A King, and No King

Arb.

I say Sir, once again.

Bac.

You may say what yo[u] please, Sir,

Would I might do so.

Arb.I will, Sir, and say openly, this woman carries letters,By my life I know she carries letters, this woman does it.

Mar.

Would Bessus were here to take her aside and search her, He would quickly tell you what she carried Sir.

Arb.

I have found it out, this woman carries letters.

Mar.

If this hold, 'twill be an ill world for Bawdes, Chamber-maids and Post-boyes, I thank heaven I have none I but his letters patents, things of his own enditing.

Arb.

Prince, this cunning cannot do't.

Tigr.

Doe, What Sir? I reach you not.

Arb.

It shall not serve your turn, Prince.

Tigr.

Serve my turn Sir?

Arb.

I Sir, it shall not serve your turn.

Tigr.

Be plainer, good Sir.

Arb.This woman shall carry no more letters back to yourLove Panthea, by Heaven she shall not, I say she shall not.

Mar.

This would make a Saint swear like a souldier.

Tigr.

This beats me more, King, than the blowes you gave me.

Arb.

Take'em away both, and together let them prisoners be, strictly and closely kept, or Sirra, your life shall answer it, and let no body speak with'em hereafter.

Tigr.Well, I am subject to you,And must indure these passions:This is the imprisonment I have look'd for always.And the dearer place I would choose.

[Exeunt Tigr. Spa. Bac.

Mar.

Sir, you have done well now.

Arb.

Dare you reprove it?

Mar.

No.

Arb.

You must be crossing me.

Mar.I have no letters Sir to anger you,But a dry sonnet of my CorporalsTo an old Suttlers wife, and that I'll burn, Sir.'Tis like to prove a fine age for the Ignorant.Arb.How darst thou so often forfeit thy life?Thou know'st 'tis in my power to take it.

Mar.

Yes, and I know you wo'not, or if you doe, you'll miss it quickly.

Arb.

Why?

Mar.Who shall tell you of these childish folliesWhen I am dead? who shall put to his powerTo draw those vertues out of a flood of humors,When they are drown'd, and make'em shine again?No, cut my head off:Then you may talk, and be believed, and grow worse,And have your too self-glorious temper rotInto a deep sleep, and the Kingdom with you,Till forraign swords be in your throats, and slaughterBe every where about you like your flatterers.Do, kill me.Arb.Prethee be tamer, good Mardonius,Thou know'st I love thee, nay I honour thee,Believe it good old Souldier, I am thine;But I am rack'd clean from my self, bear with me,Woot thou bear with me my Mardonius?

Enter Gobrias.

Mar.There comes a good man, love him too, he's temperate,You may live to have need of such a vertue,Rage is not still in fashion.

Arb.

Welcome good Gobrias.

Gob.

My service and this letter to your Grace.

Arb.

From whom?

Gob.From the rich Mine of vertue and beauty,Your mournfull Sister.

Arb.

She is in prison, Gobrias, is she not?

Gob.She is Sir, till your pleasure to enlarge her,Which on my knees I beg. Oh 'tis not fit,That all the sweetness of the world in one,The youth and vertue that would tame wild Tygers,And wilder people, that have known no manners,Should live thus cloistred up; for your loves sake,If there be any in that noble heart,To her a wretched Lady, and forlorn,Or for her love to you, which is as muchAs nature and obedience ever gave,Have pity on her beauties.Arb.Pray thee stand up; 'Tis true, she is too fair,And all these commendations but her own,Would thou had'st never so commended her,Or I nere liv'd to have heard it Gobrias;If thou but know'st the wrong her beautie does her,Thou wouldst in pity of her be a lyar,Thy ignorance has drawn me wretched man,Whither my self nor thou canst well tell: O my fate!I think she loves me, but I fear anotherIs deeper in her heart: How thinkst thou Gobrias?Gob.I do beseech your Grace believe it not,For let me perish if it be not false. Good Sir, read her Letter.

