ARBACES

Thy sadness (brave Tigranes) takes away From my fallen victory; am I become Of so small fame, that any man should grieve When I oreceme him: They that placed me here, Intended it and honour large enough For the most valiant living; but to dare Oppose me single, though he lost the day, What should afflict you, you are free as I, To be my prisoner, is to be more free, Then you were formerly; and never think The man I held worthy to combat me, Shall be used 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 year old, I left her, and never saw her since: your wars Have held m 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; Sheele make you shrink as I did, with a stroke But of her eye Tigranes. Is it the course of Iberia, to use their prisoners thus? Had Fortune thrown my name above Arbaces, I should not thus have talked: for in Armenia we hold it base; you should have kept your temper, Till you saw home again; where 'tis the fashion Perhaps to brag. Be you my witness Earth: Need I to brag, does 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 passed Fighting, and Conquering? Far then from me Be ostentation: I could tell the World How I have laid his Kingdom desolate With this sole arm, propped by Divinity, Stripped 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. Tigranes, no; did I but take delight To stretch my deeds as others do on words, I could amaze my hearers But he shall wrong his, and my modesty That thinks me apt to boast: After and Act Fit for a God to do upon his foe, A little glory in a Soldiers mouth, Is well becoming, be it far from vain. See if I insult That am the Conqueror, and for a ransom Offer rich treasure to the conquered, Which he refuses, and I bea e 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 are something excellent, That wants a name yet: were she odious Her birth deferues the Empire of the world. Sister to such a Brother, that hath taken Victory prisoner, and throughout the Earth Carries her bound; and should he let her lose, She durst not leave him. Nature did her wrong To print continual conquest on her cheeks, And make no man worthy for her to take, But me that am too near her; and as strangely She did for me: But you will think I brag. Is that all the cause? Think you, you can so knit your self in love To any other, that her searching sighed Cannot dissolve it? So before you tried You that ught your self a match for me in fight: Trust me Tigranes she can do as much In peace, as I in War; sheele conquer too You shall see, if you have the power to stand The force of her swift looks, if you dislike, I'll send you home with love, & name your ransom some other way: but if she be your choice She frees you: to Ileria you must. Some two 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 Exe. Till he be freefrom me. This Prince Mardonius Is full of wisdom, Valour, all the graces Man can receive. And yet I conquered him, & could have done Hadst thou joined with him, though thy name in Arms Be great; Must all men that are virtuous Think suddenly to match themselves with me: I conquered him, and bravely; did I not? Of what? what to do? Puffed, did I not take him nobly? Talk enough, while you confine my words, by Heaven and Earth, I weremuch better be a King of Beasts Then such a people: If I had not patience Above a God, I should be called a Tyrant Throughout the World. They will offend to death Each minute: Let me hear thee speak again Andthou art earth again: why this is Like Tigranes speech that needs would say, I bragged. Bessus he said I bragged. Why dost thou laugh? By all the world I me grown ridiculous To my own subjects: Tie me to a chair And jest at me, but I shall make a start And punish some, that other will take heed How they are haughty; who will answer me? He said I boasted, speak Mardonius, Did I? He will not answer: Oh my Temper! I give you thanks above, that taught my heart Patience, I can endure his silence; what will none Vouchsafe to give me audience, am I grown To such a poor respect or do you mean To break my wind, speak, speak soon one of you Or else by Heaven, I mean not you, Did not I stop you once? but I am grown To balk, but I desire, let another speak. Thou drawest thy words That I must wait and hour, where other men Can hear in instants; throw your words away Quick, and to purpose, I have told you this. Wilt thou devour me? this is such a rudeness As yet you never showed me, and I want Power to command me, else Mardonius Would speak at my request; were you my King, I would have answered at your word Mardonius, I pray you speak, and true y, did I boast? You take all great care what will offend me, When you dare to vttter such things as these. Oh that thy name Were great as mine, would I had paid my wealth, It were as great, that I might combat that e; I would through all the Regions habitable Search thee, and having found thee, with my Sword Driven thee about the world, till I had met Some place that yet men curiosity Hath missed of; there, there would I strike thee dead: Forgotten of Man ind, such Funeral Rites As Beasts would give thee thou shouldst have There I would make you know was this sole arm, I grant you were my Instruments, and did As I commanded you, but was this Arm Moved you Like wheels, it moved you as it pleased: whither slip you now? what are you too good To wait on me? 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 whither we will or no; will you be gone? why here they stand Like death, My word moves nothing. will you leave me quite alone? me thinks Civility should teach you more then this, If I were but your friend: stay here, and wait. why you would now think much To be deni e, but I can scarce entreat what I would have: do, speak. with me you article to talk thus: well I will hear you out. Alas Mardonius, rise, you shall not kneel; we all are Soldiers, and all venture lives: And where there is no difference in men's worths, Titles are jests: who can out valve thee? Mardonius thou hast loved me, and hast wrong, Thy love is not rewarded, but believe It shall be better, more then friend in arms, My Father, and my Tutor, good Mardonius. And so I will, speak freely, for from thee Nothing can come but worthy things and true. Eclipse my virtue ? when you commend me? Oh that I should live To need such commendations: If my deeds Blue not my praise themselves above the earth, I were most wretched: spare your idle praise: If thou didst mean to flatter, and shouldst utter words in my praise, that thou thoughtest impudence, My deeds should make um modest: when you praise, I hug you; it's so false, that Wertenberg thou worthy Thou shouldst receive a death, a glorious death From me: but thou shalt understand thy lies, For shouldst thou praise me into Heaven, and there Leave me inthroned, I would despise thee though As much as now, which is as much as dust, Because I see thy envy. I will, and after call unto the winds, For they shall lend as large and ear as I To what you utter: speak. Well. Why now you flatter. Is not material: more then ten such lives As mine Mardonius: it was Nobly said, Thou hast spoke truth, and boldly, such a truth As might offend another. I have been Too passionate, and idle, thou shalt see A swift amendment: But I want those parts You praise me for: I fight for all the world: Give thee a Sword, and thou wilt go as far Beyond me, as thou art beyond in years, I know thou darest, and wilt; It troubles me That I should use so rough a phrase to thee, Impute it to my folly, what thou wilt, So thou wilt pardon me; that thou and I Should differ thus. Faith but 'tis, but thou dost ever take All things I do thus patiently, for which I never can requite thee but with love, And that thou shalt be sure of. How and I Have not been merry lately: pray thee tell me where hadst thou that same jewel in thine care? A wench upon my life, a wench Mardonius Gave thee that Jew l. why do the wenches encroach upon thee? Didst thou fit at and old rend with um? And do they im roove themselves? How canst live on't? Thou shalt take um up at my price. I at the Kings price. Bessus I thought you had been in Iberia by this, bade you would to Gobrias will want entertainment for me. Is't not lousy Bessus, what I to? Then thou hast two suits. So many nights lodgings as 'tis thither, will not? Why thou shalt bid her entertain her from me, so thou wilt resolve me one thing. Faith 'tis a very disputable question, yet I think thou canst decide it I have so good and opinion of it: it's whither thou be valiant. From Gobrias? How does he, is he well? Thank thee for thy good news, A trustier servant to his Prince there lives not Then is good Gobrias. The hand of Heaven is on me, be it far From me to struggle; if my secret sins Have pulled this curse upon me, lend me tears. Enough to wash me white, that I may feel A childlike innocence within my breast; Which once performed, Oh give me leave to stand As fixed as constancy her self, my eyes Set here unmoved, regardless of the World, Though thousand Misery's encompass me. Mardonius my mother: Alas, she's not so happy; thou dost know How she hath laboured since my Father died To take by treason hence this loathed life, That would but be to serve her, I have pardoned And pardoned, and by that have made her fit To practice new sins, not repent the old; She now has hired a slave to come from thence And strike me here, whom Gobrias sifting ̇out, Took, and condemned, and executed there The carefulst servant: Heaven let me but live To pay that man; Nature is poor to me, That will not let me have as many death's As are the times that he hath saved my life, That I might die um over all for him. What will the world Conceive of me? with what unnatural sins Will they suppose me laden, when my life Is sought by her that gave it to the world? But yet he writes me comfort here, my sister He says is grown in beauty, and in grace, In all the innocent virtues that become A tender spotless maid: she stains her cheeks With mourning tears to purge her Mother's ill, And amongst her sacred Due she mingles prayers, Her pure oblations for my safe return: If I have lost the duty of a son, If any pomp or vanity of state Made me forget my natural offices; Nay farther, if I have not every night