Bes. By this light, but I will; any thing what-if you have a mind to your mother, tell me, soever. Arb. But I shall name the thing Thy conscience will not suffer thee to do. Bes. I would fain hear that thing. you shall see I'll set it hard. and Arb. My mother! Heav'n forgive me, to hear this! I am inspir'd with horror. Now I hate thee Arb. Why, I would have thee get my sister for Worse than my sin; which, if I could come by, me: Thou understand'st me, in a wicked manner. Bes. Oh, you would have a bout with her? I'll do't, I'll do't, i'faith. Arb. Wilt thou? dost thou make no more on't? Bes. More? No. Why, is there any thing else? If there be, trust me, it shall be done too. Arb. Hast thou no greater sense of such a sin? Thou art too wicked for my company, Though I have hell within me, and mayst yet Corrupt me further! Prithee, answer me, How do I shew to thee after this motion? Bes. Why, your majesty looks as well, in my opinion, as ever you did since you were born. Arb. But thou appear'st to me, after thy grant, The ugliest, loathed, detestable thing That I have ever met with. Thou hast eyes Like flames of sulphur, which, methinks, do dart Infection on me; and thou hast a mouth Enough to take me in, where there do stand Four rows of iron teeth. Bes. I feel no such thing: But 'tis no matter how I look; I'll do your business as well as they that look better. And when this is dispatch'd, | Should suffer death eternal, ne'er to rise Bes. What do you mean, sir? Arb. Hung round with curses, take thy fearful flight Into the desarts; where 'mongst all the monsters, Bes. Good sir LAW Arb. If there were no such instruments as thou, We kings could never act such wicked deeds. Seek out a man that mocks divinity, That breaks each precept both of God and man, And Nature too, and does it without lust, Merely because it is a law, and good, And live with him; for him thou canst not spoil. Away, I say!-I will not do this sin. [Erit BES. I'll press it here, 'till it do break my breast: It heaves to get out; but thou art a sin, And, spite of torture, I will keep thee in. [Exit. ACT IV. Enter GOBRIAS, PANTHEA, and SPACONIA. Gob. And with a kindness and such winning words As may provoke him, at one instant, feel His double fault, your wrong, and his own rashness? Pan. I have sent words enough, if words may win him From his displeasure; and such words, I hope, A poor Gob. Good lady, be not fearful: Though he should not Give you your present end in this, believe it, But, howsoever, I am sure I love him dearly: Gob. You shall not feel a worse stroke than your grief; I am sorry 'tis so sharp. I kiss your hand, Pan. Peace go with you! You are a good man. [Exit GOB. My Spaconia, why are you ever sad thus ? Spa. Oh, dear lady! Pan. Prithee discover not a way to sadness, Nearer than I have in me. Our two sorrows Work, like two eager hawks, who shall get highest. How shall I lessen thine? for mine, I fear, Spa. Heaven comfort both, Pan. This but teaches How to be more familiar with our sorrows, Spa. Noblest lady, You make me more a slave still to your goodness, Pan. Speak it; 'tis yours; for, from so sweet a No ill demand has issue. Spa. Then, ever-virtuous, let me beg your will In helping me to see the prince Tigranes; With whom I'm equal prisoner, if not more. Pan. Reserve me to a greater end, Spaconia; Though you came only with your own command. kingdom. Pan. More than my word, Spaconia, you shall carry, For fear it fail you. Spa. Dare you trust a token? Madam, I fear I am grown too bold a beggar. [Exeunt. Enter TIGRANES, in prison. Tigr. Fool that I am! I have undone myself, And with my own hand turn'd my fortune round, That was a fair one. I have childishly Play'd with my hope so long, 'till I have broke it, And now too late I mourn for't. Oh, Spaconia! Thou hast found an even way to thy revenge now. Why didst thou follow me, like a faint shadow, To wither my desires? But, wretched fool, Why did I plant thee 'twixt the sun and me, To make me freeze thus? why did I prefer her To the fair princess? Oh, thou fool, thou fool, Thou family of fools, live like a slave still! And in thee bear thine own hell and thy torment; Thou hast deserv'd it. Couldst thou find no lady, And with thee, left her liberty, her name, I feel my old fire flame again and burn Enter BACURIUS and SPACONIA. Spa. I thank your lordship for it. [Exit BAC. Tigr. She comes, she comes! Shame hide me ever from her! 