Mar.

This Love, or what a devil it is I know not, begets more mischief than a Wake. I had rather be well beaten, starv'd, or lowsie, than live within the Air on't. He that had seen this brave fellow Charge through a grove of Pikes but t'other day, and look upon him now, will ne'r believe his eyes again: if he continue thus but two days more, a Taylor may beat him with one hand tied behind him.

Arb.Alas, she would be at liberty.And there be a thousand reasons Gobrias,Thousands that will deny't:Which if she knew, she would contentedlyBe where she is: and bless her vertues for it,And me, though she were closer, she would, Gobrias,Good man indeed she would.Gob.Then good Sir, for her satisfaction,Send for her and with reason make her knowWhy she must live thus from you.

Arb.

I will; go bring her to me.

[Exeunt all.

Enter Bessus, And two Sword-men, and a Boy.

Bes.Y'are very welcome both; some stools boy,And reach a Table; Gentlemen o'th' Sword,Pray sit without more complement; be gone child.I have been curious in the searching of you,Because I understand you wise and valiant persons.1.We understand our selves Sir.Bes.Nay Gentlemen, and dear friends o'th' Sword,No complement I pray, but to the causeI hang upon, which in few, is my honour.2.You cannot hang too much Sir, for your honour,But to your cause.Bes.Be wise, and speak truth, my first doubt is,My beating by my Prince.1.Stay there a little Sir, do you doubt a beating?Or have you had a beating by your Prince?Bes.Gentlemen o'th' Sword, my Prince has beaten me.2.Brother, what think you of this case?1.If he has beaten him, the case is clear.2.If he have beaten him, I grant the case;But how? we cannot be too subtil in this business,I say, but how?Bes.Even with his Royal hand.1.Was it a blow of love, or indignation?Bes.'Twas twenty blows of indignation, Gentlemen,Besides two blows o'th face.2.Those blows o'th' face have made a new cause on't,The rest were but an horrible rudeness.

1.

Two blows o'th' face, and given by a worse man, I must confess, as the Sword-men say, had turn'd the business: Mark me brother, by a worse man; but being by his Prince, had they been ten, and those ten drawn teeth, besides the hazard of his nose for ever; all this had been but favours: this is my flat opinion, which I'le die in.

2.

The King may do much Captain, believe it; for had he crackt your Scull through, like a bottle, or broke a Rib or two with tossing of you, yet you had lost no honour: This is strange you may imagine, but this is truth now Captain.

Bes.I will be glad to embrace it Gentlemen;But how far may he strike me?

1.

There is another: a new cause rising from the time and distance, in which I will deliver my opinion: he may strike, beat, or cause to be beaten: for these are natural to man: your Prince, I say, may beat you, so far forth as his dominion reacheth, that's for the distance; the time, ten miles a day, I take it.

2.Brother, you err, 'tis fifteen miles a day,His stage is ten, his beatings are fifteen.Bes.'Tis the longest, but we subjects must—1.Be subject to it; you are wise and vertuous.Bes.Obedience ever makes that noble use on't,To which I dedicate my beaten body;I must trouble you a little further, Gentlemen o'th' Sword.2.No trouble at all to us Sir, if we mayProfit your understanding, we are boundBy vertue of our calling to utter our opinions,Shortly, and discreetly.

Bes.

My sorest business is, I have been kick'd.

2.

How far Sir?

Bes.

Not to flatter my self in it, all over, my sword forc'd but not lost; for discreetly I rendred it to save that imputation.

1.It shew'd discretion, the best part of valour.2.Brother, this is a pretty cause, pray ponder on't;Our friend here has been kick'd.1.He has so, brother.2.Sorely he saies: Now, had he set down hereUpon the meer kick, 't had been Cowardly.1.I think it had been Cowardly indeed.2.But our friend has redeem'd it in deliveringHis sword without compulsion; and that manThat took it of him, I pronounce a weak one,And his kicks nullities.He should have kick'd him after the deliveringWhich is the confirmation of a Coward.1.Brother, I take it, you mistake the question;For, say that I were kick'd.2.I must not say so;Nor I must not hear it spoke by the tongue of man.You kick'd, dear brother! you're merry.

