A King, and No King. Beaumont Francis
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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