Familiar as my sleep, or want of money:
All my whole body's but one bruise, with beating.
I think I have been cudgel'd with all nations,
And almost all religions.

2 Sa. Embrace him, brother! this man is valiant ;

I know it by myself, he's valiant.

1 Sa. Captain, thou art a valiant gentleman, To bide upon, a very valiant man.

Bes. My equal friends o' th' sword, I must request

Your hands to this.

2 Sa. Tis fit it should be.

Into diseases, so shall I, distemper'd,
Do thee: I pray thee, draw no nearer to me.
Pan. Sir, this is that I would: I am of late
Shut from the world, and why it should be thus
Is all I wish to know.

Arb. Why, credit me,

within.

Am I clear, gentlemen?

1 Sa. Sir, when the world has taken notice what we have done,

Make much of your body; for I'll pawn my steel, Men will be coyer of their legs hereafter.

Bes. I must request you go along, and testify to the lord Bacurius, whose foot has struck me, how you find my cause.

2 Sa. We will; and tell that lord he must be rul'd;

Or there be those abroad, will rule his lordship. [Exeunt.

Enter ARBACES at one door, and GOBRIAS and PANTHEA at another.

Gob. Sir, here's the princess.
Arb. Leave us, then, alone;
For the main cause of her imprisonment
Must not be heard by any but herself. [Exit GOB.
You're welcome, sister; and I would to heav'n
I could so bid you by another name.
If you above love not such sins as these,
Circle my heart with thoughts as cold as snow,
To quench these rising flames that harbour here.
Pan. Sir, does it please you I shall speak?
Arb. Please me?

Ay, more than all the art of music can,
Thy speech doth please me; for it ever sounds
As thou brought'st joyful unexpected news:
And yet it is not fit thou shouldst be heard;
I pray thee, think so.

Pan. Be it so; I will.

Am I the first that ever had a wrong
So far from being fit to have redress,
That 'twas unfit to hear it? I will back
To prison, rather than disquiet you,
And wait 'till it be fit.

Arb. No, do not go;

For I will hear thee with a serious thought: I have collected all that's man about me Together strongly, and I am resolv'd

To hear thee largely: But I do beseech thee, Do not come nearer to me: for there is .Something in that, that will undo us both. Pan. Alas, sir, am I venom?

Arb. Yes, to me;

Though, of thyself, I think thee to be in
As equal a degree of heat or cold,

As nature can make: Yet, as unsound men
Convert the sweetest and the nourishing'st meats.

If you dissemble, be it on your head!
I'll back unto my prison. Yet, methinks,

I might be kept in some place where you are;
For in myself I find, I know not what
To call it, but it is a great desire
To see you often.

Arb. Fy, you come in a step; what do you mean?
Dear sister, do not so! Alas, Panthea,
Where I am would you be? why, that's the cause
You are imprison'd, that you may not be
Where I am.

Pan. Then I must endure it, sir. Heav'n
keep you!

Arb. Nay, you shall hear the cause in short,
Panthea;

And, when thou hear'st it, thou wilt blush for me,
And hang thy head down like a violet
Full of the morning's dew. There is a way
To gain thy freedom; but, 'tis such a one
As puts thee in worse bondage, and I know
Thou wouldst encounter fire, and make a proof
Whether the gods have care of innocents,
Rather than follow it: Know, that I've lost,
The only difference betwixt man and beast,
My reason.

Pan. Heav'n forbid !

Arb. Nay, it is gone;

And I am left as far without a bound
As the wild ocean, that obeys the winds;
Each sudden passion throws me where it lists,
And overwhelms all that oppose my will.
I have beheld thee with a lustful eye;
My heart is set on wickedness, to act
Such sins with thee, as I have been afraid
To think of. If thou dar'st consent to this,
Which, I beseech thee, do not, thou may'st gain
Thy liberty, and yield me a content;
If not, thy dwelling must be dark and close,
Where I may never see thee: For Heav'n knows,
That laid this punishment upon my pride,
Thy sight at some time will enforce my
To make a start e'en to thy ravishing.
Now spit upon me, and call all reproaches
Thou canst devise together, and at once
Hurl 'em against me; for I am a sickness
As killing as the plague, ready to seize thee.
Pan. Far be it from me to revile the king!
But it is true, that I shall rather choose

madness

To search out death, that else would search out me,

And in a grave sleep with my

innocence,

Arb. I have liv'd

To conquer men, and now am overthrown
Only by words, brother and sister. Where
Have those words dwelling? I will find 'em out,
And utterly destroy 'em ; but they are

Not to be grasp'd: Let them be men or beasts,
And I will cut em from the earth; or towns,
And I will raze 'em, and then blow 'em up:
Let 'em be seas, and I will drink 'em off,
And yet have unquench'd fire left in my breast:
Let 'em be any thing but merely voice.

Pan. But 'tis not in the pow'r of any force,
Or policy, to conquer them.
Arb. Panthea,

What shall we do? Shall we stand firmly here, And gaze our eyes out?