1.

But put the case I were kick'd?

2.

Let them put it that are things weary of their lives, and know not honour; put the case you were kick'd?

1.

I do not say I was kickt.

2.

Nor no silly creature that wears his head without a Case, his soul in a Skin-coat: You kickt dear brother?

Bes.Nay Gentlemen, let us do what we shall do,Truly and honest[l]y; good Sirs to the question.

1.

Why then I say, suppose your Boy kick't, Captain?

2.

The Boy may be suppos'd is liable.

1.A foolish forward zeal Sir, in my friend;But to the Boy, suppose the Boy were kickt.

Bes.

I do suppose it.

1.

Has your Boy a sword?

Bes.

Surely no; I pray suppose a sword too.

1.

I do suppose it; you grant your Boy was kick't then.

2.

By no means Captain, let it be supposed still; the word grant, makes not for us.

1.

I say this must be granted.

2

This must be granted brother?

1.

I, this must be granted.

2.

Still this must?

1.

I say this must be granted.

2.

I, give me the must again, brother, you palter.

1.

I will not hear you, wasp.

2.

Brother, I say you palter, the must three times together; I wear as sharp Steel as another man, and my Fox bites as deep, musted, my dear brother. But to the cause again.

Bes.

Nay look you Gentlemen.

2.

In a word, I ha' done.

1.A tall man but intemperate, 'tis great pity;Once more suppose the Boy kick'd.

2.

Forward.

1.

And being thorowly kick'd, laughs at the kicker.

2

So much for us; proceed.

1.And in this beaten scorn, as I may call it,Delivers up his weapon; where lies the error?

Bes.

It lies i'th' beating Sir, I found it four dayes since.

2.The error, and a sore one as I take it,Lies in the thing kicking.

Bes.

I understand that well, 'tis so indeed Sir.

1.

That is according to the man that did it.

2.

There springs a new branch, whose was the foot?

Bes.

A Lords.

1.The cause is mighty, but had it been two Lords,And both had kick'd you, if you laugh, 'tis clear.Bes.I did laugh,But how will that help me, Gentlemen?2.Yes, it shall help you if you laught aloud.Bes.As loud as a kick'd man could laugh, I laught Sir.1.My reason now, the valiant man is knownBy suffering and contemning; you haveEnough of both, and you are valiant.2.If he be sure he has been kick'd enough:For that brave sufferance you speak of brother,Consists not in a beating and away,But in a cudgell'd body, from eighteenTo eight and thirty; in a head rebuk'dWith pots of all size, degrees, stools, and bed-staves,This showes a valiant man.Bes.Then I am valiant, as valiant as the proudest,For these are all familiar things to me;Familiar as my sleep, or want of money,All my whole body's but one bruise with beating,I think I have been cudgell'd with all nations,And almost all Religions.2.Embrace him brother, this man is valiant,I know it by my self, he's valiant.1.Captain, thou art a valiant Gentleman,To bide upon, a very valiant man.

Bes.

My equall friends o'th'Sword, I must request your hands to this.

2.

'Tis fit it should be.

Bes.Boy, get me some wine, and pen and Ink within:Am I clear, Gentlemen?1.Sir, 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 goe along and testife to the Lord Bacurius, whose foot has struck me, how you find my cause.

2.We will, and tell that Lord he must be rul'd,Or there are those abroad, will rule his Lordship.

[Exeunt.

Enter Arbaces at one door, and Gob. and Panthea at another.

Gob.

Sir, here's the Princess.

Arb.Leave us then alone,For the main cause of her imprisonmentMust not be heard by any but her self.

[Exit Gob.

