A King, and No King by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher
F >>
Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher >> A King, and No King
Pages:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 | 5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9
_2_.
You cannot hang too much Sir, for your honour,
But to your cause.
_Bes_.
Be wise, and speak truth, my first doubt is,
My beating by my Prince.
_1_.
Stay there a little Sir, do you doubt a beating?
Or have you had a beating by your Prince?
_Bes_.
Gentlemen o'th' Sword, my Prince has beaten me.
_2_.
Brother, what think you of this case?
_1_.
If he has beaten him, the case is clear.
_2_.
If he have beaten him, I grant the case;
But how? we cannot be too subtil in this business,
I say, but how?
_Bes_.
Even with his Royal hand.
_1_.
Was it a blow of love, or indignation?
_Bes_.
'Twas twenty blows of indignation, Gentlemen,
Besides two blows o'th face.
_2_.
Those blows o'th' face have made a new cause on't,
The rest were but an horrible rudeness.
_1_.
Two blows o'th' face, and given by a worse man, I must confess,
as the Sword-men say, had turn'd the business: Mark me brother,
by a worse man; but being by his Prince, had they been ten, and
those ten drawn teeth, besides the hazard of his nose for ever;
all this had been but favours: this is my flat opinion, which
I'le die in.
_2_.
The King may do much Captain, believe it; for had he crackt your
Scull through, like a bottle, or broke a Rib or two with tossing
of you, yet you had lost no honour: This is strange you may
imagine, but this is truth now Captain.
_Bes_.
I will be glad to embrace it Gentlemen;
But how far may he strike me?
_1_.
There is another: a new cause rising from the time and distance,
in which I will deliver my opinion: he may strike, beat, or cause
to be beaten: for these are natural to man: your Prince, I say,
may beat you, so far forth as his dominion reacheth, that's for
the distance; the time, ten miles a day, I take it.
_2_.
Brother, you err, 'tis fifteen miles a day,
His stage is ten, his beatings are fifteen.
_Bes_.
'Tis the longest, but we subjects must--
_1_.
Be subject to it; you are wise and vertuous.
_Bes_.
Obedience ever makes that noble use on't,
To which I dedicate my beaten body;
I must trouble you a little further, Gentlemen o'th' Sword.
_2_.
No trouble at all to us Sir, if we may
Profit your understanding, we are bound
By vertue of our calling to utter our opinions,
Shortly, and discreetly.
_Bes_.
My sorest business is, I have been kick'd.
_2_.
How far Sir?
_Bes_.
Not to flatter my self in it, all over, my sword forc'd but not
lost; for discreetly I rendred it to save that imputation.
_1_.
It shew'd discretion, the best part of valour.
_2_.
Brother, this is a pretty cause, pray ponder on't;
Our friend here has been kick'd.
_1_.
He has so, brother.
_2_.
Sorely he saies: Now, had he set down here
Upon the meer kick, 't had been Cowardly.
_1_.
I think it had been Cowardly indeed.
_2_.
But our friend has redeem'd it in delivering
His sword without compulsion; and that man
That took it of him, I pronounce a weak one,
And his kicks nullities.
He should have kick'd him after the delivering
Which is the confirmation of a Coward.
_1_.
Brother, I take it, you mistake the question;
For, say that I were kick'd.
_2_.
I must not say so;
Nor I must not hear it spoke by the tongue of man.
You kick'd, dear brother! you're merry.
_1_.
But put the case I were kick'd?
_2_.
Let them put it that are things weary of their lives, and know
not honour; put the case you were kick'd?
_1_.
I do not say I was kickt.
_2_.
Nor no silly creature that wears his head without a Case, his
soul in a Skin-coat: You kickt dear brother?
_Bes_.
Nay Gentlemen, let us do what we shall do,
Truly and honest[l]y; good Sirs to the question.
_1_.
Why then I say, suppose your Boy kick't, Captain?
_2_.
The Boy may be suppos'd is liable.
_1_.
A foolish forward zeal Sir, in my friend;
But to the Boy, suppose the Boy were kickt.
_Bes_.