Expostulated with my wandering thoughts, If ought unto my Parent they have erred, And called um back: do you direct her arm Unto this foul dissembling heart of mine: But if I have been joust to her, send out Your power to compass me, and hold me safe From searching treason; I will use no means But prayers: for rather suffer me to see From mine own veins issue a deadly flood, Then wash my dangers off with Mother's blood: I thank you all: Now are my joys at full, when I behold you safe my loving Subjects; By you I grow, 'tis your united love That lifts me to this height: All the account that I can render you For all the love you have bestowed on me, All your expenses to maintain my war, Is but a little word: you will imagine 'Tis slender payment; yet 'tis such a word As is not to be bought without our bloods; 'Tis peace. Now you may live securely in your Towns, Your Children round about you; you may fit Under your vines, and make the Misery's Of other Kingdoms a discourse for you, And lend them sorrows: For your selves you may Safely forget there are such things as tears; And may you all whose good thoughts I have gained, Hold me unworthy, when I think my life A sacrifice too great to keep you thus In such a calm estate: See all good people, I have brought the man, Whose very name you feared, a captive home: Behold him, 'tis Tigranes; in your hearts Sing songs of gladness, and deliverance. It was far from me To mean it so: if I have ought deserved, My loving Subjects let me beg of you Not to revile this Prince, in whom their dwells All worth of which the nature of a man Is capable; valour beyond compare, The terror of his name has stretched it self Where ever there is sun: and yet for you, I fought with him single, and wone him too; I made his valour stoop, and made that name Soared to so vnbelieu'd a height, to fallen Beneath mine: This inspired with all your loves, I did perform, and will for your content Be ever ready for a greater work. If there be any thing in which I may Do good to any creature, here speak out; For I must leave you: and it troubles me, Thus my occasions for the good of you, Are suchas Can lles me from you; else my joy Would be to spend my days amongst you all. You show your loves in these large multitudes That come to meet me: I will pray for you, Heaven prosper you, that you may know old years, And live to see your Children's Children Fate at your boards with plenty: when there is A want of any thing, let it be known To me, and I will be a Father to you: God keep you all. MY Sister take it ill? Why Gobrius to her; I must have her know My will, and not her own must govern her: What, will she marry with some slave at home? To partly with her, why Gobrius art thou mad? she is my sister Pish, will she have him? Were she my Father, and my Mother too; And all the names for which we think folks friends, She should be forcest to have him, when I know 'Tis fit: I will not hear her say she's loath. How does she love me, speak? She is not Like her Mother then? He's welcome. Good Gobrius bring them in, Tigranes you will think you are arrived In a strange Land, where Mother's cast to poison Their only sons; think you you shall be safe? Oh stand up, And let me kneel, the light will be ashamed To see observance done to me by you. You are my Mother rise; As far be all your faults from your own soul, As from my memory; then you shall be As white as innocence her self. Your own desires shall be your guard. To whom? Would? Speak, am I what I was? what art thou that dost creep into my breast, And darest not see my face show forth thy self I feel a pair of fiery wings displayed Hither, from thence; you shall not tarry there, up, and be gone, if thou be'st love, be gone, Or I will tear thee from my wounded flesh, Pull thy loved down away, and with a quill By this right arm drawn from thy wanton wing, write to thy laughing Mother in thy blood, That you are Powers belied, and all your darts Are to be blown away by men resolved Like dust; I know thou fearest my words, away. You mean this Lady, lift her from the earth; Why do you let her kneel so long? alas, Madam your beauty uses to command, And not to beg; what is your suit to me? It shall be granted, yet the time is short, And my affairs are great: but where my sister? I bade she should be brought. Gobrius, where is she? Where is she man? Who, hast thou forgotten? my Sister. Your Sister Sir? Do you not see her there? There. Which do you mean, that little one? No Sir, why do you mock me? I can see. No other here, but that petitioning Lady: Away. 