The Works of the British Dramatists: Carefully Selected from the Original ...

Arb. I am trifled with.

Bac. Sir?

Arb. I know it, as I know thee to be false.
Mar. Now the clap comes.

Bac. You never knew me so, sir, I dare speak it; And, durst a worse man tell me, though my better

Mar. 'Tis well said, by my soul.

Arb. Sirrah, you answer as you had no life.
Bac. That I fear, sir, to lose nobly.
Arb. I say, sir, once again-

Bac. You may say what you please, sir-
Mar. '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 bawds, chambermaids, and post-boys. I thank Heaven I have none but his letters - patents, things of his own inditing.

Arb. Prince, this cunning cannot do't.
Tigr. Do what, sir? I reach you not.
Arb. It shall not serve your turn, prince.
Tigr. Serve my turn, sir?

Arb. Ay, sir, it shall not serve your turn.
Tigr. Be plainer, good sir.

Arb. This woman shall carry no more letters back to your love Panthea; by Heaven she shall not! I say she shall not.

Mar. This would make a saint swear like a soldier, and a soldier like Termagant.1

Tigr. This beats me more, king, than the blows
you gave me.

Arb. Take 'em away both, and together let them be prisoners, strictly and closely kept; or, sirrah, your life shall answer it; and let nobody speak with 'em hereafter.

Tigr. Well, I am subject to you,
And must endure these passions.

Spa. This is th' imprisonment I have look'd
for always,

And the dear place I would choose.

[Exeunt TIGRANES, SPACONIA, BACURIUS.

Mar. Sir, have you 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 corporal's,

1 Termagant-or Tervagant, Ital. Trivigante-was supposed by the Crusaders and romance writers to be a Mohammedan deity, worshipped by the Saracens, and was frequently represented in the old Moralities as of a most violent character; gradually it came to mean fiery and violent, but is now applied only to a scolding

woman.

To an old sutler's wife; and that I'll burn, sir.
'Tis like to prove a fine age for the ignorant.

Arb. How dar'st 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
do, you'll miss it quickly.

Arb. Why?

Mar. Who shall tell you of these childish fol-
lies, when I am dead? who shall put-to his power
to draw those virtues out of a flood of humours,
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 rock'd into a dead
sleep, and the kingdom with you; till foreign
swords be in your throats, and slaughter_be
everywhere about you, like your flatterers. Do,
kill me!

Arb. Pr'ythee, be tamer, good Mardonius.
honour thee;'
Thou know'st I love thee; nay,
Believe it, good old soldier, I am thine:
But I am rack'd clean from myself! Bear with

me,

Wo't thou bear with me, good Mardonius?

Enter GOBRIAS.

Mar. There comes a good man; love him too; he's temperate; you may live to have need of such a virtue. 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 virtue and all
beauty,

Your mournful sister.

Arb. She is in prison, Gobrias, is she not?
Gob. [kneels.] She is, sir, till your pleasure do
enlarge her,

Which on my knees I beg. Oh, 'tis not fit
That all the sweetness of the world in one,
The youth and virtue that would tame wild
tigers,

And wilder people, that have known no manners,
Should live thus cloister'd up! For your love's

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 much
As Nature and Obedience ever gave,
Have pity on her beauties.

Arb. Pr'ythee, stand up. 'Tis true, she is too
fair,

And all these commendations but her own:
'Would thou hadst never so commended her,
Or I ne'er lived to have heard it, Gobrias!
If thou but knew'st the wrong her beauty does
her,

Thou wouldst, in pity of her, be a liar.
Thy ignorance has drawn me, wretched man,
Whither myself, nor thou, canst well tell. Oh,
my fate!

I think she loves me, but I fear another
Is deeper in her heart! How think'st thou, Gob-
rias?

Gob. I do beseech your grace, believe it not;
For, let me perish, if it be not false!
Good sir, read her letter.

[ARBACES reads. Mar. This love, or what a devil it is, I know not, begets more mischief than a wake. I had rather be well beaten, starved, or lousy, 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'er believe his eyes again. If he continue thus but two days more, a tailor may beat him with one hand tied behind him.

Arb. Alas, she would be at liberty!

A Room in the House of BESSUS. Enter BESSUS, two Swordmen,' and a Boy. Bes. You're very welcome, both! Some stools there, boy;

And reach a table. Gentlemen o' th' sword, Pray sit, without more compliment. Begone, child!