Pan. 'Would I could do so! But I shall weep out mine.

Arb. Accursed man,

Thou bought'st thy reason at too dear a rate;
For thou hast all thy actions bounded in
With curious rules, when ev'ry beast is free:
What is there that acknowledges a kindred,
But wretched man? Who ever saw the bull
Fearfully leave the heifer that he lik'd,
Because they had one dam?

Pan. Sir, I disturb

You and myself too; 'twere better I were gone.
Arb. I will not be so foolish as I was;
Stay, we will love just as becomes our births,
No otherwise: Brothers and sisters may
Walk hand in hand together; so will we.
Come nearer: Is there any hurt in this?
Pan. I hope not.

Arb. Faith, there is none at all:
And tell me truly now, is there not one
You love above me?

Pan. No, by Heav'n.

Arb. Why, yet you sent unto Tigranes, sister, Pan. True,

But for another: For the truth

Arb. No more.

I'll credit thee; I know thou canst not lie,
Thou art all truth.

Pan. But is there nothing else,

That we may do, but only walk? Methinks,
Brothers and sisters lawfully may kiss.

Arb. And so they may, Panthea; so will we
And kiss again too; we were scrupulous
And foolish, but we will be so no more.

Pan. If you have any mercy, let me go To prison, to my death, to any thing: feel a sin growing upon my blood, Worse than all these, hotter I fear than yours. Arb. That is impossible; what should we do? Pan Fly, sir, for Heav'n's sake.

Arb. So we must; away!

Sin grows upon us more by this delay.

[Exeunt, several ways.

Reaches no further than the empty name,
That serves to feed him. Were he valiant,
Or had but in him any noble nature,

That might hereafter promise him a good man,
My cares were so much lighter, and my grave
A span yet from me.

Mar. I confess, such fellows

Be in all royal camps, and have and must be,
To make the sin of coward more detested
In the mean soldier, that with such a foil
Sets off much valour. By description,
I should now guess him to you; it was Bessus,
I dare almost with confidence pronounce it.
Lyg. 'Tis such a scurvy name as Bessus; and,
now I think, 'tis he.

Mar. Captain do you call him?
Believe me, sir, you have a misery

Too mighty for your age: A pox upon him!
For that must be the end of all his service.
Your daughter was not mad, sir?

Lyg. No; 'would she had been!

The fault had had more credit. I would do something.

Mar. I would fain counsel you; but to what

I know not.

He's so below a beating, that the women
Find him not worthy of their distaves, and
To hang him were to cast away a rope.
He's such an airy, thin, unbodied coward,
That no revenge can catch him.

I'll tell you, sir, and tell you truth; this rascal
Fears neither God nor man; h'has been so beaten,
Sufferance has made him wainscot; he has had,
Since he was first a slave, at least three hundred
daggers

Set in's head, as little boys do new knives in

hot meat.

There's not a rib in's body, o' my conscience, That has not been thrice broken with dry beating;

And now his sides look like two wicker targets,
Every way bended;

Children will shortly take him for a wall,
And set their stone-bows in his forehead.
He is of so base a sense, I cannot in a week ima-
gine what shall be done to him.

Lyg. Sure, I have committed some great sin
That this base fellow should be made my rod.
I would see him ; but I shall have no patience.

Mar. 'Tis no great matter, if you have not: If a laming of him, or such a toy, may do you pleasure, sir, he has it for you; and I'll help you to him. 'Tis no news to him to have a leg broke, or a shoulder out, with being turn'd o'the stones like a tansy. Draw not your sword, if you love it; for, on my conscience, his head will break it; We use him i' th' wars like a ram, to shake a wall withal. Here comes the very person of him: do as you shall find your temper; I must leave you: But if you do not break him like a bisket, you're much to blame, sir. [Exit MAR.

Enter BESSUS and the Sword-men.

Lyg. Is your name Bessus ?

Bes. Men call me captain Bessus.

Lyg. Then captain Bessus, you're a rank rascal, without more exordiums; a dirty frozen slave! and, with the favour of your friends here, I will beat you.

2 Sw. Pray use your pleasure, sir; you seem to be a gentleman.

Lyg. Thus, captain Bessus, thus! Thus twinge your nose, thus kick, thus tread upon you. Bes. I do beseech you, yield your cause, sir, quickly,

Lyg. Indeed, I should have told you that first. Bes. I take it so.

1 Sw. Captain, he should, indeed; he is mis

taken.

Lyg. Sir, you shall have it quickly, and more

beating:

You have stol'n away a lady, captain Coward,
And such a one-
[Beats him.
Bes. Hold, I beseech you, hold, sir;

I never yet stole any living thing
That had a tooth about it.

Lyg. I know you dare lye.

Bes. With none but summer-whores, upon my
life, sir:

My means and manners never could attempt
Above a hedge or haycock.

Lyg. Sirrah, that quits not me: Where is this
lady?

