Safely forget there are such things as tears:
And you may all, whose good thoughts I have
gain'd,

Hold me unworthy, when I think my life
A sacrifice too great to keep you thus
In such a calm estate !

All. God bless your majesty!

Arb. See, all good people; I have brought the

man,

Whose very name you fear'd, a captive home. Behold him; 'tis Tigranes! In your hearts Sing songs of gladness and deliverance.

1 Cit. Out upon him!

2 Cit. How he looks.

3 Wom. Hang him, hang him! Mur. These are sweet people. Tigr. Sir, you do me wrong, To render me a scorned spectacle To common people.

Arb. It was far from me

To mean it so. If I have aught deserv'd,

My loving subjects, let me beg of you

Not to revile this prince, in whom there dwells
All worth, of which the nature of a man
Is capable; valour beyond compare:
The terror of his name has stretch'd itself
Where-ever there is sun: And yet for you
I fought with him single, and won him too.
I made his valour stoop, and brought that name,
Soar'd to so unbeliev'd a height, to fall
Beneath mine. This, inspir'd with all your loves,
I did perform; and will, for your content,
Be ever ready for a greater work.

All. The Lord bless your majesty! Tigr. So, he has made me amends now with a speech in commendation of himself: I would not be so vain-glorious.

Arb. If there be any thing in which I may Do good to any creature here, speak out;

For I must leave you: And it troubles me,
That my occasions, for the good of you,
Are such as call me from you: Else, my joy
Would be to spend my days among you all.
You shew your loves in these large multitudes
That come to meet me. I will pray for you.
Heaven prosper you, that you may know old
years,

And live to see your childrens children

Sit at your boards with plenty! When there is
A want of any thing, let it be known
To me, and I will be a father to you.
God keep you all!

[Flourish. Exeunt Kings and their Train. All. God bless your majesty, God bless your majesty!

1 Man. Come, shall we go? all's done.
Wom. Ay, for God's sake: I have not made a
fire yet.

2 Man. Away, away! all's done.
3 Man. Content. Farewell, Philip.
1 Cit Away, you halter-sack, you!

2 Man. Philip will not fight; he's afraid on's face.

Phil. Ay, marry; am I afraid of my face? 3 Man. Thou wouldst be, Philip, if thou saw'st it in a glass; it looks so like a visor.

[Exeunt the three men and woman.

1 Cit. You'll be hang'd, sirrah. Come, Philip, walk before us homewards. Did not his majesty say he had brought us home peas for all our money?

2 Cit. Yes, marry, did he.

1 Cit. They're the first I heard of this year, by my troth. I long'd for some of 'em. Did he not say, we should have some?

2 Cit. Yes, and so we shall anon, I warrant you, have every one a peck brought home to our houses. [Exeunt.

Enter ARBACES and GOBRIAS.

Arb. My sister take it ill?
Gob. Not very ill:

Something unkindly she does take it, sir,
To have her husband chosen to her hands.
Arb. Why, Gobrias, let her: I must have her
know,

My will, and not her own, must govern her.
What, will she marry with some slave at home?

Gob. Oh, she is far from any stubbornness ; You much mistake her; and, no doubt, will like Where you will have her. But, when you behold her,

You will be loth to part with such a jewel.
Arb. To part with her? Why, Gobrias, art

thou mad?

She is my sister.

Gob Šir, I know she is:

But it were pity to make poor our land, With such a beauty to enrich another.

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 are all mute and stand amazed,
Fearful to answer me. It is too true;
A decreed instant cuts off every life,
For which to mourn, is to repine. She died
A virgin though, more innocent than sleep,
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.

No more of this! Here I pronounce him traitor,
The direct plotter of my death, that names
Or thinks her for my sister: 'Tis a lye,
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 naked Indians. Come and answer me,
He that is boldest now! Is that my sister?
Mar. Oh, 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 should'st 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 sinful 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 music in a voice,
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 virtuous, I think; and he is bless'd
That is so near you as a 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'erthrow 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 so
I shall but languish 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,
you shall see it end some other way.