'Would I were bury'd, or so far remov'd Light might not find me out! I dare not see her. Spa. Nay, never hide yourself! Or, were you hid Where earth hides all her riches, near her centre, My wrongs, without more day, would light me to you: I must speak, ere I die. Were all your great ness Doubled upon you, you're a perjur'd man, Of wronging women! Thou are false, false, prince! Spa. The destinies, I hope, have pointed out But she that has thy hopes, to put her to, think it was a fault of love, not malice; And do as I will do, forgive it, prince. We have not seen you since your being here. I hope your noble usage has been equal With your own person: Your imprisonment, If it be any, I dare say, is easy; And shall not out-last two days. Tigr. I thank you. My usage here has been the same it was, Arb. What lady's that, Bacurius? Buc. One of the princess' women, sir. Mar. His fit begins to take him now again. 'Tis a strange fever, and 'twill shake us all anon, I fear. Would he were well cur'd of this raging folly: Give me the wars, where men are mad, and may talk what they list, and held the bravest fellows; this pelting prating peace is good for nothing: Drinking's a virtue to't. Arb. I see there's truth in no man, nor obedience, But for his own ends: Why did you let her in? Bac. It was your own command to bar none from him: Besides, the princess sent her ring, sir, for my warrant. Arb. A token to Tigranes, did she not? Sir, tell truth. Bac. I do not use to lie, sir. 'Tis no way I eat, or live by; and I think This is no token, sir. Mar. This combat has undone him: If he had been well beaten, he had been temperate. I shall never see him handsome again, 'till he Mar. 'Tis well said, by my soul. Arb. Sirrah, you answer as you had no life. Bac. You may say what you please, sir: Arb. I will, sir; and say openly, this woman carries letters: By my life, I know she carries letters; this woman does it. Mar. 'Would Bessus were here, to take her aside and search her; he would quickly tell you what she carried, sir. Arb. I have found it out, this woman carries letters. Mar. If this hold, 'twill be an ill world for bawds, chambermaids, and post-boys. I thank Heav'n, I have none but his letters-patents, things of his own inditing. Arb. Prince, this cunning cannot do't. Arb. Ay, sir, it shall not serve your turn. Arb. This woman shall carry no more letters back to your love Panthea; by Heav'n, she shall not; I say she shall not. Mar. This would make a saint swear like a soldier, and a soldier like Termagant. Tigr. This beats me more, king, than the blows you gave me. Arb. Take 'em away both, and together let them prisoners be, strictly and closely kept; or, sirrah, your life shall answer it; and let nobody speak with 'em hereafter. Tigr. Well, I am subject to you, And must endure these passions. Spa. This is th' imprisonment I have look'd for always, And the dear place I would choose. [Exeunt TIGR. SPA. BAC. Arb. You must be crossing me. Mar. I have no letters, sir, to anger you, But a dry sonnet of my corporal's, To an old sutler's wife; and that I'll burn, sir. 'Tis like to prove a fine age for the ignorant. Arb. How dar'st thou so often forfeit thy life! Thou know'st 'tis in my power to take it. Mar. Yes, and I know you wo'not; or, if you do, you'll miss it quickly. Arb. Why? Mar. Who shall tell you of these childish follies, have a horseman's staff yok'd through his shoul-When I am dead? who shall put-to his power ders, or an arm broke with a bullet. Arb. I am trifled with. To draw those virtues out of a flood of humours, When they are drown'd, and make'em shine again? No, cut my head off: Then you may talk, and be believ'd, and grow 'Till foreign swords be in your throats, and | Which, if she knew, she would contentedly slaughter Be every where about you, like your flatterers. Do, kill me! Arb. Prithee, be tamer, good Mardonius. Thou know'st I love thee; nay, I honour thee; Believe it, good old soldier, I am thine: But I am rack'd clean from myself! Bear with me! Woo't thou bear with me, my Mardonius ? Enter GOBRIAS. Mar. There comes a good man; love him too; You may live to have need of such a virtue: Arb. Welcome, good Gobrias. Gob. My service, and this letter, to your grace. Gob. From the rich mine of virtue and beauty, Your mournful sister. Arb. She is in prison, Gobrias, is she not? Which on my knees I beg. Oh, 'tis not fit, If there be any in that noble heart Arb. Pray thee, stand up: 'Tis true, she is too fair, And all these commendations but her own: If thou but knew'st the wrong her beauty does her, Thou would'st, in pity of her, be a liar. I think she loves me, but I fear another Is deeper in her heart: How think'st thou, Gobrias? Gob. I do beseech your grace, believe it not; (LOVE) Mar. This love, or what a devil it is, I know not, begets more mischief than a wake. I had rather be well beaten, starv'd, or lousy, than live within the air on't. He, that had seen this brave fellow charge through a grove of pikes but t'other day, and look upon him now, will ne'er believe his eyes again. If he continue thus but two days more, a tailor may beat him, with one hand tied behind him. Arb. Alas, she would be at liberty; And there be thousand reasons, Gobrias, Thousands, that will deny't; Be where she is, and bless her virtues for it, Good man, indeed, she would. Gob. Then, good sir, for her satisfaction, Send for her, and, with reason, make her know! Why she must live thus from you. Arb. I will. Go bring her to me. [Exeunt. say, but how? Bes. Even with his royal hand. 1 Sw. Was it a blow of love, or indignation? Bes. "Twas twenty blows of indignation, gen tlemen; Besides two blows o' th' face. 2 Sw. Those blows o' th' face have made a new cause on't; The rest were but an honourable rudeness. 