Pun. i prithee do; And if my brother were in any danger, Bes. Madam, let what will beat, I must tell the truth, and thus it was: They fought single in lists, but one to one. As for my own part, I was dangerously hurt but three days before; else, perhaps, we had been two to two; I cannot tell, some thought, we had. And the occasion of my hurt was this; the enemy had made trenches Gob. Captain, without the manner of your hurt be much material to this business, we'll hear't some other time. Pan. I prithee, leave it, and go on with my brother. Bes. I will; but 'twould be worth your hearing. To the lists they came, and single sword and gauntlet was their fight. Pan. Alas! Bes. Without the lists there stood some dozen captains of either side mingled, all which were sworn, and one of those was I and 'twas my chance to stand next a captain o' the enemies' side, call'd Tiribasus; valiant, they said, he was. Whilst these two kings were stretching themselves, this Tiribasus cast something a scornful look on me, and ask'd me, whom I thought would overcome? I smil'd, and told him, if he would fight with me, he should perceive by the event of that whose king would win. Something he answer'd, and a scuffle was like to grow, when one Zipetus offered to help him: I Pan. All this is of thyself: I pray thee, Bes sus, Tell something of my brother; did he nothing? Bes. Why, yes: I'll tell your grace. They were not to fight till the word given; which, for my own part, by my troth, I confess, I was not to give. Pan. See, for his own part! Bac. I fear, yet, this fellow's abus'd with a good report. Bes. But I Pan. Still of himself! Bes. Cry'd, Give the word;' when, as some of them say, Tigranes was stooping; but the word was not given then; yet one Cosroes, of the enemies' part, held up his finger to me, which is as much, with us martialists, as, ' I will fight with you?' I said not a word, nor made sign during the combat; but that once donePan. He slips o'er all the fight. Bes. I call'd him to me; Cosroes, said I— Bac. I dare be sworn thou dost. Pan. I tell thee, I will hear no further. Bes. An't please your grace, this is she; Shall shew unto you all the kindnesses letter To put you to me, that has power enough Bes. Madam, I dare pass my word for her Pan. Why, captain, do you think I am afraid she'll steal? Bes. I cannot tell; servants are slippery; but I dare give my word for her And for honesty, she came along with me, and many favours she did me by the way; but, by this light, none but what she might do with modesty, to a man of my rank. Pan. Why, captain, here's nobody thinks otherwise. Bes. Nay, if you should, your grace may think your pleasure; but I am sure I brought her from Armenia, and in all that way, if ever I touch'd any bare of her above her knee, I pray God I may sink where I stand. Spa. Above my knee ? Bes. No, you know I did not; and if any man will say I did, this sword shall answer. Nay, I'll defend the reputation of my Charge, whilst I live. Your grace shall understand, I am secret in these businesses, and know how to defend a lady's honour. Spa. I hope your grace knows him so well already, I shall not need to tell you he's vain and foolish. Bes. Ay, you may call me what you please, Longs more for any thing, and feels more heat Gob. Yet I wonder much At this: He writes, he brings along with him Pan. And so he will, my lord, I warrant you; Gob. Trust me, were I a lady, I could not like that man were bargain'd with, Before I chose him. Pan. But I am not built On such wild humours; If I find him worthy, He is not less because he's offered. Spa. 'Tis true he is not; 'would, he would seem less! Gob. I think there is no lady can affect Another prince, your brother standing by ; He doth eclipse mens' virtues so with his. Spa. I know a lady may, and more, I fear Another lady will. Pan. 