That thou art yet to lead.

Pal. Can that be, when

Venus I've said is false? How do things fare? Per. Arise, great sir, and give the tidings ear That are most dearly sweet and bitter !

Pal. What

Hath wak'd us from our dream?

Per. List then! Your cousin,
Mounted upon a steed that Emily

Did first bestow on him, a black one, owing
Not a hair-worth of white, which some will say
Weakens his price, and many will not buy
His goodness with this note; which superstition
Here finds allowance: On this horse is Arcite,
Trotting the stones of Athens, which the calkins
Did rather tell than trample; for the horse
Would make his length a mile, if't pleas'd his
rider

To put pride in him: As he thus went counting
The flinty pavement, dancing as 'twere to th'

music

His own hoofs made (for, as they say, from iron
Came music's origin) what envious flint,
Cold as old Saturn, and like him possess'd
With fire malevolent, darted a spark,

Or what fierce sulphur else, to this end made,
I comment not; the hot horse, hot as fire,
Took toy at this, and fell to what disorder
His power could give his will, bounds, comes on
end,

Forgets school-doing, being therein train'd,
And of kind manage; pig-like he whines
At the sharp rowel, which he frets at rather
Than any jot obeys; seeks all foul means
Of boisterous and rough jadry, to dis-seat
His lord that kept it bravely: When nought
serv'd,

When neither curb would crack, girth break, nor diff"ring plunges

Dis-root his rider whence he grew, but that He kept him 'tween his legs, on his hind hoofs on end he stands,

That Arcite's legs being higher than his head, Seem'd with strange art to hang: His victor's wreath

Even then fell off his head; and presently
Backward the jade comes o'er, and his full poize
Becomes the rider's load. Yet is he living,
But such a vessel 'tis that floats but for
The surge that next approaches: He much de-
sires

To have some speech with you. Lo, he appears!
Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLITA, EMILIA, ARCITE

in a chair.

Pal. Oh, miserable end of our alliance! The gods are mighty!-Arcite, if thy heart, Thy worthy manly heart, be yet unbroken, Give me thy last words! I am Palamon,

I sunder'd you: Acknowledge to the gods
Our thanks that you are living.

His part is play'd, and, though it were too short,
He did it well: Your day is lengthen'd, and
The blissful dew of Heaven does arrose you;
The powerful Venus well hath grac'd her altar,
And given you your love; our master Mars
Has vouch'd his oracle, and to Arcite gave
The grace of the contention: So the deities
Have shew'd due justice. Bear this hence!
Pal. Oh, cousin,

That we should things desire, which do cost us
The loss of our desire! that nought could buy
Dear love, but loss of dear love!

Thes. Never Fortune

Did play a subtler game: The conquer'd triumphs,
The victor has the loss; yet in the passage
The gods have been most equal. Palamon,
Your Kinsman hath confess'd the right o'the
lady

Did lie in you; for you first saw her, and
Even then proclaim'd your fancy; he restor'd
her,

As your stol'n jewel, and desir'd your spirit
To send him hence forgiven: The gods my jus-

tice

Take from my hand, and they themselves become
The executioners. Lead your lady off;
And call your lovers from the stage of death,
Whom I adopt my friends. A day or two
Let us look sadly, and give grace unto
The funeral of Árcite! in whose end
The visages of bridegrooms we'll put on,
And smile with Palamon; for whom an hour,
But one hour since, I was as dearly sorry,
As glad of Arcite; and am now as glad,
As for him sorry. Oh, you heav'nly charmers,
What things you make of us! For what we lack
We laugh, for what we have are sorry still;
Are children in some kind. Let us be thankful
For that which is, and with You leave dispute
That are above our question! Let's go off,
And bear us like the time. [Flourish, Exeunt.

10

Enter MARDONIUS and BESSUS.

Mar. Bessus, the king has made a fair hand on't; he has ended the wars at a blow. 'Would my sword had a close basket hilt, to hold wine, and the blade would make knives; for we shall have nothing but eating and drinking.

Bes. We that are commanders shall do well enough.

Mar. Faith, Bessus, such commanders as thou may: I had as lieve set thee perdue for a pudding i'th' dark, as Alexander the Great.

Bes. I love these jests exceedingly.

Mar. I think thou lov'st em better than quarrelling, Bessus; I'll say so much in thy behalf. And yet thou'rt valiant enough upon a retreat: I think thou wouldst kill any man that stop'd thee, if thou couldst.

Bes. But was not this a brave combat, Mardonius ?

VOL. I.

Mar. Why, didst thou see it?
Bes. You stood wi' me.

