old as well as
as old as
care not much
am willing
Proserpina
Latin for Persephone.
Greek goddess of the underworld, daughter of Zeus.
Destins
the Destinies, the Fates
Or had … Mamelukes
Mamelukes were slave warriors who established powerful knightly castes in places like
Egypt and India.
crocodilus
Latin for crocodile
calmy
calm
What greater … his face?
Aga compares his own fate to that of Priam, King of Troy during the Trojan War with
the Greeks.
Homer’s Iliad describes the course of the war, including Priam’s son Hector being killed in one-to-one
combat with Achilles, his last remaining son Polites being killed by Neoptolemus before
him, and the Greeks’ destruction of his city.
did it behold
Metrically, the addition of
itregularizes the pentameter line.
boon
gift
He dies.
This scene ends with three bodies on the stage. Though Q1 offers no direction, these
somehow need to be removed from the stage before the start of the next scene.
Enter Bullithrumble … running
Energetic first entries were one of the calling cards of the Elizabethan clown (i.e.
foolish rustic), made famous by comic actor Richard Tarlton. See, for example, Derrick’s
opening entrance in The Famous Victories of Henry V as well as Subtle Shift’s in Clyomon and Clamydes. Throughout his two appearances in this play, Bullithrumble is very much an English
rustic, not a Turkish one. The play’s pastoral setting here might have been taken
from Shute, who in describing his escape, writes that Korkud was ultimately betrayed
by certayne men of the countre(O3r).
an
if
were … again
Bullithrumble’s reference to the beginning of society offers an ironic counter to
Selimus’s own ruminations on the same subject in the second scene.
set a tap abroach
To let ale or wine flow freely from a cask (OED adv.1).
Bullithrumble says he would drink excessively and without reservation.
breach
violation
ten commandments
Ten fingers and the set of ten moral principles that occur twice in the Old Testament.
Compare with Locrine (
fearing she would set her ten commandements in my face[H2r]) and 2Henry VI 2.1 (
Could I come neare your dainite vissage with my nayles, Ide set my ten commandments in your face).
proper
apt, skilled
wasters
Fencing with wooden swords (OED n.3).
A wooden sword was a common clown prop during the period.
club’s trump
Possibly an ironic reference to a card game of the period. Here, Bullithrumble refers
to it figuratively to describe his wife beating him with a club.
to sing
Bullithrumble would have sang the following rhymed lines. Singing was usually part
of the clown’s performative routines.
hap
luck
even
evening
lies
lies silent
talents
talons, with a pun on
talents,skills
fro
from
lays it on my skin
hits me
Sir John
Sir John was a stock name for a rural Anglican priest.
joined
married
I’ll tell you what
Bullithrumble is addressing the audience. Elizabethan clowns frequently broke the
fourth wall in their performances. In his injunction to the players in Shakespeare’s
Hamlet, Hamlet complains about this and other clown practices.
blessed
Swatted.
Bullithrumble frequently refers to the various religious practices of Anglican minsters
in the two scenes in which he appears. Here, he ironically refers to their blessings
in rituals like the eucharist.
whole alphabet of faces
Bullithrumble uses
whole alphabetto describe his range of faces in response to being beat by his wife. Below he goes into more detail about this.
cammock
A stick or club with a crooked head, used in games to drive a ball (OED n.1).
Bullithrumble describes his wife’s crooked face as well as suggests that she is the
stick, he the ball.
criss-cross row
the alphabet, so named from the figure of a cross prefixed to the alphabet in hornbooks
and primers for teaching children to read (OED Christ-cross-row n.1)
While he … his Page.
Bullithrumble should be sitting at a distance from where Corcut and his Page enter
so that they do not immediately notice him. As Hopkinson and others have pointed out,
the rest of this scene is very similar to a late scene in Locrine where the defeated and starving Scythian king Humber asks the clown Strumbo for some
meat.It is also reminiscent of a scene in King Leir where Leir and Perillus are wandering in a forest, searching for meat that is subsequently provided by a disguised Cordella. Historically as reported by Ashton, Korkud was present when Selimus deposes Bayezid II in Istanbul. He then
fled awaye priuilye wyth his gallayes in to his prouince(H4r). In Shute, Korkud is not present in Istanbul when Bayezid II is deposed. Later, he is forced into hiding by Selim and then executed (O2v).
Tartary
Tartarus.
In classical mythology, the deepest level of the underworld where the gods locked
away their enemies.
O hateful hellish … on the grass.
Much of Corcut’s account of his escape from Selimus appears to have been taken from
Ashton (I4v-I5v), including his escape with servants from Magnesia to Smyrna as well as his desire
to find a ship to take him to Rhodes.
In Shute’s account, neither Smyrna nor Rhodes are mentioned, and Korkud is not said
to have been accompanied by servants (O2v-O3r).
fen
swamp
ends
goals
so nor so
in any way
Old Hali’s sons
Hali Bassa and Cali Bassa.
Much of the rest of this speech is adapted from Ashton I4v.
companies
Corcut is referring to plural groups here.
should have befell me
Metrically, the removal of
toregularizes the pentameter line.
Smyrna
Greek port city on the Aegean Sea
dark cave
Historically, Korkud was captured by his brother while hiding in a cave.
Ashton does not recount Korkud’s capture, only that he was ultimately hanged in a
bowestryng by Selimus (I5v); Shute describes Korkud hiding out in Magnesia in certaine woodes and caves before
being captured (O2v-3r).
Rhodes
large Greek island and name for its capital city
crossed
thwarted
Kept
controlled
These two days … on the grass.
For similar scenes of a character attempting to elude discovery, see Locrine H3r-v and Alphonsus King of Aragon E2v.
in good time
in the nick of time
felonians
Comic form of felons.
Clowns often trafficked in malaprops and neologisms.
creep into kindred
get intimate, get too close
you are … Master Bullithrumble
Bullithrumble disputes that he is simply a
groom,asserting that he is a
Master.Compare with Locrine:
O alasse sir, ye are deceiued, I am not Mercury, I am Strumbo(H2v). Elizabethan clowns frequently disputed their lower-order stations as part of their routines. Slipper, for example, in James IV tells Sir Bartram that he
is a gentleman(E4r). Mouse in Mucedorus claims that
A Lord at the least I am(F2r). Derrick in The Famous Victories of Henry V protests,
Am I a clown? Zounds, masters, do clowns go in silk apparel?(146). Ralph in Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay declares his own superiority because he is a king’s clown.
Aside
Bullithrumble clearly speaks the next sentence to himself.
cozening conicatching crossbiter
All terms in Robert Greene’s conicatching pamphlets, the first of which was his Notable Discovery of Coosenage published in 1591.
Conicatcherswere mostly urban criminals that used card scams to steal from
conies(rabbits, i.,e. prey).
Crossbiterswere essentially pimps who used sex workers to blackmail customers. Compare with The Taming of the Shrew:
Take heede signior Baptista least you be conicatcht in this business: I dare sweare this is the right Vincentio(T6r).
’tence
pretence
victuals
food
godfathers and godmothers
Godfathers and godmothers are traditionally present at christenings where the name
of a baby is announced.
BULLITHRUMBLE
In the 1594 quarto, the Bullithrumble speech prefix recurs redundantly at the top
of H2v before
Mass.Riad has argued that there may be a Corcut speech that is missing here, but because the unnecessary prefix occurs at the top of a page, this was in all likelihood a compositor’s mistake.
Aside
Bullithrumble’s next two sentences here are clearly self-directed.
church book
the parish register where christenings, marriages, and deaths were recorded
Mass
by the mass, an oath
ad quorum and omnium populorum
Latin phrases used in commissioning a Justice of the Peace to do his work (Vitkus 123).
How he famines me.
Bullithrumble complains that Corcut is making him hungry by keeping him from his meat.
Ironically, Bullithrumble is the one who is doing most of the talking here.
an it please you
an if it please you
do believe
have faith in god
and it please you
if it please you
catechism
An elementary treatise for instruction in the principles of the Christian religion,
in the form of question and answer (OED n.2).
Bullithrumble comically describes his so-far short interaction with Corcut as a kind
of catechism.
sovereign
supreme
O lord … and goblins.
Listening to the language of Corcut’s oath, Bullithrumble comically confuses it with
a demonic invocation.
