 | A King, and no King |  |
Actus primus.
Scena prima.
Enter Mardonius and Bessus, two Captains.Mar.
Bessus
, the King has made a fair hand on't, he
has ended the Wars at a blow, would my
sword had a close basket hilt to hold Wine,
and the blade would make knives, for we
shall have nothing but eating and drinking.
Bes.
We that are Commanders shall do well enough.
Mar.
Faith Bessus, such Commanders as thou may; I had
as lieve set thee Perdue for a pudding i'th' dark, as Alexander
the Great.
Bes.
I love these jests exceedingly.
Mar.
I think thou lov'st 'em better than quarrelling Bessus,
I'le say so much i'thy behalf, and yet thou 'rt valiant
enough upon a retreat, I think thou wouldst kill any man
that stopt thee if thou couldst.
Bes.
But was not this a brave Combate Mardonius?
Mar.
Why, didst thou see't?
Bes.
You stood wi'me.
Mar.
I did so, but me thought thou wink'dst every blow
they strook.
Bes.
Well, I believe there are better souldiers than I,
that never saw two Princes fight in lists.
Mar.
By my troth I think so too Bessus, many a thousand,
but certainly all that are worse than thou have seen as
much.
Bes.
'Twas bravely done of our King.
Mar.
Yes, if he had not ended the wars: I'me glad
thou dar'st talk of such dangerous businesses.
Bes.
To take a Prince prisoner in the heart of's own Country
in single combat.
Mar.
See how thy blood curdles at this, I think thou
couldst be contented to be beaten i'this passion.
Bes.
Shall I tell you truly?
Mar.
I.
Bes.
I could willingly venture for't.
Mar.
Um, no venture neither Bessus.
Bes.
Let me not live, if I do not think 'tis a braver piece
of service than that I'me so fam'd for.
Mar.
Why, art thou fam'd for any valour?
Bes.
Fam'd! I, I warrant you.
Ma.
I'me e'en heartily glad on't, I have been with thee
e're since thou cam'st to th'wars, and this is the first word
that ever I heard on't, prethee who fames thee.
Bes.
The Christian world.
Mar.
'Tis heathenishly done of'em in my conscience, thou
Bes.
Yes, I ha' don good service.
Mar.
I do not know how thou mayst wait of a man in's
Chamber, or thy agility of shifting of a Trencher, but otherwise
no service good Bessus.
Bes.
You saw me do the service your self.
Mar.
Not so hasty sweet Bessus, where was it, is the
place vanish'd?
Bes.
At Bessus desp'rate redemption.
Mar.
At Bessus desp'rate redemption, where's that?
Bes.
There where I redeem'd the day, the place bears my
name.
Mar.
Pray thee, who Christened it?
Bes.
The Souldiers.
Mar.
If I were not a very merrily dispos'd man, what would
become of thee? one that had but a grain of choler in the
whole composition of his body, would send thee of an errand
to the worms for putting thy name upon that field: did not
I beat thee there i'th' head o'th' Troops with a Trunchion,
because thou wouldst needs run away with thy company,
when we should charge the enemy?
Bes.
True, but I did not run.
Mar.
Right Bessus, I beat thee out on't.
Bes.
But came I not up when the day was gone, and redeem'd
all?
Mar.
Thou knowest, and so do I, thou meanedst to flie,
and thy fear making thee mistake, thou ranst upon the enemy,
and a hot charge thou gav'st, as I'le to thee right, thou art
furious in running away, and I think, we owe thy fear for
our victory; If I were the King, and were sure thou wouldst
mistake alwaies and run away upon th'enemy, thou shouldst
be General by this light.
Bes.
You'l never leave this till I fall foul.
Mar.
No more such words dear Bessus, for though I have
ever known thee a coward, and therefore durst never strike
thee, yet if thou proceedest, I will allow thee valiant, and
beat thee.
Bes.
Come, our King's a brave fellow.
Mar.
He is so Bessus, I wonder how thou cam'st to know
it. But if thou wer't a man of understanding, I would tell
thee, he is vain-glorious, and humble, and angry, and
patient, and merry and dull, and joyful and sorrowful in
extremity in an hour: Do not think me thy friend for this,
for if I car'd who knew it, thou shouldst not hear it Bessus.