Mar. I did so; but methought thou wink'd'st every blow they struck.

Bes. Well, I believe there are better soldiers than I, that never saw two princes fight in lists.

Mar. By my troth, I think so too, Bessus; many a thousand: But, certainly, all that are worse than thou have seen as much.

Bes. "Twas bravely done of our king. Mar. Yes, if he had not ended the wars. I'm glad thou dar'st talk of such dangerous busi

Bes. I could willingly venture for it.

Mar. Hum! no venture neither, Bessus.

not hear it, Bessus. Here he is, with his prey in his foot.

for.

Mar. Why, art thou fam'd for any valour?
Bes. Fam'd? I warrant you.

Mar. I'm e'en heartily glad on't: I have been with thee e'er since thou cam'st to the wars, and this is the first word that ever I heard on't. Prithee, who fames thee?

Bes The Christian world.

men.

conscience: Thou deserv'st it not.

Bes. Yes, I ha' done good service. Mar. I do not know how thou may'st wait of a man in's chamber, or thy agility in shifting of a trencher; but otherwise no service, good Bes

Mar. If I were not a very merrily disposed man, what would become of thee? One that had but a grain of choler in the whole composition of his body, would send thee on 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 truncheon, 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 1 not up when the day was

gone, and redeem'd all?

Mar. Thou knowest, and so do I, thou meant'st to fly, and thy fear making thee mistake, thou ran'st upon the enemy; and a hot charge thou gav'st; as, I'll 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 always, and run away upon the enemy, thou shouldst be general, by this light.

Bes. You'll 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 proceed'st, 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 wert 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 car'd who knew it, thou shouldst

To be my prisoner, is to be more free
Than you were formerly. And never think,
The man, I held worthy to combat 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'er 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'll make you shrink, as I did, with a stroke,
But of her eye, Tigranes.

Tigr. Is't the course

Of Iberia to use her prisoners thus ?
Had fortune thrown my name above Arbaces',
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'd 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 pow'r
To teach the neighbour world humility,
Mix with vain-glory?

Mar. Indeed, this is none.

[Aside.

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 an act Fit for a god to do upon his foe, A little glory in a soldier's mouth

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'en
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.

Mur. I do, I'll 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: 'Would one of 'em were away [Aside. Tigr. Do I refuse her, that I doubt her worth?

Were she as virtuous as she would be thought;
So perfect, that no one of her own sex
Could find a want she had; 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 fix'd
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 yourself in love
To any other, that her searching sight
Cannot dissolve it? So, before you try'd,
You thought yourself a match for me in fight:
Trust me, Tigranes, she can do as much
In peace, as I in war; she'll conquer too.
You shall see, if you have the pow'r to stand
The force of her swift looks. If you dislike,
I'll 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 prisoner's sufferance, And will obey: But give me leave to talk In private with some friends before I go.

Arb. Some do 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,
[Erit TIGRANES.
'Till he be free from me. This prince, Mar-
donius,

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 done't,

Hadst thou join'd with him, though thy name in

Bes. That would not have spy'd your best you 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't please your majesty to remember, at one time by my troth, I wish'd myself 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 whipp'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'dst that at?

Arb. Pish! did not I take him nobly? Mar. Why, you did, and you have talk'd enough on't.

Arb. Talk'd enough?

Will you confine my words? By Heav'n 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

Το

ridiculous

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. Oh, 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 Heav'n

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. Imean not you;

Did not I stop you once? But I am grown
To talk! But I defy-Let another speak.
2 Gent. I hope your majesty-
Arb. Thou drawl'st 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. An please your majesty

Arb. Wilt thou devour me? This is such a rudeness

As yet you never shew'd me: And I want
Pow'r to command too; else, Mardonius
Would speak at my request. Were you my king,
I would have answer'd at your word, Mardonius.
I pray you speak, and truly, 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, prop'd by divinity:
Was not that bragging, and a wrong to us
That daily ventur'd lives?

Arb. Oh, that thy name

Were great as mine! 'would I had paid my wealth

It were as great, as I might combat 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 man's curiosity
Hath miss'd 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 extremely; shall we slink
away?

He'll 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

Arb. I pray you, leave me, sirs. I'm proud of this, [Exeunt all but ARB. and MAR.

That you will be intreated from my sight.
Why, now they leave me all. Mardonius!
Mar. Sir.

Arb. Will you leave me quite alone? Methinks,
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 scarce 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 soldiers, and all venture lives;
And where there is no diff'rence 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 virtues. Arb. Eclipse my virtues?

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 fly the hearing: But

Arb. When you commend me? Oh, 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: