ANTIOCHUS

What is revenge but open wars, As were Antiochus a private man, And one of you king of Assyriam, I would not fail to work his overthrow, But you that are not touched with inward grief, will not in that attempt be resolute. Why this it is, feign I have iniurde thee, And offer service to the Persian king. Then being received as late Gobrias was, How eassie mayest thou slay him and escape. For in the night he walks about his camp, Without a guard even as a common man. I thought the fear of death would daunt him quite A thousand talents would I freely give, To him that undertakes this enterprise. My treasurer at arms shall give it thee, And Ctisifon when I receive his head, Beside this sum thou shalt have annual pay, As much as thy revenues mount unto, And where thou art by calling but a knight, I'll make thee Lord of many provinces. Well Ctesiphon manage this glorious act, Let me embrace him ere I take my leave. While this is doing we will march from hence, Unto the country where Gobrias dwelled, He hath a castle well replenished, with victuals, men and furniture, And as our spies gives us to understand, His only daughter stays within the hold, Not knowing of her father's late revolt, Therefore will we surprise her unawares, and thou shalt be lieutenant in his stead, when we have made his soldiers yield the fort. Bird of a traitor I presumed at last, Your lot would be to light into my hands, Although of cankered heart you would not yield, Until your castle shaked about your ears. Thy father's treason in revolting back, From endue allegiance to that Assyrian crown, I will revenge upon his daughters life. Because the plants of such corrupted stocks, will fructify according to the root, And for Gobrias treason to his prince, I will prevent Like mischiefs in his raze. So let the gods stand gracious to my soul, If he forsake those hateful Persian arms, And firm his faith and loyalty to me. Scribe give her page safe conduct through my camp, And boy when you arrive before Gobrias, Tell if he return I pardon him, If other wise, off goes his daughters head. Dinon take you this damsel to your charge, And use her nobly though she be a thrall. Dinon, thou art deceyde it is not he, These scars were given him in my father's days, And now he is dead, ere I could guerdon him The greatest honour I can do thee now, Is to lament and kiss thy liveless cheeks, And that will I perform for Dinons sake, Oh that I could revive thee with this kiss, Then she hath done this execrable fact, And so is fled unto her traitorous sire, Oh that a silly Maid should slaughter him, Which not a world of Persians could subdue, Is there no end of my calamity? My father done to death by Cyrus sword, Wicked Gobrias and his daughter fled, False Ctesiphon resolved to murder me, And now Dinon my chiefest captain slain, Why run we not upon these Persians, which are the authors of these Misery's? Come soldiers take him up and march away, Weel empty Babylon to meet our foes, And be revenged unto the ninth degree, Both of Gobrias and his family. Exeunt. No Ctesiphon unsheath thy bloody sword, And show it stained and cankered with the gore, that issued from that vaunting Persians heart. What draw man, and show thy joust conceal. thy pay is pressed in ready numbered gold, Thy going was to compass Cyrus death. How haps thy purpose ends without effect? In case the Persian prince be so inclined, thy answer shall less offend my mind. This bearer continued ̄ ming to my camp armed with resolution to kill me, and entreated more honorably then either his treachery or thine could deserve. Apprehend Ctesiphon. What answer makes traitorous Ctesiphon? Such mercy as to traitors does belong, Such, and no better Ctesiphon shall find, Disarm him of his martial abiliment. Disgrade him of all titles of regard, And then refer his attachment to your prince, Thou art no man of honour nor of arms, Thou hast no title of Gentility, Nor style of honour, left hereof to vaunt, But art become inferior of regard. Then is the basest bondman of Assyriam, Or vilest slave that haunts the Lidian dams. r Aaspas though thy birth and parentage, Seem deadly to the Assyrian ears, Being descended of our chiefest foes, who purchased gentry by our overthrow, And in their insignes bear the Assyrian arms, Yet seeing thou comest as confederate, In token that I love and honour thee, Receive this sword, and fight courageously. What Panthea, Abradates wife? Speak not of Panthea if thou love me, For her remembrance wounds my heart afresh, Then see thou make as deep wounds in his flesh, And so cry quittance with the covetous king, I give thee to this sword, armour and horse, a horse as fierce as proud Bucephalus, armour of trustier proof then Thetis found, Therefore Araspas fight courageously. Thy words Araspas tise me to the field, and makes me think I shall be conqueror, Come let us march from wealthy Babylon, and then towards Cyrus with our royal camp. Exeunt. Now that Gobrias fortress is our own, His daughter prisoner, and his Country burned, Lets march from hence to wealthy Babylon. And muster those resolved Citizens, To meet the Persian in the open field, Twice hath he led his forces by our gates, Yet never durst to mount his battering Ram, Or warlike engine against the rampred walls, Therefore we he no more in garrison, But bussell out and fight for liberty, How long will I lament my father's death? Until proud Persia weep for Cyrus death.