A King, and No King

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by Francis
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Title: A King, and No King
Author: Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher
Release Date: May 10, 2004 [EBook #12312]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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A KING, AND NO KING.
By Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher
Persons Represented in the Play.
Arbaces, King of Iberia.
Tigranes, King of Armenia.
Gobrias, Lord Protector, and Father of Arbaces.
Bacurius, another Lord.

Mardonius.)
Bessus, ) Two Captains
Ligo[n]es, Father of Spaconia.
Two Gentlemen.
Three Men and a Woman.
Philip, a servant, and two Citizens Wives.
A Messenger.
A Servant to Bacurius.
Two Sword-men.
A Boy.
Arane, ) _The [Queen-Mother_.
Panthea,) Her Daughter.
Spaconia,) A Lady Daughter of Ligones
Mandane,) A waiting woman, and other attendants.

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.
Mar.
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 deserv'st it not.
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 do thee right, thou art furious in running away, and I