_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 place that yet mans curiosity
Hath mist of; there, there would I strike thee dead:
Forgotten of mankind, such Funeral rites
As beasts would give thee, thou shouldst have.
_Bes_.
The King rages extreamly, shall we slink away? He'l strike us.
_2 Gent_.
Content.
_Arb_.
There I would make you know 'twas this sole arm.
I grant you were my instruments, and did
As I commanded you, but 'twas this arm
Mov'd you like wheels, it mov'd you as it pleas'd.
Whither slip you now? what are you too good
To wait on me (_puffe_,) I had need have temper
That rule such people; I have nothing left
At my own choice, I would I might be private:
Mean men enjoy themselves, but 'tis our curse,
To have a tumult that out of their loves
Will wait on us, whether we will or no;
Go get you gone: Why here they stand like death,
My words move nothing.
_1 Gent_.
Must we go?
_Bes_. I know not.
_Arb_.
I pray you leave me Sirs, I'me proud of this,
That you will be intreated from my sight:
Why now the[y] leave me all: _Mardonius_.
[_Exeunt all but_ Arb. _and_ Mar.
_Mar_.
Sir.
_Arb_.
Will you leave me quite alone? me thinks
Civility should teach you more than this,
If I were but your friend: Stay here and wait.
_Mar_.
Sir shall I speak?
_Arb_.
Why, you would now think much
To be denied, but I can scar[c]e intreat
What I would have: do, speak.
_Mar_.
But will you hear me out?
_Arb_.
With me you Article to talk thus: well,
I will hear you out.
_Mar_.
Sir, that I have ever lov'd you, my sword hath spoken for me;
that I do, if it be doubted, I dare call an oath, a great one to
my witness; and were you not my King, from amongst men, I should
have chose you out to love above the rest: nor can this challenge
thanks, for my own sake I should have done it, because I would
have lov'd the most deserving man, for so you are.
_Arb_.
Alas _Mardonius_, rise you shall not kneel,
We all are souldiers, and all venture lives:
And where there is no difference in mens worths,
Titles are jests, who can outvalue thee?
_Mardonius_ thou hast lov'd me, and hast wrong,
Thy love is not rewarded, but believe
It shall be better, more than friend in arms,
My Father, and my Tutor, good _Mardonius_.
_Mar_.
Sir, you did promise you would hear me out.
_Arb_.
And so I will; speak freely, for from thee
Nothing can come but worthy things and true.
_Mar_.
Though you have all this worth, you hold some qualities that do
Eclipse your vertues.
_Arb_.
Eclipse my vertues?
_Mar_.
Yes, your passions, which are so manifold, that they appear even
in this: when I commend you, you hug me for that truth: but when
I speak your faults, you make a start, and flie the hearing but.
_Arb_.
When you commend me? O that I should live
To need such commendations: If my deeds
Blew not my praise themselves about the earth,
I were most wretched: spare your idle praise:
If thou didst mean to flatter, and shouldst utter
Words in my praise, that thou thoughtst impudence,
My deeds should make 'em modest: when you praise I hug
you? 'tis so [false], that wert thou worthy thou shouldst receive
a death, a glorious death from me: but thou shalt understand
thy lies, for shouldst thou praise me into Heaven, and there
leave me inthron'd, I would despise thee though as much as
now, which is as much as dust because I see thy envie.
_Mar_.
However you will use me after, yet for your own promise sake,
hear me the rest.
_Arb_.
I will, and after call unto the winds, for they shall lend as
large an ear as I to what you utter: speak.
_Mar_.
Would you but leave these hasty tempers, which
I do not say take from you all your worth, but darken 'em,
then you will shine indeed.
_Arb_.
Well.
_Mar_.
Yet I would have you keep some passions, lest men should take you
for a God, your vertues are such.
_Arb_.
Why now you flatter.
_Mar_.
I never understood the word, were you no King, and free from
these moods, should I choose a companion for wit and pleasure, it
should be you; or for honesty to enterchange my bosom with, it
should be you; or wisdom to give me counsel, I would pick out
you; or valour to defend my reputation, still I should find you
out; for you are fit to fight for all the world, if it could come
in question: Now I have spoke, consider to your self, find out a
use; if so, then what shall fall to me is not material.
_Arb_.
Is not material? more than ten such lives, as mine, _Mardonius_:
it was nobly said, thou hast spoke truth, and boldly such a truth
as might offend another. I have been too passionate and idle,
thou shalt see a swift amendment, but I want those parts you
praise me for: I fight for all the world? Give me a sword, and
thou wilt go as far beyond me, as thou art beyond in years, I
know thou dar'st and wilt; it troubles me that I should use so
rough a phrase to thee, impute it to my folly, what thou wilt, so
thou wilt par[d]on me: that thou and I should differ thus!
_Mar_.
Why 'tis no matter Sir.
_Arb_.
Faith but it is, but thou dost ever take all things I do, thus
patiently, for which I never can requite thee, but with love, and
that thou shalt be sure of. Thou and I have not been merry
lately: pray thee tell me where hadst thou that same jewel in
thine ear?
_Mar_.
Why at the taking of a Town.
_Arb_.
A wench upon my life, a wench _Mardonius_ gave thee that jewel.
_Mar_.
Wench! they respect not me, I'm old and rough, and every limb
about me, but that which should, grows stiffer, I'those
businesses I may swear I am truly honest: for I pay justly for
what I take, and would be glad to be at a certainty.
_Arb_.
Why, do the wenches encroach upon thee?
_Mar_.