Rather than have her. Arb. See, if I insult, That am the conqueror, and for a ransom The daughters of your country, set by her, Would see their shame, run home, and blush to death At their own foulness. Yet she is not fair, Mar. I do, I'll be sworn. Thy valour and thy passions sever'd, would have made two excellent fellows in their kinds. I know not, whether I should be sorry thou art so valiant, or so passionate: 'Would one of 'em were away' [Aside. Tigr. Do I refuse her, that I doubt her worth? Were she as virtuous as she would be thought; Arb. Is that all the cause? Think you, you can so knit yourself in love ransom Some other way; but if she be your choice, She frees you. To Iberia you must. Tigr. Sir, I have learn'd a prisoner's sufferance, And will obey: But give me leave to talk In private with some friends before I go. Arb. Some do await him forth, and see him safe; But let him freely send for whom he please, Is full of wisdom, valour, all the graces Mar. And yet you conquer'd him. Arb. And yet I conquer'd him; and could have done't, Hadst thou join'd with him, though thy name in Vouchsafe to give me answer? Am I grown To such a poor respect? or do you mean Mov'd you like wheels; it mov'd you as it pleas'd. That rule such people: I have nothing left To break my wind? Speak, speak, some one of Mean men enjoy themselves; but 'tis our curse you, Or else, by Heav'n 1 Gent. So please your― Arb. Monstrous! I cannot be heard out; they cut me off, As if I were too saucy. I will live In woods, and talk to trees; they will allow me 1 Gent. May it please Arb. mean not you; Did not I stop you once? But I am grown Bes. An please your majesty Arb. Wilt thou devour me? This is such a rudeness As yet you never shew'd me: And I want Mar. Truth will offend you. Arb, You take all great care what will offend me, When you dare to utter such things as these. Mar. You told Tigranes, you had won his land With that sole arm, prop'd by divinity: Arb. Oh, that thy name To have a tumult, that, out of their loves, Go, get you gone! Why, here they stand like death: My words move nothing. 1 Gent. Must we go? Bes. I know not. Arb. I pray you, leave me, sirs. I'm proud of this, [Exeunt all but ARB. and MAR. That you will be intreated from my sight. Arb. Will you leave me quite alone? Methinks, Arb. Why, you would now think much To be denied; but I can scarce intreat What I would have. Do, speak. Mar. But will you hear me out? Arb. With me you article, to talk thus: Well, I will hear you out. Mar. Sir, that I have ever lov'd you, my sword hath spoken for me; that I do, if it be doubted, I dare call an oath, a great one, to my witness; and were you not my king, from amongst men, I should have chose you out, to love above the rest: Nor can this challenge thanks; for my own sake I should have done it, because I would have lov'd the most deserving man; for so you are. Arb. Alas, Mardonius, rise! you shall not We all are soldiers, and all venture lives; Were great as mine! would I had paid my It shall be better. More than friend in arms, Drive thee about the world, 'till I had met Some place that yet man's curiosity My father, and my tutor, good Mardonius! out. Arb. And so I will: Speak freely, for from thee Nothing can come, but worthy things and true. Mar. Though you have all this worth, you Hath miss'd of: There, there would I strike thee hold some qualities that do eclipse your virtues. Arb. Eclipse my virtues ? Mar, Yes; your passions; which are so manifold, that they appear even in this: When I commend you, you hug me for that tr; but when I speak your faults, you make a start, and fly the hearing: But Arb. When you commend me? Oh, that I should live To need such commendations! If my deeds Blew not my praise themselves about the earth, I were most wretched! Spare your idle praise If thou didst mean to flatter, and shouldst utter Words in my praise, that thou thought'st impudence, My deeds should make 'em modest. When you praise, I hug you? 'Tis so false, that, wert thou worthy, Thou shouldst receive a death, a glorious death, From me! But thou shalt understand thy lyes; For, shouldst thou praise me into Heav'n, and there Leave me inthron'd, I would despise thee then As much as now, which is as much as dust, Because I see thy envy. FNVY Mar. However you will use me after, yet for your own promise sake, hear me the rest. Arb. I will, and after call unto the winds; Mar. Would you but leave these hasty tempers, which I do not say take from you all your worth, but darken it, then you will shine indeed. Arb. Well. Mar. Yet I would have you keep some passions, lest men should take you for a god, your virtues are such. Arb. Why, now you flatter. Mar. I never understood the word. Were you no king, and free from these moods, should I chuse a companion for wit and pleasure, it should be you; or for honesty to interchange my bosom with, it should be you; or wisdom to give me counsel, I would pick out you; or valour to defend my reputation, still I should find you out; for you are fit to fight for all the world, if it could come in question. Now I have spoke: Consider to yourself; find out a use; if so, then what shall fall to me is not material. Arb. Is not material? More than ten such As mine, Mardonius! It was nobly said; A swift amendment. But I want those parts Should differ thus! Mar. Why, 'tis no matter, sir. Thou and I Arb. Faith, but it is: But thou dost ever take All things I do thus patiently; for which I never can requite thee, but with love; And that thou shalt be sure of. Have not been merry lately: Prithee tell me, Where hadst thou that same jewel in thine ear? Mar. Why, at the taking of a town. Arb. A wench, upon my life, a wench, Mardonius, gave thee that jewel. Mar. Wench! They respect not me; I'm old and rough, and every limb about me, but that which should, grows stiffer. I' those businesses, I may swear I am truly honest; for I pay justly for what I take, and would be glad to be at a certainty. Arb. Why, do the wenches encroach upon thee? Mar. Ay, by this light, do they. Arb. Didst thou sit at an old rent with 'em? Mar. Yes, faith. Arb. And do they improve themselves? Mar. Ay, ten shillings to me, every new young fellow they come acquainted with. Arb. How canst live on't? Mar. Why, I think, I must petition to you. Enter two Gentlemen and Bessus. Mar. Your price? Arb. Ay, at the king's price. Mar. That may be more than I'm worth. 