A King, and No King | Page 3

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 fixt

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,
You thought your self a match for me in [f]ight,
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