I do suppose it.
_1_.
Has your Boy a sword?
_Bes_.
Surely no; I pray suppose a sword too.
_1_.
I do suppose it; you grant your Boy was kick't then.
_2_.
By no means Captain, let it be supposed still; the word grant,
makes not for us.
_1_.
I say this must be granted.
_2_
This must be granted brother?
_1_.
I, this must be granted.
_2_.
Still this must?
_1_.
I say this must be granted.
_2_.
I, give me the must again, brother, you palter.
_1_.
I will not hear you, wasp.
_2_.
Brother, I say you palter, the must three times together; I wear
as sharp Steel as another man, and my Fox bites as deep, musted,
my dear brother. But to the cause again.
_Bes_.
Nay look you Gentlemen.
_2_.
In a word, I ha' done.
_1_.
A tall man but intemperate, 'tis great pity;
Once more suppose the Boy kick'd.
_2_.
Forward.
_1_.
And being thorowly kick'd, laughs at the kicker.
_2_
So much for us; proceed.
_1_.
And in this beaten scorn, as I may call it,
Delivers up his weapon; where lies the error?
_Bes_.
It lies i'th' beating Sir, I found it four dayes since.
_2_.
The error, and a sore one as I take it,
Lies in the thing kicking.
_Bes_.
I understand that well, 'tis so indeed Sir.
_1_.
That is according to the man that did it.
_2_.
There springs a new branch, whose was the foot?
_Bes_.
A Lords.
_1_.
The cause is mighty, but had it been two Lords,
And both had kick'd you, if you laugh, 'tis clear.
_Bes_.
I did laugh,
But how will that help me, Gentlemen?
_2_.
Yes, it shall help you if you laught aloud.
_Bes_.
As loud as a kick'd man could laugh, I laught Sir.
_1_.
My reason now, the valiant man is known
By suffering and contemning; you have
Enough of both, and you are valiant.
_2_.
If he be sure he has been kick'd enough:
For that brave sufferance you speak of brother,
Consists not in a beating and away,
But in a cudgell'd body, from eighteen
To eight and thirty; in a head rebuk'd
With pots of all size, degrees, stools, and bed-staves,
This showes a valiant man.
_Bes_.
Then I am valiant, as valiant as the proudest,
For these are all familiar things to me;
Familiar as my sleep, or want of money,
All my whole body's but one bruise with beating,
I think I have been cudgell'd with all nations,
And almost all Religions.
_2_.
Embrace him brother, this man is valiant,
I know it by my self, he's valiant.
_1_.
Captain, thou art a valiant Gentleman,
To bide upon, a very valiant man.
_Bes_.
My equall friends o'th'Sword, I must request your hands to this.
_2_.
'Tis fit it should be.
_Bes_.
Boy, get me some wine, and pen and Ink within:
Am I clear, Gentlemen?
_1_.
Sir, the world has taken notice what we have done,
Make much of your body, for I'll pawn my steel,
Men will be coyer of their legs hereafter.
_Bes_.
I must request you goe along and testife to the Lord _Bacurius_,
whose foot has struck me, how you find my cause.
_2_.
We will, and tell that Lord he must be rul'd,
Or there are those abroad, will rule his Lordship.
[_Exeunt_.
_Enter_ Arbaces _at one door, and_ Gob. _and_ Panthea _at
another_.
_Gob_.
Sir, here's the Princess.
_Arb_.
Leave us then alone,
For the main cause of her imprisonment
Must not be heard by any but her self.
[_Exit_ Gob.
You're welcome Sister, and would to heaven
I could so bid you by another name:
If you above love not such sins as these,
Circle my heart with thoughts as cold as snow
To quench these rising flames that harbour here.
_ [P]an_.
Sir, does it please you I should speak?
_Arb_.
Please me?
I, more than all the art of musick can,
Thy speech doth please me, for it ever sounds,
As thou brought'st joyfull unexpected news;
And yet it is not fit thou shouldst be heard.
I pray thee think so.
_Pan_.
Be it so, I will.
