SELEUCUS

Save you Gentlemen, who can direct me To find my Lord Protector? There let him compliment, I have other business, would? Arcadius! Madam to reconcile two families That may unite, both counsels and their blood To serve your Crown. But I'll propound a way to plant a quiet And peace in both our houses, which are torn With their dissensions, and loose that glory Of their great names, my blood speaks my relation To Eubulus, and I wish my veins were emptied To appease their war. In such a desperate cause, a little stream Of blood might purge the foulness of their hearts If yowl prevent a deluge. Let but your Majesty consent, that two May with their personal valour undertake The honour of their family, and determine Their diff rence. Not if both families Agree, and swear— I beg the honour, for Eubulus cause To be engaged, if any for Macarius, Worthy to wager heart with mine, accept it, I am confident, Arcadius For honour would direct to his sword, Will not deny, to stake against my life His own, if you vouchsafe us privilege. Is this Character Bestowed on him? Some catch? You are my Sovereign, I dare not think, yet I must speak somewhat, I shall burst else, I have no skill in jigges, Nor . Nor was I born a Minstrel, and in this you have So infinitely disgraced Arcadius, But that I have herd another Character, And with your royal licence do believe it, I should not think him worth my killing. Does she not jeer ̄ me; I shall talk treason presently, I find it At my tongues end already, this is and Affront, I'll leave her. I would changed but little breath with him, our persons Admit no familiarity, we were Born to live both at distance, yet I would see ̄ ne him Fight, and fight bravely. Although he be my enemy, should any Of the gay flies that buzz about the Court, Fit to catch trouts ith summer, tell me so, I durst in any presence but your own. Tell him he were not honest. You are gracious. With much ado . Madam, my father says I have offended, If so, I beg your pardon, but beseech you For your own glory call not back your word. I have received another life in this high favour, And may loose what nature gave me. I'll forfeit My he ̄ and for a rebellion then suffer it. Is this to be believed? Where your son my Lord? I would ask him a question. Whither the Queen As 'tis reported, loved him, he can tell Whither she promised what they talk of, marriage, She did promise? Then she's a woman, and your son; Not worthy his blood, and expectation, If he be calm. I would cut the throat. The destinies, that's all your pardon sir, I am Seleucus still, a poor shadow Oth' world, a walking picture, it concerns Not me, I am forgotten by my stars. Whom? Me? I cannot dance, and friendship ke with endue activity, My body is le worser, I have too much phleame, what should I do with a Kingdom? no Arcadius Becomes the cushion, and can please, yet setting Aside the trick that Ladies of blood look at, Another man might ma e a shift to wear Rich clothes, fit in the cham re of state, and nod, Dare venture on discourse, that does not trench On compliment, and think the study of arms And arts, more commendable in a Gentleman Than any galliard. We? yes, o yes, But 'tis not manners now to say we are friends, At our equality there had been reason, But now, subjection is the word. make no oath upont, My Lord Lisimachus, A word. you e not be angry if I love you, May not a bachelor be made a cuckold? Hark you, can you tell Where's the best Dancing-master? and you mean To rise at Court, practice to caper, farewell The noble science, that makes work for cutlers, It will be out of fashion to wear swords, Masques, and devices welcome, I salute you. Is it not pity any division Should be herd ou of Music? O 'twill be And excellent age of crotchets; and of Canters. Buy Captains that Like fools will spend your blood Out of your Country, you will be of less Use then your feathers, if you return unmanned You shall be beaten soon to a new march, When you shall think it a discretion To fell your glorious buffs to buy fine pumps, And pantables, this is I hope no treason. Fine stuff. Would, would, can you endure it Gentlemen? Nay ask him what he means, mine is a down Right laugh. The morning is more modest then thy praises, What a thing does he make her? Would, would. It I Madam. Yes sir, 'twas I that laughed. At nothing. I needs not, it punishment Enough to hear him make and Idol of you, he left Out the commendation of your patience, I was a little Moved in my nature to hear his codomontados, and Make a monster of his Mistress, which I pitied first, But seeing him proceed, I guest he brought you Mirth with his inventions, and so made bold to laugh at it. I wood not owe my life so poorly, beg thy own When you are King you cannot bribe your destiny. It's charity, A way will me, 'boy Madam? Why was I born to be a subject? it's Soon answered, sure my Father was no Prince, Thats all, the same ingredience use to make A man, as active, though not royal blood Went to my composition, and I Was got with as good a will perhaps, And my birth cost my mother as much sorrow, As I had been born and Emperor. 