You're welcome Sister, and would to heavenI could so bid you by another name:If you above love not such sins as these,Circle my heart with thoughts as cold as snowTo quench these rising flames that harbour here.

[P]an.

Sir, does it please you I should speak?

Arb.Please me?I, more than all the art of musick can,Thy speech doth please me, for it ever sounds,As thou brought'st joyfull 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 wrongSo far from being fit to have redress,That 'twas unfit to hear it? I will backTo prison, rather than disquiet you,And wait till it be fit.Arb.No, do not goe;For I will hear thee with a serious thought:I have collected all that's man about meTogether strongly, and I am resolv'dTo hear thee largely, but I do beseech thee,Do not come nearer to me, for there isSomething in that, that will undoe us both.

Pan.

Alas Sir, am I venome?

Arb.Yes, to me;Though of thy self I think thee to beIn equall degree of heat or cold,As nature can make: yet as unsound menConvert the sweetest and the nourishing'st meatsInto 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 lateShut from the world, and why it should be thus,Is all I wish to know.Arb.Why credit me Panthea,Credit me that am thy brother,Thy loving brother, that there is a causeSufficient, yet unfit for thee to know,That might undoe thee everlastingly,Only to hear, wilt thou but credit this?By Heaven 'tis true, believe it if thou canst.Pan.Children and fools are ever credulous,And I am both, I think, for I believe;If you dissemble, be it on your head;I'le back unto my prison: yet me-thinksI might be kept in some place where you are;For in my self, I find I know not whatTo call it, but it is a great desireTo see you often.Arb.Fie, 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 causeYou are imprison'd, that you may not beWhere I am.

Pan.

Then I must indure it Sir, Heaven keep you.

Arb.Nay, you shall hear the case in short Panthea,And when thou hear'st it, thou wilt blush for me,And hang thy head down like a VioletFull of the mornings dew: There is a wayTo gain thy freedome, but 'tis such a oneAs puts thee in worse bondage, and I know,Thou wouldst encounter fire, and make a proofWhether the gods have care of innocence,Rather than follow it: Know that I have lost,The only difference betwixt man and beast,My reason.

Pan.

Heaven forbid.

Arb.Nay 'tis gone;And I am left as far without a bound,As the wild Ocean, that obeys the winds;Each sodain passion throwes me where it lists,And overwhelms all that oppose my will:I have beheld thee with a lustfull eye;My heart is set on wickedness to actSuch sins with thee, as I have been afraidTo think of, if thou dar'st consent to this,Which I beseech thee do not, thou maist gainThy liberty, and yield me a content;If not, thy dwelling must be dark and close,Where I may never see thee; For heaven knowsThat laid this punishment upon my pride,Thy sight at some time will enforce my madnessTo make a start e'ne to thy ravishing;Now spit upon me, and call all reproachesThou canst devise together, and at onceHurle'em against me: for I am a sicknessAs 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 chooseTo search out death, that else would search out me,And in a grave sleep with my innocence,Than welcome such a sin: It is my fate,To these cross accidents I was ordain'd,And must have patience; and but that my eyesHave more of woman in 'em than my heart,I would not weep: Peace enter you again.Arb.Farwell, and good Panthea pray for me,Thy prayers are pure, that I may find a deathHowever soon before my passions growThat they forget what I desire is sin;For thither they are tending: if that happen,Then I shall force thee tho' thou wert a VirginBy vow to Heaven, and shall pull a heapOf strange yet uninvented sin upon me.Pan.Sir, I will pray for you, yet you shall knowIt is a sullen fate that governs us,For I could wish as heartily as youI were no sister to you, I should thenImbrace your lawfull love, sooner than health.Arb.Couldst thou affect me then?Pan.So perfectly,That as it is, I ne're shall sway my heart,To like another.Arb.Then I curse my birth,Must this be added to my miseriesThat thou art willing too? is there no stopTo our full happiness, but these meer soundsBrother and Sister?Pan.There is nothing else,But these alas will separate us moreThan twenty worlds betwixt us.Arb.I have liv'dTo conquer men and now am overthrownOnly by words Brother and Sister: whereHave those words dwelling? I will find 'em out,And utterly destroy 'em; but they areNot to be grasp'd: let 'em be men or beasts,And I will cut 'em from the Earth, or Towns,And I will raze 'em, and the[n] blow 'em up:Let 'em be Seas, and I will drink 'em off,And yet have unquencht fire left in my breast:Let 'em be any thing but meerly voice.Pan.But 'tis not in the power 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 inWith curious rules, when every beast is free:What is there that acknowledges a kindredBut wretched man? Who ever saw the BullFearfully leave the Heifer that he lik'dBecause they had one Dam?Pan.Sir, I disturb you and my self 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 mayWalk 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 oneYou love above me?Pan.No by Heaven.Arb.Why yet you sent unto Tigranes, Sister.Pan.True, but for another: for the truth—Arb.No more,I'le credit thee, thou canst not lie,Thou art all truth.Pan.But is there nothing else,That we may do, but only walk? methinksBrothers and Sisters lawfully may kiss.Arb.And so they may Panthea, so will we,And kiss again too; we were too scrupulous,And foolish, but we will be so no more.Pan.If you have any mercy, let me goTo prison, to my death, to any thing:I feel a sin growing upon my blood,Worse than all these, hotter than yours.Arb.That is impossible, what shou'd we do?Pan.Flie Sir, for Heavens sake.Arb.So we must away,Sin grows upon us more by this delay.