Am I the first that ever had a wrong
So far from being fit to have redress,
That 'twas unfit to hear it? I will back
To prison, rather than disquiet you,
And wait till it be fit.
_Arb_.
No, do not goe;
For I will hear thee with a serious thought:
I have collected all that's man about me
Together strongly, and I am resolv'd
To hear thee largely, but I do beseech thee,
Do not come nearer to me, for there is
Something in that, that will undoe us both.
_Pan_.
Alas Sir, am I venome?
_Arb_.
Yes, to me;
Though of thy self I think thee to be
In equall degree of heat or cold,
As nature can make: yet as unsound men
Convert the sweetest and the nourishing'st meats
Into diseases; so shall I distemper'd,
Do thee, I pray thee draw no nearer to me.
_Pan_.
Sir, this is that I would: I am of late
Shut from the world, and why it should be thus,
Is all I wish to know.
_Arb_.
Why credit me _Panthea_,
Credit me that am thy brother,
Thy loving brother, that there is a cause
Sufficient, yet unfit for thee to know,
That might undoe thee everlastingly,
Only to hear, wilt thou but credit this?
By Heaven 'tis true, believe it if thou canst.
_Pan_.
Children and fools are ever credulous,
And I am both, I think, for I believe;
If you dissemble, be it on your head;
I'le back unto my prison: yet me-thinks
I might be kept in some place where you are;
For in my self, I find I know not what
To call it, but it is a great desire
To see you often.
_Arb_.
Fie, you come in a step, what do you mean?
Dear sister, do not so: Alas _Panthea_,
Where I am would you be? Why that's the cause
You are imprison'd, that you may not be
Where I am.
_Pan_.
Then I must indure it Sir, Heaven keep you.
_Arb_.
Nay, you shall hear the case in short _Panthea_,
And when thou hear'st it, thou wilt blush for me,
And hang thy head down like a Violet
Full of the mornings dew: There is a way
To gain thy freedome, but 'tis such a one
As puts thee in worse bondage, and I know,
Thou wouldst encounter fire, and make a proof
Whether the gods have care of innocence,
Rather than follow it: Know that I have lost,
The only difference betwixt man and beast,
My reason.
_Pan_.
Heaven forbid.
_Arb_.
Nay 'tis gone;
And I am left as far without a bound,
As the wild Ocean, that obeys the winds;
Each sodain passion throwes me where it lists,
And overwhelms all that oppose my will:
I have beheld thee with a lustfull eye;
My heart is set on wickedness to act
Such sins with thee, as I have been afraid
To think of, if thou dar'st consent to this,
Which I beseech thee do not, thou maist gain
Thy liberty, and yield me a content;
If not, thy dwelling must be dark and close,
Where I may never see thee; For heaven knows
That laid this punishment upon my pride,
Thy sight at some time will enforce my madness
To make a start e'ne to thy ravishing;
Now spit upon me, and call all reproaches
Thou canst devise together, and at once
Hurle'em against me: for I am a sickness
As killing as the plague, ready to seize thee.
_Pan_.
Far be it from me to revile the King:
But it is true, that I shall rather choose
To search out death, that else would search out me,
And in a grave sleep with my innocence,
Than welcome such a sin: It is my fate,
To these cross accidents I was ordain'd,
And must have patience; and but that my eyes
Have more of woman in 'em than my heart,
I would not weep: Peace enter you again.
_Arb_.
Farwell, and good _Panthea_ pray for me,
Thy prayers are pure, that I may find a death
However soon before my passions grow
That they forget what I desire is sin;
For thither they are tending: if that happen,
Then I shall force thee tho' thou wert a Virgin
By vow to Heaven, and shall pull a heap
Of strange yet uninvented sin upon me.
_Pan_.
Sir, I will pray for you, yet you shall know
It is a sullen fate that governs us,
For I could wish as heartily as you
I were no sister to you, I should then
Imbrace your lawfull love, sooner than health.
_Arb_.
Couldst thou affect me then?
_Pan_.
So perfectly,
That as it is, I ne're shall sway my heart,
To like another.
_Arb_.
Then I curse my birth,
Must this be added to my miseries
That thou art willing too? is there no stop
To our full happiness, but these meer sounds
Brother and Sister?
_Pan_.
There is nothing else,
But these alas will separate us more
Than twenty worlds betwixt us.
_Arb_.
I have liv'd
To conquer men and now am overthrown
Only by words Brother and Sister: where
Have those words dwelling? I will find 'em out,
And utterly destroy 'em; but they are
Not to be grasp'd: let 'em be men or beasts,
And I will cut 'em from the Earth, or Towns,
And I will raze 'em, and the[n] blow 'em up:
Let 'em be Seas, and I will drink 'em off,
And yet have unquencht fire left in my breast:
Let 'em be any thing but meerly voice.
_Pan_.
But 'tis not in the power of any force,
Or policy to conquer them.
_Arb_.
_Panthea_, What shall we do?
Shall we stand firmly here, and gaze our eyes out?
_Pan_.
Would I could do so,
But I shall weep out mine.
_Arb_.
Accursed man,
Thou bought'st thy reason at too dear a rate,
For thou hast all thy actions bounded in
With curious rules, when every beast is free:
What is there that acknowledges a kindred
But wretched man? Who ever saw the Bull
Fearfully leave the Heifer that he lik'd
Because they had one Dam?
_Pan_.
Sir, I disturb you and my self too;
'Twere better I were gone.
_Arb_.
I will not be so foolish as I was,
Stay, we will love just as becomes our births,
No otherwise: Brothers and Sisters may
Walk hand in hand together; so will we,
Come nearer: is there any hurt in this?
_Pan_.
I hope not.
_Arb_.
Faith there is none at all:
And tell me truly now, is there not one
You love above me?
_Pan_.
No by Heaven.
_Arb_.
Why yet you sent unto _Tigranes_, Sister.
_Pan_.
True, but for another: for the truth--
_Arb_.
No more,
I'le credit thee, thou canst not lie,
Thou art all truth.
_Pan_.
But is there nothing else,
That we may do, but only walk? methinks
Brothers and Sisters lawfully may kiss.
_Arb_.
And so they may _Panthea_, so will we,
And kiss again too; we were too scrupulous,
And foolish, but we will be so no more.
_Pan_.
If you have any mercy, let me go
To prison, to my death, to any thing:
I feel a sin growing upon my blood,
Worse than all these, hotter than yours.
_Arb_.
That is impossible, what shou'd we do?
_Pan_.
Flie Sir, for Heavens sake.
_Arb_.
So we must away,
Sin grows upon us more by this delay.
[_Exeunt several wayes_.
_Actus Quintus_.
_Enter_ Mardonius _And_ Lygones.
_Mar_.
Sir, the King has seen your Commission, and believes it, and
freely by this warrant gives you power to visit Prince Tigranes,
your Noble Master.
_Lygr_.
I thank his Grace and kiss his hand.
_Mar_.
But is the main of all your business ended in this?
_Lyg_.
I have another, but a worse, I am asham'd, it is a business.
_Mar_.
You serve a worthy person, and a stranger I am sure you are; you
may imploy me if you please without your purse, such Offices
should ever be their own rewards.
_Lyg_.
I am bound to your Nobleness.
_Mar_.
I may have need of you, and then this courtesie,
If it be any, is not ill bestowed;
But may I civilly desire the rest?
I shall not be a hurter if no helper.
_Lyg_.
Sir you shall know I have lost a foolish Daughter,
And with her all my patience, pilfer'd away
By a mean Captain of your Kings.
_Mar_.
Stay there Sir:
If he have reacht the Noble worth of Captain,
He may well claim a worthy Gentlewoman,
Though she were yours, and Noble.
_Lyg_.
I grant all that too: but this wretched fellow
Reaches no further than the empty name
That serves to feed him; were he valiant,
Or had but in him any noble nature
That might hereafter promise him a good man,
My cares were so much lighter, and my grave
A span yet from me.
_Mar_.
I confess such fellows
Be in all Royal Camps, and have and must be,
To make the sin of Coward more detested
In the mean souldier that with such a foil
Sets off much valour. By description
I should now guess him to you, it was _Bessus_,
I dare almost with confidence pronounce it.