'Tis false. As hell, by Heaven as false as hell, My sister: Is she dead? if it be so, Speak boldly to me: for I am a man, And dare not quarrel with divinity; But do not think to cousin me with this: I see you all are mute, and stand amazed, Fearful to answer me; it is too true A decreed instant cuts off every life, For which to mourn, is to repine; she died A Virgin though, more innocent then sleeps, As clear as her own eyes, and blessedness Eternal waits upon her where she is: I know she could not make a wish to change Her state for new, and you shall see me bear My crosses Like a man; we all must die, And she hath taught us how. Which good Gobrius, That Lady dost thou mean? It cannot be. Away, No more of this; here I pronounce him Traitor, The direct plotter of my death that names, Or thinks her for my Sister: 'Tis a lie, The most malicious of the World, invented To mad your King; he that will say so next, Let him draw out his Sword, and sheath it here, It is a sin fully as pardonable: She is no kin to me, nor shall she be; If she were any, I create her none, And which of you can question this, my power Is Like the Sea, that is to be obeyed, And not disputed with: I have decreed her As far from having partly of blood with me, As the naked Indians: Come, and answer me, He that is boldest now; Is that my Sister? No, 'tis true, she is not: I will hear no more; Why should there be such music in a voice, And sin for me to hear it: All the world May take delight in this, and 'tis damnation For me to do so; you are fair, and wise, And virtuous I think, and he is blessed That is so near you as your brother is: But you are nought to me but a disease, Continual torment without hope of ease; Such and ungodly sickness I have God, That he that undertakes my cure, must first Overthrow Divinity, all moral Laws, And leave mankind as unconfined as beasts, Allowing them to do all actions As freely as they drink, when they desire. Let me not hear you speak again; yet so I shall but languish for the want of that, The having which would kill me: No man here Offer to speak for her; for I consider As much as you can say: I will not toil My body, and my mind too, rest thou there, Heres one within will labour for you both. How now? They are talking. Tigranes, art not thou my prisoner? And who is this? She is so. And how dare you then offer to change words with her? Perhaps I told you so, If I had sworn it, had you so much folly To credit it: The least word that she speaks Is worth a life: rule your disordered tongue, Or I will temper it. You will. Fear not my frown: but that 'twere base in me To fight with one I know I can overcome, Again thou shouldst be conquered by me. Away with him to prison; Now Sir see If my frown be regardless: why delay you? Seize him Bacurius, you shall know my word Sweeps Like a wind, and all it grapples with Are as the chaff before it. Help there. Why do you dally there? Drag him away By any thing. Let him be close Bacurius. By no means Gobrius, I have done her wrong, And made my self believe much of my self, That is not in me: you did kneel to me, While I stood stubborn and regardless by; And Like a God incensed, gave no ear To all your prayers: behold, I kneel to you, Show a contempt as large as was my own, And I will suffer it; yet at the last forgive me. Never forgive me then, which is the worst Can happen to me. Rise you then to; here I acknowledge thee My hope, the only Jewel of my life, The best of sisters, dearer then my breath, A happiness as high as I could think; And when my actions call thee otherwise, Perdition light upon me. Then thus I do salute thee, and again To make this knot the stronger; Paradise Is there: It may be you are still in doubt, This, this third kiss blots it out. I wade in sin, And foolishly entice my self along: Take her away, see her a prisoner In her own chamber closely Gobrius. I must not stay the answer, do it. No more, do it I say. I will not hear you speak; Away with her, let no man think to speak For such a creature: for she is a witch, A poisoner, and a raytor. Bessus, go you along too with her; I will prove All this that I have said, if I may live So long: but I am desperately sick, For she has given me poison in a kiss; She had it betwixt her lips, and with her eyes She witches people: go without a word. Exeunt omnes, pr . Why should you that have made me stand in war Ar. Mar. Like fate it self, cutting what threads I pleased, Decree such and unworthy end of me, And all my glories? what am I alas, That you oppose me? If my secret thoughts Have ever harboured swellings against you, They could not hurt you, and it is in you To give me sorrow, that will render me Apt to re eiue your mercy; rather so, Let it be rather so, then punish me With such unmanly sins: Incest is in me Dwelling already, and it must be holy That Pulls it thence; where art Mardonius? I prithee bear me, if thou canst; Am I not grown a strange weight? No heavier? Why, my legs Refuse to bear mybodie; Oh Mardonius, Thou hast in field beheld me, when thou knowest I could have gone, though I could never run. Wilt thou hereafter when they talk of me, As thou shalt hear nothing but infamy; Remember some of those things. I prithee do: for thou shalt never see me so again. I cannot utter it, why should I keep A breast to harbour thoughts? I dare not speak: Darkness is in my bosom, and there lies A thousand thoughts that cannot brook the light; How wilt thou vex me when this deed is done Conscience? that art afraid to let me name it. Why very well Mardonius; how dost thou? I hope thou art; for to be plain with thee, Thou art in hell else: secret scorching flame S That far transcend earthly material fierce, Art crept into me, and there is no cure; Is not that strange Mardonius, theres no cure? So there is, but yet I cannot do it. It will not out: were you with Gobrius, And bade him give my sister all content The place affords, and give her leave to send And speak to whom she please? Thats all my business. Come, thou shalt have it out; I do beseech thee By all the love thou hast professed to me, To see my Sister from me. Thats all. Oh Mardonius, for that I must be pardoned. 