A King, and No King Part 26

Is there no more?

_Arb_.

O yes and her the best; Better than any Brother loves his Sister: That's all.

_Mar_.

Methinks this need not have been delivered with such a caution; I'le do it.

_Arb_.

There is more yet, Wilt thou be faith[f]ul to me?

_Mar_.

Sir, if I take upon me to deliver it, after I hear it, I'le pa.s.s through fire to do it.

_Arb_.

I love her better than a Brother ought; Dost thou conceive me?

_Mar_.

I hope you do not Sir.

_Arb_.

No, thou art dull, kneel down before her, And ne'r rise again, till she will love me.

_Mar_.

Why, I think she does.

_Arb_.

But better than she does, another way; As wives love Husbands.

_Mar_.

Why, I think there are few Wives that love their Husbands better than she does you.

_Arb_.

Thou wilt not understand me: is it fit This should be uttered plainly? take it then Naked as it is: I would desire her love Lasciviously, lewdly, incestuously, To do a sin that needs must d.a.m.n us both, And thee too: dost thou understand me now?

_Mar_.

Yes, there's your Ring again; what have I done Dishonestly in my whole life, name it, That you should put so base a business to me?

_Arb_.

Didst thou not tell me thou wouldst do it?

_Mar_.

Yes; if I undertook it, but if all My hairs were lives, I would not be engag'd In such a case to save my last life.

_Arb_.

O guilt! ha how poor and weak a thing art thou!

This man that is my servant, whom my breath Might blow upon the world, might beat me here Having this cause, whil'st I prest down with sin Could not resist him: hear _Mardonius_, It was a motion mis-beseeming man, And I am sorry for it.

_Mar_.

Heaven grant you may be so: you must understand, nothing that you can utter, can remove my love and service from my Prince. But otherwise, I think I shall not love you more. For you are sinful, and if you do this crime, you ought to have no Laws. For after this, it will be great injustice in you to punish any offender for any crime. For my self I find my heart too big: I feel I have not patience to look on whilst you run these forbidden courses.

Means I have none but your favour, and I am rather glad that I shall lose 'em both together, than keep 'em with such conditions; I shall find a dwelling amongst some people, where though our Garments perhaps be courser, we shall be richer far within, and harbour no such vices in 'em: the G.o.ds preserve you, and mend.

_Arb_.

_Mardonius_, stay _Mardonius_, for though My present state requires nothing but knaves To be about me, such as are prepar'd For every wicked act, yet who does know But that my loathed Fate may turn about, And I have use for honest men again?

I hope I may, I prethee leave me not.

_Enter_ Bessus.

_Bes_.

Where is the King?

_Mar_.

There.

_Bes_.

An't please your Majesty, there's the knife.

_Arb_.

What knife?

_Bes_.

The Sword is eaten.

_Mar_.

Away you fool, the King is serious, And cannot now admit your vanities.