A King, and No King by Francis Beaumont & John Fletcher (ebook smartphone .txt) 📕

and talk neglected thus; A tree would find a tongue to answer her, Did she but give it such a lov'd respect.

Arb.

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 sute to me? it shall be granted, yet the time is short, and my affairs are great: but where's my Sister? I bade she should be brought.

Mar.

What, is he mad?

Arb.

Gobrias, where is she?

Gob.

Sir.

Arb.

Where is she man?

Gob.

Who, Sir?

Arb.

Who, hast thou forgot my Sister?

Gob.

Your Sister, Sir?

Arb.

Your Sister, Sir? some one that hath a wit, answer, where is she?

Gob.

Do you not see her there?

Arb.

Where?

Gob.

There.

Arb.

There, where?

Mar.

S'light, there, are you blind?

Arb.

Which do you mean, that little one?

Gob.

No Sir.

Arb.

No Sir? why, do you mock me? I can see No other here, but that petitioning Lady.

Gob.

That's she.

Arb.

Away.

Gob.

Sir, it is she.

Arb.

'Tis false.

Gob.

Is it?

Arb.

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; And do not think to cozen me with this: I see you all are mute and stand amaz'd, Fearful to answer me; it is too true, A decreed instant cuts off ev'ry life, For which to mourn, is to repine; she dy'd A Virgin, though more innocent than sheep, 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.

Gob.

Do not mistake, And vex your self for nothing; for her death Is a long life off, I hope: 'Tis she, And if my speech deserve not faith, lay death Upon me, and my latest words shall force A credit from you.

Arb.

Which, good Gobrias? that Lady dost thou mean?

Gob.

That Lady Sir, She is your Sister, and she is your Sister That loves you so, 'tis she for whom I weep, To see you use her thus.

Arb.

It cannot be.

Tigr.

Pish, this is tedious, I cannot hold, I must present my self, And yet the sight of my Spaconia Touches me, as a sudden thunder-clap Does one that is about to sin.

Arb.

Away, No more of this; here I pronounce him Traytor, 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 ever, I create her none: And which of you can question this? My power Is like the Sea, that is to be obey'd, And not disputed with: I have decreed her As far from having part of blood with me, As the nak'd indians; come and answer me, He that is boldest now; is that my Sister?

Mar.

O this is fine.

Bes.

No marry, she is not, an't please your Majesty, I never thought she was, she's nothing like you.

Arb.

No 'tis true, she is not.

Mar.

Thou shou'dst be hang'd.

Pan.

Sir, I will speak but once; by the same power You make my blood a stranger unto yours, You may command me dead, and so much love A stranger may importune, pray you do; If this request appear too much to grant, Adopt me of some other Family, By your unquestion'd word; else I shall live Like sinfull issues that are left in streets By their regardless Mothers, and no name Will be found for me.

Arb.

I will hear no more, Why should there be such musick in a voyce, 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 vertuous I think, and he is blest That is so near you as my brother is; But you are nought to me but a disease; Continual torment without hope of ease; Such an ungodly sickness I have got, That he that undertakes my cure, must first O'rethrow Divinity, all moral Laws, And leave mankind as unconfin'd as beasts, Allowing 'em to do all actions As freely as they drink when they desire. Let me not hear you speak again; yet see I shall but lang[u]ish 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, Here's one within will labour for you both.

Pan.

I would I were past speaking.

Gob.

Fear not Madam, The King will alter, 'tis some sudden rage, And you shall see it end some other way.

Pan.

Pray heaven it do.

Tig.

Though she to whom I swore, be here, I cannot Stifle my passion longer; if my father Should rise again disquieted with this, And charge me to forbear, yet it would out. Madam, a stranger, and a pris'ner begs To be bid welcome.

Pan.

You are welcome, Sir, I think, but if you be not, 'tis past me To make you so: for I am here a stranger, Greater than you; we know from whence you come, But I appear a lost thing, and by whom Is yet uncertain, found here i'th' Court, And onely suffer'd to walk up and down, As one not worth the owning.

Spa.

O, I fear Tigranes will be caught, he looks, me-thinks, As he would change his eyes with her; some help There is above for me, I hope.

Tigr.

Why do you turn away, and weep so fast, And utter things that mis-become your looks, Can you want owning?

Spa.

O 'tis certain so.

Tigr.

Acknowledge your self mine.

Arb.

How now?

Tigr.

And then see if you want an owner.

Arb.

They are talking.

Tigr.

Nations shall owne you for their Queen.

Arb.

Tigranes, art not thou my prisoner?

Tigr.

I am.

Arb.

And who is this?

Tigr.

She is your Sister.

Arb.

She is so.

Mar.

Is she so again? that's well.

Arb.

And then how dare you offer to change words with her?

Tigr.

Dare do it! Why? you brought me hither Sir, To that intent.

Arb.

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.

Spa.

Blest be the breath.

Tigr.

Temper my tongue! such incivilities As these, no barbarous people ever knew: You break the lawes of Nature, and of Nations, You talk to me as if I were a prisoner For theft: my tongue be temper'd? I must speak If thunder check me, and I will.

Arb.

You will?

Spa.

Alas my fortune.

Tigr.

Do not fear his frown, dear Madam, hear me.

Arb.

Fear not my frown? but that 'twere base in me To fight with one I know I can o'recome, Again thou shouldst be conquer'd by me.

Mar.

He has one ransome with him already; me-thinks 'T were good to fight double, or quit.

Arb.

Away with him to prison: Now Sir, see If my frown be regardless; Why delay you? Seise him Bacurius, you shall know my word Sweeps like a wind, and all it grapples with, Are as the chaffe before it.

Tigr.

Touch me not.

Arb.

Help there.

Tigr.

Away.

1 Gent.

It is in vain to struggle.

2 Gent.

You must be forc'd.

Bac.

Sir, you must pardon us, we must obey.

Arb.

Why do you dally there? drag him away By any thing.

Bac.

Come Sir.

Tigr.

Justice, thou ought'st to give me strength enough To shake all these off; This is tyrannie, Arbaces, sutler than the burning Bulls, Or that fam'd Titans bed. Thou mightst as well Search i'th' deep of Winter through the snow For half starv'd people, to bring home with thee, To shew 'em fire, and send 'em back again, As use me thus.

Arb.

Let him be close, Bacurius.

[Exeunt Tigr. And Bac.

Spa.

I ne're rejoyc'd at any ill to him, But this imprisonment: what shall become Of me forsaken?

Gob.

You will not let your Sister Depart thus discontented from you, Sir?

Arb.

By no means Gobrias, I have done her wrong, And made my self believe much of my self, That is not in me: You did kneel to me, Whilest I stood stubborn and regardless by, And like a god incensed, gave no ear To all your prayers: behold, I kneel to you, Shew a contempt as large as was my own, And I will suffer it, yet at the last forgive me.

Pan.

O you wrong me more in this, Than in your rage you did: you mock me now.

Arb.

Never forgive me then, which is the worst Can happen to me.

Pan.

If you be in earnest, Stand up and give me but a gentle look, And two kind words, and I shall be in heaven.

Arb.

Rise you then to hear; I acknowledge thee My hope, the only jewel of my life, The best of Sisters, dearer than my breath, A happiness as high as I could think; And when my actions call thee otherwise, Perdition