'Tis true; Bear her this ring then, and on more advice Thou shalt speak to her: Tell her I do love My kindred all; wilt thou? Oh yes, and her the best; Better then any brother loves his sister: That's all. I love her better then a brother ought; Dost thou conce we me? No, thou art dull, kneel down before her And never rise again, till she will love me. But better then she does, another way; As wives love Husbands. Thou wilt not understand me: is it fit This should be uttered plainl e; take it then Naked as it is: I would desire her love Lasciviously, lewdly, incestuously, To do a sin that needs must damn us both; And thee to Dost thou understand me now? Oh gilded, how poor, and weak a thing art thou? This man that is my servant, whom my breath Might blow about the world, might beat me here Having his cause, while I pressed down with sin Could not resist him, deer Mardonius It was a motion misbeseeming man. And I am sorry for it. Mardonius, stay Mardonius, For though My pres nt state require nothing but knau S To be about me, such as are prepared For every wicked act yet who does know But that my loathed Fate may turn about, And I have use of honest men again: I hope I may, I prithee leave me not. What knife: No, no, 'tis well Bessus, 'tis very well, Why I can spare you now. Bessus I should employ thee; wilt thou do't Do not swear. But I shall name a thing Thy conscience will not suffer thee to do. Why I would have thee get my Sister for me: Thou understands me in a wicked manner. Wilt thou, dost make no more ant? Hast thou no greater sense of such a sin? Thou art too wicked for my company Though I have hell within me, and mayest yet Corrupt me further: pray thee answer me How do I show to thee after this motion? But thou appearest to me after thy grant The ugliest, loathed, detestable thing That I have ever met with. Thou hast eyes Like flames of Sulphur, which me thinks do dart Infection on me, and thou hast a mouth Enough to take me in, where there do stand Four rows of Iron teeth. My Mother, Heaven forgive me to hear this, I am inspired with horror: I hate thee Worse then my sin, which if I could come by, Should suffer death eternal, never to rise In any breast again. Know I will die Languishing mad, as I resolve I shall, Ere I will deal by such and Instrument: Thou art too sinful to employ in this; Out of the world, away. Hung round with curses, take thy fearful flight in to the deserts, where amongst all the monsters, If thou findest one foe beastly as thy self, Thou shalt be held as innocent. If there were no such Instruments as thou, We Kings could never act such wicked deeds: Seek out a man that mocks Divinity, That breaks each precept both of Gods and Men, And Nature's too, and does it without lust; Me rely because it is a law, and good, And live with him: for him thou canst not spoil. Away I say; I will not do this sin. I'll press it here till it do break my breast; It heaves to get out: but thou art a sin And spite of torture, I will keep thee in. Have you been careful of our noble Prisoner That he want nothing fitting for his greatness? 'Tis well, royal Tigranes health. We thank you worthy Prince, and pray excuse us, We have not seen you since your being here, I hope your noble usage has been equal With your own Person: your imprisonment If it be any, I dare say is easy, And shall not outlast two days. What Lady is that Bacurius? I feared it: why comes she hither! From whom Bacurius? I know I had seen her. I see theres truth in no man, nor obedience, But for his own ends, why did you let her in? A token to Tigranes, did she not: Sirrah tell truth. I am trifled with. I know it, as I know thee to be false. I will Sir, and say openly this woman carries letters, by my life I know she carries letters, this woman does it: I have found it out, this woman carries letters. It shall not serve your turn Prince. This woman shall carry no more letters back to your love Panthaea, by heaven she shall not, I sa she shall not. Take um away both, and together let um be prison ners, strictly and closely kept, or Sirrah your life shall answer it; and let no body speak with um hereafter. Dare you reprove it? You must be crossing me. How darest thou so often forfeit thy life, Thou knowest 'tis in my power to take it. Why? Prithee be tamer good Mardonius, Thou knowest I love thee, nay I honour thee: Believe it good old Soldier I am all thine: But I am racked clean from my self, bear with me, Woot thou bear with me good Mardonius. Welcome good Gobrius. From whom? She is in prison Gobrius, is she not? Prithee stand up, 'tis true she is too Fair, And all these commendations but her own: Would thou