is wee le shew our selues Arb. Bessus I thought you had beene in Iberia by this bad you halfe Gobrias will want entertainment for me Bes. An 't please your Maiestie I haue a sute Arb. I st not lowsie Bessus what i st Bes. I am to carrie a Lady with me Arb. Then thou hast two sutes Bess. And if I can preferre her to the Ladie Panthan your Maiesties sister to learne fashions as her friends terme it it will be worth something to me Arb. So many nights lodgings as t is thither will not Bes. I know not that but gold I shall be sure of Arb. Why thou shalt bid her entertaine her from mee so thou wilt resolue me one thing Bess. Jf I can Arb. Faith t is a very disputable question yet I thinke thou canst decide it Bess. Your Maiestie has a good opinion of my vnderstanding Arb. I haue so good an opinion of it 't is whether thou be valiant Bess. Some bodie has tradust me to you doe you see this sword Sir Arb. Yes Bes. If I doe not make my back-biters eate it to a knife within this weeke say I am not valiant Enter Messenger Mess. Health to your Maiestie Arb. From Gobrias Mess. Yes Sir Arb. How does he is he well Mess. In perfect health Arb. Thanke thee for thy good newes A trustier seruant to his Prince there liues not Then is good Gobrias 1 Gent. The King starts backe Mar. His blood goes backe as fast 2 Gent. And now it comes againe Mar. He alters strangely Arb. The hand of Heauen is on me be it farre From me to struggle if my secret sinnes Haue pul'd this curse vpon me lend me teares Enough to wash me white that I may feele A childlike innocence within my brest Which once perform'd O giue me leaue to stand As fixt as constancie her selfe my eyes Set here vnmou'd regardlesse of the World Though thousand miseries incompasse me Mar. This is strange Sir how doe you Arb. Mardonius my mother Mar. Is shee dead Arb. Alas shee s not so happie thou dost know How shee hath labour'd since my Father died To take by treason hence this loathed life That would but be to serue her I haue pardon'd And pardon'd and by that haue made her fit To practise new sinnes not repent the olde Shee now has hir'd a slaue to come from thence And strike me here whom Gobrias sifting out Tooke and condemn'd and executed there The carefulst seruant Heauen let me but liue To pay that man Nature is poore to me That will not let me haue as many deathes As are the times that he hath sau'd my life That I might die vm ouer all for him Mar. Sir let her beare her sins on her owne head Vex not your selfe Arb. VVhat will the world Conceiue of me with what vnnaturall sinnes VVill they suppose me laden when my life Is sought by her that gaue it to the world But yet he writes me comfort here my sister He sayes is growne in beautie and in grace In all the innocent vertues that become A tender spotlesse maide shee staines her cheekes VVith mourning teares to purge her Mothers ill And mongst her sacred dew shee mingles prayers Her pure oblations for my safe returne If I haue lost the dutie of a sonne If any pompe or vanitie of state Made me forget my naturall offices Nay farther if I haue not euerie night Expostulated with my wandring thoughts If ought vnto my Parent they haue err'd And cald vm backe doe you direct her arme Vnto this foule dissembling heart of mine But if I haue beene iust to her send out Your power to compasse me and hold me safe From searching treason I will vse no meanes But prayers for rather suffer me to see From mine own veines issue a deadly floud Then wash my dangers off with Mothers bloud Mar. I nere saw such sudden extremities Enter Tigranes and Spaconia Tigr. Why wilt thou haue me die Spaconia What should I doe Spa. Nay let me stay alone And when you see Armenia againe You shall behold a Toombe more worth then I Some friend that either loues me or my cause VVill build me something to distinguish me From other women Many a weeping verse He will lay on and much lament those maides That place their loues vnfortunately too light As I haue done where they can neuer reach But why should you goe to Iberia Tigr. Alas that thou wilt aske me Aske the man That rages in a feauer why hee lies Distemper'd there when all the other youths Are coursing ore the Meadowes with their loues Can I resist it am I not a slaue To him that conquer'd me Spa. That conquer'd thee Tigranes he has won but halfe of Thy bodie but thy minde may be as free As his his will did neuer combate thine And take it prisoner Tigr. But if hee by force Conuey my bodie hence what helpes it me Or thee to be vnwilling Spa. O Tigranes I know you are to see a Ladie there To see and like I feare perhaps the hope Of her makes you forget me ere we part Be happier then you know to wish farewell Tigr. Spaconia stay and heare me what I say In short destruction meete me that I may See it and not auoid it when I leaue To be thy faithfull Louer part with me Thou shalt not there are none that know our loue And I haue giuen gold to a Captaine That goes vnto Iberia from the King That he would place a Ladie of our Land With the Kings