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Enter three Men and a Woman.

1 Man. Come, come, run, run, run. 2 Man. We shall out-go her.

3 Man. One were better be hang'd than carry out women fiddling to these shows.

Wom. Is the king hard by?

What

1 Man. You heard he with the bottles said, he thought we should come too late. abundance of people here is!

Wom. But what had he in those bottles?

3 Man. I know not.

2 Man. Why, ink, goodman fool.

3 Man. Ink, what to do?

1 Man. Why, the king, look you, will many times call for those bottles, and break his mind to his friends.

Wom. Let's take our places; we shall have no room else.

2 Man. The man told us, he would walk o' foot through the people.

3 Man. Ay, marry, did be.

1 Man. Our shops are well look'd-to now. 2 Man. 'Slife, yonder's my master, I think. 1 Man. No, 'tis not he.

Enter PHILIP, with two Citizens' Wives.

1 Cit. Lord, how fine the fields be. What sweet living 'tis in the country!

2 Cit. Ay, poor souls, God help 'em, they live as contentedly as one of us.

1 Cit. My husband's cousin would have had me gone into the country last year. Wert thou ever there?

2 Cit. Ay, poor souls, I was amongst 'em once. 1 Cit. And what kind of creatures are they, for love of God?

2 Cit. Very good people, God help 'em. 1 Cit. Wilt thou go down with me this summer when I am brought to-bed?

2 Cit. Alas, it is no place for us.

1 Cit. Why, prithee?

2 Cit. Why, you can have nothing there; there's nobody cries brooms.

1 Cit. No?

2 Cit. No truly, nor milk.

1 Cit. Nor milk! how do they?

2 Cit. They are fain to milk themselves i' the country.

1 Cit. Good lord! But the people there, I think, will be very dutiful to one of us.

2 Cit. Ay, God knows will they; and yet they do not greatly care for our husbands.

1 Cit. Do they not? alas! i' good faith, I cannot blame them: For we do not greatly care for them ourselves. Philip, I pray, chuse us a place.

Phil. There's the best, forsooth.

1 Cit. By your leave, good people, a little. 3 Man. What's the matter?

Phil. I pray you, my friend, do not thrust my mistress so; she's with child.

2 Man. Let her look to herself then; has she not had thrusting enough yet! If she stay shouldering here, she may, haps, go home with a cake in her belly.

3 Man. How now, goodman Squitter-breech! why do you lean on me?

Phil. Because I will.

3 Man. Will you, Sir Sauce-box?

1 Cit. Look, if one ha' not struck Philip. Come hither, Philip; why did he strike thee? Phil. For leaning on him.

1 Cit. Why didst thou lean on him?

Phil. I did not think he would have struck me. 1 Cit. As God save me, la, thou'rt as wild as a buck; there's no quarrel, but thou'rt at one end or other on't.

3 Man. It's at the first end then, for he'll ne'er stay the last.

1 Cit. Well, Slip-string, I shall meet with you. 3 Man. When you will.

1 Cit. I'll give a crown to meet with you. 3 Man. At a bawdy-house.

1 Cit. Ay, you're full of your roguery; but if I do meet you, it shall cost me a fall.

Flourish. Enter one running.

4 Man. The king, the king, the king, the king! Now, now, now, now!

Flourish. Enter ARBACES, TIGRANES, and MARDONIUS.

All. God preserve your majesty!

Arb. I thank you all. Now are my joys at full,
When I behold you safe, my loving subjects.
By you I grow; 'tis your united love
That lifts me to this height.

All the account that I can render you
For all the love you have bestow'd on me,
All your expences to maintain my war,
Is but a little word: You will imagine
'Tis slender payment; yet 'tis such a word
As is not to be bought but with your bloods:
'Tis peace!

All. God preserve your majesty!

Arb. Now you may live securely i' your towns, Your children round about you; you may sit Under your vines, and make the miseries Of other kingdoms a discourse for you,

And lend them sorrows. For yourselves, you

may

Safely forget there are such things as tears: And you may all, whose good thoughts I have gain'd,

Hold me unworthy, when I think my life
A sacrifice too great to keep you thus
In such a calm estate!

All. God bless your majesty!

Arb. See, all good people; I have brought the

man,

Whose very name you fear'd, a captive home. Behold him; 'tis Tigranes! In your hearts Sing songs of gladness and deliverance.