This is reminiscent of the clowns’ fear in Doctor Faustus that Mephistophilis will have him torn to pieces.
Aside
Bullithrumble clearly speaks the next sentence to himself.
Maister Pigwiggen
Maister (i.e. Master).
Maister Pigwiggenis a comic name for a rural justice of the peace
entertain
Provide for (OED v.1c).
Bullithrumble thinks that Corcut and his page are asking to be taken into his service
as servants.
Around this time, there were a number of plays with such comic recruitment scenes.
See, for example, Mucedorus, James IV, Doctor Faustus, and Edward II.
A good … Maister
Compare with Mucedorus:
I wil tell you what I can doe, I can keepe my tougue from picking and stealing, and my hands from lying and slaundering, I warrant you(B2v).
keep
watch
keeping … stealing
Bullithrumble confuses the actions of hands and tongues here.
picking
pickpocketing
servitures
servants
tripes
intestines
society
A group, collective.
The joke here and below seems to be that
societyis anything but a
well-used metaphor,nor is
company.
The brethren
Hali Bassa and Cali Bassa
portagues
Portuguese gold coins
Enter Selimus
Compare with Ashton which recounts Selimus hiring
a greate route of mourners, with all pompe and solempnitiein order to cloke his murder of Bajazeth (I3r).
corses
corpses
[Bajazeth]
The 1594 quarto mistakenly substitutes
Mustaffa.It is clearly the corpse of Bajazeth with that of Aga that is being carried in here.
with funeral pomp
a public procession involving mourning figures, costumes, and music (Dessen and Thomson)
[Aside]
The large processional entrance here is used to signify the stakes of Selimus’s actions
at this point. That the entrance is immediately followed by an aside underscores its
symbolic importance. Selimus’s speech here is clearly self-directed.
I made of him away
Metrically, the addition of
ofregularizes the pentameter line.
Why
an interjection
thus must Selim blind his subjects’ eyes.
Similarly, Ashton describes Bayezid II’s grand funeral as an underhanded attempt by
Selim to
cloke the most cruel & manyfest murther of his father(I3r).
Richard III in Richard III deploys comparable strategies in 3.7.
made of him away
killed him
pomp
ceremony
dram
bit
in this ancient monument
The Temple of Mahomet.
[Bajazeth placed in]
The original stage direction dictates
Suppose the Temple of Mahomet.This is apparently a direction for the actors, intended to cue them to treat the space as if it were a pagan temple, one dedicated to Muhammed. Vitkus (146) points out that it was common for English texts to mistake mosques for temples. According to Dessen and Thomson, this is the only instance of
supposeused as an imperative in a stage direction.
Thou wert … of ours
Selimus is setting himself up as the reborn Phoenix, born from his father’s ashes.
And didst thou die
Metrically, the substitution of
didst thou dieregularizes the pentameter line.
Mounteth highest heaven
Metrically, the removal of
toregularizes the pentameter line.
Macedonia
a kingdom of ancient Greece
high exalted
Honored.
The ironic implication here is that the page will end up being hanged for his labor.
That same
his master Corcut
The sweet … affords
there
the life of a king
harborèd
lodged within
from
Bullithrumble ironically makes the excuse of his familial responsibilities here.
the governor of Magnesia
In the tenth Scene, a messenger calls Corcut the
Soldan of Magnesia.Nowhere in the play do we see Hali Bassa having this governor position being conferred upon him.
wrath
angry
Thus I … as she.
Amphiaraus was a seer and warrior beloved of Zeus and Apollo. His wife Eriphyle, bribed
with a gold necklace, convinced him to join a disastrous expedition of the seven against
Thebes.
Eriphyle was ultimately murdered in revenge by one of her sons at the bidding of Amphiaraus.
No one has yet identified the source of Corcut’s allusion to Amphiaraus’s disguise.
sorrowst
Metrically,
sorrowstregularizes the pentameter line.
profession
occupation
charge
responsibility
The more’s the pity.
expression of regret about a statement just made
preferment
Bullithrumble ironically calls his punishment a
prefermentin that he would be raised up by the gallows.
down Holburn up Tyburn
Bullithrumble refers to the infamous path of criminals to execution in London. They
first passed down Holburn street to the village of Tyburn, just north of London where
the gallows were located. Of course, a Turkish shepherd would not be talking about
London here.
Compare with The Life and Death of Jack Straw:
Tyborn stand fast, I feare you will be loden ere it be long(B1v).
my best joint
his head
strappado
The strappado was a form of torture in which the victim was raised on a pulley by
his hands that were tied behind his back. Bullithrumble imagines the strappado as
equivalent to the gallows here.
running away
Bullithrumble exits with the same energy that he first entered the play. His running
away also enacts his escape strategy outlined at Sc20 Sp3 above. Such exits and entrances were part of the conventional routines of Elizabethan
clowns.
Persian Ismael … our chief foes.
Historically, Ahmed, like his father and unlike his brother Selim, had sympathy with
Ismael’s Shia cause. See also Sc1 Sp2 and Sc5 Sp2.
succor
assistance
bold
brave
condign
Fitting, appropriate (OED adj.3a, b).
Starvation is fitting presumably because the Page betrayed Corcut while he was feeding
his sheep.
Old Gyges’ wond’rous ring
Gyges was an old shepherd living in what is now western Turkey who discovered a magical
ring that rendered its wearers invisible. He used the ring to depose a king and marry
his widow (Vitkus 128).
In comparing Corcut to Gyges, Selimus subtly accuses Corcut of having designs on the
throne.
jest
joke
no otherwise
not any differently
leave
permission
Ay
Acomat agrees to let Corcut speak here, so
Aymakes more sense here than Q1’s
Nay.
divine
predict
I have conversed with Christians
Corcut’s spiritual conversion to Christianity as he will describe in this speech is
not to be found Ashton or Shute and was likely added for the benefit of the play’s
Christian audiences.
crystalline vault
a sphere in the Ptolemaic system located beyond the stars (OED chrystalline adj.1)
treads
Beats down.
Corcut seems to be suggesting something to the effect that god minimizes our sins
while we are still alive on earth.
wink
turn a blind eye to
But it is
Metrically, the addition of
itregularizes the pentameter line.
hearken
listen
give us over to our wicked choice
damn us
offences
sins
Chiurlu
A city in northwest Turkey, near Byzantium (i.e. Istanbul).
See Scene 5 to Scene 8. Selim died on the road from Edirne to Istanbul in September, 1520, not in Chiurlu.
Corcut’s prediction could be taken as further evidence of a planned sequel. See Conclusion.
In Chiurlu … death.
Corcut’s prediction is prophetic. Selim died near the city of Chiurlu in 1520.
[Selimus] strangles him.
The original stage direction does not identify who strangles Corcut, but because no
command is given, it is most likely Selimus who was meant to carry out the deed. In
Ashton, Korkud is executed by Selim by being
trussed up in a bowstryng(I5v). Shute does not specify how Korkud was killed (O2r). Corcut’s body will somehow need to be removed before the next scene.
corrivals
One of several competitors having equal claims (OED n.1).
As Selimus explains below, Acomat is not a corrival because he is too weak to resist
Selimus.
immures herself
shuts herself up in
girt
surround
They say … girt Amasya.
Similarly, Ashton describes how Selim resolved to murder both of Ahmed’s sons (I3v-I4r). Selimus’s attack on Solyma is apparently an invention of the play.
bastard
Selimus suggests that Amurath and Aladin are not the true children of Acomat (i.e.
the products of adultery) and thus not legitimate rivals to the Ottoman throne.
officiousness
Readiness in doing good offices, performing one’s duty (OED n1).
Though not listed, this would be, according to the OED, the earliest use of the term in this sense.
souls
Selimus is referring to the plural
soulsof Amurath and Aladin here.
keep
govern
Mustaffa [and a Janissary]
Q1 indicates that only Mustaffa remains on stage even while he sends
onewith a message to Amurath and Aladin below.
Ottoman’s fair race
the heirs of Osman I, founder of the Ottoman Empire
Yet for
because
dear
dearly
Go, sirrah … Amasya.
This is an example of what McMillin and MacLean describe as the Queen’s Men’s dramaturgical
strategy of
narrative overdetermination,Mustaffa here predicting the action of a scene to come.
do put them
Metrically, the addition of
doregularizes the pentameter line.
put them to the sword
kill them
To be the brother of their emperor
Mustaffa was offered the hand of Bajazeth’s sister, Solyma, in marriage.