Here he is with his prey in his foot.
Enter &c. Senet Flourish.
Enter Arbaces and Tigranes, two Kings and two Gentlemen.
Arb.
Thy sadness brave Tigranes takes away
From my full victory, am I become
Of so small fame, that any man should grieve
When I o'recome him? They that plac'd me here,
Intended it an honour large enough,
For the most valiant living, but to dare oppose me single, though he
Lost the day. What should afflict you, you are as free as I,
To be my prisoner, is to be more free
Than you were formerly, and never think
The man I held worthy to combate me
Shall be us'd servilely: Thy ransom is
To take my only Sister to thy Wife.
A heavy one Tigranes, for she is
A Lady, that the neighbour Princes send
Blanks to fetch home. I have been too unkind
To her Tigranes, she but nine years old
I left her, and ne're saw her since, your wars
Have held me long and taught me though a youth,
The way to victory, she was a pretty child,
Then I was little better, but now fame
Cries loudly on her, and my messengers
Make me believe she is a miracle;
She'l make you shrink, as I did, with a stroak
But of her eye Tigranes.
Tigr.
Is't the course of Iberia to use their prisoners thus?
Had fortune thrown my name above Arbace,
I should not thus have talk'd Sir, in Armenia,
We hold it base, you should have kept your temper
Till you saw home again, where 'tis the fashion
Perhaps to brag.
Arb.
Be you my witness earth, need I to brag,
Doth not this captive Prince speak
Me sufficiently, and all the acts
That I have wrought upon his suffering Land;
Should I then boast! where lies that foot of ground
Within his whole Realm, that I have not past,
Fighting and conquering; Far then from me
Be ostentation. I could tell the world
How I have laid his Kingdom desolate
By this sole Arm prop't by divinity,
Stript him out of his glories, and have sent
The pride of all his youth to people graves,
And made his Virgins languish for their Loves,
If I would brag, should I that have the power
To teach the Neighbour world humility,
Mix with vain-glory?
Mar.
Indeed this is none.
Arb.
Tigranes, Nay did I but take delight
To stretch my deeds as others do, on words,
I could amaze my hearers.
Mar.
So you do.
Arb.
But he shall wrong his and my modesty,
That thinks me apt to boast after any act
Fit for a good man to do upon his foe.
A little glory in a souldiers mouth
Is well-becoming, be it far from vain.
Mar.
'Tis pity that valour should be thus drunk.
Arb.
I offer you my Sister, and you answer
I do insult, a Lady that no suite
Nor treasure; nor thy Crown could purchase thee,
But that thou fought'st with me.
Tigr.
Though this be worse
Than that you spake before, it strikes me not;
But that you think to overgrace me with
The marriage of your Sister, troubles me.
I would give worlds for ransoms were they mine,
Rather than have her.
Arb.
See if I insult
That am the Conquerour, and for a ransom
Offer rich treasure to the Conquered,
Which he refuses, and I bear his scorn:
It cannot be self-flattery to say,
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,
Nor beautiful, those words express her not,
They say her looks have something excellent,
That wants a name: yet were she odious,
Her birth deserves the Empire of the world,
Sister to such a brother, that hath ta'ne
Victory prisoner, and throughout the earth,
Carries her bound, and should he let her loose,
She durst not leave him; Nature did her wrong,
To Print continual conquest on her cheeks,
And make no man worthy for her to taste
But me that am too near her, and as strangely
She did for me, but you will think I brag.
Mar.
I do I'le 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, wou'd one of 'em were away.
Tigr.
Do I refuse her that I doubt her worth?
Were she as vertuous as she would be thought,
So perfect that no one of her own sex
Could find a want, had she so tempting fair,
That she could wish it off for damning souls,
I would pay any ransom, twenty lives
Rather than meet her married in my bed.
Perhaps I have a love, where I have sixt
Mine eyes not to be mov'd, and she on me,
I am not fickle.
Arb.
Is that all the cause?
Think you, you can so knit your self in love
To any other, that her searching sight
Cannot dissolve it? So before you tri'd,
Trust me Tigranes, she can do as much
In peace, as I in war, she'l conquer too,
You shall see if you have the power to stand
The force of her swift looks, if you dislike,
I'le send you home with love, and name your ransom
Some other way, but if she be your choice,
She frees you: To Iberia you must.