hadst never so commended her, Or I never lived to have herd it, Gobrius; If thou but knew of the wrong her beauty does her, Thou wouldst in pity of her be a liar: Thy ignorance has drawn me wretched man Whither my self nor thou canst well tell, Oh my Fate, I think she loves me; but I fear another Is deeper in her heart: how thinkest thou Gobrius? Alas she would be at liberty, And there be thousand reasons Gobrius That will deny it: Which if she knew, she would contentedly Be where she is and bless her virtue for it, And me though she were closer, She would Gobrius, Good man indeed she would. I will go bring her to me. Leave us then alone. For the main cause of her imprisonment Must not be herd by any but her self: You are welcome Sister, and I would to God I could so bid you by another name, If you above love not such sins as these Circle my heart with thoughts as cold as snow To quench these rising flames that harbour here. Please me, I more then all the art of Music can; Thy speech does please me, for it ever sounds As thou broughts joyful unexpected news: And yet it is not fit thou should to be herd, I prithee think so. No, do not go, For I will hear thee with a serious thought: I have collected all thats man about me Together strongly, and I am resolved To hear the largely, but I do beseech thee Do not come nearer to me, for there is Something in that that will undo us both. Yes to me. Though of thy self I think thee to be in As equal a degree of heat, r cold As Nature can make, yet as found men Convert the sweetest, and the nourishingst meats Into diseases, so shall I distempered, Do thee, I prethe draw no eerer to me. Why credit me Panthaea, credit me that am thy brother, Thy loving brother, that there is a cause Sufficient, vet unfit for thee to know, That might undo thee eum rlastingly Only to hear , wilt thou b credit this; By heaven is true, b leeu it if thou can to. Fie, you come in a step, what donc you mean Dear Sister do not so: Alas Pa thaea, Where I am, would you be, why thats the cause You are imprisoned, that you may not be Where I am. Nay it is gone, And I am left as far without a bound, As the wild Ocean that obeys the winds; Each suddai e pass on throws me as it lifts, And overwhelms all that oppose my will: I have beheld thee with a lustful eye: My heart is set on wickedness, to act Such sins with thee, as I have been afraid To think off: If thou darest consent to this, (Which I beseech thee do not) thou mayest gain Thy liberty, and yield me a content: If not thy dwelling must be dark, and close Where I may never see thee; For God knows That laid this punishment upon my pride, Thy sighed at some time will enforce my madness To make a start eye to thy ravishing: Now spit upon me, and call all reproaches Thou canst devise together; and at once Hurl um against me: for I am a sickness As killing as the plague, ready to seize thee. Farewell, and good Panthaea pray for me; Thy prayers are pure, that I may find a death, How ever soon before my passion grow, That they forget, what I desire, is sin; For thither they are tending: If that happen, Then I shall force thee, though thou Wertenberg a Virgin By vow to Heaven, and shall pull a heap Of strange yet vninuented sins upon me. Couldst How affect me then? Then I curse my birth, Must this be added to my Misery's That thou art willing too, Is there no step To our full happine see, but these mere sounds Brother and Sister. I have lived To conquer men, and now am overthrown Only by words, Brother and Sister: where Have those words dwelling? I will find um out And utterly destroy them, but they are Not to be grasp't let um be men or beasts, And I will cut um from the earth, or towns, And I will raze um, and then blow um up: Let um be Seas, and I will drink them off, And yet have unquenched fire left in my breast: Let um be any thing but merely voice Panthaea, What shall we do? shall we stand firmly here, and gaze our eyes out? Accursed man, Thou boughtest thy reason at too deer a rate; For thou haft all thy actions bounded in With curious rules, when cuerie Beast is free: What is there that acknowledges a kindred But wretched Man? Who ever saw the Bull Fearfully leave the Heifer that he liked, Because they had one Dam? Stay, we will love joust as becomes our births, No otherwise: Brother's and Sisters may Walk hand in hand together; so will we Come nearer: Is there any hurt in this? Faith theres none at all: And tell me truly now, is there not one You love above me? Yet you sent unto Tigranes Sister. And so they may Panthaea, so will we, And kiss again too; we were scrupulous And foolish, but we will be so no more. That is impossible, what should we do? So we must, away; Sin grows upon us more by this delay. It is resolved, I boar it while I could, I can no more, Hell open all thy gates, And I will through them; if they be shut, I'll batter um, but I will find the place Where the most damned have dwelling; ere I end, Amongst them all they shall not have a sin, But I may call it mine: I must begin With murder of my friend, and so go on To and incestuous ravishing, and end My life and sins with a forbidden blow Upon my self. well, is he coming? Thou answerest me one question with another, Is Gobrius coming? 