Enter Solyma
Solyma is neither in Ashton nor Shute and is thus likely an invention. She is the
second of three female characters to appear in the play.
This night … to me
Compare with Richard III where prophetic dreams occur in a number of scenes.
Lucinae’s shining wain
The chariot of the moon.
Lucina was the goddess of childbirth and often linked to the moon (Riad 181).
Cassiopeia
This is a constellation named after Cassiopeia, the mother of Andromeda, who boasted
of her and her daughter’s unrivaled beauty and who for her arrogance was punished
by being exiled to the sky. The stars in the constellation form the shape of a chair.
a fearful vision
A number of plays during the period like Shakepeare’s Richard III and the anonymous Arden of Faversham include such prophetic dreams.
of bassa’s fair degree
of the bassas’ elite status
halter
noose
A greedy lion … all to nought.
Solyma has a premonition of her coming death at the hands of her brother Selimus.
nought
nothing
disjoin
separate
bounds
boundaries
this
Amurath gives the messengers some coins.
let us depart
Compare the following with Ashton which has the brothers fleeing together to the mountains
(I4r).
the windows of the morn be ope
morning
ope
open
Aegyptus
Latin for Egypt
I’ll to Aegyptus … I to Persia.
In Shute (O4r-v), Acomat’s sons fight in their father’s last battle against Selimus, fleeing at its
conclusion.
they
Amurath and Aladin
did move them
Metrically, the addition of
didregularizes the pentameter line.
him
Hali Bassa only meets with one messenger.
certified
informed
pitiful
merciful, also pathetic
him
Mustaffa
mean
means
secrecies
secrets
for
because
famous stock
royal line of the Ottomans
battle of Chiurlu … by flight
See Scene 5 to Scene 8. Mustaffa gives specific details of the battle here that are not actually staged
or discussed in these scenes.
hedged
surrounded
danger
vulnerability
’scape
escape
sons
Hali Bassa and Cali Bassa
bend their brows
frown
Janissars do mourn
Metrically, addition of
doregularizes the pentameter line.
ever subject
ever any subject has been
holy protestation
Selimus refers to Mustaffa’s vow,
So help me God and holy Mahomet,above.
merchantman
merchant
ware
merchandise
be in the selfsame
be guilty of the same
he made thee emperor
See Sc16 Sp3. Though we do not actually see him support Selimus’s usurpation of the throne, Mustaffa
is apparently present when the Janissaries crown Selimus offstage.
after live
live after
’Twere pity … husband.
Selimus sarcastically suggests that the lonely Solyma should join Mustaffa in the
afterlife.
unmanly
Lacking fortitude and courage.
Selimus ironically suggests that Solyma’s forces are
unmanlybecause led by a woman.
Exeunt
Mustaffa’s and Solyma’s bodies will somehow have to been removed from the stage before
the start of the next scene.
my native soil
Turkey
by right
Acomat refers to the fact that now, after his killing of Corcut, he is the eldest
son of Bajazeth.
enthronized
Enthroned.
Compare with Locrine:
Right noble father, we will rule the land, / Enthronized in seates of Topace stones, / That Locrine and his brethren all may know(C3r).
exiled me
We never see Selimus formally do this in the play.
raise
remove
Nilus
Latin for the Nile river
Usumcasane
Usumcasane is a supporter of Tamburlaine in Marlowe’s Tamburlaine plays. During the
course of these plays, Tamburlaine crowns him king of Morocco. The historical Usumcasane,
Uzun Hasan, was a Persian King who lived decades after Timur the Lame, the historical
source of Marlowe’s Tamburlaine (Vitkus 147). The historic record is unclear as to whether Uzun Hasan was related to Tuman Bey
(the historic namesake of the play’s Tonombey). Ashton, though, records that the Persian
leader Ismael was the grandson of Uzun Hasan (G2v).
From whom my father lineally descends
This appears to be a fictional lineage.
Fortune shall show
even if Fortune shall show
too cross
opposed
revest
reinvest
uncontrollèd
not to be controlled
mushrooms
contemptible persons (OED n.2a), also upstarts (OED n.2b) because mushrooms proverbially grow overnight
parricide
murderer of his own father
lukewarm blood
This was a common phrase in professional plays of the period.
Compare with Locrine (
Were bathed in our enemies lukewarme blood[D2r]) and Mucedorus (
Now glut thy greedie guts with luke warme blood![D2r]).
your robberies
Metrically, the addition of
yourregularizes the pentameter line.
equal
just
Euripus of swift Euboea
Euripus is a strait between the Greek island of Euboea and the Boeotian peninsula
known for its swift current
Phoeb’s
Phoebus’s, the sun’s
bring the day … Eastern sea.
rise in the west and set in the east
Thy bloody … What security?
Solyma sarcastically asks Selimus what hope of mercy can she have given the violent
past actions of him and his soldiers.
ungracious
wicked, possibly low born (as an insult)
of all thy dearest friends
Metrically, the addition of
allregularizes the pentameter line.
death
forms of death
Though you braved us
Metrically, the addition of
youregularizes the pentameter line.
Melanippe … great Hercules
Daughter of the Greek god of war Ares, Melanippe (in Q1
Menalip) was an Amazonian queen, sister to Hippolyta who appears in A Midsummer Night’s Dream as captive to Theseus.
Hercules fought Melanippe and the Amazons along the river Thermodon while retrieving
Hippolyta’s girdle, one of his twelve labors.
haughty plumes
prideful feathers
take
capture
Thou hast not Fortune tièd in a chain
You do not control Fortune.
Compare with 1 Tamburlaine (
I hold the Fates bound fast in yron chaines, / And with my hand turne Fortunes wheel about[B1r]) and Locrine (
Leades fortune tied in a chaine of gold, / Contraining her to yeeld vnto his will[C3r]).
wary pilot
cautious sea captain
this all containing barge
earth
Were they … Minerva’s shield.
Compare with Edward I (
Or shouldst as Briareus shake at once, / A hundred bloudie swordes, with bloudie hands,) and Locrine (
How brauely this yoong Brittain Albanact / Darteth abroad the thunderbolts of warre, / Beating downe millions with his furious moode; / And in his glorie triumphs ouer all, / Mouing the massie squadrants of the ground; / Heape hills on hills, to scale the starrie sky, / When Briareus armed with an hundreth hands / Floong forth an hundreth mountains at great Ioue, / And when the monstrous giant Monichus / Hurld mount Olympus at great Mars his targe, / And shot huge caedars at Mineruas shield[D4v]).
earth-bred brethren
The giants.
In the classical tradition, the giants were children of Gaia, earth. Here, Selimus
refers to the revolt of the giants against the gods (Riad 189).
Heaped hill on hill to scale the starry sky
Briareus
Briareus was one of titans, children of Gaia (earth), who was said to have a hundred
arms or hands. In one tradition, Briareus fought with the titans against the gods.
Mars his targe
Mars’s shield
darted
hurled
Minerva
Roman goddess associated with wisdom and war
urchins
hedgehogs
porcupine
Selimus, in calling Acomat a
porcupine,accuses him of being prickly and difficult to deal with.
masketh in our looks
Selimus tells Acomat that courage makes masks of his soldiers’ faces, suggesting that
all of his men look courageous.
white-winged
morally pure, right
Victory sits on our swords
Compare with 1 Tamburlaine:
Behold my sword, what see you at the point? / […] / For there sits Death, there sits imperious Death(E3r). See Sc6 Sp1.
Captain of Egypt
Tonombey
vauntst
boasts
Sprung … Scythian thief,
Compare with 1 Tamburlaine:
Of Tamburlaine, that sturdie Scythian thiefe(A3v). For other allusions to Tamburlaine, see Sc19 Sp1 and Sc26 Sp2. As Riad suggests (191), this new account of Tonombey’s lineage is seemingly an error on the part of the playwright(s).
bade thee enterprise
encouraged you to pursue
detain
keep
crest
head
I dare and chellenge thee.
Selimus challenges his brother to single combat.
unripe
immature
Phaeton
In his adolescence, Phaeton asked his father to let him drive his sun chariot across
the sky. After receiving permission to do so, he lost control of the horses, and because
he then came too close to earth, threatening it with destruction, Zeus struck the
boy down with a thunderbolt.
