A King, and No King Part 7

_Mes_.

Yes Sir.

_Arb_.

How does he, is he well?

_Mes_.

In perfect health.

_Arb_.

Take that for thy good news. A trustier servant to his Prince there lives not, than is good Gobrias.

_1 Gent_.

The King starts back.

_Mar_.

His blood goes back as fast.

_2 Gent_. And now it comes again.

_Mar_.

He alters strangely.

_Arb_.

The hand of Heaven is on me, be it far from me to struggle, if my secret sins have pull'd this curse upon me, lend me tears now to wash me white, that I may feel a child-like innocence within my breast; which once perform'd, O give me leave to stand as fix'd as constancy her self, my eyes set here unmov'd, regardless of the world though thousand miseries incompa.s.s me.

_Mar_.

This is strange, Sir, how do you?

_Arb_.

Mardonius, my mother.

_Mar_.

Is she dead?

_Arb_.

Alas she's not so happy, thou dost know how she hath laboured since my Father died to take by treason hence this loathed life, that would but be to serve her, I have pardoned, and pardoned, and by that have made her fit to practise new sins, not repent the old: she now had stirr'd a slave to come from thence, and strike me here, whom Gobrias sifting out, took and condemn'd and executed there, the carefulst servant: Heaven let me but live to pay that man; Nature is poor to me, that will not let me have as many deaths as are the times that he hath say'd my life, that I might dye 'em over all for him.

_Mar_.

Sir let her bear her sins on her own head, Vex not your self.

_Arb_.

What will the world Conceive of me? with what unnatural sins Will they suppose me loaden, when my life Is sought by her that gave it to the world?

But yet he writes me comfort here, my Sister, He saies, is grown in beauty and in grace.

In all the innocent vertues that become A tender spotless maid: she stains her cheeks With morning tears to purge her mothers ill, And 'mongst that sacred dew she mingles Prayers Her pure Oblations for my safe return: If I have lost the duty of a Son, If any pomp or vanity of state Made me forget my natural offices, Nay farther, if I have not every night Expostulated with my wandring thoughts, If ought unto my parent they have err'd, And call'd 'em back: do you direct her arm Unto this foul dissembling heart of mine: But if I have been just to her, send out Your power to compa.s.s me, and hold me safe From searching treason; I will use no means But prayer: for rather suffer me to see From mine own veins issue a deadly flood, Than wash my danger off with mothers blood.

_Mar_.

I n'ere saw such suddain extremities.

[Exeunt.

_Enter_ Tigranes _and_ s.p.a.conia.

_Tigr_.

Why? wilt thou have me die s.p.a.conia.

What should I do?

_Spa_.

Nay let me stay alone, And when you see _Armenia_ again, You shall behold a Tomb more worth than I; Some friend that ever lov'd me or my cause, Will build me something to distinguish me From other women, many a weeping verse He will lay on, and much lament those maids, That plac'd their loves unfortunately high, As I have done, where they can never reach; But why should you go to _Iberia_?

_Tigr_.

Alas, that thou wilt ask me, ask the man That rages in a Fever why he lies Distempered there, when all the other youths Are coursing o're the Meadows with their Loves?

Can I resist it? am I not a slave To him that conquer'd me?

_Spa_.

That conquer'd thee _Tigranes_! he has won But half of thee, thy body, but thy mind May be as free as his, his will did never Combate thine, and take it prisoner.

_Tigr_.

But if he by force convey my body hence, What helps it me or thee to be unwilling?

_Spa_.

O _Tigranes_, I know you are to see a Lady there, To see, and like I fear: perhaps the hope Of her make[s] you forget me, ere we part, Be happier than you know to wish; farewel.

_Tigr_.

_s.p.a.conia_, stay and hear me what I say: In short, destruction meet me that I may See it, and not avoid it, when I leave To be thy faithful lover: part with me Thou shalt not, there are none that know our love, And I have given gold unto a Captain That goes unto _Iberia_ from the King, That he will place a Lady of our Land With the Kings Sister that is offered me; Thither shall you, and being once got in Perswade her by what subtil means you can To be as backward in her love as I.

_Spa_.