1 Cit. Out upon him!

2 Cit. How he looks.

3 Wom. Hang him, hang him! Mar. These are sweet people. Tigr. Sir, you do me wrong, To render me a scorned spectacle To common people.

Arb. It was far from me

To mean it so. If I have aught deserv❜d,
My loving subjects, let me beg of you

Not to revile this prince, in whom there dwells
All worth, of which the nature of a man
Is capable; valour beyond compare:
The terror of his name has stretch'd itself
Where-ever there is sun: And yet for you
I fought with him single, and won him too.
I made his valour stoop, and brought that name,
Soar'd to so unbeliev'd a height, to fall
Beneath mine. This, inspir'd with all your loves,
I did perform; and will, for your content,
Be ever ready for a greater work.

All. The Lord bless your majesty! Tigr. So, he has made me amends now with a speech in commendation of himself: I would not be so vain-glorious.

Arb. If there be any thing in which I may Do good to any creature here, speak out;

For I must leave you: And it troubles me,
That my occasions, for the good of you,
Are such as call me from you: Else, my joy
Would be to spend my days among you all.
You shew your loves in these large multitudes
That come to meet me. I will pray for you.
Heaven prosper you, that you may know old
years,

And live to see your childrens children
Sit at your boards with plenty! When there is
A want of any thing, let it be known
To me, and I will be a father to you.
God keep you all!

[Flourish. Exeunt Kings and their Train. All. God bless your majesty, God bless your majesty!

1 Man. Come, shall we go? all's done.
Wom. Ay, for God's sake: I have not made a
fire yet.

2 Man. Away, away! all's done.
3 Man. Content. Farewell, Philip.

1 Cit. Away, you halter-sack, you!

2 Man. Philip will not fight; he's afraid on's

face.

Phil. Ay, marry; am I afraid of my face? 3 Man. Thou wouldst be, Philip, if thou saw'st it in a glass; it looks so like a visor.

[Exeunt the three men and woman.

1 Cit. You'll be hang'd, sirrah. Come, Philip, walk before us homewards. Did not his majesty say he had brought us home peas for all our money?

2 Cit. Yes, marry, did he.

1 Cit. They're the first I heard of this year, by my troth. I long'd for some of 'em. Did he not say, we should have some?

2 Cit. Yes, and so we shall anon, I warrant you, have every one a peck brought home to our houses.

[Exeunt.

ACT III.

Enter ARBACES and GOBRias.

Arb. My sister take it ill?
Gob. Not very ill:

Something unkindly she does take it, sir,
To have her husband chosen to her hands.

Arb. Why, Gobrias, let her: I must have her know,

My will, and not her own, must govern her. What, will she marry with some slave at home? Gob. Oh, she is far from any stubbornness; You much mistake her; and, no doubt, will like Where you will have her. But, when you behold her,

You will be loth to part with such a jewel.

Arb. To part with her? Why, Gobrias, art thou mad?

She is my sister.

Gob Sir, I know she is:

But it were pity to make poor our land, With such a beauty to enrich another.

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Arb. Were she my father, and my mother too, And all the names for which we think folks friends, She should be forced to have him, when I know 'Tis fit. I will not hear her say, she's loth.

Gob. Heaven, bring my purpose luckily to pass!

You know 'tis just.—She will not need constraint, She loves you so.

Arb. How does she love me? Speak.

Gob. She loves you more than people love their health,

That live by labour; more than I could love
A man that died for me, if he could live
Again.

Arb. She is not like her mother, then.

Gob. Oh, no! When you were in Armenia, I durst not let her know when you were hurt: For at the first, on every little scratch,

She kept her chamber, wept, and could not eat,
Till you were well; and many times the news
Was so long coming, that, before we heard,
She was as near her death, as you your health.
Arb. Alas, poor soul! But yet she must be
rul'd.

I know not how I shall requite her well.
I long to see her: Have you sent for her,
To tell her I am ready?

Gob. Sir, I have.

Enter 1 Gentleman and TIGRANES.

1 Gent. Sir, here is the Armenian king. Arb. He's welcome.

1 Gent. And the queen-mother and the princess wait

Without.

Arb. Good Gobrias, bring 'em in.