'Tis well. Mark less, it troubles you and me. It may be so. And what of this? I do confess it, will that satisfy, I prithee get thee gone. Will you? Thou art not trained in sin, It seems Mardonius: kill my self, by heaven I will not do it yet; and when I will, I'll tell thee then: I shall be such a creature, That thou wilt give me leave without a word. There is a method in men wickedness, It grows up by degrees; I am not come So high as killing of my self, there are A hundred thousand sins betwixt me and it, Which I must do, I shall come toot at last; But take my oath not now, be satisfied, And get thee hence. Be sorry then, True sorrow is alone, grieve by thy self. Why so? What folly is this in thee? is it not As apt to mischief as it was before? Can I not reach it thinkest thou? these are toys For children to be pleased with, and not men; Now I am safe you think: I would the book 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 fixed decrees, and hast to make us new Far other Fortune's, mine could not be worse, Wilt thou now leave me? Go, thou art honest, Why should the hasty errors of my youth Be so unpardonable, to draw a sin Helpless upon me? Draw near thou guilty man, That art the author of the loathedst crime Five ages have brought forth, and hear me speak Curses incurable, and all the evils Men b die or his spirit can receive Be with thee. Why do I curse thee, if there be a man Subtle in curses, that exceeds the rest, His worst wish on thee. Thou hast broke my heart. 'Tis true thou didst preserve me, and in that Wertenberg crueiler then hardened murderers Of Infants and their mother's; thou didst save me Only till thou hadst studied out a way How to destroy me cunningly thy self: This was a curious way of torturing. Thou knowest the evils thou hast done to me, Dost thou remember all those witching letters Thou sentest unto me to Armenia, Filled with the praise of my beloved Sister, Where thou extolst her beauty; what had I To do with that, what could her beauty be To me, and thou didst write how well she loved me, Dost thou remember this: so that I doted Something before I saw her. Is it, and when I was returned thou knowest Thou didst pursue it, till thou woundest me into Such a strange, and unbelieved affection, As good men cannot think on. Wertenberg thou Nay more, I think thou meantest it. Be thine own sad Judge, A further condemnation will not needs: Prepare thy self to die. No, yet I will be far more merciful Then thou Wertenberg to me; thou didst steal into me, And never gavest me warning: so much time As I give thee now, had prevented thee For ever. Notwithstanding all thy sins, If thou hast hope, that there is yet a prayer To save thee, turn, and speak it to your self. I will not stay then. How? My Father? though I know it for a lie Made out of fear to save thy stained life: The very reverence of the word comes cross me, And ties mine arm down. If it should be so, As 'tis most false, and that I should be found A bastard issue, the despised fruit Of lawless lust, I should no more admire All my wild passion: but another truth Shall be wrung from thee: If I could come by The spirit of pain, it should be poured on thee, Till thou allowest thy self more full of lies Then he that teaches thee. I will turn to thee, Hear me thou Strumpet: I have blotted out The name of mother, as thou hast thy shame. Cease thou strange impudence, and answer quickly, If thou contemnest me, this will ask and answer, And have it. Gilded dare not help gilded, though they grow together In doing ill, yet at the punishment They sever, and each flies the noise of other, Think not of help, answer. To such a thing as if it be a truth, Think what a creature thou hast made thy self, That didst not shame to do, what I must blush Only to ask thee: tell me who I am, Whose son I am, without all circumstance; Be thou as hasty, as my Sword will be If thou refusest. His son? Swear, swear, thou worse then woman damned. Then art thou all that ever was known bade. Now is The cause of all my strange misfortunes come to light: What reverence expects thou from a child To bring forth which thou hast offended Heaven, Thy husband and the Land: Adulterous witch I know now why thou wouldst have poisoned me, I was thy lust which thou wouldst have forgotten: Thou wicked mother of my sins, and me, Show me the way to the inheritance I have by thee: which is a spacious world Of impious acts, that I may soon possess it: Plagues rot thee, as thou livest, and such diseases As use to pay lust, recompense thy deed. Too well: You are a pair of Vipers, and behold The Serpent you have God; there is no beast But if he knew, it has a pedigree As brave as mine, for they have more descents, And I am every way as beastly God, As far without the compass of a law, As they. No I will never hear, but talk away My breath, and die. Howe's that? Still you go on in wonders to me. I will kneel, And hear with the obedience of a child; Good Father speak, I do acknowledge you, So you bring comfort. Therefore