sister that is offer'd me Thither shall you and being once got in Perswade her by what subtile meanes you can To be as backward in her loue as I Spa. Can you imagine that a longing maide VVhen shee beholds you can be puld away VVith words from louing you Tigr. Dispraise my health My honestie and tell her I am iealous Spa. VVhy I had rather loose you Can my heart Consent to let my tongue throw out such words And I that euer yet spoke what I thought Shall find it such a thing at first to lie Tigr. Yet doe thy best Ent. Bessus Bes. VVhat is your Maiestie readie Tigr. There is the Ladie Captaine Bes. Sweet Ladie by your leaue I could wish my selfe more full of Courtship for your faire sake Spa. Sir I shall find no want of that Bess. Lady you must haste I haue receiued new letters from the King that requires more speed then I expected he will follow me suddenly himselfe and beginnes to call for your Maiestie alreadie Tigr. He shall not doe so long Bes. Sweet Ladie shall I call you my charge hereafter Spa. I will not take vpon me to gouerne your tongue Sir you shall call me what you please Finis Actus Primi Actus Secundus Scena Prima Enter Gobrias Bacurius Arane Panthaea and Mandane waiting women with attendance Gob. MY Lord Bacurius you must haue regard Vnto the Queene shee is your prisoner T is at your perill if shee make escape
Your Sister Sir Arb. Your Sister Sir Gob. Some one that has a wit answere where is shee Arb. Doe you not see her there Gob. Where Arb. There Gob. There where Mar. S'light there are you blind Arb. Which doe you meane that little one Gob. No Sir Arb. No Sir why doe you mocke me I can see No other here but that petitioning Ladie Gob. That 's shee Arb. Away Gob. Sir it is shee Arb. T is false Gob. Is it Arb. As hell by Heauen as false as hell My sister Is shee dead if it be so Speake boldly to me for I am a man And dare not quarrell with diuinity But doe not thinke to cosen me with this I see you all are mute and stand amas'd Fearefull to answere me it is too true A decreed instant cuts off euery life For which to mourne is to repine shee died A Virgin though more innocent then sleeps As cleere as her owne eyes and blessednesse Eternall waites vpon her where shee is I know shee could not make a wish to change Her state for new and you shall see me beare My crosses like a man we all must die And shee hath taught vs how Gob. Doe not mistake And vex your selfe for nothing for her death Is a long life of yet I hope T is shee And if my speech deserue not faith lay death Vpon me and my latest words shall force A credit from you Arb. Which good Gobrius That Ladie dost thou meane Gob. That Lady Sir Arb. It cannot be Tigr. Pish this is tedious I cannot hold I must present my selfe And yet the sight of my Spaconia Touches me as a sudden thunderclap Does one that is about to sinne Arb. Away No more of this here I pronounce him Traytor The direct plotter of my death that names Or thinkes her for my Sister T is a lie The most malicious of the World inuented To mad your King he that will say so next Let him draw out his Sword and sheath it here It is a sinne fully as pardonable Shee is no kinne to me nor shall shee be If shee were any I create her none And which of you can question this my power Is like the Sea that is to be obey'd And not disputed with I haue decreed her As farre from hauing part of bloud with me As the nak'd Indians Come and answer me He that is boldest now Is that my Sister Mar. O this is fine Bes. No marry is shee not an 't please your Maiestie I neuer thought shee was shee s nothing like you Arb. No t is true shee is not Mar. Thou shouldst be hang'd Pan. Sir I will speake but once By the same power You make my bloud a stranger vnto yours You may command me dead and so much loue A stranger may importune pray you doe If this request appeare too much to grant Adopt me of some other Family By your vnquestion'd word else I shall liue Like sinfull issues that are left in streetes By their regardlesse Mothers and no name Will be found for me Arb. I will heare no more Why should there be such musicke in a voice And sinne for me to heare it All the world May take delight in this and t is damnation For me to doe so you are faire and wise And vertuous I thinke and he is blest That is so neere you as your brother is But you are naught to me but a disease Continuall torment without hope of ease Such an vngodly sicknesse I haue got That he that vndertakes my cure must first Orethrow Diuinity all morall Lawes And leaue mankinde as vnconfinde as beasts Allowing them to doe all actions As freely as they drinke when they desire Let me not heare you speake againe yet so I shall but languish for the want of that The hauing which would kill me No man here Offer to speake for her for I consider As much as you can say I will not toyle My body and my mind too rest thou there Here 's one within will labour for you both Pan. I would I were past speaking Gob. Feare not Madam The King will alter t is some sudden change And you shall see it end