A King and no King by John Fletcher and Francis Beaumont - HTML preview

2.

O my smal guts, a plague upon these sharpe toe'd shooes, they are murderers.

_Exeunt_.

_Enter Arbaces with his Sword drawne_.

_Arb_.

It is resolv'd, I bore it whilst I could, I can no more, Hel open al thy gates, And I will thorough them; if they be shut, Ile batter um, but I will find the place Where the most damn'd have dwelling; ere I end, Amongst them all they shal not have a sinne, But I may cal it mine: I must beginne

With murder of my friend, and so goe on To an incestuous ravishing, and end

My life and sinnes with a forbidden blow Upon my selfe.

_Enter Mardonius_.

_Mardo_.

What Tragedie is here?

That hand was never wont to draw a Sword, But it cride dead to something:

_Arb_.

_Mar_. have you bid _Gobrius_ come?

_Mar_.

How doe you Sir?

_Arb_.

Well, is he comming?

_Mar_.

Why Sir are you thus?

Why does your hand proclaime a lawlesse warre Against your selfe?

_Arb_.

Thou answerest me one question with another, Is _Gobrius_ comming?

_Mar_.

Sir he is. _Arb_. Tis wel .

_Mar_.

I can forbeare your questions then, be gone Sir, I have markt.

_Arb_.

Marke lesse, it troubles you and me.

_Mar_.

You are more variable then you were.

_Arb_.

It may be so.

_Mar_.

To day no Hermit could be humblier

Then you were to us al .

_Arb_.

And what of this?

_Mar_.

And now you take new rage into your eies, As you would looke us al out of the Land.

_Arb_.

I doe confesse it, will that satisfie,

I prethee get thee gone.

_Mar_.

Sir I will speake.

_Arb_.

Will ye?

_Mar_.

It is my dutie,

I feare you will kill your selfe: I am a subject, And you shal doe me wrong in't: tis my cause, And I may speake.

_Arb_.

Thou art not traind in sinne,

It seemes _Mardonius_: kill my selfe, by heaven I will not doe it yet; and when I will, Ile tel thee then: I shal be such a creature, That thou wilt give me leave without a word.

There is a method in mans wickednesse,

It growes up by degrees; I am not come

So high as killing of my selfe, there are A hundred thousand sinnes twixt me and it, Which I must doe, I shall come toot at last; But take my oath not now, be satisfied, And get thee hence.

_Mar_.

I am sorrie tis so ill.

_Arb_.

Be sorrie then,

True sorrow is alone, grieve by thy selfe.

_Mar_.

I pray you let mee see your sword put up Before I goe; Ile leave you then.

_Arb_.

Why so?

What fol ie is this in thee? is it not

As apt to mischiefe as it was before?

Can I not reach it thinkest thou? these are toyes For children to be pleas'd with, and not men; Now I am safe you thinke: I would the booke Of Fate were here, my sword is not so sure, But I should get it out, and mangle that That all the destinies should quite forget Their fix't decrees, and hast to make us new Farre other Fortunes mine could not be worse, Wilt thou now leave me?

_Mar_.

God put into your bosome temperate thoughts, He leave you though I feare.

_Exit_.

_Arb_.

Goe, thou art honest,

Why should the hastie errors of my youth Be so unpardonable, to draw a sinne

Helpelesse upon me?

_Enter Gobrius_.

_Gob_.

There is the King, now it is ripe.

_Arb_.

Draw neere thou guiltie man,

That are the author of the loathedst crime Five ages have brought forth, and heare me speake Curses incurable, and all the evils

Mans bodie or his spirit can receive

Be with thee.

_Gob_.

Why Sir doe you curse me thus?

_Arb_.

Why doe I curse thee, if there be a man Subtill in curses, that exceedes the rest, His worst wish on thee. Thou hast broke my hart.

_Gob_.

How Sir? Have I preserv'd you from a childe, From al the arrowes, malice or ambition Could shoot at you, and have I this for pay?

_Arb_.

Tis true thou didst preserve me, and in that Wert crueller then hardned murderers

Of infants and their mothers; thou didst save me Onely till thou hadst studdied out a way How to destroy me cunningly thy selfe:

This was a curious way of torturing.

_Gob_.

What doe you meane?

_Arb_.

Thou knowst the evils thou hast done to me, Dost thou remember al those witching letters Thou sentst unto me to _Armenia_,

Fild with the praise of my beloved Sister, Where thou extolst her beautie; what had I To doe with that, what could her beautie be To me, and thou didst write how wel shee lov'd me, Doest thou remember this: so that I doated Something before I saw her.

_Gob_.

