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 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.
Bes.
You'l never leave this till I fall foul.
Mar.
No more such words dear Bessus, for though I have ever known
thee a coward, and therefore durst never strike thee, yet if thou
proceedest, I will allow thee valiant, and beat thee.
Bes.
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.
Arb.
Thy sadness brave Tigranes takes away
From my full victory, am I become
Of so small fame, that any man should grieve
When I o'recome him? They that plac'd me here,
Intended it an honour large enough, (though he
For the most valiant living, but to dare oppose me single,
Lost the day. What should afflict you, you are as free as I,
To be my prisoner, is to be more free
Than you were formerly, and never think
The man I held worthy to combate me
Shall be us'd servilely: Thy ransom is
To take my only Sister to thy Wife.
A heavy one Tigranes, for she is
A Lady, that the neighbour Princes send
Blanks to fetch home. I have been too unkind
To her Tigranes, she but nine years old
I left her, and ne're saw her since, your wars
Have held me long and taught me though a youth,
The way to victory, she was a pretty child,
Then I was little better, but now fame
Cries loudly on her, and my messengers
Make me believe she is a miracle;
She'l make you shrink, as I did, with a stroak
But of her eye Tigranes.
Tigr.
Is't the course of Iberia to use their prisoners thus?
Had fortune thrown my name above Arbace,
I should not thus have talk'd Sir, in Armenia
We hold it base, you should have kept your temper
Till you saw home again, where 'tis the fashion
Perhaps to brag.
Arb.
Be you my witness earth, need I to brag,
Doth not this captive Prince speak
Me sufficiently, and all the acts
That I have wrought upon his suffering Land;
Should I then boast! where lies that foot of ground
Within his whole Realm, that I have not past,
Fighting and conquering; Far then from me
Be ostentation. I could tell the world
How I have laid his Kingdom desolate
By this sole Arm prop't by divinity,
Stript him out of his glories, and have sent
The pride of all his youth to people graves,
And made his Virgins languish for their Loves,
If I would brag, should I that have the power
To teach the Neighbour world humility,
Mix with vain-glory?
Mar.
Indeed this is none.
Arb.
Tigranes, Nay did I but take delight
To stretch my deeds as others do, on words,
I could amaze my hearers.
Mar.
So you do.
Arb.
But he shall wrong his and my modesty,
That thinks me apt to boast after any act
Fit for a good man to do upon his foe.
A little glory in a souldiers mouth
Is well-becoming, be it far from vain.
Mar.
'Tis pity that valour should be thus drunk.
Arb.
I offer you my Sister, and you answer
I do insult, a Lady that no suite
Nor treasure, nor thy Crown could purchase thee,
But that thou fought'st with me.
Tigr.
Though this be worse
Than that you spake before, it strikes me not;
But that you think to overgrace me with
The marriage of your Sister, troubles me.
I would give worlds for ransoms were they mine,
Rather than have her.
Arb.
See if I insult
That am the Conquerour, and for a ransom
Offer rich treasure to the Conquered,
Which he refuses, and I bear his scorn:
It cannot be self-flattery to say,
The Daughters of your Country set by her,
Would see their shame, run home and blush to death,
At their own foulness; yet she is not fair,
Nor beautiful, those words express her not,
They say her looks have something excellent,
That wants a name: yet were she odious,
Her birth deserves the Empire of the world,
Sister to such a brother, that hath ta'ne
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?
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 speak, and truely, did I boast?
Mar.
Truth will offend you.
Arb.
You take all great care what will offend me,
When you dare to utter such things as these.
Mar.
You told Tigranes, you had won his Land,
With that sole arm propt by Divinity:
Was not that bragging, and a wrong to us,
That daily ventured lives?
Arb.
O that thy name
Were as great, as mine, would I had paid my wealth,
It were as great, as I might combate thee,
I would through all the Regions habitable
Search thee, and having found thee, wi'my Sword
Drive thee about the world, till I had met
Some place that yet mans curiosity
Hath mist of; there, there would I strike thee dead:
Forgotten of mankind, such Funeral rites
As beasts would give thee, thou shouldst have.
Bes.
The King rages extreamly, shall we slink away? He'l strike us.
2 Gent.
Content.
Arb.
There I would make you know 'twas this sole arm.
I grant you were my instruments, and did
As I commanded you, but 'twas this arm
Mov'd you like wheels, it mov'd you as it pleas'd.
Whither slip you now? what are you too good
To wait on me (puffe,) I had need have temper
That rule such people; I have nothing left
At my own choice, I would I might be private:
Mean men enjoy themselves, but 'tis our curse,
To have a tumult that out of their loves
Will wait on us, whether we will or no;
Go get you gone: Why here they stand like death,
My words move nothing.
1 Gent.
Must we go?
Bes.
I know not.
Arb.
I pray you leave me Sirs, I'me proud of this,
That you will be intreated from my sight:
Why now the[y] leave me all: Mardonius.
[Exeunt all but Arb. and Mar.
Mar.
Sir.
Arb.
Will you leave me quite alone? me thinks
Civility should teach you more than this,
If I were but your friend: Stay here and wait.
Mar.
Sir shall I speak?
Arb.
Why, you would now think much
To be denied, but I can scar[c]e intreat
What I would have: do, speak.
Mar.
But will you hear me out?
Arb.
With me you Article to talk thus: well,
I will hear you out.
Mar.
Sir, that I have ever lov'd you, my sword hath spoken for me;
that I do, if it be doubted, I dare call an oath, a great one to
my witness; and were you not my King, from amongst men, I should
have chose you out to love above the rest: nor can this challenge
thanks, for my own sake I should have done it, because I would
have lov'd the most deserving man, for so you are.
Arb.
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