I have been curious in the searching of you, Because I understand you wise and valiant persons.

1 Sw. We understand ourselves, sir.

Bes. Nay, gentlemen, and dear friends o' the sword,

No compliment, I pray; but to the cause I hang upon, which, in few," is my honour. 2 Sw. You cannot hang too much, sir, for your honour.

But to your cause: be wise, and speak truth. Bes. My first doubt is, my beating by my prince.

1 Sw. 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 Sw. Brother, what think you of this case? 1 Sw. If he has beaten him, the case is clear. 2 Sw. If he have beaten him, I grant the case. But how?-we cannot be too subtle in this business,

I say, but how?

Bes. Even with his royal hand.

1 Sw. Was it a blow of love, or indignation? Bes. 'Twas twenty blows of indignation, gentlemen;

Besides two blows o' th' face.

2 Sw. Those blows o' th' face have made a new cause on't;

The rest were but an honourable rudeness.

2 Sw. Two blows o' th' face, and given by a worse man,

I must confess, as we swordmen 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 ten teeth, besides the hazard

Of his nose for ever, all this had been but favours.

This is my flat opinion, which I'll die in.

2 Sw. The king may do much, captain, believe it;

For had he crack'd your skull through, like a bottle,

Or broke a rib or two with tossing of you,

1 Swordmen-men whose profession it was to instruct in arms, settle duels according to proper punctilio, assist the timorous, &c.

2 in few-in few words, in brief.

Yet you had lost no honour. This is strange, You may imagine, but this is truth now, captain. Bs. I will be glad to embrace it, gentlemen. But how far may he strike me?

1 Sw. There's 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 dis-
tance;

The time, ten miles a day, I take it.

2 Sw. Brother, you err, 'tis fifteen miles a day; His stage is ten, his beatings are fifteen.

Bes. Tis of the longest, but we subjects must1 Sw. Be subject to it. You are wise and virtuous.

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 Sw. No trouble at all to us, sir, if we may Profit your understanding. We are bound, By virtue of our calling, to utter our opinion Shortly, and discreetly.

Bes. My sorest business is, I have been kick'd. 2 Sw. How far, sir?

Bes. Not to flatter myself in it, all over: My sword lost, but not forced; for discreetly I render'd it, to save that imputation.

1 Sw. It showed discretion, the best part of valour.

2 Sw. Brother, this is a pretty cause; pray ponder on't:

Our friend here has been kick'd.

1 Sw. He has so, brother.

2 Sw. Sorely, he says. Now, had he set down here,

Upon the mere kick, 't had been cowardly.

1 Sw. I think it had been cowardly, indeed.
2 Sw. But our friend has redeem'd it in de-
livering

His sword without compulsion; and that man
That took it of him, I pronounce a weak one,
And his kicks nullities.

He should have kick'd him after the delivery,
Which is the confirmation of a coward.

1 Sw. Brother, I take it you mistake the question;

For, say that I were kick'd.

2 Sw. I must not say so;

Nor I must not hear it spoke by th' tongue of

man.

You kick'd, dear brother! You are merry.

1 Sw. But put the case, I were kick'd. 2 Sw. Let them put it

That are things weary of their lives, and know Not honour! Put the case, you were kick'd! 1 Sw. I do not say I was kick'd.

2 Sw. Nor no silly creature that wears his head Without a case, his soul in a skin-coat. You kick'd, dear brother!

Bes. Nay, gentlemen, let us do what we shall do,

Truly and honestly. Good sirs, to the question. 1 Sw. Why, then, I say, suppose your boy kick'd, captain.

2 Sw. The boy may be supposed, he's liable. But, kick my brother!

1 Sw. A foolish forward zeal, sir, in my friend. But to the boy. Suppose the boy were kick'd. Bes. I do suppose it.

1 Sw. Has your boy a sword?

Bes. Surely no; 1 pray, suppose a sword too. 1 Sw. I do suppose it. You grant your boy was kick'd then.

But to the cause again.

Bes. Nay, look you, gentlemen!

2 Sw. In a word, I ha' done.

1 Sw. A tall man, but intemperate; 'tis great pity.

Once more, suppose the boy kick'd.

2 So. Forward.

1 Sw. And, being thoroughly kick'd, laughs at the kicker.

2 Sw. So much for us. Proceed.

1 Sw. And in this beaten scorn, as I may call it,

Delivers up his weapon; where lies the error? Bes. It lies i' the beating, sir: I found it four days since.