Do that you do not use to do, tell truth, Or, by my hand, I'll beat your captain's brains out,

Wash 'em, and put 'em in again, that will I.

Bes. There was a lady, sir, I must confess, Once in my charge: The prince Tigranes gave

her

To my guard, for her safety. How I us'd her She may herself report; she's with the prince

now.

I did but wait upon her like a groom,
Which she will testify, I'm sure: If not,

My brains are at your service, when you please, sir,

And glad I have 'em for you.

Lyg. This is most likely. Sir, I ask your pardon,

And am sorry I was so intemperate.

Bes. Well, I can ask no more. You would think it strange now, to have me beat you at first sight.

Lyg. Indeed, I would; but, I know, your goodness can forget twenty beatings: You must forgive me.

Bes. Yes; there's my hand. Go where you will, I shall think you a valiant fellow for all this. Lyg. My daughter is a whore! N feel it now too sensible; yet I will see her; Discharge myself from being father to her, And then back to m country, and there die. Farewell, captain.

[Erit LYG.

1 Sw. How now, captain? bear up, man. Bes. Gentlemen o'the sword, your hands once more; I have been kick'd again; but the foolish fellow is penitent, h'as ask'd me mercy, and my honour's safe.

2 Sw. We knew that, or the foolish fellow had better have kick'd his grandsire.

Bes. Confirm, confirm, I pray.

1 Sw. There be our hands again! Now let him come, and say he was not sorry, and he sleeps for it.

Bes. Alas! good ignorant old man, let him go, let him go; these courses will undo him.

[Exeunt.

Brought thee hither?

Lyg. Several businesses:

My public business will appear by this;
I have a message to deliver, which

If it pleases you so to authorize, is
An embassage from th' Armenian state,
Unto Arbaces for your liberty.

The offer's there set down; please you to read it.
Tigr. There is no alteration happen'd since
I came thence?

Lyg. None, sir; all is as it was.

Tigr. And all our friends are well?
Lyg. All very well.

Spa. Though I have done nothing but what was good,

I dare not see my father: It was fault
Enough not to acquaint him with that good.

Lyg. Madam, I should have seen you.
Spa. Oh, good sir, forgive me.

Lyg. Forgive you! why, I am no kin t'you, am I? Spa. Should it be measur'd by my mean deserts, Indeed you are not.

Lyg. Thou couldst prate, unhappily, Ere thou couldst go; 'would thou couldst do as

well!

And how does your custom hold out here?
Spa. Sir?

Lyg. Are you in private still, or how?

Spa. What do you mean?

Lyg. Do you take money? Are you come to sell sin yet? Perhaps, I can help you to liberal clients: Or has not the king cast you off yet? Oh, thou vile creature, whose best commenda

thy mother had liv'd to see this; or, rather, that I had died ere I had seen it! Why didst not make me acquainted when thou wert first resolv'd to be a whore?

I would have seen thy hot lust satisfied
More privately: I would have kept a dancer,
And a whole concert of musicians,
In my own house, only to fiddle thee.
Spa. Sir, I was never whore.

Lyg. If thou couldst not say so much for thyself, thou shouldst be carted.

Tigr. Lygones, I have read it, and I like it; You shall deliver it.

Lyg. Well, sir, I will:

But I have private business with you.
Tigr. Speak; what is't?

Lyg. How has my age deserv'd so ill of you,
That you can pick no strumpets i'the land,
But out of my breed?

Tigr. Strumpets, good Lygones?

Lyg. Yes; and I wish to have you know, I scorn To get a whore for any prince alive : And yet scorn will not help! Methinks, my daughter

Might have been spar'd; there were enow besides. Tigr. May I not prosper but she's innocent As morning light, for me; and, I dare swear, For all the world.

Lyg. Why is she with you, then? Can she wait on you better than your man? Has she a gift in plucking off your stockings? Can she make caudles well, or cut your corns? Why do you keep her with you? For a queen, I know, you do contemn her; so should Î; And every subject else think much at it. Tigr. Let 'em think much; but 'tis more firm than earth,

Thou see'st thy queen there.

Lyg. Then have I made a fair hand! I call'd her whore. If I shall speak now as her father, I cannot choose but greatly rejoice that she shall be a queen: But if I should speak to you as a statesman, she were more fit to be your whore. Tigr. Get you about your business to Arbaces; Now you talk idly.

Lyg. Yes, sir, I will go.

And shall she be a queen? She had more wit Than her old father, when she ran away.

Shall she be queen? Now, by my troth, 'tis fine! I'll dance out of all measure at her wedding: Shall I not, sir?

Tigr. Yes, marry, shalt thou.

Lyg. I'll make these wither'd kexes bear my body

Two hours together above ground.
Tigr. Nay, go;

My business requires haste.

Lyg. Good Heav'n preserve you! You are an excellent king.

Spa. Farewell, good father.

Lyg. Farewell, sweet virtuous daughter.
I never was so joyful in my life,
That I remember! Shall she be a queen?