_Lyg_.
'Tis such a scurvie name as _Bessus_, and now I think 'tis he.
_Mar_.
Captain do you call him?
Believe me Sir, you have a misery
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?
_Lyg_.
No, would she had been,
The fault had had more credit: I would do something.
_Mar_.
I would fain counsel you, but to what I know not, he'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; he's such an Airie,
thin unbodyed Coward, that no revenge can catch him: I'le tell
you Sir, and tell you truth; this Rascal fears neither God nor
man, he has been so beaten: sufferance has made him Wainscot: he
has had since he was first a slave, at least three hundred
Daggers set in's head, as little boys do new Knives in hot meat,
there's not a Rib in's body o' my Conscience that has not been
thrice broken with dry beating: and now his sides look like two
Wicker Targets, every way bended; Children will shortly take him
for a Wall, and set their Stone-bows in his forehead, he is of so
base a sense, I cannot in a week imagine what shall be done to
him.
_Lyg_.
Sure I have committed some great sin
That this 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 do you pleasure Sir, he has it for you, and I'le
help you to him: 'tis no news to him to have a Leg broken, or
Shoulder out, with being turn'd o'th' stones like a Tansie: draw
not your Sword if you love it; for on my Conscience his head will
break it: we use him i'th' Wars like a Ram to shake a wall
withal. Here comes the very person of him, do as you shall find
your temper, I must leave you: but if you do not break him like a
Bisket, you are much to blame Sir.
[_Exit_ Mar.
_Enter_ Bessus _And the Sword men_.
_Lyg_.
Is your name _Bessus_?
_Bes_.
Men call me Captain Bessus.
_Lyg_.
Then Ca[p]tain _Bessus_, you are a rank rascall, without more
exordiums, a durty frozen slave; and with the favor of your
friends here I will beat you.
_2 Sword_.
Pray use your pleasure Sir,
You seem to be a Gentleman.
_Lyg_.
Thus Captain _Bessus_, thus; thus twing your nose, thus kick,
thus tread you.
_Bes_.
I do beseech you yield your cause Sir quickly.
_Lyg_.
Indeed I should have told that first.
_Bes_.
I take it so.
_1 Sword_.
Captain, he should indeed, he is mistaken.
_Lyg_.
Sir, you shall have it quickly, and more beating,
you have stoln away a Lady, Captain coward, and such an
one.
_beats him_.
_Bes_.
Hold, I beseech you, hold Sir, I never yet stole any living thing
that had a tooth about it.
_Lyg_.
I know you dare lie.
_Bes_.
With none but Summer Whores upon my life Sir, my means and
manners never could attempt above a hedge or hay-cock.
_Lyg_.
Sirra, that quits not me, where is this Lady? do that you do not
use to do; tell truth, or by my hand, I'le beat your Captains
brains out, wash'em, and put 'em in again, that will I.
_Bes_.
There was a Lady Sir, I must confess, once in my charge: the
Prince Tigranes gave her to my guard for her safety, how I us'd
her, she may her self report, she's with the Prince now: I did
but wait upon her like a groom, which she will testife I am sure:
if not, my brains are at your service when you please Sir, and
glad I have 'em for you.
_Lyg_.
This is most likely, Sir, I ask you pardon, and am sorry I was so
intemperate.
_Bes_.
Well I can ask no more, you will think it strange not to have me
beat you at first sight.
_Lyg_.
Indeed I would, but I know your goodness can forget twenty
beatings, you must forgive me.
_Bes_.
Yes there's my hand, go where you will, I shall think you a
valiant fellow for all this.
_Lyg_.
My da[u]ghter is a Whore, I feel it now too sensible; yet I will
see her, discharge my self from being father to her, and then
back to my Country, and there die, farwell Captain.
[_Exit Lygo_.
_Bes_.
Farwell Sir, farwell, commend me to the gentlewoman I pray.
_1 Sword_.
How now Captain? bear up man.
_Bes_.
