A King, and No King Part 29

_Spa_.

I know they will deny me gracious Madam, Being a stranger, and so little fam'd, So utter empty of those excellencies That tame Authority; but in you sweet Lady, All these are natural; beside, a power Deriv'd immediate from your Royal brother, Whose least word in you may command the Kingdom.

_Pan_.

More than my word _s.p.a.conia_, you shall carry, For fear it fail you.

_Spa_.

Dare you trust a Token?

Madam I fear I am grown too bold a begger.

_Pan_.

You are a pretty one, and trust me Lady It joyes me, I shall do a good to you, Though to my self I never shall be happy: Here, take this Ring, and from me as a Token Deliver it; I think they will not stay you: So all your own desires go with you Lady.

_Spa_.

And sweet peace to your Grace.

_Pan_.

Pray Heaven I find it.

[_Exeunt_.

_Enter_ Tigranes, _in prison_.

_Tigr_.

Fool that I am, I have undone my self, And with my own hand turn'd my fortune round, That was a fair one: I have childishly Plaid with my hope so long, till I have broke it, And now too late I mourn for't; O _s.p.a.conia_!

Thou hast found an even way to thy revenge now, Why didst thou follow me like a faint shadow, To wither my desires? But wretched fool, Why did I plant thee 'twixt the Sun and me, To make me freeze thus? Why did I prefer her To the fair Princess? O thou fool, thou fool, Thou family of fools, live like a slave still, And in thee bear thine own h.e.l.l and thy torment, Thou hast deserv'd: Couldst thou find no Lady But she that has thy hopes to put her to, And hazard all thy peace? None to abuse, But she that lov'd thee ever? poor _s.p.a.conia_, And so much lov'd thee, that in honesty And honour thou art bound to meet her vertues: She that forgot the greatness of her grief And miseries, that must follow such mad pa.s.sions, Endless and wild as women; she that for thee And with thee left her liberty, her name, And Country, you have paid me equal, Heavens, And sent my own rod to correct me with; A woman: for inconstancy I'le suffer, Lay it on justice, till my soul melt in me For my unmanly, beastly, sudden doting Upon a new face: after all my oaths Many and strange ones, I feel my old fire flame again and burn So strong and violent, that should I see her Again, the grief and that would kill me.

_Enter_ Bacurius _And_ s.p.a.conia.

_Bac_.

Lady, your token I acknowledge, you may pa.s.s; There is the King.

_Spa_.

I thank your Lords.h.i.+p for it.

[_Exit_ Bac.

_Tigr_.

She comes, she comes, shame hide me ever from her, Would I were buried, or so far remov'd Light might not find me out, I dare not see her.

_Spa_.

Nay never hide your self; or were you hid Where earth hides all her riches, near her Center; My wrongs without more day would light me to you: I must speak e're I die; were all your greatness Doubled upon you, y'are a perjur'd man, And only mighty in your wickedness Of wronging women. Thou art false, false Prince; I live to see it, poor _s.p.a.conia_ lives To tell thee thou art false; and then no more; She lives to tell thee thou art more unconstant, Than all ill women ever were together.

Thy faith is firm as raging over-flowes, That no bank can command; as lasting As boyes gay bubbles, blown i'th' Air and broken: The wind is fixt to thee: and sooner shall The beaten Mariner with his shrill whistle Calm the loud murmur of the troubled main, And strike it smooth again; than thy soul fall To have peace in love with any: Thou art all That all good men must hate; and if thy story Shall tell succeeding ages what thou wert, O let it spare me in it, lest true lovers In pity of my wrong, burn thy black Legend, And with their curses, shake thy sleeping ashes.

_Tigr_.

Oh! oh!

_Spa_.

The destinies, I hope, have pointed out Our ends, that thou maist die for love, Though not for me; for this a.s.sure thy self, The Princess hates thee deadly, and will sooner Be won to marry with a Bull, and safer Than such a beast as thou art: I have struck, I fear, too deep; beshrow me for't; Sir, This sorrow works me like a cunning friends.h.i.+p, Into the same piece with it; 'tis asham'd, Alas, I have been too rugged: Dear my Lord, I am sorry I have spoken any thing, Indeed I am, that may add more restraint To that too much you have: good Sir, be pleas'd To think it was a fault of love, not malice; And do as I will do, forgive it Prince.

I do, and can forgive the greatest sins To me you can repent of; pray believe.

_Tigr_.

O my _s.p.a.conia_! O thou vertuous woman!

_Spa_.

Nay, more, the King Sir.

_Enter_ Arbaces, Bacurius, Mardonius.

_Arb_.

Have you been carefull of our n.o.ble Prisoner, That he want nothing fitting for his greatness?

_Bac_.

I hope his grace will quit me for my care Sir.

_Arb_.

'Tis well, royal _Tigranes_, health.

_Tigr_.

More than the strictness of this place can give Sir, I offer back again to great _Arbaces_.

_Arb_.

We thank you worthy Prince, and pray excuse us, We have not seen you since your being here, I hope your n.o.ble usage has been equall With your own person: your imprisonment, If it be any, I dare say is easie, And shall not last t[w]o dayes.

_Tigr_.

I thank you; My usage here has been the same it was, Worthy a royal Conqueror. For my restraint, It came unkindly, because much unlook'd for; But I must bear it.

_Arb_.