'Would I might see him! Gob. Why so you shall. My businesses are great: I will attend you when it is his pleasure to see To leave his sceptre and his throne to him, Pan. That were a strange request. Pan. Then do not utter it. Spa. Alas, 'tis of that nature, that it must Be utter'd, ay, and granted, or I die! I am ashamed to speak it; but where life Lies at the stake, I cannot think her woman, That will not talk something unreasonably To hazard saving of it. I shall seem A strange petitioner, that wish all ill To them I beg of, ere they give me aught; Yet so I must: I would you were not fair, Nor wise, for in your ill consists my good: If you were foolish, you would hear my prayer; If foul, you had not power to hinder me; He would not love you. Pan. What's the meaning of it? Spa. Nay, my request is more without the bounds Of reason yet; for 'tis not in the power Spa. 'Tis yet His own desire; but when he sees your face, Pan. Then be fearless; For if he were a thing 'twixt God and man, Enter three Men and a Woman. 1 Man. Come, come, run, run, run. 2 Man, We shall out-go her. 3 Man. One were better be hang'd than carry out women fiddling to these shows. Wom. Is the king hard by? What 1 Man. You heard he with the bottles said, he thought we should come too late. abundance of people here is ! Wom. But what had he in those bottles? 3 Man. I know not. 2 Man. Why, ink, goodman fool. 3 Man. Ink, what to do? 1 Man. Why, the king, look you, will many times call for those bottles, and break his mind to his friends. Wom. Let's take our places; we shall have no room else. 2 Man. The man told us, he would walk o' foot through the people. 3 Man. Ay, marry, did be. 1 Man. Our shops are well look'd-to now. 2 Man. 'Slife, yonder's my master, I think. 1 Man. No, 'tis not he. Enter PHILIP, with two Citizens' Wives. 1 Cit. Lord, how fine the fields be. What sweet living 'tis in the country! 2 Cit. Ay, poor souls, God help 'em, they live as contentedly as one of us. 1 Cit. My husband's cousin would have had me gone into the country last year. Wert thou ever there? 2 Cit. Ay, poor souls, I was amongst 'em once. 1 Cit. And what kind of creatures are they, for love of God? 2 Cit. Very good people, God help 'em. 1 Cit. Wilt thou go down with me this summer when I am brought to-bed? 2 Cit. Alas, it is no place for us. 1 Cit. Why, prithee? Cit. They are fain to milk themselves i' the country. 1 Cit. Good lord! But the people there, I think, will be very dutiful to one of us. 2 Cit. Ay, God knows will they; and yet they do not greatly care for our husbands. 1 Cu. Do they not? alas! i' good faith, I cannot blame them: For we do not greatly care for them ourselves. Philip, I pray, chuse us a place. Phil. There's the best, forsooth. 1 Cit. By your leave, good people, a little. 3 Man. What's the matter? Phil. I pray you, my friend, do not thrust my mistress so; she's with child. 2 Man. Let her look to herself then; has she not had thrusting enough yet! If she stay shouldering here, she may, haps, go home with a cake in her belly. 3 Man. How now, goodman Squitter-breech! why do you lean on me? Phil. Because I will. 3 Man. Will you, Sir Sauce-box? 1 Cit. Look, if one ha' not struck Philip. Come hither, Philip; why did he strike thee? Phil. For leaning on him. 1 Cit. Why didst thou lean on him? Phil. I did not think he would have struck me. 1 Cit. As God save me, la, thou'rt as wild as a buck; there's no quarrel, but thou'rt at one end or other on't. 3 Man. It's at the first end then, for he'll ne'er stay the last. 1 Cit. Well, Slip-string, I shall meet with you. 3 Man. When you will. 1 Cit. I'll give a crown to meet with you. 3 Man. At a bawdy-house. Cit. Ay, you're full of your roguery; but if I do meet you, it shall cost me a fall. Flourish. Enter one running. 4 Man. The king, the king, the king, the king! Now, now, now, now! Flourish. Enter ARBACES, TIGRANES, and MARDONIUS. All. God preserve your majesty ! Arb. I thank you all. Now are my joys at full, All the account that I can render you All. God preserve your majesty! Arb. Now you may live securely i' your towns, 2 Cit. Why, you can have nothing there; Your children round about you; you may sit there's nobody cries brooms. 