_Mar_.
I may have neede of you, and then this curtesie,
If it be any, is not ill bestowed:
But may I civilly desire the rest?
I shall not be a hurter, if no helper.
_Lig_.
Sir, you shall know I have lost a foolish daughter,
And with her all my patience; pilferd away
By a meane Captaine of your Kings.
_Mar_.
Stay there Sir:
If he have reacht the noble worth of Captaine,
He may well claime a worthy gentlewoman,
Though shee were yours, and noble.
_Lig_.
I grant all that too: but this wretched fellow
Reaches no further then the emptie name,
That serves to feede him; were he valiant,
Or had but in him any noble nature,
That might hereafter promise him a good man;
My cares were something lighter, and my grave
A span yet from me.
_Mar_.
I confesse such fellowes
Be in all royall Campes, and have, and must be
To make the sinne of coward more detested
In the meane Souldier, that with such a foyle
Sets of much valour: By description
I should now guesse him to you. It was _Bessus_,
I dare almost with confidence pronounce it.
_Lig_.
Tis such a scurvy name as _Bessus_, and now I thinke tis hee.
_Mar_.
Captaine, doe you call him?
Beleeve me Sir, you have a miserie
Too mighty for your age: A pox upon him,
For that must be the end of all his service:
Your daughter was not mad Sir?
_Lig_.
No, would shee had beene,
The fault had had more credit: I would doe something.
_Mar_.
I would faine counsell you; but to what I know not:
Hee's so below a beating, that the women
Find him not worthy of their distaves; and
To hang him, were to cast away a rope,
Hee's such an ayrie thin unbodied coward,
That no revenge can catch him:
He tell you Sir, and tell you truth; this rascall
Feares neither God nor man, has beene so beaten:
Sufferance has made him wanscote; he has had
Since hee was first a slave, at least three hundred daggers
Set in his head, as little boyes doe new knives in hot meat;
Ther's not a rib in's bodie a my conscience,
That has not beene thrice broken with drie beating;
And now his sides looke like to wicker targets,
Everie way bended:
Children will shortly take him for a wall,
And set their stone-bowes in his forhead: is of so low a sence,
I cannot in a weeke imagine what should be done to him.
_Lig_.
Sure I have committed some great sinne,
That this strange fellow should be made my rod:
I would see him, but I shall have no patience:
_Mar_.
Tis no great matter if you have not, if a laming of him, or such
a toy may doe you pleasure Sir, he has it for you, and Ile helpe
you to him: tis no newes to him to have a leg broke, or a
shoulder out, with being turnd ath' stones like a Tanzie: Draw
not your sword, if you love it; for my conscience his head will
breake it: we use him ith' warres like a Ramme to shake a wall
withall; here comes the verie person of him, doe as you shall
find your temper I must leave you: but if you doe not breake him
like a bisket, you are much too blame Sir. _Ex. Mardo. Enter
Bessus and Sword-men_.
_Lig_.
Is your name Bessus?
_Bes_.
Men call me Captaine Bessus.
_Lig_.
Then Captaine _Bessus_ you are a ranke rascall, without more
exordiums, a durty frozen slave; and with the favour of your
friends here, I will beate you.
_2_.
Pray use your pleasure Sir, you seem to be a gentleman.
_Lig_.
Thus Captaine _Bessus_, thus; thus twinge your nose, thus kicke
you, and thus tread you.
_Bess_.