Familiar as my sleep, or want of money: 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, Arb. Why, credit me, Panthea, credit me, that am thy brother, Bes. Boy, get some wine, and pen and ink, And I am both, I think, for I believe. 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. Ay, more than all the art of music can, Pan. Be it so; I will. Am I the first that ever had a wrong 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 nature can make: Yet, as unsound men If you dissemble, be it on your head! I might be kept in some place where you are; Arb. Fy, you come in a step; what do you mean? Pan. Then I must endure it, sir. Heav'n Arb. Nay, you shall hear the cause in short, And, when thou hear'st it, thou wilt blush for me, Pan. Heav'n forbid ! Arb. Nay, it is gone; And I am left as far without a bound 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 Not to be grasp'd: Let them be men or beasts, Pan. But 'tis not in the pow'r of any force, 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; Pan. Sir, I disturb You and myself too; 'twere better I were gone. Arb. Faith, there is none at all: 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, Pan. But is there nothing else, That we may do, but only walk? Methinks, Arb. And so they may, Panthea; so will we 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 might hereafter promise him a good man, Mar. I confess, such fellows Be in all royal camps, and have and must be, Mar. Captain do you call him? Too mighty for your age: A pox upon him! 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 I'll tell you, sir, and tell you truth; this rascal 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, Children will shortly take him for a wall, Lyg. Sure, I have committed some great sin 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, I never yet stole any living thing Lyg. I know you dare lye. Bes. With none but summer-whores, upon my My means and manners never could attempt Lyg. Sirrah, that quits not me: Where is this 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, 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. Bes. Farewell, sir, farewell! Commend me to | tion is, that thou art a young whore! I would the gentlewoman, I pray. 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; If it pleases you so to authorize, is The offer's there set down; please you to read it. Lyg. None, sir; all is as it was. Tigr. And all our friends are well? Spa. Though I have done nothing but what was good, I dare not see my father: It was fault Lyg. Madam, I should have seen you. 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? 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 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. Lyg. How has my age deserv'd so ill of you, 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. My business requires haste. Lyg. Good Heav'n preserve you! You are an excellent king. Spa. Farewell, good father. Lyg. Farewell, sweet virtuous daughter. have made up a new strong constancy, And run away from it: Let that suffice. [Exeunt, Enter BACURIUS and a Servant. Bac. Three gentlemen without, to speak with me? Serv. Yes, sir. Bac. Let them come in. Enter BESSUS with the two Sword-men. Bes. My lord, I have made bold to bring these Your lordship is mistaken; fear not, lord. Bes. I ask no more in honour. you hear my lord is sorry. Bac. Not that I have beaten you, Gentlemen, But beaten one that will be beaten ; What come they for, good captain Stockfish? name. Bac. No, nor your nature neither; though they are things fitter, I must confess, for any thing than my remembrance, or any honest man's: What shall these billets do? be pil'd up in my wood-yard? Bes. Your lordship holds your mirth still, Heav'n continue it! But, for these gentlemen, they come Bar. To swear you are a coward: Spare your book; I do believe it. Bes. Your lordship still draws wide; they come to vouch, under their valiant hands, I am no coward. Bac. That would be a show, indeed, worth seeing. Sirs, be wise and take money for this motion, travel with it; and where the name of Bessus has been known, or a good coward stirring, 'twill yield more than a tilting. This will prove more beneficial to you, if you be thrifty, than your captainship, and more natural. Men of most valiant hands, is this true? 2 Sw. It is so, most renowned. Bac. 'Tis somewhat strange. 1 Sr. Lord, it is strange, yet true. We have examined, from your lordship's foot there to this | man's head, the nature of the beatings; and we do find his honour is come off clean and sufficient: This, as our swords shall help us. Bac. You are much bound to your bilbo men; I'm glad you're straight again, captain. 'Twere good you would think some way how to gratify them; they have undergone a labour for you, Bessus, would have puzzled Hercules with all his valour. 2 Sw. Your lordship must understand we are no men o'th' law, that take pay for our opinions; it is sufficient we have clear'd our friend. Bac. Yet there is something due, which I, as touch'd in conscience, will discharge. Captain, I'll pay this rent for you. Bes. Spare yourself, my good lord; my brave friends aim at nothing but the virtue. Bac. That's but a cold discharge, sir, for the pains. 2 Sw. Oh, lord! my good lord! Bac. Be not so modest; I will give you something. Bes. They shall dine with your lordship; that's sufficient. Bac. Something in hand the while. You rogues, you apple-squires, do you come hither, with your bottled valour, your windy froth, to limit out my beatings? 1 Sw. I do beseech your lordship. Bac. 'Sfoot, what a bevy of beaten slaves are here! Get me a cudgel, sirrah, and a tough one. 2 Sw. More of your foot, I beseech your lord ship. Bac. You shall, you shall, dog, and your fellow beagle. 1 Sw. O' this side, good my lord. Bac. Off with your swords; for if you hurt my foot, I'll have you flead, you rascals. 1 Sw. Mine's off, my lord. 2 Sw. I beseech your lordship, stay a little; my strap's tied to my cod-piece point: Now, when you please. Bac. Captain, these are your valiant friends; you long for a little too? Bes. I am very well, I humbly thank your lordship. Bac. What's that in your pocket hurts my toe, you mungrel? Thy buttocks cannot be so hard; out with it quickly. 2 Sw. Here 'tis, sir; a small piece of artillery, that a gentleman, a dear friend of your lordship's, sent me with, to get it mended, sir; for, if you mark, the nose is somewhat loose. Bac. A friend of mine, you rascal? I was never wearier of doing nothing, than kicking these two foot-balls. Enter Servant. Serv. Here is a good cudgel, sir. Bac. It comes too late; I am weary; prithee, do thou beat them. 2 Sw. My lord, this is foul play, i'faith, to put a fresh man upon us: Men are but men, sir. Bac. That jest shall save your bones. Cap |