1 Cit. No? 2 Cit. No truly, nor milk. 1 Cit. Nor milk! how do they? Safely forget there are such things as tears: Hold me unworthy, when I think my life All God bless your majesty! Arb. See, all good people; I have brought the man, Whose very name you fear'd, a captive home. 2 Cit. How he looks. s Wom. Hang him, hang him! Arb. It was far from me To mean it so. If I have aught deserv'd, My loving subjects, let me beg of you Not to revile this prince, in whom there dwells All. The Lord bless your majesty ! Tigr. So, he has made me amends now with a speech in commendation of himself: I would not be so vain-glorious. Arb. If there be any thing in which I may Do good to any creature here, speak out; For I must leave you: And it troubles me, years, And live to see your childrens children Sit at your boards with plenty! When there is [Flourish. Exeunt Kings and their Train. All. God bless your majesty, God bless your majesty ! 1 Man. Come, shall we go? all's done. 2 Man. Away, away! all's done. 2 Man. Philip will not fight; he's afraid on's face. Phil. Ay, marry; am I afraid of my face? 3 Man. Thou wouldst be, Philip, if thou saw'st it in a glass; it looks so like a visor. [Exeunt the three men and woman. 1 Cit. You'll be hang'd, sirrah. Come, Philip, walk before us homewards. Did not his majesty say he had brought us home peas for all our money? 2 Cit. Yes, marry, did he. Cit. They're the first I heard of this year, by my troth. I long'd for some of 'em. Did he not say, we should have some? 2 Cit. Yes, and so we shall anon, I warrant you, have every one a peck brought home to our houses. [Exeunt. ACT III. Enter ARBACES and GOBRIAS. Arb. My sister take it ill? Something unkindly she does take it, sir, My will, and not her own, must govern her. Gob. Oh, she is far from any stubbornness ; You much mistake her; and, no doubt, will like Where you will have her. But, when you behold Arb. Were she my father, and my mother too, And all the names for which we think folks friends, She should be forced to have him, when I know 'Tis fit. I will not hear her say, she's loth. Gob. Heaven, bring my purpose luckily to pass! You know 'tis just.—She will not need constraint, She loves you so. Arb. How does she love me? Speak. Gob. She loves you more than people love their health, That live by labour; more than I could love Arb. She is not like her mother, then. She kept her chamber, wept, and could not eat, I know not how I shall requite her well. Gob. Sir, I have. Enter 1 Gentleman and TIGRANES. 1 Gent. Sir, here is the Armenian king. Arb. He's welcome. 1 Gent. And the queen-mother and the princess wait Without. Arb. Good Gobrias, bring 'em in. [Erit GOBRIAS. Tigranes, you will think you are arrived In a strange land, where mothers cast to poison Their only sons: Think you, you shall be safe? Tigr. Too safe I am, sir. Enter GOBRIAS, ARANE, PANTHEA, SPACONIA, BACURIUS, MARDONIUS, BESSUS, and two Gentlemen. Tigr. Will you speak, sir? Arb. Speak! am I what I was? Hither, from thence. You shall not tarry there! Tigr. Oh, misery! why should he be so slow! Pan. Will you not speak at all? Are you so far From kind words? Yet, to save my modesty, Mar. Have you no life at all? For manhood sake, Ara. As low as this I bow to you; and would Let her not kneel, and talk neglected thus. As low as is my grave, to shew a mind Thankful for all your mercies. Arb. Oh, stand up, And let me kneel! the light will be ashamed Arb. You are my mother. Rise! As far be all your faults from your own soul, A tree would find a tongue to answer her, Arb. You mean this lady. Lift her from the earth: Why do you let her kneel so long? Alas! Mar. What, is he mad? Arb. Gobrias, where is she? Gob. Sir! Arb. Where is she, man? Gob. Who, sir? Arb. Who? hast thou forgot my sister? Arb. Your sister, sir? Some one that hath a wit, Answer, where is she? Gob. Do you not see her there? Gob. There. Arb. There? where? Mar. 'Slight there! are you blind? Arb. Which do you mean? That little one? Gob. No, sir. Arb. No, sir? Why, do you mock me? I can see No other here, but that petitioning lady. Gob. That's she. Arb. Away! Gob. Sir, it is she. Arb. 'Tis false. Gob. Is it? Arb. As Hell! By Heaven, as false as Hell! My sister!-Is she dead? If it be so, |