A King, and No King Part 21

Temper my tongue! such incivilities As these, no barbarous people ever knew: You break the lawes of Nature, and of Nations, You talk to me as if I were a prisoner For theft: my tongue be temper'd? I must speak 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'recome, Again thou shouldst be conquer'd by me.

_Mar_.

He has one ransome with him already; me-thinks 'T were good to fight double, or quit.

_Arb_.

Away with him to prison: Now Sir, see If my frown be regardless; Why delay you?

Seise him _Bacurius_, you shall know my word Sweeps like a wind, and all it grapples with, Are as the chaffe before it.

_Tigr_.

Touch me not.

_Arb_.

Help there.

_Tigr_.

Away.

_1 Gent_.

It is in vain to struggle.

_2 Gent_.

You must be forc'd.

_Bac_.

Sir, you must pardon us, we must obey.

_Arb_.

Why do you dally there? drag him away By any thing.

_Bac_.

Come Sir.

_Tigr_.

Justice, thou ought'st to give me strength enough To shake all these off; This is tyrannie, _Arbaces_, sutler than the burning Bulls, Or that fam'd _t.i.tans_ bed. Thou mightst as well Search i'th' deep of Winter through the snow For half starv'd 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_ Tigr. _And_ Bac.

_Spa_.

I ne're rejoyc'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 my self believe much of my self, That is not in me: You did kneel to me, Whilest I stood stubborn and regardless by, And like a G.o.d 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.

_Pan_.

O you wrong me more in this, Than in your rage you did: you mock me now.

_Arb_.

Never forgive me then, which is the worst 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 to hear; I acknowledge thee My hope, the only jewel of my life, The best of Sisters, dearer than my breath, A happiness as high as I could think; And when my actions call thee otherwise, Perdition light upon me.

_Pan_.