This is true.

_Arb_.

Is it, and I when I was returnd thou knowst Thou didst pursue it, till thou woundst mee into Such a strange, and unbeleev'd affection, As good men cannot thinke on.

_Gob_.

This I grant, I thinke I was the cause.

_Arb_.

Wert thou? Nay more, I thinke thou meantst it.

_Gob_.

Sir I hate a lie.

As I love God and honestie, I did:

It was my meaning.

_Arb_.

Be thine owne sad Judge,

A further condemnation will not need:

Prepare thy selfe to die.

_Gob_.

Why Sir to die?

_Arb_.

Why wouldst thou live, was ever yet offender So impudent, that had a thought of mercy After confession of a crime like this?

Get out I cannot, where thou hurlst me in, But I can take revenge, that's al the sweetnesse Left for me.

_Gob_.

Now is the time, heare me but speake.

_Arb_.

No, yet I will be farre more mercifull

Then thou wert to me; thou didst steale into me, And never gavest me warning: so much time As I give thee now, had prevented thee

For ever. Notwithstanding al thy sinnes, If thou hast hope, that there is yet a prayer To save thee, turne, and speake it to your selfe.

_Gob_.

Sir, you shall know your sinnes before you doe um If you kill me.

_Arb_.

I will not stay then.

_Gob_.

Know you kill your Father.

_Arb_.

How?

_Gob_.

You kill your Father.

_Arb_.

My Father? though I know it for a lie

Made out of feare to save thy stained life: The verie reverence of the word comes crosse me, And ties mine arme downe.

_Gob_.

I will tel you that shal heighten you againe, I am thy Father, I charge thee heare me.

_Arb_.

If it should be so,

As tis most false, and that I should be found A bastard issue, the dispised fruite

Of lawlesse lust, I should no more admire Al my wilde passions: but another truth Shall be wrung from thee: If I could come by The spirit of paine, it should be powr'd on thee, Till thou allowest thy selfe more full of lies Then he that teaches thee.

_Enter Arane_.

_Arane_.

Turne thee about,

I come to speake to thee thou wicked man, Heare me thou Tyrant.

_Arb_.

I will turne to thee,

Heare me thou Strumpet: I have blotted out The name of mother, as thou hast thy shame.

_Ara_.

My shame, thou hast lesse shame then anything: Why dost thou keepe my daughter in a prison?

Why dost thou cal her Sister, and doe this?

_Arb_.

Cease thou strange impudence, and answere quickly, If thou contemn'st me, this will aske an answere, And have it.

_Ara_.

Helpe me gentle _Gobrius_.

_Arb_.

Guilt dare not helpe guilt, though they grow together In doing ill, yet at the punishment

They sever, and each flies the noyse of other, Thinke not of helpe, answere.

_Ara_.

I will, to what?

_Arb_.

To such a thing as if it be a truth,

Thinke what a creature thou hast made thy selfe, That didst not shame to doe, what I must blush Onely to aske thee: tel me who I am,

Whose sonne I am, without all circumstance; Be thou as hastie, as my Sword will be

If thou refusest.

_Ara_.

Why you are his sonne.

_Arb_.

His sonne?

Sweare, sweare, thou worse then woman damn'd.

_Ara_.

By al thats good you are.

_Arb_.

Then art thou al that ever was knowne bad. Now is The cause of all my strange misfortunes come to light: What reverence expects thou from a childe To bring forth which thou hast offended Heaven, Thy husband and the Land: Adulterous witch I know now why thou wouldst have poyson'd me, I was thy lust which thou wouldst have forgot: Thou wicked mother of my sinnes, and me, Shew me the way to the inheritance

I have by thee: which is a spacious world Of impious acts, that I may soone possesse it: Plagues rott thee, as thou liv'st, and such diseases As use to pay lust, recompence thy deed.

_Gob_.

You doe not know why you curse thus.

_Arb_.

Too well:

You are a paire of Vipers, and behold

The Serpent you have got; there is no beast But if he knew, it has a pedigree

As brave as mine, for they have more discents, And I am every way as beastly got,

As farre without the compasse of a law, As they.

_Ara_.

You spend your rage, and words in vaine, And raile upon a guesse: heare us a little.

_Arb_.

No I will never heare, but talke away

My breath, and die.

_Gob_.

Why but you are no Bastard.

_Arb_.

Howe's that?

_Ara_.

Nor childe of mine.

_Arb_.

Still you goe on in wonders to me.

_Gob_.

Pray be more patient, I may bring comfort to you.

_Arb_.

I will kneele,

And heare with the obedience of a childe; Good Father speake, I doe acknowledge you, So you bring comfort.