In classical mythology, Phaeton was the son of Helios, the sun.
t’undertake
to undertake, to take in hand
resolv’st
resolves, decides
peremptory
decisive
cope with
face
bragging
Boastful, swaggering (OED adj.).
Compare with Locrine:
And but thou better vse thy bragging blade, / Then thou doest rule thy ouerflowing toong, /Superbious Brittaine, thou shalt know too soone / The force of Humber and his Scithians(D4r).
overflowing
too loquacious, talkative
Exeunt all but Tonombey.
There are soldiers from both sides still on the stage when Tonombey reenters. His
final speech, however, is delivered with only him on stage, and as such an added stage
direction is needed here.
Dings
knocks
Persians
The Persians were also Acomat’s allies.
Sinam Bassa with Acomat prisoner
Ashton (I6r-v) gives a longer description of Ahmed’s escape from the battle and capture. Ashton’s
account has him, like Korkud,
hanged in a bowestryng.In Shute, Ahmed is strangled by Selimus’s men after being defeated in battle and captured (O4r).
Thus, when … of Troy.
Selimus compares his victory over Acomat to a victory in the Iliad of the Trojan Hector, son of King Priamus, over the Greeks in the Trojan War.
Eventually, of course, the Greeks would kill Hector and win the war, and as such,
this is an ironic allusion. For an earlier reference to the Trojan War, see Sc19 Sp12.
never-foilèd
never-beaten
Or Mars … of blood.
In a second epic simile in this speech, Selimus cites an elusive myth involving the
Roman god of war fighting with the Thracians, a group of Indo-European tribes occupying
southeastern Europe. The Hebros is a river running through Greece and emptying into
the Aegean Sea.
Beylerbey of fair Natolia
The previous beylerbey died in scene 14 above.
rev’rence
Metrically, this abbreviated form of
reverenceregularizes the pentameter line.
contentation
satisfaction
them
the assembled bassas who fought for Selimus
wanted
lacked
Now, as … to crowns.
Monster-gardensmay be a reference to the Garden of Hesperides or to the Garden of Eden (Riad 194).
Selimus delivers his third epic simile in this scene, here comparing himself to the
many classical heroes like Hercules and Odysseus who had successfully completed challenging
tasks and journeys.
Ind
India
trod
walked
Like the … territories.
In his fourth and longest epic simile in this scene, Selimus compares his history
to the myth of Egyptian Ibis.
sweltring
sweltering, oppressively hot
earth’s green children
plantlife, possibly young animals
them
the ibises
basilisk
A mythological serpant whose look and breath was fatal.
lifted ungracious hands
Metrically, the removal of
hisregularizes the pentameter line.
rid
gotten rid of
cockatrice
another word for basilisk
consumèd
destroyed
And now … emperors
Tonombey and Ismael among others.
Here again, the play suggests a coming sequel. See Sc23 Sp12 and the Conclusion below.
those soldans … hell
Selim I attacked and defeated the Persians and their leader Ismael in 1514. He defeated
the Egyptians and their leader Tuman Bey in 1517.
These encounters presumably would have been the subject of Selimus’s sequel if it had been written. As Vitkus has pointed out (22), Selimus’s reference here to a
lowest hellis ironic given his rejection of either a heaven or a hell in his long opening speech in the play’s second scene.
Zephyrus
the west wind, indicating the arrival of Spring
meads
meadows
Enter Conclusion.
Like the Prologue, the following choral speech would have been delivered by one of
the actors to the audience. Dessen and Thomson list no other instance of a
Conclusionspeaking part in an early modern English professional play.
Arabia
In fact, Selimus has become the undisputed Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. He actually
does not wear the crown of Arabia.
Next
Here is famously promised a sequel, like the second part of Tamburlaine. As far as we know, this sequel was never written and therefore never staged.
warlike
Naturally disposed to warfare (OED adj.1).
Compare with 1 Tamburlaine:
Wel, here is now to the Souldan of Egypt the King of Arabia, and the Gouernour of Damascus. Now take these three crownes, and pledge me, my contributorie Kings. / I crown you here (Theridamas) King of Argier: Techelles, king of Feste, and Vsummeasane King of Morocus(D8v).
Giving
The form
Givingis parallel with
Dividingin the preceding line and also makes the lines here clearer in meaning.
do like you well
you do like well
Collations
Adopted reading (Vitkus):
—would I had ne’re begun—
Q1:
, would I had nere begunne
—would I had ne’re begun!
—would I had ne’re begun!
Adopted reading (Ed):
In losing Alemshae poor, I
Q1:
In leesing Alemshae poore, I
In leesing Alemshae, poor I
In losing Alemshae, poor I
In losing Alemshae, poor I
Adopted reading (Ed):
Enter again [Mustaffa, Cherseoli, and the Janissaries].
Q1:
Enters againe.
[Mustaffa, Cherseoli, and the Janissaries] enter again.
Re-enter Mustapha, Cherseoli, and the Janissaries
Adopted reading (Grosart 1898):
Perhaps, my Lord, Selimus
Q1:
Perhaps my Lord Selimus
Perhaps my Lord Selimus
Perhaps, my lord Selimus
Adopted reading (Ed):
I, like a lion, look not worth a leek,
Q1:
I like a Lions looke not worth a leeke,
Aye, like a lion’s look—not worth a leek—
I like a lion’s look—not worth a leek—
I like a lion’s look—not worth a leek,
Adopted reading (Q1):
Then euery man of his owne dition was,
Then every one his owne director was,
Then every man of his own dition was,
Then every man of his own dition was,
Adopted reading (Q1):
There needed them no iudge nor yet no law / Nor any King of whom to stand in awe.
they neided then nothing of whom to stand in awe
There needed them no judge, nor yet no law, / Nor any king of whom to stand in awe.
There needed then no judge, nor yet no law, / Nor any king of whom to stand in awe:
There needed then no judge, nor yet no law, / Nor any King of whom to stand in awe:
Adopted reading (Q1):
Did then to set possessours first obey
did yeld themselves and likewise did obey
Did then to set possessors first obey.
Did then to set possessors first obey.
Did then to set possessors first obey.
Adopted reading (Q1):
Then they estblisht lawes and holy rites, / To maintaine peace, and gouerne bloodie
fights.
did yeld themselves and likewise did obey / and with a common muttering discontent
/ gave that to tyme which tyme cannot prevent.
Then they established laws and holy rites / To maintain peace and govern bloody fights.
Then they established laws and holy rites, / To maintain peace, and govern bloody
fights.
Then they established laws and holy rites, / To maintain peace, and govern bloody
fights.
Then they establisht lawes and holy rites, / To maintaine peace, and gouerne bloodie
fights.
Adopted reading (Q1):
And gan of paines, and faind rewards to tell,
and gaine of paines and fair rewardes to tell
And ’gan of pains and feigned rewards to tell:
And ’gan of pains, and feigned rewards to tell:
And ’gan of pains, and feign’d rewards, to tell:
Adopted reading (Q1):
That hath no bounds
which is not knowne
That hath no bounds
That hath no bounds
That hath no bounds
Adopted reading (Q1):
Of actions tearmed by vs good or ill:
as affections termeth us be it good or ill
Of actions, termed by us good or ill:
Of actions, termed by us good or ill:
Of actions, term’d by us good or ill:
Adopted reading (Hopkinson):
as [have] the best
Q1:
as the rest
even as the best
as have the best
as [have] the best
Adopted reading (Grosart 1898):
Death’s … Night
Q1:
deaths … night
deathes … night
Death’s … Night
Death’s … Night
Adopted reading (Grosart):
Cherseo[li], go
Q1:
Cherseo. Go
Cherseoli, go
Riad:
Cherseoli, go
Cherseoli, go
Bang:
Cherseoli, go
Adopted reading (Ed):
Acomat and Corcut
Q1:
Corcut and Acomat
Corcut and Acomat
Corcut, and Acomat
Corcut, and Acomat
Adopted reading (Ed):
Alarum. [Enter Mustaffa and Selimus at diverse doors.] Mustaffa beat[s] Selimus in,
then Ottrante and Cherseoli enter at diverse doors.
Q1:
Alarum, Mustaffa beate Selimus in, then Ottrante and Cherseoli enter at diuerse doores
Alarum. Mustaffa beats Selimus in, then Ottrante and Cherseoli enter at diverse doors.
