tain, rally up your rotten regiment, and be gone. I had rather thresh than be bound to kick these rascals, 'till they cry'd, 'ho!' Bessus, you may put your hand to them now, and then you are quit. Farewell! as you like this, pray visit me again; 'twill keep me in good health. [Exit. 2 Sw. H'as a devilish hard foot; I never felt the like. 1 Sw. Nor I; and yet, I am sure, I have felt a hundred. 2 Sw. If he kick thus i' th' Dog-days, he will be dry-foundred. What cure now, captain, besides oil of bays? Bes. Why, well enough, I warrant you; you can go? 2 Sw. Yes, Heav'n be thank'd! but I feel a shrewd ache; sure, he's sprang my huckle-bone. 1 Sw. I ha' lost a haunch. Bes. A little butter, friend, a little butter; but ter and parsley is a sovereign matter: Probatum Mar. Sir, I will speak. Arb. Will ye? Mar. It is my duty. I fear you'll kill yourself: I am a subject, Arb. Thou art not train'd in sin, Mar. I'm sorry 'tis so ill. True sorrow is alone; grieve by thyself. Where the most damn'd have dwelling! Ere I As apt to mischief as it was before? end, Can I not reach it, think'st thou? These are toys Mar. Heav'n put into your bosom temperate thoughts! I'll leave you, though I fear. Arb. Go; thou art honest. [Erit MAR. Gob. How, sir! Have I preserv'd you, from a From all the arrows malice or ambition Wert crueller than hard'ned murderers Of infants and their mothers? Thou didst save Only till thou hadst studied out a way Arb. Thou know'st the evils thou hast done to Dost thou remember all those witching letters To me? And thou didst write how well she lov'd Dost thou remember this? so that I doted Gob. This is true. Arb. Is it? and, when I was return'd, thou Thou didst pursue it, 'till thou wound'st me in Gob. This I grant : I think, I was the cause. Arb. Wert thou? Nay, more, I think, thou meant'st it. Gob Sir, I hate a lye: As I love Heav'n and honesty, I did; Arb. Be thine own sad judge; A further condemnation will not need: Gob. Why, sir, to die? Arb. Why shouldst thou live? was ever yet So impudent, that had a thought of mercy, Get out I cannot where thou hurl'dst me in; Gob. You kill your father. Arb. My father? Though I know it for a lye, Gob. I will tell you that shall heighten you I am thy father; I charge thee hear me. As 'tis most false, and that I should be found Of lawless lust, I should no more admire Ara. I will; to what? Arb. To such a thing, as, if it be a truth, Ara. Why, you are his son. Arb. His son? Swear, swear, thou worse than Ara. By all that's good, you are. That ever was known bad! Now is the cause I have by thee, which is a spacious world eases Ara. You spend your rage and words in vain, And rail upon a guess; hear us a little. Arb. No, I will never hear, but talk away My breath, and die. Gob. Why, but you are no bastard. Arb. How's that! Ara. Nor child of mine. Arb. Still you go on In wonders to me. Gob. Pray you, be more patient; I may bring comfort to you. Arb. I will kneel, And hear with the obedience of a child. Gob. First know, our last king, your supposed Was old and feeble when he married her, Arb. Therefore she took leave To play the whore, because the king was old: Is this the comfort? Ara. What will you find out To give me satisfaction, when you find How you have injur'd me? Let fire consume me If ever I were whore! Gob. Forbear these starts, Or I will leave you wedded to despair, Arb. Bring it out, good father. Gob. Our king, I say, was old, and this our queen Desir'd to bring an heir, but yet her husband, She hardly could have been: But yet her cunning Found out this way; she feign'd herself with child, And posts were sent in haste throughout the land, And God was humbly thank'd in ev'ry church, That so had bless'd the queen; and prayers were made For her safe going and delivery. She feign'd now to grow bigger; and perceiv'd A far more large respect from every man, Arb. Do I not hear it well? Nay, I will make No noise at all; but pray you to the point, Quick as you can. Gob. Now when the time was full Mov'd me to let her have you; and such reasons That night this queen feign'd hastily to labour, Which she had charm'd, she made the world believe She was deliver'd of you. You grew up, Arb. And have you made an end now? Is this all? If not, I will be still till I be aged, Gob. This is all. Arb. And is it true, say you too, madam ? Arb. But can you prove this? Arb. Give consent? Why, I will have 'em all that know it rack'd Mardonius, the best news! Nay, draw no nearer; Mar. Indeed, 'twere well for you This hope of issue made her fear'd, and brought | If you might be a little less obey'd. What fury's this? Gob. Believe me, 'tis no fury; All that he says is truth. Mar. 'Tis very strange. Arb. Why do you keep your hats off, gentlemen? Is it to me! I swear it must not be; Nay, trust me, in good faith, it must not be! Mar. We will. You are not found Arb. Oh, not here! You may, but not I, for here is my father In presence. Mar. Where? Arb. Why, there. Oh, the whole story Bes. Why, if you remember, fellow-subject Arbaces, I told you once she was not your sister: Ay, and she look'd nothing like you. Arb. I think you did, good captain Bessus. Bes. Here will arise another question now amongst the sword-men, whether I be to call him to account for beating me, now he is prov'd No King. Enter LYGONES. Mar. Sir, here's Lygones, the agent for the Armenian state. Arb. Where is he? I know your business, good Lygones. Lyg. We must have our king again, and will. Arb. I knew that was your business: You shall have Your king again; and have him so again, Lyg. 'Tis Spaconia. [Exe. two gentlemen. Arb. She is so. I could now tell any thing I never heard. Your king shall go so home, As never man went. Mar. Shall he go on's head? Arb. He shall have chariots easier than air, That I will have invented; and ne'er think He shall pay any ransom! And thyself, That art the messenger, shall ride before him On a horse cut out of an entire diamond, That shall be made to go with golden wheels, I know not how yet. Lyg. Why, I shall be made For ever! They bely'd this king with us, Arb. And then, thy daughter; She shall have some strange thing; we'll have the kingdom Sold utterly, and put into a toy, Behold the humblest subject that you have, Enter PANTHEA and 1 Gentleman. Pan. Why kneel you to me, That am your vassal? Arb. Grant me one request. ! Pan. Alas! what can I grant you? what I can I will. Arb. That you will please to marry me, If I can prove it lawful. Pan. Is that all! More willingly than I would draw this air. Arb. I'll kiss this hand, in earnest. 2 Gent. Sir, Tigranes Is coming; though he made it strange, at first, To see the princess any more. Enter TIGRANES and SPACONIA. Thou mean'st. Oh, my Tigranes, pardon me! Tigr. No; I forgive, Cleon. The rest are making ready, sir. Lys. So let them; there is time enough. Diph. You are the brother to the king, my lord; and we'll take your word. Lys. Strato, thou hast some skill in poetry: What think'st thou of the masque? Will it be well? Strat. As well as masque can be. Strat. Yes; they must commend their king, and speak in praise of the assembly; bless the bride and bridegroom, in person of some god. They are tied to rules of flattery. Cle. See, good my lord, who is returned ! Lys. Noble Melantius! the land, by me, Welcomes thy virtues home to Rhodes. Mel. My lord, my thanks; but these scratch'd limbs of mine Have spoke my love and truth unto my friends, More than my tongue e'er could. My mind's the same It ever was to you: Where I find worth Diph. Hail, worthy brother! Mel. I thank thee, Diphilus. But thou art faulty; |