[Exeunt several wayes.

Actus Quintus

Enter Mardonius And Lygones.

Mar.

Sir, the King has seen your Commission, and believes it, and freely by this warrant gives you power to visit Prince Tigranes, your Noble Master.

Lygr.

I thank his Grace and kiss his hand.

Mar.

But is the main of all your business ended in this?

Lyg.

I have another, but a worse, I am asham'd, it is a business.

Mar.

You serve a worthy person, and a stranger I am sure you are; you may imploy me if you please without your purse, such Offices should ever be their own rewards.

Lyg.

I am bound to your Nobleness.

Mar.I may have need of you, and then this courtesie,If it be any, is not ill bestowed;But may I civilly desire the rest?I shall not be a hurter if no helper.Lyg.Sir you shall know I have lost a foolish Daughter,And with her all my patience, pilfer'd awayBy a mean Captain of your Kings.Mar.Stay there Sir:If he have reacht the Noble worth of Captain,He may well claim a worthy Gentlewoman,Though she were yours, and Noble.Lyg.I grant all that too: but this wretched fellowReaches no further than the empty nameThat serves to feed him; were he valiant,Or had but in him any noble natureThat might hereafter promise him a good man,My cares were so much lighter, and my graveA span yet from me.Mar.I confess such fellowsBe in all Royal Camps, and have and must be,To make the sin of Coward more detestedIn the mean souldier that with such a foilSets off much valour. By descriptionI should now guess him to you, it was Bessus,I dare almost with confidence pronounce it.Lyg.'Tis such a scurvie name as Bessus, and now I think 'tis he.Mar.Captain do you call him?Believe me Sir, you have a miseryToo 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 Airie, thin unbodyed Coward, that no revenge can catch him: I'le tell you Sir, and tell you truth; this Rascal fears neither God nor man, he 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 imagine what shall be done to him.

Lyg.Sure I have committed some great sinThat this 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'le help you to him: 'tis no news to him to have a Leg broken, or Shoulder out, with being turn'd o'th' stones like a Tansie: 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 are 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 Ca[p]tain Bessus, you are a rank rascall, without more exordiums, a durty frozen slave; and with the favor of your friends here I will beat you.

2 Sword.Pray use your pleasure Sir,You seem to be a Gentleman.

Lyg.

Thus Captain Bessus, thus; thus twing your nose, thus kick, thus tread you.