A King, and No King | Page 7

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.

Gob.
So do I my Lord; I sorrow for her, that so little grace doth govern her:
that she should stretch her arm against her King, so little womanhood
and natural goodness, as to think the death of her own Son.
_ Ara_.
Thou knowst the reason why, dissembling as thou art, and wilt not
speak.
Gob.
There is a Lady takes not after you,
Her Father is within her, that
good man
Whose tears weigh'd down his sins, mark how she weeps,

How well it does become her, and if you
Can find no disposition in
your self
To sorrow, yet by gracefulness in her
Find out the way,
and by your reason weep:
All this she does for you, and more she
needs
When for your self you will not lose a tear,
Think how this
want of grief discredits you,
And you will weep, because you cannot
weep.
Ara.
You talk to me as having got a time fit for your purpose; but you
should be urg'd know I know you speak not what you think.
Pan.
I would my heart were Stone, before my softness
Against my mother,
a more troubled thought
No Virgin bears about; should I excuse
My
Mothers fault, I should set light a life
In losing which, a brother and a
King
Were taken from me, if I seek to save
That life so lov'd, I lose
another life
That gave me being, I shall lose a Mother,
A word of
such a sound in a childs ears
That it strikes reverence through it; may
the will
Of heaven be done, and if one needs must fall,
Take a poor

Virgins life to answer all.
_ Ara_.
But Gobrias let us talk, you know this fault
Is not in me as in another
Mother.
Gob.
I know it is not.
_ Ara_.
Yet you make it so.
Gob.
Why, is not all that's past beyond your help?
_ Ara_.
I know it is.
Gob.
Nay should you publish it before the world,
Think you 'twould be
believ'd?
_ Ara_.
I know it would not.
Gob.
Nay should I joyn with you, should we not both be torn and yet both
die uncredited?
_ Ara_.

I think we should.
Gob.
Why then take you such violent courses? As for me I do but right in
saving of the King from all your plots.
_ Ara_.
The King?
Gob.
I bad you rest with patience, and a time
Would come for me to
reconcile all to
Your own content, but by this way you take
Away
my power, and what was done unknown,
Was not by me but you:
your urging being done
I must preserve my own, but time may bring

All this to light, and happily for all.
_ Ara_.
Accursed be this over curious brain
That gave that plot a birth,
accurst this womb
That after did conceive to my disgrace.
Bac.
My Lord Protector, they say there are divers Letters come from
Armenia_, that _Bessus has done good service, and brought again a day,
by his particular valour, receiv'd you any to that effect?
Gob.
Yes, 'tis most certain.
Bac.
I'm sorry for't, not that the day was won,
But that 'twas won by him:
we held him here
A Coward, he did me wrong once, at which I
laugh'd,
And so did all the world, for nor I,
Nor any other held him

worth my sword.
Enter_ Bessus _and Spaconia.
Bes.
Health to my Protector; from the King
These Letters; and to your
grace Madam, these.
Gob.
How does his Majesty?
Bes.
As well as conquest by his own means and his valiant
C[o]mmanders
can make him; your letters will tell you all.
Pan.
I will not open mine till I do know
My Brothers health: good Captain
is he well?
Bes.
As the rest of us that fought are.
Pan.
But how's that? is he hurt?
Bes.
He's a strange souldier that gets not a knock.
Pan.
I do not ask how strange that souldier is
That gets no hurt, but
whether he have one.

Bes.
He had divers.
Pan.
And is he well again?
Bes.
Well again, an't please your Grace: why I was run twice through the
body, and shot i'th' head with a cross-arrow, and yet am well again.
Pan.
I do not care how thou do'st, is he well?
Bes.
Not care how I do? Let a man out of the mightiness of his spirit,
fructifie Foreign Countries with his blood for the good of his own, and
thus he shall be answered: Why I may live to relieve with spear and
shield, such a Lady as you distressed.
Pan.
Why, I will care, I'me glad that thou art well, I