_Mar_.
Um, no venture neither _Bessus_.
_Bes_.
Let me not live, if I do not think 'tis a braver piece of service
than that I'me so fam'd for.
_Mar_.
Why, art thou fam'd for any valour?
_Bes_.
Fam'd! I, I warrant you.
_Mar_.
I'me e'en heartily glad on't, I have been with thee e're since
thou cam'st to th'wars, and this is the first word that ever I
heard on't, prethee who fames thee.
_Bes_.
The Christian world.
_Mar_.
'Tis heathenishly done of'em in my conscience, thou deserv'st it
not.
_Bes_.
Yes, I ha' don good service.
_Mar_.
I do not know how thou mayst wait of a man in's Chamber, or thy
agility of shifting of a Trencher, but otherwise no service good
_Bessus_.
_Bes_.
You saw me do the service your self.
_Mar_.
Not so hasty sweet _Bessus_, where was it, is the place
vanish'd?
_Bes_.
At _Bessus_ desp'rate redemption.
_Mar_.
At _Bessus_ desp'rate redemption, where's that?
_Bes_.
There where I redeem'd the day, the place bears my name.
_Mar_.
Pray thee, who Christened it?
_Bes_.
The Souldiers.
_Mar_.
If I were not a very merrily dispos'd man, what would become of
thee? one that had but a grain of choler in the whole composition
of his body, would send thee of an errand to the worms for
putting thy name upon that field: did not I beat thee there i'th'
head o'th' Troops with a Trunchion, because thou wouldst needs
run away with thy company, when we should charge the enemy?
_Bes_.
True, but I did not run.
_Mar_.
Right _Bessus_, I beat thee out on't.
_Bes_.
But came I not up when the day was gone, and redeem'd
all?
_Mar_.
Thou knowest, and so do I, thou meanedst to flie, and thy fear
making thee mistake, thou ranst upon the enemy, and a hot charge
thou gav'st, as I'le do thee right, thou art furious in running
away, and I think, we owe thy fear for our victory; If I were the
King, and were sure thou wouldst mistake alwaies and run away
upon th' enemy, thou shouldst be General by this light.
_Bes_.
You'l never leave this till I fall foul.
_Mar_.
No more such words dear _Bessus_, for though I have ever known
thee a coward, and therefore durst never strike thee, yet if thou
proceedest, I will allow thee valiant, and beat thee.
_Bes_.
Come, our King's a brave fellow.
_Mar_.
He is so _Bessus_, I wonder how thou cam'st to know it. But if
thou wer't a man of understanding, I would tell thee, he is
vain-glorious, and humble, and angry, and patient, and merry and
dull, and joyful and sorrowful in extremity in an hour: Do not
think me thy friend for this, for if I ear'd who knew it, thou
shouldst not hear it _Bessus_. Here he is with his prey in his
foot.
_Enter &c. Senet Flourish_.
_Enter_ Arbaces _and_ Tigranes, _Two Kings and two Gentlemen_.
_Arb_.
Thy sadness brave _Tigranes_ takes away
From my full victory, am I become
Of so small fame, that any man should grieve
When I o'recome him? They that plac'd me here,
Intended it an honour large enough, (though he
For the most valiant living, but to dare oppose me single,
Lost the day. What should afflict you, you are as free as I,
To be my prisoner, is to be more free
Than you were formerly, and never think
The man I held worthy to combate me
Shall be us'd servilely: Thy ransom is
To take my only Sister to thy Wife.
A heavy one _Tigranes_, for she is
A Lady, that the neighbour Princes send
Blanks to fetch home. I have been too unkind
To her _Tigranes_, she but nine years old
I left her, and ne're saw her since, your wars
Have held me long and taught me though a youth,
The way to victory, she was a pretty child,
Then I was little better, but now fame
Cries loudly on her, and my messengers
Make me believe she is a miracle;
She'l make you shrink, as I did, with a stroak
But of her eye _Tigranes_.
_Tigr_.
Is't the course of _Iberia_ to use their prisoners thus?
Had fortune thrown my name above _Arbace_,
I should not thus have talk'd Sir, in _Armenia_
We hold it base, you should have kept your temper
Till you saw home again, where 'tis the fashion
Perhaps to brag.
_Arb_.
Be you my witness earth, need I to brag,
Doth not this captive Prince speak
Me sufficiently, and all the acts
That I have wrought upon his suffering Land;
Should I then boast! where lies that foot of ground
Within his whole Realm, that I have not past,
Fighting and conquering; Far then from me
Be ostentation. I could tell the world
How I have laid his Kingdom desolate
By this sole Arm prop't by divinity,
Stript him out of his glories, and have sent
The pride of all his youth to people graves,
And made his Virgins languish for their Loves,
If I would brag, should I that have the power
To teach the Neighbour world humility,
Mix with vain-glory?
_Mar_.
Indeed this is none.
_Arb.
_Tigranes_, Nay did I but take delight
To stretch my deeds as others do, on words,
I could amaze my hearers.
_Mar_.
So you do.
_Arb_.
But he shall wrong his and my modesty,
That thinks me apt to boast after any act
Fit for a good man to do upon his foe.
A little glory in a souldiers mouth
Is well-becoming, be it far from vain.
_Mar_.
'Tis pity that valour should be thus drunk.
_Arb_.
I offer you my Sister, and you answer
I do insult, a Lady that no suite
Nor treasure, nor thy Crown could purchase thee,
But that thou fought'st with me.
_Tigr_.
Though this be worse
Than that you spake before, it strikes me not;
But that you think to overgrace me with
The marriage of your Sister, troubles me.
I would give worlds for ransoms were they mine,
Rather than have her.
_Arb_.
See if I insult
That am the Conquerour, and for a ransom
Offer rich treasure to the Conquered,
Which he refuses, and I bear his scorn:
It cannot be self-flattery to say,
The Daughters of your Country set by her,
Would see their shame, run home and blush to death,
At their own foulness; yet she is not fair,
Nor beautiful, those words express her not,
They say her looks have something excellent,
That wants a name: yet were she odious,
Her birth deserves the Empire of the world,
Sister to such a brother, that hath ta'ne
Victory prisoner, and throughout the earth,
Carries her bound, and should he let her loose,
She durst not leave him; Nature did her wrong,
To Print continual conquest on her cheeks,
And make no man worthy for her to taste
But me that am too near her, and as strangely
She did for me, but you will think I brag.
_Mar_.
I do I'le be sworn. Thy valour and thy passions sever'd, would
have made two excellent fellows in their kinds: I know not
whether I should be sorry thou art so valiant, or so passionate,
wou'd one of 'em were away.
_Tigr_.
Do I refuse her that I doubt her worth?
Were she as vertuous as she would be thought,
So perfect that no one of her own sex
Could find a want, had she so tempting fair,
That she could wish it off for damning souls,
I would pay any ransom, twenty lives
Rather than meet her married in my bed.
Perhaps I have a love, where I have fixt
Mine eyes not to be mov'd, and she on me,
I am not fickle.
_Arb_.
Is that all the cause?
Think you, you can so knit your self in love
To any other, that her searching sight
Cannot dissolve it? So before you tri'd,
You thought your self a match for me in [f]ight,
Trust me _Tigranes_, she can do as much
In peace, as I in war, she'l conquer too,
You shall see if you have the power to stand
The force of her swift looks, if you dislike,
I'le send you 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_.