Alarums. Mustapha beats Selimus in. Ottrante and Cherseoli enter at divers doors.
Alarum. Mustaffa beats Selimus in, Ottrante and Cherseoli enter at divers doors.
Adopted reading (Ed):
This sword, ne’er drunk
Q1:
This swoord nere drunke
This sword here, drunk
Riad:
this swoord here, drunke
This sword here, drunk
Bang:
This swoord here drunke
This sword here, drunk
Adopted reading (Hopkinson):
What lets me from this vain slumber rising
Q1:
What lets me then from this vaine slumber rise
What lets me, then? From this vain slumber rising
What let me then from this vain slumber rising
Adopted reading (Q1):
But in the green and unripe blade is pent
But in the green and unripe blade is pent;
But in the green and unripe blade is pent;
Adopted reading (Ed):
[Aside] Advise thee, Acomat
Q1:
Aduise thee Acomat
Advise thee, Acomat
Advise thee, Acomat
Advise thee, Acomat
Adopted reading (Ed):
he will think
Q1:
he thinke
he’ll think
Riad:
he thinke
he’ll think
Bang:
he’ll
he’[ll] think
Adopted reading (Q1):
and speakes the rest to himselfe.
and speaks to himself [while Mustaffa reads].
and speaks aside.
and speaks the rest to himself.
Adopted reading (Ed):
Sound. [Enter] a messenger from Corcut.
Q1:
Sound. A Messenger from Corcut.
Sound [trumpets]. A Messenger from Corcut [arrives].
Sound within. Enter a Messenger from Corcut.
Sound. A messenger from Corcut.
Adopted reading (Ed):
But Corcut, mind free
Q1:
But Corcuts mind free
But Corcut’s mind, free
But Corcut’s mind free
But Corcut’s mind, free
Adopted reading (Ed):
sailing without the stars
Q1:
Sayling without starres
sailing without stars’ sight
sailing without stars’ [light]
sailing without stars’ [sight]
Adopted reading (Grosart 1898):
Ay, and perchance
Q1:
I and perchance
Ay, and perchance
Ay, and perchance
Adopted reading (Ed):
and then rent[s it.]
Q1:
and then renting it say:
and then [tears it up].
and then rending it, say;
and then rending it say:
Adopted reading (Grosart):
subiect [vn]to
Q1:
subiect to
subject onto
subject[ed] to
Bang:
subject unto
Adopted reading (Ed):
[Enter] all [to] a parley, Mahomet, Beylerbey, and soldiers on the walls.
Q1:
All. A parley Mahomet, Belierbey, and souldiers on the walles.
[They] all [hold] a parley. Mahomet, Beylerbey, and Soldiers [appear above] on the
walls [of the city.
A Parley. Mahomet, Belierbey, and Soldiers [appear] on the walls.
All. A parley. Mahomet, Belierbey, and soldiers on the walls.
Adopted reading (Ed):
Why, I am thy nephew; doest thou frown?
Q1:
Why for I am thy nephew doest thou frowne?
Why, for I am thy nephew dost thou frown?
Why, for I am thy nephew, dost thou frown?
Why, for I am thy nephew, dost thou frown?
Adopted reading (Ed):
[They] scale the walls. [Exit all above. Re]enter
Q1:
Scale the walles. Enter
[They] scale the walls. Enter
They scale the walls, and exeunt
Scale the walls. Enter
Adopted reading (Ed):
Mustaffa, [Aga,] and the Janissaries.
Q1:
Mustaffa, and the Ianissaries.
Mustaffa, and the janissaries.
Mustapha, and the Janissaries.
Mustaffa, and Janissaries.
Adopted reading (Ed):
and [then] recovers.
Q1:
and being recouered say:
[He recovers and then speaks.]
and being recovered say.
Adopted reading (Ed):
doth stand before, ready to strike.
Q1:
stands before readie to strike.
stands before, ready to strike.
stands before [me] ready to strike.
stands before ready for to strike
Adopted reading (Ed):
Wonders why your Grace, whom he loved so much
Q1:
Wonders your grace whom he did loue so much
Wonders your grace whom he did love so much
Wonders your grace, whom he did love so much,
Wonders your Grace whom he did love so much
Adopted reading (Ed):
color his strong hands
Q1:
colour my strong hands
color my strong hands
colour my strong hands
colour my strong hands
Adopted reading (Vitkus):
[Acomat] pulls out his eyes.
Q1:
Puls out his eyes.
Pulls out his eyes.
Pulls out his eyes.
Adopted reading (Vitkus):
[Acomat] opens [Aga’s] bosom
Q1:
Opens his bosome
Opens his bosom
Opens his bosom
Adopted reading (Q1):
Those sends he to the
Those sends he to thee,
These sends he to the
Those sends he to the
Adopted reading (Ed):
And hearest thou, Hali? Do strangle him.
Q1:
And hear’st thou, Hali? strangle him.
And hear’st thou, Hali? Strangle him.
And, hearest thou, Hali?—strangle him.
And hear’st thou, Hali? strangle him.
Adopted reading (Ed):
than I am now.
Q1:
then I am
then I am now
than I am
Bang:
then I am now
than I am
Adopted reading (Ed):
And cruel wrath; within me rage is rife.
Q1:
And cruell wrath within me rages rife.
And cruel wrath within me raging rise
Riad:
And cruell wrath within me rages rife
And cruel wrath within me raging rife.
Bang:
And cruell wrath within me raging rife.
And cruel wrath within me raging rife.
Adopted reading (Ed):
It shall soon be wracked on sandy shallows.
Q1:
Shall soone be wrackt vpon the sandie shallowes.
Shall soon be wracked upon the sandy shallows.
Shall soon be wrecked upon the sandy shallows.
Shall soon be wrecked upon the sandy shallows.
Adopted reading (Ed):
lead … stirreth
Q1:
leaud … stirreth
lewd … steereth
lewd … stirreth
Bang:
lewd … steereth
lewd … stirreth
Adopted reading (Ed):
vails the sea
Q1:
vales the sea
vails the seas
Riad:
vales the seas
rules the seas
Bang:
rules the sea
rules the seas
Adopted reading (Grosart):
thrillant
Q1:
chrillant
thrillant
Riad:
thrillant
thrillant
Bang:
thrillant
Adopted reading (Q1):
For who art thou
And who art thou
Riad:
For who art thou
And who art thou
And who art thou
Adopted reading (Ed):
should have befell me
Q1:
should haue befell to me
should have befell to me
should have befel to me
should have befel to me
Adopted reading (Ed):
an it please you
Q1:
and it please you
and it please you
and it please you
and it please you
Adopted reading (Ed):
I made of him away
Q1:
I made him away
that I made him away
I made him away
I made him away
Adopted reading (Vitkus):
indeed. [Selimus speaks] to the corses.
Q1:
indeed. To the courses.
in deed. [Aside. [To the corses.
indeed. [To the corses.
Adopted reading (Ed):
Mounteth highest heaven
Q1:
Mounteth to highest heauen
Mounteth to highest heaven
Mounteth to highest heaven
Mounteth to highest heaven
Adopted reading (Grosart):
since it must be so
Q1:
since it is must be so
since it must be so
since it must be so
since it must be so
Adopted reading (Vitkus):
can. Hereafter, I’ll
Q1:
can hereafter, Ile
Riad:
can, hereafter, Ile
can; hereafter I’ll
can hereafter, I’ll
Adopted reading (Ed):
[Selimus] strangles him.
Q1:
(Strangles him.
[They] strangle him.
They strangle him.
Strangles him.
Adopted reading (Ed):
all save [Mustaffa and a Janissary].
Q1:
saue one.
save one.
except one.
all save one.
Adopted reading (Ed):
[and a] messenger.
Q1:
the messenger.
Messenger
and the Messenger.
the messenger.
Adopted reading (Ed):
Janissars do mourn
Q1:
Ianizars mourne
janissaries mourn
Janissaries mourn
janissaries mourn
Adopted reading (Ed):
A parley: [the Q]ueen of Amasya and her soldiers on the walls.
Q1:
A parley: Queene of Amasia, and her souldiers on the walles.
[Selimus’ men sound] a parley. The queen of Amasia and her Soldiers [appear] on the
walls.