Tigr.
Sir, I have learn'd a prisoners sufferance,
And will obey, but give me leave to talk
In private with some friends before I go.
Arb.
Some to await him forth, and see him safe,
But let him freely send for whom he please,
And none dare to disturb his conference,
I will not have him know what bondage is,
[Exit Tigranes.
Till he be free from me. This Prince, Mardonius,
Is full of wisdom, valour, all the graces
Man can receive.
Mar.
And yet you conquer'd him.
Arb.
And yet I conquer'd him, and could have don't
Hadst thou joyn'd with him, though thy name in Arms
Be great; must all men that are vertuous
Think suddenly to match themselves with me?
I conquered him and bravely, did I not?
Bes.
And please your Majesty, I was afraid at first.
Mar.
When wert thou other?
Arb.
Of what?
Bes.
That you would not have spy'd your best advantages,
for your Majesty in my opinion lay too high, methinks,
under favour, you should have lain thus.
Mar.
Like a Taylor at a wake.
Bes.
And then, if please your Majesty to remember, at
one time, by my troth I wisht my self wi'you.
Mar.
By my troth thou wouldst ha' stunk 'em both out
o'th' Lists.
Arb.
What to do?
Bes.
To put your Majesty in mind of an occasion; you
lay thus, and Tigranes falsified a blow at your Leg, which
you by doing thus avoided; but if you had whip'd up your
Leg thus, and reach'd him on the ear, you had made the
Blood-Royal run down his head.
Mar.
What Country Fence-school learn'st thou at?
Arb.
Pish, did not I take him nobly?
Mar.
Why you did, and you have talked enough on't.
Arb.
Talkt enough?
Will you confine my word? by heaven and earth,
I were much better be a King of beasts
Than such a people: if I had not patience
Above a God, I should be call'd a Tyrant
Throughout the world. They will offend to death
Each minute: Let me hear thee speak again,
And thou art earth again: why this is like
Tigranes speech that needs would say I brag'd.
Bessus, he said I brag'd.
Bes.
Ha, ha, ha.
Arb.
Why dost thou laugh?
By all the world, I'm grown ridiculous
To my own Subjects: Tie me in a Chair
And jest at me, but I shall make a start,
And punish some that others may take heed
How they are haughty; who will answer me?
He said I boasted, speak Mardonius,
Did I? He will not answer, O my temper!
I give you thanks above, that taught my heart
Patience, I can endure his silence; what will none
Vouchsafe to give me answer? am I grown
To such a poor respect, or do you mean
To break my wind? Speak, speak, some one of you,
Or else by heaven.
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
To end what I begin. The meanest Subject
Can find a freedom to discharge his soul
And not I, now it is a time to speak,
I hearken.
1 Gent.
May it please.
Arb.
I mean not you,
Did not I stop you once? but I am grown
To balk, but I defie, let another speak,
2 Gent.
I hope your Majesty.
Arb.
Thou drawest thy words,
That I must wait an hour, where other men
Can hear in instants; throw your words away,
Quick, and to purpose, I have told you this.
Bes.
And please your Majesty.
Arb.
Wilt thou devour me? this is such a rudeness
As you never shew'd me, and I want
Power to command too, else Mardonius
Would speak at my request; were you my King,
I would have answered at your word Mardonius,
I pray you speak, and truely, did I boast?
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 propt by Divinity:
Was not that bragging, and a wrong to us,
That daily ventured lives?
Arb.
O that thy name
Were as great, as mine, would I had paid my wealth,
It were as great, as I might combate thee,
I would through all the Regions habitable
Search thee, and having found thee, wi'my Sword
Drive thee about the world, till I had met
Some place that yet mans curiosity
Hath mist of; there, there would I strike thee dead:
Forgotten of mankind, such Funeral rites
As beasts would give thee, thou shouldst have.
Bes.
The King rages extreamly, shall we slink away?
He'l strike us.
2 Gent.
Content.
Arb.