And

Pan. Pray Heaven it do!

Tigr. Though she to whom I swore be here, I

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 disorder'd tongue, Or I will temper it!

Spa. Blest be that breath! Tigr. Temper my tongue! Such incivilities As these no barbarous people ever knew:

You break the laws of nature, and of nations; You talk to me as if I were a prisoner

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 too: Here I acknowledgè thee

My hope, the only jewel of my life,

The best of sisters, dearer than my breath, happiness as high as I could think;

A

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'ercome,
Again thou shouldst be conquered by me.

Mar. He has one ransom with him already;
methinks, 'twere good to fight double or quit.
Arb. Away with him to prison! Now, sir, see
If my frown be regardless. Why delay you?
Seize him, Bacurius! You shall know my word
Sweeps like a wind; and all it grapples with
Are as the chaff before it.

Tigr. Justice, thou ought'st to give me strength enough

s,

To shake all these off. This is tyranny,
Arbaces, subtler than the burning bull's
Or that famed tyrant's bed. Thou mightst as well
Search i' the deep of winter through the snow
For half-starved 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 TIGRANES and BACURIUS. Spa. I ne'er rejoic'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 myself believe much of myself,
That is not in me. You did kneel to me,
Whilst 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.

Perdition light upon me!

Pan. This is better

Than if you had not frown'd; it comes to me
Like mercy at the block: And when I leave
To serve you with my life, your curse be with me!
Arb. Then thus I do salute thee; and again,
To make this knot the stronger. Paradise
Is there! It may be, you are yet in doubt;
This third kiss blots it out.-I wade in sin,
And foolishly entice myself along!
Take her away; see her a prisoner
In her own chamber closely, Gobrias!
Pan. Alas! sir, why?

Arb. I must not stay the answer. Do it!
Gob. Good Sir!

Arb. No more! Do it, I say!
Mar. This is better and better.

Pan. Yet, hear me speak.

Arb. I will not hear you speak.

Away with her! Let no man think to speak
For such a creature; for she is a witch,

A poisoner, and a traitor!

Gob. Madam, this office grieves me.

Pan. Nay, 'tis well; the king is pleased with it.
Arb. Bessus, go you along too with her. I
will prove

All this that I have said, if I may live
So long. But I am desperately sick;
For she has given me poison in a kiss:
She had it 'twixt her lips; and with her eyes
She witches people. Go, without a word!

[Exeunt GOB. PAN. BES. and SPAC. Why should You, that have made me stand in

war

Like Fate itself, cutting what threads I pleased,
Decree such an unworthy end of me,
And all my glories? What am I, alas,
That you oppose me? If my secret thoughts
Have ever harbour'd swellings against you,
They could not hurt you; and it is in you
To give me sorrow, that will render me
Apt to receive your mercy: Rather so,
Let it be rather so, than punish me
With such unmanly sins. Incest is in me
Dwelling already; and it must be holy,
That pulls it thence. Where art, Mardonius?
Mar. Here, sir.

Arb. I pray thee, bear me, if thou canst.
Am I not grown a strange weight?
Mur. As you were.
Arb. No heavier ?

Mar. No, sir.

Arb. Why, my legs

Refuse to bear my body! Oh, Mardonius,

Thou hast in field beheld me, when thou know'st

I could have gone, tho' I could never run.

Mar. And so I shall again.

Arb. Oh, no, 'tis past.

Mar. Pray you, go rest yourself.

Enter a Gentleman.

Gent. Good-morrow, captain Bessus. Bes. Good-morrow, sir,

Gent. I come to speak with you

Bes. You're very welcome.

Gent. From one that holds himself wrong'd

me,

As thou shalt hear nothing but infamy, Remember some of those things?

Mur. Yes, I will.

Arb. I pray thee do; for thou shalt never see me so again.

Enter BESSUS, alone.

[Exeunt.