_Gob_.

First know our last King your supposed Father Was olde and feeble when he marryed her, And almost all the Land as shee past hope Of issue from him.

_Arb_.

Therefore shee tooke leave

To play the whoore, because the King was old: Is this the comfort?

_Ara_.

What will you find out

To give me satisfaction, when you find

How you have injur'd me: let fire consume mee, If ever I were whore.

_Gob_.

Forbeare these starts,

Or I will leave you wedded to despaire, As you are now: if you can find a temper, My breath shal be a pleasant westerne wind, That cooles, and blastes not.

_Arb_.

Bring it out good Father,

He lie, artd listen here as reverentlie As to an Angel : If I breathe too loude, Tel me; for I would be as still as night.

_Gob_.

Our King I say was old, and this our Queene Desired to bring an heire; but yet her husband Shee thought was past it, and to be dishonest I thinke shee would not; if shee would have beene, The truth is, shee was watcht so narrowlie, And had so slender opportunitie,

Shee hardly could have beene: But yet her cunning Found out this way; shee fain'd her selfe with child, And postes were sent in haste throughout the Land, And God was humbly thankt in every Church, That so had blest the Queen, and prayers were made For her safe going, and deliverie:

Shee fain'd now to grow bigger, and perceiv'd This hope of issue made her feard, and brought A farre more large respect from everie man.

And saw her power increase, and was resolv'd, Since shee believ'd shee could not have't indeede; At least shee would be thought to have a child.

_Arb_.

Doe I not heare it wel : nay, I will make No noise at al ; but pray you to the point, Quicke as you can.

_Gob_.

Now when the time was full,

Shee should be brought abed; I had a sonne Borne, which was you: This the Queene hearing of, Mov'd me to let her have you, and such reasons Shee shewed me, as shee knew would tie

My secresie: shee sware you should be King; And to be short, I did deliver you

Unto her, and pretended you were dead;

And in mine owne house kept a Funeral , And had an emptie coffin put in earth:

That night the Queene fain'd hastilie to labour, And by a paire of women of her owne,

Which shee had charm'd, shee made the world believe Shee was deliver'd of you: you grew up

As the Kings sonne, till you were six yeere olde; Then did the King die, and did leave to me Protection of the Realme; and contrarie To his owne expectation, left this Queene Truly with Childe indeed of the faire Princesse _Panthea_: Then shee could have torne her heire, And did alone to me yet durst not speake In publike; for shee knew shee should be found A Traytor, and her talke would have beene thought Madnesse or any thing rather then truth: This was the onely cause why shee did seeke To poyson you, and I to keepe you safe: And this the reason why I sought to kindle Some sparke of love in you to faire _Panthea_, That shee might get part of her right agen.

_Arb_.

And have you made an end now, is this al ?

If not, I will be still till I am aged, Till al my heires are silver.

_Gob_.

This is all.

_Arb_.

And is it true say you Maddam?

_Ara_.

Yes, God knowes it is most true.

_Arb_.

_Panthea_ then is not my Sister.

_Gob_.

No.

_Arb_.

But can you prove this?

[_Gob_.]

If you will give consent: else who dare goe about it.

_Arb_.

Give consent?

Why I will have them all that know it rackt To get this from um: Al that waites without Come in, what ere you be come in, and be Partakers of my Joy: O you are welcome.

_Ent. Mar: Bessus, and others_.

_Mardonius_ the best newes, nay, draw no neerer They al shal heare it: I am found no King.

_Mar_.

Is that so good newes?

_Art_.

Yes, the happiest newes that ere was heard.

_Mar_.

Indeed twere wel for you,

If you might be a little lesse obey'd.

_Arb_.

On, cal the Queene.

_Mar_.

Why she is there.

_Arb_.

The Queene _Mardonius_, _Panthea_ is the Queene, And I am plaine _Arbaces_, goe some one, She is in _Gobrius_ house; since I saw you There are a thousand things delivered to me You little dreame of.

_Mar_.

So it should seeme: My Lord,

What furi's this.

_Gob_.

Beleeve me tis no fury,

Al that he sayes is truth.

_Mar_.

Tis verie strange.

_Arb_.

Why doe you keepe your hats off Gentlemen, Is it to me? in good faith it must not be: I cannot now command you, but I pray you For the respect you bare me, when you tooke Me for your King, each man clap on his hat at my desire.

_Mar_.

We will: but you are not found

So meane a man, but that you may be cover'd As wel as we, may you not?

_Arb_.

O not here,

You may, but not I, for here is my Father in presence.

_Mar_.