some other way Pan. Pray God it doe Tigr. Though shee to whom I swore be here I cannot Stifle my passion longer If my Father Should rise againe disquieted with this And charge me to forbeare yet it would out Madam a stranger and a prisoner begs To be bid welcome Pan. You are welcome Sir I thinke but if you be not t is past me To make you so for I am here a stranger Greater then you we know from whence you come But I appeare a lost thing and by whom Is yet vncertaine found here in the Court And onely sufferd to walke vp and downe As one not worth the owning Spa. O I feare Tigranes will be caught he lookes me thinkes As he would change his eyes with her some helpe There is aboue for me I hope Tigr. VVhy doe you turne away and weepe so fast And vtter things that misbecome your lookes Can you want owning Spa O t is certaine so Tigr. Acknowledge your selfe mine Arb. How now Tigr. And then see if you want an owner Arb. They are talking Tigr. Nations shall owne you for their Queene Arb. Tigranes art not thou my prisoner Tigr. I am Arb. And who is this Tigr. Shee is your Sister Arb. Shee is so Mar. Is shee so againe that 's well Arb. And how dare you then offer to change words with her Tigr. Dare doe it why you brought me hither Sir To that intent Arb. Perhaps I told you so If I had sworne it had you so much follie To credit it The least word that shee speakes Is worth a life rule your disorderd tongue Or I will temper it Spa. Blest be that breath Tigr. Temper my tongue such inciuilities As these no barbarous people euer knew You breake the law of Nature and of Nations You talke to me as if I were a prisoner For theft my tongue be temperd I must speake If thunder checke me and I will Arb. You will Spa. Alas my Fortune Tigr. Doe not feare his frowne deare Madam heare me Arb. Feare not my frowne but that 't were base in me To fight with one I know I can orecome Againe thou shouldst be conquerd by me Mar. He has one ransome with him already me thinkes t were good to fight double or quit Arb. Away with him to prison Now Sir see If my frowne be regardlesse why delay you Seize him Bacurius you shall know my word Sweepes like a wind and all it grapples with Are as the chaffe before it Tigr. Touch me not Arb. Helpe there Tigr. Away 1 Gent. It is in vaine to struggle 2 Gent. You must be forc't Bac. Sir you must pardon vs we must obey Arb. Why doe you dally there Drag him away By any thing Bac. Come Sir Tigr. Iustice thou oughtst to giue me strength enough To shake all these off This is tyrannie
sole arme propt by Diuinity Stript him out of his glories and haue sent The pride of all his youth to people graues And made his Virgins languish for their loues If I would brag Should I that haue the power To teach the Neighbour world humility Mix with vaine glory Mar. In deede this is none Arb. Tigranes no did I but take delight To stretch my deedes as others doe on words I could amaze my hearers Mar. So you doe Arb. But he shall wrong his and my modesty That thinkes me apt to boast After an Act Fit for a God to doe vpon his foe A little glory in a Souldiers mouth Is well becomming bee it farre from vaine Mar. Its pitty that valour should be thus drunke Arba. I offer you my Sister and you answere I doe insult A Lady that no suit Nor treasure nor thy Crowne could purchase thee But that thou faughst with mee Tigr. Though this bee worse Then that you spoke before it strikes not mee But that you thinke to ouer-grace mee with The marriage of your Sister troubles mee I would giue worlds for ransomes were they mine Rather then haue her Arb. See if I insult That am the Conqueror and for a ransome Offer rich treasure to the conquered Which he refuses and I beare his scorne It cannot be selfe flattery to say The daughters of your Country set by her Would see their shame runne home and blush to death At their owne foulenesse yet shee is not faire Nor beautifull those words expresse her not They say her lookes are something excellent That wants a name yet were shee odious Her birth deserues the Empire of the world Sister to such a Brother that hath tane Victorie prisoner and throughout the Earth Carries her bound and should hee let her loose Shee durst not leaue him Nature did her wrong To print continuall conquest on her cheekes And make no man worthy for her to take But mee that am too neare her and as strangely Shee did for mee But you will thinke I brag Mar. I doe I le be sworne Thy Valour and thy passions seuerd would haue made two excellent fellowes in their kindes I know not whether I should be sorry thou art so valiant or so passionate would one of vm were away Tigr. Doe I refuse her that I doubt her worth Were shee as vertuous as shee would be thought So perfect that no owne of her owne sex Would finde a want had shee so tempting faire That shee could wish it off her damning soules I would pay any Ransome twentytimes Rather then meet her married in my bed Perhaps I haue a Loue where I haue fixt Mine eies not to bee moou'd and shee on mee I am not fickle Arb. Is that