1 Sw. Two blows o' th' face, and given by a worse man, I must confess, as the sword-men say, had turn'd the business: Mark me, brother, by a worse man: But, being by his prince, had they been ten, and those ten drawn ten teeth, besides the hazard of his nose for ever; all this had been but favours. This is my flat opinion, which I'll die in. 2 Sw. The king may do much, captain, believe it; for had he crack'd your skull through, like a bottle, or broke a rib or two with tossing of you, yet you had lost no honour. This is strange, you may imagine, but this is truth now, captain. Bes. I will be glad to embrace it, gentlemen. But how far may he strike me? 1 Sw. There is another; a new cause rising 12 from the time and distance, in which I will deliver my opinion. He may strike, beat, or cause to be beaten; for these are natural to man: Your prince, I say, may beat you so far forth as his dominion reacheth; that's for the distance; the time, ten miles a-day, I take it. 2 Sw. Brother, you err, 'tis fifteen miles aday; His stage is ten, his beatings are fifteen. Bes. "Tis of the longest, but we subjects must1 Sw. Be subject to it: You are wise and vir tuous. Bes. Obedience ever makes that noble use on't, To which I dedicate my beaten body. I must trouble you a little further, gentlemen o' th' sword. 2 Sw. No trouble at all to us, sir, if we may Profit your understanding: We are bound, By virtue of our calling, to utter our opinion Shortly, and discreetly. Bes. My sorest business is, I have been kick'd. 2 Sw. How far, sir? Bes. Not to flatter myself in it, all over: My sword lost, but not forc'd; for discreetly I render'd it, to save that imputation. 1 Sw. It shew'd discretion, the best part of valour. 2 Sw. Brother, this is a pretty case; pray ponder on't: Our friend here has been kick'd. 1 Sw. He has so, brother. 2 Sw. Sorely, he says. Now, had he set down here, Upon the mere kick, 't had been cowardly. 1 Sw. I think, it had been cowardly, indeed. 2 Sw. But our friend has redeem'd it, in deli vering His sword without compulsion; and that man He should have kick'd him after the delivery, 1 Sw. Brother, I take it you mistake the question; For, say, that I were kick'd. 2 Sw. I must not say so; Nor I must not hear it spoke by th' tongue of man. You kick'd, dear brother! You're merry. 1 Sw. But put the case, I were kick’d. 2 Sw. Let them put it, that are things weary of their lives, and know not honour! Put the case, you were kick'd! 1 Sw. I do not say, I was kick'd. 2 Sw. Nor no silly creature that wears his head without a case, his soul in a skin-coat. You kick'd, dear brother! Bes. Nay, gentlemen, let us do what we shall do, Truly and honestly. Good sirs, to the question. 1 Sw. Why, then, I say, suppose your boy kick'd, captain. 2 Sw. The boy, may be suppos'd, is liable. But, kick my brother! 1 Sw. A foolish forward zeal, sir, in my friend. But to the boy: Suppose, the boy were kick'd. Bes. I do suppose it. 1 Sw. Has your boy a sword? Bes. Surely, no; I pray, suppose a sword too. 1 Sw. I do suppose it. You grant, your boy was kick'd then. 2 Sw. By no means, captain; let it be supposed still; the word grant' makes not for us. 1 Sw. I say, this must be granted. 2 Sw. This must be granted, brother? 1 Sw. Ay, this must be granted. 2 Sw. Still, this must? 1 So. I say, this must be granted. 2 Sw. Ay! give me the must again! Brother, you palter. 1 Sw. I will not hear you, wasp. 2 Sw. Brother, I say you palter; the must three times together! I wear as sharp steel as another man, and my fox bites as deep. Musted, my dear brother! But to the cause again. Bes. Nay, look you, gentlemen! 2 Sw. In a word, I ha' done. 1 Sw. A tall man, but intemperate; 'tis great pity. Once more, suppose the boy kick'd. 2 Sw. Forward. 1 Sw. And, being thoroughly kick'd, laughs at the kicker. 2 Sw. So much for us. Proceed. 1 Sw. And in this beaten scorn, as I may call Bes. As loud as a kick'd man could laugh, I laugh'd, sir. 1 Sw. My reason now: The valiant man is known By suffering and contemning; you have 2 Sw. If he be sure he has been kick'd enough: |