2 Gent. Is he not merry now? 1 Gent. I think not. Bes. He is, he is: We'll shew ourselves. Arb. Bessus! I thought you had been in Iberia by this; I bade you haste; Gobrias will want entertainment for me. Bes. An please your majesty, I have a suit. Bes. And if I can prefer her to the lady Panthea, your majesty's sister, to learn fashions, as her friends term it, it will be worth something to me. Arb. So many nights' lodgings as 'tis thither; will't not? Bes. I know not that, sir; but gold I shall be sure of. Arb, Why, thou shalt bid her entertain her from me, so thou wilt resolve me one thing. Bes. If I can. Arb. Faith, 'tis a very disputable question; and yet, I think, thou canst decide it. Bes. Your majesty has a good opinion of my understanding. Arb. I have so good an opinion of it: 'Tis, whether thou be valiant. Bes. Somebody has traduced me to you: Do you see this sword, sir? Arb. Yes. Bes. If I do not make my back-biters eat it to a knife within this week, say I am not valiant. Enter a Messenger. Mes. Health to your majesty! Mes. Yes, sir. Arb. How does he? is he well? Arb. Take that for thy good news. 1 Gent. The king starts back. Mar. His blood goes back as fast. 2 Gent. And now it comes again. Mar. He alters strangely. Arb. The hand of Heaven is on me: Be it far | You shall behold a tomb more worth than I. From me to struggle! If my secret sins Have pull'd this curse upon me, lend me tears tense Enow to wash me white, that I may feel A child-like innocence within my breast! As fix'd as constancy herself; my eyes Arb. Alas, she's not so happy! Thou dost How she hath labour'd, since my father died, And pardon'd, and by that have made her fit Mar. Sir, let her bear her sins on her own Vex not yourself. Arb. What will the world Conceive of me? with what unnatural sins Enter TIGRANES and SPACONIA. Spa. Nay, let me stay alone; And when you see Armenia again, Some friend, that ever lov'd me or my cause, Tigr. Alas, that thou wilt ask me! Ask the man That rages in a fever, why he lies Distemper'd there, when all the other youths Spa. That conquer'd thee, Tigr. But if he by force Convey my body hence, what helps it me, Spa. Oh, Tigranes! I know you are to see a lady there; And I have given gold unto a captain, Spa. Can you imagine that a longing maid, Tigr. Dispraise my health, Spa. Why, I had rather lose you: Can my heart Consent to let my tongue throw out such words? Enter BESSUS. Bes. What, is your majesty ready? Tigr. There is the lady, captain. Bes. Sweet lady, by your leave. I could wish myself more full of courtship for your fair sake. Spa. Sir, I shall feel no want of that. Bes. Lady, you must haste; I have receiv'd new letters from the king, that require more haste than I expected; he will follow me suddenly himself; and begins to call for your majesty already. Tigr. He shall not do so long. Bes. Sweet lady, shall I call you my Charge hereafter? Spa. I will not take upon me to govern your tongue, sir: You shall call me what you please. [Exeunt. ACT II. Enter GOBRIAS, BACURIUS, Arane, Panthea, and MANDANE, waiting-woman, with atten dants. Gob. My lord Bacurius, you must have regard Unto the queen; she is your prisoner; 'Tis at your peril, if she make escape. Bac. My lord, I know't; she is my prisoner, Gob. So do I, my lord: grace With patience, and a time would come for me To reconcile all to your own content: Doth govern her, that she should stretch her But, by this way, you take away my pow'r. arm Against her king; so little womanhood And natural goodness, as to think the death Ara. Thou know'st the reason why, How well it does become her! And if you Pan. I would my heart Were stone, before my softness should be urg'd Of Heav'n be done, and if one needs must fall, Ara. But, Gobrias, let us talk. You know, this fault Is not in me as in another mother. Gob. I know it is not. Ara. Yet you make it so. Gob. Why, is not all that's past beyond your help? And what was done, unknown, was not by me, But you; your urging. Being done, I must preserve my own; but time may bring All this to light, and happily for all. Ara. Accursed be this over-curious brain, That gave that plot a birth! Accurs'd this wom That after did conceive, to my disgrace! divers letters come from Armenia, that Bessus Bac. My lord-protector, they say, there are has done good service, and brought again a day by his particular valour: Receiv'd you any to that effect? Gob. Yes; 'tis most certain. Buc. I'm sorry for't; not that the day was won, but that 'twas won by him. We held him here a coward: He did me wrong once, at which I laugh'd, and so did all the world; for not I, nor any other, held him worth my sword. Enter BESSUS and SPACONIA. Bes. Health to my lord-protector! From the king these letters; and to your grace, madam, these. Gob. How does his majesty? Bes. As well as conquest, by his own means and his valiant commanders, can make him: Your letters will tell you all. Pan. I will not open mine, till I do know My brother's health: Good captain, is he well? Bes. As the rest of us that fought are. Pan. But how's that? is he hurt? Bes. He's a strange soldier that gets not a knock. Pan. I do not ask how strange that soldier is That gets no hurt, but whether he have one. Bes. He had divers. Pan. And is he well again? Bes. Well again, an't please your grace. Why, I was run twice through the body, and shot i'th' head with a cross-arrow, and yet am well again. Pan. I do not care how thou do'st: Is he well? |