There I would make you know 'twas this sole arm
I grant you were my instruments, and did
As I commanded you, but 'twas this arm
Mov'd you like wheels, it mov'd you as it pleas'd.
Whither slip you now? what are you too good
To wait on me (puffe,) I had need have temper
That rule such people; I have nothing left
At my own choice, I would I might be private:
Mean men enjoy themselves, but 'tis our curse,
To have a tumult that out of their loves
Will wait on us, whether we will or no;
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'me proud of this,
That you will be intreated from my sight:
Why now the leave me all: Mardonius.
Exeunt all but Arb. and Mar.
Mar.
Sir.
Arb.
Will you leave me quite alone? me thinks
Civility should teach you more than this,
If I were but your friend: Stay here and wait.
Mar.
Sir shall I speak?
Arb.
Why, you would now think much
To be denied, but I can scare 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 kneel,
We all are souldiers, and all venture lives:
And where there is no difference in mens worths,
Titles are jests, who can outvalue thee?
Mardonius thou hast lov'd me, and hast wrong,
Thy love is not rewarded, but believe
My Father, and my Tutor, good Mardonius.
Mar.
Sir, you did promise you would hear me 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 hold some
qualities that do Eclipse your vertues.
Arb.
Eclipse my vertues?
Mar.
Yes, your passions, which are so manifold, that
they appear even in this: when I commend you, you hug
me for that truth: but when I speak your faults, you make
a start, and flie the hearing but.
Arb.
When you commend me? O 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 thoughtst impudence,
My deeds should make 'em modest: when you praise I hug
you? 'tis so safe, that wert thou worthy thou shouldst receive
a death, a glorious death from me: but thou shalt understand
thy lies, for shouldst thou praise me into Heaven,
and there leave me inthron'd, I would despise thee though as
much as now, which is as much as dust because I see thy envie.
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, for they shall
lend as large an ear as I to what you utter: speak.
Mar.
Would you but leave these hasty tempers, which
I do not say take from you all your worth, but darken 'em,
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 vertues are such.
Arb.
Why now you flatter.
Mar.
I never understood the word, were you no King,
and free from these moods, should I choose a companion
for wit and pleasure, it should be you; or for honesty to
enterchange 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 your self, find out a use;
if so, then what shall fall to me is not material.
Arb.
Is not material? more than ten such lives, as mine,
Mardonius: it was nobly said, thou hast spoke truth, and
boldly such a truth as might offend another. I have been too
passionate and idle, thou shalt see a swift amendment, but
I want those parts you praise me for: I fight for all the
world? Give me a sword, and thou wilt go as far beyond
me, as thou art beyond in years, I know thou dar'st and
wilt; it troubles me that I should use so rough a phrase to
thee, impute it to my folly, what thou wilt, so thou wilt
paron me: that thou and I should differ thus!
Mar.
Why 'tis no matter Sir.
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. Thou and I have
not been merry lately: pray thee 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.
I 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.
I 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.
Arb.
Thou shalt take them up at my price.
Enter two Gentlemen and Bessus.
Mar.
Your price?
Arb.
I at the Kings price.
Mar.
That may be more than I'me worth.
2 Gent.
Is he not merry now?
1 Gent.
I think not.
Bes.
He is, he is: we'l shew our selves.
Arb.
Bessus, I thought you had been in Iberia by this, I
bad you hast; Gobrias will want entertainment for me.
Bes.
And please your Majesty I have a sute.
Arb.
Is't not lousie Bessus, what is't?
Bes.
I am to carry a Lady with me.
Arb.
Then thou hast two sutes.
Bes.
And if I can prefer her to the Lady Pentha your Majesties
Sister, to learn fashions, as her friends term it, it
will be worth something to me.
Arb.
So many nights lodgings as 'tis thither, wilt 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.
Some body 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.
Arb.
From Gobrias?
Mes.
Yes Sir.
Arb.
How does he, is he well?
Mes.
In perfect health.
Arb.
Take that for thy good news. A trustier servant
to his Prince there lives not, than is good Gobrias.
1 Gent.
The Kings 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 from me to
struggle, if my secret sins have pull'd this curse upon me,
lend me tears now to wash me white, that I may feel a
child-like innocence within my breast; which once perform'd,
O give me leave to stand as fix'd as constanty her
self, my eyes set here unmov'd, regardless of the world
though thousand miseries incompass me.