all the cause Thinke you you can so knit your selfe in loue To any other that her searching sight Cannot dissolue it So before you tride You thought your selfe a match for mee in fight Trust mee Tigranes shee can doe as much In peace as I in Warre shee le conquer too You shall see if you haue the power to stand The force of her swift lookes if you dislike I le send you home with loue name your ransome some other way but if shee bee your choise Shee frees you to Ileria you must Tigr. Sir I haue learnt a Prisoners sufferance And will obey but giue mee leaue to talke In priuate with some friends before I goe Arb. Some two await him forth and see him safe But let him freely send for whom he please And none dare to disturbe his conference I will not haue him know what bondage is Exe. Till he be free from mee This Prince Mardonius Is full of vvisdome Valour all the graces Man can receiue Mar. And yet you Conquered him Arb. And yet I conquered him could haue don Hadst thou ioynd with him thogh thy name in Armes Bee great Must all men that are vertuous Thinke suddenly to match themselves with mee I conquered him and brauely did I not Bes. And please your Maiesty I was afraid at first Mar. When wert thou other Arb. Of what Bes. That you would not haue spide your best aduantages for your Maiesty in my opinion lay too high me thinkes vnder fauour you should haue laine thus Mar. Like a Taylor at a vvake Bes. And then i ft please your Maiesty to remember at one time by my Troth I wisht my selfe with you Mar. By my Troth thou wouldst haue sunke vm both out oth lifts Arb. vvhat to doe Bes. To put your Maiesty in mind of an occasion you lay thus and Tigranes falsified a blow at your leg which you by doing thus auoided but if you had whipt vp your leg thus and reacht him on th' eare you had made the bloud runne abou ts head Mar. vvhat contry-fence-schoole didst thou learn that at Arb. Puft did I not take him nobly Mar. VVhy you did and you haue talkt enough on 't Arb. Talke enough vvhile you confine my words by Heauen and Earth I were much better bee a King of Beasts Then such a people If I had not patience Aboue a god I should be cald a Tyrant Throughout the VVorld They will offend to death Each minute Let me heare thee speake againe And thou art earth againe vvhy this is like Tigranes speech that needs would say I brag'd Bessus hee said I brag'd Bes. Ha ha ha Arb. VVhy dost thou laugh By all the world I me growne ridiculous To my owne subiects Tye me to a chaire And iest at mee but I shall make a start And punish some that other will take heede How they are haughty who will answere mee He said I boasted speak Mardonius Did I He will not answer O my Temper I giue you thankes aboue that taught my heart Patience I can indure his silence what will none Vouchsafe to giue mee audience am I growne To such a poore respect or doe you meane To breake my wind speake speak soone one of you Or else by Heauen 1 Gent. So please your Arb Monstrous I cannot bee heard out they cut me off As if I were too sawcy I will liue In vvoods and talke to Trees they will allow mee To end what I begin The meanest Subiect Can finde a freedome to discharge his soule And not I now it is a time to speake I harken 1 Gent. May it please Arb. I meane not you Did not I stop you once but I am growne To balke but I desire let another speake 2 Gent. I hope your Maiesty Arb. Thou drawest thy words That I must waite an hower where other men Can heare in instants throw your words away Quicke and to purpose I haue told you this Bes. An 't please your Maiesty Arb. Wilt thou deuoure me this is such a rudenes As yet you neuer shewed mee and I want Power to command mee else Mardonius Would speake at my request were you my King I would haue answered at your word Mardonius I pray you speake and true y did I boast
and I were better loose it in my Kings cause then with an ague or fall or sleeping to a thiefe as all these are probable enough let me but know what I shal do for you Arb. It will not out were you with Gobrius And bad him giue my sister all content The place affoords and giue her leaue to send And speake to whom shee please Mar. Yes Sir I was Arb And did you to Bacurius say as much About Tigranes Mar. Yes Arb. That 's all my businesse Mar O say not so You had an answere of all this before Besides I thinke this businesse might be vtterd More careleslie Arb. Come thou shalt haue it out I doe beseech thee By all the loue thou hast profest to me To see my Sister from me Mar. VVell and what Arb. That 's all Mar That 's strange shall I say nothing to her Arb Not a word But if thou louest me find some subtill way To make her vnsterstand by signes Mar. But what what should I make her vnderstand Arb. O Mardonius for that I must be pardon'd Mar. You may but I can onelie see her then Arb. T is true Beare her this ring then and on more aduice Thou shalt speake to her Tell her I doe loue My kindred all wilt thou Mar. Is there no more Arb. O yes and her the best Better then any brother loues his sister That 