she took leave To play the whore, because the King was old: Is this the comfort? what will you find out To give me satisfaction, when you find How you have injured me: let fire consume me, If ever I were whore. Bring it out good Father, I'll lie, and listen here as reverently As to and Angel: If I breathe too loud, Tell me; for I would be as still as night. Do I not hear it well; nay, I will make No noise at all; but pray you to the point, Quick as you can. And have you made and end now, is this all? If not, I will be still till I am aged, Till all my heirs are silver. And is it true say you Madam? Panthaea then is not my Sister. But can you prove this? If you will give consent: else who dare go about it. Give consent? Why I will have them all that know it racked To get this from um: All that waits without Come in, what ere you be come in, and be Partakers of my Joy: Oh you are welcome. Mardonius the best news, nay, draw no nearer They all shall hear it: I am found no King. Yes, the happiest news that ere was herd. On, call the Queen. The Queen Mardonius, Panthaea is the Queen, And I am plain Arbaces, go some one, She is in Gobrius house; since I saw you There are a thousand things delivered to me You little dream of. Oh not here, You may but not I, for here is my Father in presence, Why there Oh the whole story Would be a wilderness to lose thy self For ever; Oh pardon me deer Father, For all the idle, and unreverent words That I have spoke in idle moods to you: I am Arbaces, we all fellow subjects, Nor is the Queen Panthaa now my Sister. I think you did good Captain Bessus. Where is he, I know your business good Ligones, I knew that was your business, you shall have Your King again, and have him so again As never King was had. Go one of you And bid Bacurius bring Tigranes hither, And bring the Lady with him, that Panthaea The Queen Panthaa sent me word this morning Was brave Tigranes mistress. I, I, Spaconia. She is so, I could now tell any thing I never herd; your King shall go so home As never man went. He shall have Chariots easier then air That I will have invented; and never think He shall pay any ransom; and thy self That art the Messenger shall ride before him On a Horse cut out of and entire Diamond, That shall be made to go with golden wheels, I know not how yet. Grant me one request. That you will please to marry me, If I can prove it lawful. I'll kiss this hand in earnest. The Queen, Thou meanest: Oh my Tigranes pardon me, Tread on my neck I freely offer it, And if thou be'st so given; take revenge, For I have injured thee. Mayest thou be happy In thy fair choice; for thou art temperate: You owe no ransom to the state, know that; I have a thousand joys to tell you of, which yet I dare not v ter, till I pay My thanks to Heaven for um: will you go with me, and l e me; pray you do. Take then your fair one with you, and your Queen Of goodness, and of us; Oh give me leave To take your arm in mine: Come every one That takes delight in goodness, help to sing Loud thanks for me, that I am proved no King. Monstrous, I cannot be herd 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 dis harge his soul, And not I, now it is a time to speak, I harken. I pray you leave me Sirs, I'm proud of this, That they will be entreated from my sighed: why now they leave me all: Mardonius, Oh no, 'tis passed. And did you to Bacurius say as much About Tigranes? Not a word; But if thou love me, find some subtle way To make her vnsterstand by signs. Didst thou not tell me thou wouldst do it? No, let him stay Mardonius, let him stay, I have occasions with him very weighty, And I can spare you now. Sirrah you answer as you had no life. I say Sir once again Prince this cunning cannot do it. Sir it shall not serve your turn. No more, I'll credit thee; I know thou canst not lie, Thou art all truth. Why do you keep your hats off Gentlemen, Is it to me? good faith it must not be: I cannot now command you, but I pray you For the respect you bore me, when you took Me for your King, each man clap on his hat at my desire. And then thy daughter, She shall have some strange think, wele have the kingdom Sold utterly, and put into a toy. Which she shall wear about her carelessly Some where or other. See the virtuous Queen. Behold the humblest subject that you have Kneel here before you. Yes. Alas poor soul, but yet she must be ruled; J know not how I shall requite her well, I long to see her; have you sent for her, To tell her I am ready? I offer you my Sister, and you answer, I do insult: A Lady that no suit Nor treasure, nor thy Crown could purchase thee, But that thou faughst with me. There is more yet, Wilt thou be faithful to me? Nay, you shall hear the cause in short Panthaea; And when thou hearst it, thou wilt blush for me, And hang thy head down Like a Violet Full of the morning's Due: There is a way To gain thy freedom, but 'tis such a one As puts thee in worse bondage, and I know, Thou wouldst encounter fire, and make a proof Whither the Gods have care of innocents, Rather then follow it; know I have lo to The only difference betwixt man, and beast, My reason.