Mar.
This is strange, Sir, how do you?
Arb.
Mardonius, my mother.
Mar.
Is she dead?
Arb.
Alas she's not so happy, thou dost know how she
hath laboured since my Father died to take by treason hence
this loathed life, that would but be to serve her, I have
pardoned, and pardoned, and by that have made her sit to
practise new sins, not repent the old: she now had stirr'd a
slave to come from thence, and strike me here, whom Gobrias
sifting out, took and condemn'd and executed there,
the carefulst servant: Heaven let me but live to pay that
man; Nature is poor to me, that will not let me have as
many deaths as are the times that he hath sav'd my life, that
I might dye 'em over all for him.
Mar.
Sir let her bear her sins on her own head,
Vex not your self.
Arb.
What will the world
Conceive of me? with what unnatural sins
Will they suppose me loaden, when my life
Is sought by her that gave it to the world?
But yet he writes me comfort here, my Sister,
He saies, is grown in beauty and in grace.
In all the innocent vertues that become
A tender spotless maid: she stains her cheeks
And 'mongst that sacred dew she mingles Prayers
Her pure Oblations for my safe return:
If I have lost the duty of a Son,
If any pomp or vanity of state
Made me forget my natural offices,
Nay farther, if I have not every night
Expostulated with my wandring thoughts,
If ought unto my parent they have err'd,
And call'd 'em back: do you direct her arm
Unto this foul dissembling heart of mine:
But if I have been just to her, send out
Your power to compass me, and hold me safe
From searching treason; I will use no means
But prayer: for rather suffer me to see
From mine own veins issue a deadly flood,
Than wash my danger off with mothers blood.
Mar.
I n'ere saw such suddain extremities.
[Exeunt.
Enter Tigranes and Spaconia.
Tigr.
Why? wilt thou have me die Spaconia,
What should I do?
Spa.
Nay let me stay alone,
And when you see Armenia again,
You shall behold a Tomb more worth than I;
Some friend that ever lov'd me or my cause,
Will build me something to distinguish me
From other women, many a weeping verse
He will lay on, and much lament those maids,
That plac'd their loves unfortunately high,
As I have done, where they can never reach;
But why should you go to Iberia?
Tigr.
Alas, that thou wilt ask me, ask the man
That rages in a Fever why he lies
Distempered there, when all the other youths
Are coursing o're the Meadows with their Loves?
Can I resist it? am I not a slave
To him that conquer'd me?
Spa.
That conquer'd thee Tigranes! he has won
But half of thee, thy body, but thy mind
May be as free as his, his will did never
Combate thine, and take it prisoner.
Tigr.
But if he by force convey my body hence,
What helps it me or thee to be unwilling?
Spa.
O Tigranes, I know you are to see a Lady there,
To see, and like I fear: perhaps the hope
Of her make you forget me, ere we part,
Be happier than you know to wish; farewel.
Tigr.
Spaconia, stay and hear me what I say:
In short, destruction meet me that I may
See it, and not avoid it, when I leave
To be thy faithful lover: part with me
Thou shalt not, there are none that know our love,
And I have given gold unto a Captain
That goes unto Iberia from the King,
That he will place a Lady of our Land
With the Kings Sister that is offered me;
Thither shall you, and being once got in
Perswade her by what subtil means you can
To be as backward in her love as I.
Spa.
Can you imagine that a longing maid
When she beholds you, can be pull'd away
With words from loving you?
Tigr.
Dispraise my health, my honesty, and tell her
I am jealous.
Spa.
Why, I had rather lose you: can my heart
Consent to let my tongue throw out such words,
And I that ever yet spoke what I thought,
Shall find it such a thing at first to lie?
Tigr.
Yet do thy best.
Enter Bessus.
Bes.
What, is your Majesty ready?
Tigr.
There is the Lady, Captain.
Bes.
Sweet Lady, by your leave, I could wish my self
more full of Courtship for your fair sake.
Spa.
Sir I shall feel no want of that.
Bes.
Lady, you must hast, I have received new letters
from the King that require more hast 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.
| A King, and no King | |