Gentlemen o'th'sword, your hands once more; I have been kickt
agen, but the foolish fellow is penitent, has askt me Mercy, and
my honour's safe.
_2 Sword_.
We knew that, or the foolish fellow had better have kickt his
grandsir.
_Bes_.
Confirm, confirm I pray.
_1 Sword_.
There be our hands agen, now let him come and say he was not
sorry, and he sleeps for it.
_Bes_.
Alas good ignorant old man, let him go, let him go, these courses
will undo him.
[_Exeunt clear_.
_Enter_ Lygones _And_ Bacurius.
_Bac_.
My Lord, your authority is good, and I am glad it is so, for my
consent would never hinder you from seeing your own King, I am a
Minister, but not a governor of this State, yonder is your King,
I'le leave you.
[_Exit_.
_Enter_ Tigranes _And_ Spaconia.
_Lyg_.
There he is indeed, and with him my disloyal child.
_Tigr_.
I do perceive my fault so much, that yet me thinks thou shouldst
not have forgiven me.
_Lyg_.
Health to your Majesty.
_Tigr_.
What? good _Lygones_ welcome, what business brought thee hither?
_Lyg_.
Several businesses. My publick businesses will appear by this, I
have a message to deliver, which if it please you so to
authorize, is an embassage from the Armenian State, unto Arbaces
for your liberty: the offer's there set down, please you to read
it.
_Tigr_.
There is no alteration happened since I came thence?
_Lyg_.
None Sir, all is as it was.
_Tigr_.
And all our friends are well?
_Lyg_.
All very well.
_Spa_.
Though I have done nothing but what was good, I dare not see my
Father, it was fault enough not to acquaint him with that good.
_Lyg_.
Madam I should have seen you.
_Spa_.
O good Sir forgive me.
_Lyg_.
Forgive you, why? I am no kin to you, am I?
_Spa_.
Should it be measur'd by my mean deserts, indeed you are not.
_Lyg_.
Thou couldest prate unhappily ere thou couldst go, would thou
couldst do as well, and how does your custome hold out here?
_Spa_.
Sir?
_Lyg_.
Are you in private still, or how?
_Spa_.
What do you mean?
_Lyg_.
Do you take mony? are you come to sell sin yet? perhaps I can
help you to liberal Clients: or has not the King cast you off
yet? O thou vile creature, whose best commendation is, that thou
art a young whore, I would thy Mother had liv'd to see this, or
rather that I had died ere I had seen it; why didst not make me
acquainted when thou wert first resolv'd to be a whore, I would
have seen thy hot lust satisfied more privately: I would have
kept a dancer and a whole consort of musicians in my own house
only to fiddle thee.
_Spa_.
Sir, I was never whore.
_Lyg_.
If thou couldst not say so much for thy self, thou shouldst be
carted.
_Tigr_.
_Lygones_, I have read it, and I like it, you shall deliver it.
_Lyg_.
Well Sir, I will: but I have private business with you.
_Tigr_.
Speak, what is't?
_Lyg_. How has my age deserv'd so ill of you, that you can
pick no strumpets i'th' land, but out of my breed?
_Tigr_.
Strumpets, good _Lygones_?
_Lyg_.
Yes, and I wish to have you know, I scorn to get a whore for any
prince alive, and yet scorn will not help methinks: my Daughter
might have been spar'd, there were enow besides.
_Tigr_.
May I not prosper but she's innocent as morning light for me, and
I dare swear for all the world.
_Lyg_.
Why is she with you then? can she wait on you better than your
man, has she a gift in plucking off your stockings, can she make
Cawdles well or cut your cornes? Why do you keep her with you?
For a Queen I know you do contemn her, so should I, and every
subject else think much at it.
_Tigr_.
Let 'em think much, but 'tis more firm than earth: thou see'st
thy Queen there.
_Lyg_.
Then have I made a fair hand, I call'd her Whore. If I shall
speak now as her Father, I cannot chuse but greatly rejoyce that
she shall be a Queen: but if I shall speak to you as a
States-man, she were more fit to be your whore.
Pages:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 | 5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9