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

Bes. I understand that well; 'tis sore, indeed, sir.

1 Sw. That is according to the man that did it.

2 Sw. There springs a new branch. Whose was the foot?

Bes. A lord's.

1 Sw. The cause is mighty; but, had it been two lords,

And both had kick'd you, if you laugh'd, 'tis
clear.

Bes. I did laugh; but how will that help me,
gentlemen?

2 Sw. Yes, it shall help you, if you laugh'd
aloud.

Bes. As loud as a kick'd man could laugh, I
laugh'd, sir.

1 Sw. My reason now.
known

The valiant man is

By suffering and contemning; you have
Enough of both, and you are valiant.

2 Sw. 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 eighteen
To eight and thirty; in a head rebuked

283

Bes. My equal friends o' th' sword, I must
request

Your hands to this.

2 Sw. 'Tis fit it should be.

Bes. Boy,

Get me some wine, and pen and ink, within.—
Am I clear, gentlemen?

1 Sw. 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 Sw. We will; and tell that lord he must be
ruled;

Or there be those abroad will rule his lordship.
[Exeunt.

ACT IV.-SCENE IV.

An Apartment in the Palace.

Enter ARBACES at one door, and GOBRIAS with
PANTHEA at another.

Gob. Sir, here's the princess.
Arb. Leave us, then, alone;
For the main cause of her imprisonment
Must not be heard by any but herself.-

[Exit GOBRIAS,
You're welcome, sister; and I would to Heaven
I could so bid you by another name.-
Circle my heart with thoughts as cold as snow,
If you above love not such sins as these,
To quench these rising flames that harbour here.
Pan. Sir, does it please you I shall speak?
Arb. Please me?

Ay, more than all the art of music can,
As thou brought'st joyful unexpected news:
Thy speech doth please me; for it ever sounds
And yet it is not fit thou shouldst be heard;
I pray thee, think so.

Pan. Be it so; I will.

Am the first that ever had a wrong
I will back
That 'twas unfit to hear it?
So far from being fit to have redress,
To prison, rather than disquiet you,
And wait till it be fit.

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 resolved

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;

With pots of all size, daggers, stools, and bed- Though, of thyself, I think thee to be in

staves:

This shows 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 Sw. Embrace him, brother! this man is
valiant;

I know it by myself, he's valiant.

1 Sw. Captain, thou art a valiant gentleman, Abide upon't, a very valiant man.

1 fox-a common term for the English broadsword. See Philaster.

tall-bold, brave.

As equal a degree of heat or cold,
Yet, as unsound men
As nature can make.
Convert the sweetest and the nourishing st meats
Into 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 late
Shut 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 cause
Sufficient, yet unfit for thee to know,
That might undo 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!

Dear sister, do not so! Alas, Panthea,
Where I am would you be? Why, that's the cause
You are imprison'd, that you may not be
Where I am.

Pan. Then I must endure it, sir.
Heaven keep you!

Arb. Nay, you shall hear the cause in short,
Panthea;

And, when thou hear'st, thou wilt blush for me,
And hang thy head down like a violet
Full of the morning's dew. There is a way
To gain thy freedom; but 'tis such a one
As puts thee in worse bondage, and I know
Thou wouldst encounter fire, and make a proof
Whether the gods have care of innocence,
Rather than follow it. Know I have lost,
The only difference betwixt man and beast,
My reason.

Pan. Heaven forbid!

Arb. Nay, it is gone;

And I am left as far without a bound

As the wild ocean that obeys the winds;
Each sudden passion throws me where it lists,
And overwhelms all that oppose my will.
I have beheld thee with a lustful eye;
My heart is set on wickedness, to act
Such sins with thee, as I have been afraid
To think of. If thou dar'st consent to this,
Which, I beseech thee, do not, thou may'st gain
Thy liberty, and yield me a content;

If not, thy dwelling must be dark and close,
Where I may never see thee: for Heaven knows,
That laid this punishment upon my pride,
Thy sight at some time will enforce my madness
To make a start e'en to thy ravishing.
Now spit upon me, and call all reproaches
Thou canst devise together, and at once
Hurl 'em against me; for I am a sickness
As 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 choose

To 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 eyes
Have more of woman in 'em than my heart,
I would not weep. Peace enter you again!

Arb. Farewell; and, good Panthea, pray for me
(Thy prayers are pure), that I may find a death,
However soon, before my passions grow,
That they forget what I desire is sin;

For thither they are tending. If that happen,

Then I shall force thee, though thou wert a virgin

By vow to Heaven, and shall pull a heap

Of strange, yet uninvented, sin upon me.

