Francis Beaumont

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ear'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. ”

“ I will make better use of this, than of my Sword: A base spirit has this vantage of a brave one, it keeps alwayes at a stay, nothing brings it down, not beating. I remember I promis'd the King in a great Audience, that I would make my back-biters eat my sword to a knife; how to get another sword I know not, nor know any means left for me to maintain my credit, but impudence: therefore I will out-swear him and all his followers, that this is all that's left uneaten of my sword. ”

“ 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 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-thinks
I might be kept in some place where you are ”

“ O thou vile creature, whose best commendation is, that thou art a young whore, I would thy Mother had liv'd to see this, or rather that I had died ere I had seen it; why didst not make me acquainted when thou wert first resolv'd to be a whore, I would have seen thy hot lust satisfied more privately: I would have kept a dancer and a whole consort of musicians in my own house only to fiddle thee.
Spa.
Sir, I was never whore.
Lyg.
If thou couldst not say so much for thy self, thou shouldst be carted.
Tigr.
Lygones, I have read it, and I like it, you shall deliver it. ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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
It shall be better, more than friend in arms,
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. ”

“ 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 par [d] on me: that thou and I should differ thus!
Mar.
Why 'tis no matter Sir. ”

“ 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 do 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. ”

“ Now when the time was full, she should be brought to bed, I had a Son born, which was you, this the Queen hearing of mov'd me to let her have you; and such reasons she shewed me, as she knew would tie my secrecie, she swore you should be King, and to be short, I did deliver you unto her, and pretended you were dead, and in mine own house kept a funeral, and had an empty coffin put in Earth, that night this Queen feign'd hastily to labour and by a pair of women of her own, which she had charm'd, she made the world believe she was delivered of you. ”

“ 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? ”

“ And onely suffer'd to walk up and down,
As one not worth the owning.
Spa.
O, I fear
Tigranes will be caught, he looks, me-thinks,
As he would change his eyes with her; some help
There is above for me, I hope.
Tigr.
Why do you turn away, and weep so fast,
And utter things that mis-become your looks,
Can you want owning?
Spa.
O 'tis certain so.
Tigr.
Acknowledge your self mine.
Arb.
How now?
Tigr.
And then see if you want an owner.
Arb.
They are talking.
Tigr.
Nations shall owne you for their Queen.
Arb.
Tigranes, art not thou my prisoner? ”

“ Help me Gentle Gobrias.
Arb.
Guilt [dare] not help guilt though they grow together in doing ill, yet at the [punishment] they sever, and each flies the noise of other, think not of help, answer.
Ara.
I will, to what?
Arb.
To such a thing, as if it be a truth think what a creature thou hast made thy self, that didst not shame to do, what I must blush only to ask thee: tell me who I am, whose son I am without all circumstance, be thou as hasty as my Sword will be if thou refusest. ”

“ No, you know I did not, and if any man will say, I did, this sword shall answer; Nay, I'le defend the reputation of my charge whilst I live, your Grace shall understand I am secret in these businesses, and know how to defend a Ladies honour. ”

“ The Queene Mardonius, Panthea is the Queene,
And I am plaine Arbaces, goe some one,
She is in Gobrius house; since I saw you
There are a thousand things delivered to me
You little dreame of.
Mar.
So it should seeme: My Lord,
What furi's this.
Gob.
Beleeve me tis no fury,
All that he sayes is truth.
Mar.
Tis verie strange.
Arb.
Why doe you keepe your hats off Gentlemen,
Is it to me? in good faith it must not be:
I cannot now command you, but I pray you
For the respect you bare me, when you tooke
Me for your King, each man clap on his hat at my desire. ”

“ Enter Gobrias, Bacurius, Arane, Panthe, and Mandane, Waiting-women with Attendants.
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 from you committed; yet she is a woman, and so I keep her safe, you will not urge me to keep her close, I shall not shame to say I sorrow for her. ”