's all Mar. Me thinkes this Neede not haue beene deliuered with such caution I le doe it Arb There is more yet VVilt thou be faithfull to me Mar. Sir if I take vpon me to deliuer it After I heare it He passe through fire to doe it Arb. I loue her better then a brother ought Dost thou conceiue me Mar. I hope I doe not Sir Arb. No thou art dull kneele downe before her And nere rise againe till shee will loue me Mar. VVhy I thinke shee does Arb. But better then shee does another way As wiues loue Husbands Mar. Why I thinke there are few wiues that loue their Husbands better then shee does you Arb. Thou wilt not vnderstand me is it fit This should bee vtterd plainlie take it then Naked as it is I would desire her loue Lasciuiouslie leudlie incestuouslie To doe a sinne that needs must damne vs both And thee to Dost thou vnderstand me now Mar. Yes there 's your Ring againe what haue I done Dishonestlie in my whole life name it That you should put so base a businesse to me Arb Didst thou not tell mee thou wouldst doe it Mar. Yes if I vndertooke it but if all My heires were liues I would not be ingag'd In such a cause to saue my last life Arb. O guilt how poore and weake a thing art thou This man that is my seruant whom my breath Might blow about the world might beate me here Hauing his cause whilst I prest downe with sinne Could not resist him deare Mardonius It was a motion misbeseeming man And I am sorrie for it Mar. Pray God you may be so you must vnderstand nothing that you can vtter can remooue my loue and seruice from my Prince But otherwise I thinke I shall not loue you more For you are sinnefull and if you doe this crime you ought to haue no lawes For after this it will bee great iniustice in you to punish any offendor for any crime For my selfe I find my heart too bigge I feele I haue not patience to looke on whilst you runne these forbidden courses Meanes I haue none but your Fauour and I am rather glad that I shall loose vm both together then keepe vm with such conditions I shall find a dwelling amongst some people where though our garments perhaps be courser we shall be richer farre within and harbor no such vices in vm God preserue you and mend you Arb. Mardonius stay Mardonius For though My present state require nothing but knaues To be about me such as are prepar'd For euery wicked act yet who does know But that my loathed Fate may turne about And I haue vse of honest men againe I hope I may I prethy leaue me not Enter Bessus to them Bess. Where is the King Mar. There Bes. An 't please your Maiestie ther 's the knife Arb. What knife Bes. The Sword is eaten Mar. Away you Foole the King is serious And cannot now admit your vanities Bes. Vanities I am no honest man if my enemies haue not brought it to this what doe you thinke I lie Arb. No no t is well Bessus t is very well Mar. I am glad ont' If your enemies brought it to that your enemies are cutlers Come leaue the King Arb No let him stay Mardonius let him stay I haue occasions with him very weightie And I can spare you now Mar. Sir Arb. Why I can spare you now Bes. Mardonius giue way to the state affayres Mar. Indeed you are fitter for his present purpose exit Arb. Bessus I should imploy thee wilt thou do 't Bes. Doe for you by this ayre I will doe any thing without exception be it a good bad or indifferent thing Arb. Do not sweare Bes. By this light but I will Any thing whatsoeuer Arb. But I shall name a thing Thy conscience will not suffer thee to doe Bes. I would faine heare that thing Arb. Why I would haue thee get my Sister for me Thou vnderstands me in a wicked manner Bes. O you would haue about with her I le do 't I le do 't Ifaith Arb. Wilt thou dost make no more an t Bes. More no why is there any thing else if there be tell me it shall be done Arb. Hast thou no greater sence of such a sinne Thou art too wicked for my company Though I haue hell within me and mayst yet Corrupt me further pray thee answere me How doe I shew to thee after this motion Bes. VVhy your Maiestie lookes as well in my opinion as euer you did since you were borne Arb. But thou appearest to me after thy grant The vgliest loathed detestable thing That I haue euer met with Thou hast eyes Like flames of Sulphur which me thinkes doe dart Infection on me and thou hast a mouth Enough to take me in where there doe stand Fower rowes of Iron teeth Bes. I feele no such thing but t is no matter how I looke I le doe your businesse as well as they that looke better and when this is dispatcht if you haue a minde to your Mother tell me and you shall see I le set it hard Arb. My Mother Heauen forgiue me to heare this I am inspir'd with horror I hate thee Worse then my sinne which if I could come by Should suffer death eternall nere to rise In any breast againe Know I will die Languishing mad as I resolue I shall Ere I will deale by such an Instrument Thou art too sinfull to imploy in this Out of the world away Bess. What doe you meane Sir Arb. Hung round with curses take thy fearefull flight into the desarts where