To conquer men, and now am overthrown
Only by words, brother and sister. Where
Have those words dwelling? I will find 'em out,
And utterly destroy 'em; but they are
Not to be grasp'd. Let them be men or beasts,
And I will cut em from the earth; or towns,
And I will raze 'em, and then blow 'em up:
Let 'em be seas, and I will drink 'em off,
And yet have unquench'd fire left in my breast:
Let 'em be anything but merely 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 in
With curious' rules, when every beast is free:
What is there that acknowledges a kindred,
But wretched man? Who ever saw the bull
Fearfully leave the heifer that he liked,
Because they had one dam?

Pan. Sir, I disturb you

And myself 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 may
Walk hand in hand together; so shall 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 one
You love above me?

Pan. No, by Heaven.

Arb. Why, yet

You sent unto Tigranes, sister.

Before the Palace.

Enter MARDONIUS and LYGONES.

Mar. Sir, the king has seen your commission,

Pan. Sir, I will pray for you! yet you shall and believes it; and freely by this warrant gives

know

you power to visit Prince Tigranes, your noble

if you please, without your purse; such offices should ever be their own rewards.

Lyg. I am bound to your nobleness.

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 biscuit, you're
[Exit MARDONIUS.

Mar. I may have need of you, and then this much to blame, sir. courtesy,

If it be any, is not ill bestow'd.

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 away
By a mean captain of your king's.

Mar. Stay there, sir:

If he have reach'd the noble worth of captain,
He may well claim a worthy gentlewoman,
Though she were yours, and noble.

Lyg. grant all that too; but this wretched
fellow

Reaches no further than the empty name,
That serves to feed him. Were he valiant,
Or had but in him any noble nature,

That might hereafter promise him a good man,
My cares were so much lighter, and my grave
A span yet from me.

Mar. I confess, such fellows

Be in all royal camps, and have and must be,
To make the sin of coward more detested
In the mean soldier, that with such a foil
Sets off much valour. By description,

I should now guess him to you; it was Bessus,
I dare almost with confidence pronounce it.
Lyg. 'Tis such a scurvy name as Bessus;
And, now I think, 'tis he.

Mar. Captain do you call him?
Believe me, sir, you have a misery

A pox upon him!
Too mighty for your age.
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.
something.

I would do

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 airy, thin, unbodied coward,
That no revenge can catch him.

I'll tell you, sir, and tell you truth: this rascal
Fears neither God nor man; 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 sin,
That this base fellow should be made my rod.
shall have no patience.
I would see him; but

Mar. 'Tis no great matter if you have not. If
a laming of him, or such a toy, may do you plea-
sure, sir, he has it for you; and I'll help you to
him. "Tis no news to him to have a leg broken,
or a shoulder out, with being turn'd o' th' 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

Enter BESSUS and the Swordmen.
Lyg. Is your name Bessus?

Bes. Men call me Captain Bessus.

Lyg. Then, Captain Bessus, you are 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. [Beats him.] 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 mistaken.
Lyg. Sir, you shall have it quickly, and more
beating:

You have stolen away a lady, Captain Coward,
And such a one-

[Beats him. Bes. Hold, I beseech you, hold, sir;

I never yet stole any living thing
That had a tooth about it.

Lyg. I know you dare lie.

Bes. With none but summer whores, upon my
life, sir;

My means and manners never could attempt
Above a hedge or haycock.

Lyg. Sirrah, that quits not me: where is this
Tady?

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.1

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 used her
She may herself report; she's with the prince now.
I did but wait upon her like a groom,
Which she will testify, I am sure; if not,

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.

You

Lyg. Indeed, I would; but, I know, your goodness can forget twenty beatings. must forgive me.

Bes. Yes; there's my hand. Go where you will, I shall think you a valiant fellow for all this.

[Aside.

Lyg. Yet I will see her;
Discharge myself of being father to her,
And then back to my country, and there die.-
Farewell, captain.

Bes. Farewell, sir, farewell! Commend me to [Exit LYGONES. the gentlewoman, I pray.

1 Sw. How now, captain? bear up, man. Bes. Gentlemen o' th' sword, your hands once more. I have been kick'd again; but the foolish fellow is penitent, has 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

1 Dyce reads, Wash 'em and put 'em in again that will,

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