A parley. The Queen of Amasia and Soldiers appear on the walls.
A parley: Queen of Amasia and soldiers on the walls.
Adopted reading (Ed):
of all thy dearest friends,
Q1:
of thy dearest friends:
of thy dearest friend!
of thy dearest friend;
of all thy dearest friend;
Adopted reading (Ed):
Alarum[. Selimus] beats them off the walls. Alarum. [Exeunt].
Q1:
Allarum, beats them off the walles. Allarum.
Alarum. [Selimus] beats them off the walls. [Exeunt.] Alarum.
[Alarum. Beats them off the walls. Exeunt.
[Alarum, beats them off the walls. Alarum.
Adopted reading (Grosart):
though [you] brau’d vs
Q1:
though brau’d vs
though you braved us
though [you] braved us
Bang:
though you brav’d vs
Adopted reading (Hopkinson):
that resolv’st
Ed:
resolvest
Q1:
that resoluest
that resolvest
that resolvest
Adopted reading (Ed):
Alarum. Tonombey beats Hali [Bassa] and Cali [Bassa] in. Selimus beats Tonombey in.
Alarum. [Reenter] Tonombey. [Exeunt all but Tonombey.]
Q1:
Allarum, Tonombey beates Haliand Cali in. Selimbeats Tonombeyin. Allarum, Exit Tonombey.
Alarum. They fight. Tonombey beats Hali Bassa and Cali Bassa in. Selimus beats Tonombey
in. Alarum. [Enter] Tonombey.
[Alarum. Tonombey beats Hali and Cali in. Selimus beats Tonombey in. Re-enter Tonombey
Bang:
Allarum. Tonombey beates Hali and Cali in. Selim beats Tonombey in. Allarum, Enter
Tonombey.
Alarum. Tonombey beats Hali and Cali in. Selim beats Tonombey in. Alarum. Enter Tonombey.
Allarum. Tonombey beates Hali and Cali in. Selim beates Tonombey in. Allarum. Enter Tonombey.
Adopted reading (Q1):
monster-garden
monster-guarded
Riad:
monster-garded
monster-guarded
Bang:
monster-guarded, possibly monster-guarden
monster-guarded
Adopted reading (Ed):
lifted ungracious hands
Q1:
lifted his vngratious hands
lifted his ungracious hands
lifted his ungracious hands
lifted his ungracious hands
Characters
Bajazeth, Sultan of the Turks
Bayezid II (Bāyazīd II), 8th Ottoman Sultan, who was born around 1447 and who ruled
from 1487 until he was deposed in 1512. He died shortly thereafter either of natural
causes or by poisoning.
Mustaffa, son-in-law of Bajazeth and leader of the Janissaries
Koca Mustafa Pasha, who was a Grand Vizier (i.e. Prime Minister) of the Ottoman Empire
under Bayezid II. He was married to Bayezid II’s daughter Kamerşah Hatun and was executed
by Selim I in 1512.
Solyma, wife of Mustaffa and daughter of Bajazeth
Kamerşah Hatun, who was a daughter of Bayezid II and married to Koca Mustafa Pasha.
She did not marry after her husband’s death in 1512.
Aga, follower of Bajazeth
Cherseoli, follower of Bajazeth
Hali Bassa, follower of Bajazeth (later Selimus), brother of Cali Bassa
Cali Bassa, follower of Bajazeth (later Selimus), brother of Hali Bassa
Beylerbey of Natolia, follower of Mahomet and ally of Bajazeth
During the period, a beylerbey (or “beglerbeg”) was a provincial governor, one rank
below a grand vizier. Natolia refers to Kolya, a city in south-central Turkey.
Selimus, youngest surviving son of Bajazeth and later Sultan of the Turks
Selim I (also known as “Selim the Grim”), 9th Ottoman Sultan, who was the son of Bayezid
II and was born around 1470. He ruled from 1512 until his death in 1520.
Sinam Bassa, follower of Selimus
Occhiali, young follower of Selimus
Ottrante, Tatar captain and ally of Selimus
Acomat, son of Bajazeth
Ahmed, who was the son of Bayezid II. He was executed by his brother Selim I in 1513
after leading an unsuccessful campaign against him.
Queen of Amasya, wife of Acomat
Fictional wife of Ahmed. Possibly based on one of his consorts. Amaysa is a town in
north-central Turkey.
Visir, follower of Acomat
Regan, follower of Acomat
Tonombey, captain of Egypt and all of Acomat
Aladin, son of Acomat
Alaeddin Ali, who was one of the sons of Ahmed. He died in 1519.
Amurath, son of Acomat
Murad, who was the eldest son of Ahmed. When Selim I came to power in 1512, he was
given sanctuary in present day Iran by the Safavid leader Ismael and died in 1519.
Corcut, eldest surviving son of Bajazeth
Korkud, scholar, poet, and musician who was the eldest son of Bayezid II born around
1470 and served as Regent of the Ottoman Empire for a short time before his father
came to power in 1481. He was executed by his brother Selim I in 1513.
Page, servant to Corcut
Mahomet, grandson of Bajazeth
Zonara, granddaughter of Bajazeth
Abraham the Jew, physician to Bajazeth
Bullithrumble the clown
One of the many comic rustic characters on the professional English stage that were
popularized by the Queens Men comic actor Richard Tarlton in the 1580s.
Prologue
Chorus, here speaking for the acting troupe, who likely was also meant to deliver
the play’s conclusion. A number of professional plays of the period contain such a
figure.
Conclusion
Messengers
Janissaries
Eunuchs
Soldiers
Prosopography
Andrew Griffin
Andrew Griffin is an associate professor in the department of English and an affiliate
professor in the department of Theater and Dance at the University of California,
Santa Barbara. He is general editor (text) of Queen’s Men Editions. He studies early
modern drama and early modern historiography while serving as the lead editor at the
EMC Imprint. He has co-edited with Helen Ostovich and Holger Schott Syme Locating the Queen’s Men (2009) and has co-edited The Making of a Broadside Ballad (2016) with Patricia Fumerton and Carl Stahmer. His monograph, Untimely Deaths in Renaissance Drama: Biography, History, Catastrophe, was published with the University of Toronto Press in 2019. He is editor of the
anonymous The Chronicle History of King Leir (Queen’s Men Editions, 2011). He can be contacted at griffin@english.ucsb.edu.
Helen Ostovich
Helen Ostovich, professor emerita of English at McMaster University, is the founder
and general editor of Queen’s Men Editions. She is a general editor of The Revels Plays (Manchester University Press); Series
Editor of Studies in Performance and Early Modern Drama (Ashgate, now Routledge),
and series co-editor of Late Tudor and Stuart Drama (MIP); play-editor of several
works by Ben Jonson, in Four Comedies: Ben Jonson (1997); Every Man Out of his Humour (Revels 2001); and The Magnetic Lady (Cambridge 2012). She has also edited the Norton Shakespeare 3 The Merry Wives of Windsor Q1602 and F1623 (2015); The Late Lancashire Witches and A Jovial Crew for Richard Brome Online, revised for a 4-volume set from OUP 2021; The Ball, for the Oxford Complete Works of James Shirley (2021); The Merry Wives of Windsor for Internet Shakespeare Editions, and The Dutch Courtesan (with Erin Julian) for the Complete Works of John Marston, OUP 2022. She has published
many articles and book chapters on Jonson, Shakespeare, and others, and several book
collections, most recently Magical Transformations of the Early Modern English Stage with Lisa Hopkins (2014), and the equivalent to book website, Performance as Research in Early English Theatre Studies: The Three Ladies of London in Context containing scripts, glossary, almost fifty conference papers edited and updated to
essays; video; link to Queen’s Mens Ediitons and YouTube: http://threeladiesoflondon.mcmaster.ca/contexts/index.htm, 2015. Recently, she was guest editor of Strangers and Aliens in London ca 1605,
Special Issue on Marston, Early Theatre 23.1 (June 2020). She can be contacted at ostovich@mcmaster.ca.