[Erit GOBRIAS.
Tigranes, you will think you are arrived
In a strange land, where mothers cast to poison
Their only sons: Think you, you shall be safe?
Tigr. Too safe I am, sir.

Enter GOBRIAS, ARANE, PANTHEA, SPACO-
NIA, BACURIUS, MARDONIUS, BESSUS, and
two Gentlemen.

Tigr. Will you speak, sir?

Arb. Speak! am I what I was?
What art thou, that dost creep into my breast,
And dar'st not see my face? Shew forth thyself.
I feel a pair of fiery wings display'd

Hither, from thence. You shall not tarry there!
Up, and be gone; if thou be'st love, be gone!
Or I will tear thee from my wounded breast,
Pull thy loved down away, and with a quill
By this right arm drawn from thy wanton wing,
Write to thy laughing mother i' thy blood,
That you are powers bely'd, and all your darts
Are to be blown away, by men resolved,
Like dust. I know thou fear'st my words; away!

Tigr. Oh, misery! why should he be so slow!
There can no falsehood come of loving her.
Though I have given my faith, she is a thing
Both to be lov'd and serv'd beyond my faith.
I would, he would present me to her quickly.
Pan. Will you not speak at all? Are you so

far

From kind words? Yet, to save my modesty,
That must talk till you answer, do not stand
As you were dumb; say something, though it be
Poison'd with anger that may strike me dead.
Mar. Have you no life at all? For manhood
sake,

Ara. As low as this I bow to you; and would Let her not kneel, and talk neglected thus.
As low as is my grave, to shew a mind

Thankful for all your mercies.

Arb. Oh, stand up,

And let me kneel! the light will be ashamed
To see observance done to me by you.
Ara. You are my king.

Arb. You are my mother. Rise!

As far be all your faults from your own soul,
As from my memory; then you shall be
As white as Innocence herself.

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A tree would find a tongue to answer her,
Did she but give it such a lov'd respect.

Arb. You mean this lady. Lift her from the
earth:

Why do you let her kneel so long? Alas!
Madam, your beauty uses to command,
And not to beg. What is your suit to me?
It shall be granted; yet the time is short,
And my affairs are great. But where's my sister?
I bade, she should be brought.

Mar. What, is he mad?

Arb. Gobrias, where is she?
Gob. Sir!

Arb. Where is she, man?
Gob. Who, sir?

Arb. Who? hast thou forgot my sister?
Gob. Your sister, sir?

Arb. Your sister, sir? Some one that hath a
wit,

Answer, where is she?

Gob. Do you not see her there?
Arb. Where?

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Speak boldly to me; for I am a man,
And dare not quarrel with Divinity;
And do not think to cozen me with this.
I see, you are all mute and stand amazed,
Fearful to answer me. It is too true;
A decreed instant cuts off every life,
For which to mourn, is to repine. She died
A virgin though, more innocent than sleep,
As clear as her own eyes; and blessedness
Eternal waits upon her where she is.

I know, she could not make a wish to change
Her state for new; and you shall see me bear
My crosses like a man. We all must die,
And she hath taught us how.

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No more of this! Here I pronounce him traitor,
The direct plotter of my death, that names
Or thinks her for my sister: 'Tis a lye,
The most malicious of the world, invented
To mad your king. He that will say so next,
Let him draw out his sword and sheath it here;
It is a sin fully as pardonable.

She is no kin to me, nor shall she be :
If she were ever, I create her none.

And which of you can question this? My power
Is like the sea, that is to be obey'd,
And not disputed with. I have decreed her
As far from having part of blood with me,
As the naked Indians. Come and answer me,
He that is boldest now! Is that my sister?
Mar. Oh, this is fine!

Bes. No, marry, she is not, an't please your
majesty.

I never thought she was; she's nothing like you.
Arb. No; 'tis true, she is not.
Mar. Thou should'st be hang'd.

Pan. Sir, I will speak but once: By the same
power

You make my blood a stranger unto yours,
You may command me dead; and so much love
A stranger may importune; pray you, do.
If this request appear too much to grant,
Adopt me of some other family,

By your unquestion'd word; else I shall live
Like sinful issues, that are left in streets
By their regardless mothers, and no name
Will be found for me.

Arb. I will hear no more.