'Tis but a name, And mere opinion, that prefers one man Above another, I'll imagine that n I am a P rince, or some brave thing on earth, And see what follows, but it must not be My fingle voice will carry it, the name Of King must be attended with a troop Of acclamations, on whose airy Wings He mounts, and once exalted threatens Heaven, And all the stars: how to acquire this noise, And be the thing I talk of, men have rise From a more cheap nobility to Empires, From dark originals, and sordid blood, Nay some that had no father's, sons of the earth, And flying people, have aspired to Kingdoms, Made nations tremble, any have practised frowns To awe the world, their memory is glorious, And I would hug them in their shades, but whats All this to me; that am I know not what, And less in expectation? Arcadius was once as far from being As I, and had we not so cunningly Been reconciled, or one, or both had gone To seek our Fortune's in another world; What's the devi e now? If my death be next, The summons shall not make me once look pale. How? You do not more ke me Gentlemen, You are my father sir. What's the mystery? King of what? Although the Queen since she sent me hither Were gone to Heaven I know not how That title could devolve to me. Thank you Gentlemen, There's hope for me. With Arcadius, If yowl make stakes, my life against his crown, I'll fight with him, and you, and your fine son, And all the Courtiers one after another. I am of your Lordship's mind, so fare you well What? that you have betrayed me, Do, tell your King, my life is grown a burden, And I'll confess, and make your souls look pale, To see how nimble mine shall leap this battlement Of flesh, and dying, laugh at your poor malice. Arcadius, you say, is lawful King, And now to depose him, you would make me And elder brother, is't not so? Nay, right or wrong, if this be your true meaning. I'll venture mine, but with your pardon, Whose brain was this? from whom took this plot life? And you are of his mind? and you? and think This may be done? Undertake it? I am not used to compliment, I'll owe My life to you, my Fortune's to your Lordship, Compose me as you please, and when y'ave made Me what you promise, you shall both divide Me equally, one word my Lord, I had rather Live in the prison still, then be a propency To advance his politic ends. Who dares call treason sin, when it sueceeds? Leonatus, who's that? It is our pleasure The number of our guard be doubled, give A Largess to the Soldiers; but dismiss not The troops till we command. It will not please us otherwise, my Lord, We have tried your faith, My Lords, and Gentlemen, to whose faith we must Owe next to heaven our fortune, and our safety, After a tedious eclipse, the day Is bright, and we invested in those honours, Our blood, and birth did challenge. Let them whose titles forged and flawed suspect Their states security, our right to Epire, Heaven is obliged to prosper, to eason has No face so black to fright it, all my cares Level to this, that I may worthily Manage the province, and advance the honour Of our deer Country, and be confident, If and expense of blood, may give addition Of any happiness to you, I shall Offer my heart the sacrifice, and rejo e To make my self a ghost, to have inscribed Upon my marble, but whose cause I died for. You are pleased to interpret well, Yet give me leave to say in my own justice, I have but expressed the promptness of my soul To serve you all, but 'tis not empty wishes Can satisfy our mighty charge, a weight Would make and Atlas double, a Kings name Does found harmoniously to men at distance, And those who cannot penetrate beyond The bark, and outskinne of a common wealth, Or state, have eyes but ravished with the Ceremony That must attend a Prince, and understand not What cares allay the glories of a Crown, But good Kings find and feel the contrary, You have tried, my Lord the burden, and can tell It would require a Pilot of more years To steer this Kingdom, now imposed on me, By justice of my birth. And choose you our protector, Is't that you would conclude my Lord? We will Deserve our Subject's faith for our own sake, Not fit and idle gazer at the helm With what news travails his hast? I must secure My self betimes, not be a King in jest, And wear my crown a tenant to their breath. Plant forces to batter The walls, and in their ruin bring us word They live not. Who dares but think it? Yet offer first our mercy, if they yield, Demetrius must not live, my Lord your counsel, What if he were in heaven? Sophia is Not my sister, To prevent all that may endanger us, we'll marry her That done no matter though we stand discovered, For in her title then we are King of Epire, Without dispute. Whats your opinion? Whats that you mutter sir? Best say I am no King, but some impostor Raised up to gull the state. Our guard, to prison with him, Off with his head. We allow it. Convey him to the sanctuary of rebels, Nestorius house, where our proud brother has Enscon worser himself, theyle entertain him lovingly, He will be a good addition to the traitors, Obey me or you die for't, what are Kings When Subject's dare affrout em. Away with him, when Kings Frown, let offenders tremble, this flows not From any cruelty in my nature, but The fate of and usurper, he that will Be confirmed great without just title to it, Must loose compassion, know whats good, not do it. No more, least you destroy again Leonatus With wonder of his fate, are they not come yet? Something it was, I felt within my envy Of young Demetrius fortune, there were seeds Scattered upon my heart, that made it swell With thought of Empire, Princes I see cannot Be totally eclipsed, but wherefore stays Demetrius, and Sophia, at whose names A gentle spirit walked upon my blood. Then thus I fly into their bosoms, Nature has rectified in me Demetrius, The wanderings of ambition, our deer sister You are amazed, I did expect it, read Assurance there, the day is big with wonder, Lisimachus, be deer to us, Cassandra, you are welcome too. Sophia, you appear sad, as if your will Gave no consent to this days happiness. Another Mistress. And does our sister love Lisimachus? He must not dare To affront Sophia. Your penance shall be, to be faithful To our state hereafter. But where's your other Mistress? You have deceived her happily, Joy to you both. Heaven pour full joys upon you. My mistress, And wife shall be my Country, to which I Was in my birth contracted, your love since Hath played the Priest to perfect what was Ceremony Though Kingdoms, by just tkes prove our own, The Subject's hearts do secure a Crown. They are too slow, dispatch new messengers, To entreatem fairly hither, I am extasied, Were you witness for me too, is it possible I am what this affirms true Leonatus And were you not my father, was I given In trust to you and Infant? Our sister? is this another Mistress sir?