Bes. They talk of Fame; I have gotten it in the wars, and will afford any man a reasonable pennyworth. Some will say, they could be content to have it, but that it is to be atchieved with danger; but my opinion is otherwise: For if I might stand still in cannon-proof, and have Fame fall upon me, I would refuse it. My reputation came principally by thinking to run away, which nobody knows but Mardonius; and, I think, he conceals it to anger me. Before I went to the wars, I came to the town a young fellow, without means or parts to deserve friends; and my empty guts persuaded me to lie, and abuse people, for my meat; which I did, and they beat me. Then would I fast two days, till my hunger cried out on me, 'Rail still: Then, methought, I had a monstrous stomach to abuse 'em again, and did it. In this state I continued, till they hung me up by th' heels, and beat me wi' hasle-sticks, as if they would have baked me, and have cozen'd some body wi' me for venison. After this I rail'd, and eat quietly: For the whole kingdom took notice of me for a baffled whip'd fellow, and what I said was remembered in mirth, but never in anger, of which I was glad. I would it were at that pass again! After this, Heaven call'd an aunt of mine, that left two hundred pounds in a cousin's hand for me; who, taking me to be a gallant young spirit, raised a company for me with the money, and sent me into Armenia with 'em. Away I would have run from them, but that I could get no company; and alone I durst

not run.

I was never at battle but once, and there I was running, but Mardonius cudgel'd me: Yet I got loose at last, but was so afraid that I saw no more than my shoulders do; but fled with my whole company amongst mine enemies, and overthrew 'em: Now the report of my valour is come over before me, and they say

was

a raw young fellow, but now I am improv'd: A plague on their eloquence! 'twill cost me many a beating; and Mardonius might help this too, if he would; for now they think to get honour on me, and all the men I have abused call me freshly to account, (worthily, as they call it) by the way of challenge.

says, is fam'd, and he doth nothing doubt but you will do him right, as beseems a soldier.

Bes. A pox on 'em, so they cry all!

Gent. And a slight note I have about me for you, for the delivery of which you must excuse me: It is an office that friendship calls upon me to do, and no way offensive to you; since I desire but right on both sides.

Bes. 'Tis a challenge, sir, is it not?
Gent. 'Tis an inviting to the field.

Bes. An inviting? Oh, cry you mercy! what a compliment he delivers it with! he might, as agreeably to my nature, present me poison with such a speech. Um, um, um- -Reputation-um, um, um-call you to account-um, um, um— forced to this-um, um, um-with my swordum, um, um—like a gentleman—um, um, um— dear to me-um, um, um-satisfaction. 'Tis very well, sir; I do accept it; but he must await an answer this thirteen weeks.

Gent. Why, sir, he would be glad to wipe off his stain as soon as he could.

Bes. Sir, upon my credit, I am already engaged to two hundred and twelve; all which must have their stains wip'd off, if that be the word, before him.

Gent. Sir, if you be truly engag'd but to one, he shall stay a competent time.

Bes. Upon my faith, sir, to two hundred and twelve: And I have a spent body, too much bruis'd in battle; so that I cannot fight, I must be plain, above three combats a-day. All the kindness I can shew him, is to set him resolvedly in my roll, the two hundred and thirteenth man, which is something: for, I tell you, I think there will be more after him than before him; I think so. Pray you commend me to him, and tell him this.

Gent. I will, sir. Good-morrow to you. [Exit Gentleman. Bes. Good-morrow, good sir. Certainly, my safest way were to print myself a coward, with a discovery how I came by my credit, and clap it upon every post. I have received above thirty challenges within this two hours: Marry, all but the first I put off with engagement; and, by good fortune, the first is no madder of fighting than I; so that that's referred. The place where it must be ended is four days journey off, and our arbitrators are these; he has chosen a gentleman in travel, and I have a special friend with a quartain ague, like to hold him this five years, for mine; and when his man comes home, we are to expect my friend's health. If they would send me challenges thus thick, as long as I liv'd, I