Why should there be such music in a voice,
And sin for me to hear it? All the world
May take delight in this; and 'tis damnation
For me to do so. You are fair, and wise,
And virtuous, I think; and he is bless'd
That is so near you as a brother is ;
But you are nought to me but a disease;
Continual torment without hope of ease.
Such an ungodly sickness I have got,
That he, that undertakes my cure, must first
O'erthrow divinity, all moral laws,

And leave mankind as unconfin'd as beasts;
Allowing 'em to do all actions,

As freely as they drink when they desire.
Let me not hear you speak again; yet so
I shall but languish for the want of that,
The having which would kill me. No man here
Offer to speak for her; for I consider
As much as you can say; I will not toil
My body and my mind too; rest thou there;
Here's one within will labour for you both.
Pan. I would I were past speaking!
Gob. Fear not, madam;

The king will alter: 'Tis some sudden rage,
you shall see it end some other way.

And

Pan. Pray Heaven it do!

Tigr. Though she to whom I swore be here, I

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Tigr. Dare do it! Why, you brought me hither, sir,

To that intent.

Arb. Perhaps, I told you so:

If I had sworn it, had you so much folly

To credit it? The least word that she speaks
Is worth a life. Rule your disorder'd tongue,
Or I will temper it!

Spa. Blest be that breath!
Tigr. Temper my tongue! Such incivilities
As these no barbarous people ever knew:
You break the laws 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'ercome,
Again thou shouldst be conquered by me.

Mar. He has one ransom with him already; methinks, 'twere good to fight double or quit.

Arb. Away with him to prison! Now, sir, see
If my frown be regardless. Why delay you?
Seize him, Bacurius! You shall know my word
Sweeps like a wind; and all it grapples with
Are as the chaff before it.

Tigr. Touch me not.

Arb. Help there!

Tigr. Away!

1 Gent. It is in vain to struggle.

2 Gent. You must be forced.

Bac. Sir, you must pardon us;

We must obey.

Arb. Why do you dally there?

Drag him away by any thing.

Bac. Come, sir.

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Than if you had not frown'd; it comes to me
Like mercy at the block: And when I leave
To serve you with my life, your curse be with me!
Arb. Then thus I do salute thee; and again,
To make this knot the stronger. Paradise
Is there! It may be, you are yet in doubt;
This third kiss blots it out.-I wade in sin,
And foolishly entice myself along!
Take her away; see her a prisoner
In her own chamber closely, Gobrias!
Pan. Alas! sir, why?

Arb. I must not stay the answer. Do it!
Gob. Good Sir!

Arb. No more! Do it, I say!
Mar. This is better and better.
Pan. Yet, hear me speak.

Arb. I will not hear you speak.

Away with her! Let no man think to speak
For such a creature; for she is a witch,
A poisoner, and a traitor!

Gob. Madam, this office grieves me.

Pan. Nay, 'tis well; the king is pleased with it. Arb. Bessus, go you along too with her. I will prove

Tigr. Justice, thou ought'st to give me strength All this that I have said, if I may live

enough

To shake all these off. This is tyranny,
Arbaces, subtler than the burning bull's,
Or that famed tyrant's bed. Thou mightst as well
Search i' the deep of winter through the snow
For half-starved 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 TIGRANES and BACURIUS.
Spa. I ne'er rejoic'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?

So long. But I am desperately sick;
For she has given me poison in a kiss:
She had it 'twixt her lips; and with her eyes
She witches people. Go, without a word!

[Exeunt GOB. PAN. BES. and SPAC. Why should You, that have made me stand in

war

Like Fate itself, cutting what threads I pleased,
Decree such an unworthy end of me,
And all my glories? What am I, alas,
That you oppose me? If my secret thoughts
Have ever harbour'd swellings against you,
They could not hurt you; and it is in you
To give me sorrow, that will render me
Apt to receive your mercy: Rather so,

Arb. By no means, Gobrias: I have done her Let it be rather so, than punish me

wrong.

And made myself believe much of myself,
That is not in me. You did kneel to me,
Whilst I stood stubborn and regardless by,
And, like a god 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.

With such unmanly sins. Incest is in me
Dwelling already; and it must be holy,
That pulls it thence. Where art, Mardonius?
Mar. Here, sir.

Arb. I pray thee, bear me, if thou canst.
Am I not grown a strange weight?
Mur. As you were.
Arb. No heavier ?

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