Where?

_Arb_.

Why there: O the whole storie

Would be a wildernesse to loose thy selfe For ever; O pardon me deare Father,

For all the idle, and unreverent words

That I have spoke in idle moodes to you: I am _Arbaces_, we all fellow subjects, Nor is the Queene _Panthea_ now my Sister.

_Bes_.

Why if you remember fel ow subject _Arbaces_, I tolde you once she was not your sister, I say she look't nothing like you.

_Arb_.

I thinke you did good Captaine _Bessus_.

_Bes_.

Here will arise another question now amongst the Swordmen, whether I be to call him to account for beating me, now he's prov'd no King.

_Enter Ligones_.

_Ma_.

Sir, heres _Ligones_

The Agent for the Armenian King.

_Arb_.

Where is he, I know your businesse good _Ligones_.

_Lig_.

We must have our King againe, and will.

_Arb_.

I knew that was your businesse, you shal have You King againe, and have him so againe As never King was had. Goe one of you

And bid _Bacurius_ bring _Tigranes_ hither, And bring the Ladie with him, that _Panthea_

The Queene _Panthea_ sent me word this morning Was brave _Tigranes_ mistresse.

_Lig_.

Tis _Spaconia_.

_Arb_.

I, I, _Spaconia_.

_Lig_.

She is my daughter.

_Arb_.

Shee is so, I could now tell any thing

I never heard; your King shal goe so home As never man went.

_Mar_.

Shall he goe on's head?

_Arb_.

He shal have Chariots easier than ayre That I will have invented; and nere thinke He shal pay any ransome; and thy selfe That art the Messenger shal ride before him On a Horse cut out of an entire Diamond, That shal be made to goe with golden wheeles, I know not how yet.

_Lig_.

Why I shal be made

For ever, they belied this King with us And sayd he was unkind.

_Arb_.

And then thy daughter,

She shall have some strange thinke, wele have the Kingdome Sold utterly, and put into a toy.

Which she shall weare about her carelesly Some where or other.

See the vertuous Queene.

_Enter Pan_.

Behold the humblest subject that you have Kneele here before you. _Pan_. Why kneele you To me that am your vassall?

_Arb_.

Grant me one request.

_Pan_.

Alas, what can I grant you?

What I can I will.

_Arb_.

That you will please to marry me,

If I can prove it lawfull.

_Pan_.

Is that al ?

More willingly, then I would draw this ayre.

_Arb_.

Ile kisse this hand in earnest.

_Mar_.

Sir, _Tigranes_ is comming though he made it strange To see the Princesse any more.

_Arb_.

The Queene,

_Enter Tig. and Spa_.

Thou meanest: O my Tigranes pardon me,

Tread on my necke I freely offer it,

And if thou beest so given; take revenge, For I have injur'd thee.

_Tig_.

No, I forgive,

And rejoice more that you have found repentance, Then I my libertie.

_Arb_.

Maist thou be happie

In thy faire choice; for thou art temperate: You owe no ransome to the state, know that; I have a thousand joyes to tell you of, Which yet I dare not utter, till I pay

My thankes to Heaven for um: will you goe With me, and helpe me; pray you doe.

_Tig_.

I will.

_Arb_.

Take then your faire one with you and your Queene Of goodnesse, and of us; O give me leave To take your arme in mine: Come every one That takes delight in goodnesse, helpe to sing Loude thankes for me, that I am prov'd no King.

FINIS.

The following verse variations have also been noted between the Act printed above from A and the quartos B, C, D and G.

p. 434, ll. 46 and 47. B, C, D, G] two lines, _hint, rope_.

p. 436, ll. 19 and 20. B--D] two lines, _better, Grandsire_.

p. 437, ll. 16--18. B, C, D, G] six lines, _Whore, satisfied, Dancer, Musilians, thee, whore_.

p. 438, ll. 40 and 41. B, C, D, G] four lines, _laming, fal , Sword-men, Stock-fish_.

p. 442, ll. 22 and 23. B, C, D, G] two lines, _in-, affection_.

p. 443, ll. 24 and 25. B, C, D, G] three lines, _impudence, me, answere_. ll. 44 and 45. Three lines, _Al , cause, light_.

p. 446, ll. 17 and 18. B, C, D, G] one line, _This_. ll. 19 and 20. B, C, D, G] one line, _Truth_. l. 26. Two lines, _hat, desire_.

p. 447, ll. 16 and 17. B, C, D, G] two lines, _ever, us_. l . 23

and 24. B, C, D, G] one line, _Queene_. l . 29 and 30. B, C, D, G] one line, _will_.

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