Janelle Jenstad
Janelle Jenstad is a Professor of English at the University of Victoria, Director
of The Map of Early Modern London, and Director of Linked Early Modern Drama Online. With Jennifer Roberts-Smith and Mark Beatrice Kaethler, she co-edited Shakespeare’s Language in Digital Media: Old Words, New Tools (Routledge). She has edited John Stow’s A Survey of London (1598 text) for MoEML and is currently editing The Merchant of Venice (with Stephen Wittek) and Heywood’s 2 If You Know Not Me You Know Nobody for DRE. Her articles have appeared in Digital Humanities Quarterly, Elizabethan Theatre, Early Modern Literary Studies, Shakespeare Bulletin, Renaissance and Reformation, and The Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies. She contributed chapters to Approaches to Teaching Othello (MLA); Teaching Early Modern Literature from the Archives (MLA); Institutional Culture in Early Modern England (Brill); Shakespeare, Language, and the Stage (Arden); Performing Maternity in Early Modern England (Ashgate); New Directions in the Geohumanities (Routledge); Early Modern Studies and the Digital Turn (Iter); Placing Names: Enriching and Integrating Gazetteers (Indiana); Making Things and Drawing Boundaries (Minnesota); Rethinking Shakespeare Source Study: Audiences, Authors, and Digital Technologies (Routledge); and Civic Performance: Pageantry and Entertainments in Early Modern London (Routledge). For more details, see janellejenstad.com.
Joey Takeda
Joey Takeda is LEMDO’s Consulting Programmer and Designer, a role he assumed in 2020
after three years as the Lead Developer on LEMDO.
Kim Shortreed
Kim is a PhD Candidate in Media Studies and Digital Humanities, through UVic’s English
Department. Kim has worked for years in TEI and XML, mostly through the Colonial Despatches
website, and in a number of roles, including technical editor, research and markup,
writing and editing, documentation, and project management. Recently, Kim worked with
a team of Indigenous students to find ways to decolonize the Despatches project’s content and encoding practices. Part of Kim’s dissertation
project, Contracolonial Practices in Salish Sea Namescapes, is to prototype a haptic map, a motion-activated topography installation that plays audio clips of spoken toponyms,
in SENĆOŦEN and English, of the W̱SÁNEĆ Territory/Saanich Peninsula, respectively.
Kirk Melnikoff
Kirk Melnikoff is Professor of English at UNC Charlotte and a past president of the
Marlowe Society of America. His research interests range from sixteenth-century British
Literature and Culture, to Shakespeare in Performance, to Book History. His essays
have appeared in a number of journals and books, and he is the author of Elizabethan Book Trade Publishing and the Makings of Literary Culture (U Toronto P, 2018). He has also edited four essay collections, most recently Christopher Marlowe, Theatrical Commerce, and the Book Trade (Cambridge UP, 2018), and published an edition of Robert Greene’s James IV in 2020. He is currently co-editing a collection of early modern book-trade wills
which will be published by Manchester UP, editing Marlowe’s Edward II for the Oxford Marlowe: Collected Works project, and working on a monograph on bookselling in early modern England.
Mahayla Galliford
Project Manager, 2025-present; Assistant Project Manager, 2024-2025; Research Assistant,
2021-present. Mahayla Galliford (she/her) graduated from the University of Victoria
with a BA (honours with distinction) in 2024, and an MA English in 2026. Mahayla’s
undergraduate research explored early modern stage directions and civic water pageantry.
Her SSHRC-funded MA thesis project focuses on transcribing, editing, and encoding
early modern girls’ manuscripts, specifically Lady Rachel Fane’s May Masque in collaboration with LEMDO.
Martin Holmes
Martin Holmes has worked as a developer in the UVic’s Humanities Computing and Media
Centre for over two decades, and has been involved with dozens of Digital Humanities
projects. He has served on the TEI Technical Council and as Managing Editor of the
Journal of the TEI. He took over from Joey Takeda as lead developer on LEMDO in 2020.
He is a collaborator on the SSHRC Partnership Grant led by Janelle Jenstad.
Navarra Houldin
Training and Documentation Lead 2025–present. LEMDO project manager 2022–2025. Textual
remediator 2021–present. Navarra Houldin (they/them) completed their BA with a major
in history and minor in Spanish at the University of Victoria in 2022. Their primary
research was on gender and sexuality in early modern Europe and Latin America. They
are continuing their education through an MA program in Gender and Social Justice
Studies at the University of Alberta where they will specialize in Digital Humanities.
Nicole Vatcher
Technical Documentation Writer, 2020–2022. Nicole Vatcher completed her BA (Hons.)
in English at the University of Victoria in 2021. Her primary research focus was women’s
writing in the modernist period.
Peter Cockett
Peter Cockett is an associate professor in the iArts (Integrated Arts) program at
McMaster University. He is the co-editor, with Melinda Gough, of Engendering the Stage in the Age of Shakespeare and Beyond (University of Toronto Press, 2025) which publishes the findings of their 2018 Performance
as Research (PaR) workshop at the Stratford Festival Lab. He is the general editor
(performance), and technical co-ordinating editor of Queen’s Men Editions. His PaR directing credits include King Leir, The Famous Victories of Henry V, and Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay (2006), Clyomon and Clamydes (2010), and Three Ladies of London (2015) for the Shakespeare and the Queen’s Men project (SQM). The process behind
the 2006 productions is documented in depth on the project website Performing the Queen’s Men. For the PLS, the University of Toronto’s Medieval and Renaissance Players, he has
directed the Digby Mary Magdalene (2003) and the double bill of George Peele’s The Old Wives Tale and the Chester Antichrist (2004). He also directed An Experiment in Elizabethan Comedy (2005) for the SQM project and Inside Out: The Persistence of Allegory (2008) in collaboration with Alan Dessen. Peter is a professional actor and director
with numerous stage and screen credits. He can be contacted at cockett@mcmaster.ca.
Robert Greene
Tracey El Hajj
Junior Programmer 2019–2020. Research Associate 2020–2021. Tracey received her PhD
from the Department of English at the University of Victoria in the field of Science
and Technology Studies. Her research focuses on the algorhythmics of networked communications. She was a 2019–2020 President’s Fellow in Research-Enriched
Teaching at UVic, where she taught an advanced course on
Artificial Intelligence and Everyday Life.Tracey was also a member of the Map of Early Modern London team, between 2018 and 2021. Between 2020 and 2021, she was a fellow in residence at the Praxis Studio for Comparative Media Studies, where she investigated the relationships between artificial intelligence, creativity, health, and justice. As of July 2021, Tracey has moved into the alt-ac world for a term position, while also teaching in the English Department at the University of Victoria.
Zach Sedgman
Remediator and Encoder, 2025-present. Zach Sedgman completed his BA (hons) in English
at the University of Toronto in 2025 and is now an MA student at the University of
Victoria. His research focuses on Early Modern Literature (specifically Shakespeare,
Milton, and John Donne).
Bibliography
A most pleasant comedie of Mucedorus. London: William Jones, 1598. STC 18230. ESTC S106305. DEEP 258.
Allott, Robert. Englands Parnassus: or the choysest flowers of our moderne poets. London: Nicholas Ling, Cuthbert Burby, and Thomas Hayes, 1600. STC 379. ESTC S1431.
Ashton, Peter. A shorte treatise vpon the Turkes chronicles. London: Edward Whitechurch, 1546. STC 11899. ESTC S103126.
Bang, Willy, ed. The Tragical Reign of Selimus. Malone Society Reprints, 1908.
Cambini, Andrea. Two very notable commentaries the one of the originall of the Turcks and Empire of
the house of Ottomanno. Trans. John Shute. London: Humphrey Toye, 1562. STC 4470. ESTC S107293.
Chapman, George. The tragedy of Alphonsus Emperour of Germany. London: Humphrey Moseley, 1654. Wing C1952. ESTC R19355. DEEP 1086.
Dessen, Alan C., and Leslie Thomson. A Dictionary of Stage Directions in English Drama, 1580–1642. Cambridge University Press, 1999. WSB aaa585.
Dimmock, Matthew. New Turkes: Dramatizing Islam and the Ottomans in Early Modern England. London: Routledge, 2005. WSB aaq206.
Greene, Robert, and
Thomas Lodge. A
looking glasse for London and England.
London: Thomas
Creede, 1594. STC 16679. ESTC S109578. DEEP 174.
Greene, Robert. The historie of Orlando Furioso. London: Cuthbert Burby, 1594. STC 12265. ESTC S105966. DEEP 189.
Greene, Robert. The honorable historie of frier Bacon, and frier Bongay. London: Edward White, 1594. STC 12267. ESTC S105968. DEEP 185. Queen’s Men Editions.