“ It comes too late I'me weary, pray thee do thou beat them.
2 Sword.
My Lord, this is foul play i'faith, to put a fresh man upon us, men are but men Sir.
Bac.
That jest shall save your bones; Captain, Rally up your rotten Regiment and be gone: I had rather thrash 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. Farewel, as you like this, pray visit me again, 'twill keep me in good health. ”

“ Does one that is about to sin.
Arb.
Away,
No more of this; here I pronounce him Traytor,
The direct plotter of my death, that names
Or thinks her for my Sister, 'tis a lie,
The most malicious of the world, invented
To mad your King; he that will say so next,
Let him draw out his sword and sheath it here,
It is a sin fully as pardonable:
She is no kin to me, nor shall she be ”

“ You are not what you seem, rise, rise Thalestris,
If your right name be so.
Spa.
Indeed it is not, Spaconia is my name; but I desire not to be known to other.
Pan.
Why, by me you shall not, I will never do you wrong, what good I can, I will, think not my birth or education such, that I should injure a stranger Virgin; you are welcome hither, in company you wish to be commanded, but when we are alone, I shall be ready to be your servant. ”

“ Exit Bessus.
Enter Mardonius.
Mar.
I'le move the King, he is most strangely alter'd; I guess the cause I fear too right, Heaven has some secret end in't, and 'tis a scourge no question justly laid upon him: he has followed me through twenty Rooms; and ever when I stay to wait his command, he blushes like a Girl, and looks upon me, as if modesty kept in his business: so turns away from me, but if I go on, he follows me again.
Enter Arbaces. ”

“ Urge it no more, I have made up a new strong constancy, not to be shook with eyes: I know I have the passions of a man, but if I meet with any subject that should hold my eyes more firmly than is fit, I'le think of thee, and run away from it: let that suffice. ”

“ 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 [false] , 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ I fear you will kill your self: I am a subject, and you shall do me wrong in't: 'tis my cause, and I may speak.
Arb.
Thou art not train'd in sin, it seems Mardonius: kill my self! by Heaven I will not do it yet; and when I will, I'le tell thee then: I shall be such a creature, that thou wilt give me leave without a word. There is a method in mans wickedness, it grows up by degrees: I am not come so high as killing of my self, there are a hundred thousand sins 'twixt me and it, which I must doe, and I shall come to't at last ”

“ Why Sir do you curse me thus?
Arb.
Why do I curse thee? if there be a man subtil in curses, that exceeds the rest, his worst wish on thee, thou hast broke my heart.
Gob.
How Sir, have I preserv'd you from a child, from all the arrows, malice, or ambition could shoot at you, and have I this for my pay?
Arb.
'Tis true, thou didst preserve me, and in that wert crueller than hardned murtherers of infants and their Mothers! thou didst save me only till thou hadst studied out a way how to destroy me cunningly thy self: this was a curious way of torturing. ”

“ I would the booke
Of Fate were here, my sword is not so sure,
But I should get it out, and mangle that
That all the destinies should quite forget
Their fix't decrees, and hast to make us new
Farre other Fortunes mine could not be worse,
Wilt thou now leave me?
Mar.
God put into your bosome temperate thoughts,
He leave you though I feare.
Exit.
Arb.
Goe, thou art honest,
Why should the hastie errors of my youth
Be so unpardonable, to draw a sinne
Helpelesse upon me? ”

“ Then have I made a fair hand, I call'd her Whore. If I shall speak now as her Father, I cannot chuse but greatly rejoyce that she shall be a Queen: but if I shall speak to you as a States-man, she were more fit to be your whore.
Tigr.
Get you about your business to Arbaces, now you talk idlely.
Lyg.
Yes Sir, I will go, and shall she be a Queen? she had more wit than her old Father, when she ran away: shall she be Queen? now by my troth 'tis fine, I'le dance out of all measure at her wedding: shall I not Sir? ”

“ 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? ”

“ 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 ”