A King, and No King. Beaumont Francis

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