Greene, Robert. The Scottish historie of Iames the fourth. London: Thomas Creede, 1598. STC 12308. ESTC S105810. DEEP 255.
Grosart, A.B., ed., The First Part of the Tragical Reign of
Selimus. The Life and
Complete Works in Prose and Verse of Robert
Greene. Vol. 14. New
York: Russell &
Russell, 1881–1886. 189–291.
Grosart, A.B., ed., The Tragical Reign of Selimus.
London: J.M.
Dent, 1898.
Hopkinson, A.F., ed. The Tragical Reign of Selimus Sometime
Emperor of the Turks.
London: M.E. Sims
& Co., 1916.
Jacquot, Jean.
Ralegh’sModern Language Review 48:1 (1953): 1–9.Hellish Versesand theTragicall Raigne of Selimus.
Kyd, Thomas. Cornelia. London: Nicholas Ling and John Busby, 1549. STC 11622. ESTC S105698. DEEP 169.
Marlowe, Christopher. Tamburlaine the Great. London: Richard Jones, 1590. STC 17425. ESTC S122101. DEEP 5017.
Marlowe, Christopher. The Massacre at Paris. London: Edward White, 1594. STC 17423. ESTC S109865. DEEP 207.
Marlowe, Christopher. The Tragedie of Dido Queene of Carthage. London: Thomas Woodcocke, 1594. STC 17441. ESTC S109880. DEEP 196.
Marlowe, Christopher. The tragicall history of D. Faustus. London: Valentine Simmes, 1604. STC 17429. ESTC S120173. DEEP 369.
Marlowe, Christopher. The troublesome raigne and lamentable death of Edward the second. London: Robert Robinson, 1594. STC 17437. ESTC S120996. DEEP 197.
OED: The Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, 1989.
Peele, George. The loue of King Dauid and fair Bethsabe. London: Adam Islip, 1599. STC 19540. ESTC S110364. DEEP 280.
Riad, Nadia Mohamed.
A Critical Old-Spelling Edition of The Tragicall Raigne of Selimus.Queen’s University. PhD dissertation, 1994.
Shakespeare, William. The First part of the Contention betwixt the two famous Houses of Yorke and Lancaster. London: Thomas Millington, 1594. STC 26099. ESTC S105347. DEEP 179.
Shakespeare, William. The most lamentable Romaine tragedie of
Titus Andronicus.
London: John
Danter, 1594. STC 22328. ESTC S106004. DEEP 171.
Shakespeare, William. The true Tragedie of Richard Duke of Yorke, and the death of good King Henrie the
Sixt, with the whole contention betweene the two Houses Lancaster and Yorke. London: Thomas Millington, 1595. STC 21006. ESTC S102944. DEEP 212.
The first part of the tragicall raigne of Selimus, sometime Emperour of the Turkes,
and grandfather to him that now raigneth. London: Thomas Creede, 1594. STC 12310a. ESTC S124196. DEEP 203.
The lamentable and true tragedie of M. Arden of Feuersham in Kent. London: Edward White, 1592. STC 733. ESTC S106279. DEEP 142.
The life and death of Iacke Straw, a notable rebell in England. London: Thomas Pavier, 1604. STC 23357. ESTC S111291. DEEP 167.
The True Tragedie of Richard the third: Wherein is showne the death of Edward the
fourth, with the smothering of the two yoong Princes in the Tower: With a lamentable
ende of Shore’s wife, an example for all wicked women. And lastly, the coniunction
and ioyning of the two noble Houses, Lancaster and Yorke. As it was playd by the Queenes
Maiesties Players. London: Thomas Creede, 1594. STC 21009. ESTC S111104.
Vitkus, Daniel J., ed. Three Turk Plays from Early Modern England. Columbia University Press, 2000.
Vitkus, Daniel. Turning Turk: English Theater and the Multicultural Mediterranean, 1570–1630. Palgrave Macmillan, 2003. WSB aal194.
Whetstone, George. The English myrror. A regard wherein al
estates may behold the conquests of enuy.
London: George
Seton, 1586. STC 25336. ESTC S126805.
Çipa, H. Erdem. The Making of Selim: Succession, Legitimacy, and Memory in the Early Modern Ottoman
World. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 2017.
Orgography
LEMDO Team (LEMD1)
The LEMDO Team is based at the University of Victoria and normally comprises the project
director, the lead developer, project manager, junior developers(s), remediators,
encoders, and remediating editors.
Queen’s Men Editions (QME1)
The Queen’s Men Editions anthology is led by Helen Ostovich, General Editor; Peter
Cockett, General Editor (Performance); Andrew Griffin, General Editor (Text; until
2026); and Janelle Jenstad, General Editor (Text; 2026–)
University of Victoria (UVIC1)
https://www.uvic.ca/Witnesses
Allott, Robert. Englands Parnassus: or the choysest flowers of our moderne poets. London: Nicholas Ling, Cuthbert Burby, and Thomas Hayes, 1600. STC 379. ESTC S1431.
Bang, Willy, ed. The Tragical Reign of Selimus. Malone Society Reprints, 1908.
Grosart, A.B., ed., The First Part of the Tragical Reign of
Selimus. The Life and
Complete Works in Prose and Verse of Robert
Greene. Vol. 14. New
York: Russell &
Russell, 1881–1886. 189–291.
Grosart, A.B., ed., The Tragical Reign of Selimus.
London: J.M.
Dent, 1898.
Hopkinson, A.F., ed. The Tragical Reign of Selimus Sometime
Emperor of the Turks.
London: M.E. Sims
& Co., 1916.
Jacquot, Jean.
Ralegh’sModern Language Review 48:1 (1953): 1–9.Hellish Versesand theTragicall Raigne of Selimus.
Riad, Nadia Mohamed.
A Critical Old-Spelling Edition of The Tragicall Raigne of Selimus.Queen’s University. PhD dissertation, 1994.
The first part of the tragicall raigne of Selimus, sometime Emperour of the Turkes,
and grandfather to him that now raigneth. London: Thomas Creede, 1594. STC 12310a. ESTC S124196. DEEP 203.
This edition, edited by Kirk Melnikoff
Vitkus, Daniel J., ed. Three Turk Plays from Early Modern England. Columbia University Press, 2000.
Metadata
| Authority title | Selimus |
| Type of text | Primary Source Text |
| Publisher | University of Victoria on the Linked Early Modern Drama Online Platform |
| Series | Queen’s Men Editions |
| Source |
This modern text was prepared by Kirk Melnikoff. It was first prepared in IML, the SGML markup language of the Internet Shakespeare
Editions platform. Converted to TEI-XML and remediated by the LEMDO Team for publication in the QME 2.0 anthology on the LEMDO platform.
|
| Editorial declaration | Edited according to the ISE Editorial Guidelines |
| Edition | Released with Queen’s Men Editions 2.0 |
| Sponsor(s) |
Queen’s Men EditionsThe Queen’s Men Editions anthology is led by Helen Ostovich, General Editor; Peter
Cockett, General Editor (Performance); Andrew Griffin, General Editor (Text; until
2026); and Janelle Jenstad, General Editor (Text; 2026–)
|
| Encoding description | Encoded in TEI P5 according to the LEMDO Customization and Encoding Guidelines |
| Document status | published, peer-reviewed |
| Funder(s) | Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada McMaster University Poculi Ludique Societas University of Waterloo University of Toronto Centre for Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies University of Victoria Friends of the ISE UNC Charlotte |
| License/availability |
Intellectual copyright in this edition is held by the editor, Kirk Melnikoff. The XML files of the semi-diplomatic transcription and the modern texts are licensed
for reuse under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license, which means that they are freely downloadable without permission under the following
conditions: (1) credit must be given to the editor, QME, and LEMDO in any subsequent
use of the files and/or data; (2) derivatives (e.g., adapted scripts for performance)
must be shared under the same CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license; and (3) commercial uses are
not permitted without the knowledge and consent of QME, the editor, and LEMDO.
Production photographs and videos on this site may not be downloaded. They appear
freely on this site with the permission of the actors and the ACTRA union. They may
be used within the context of university courses, within the classroom, and for reference
within research contexts, including conferences, when credit is given to the producing
company and to the actors. Commercial use of videos and photographs is forbidden.
|