A King, and No King, Francis Beaumont & John Fletcher [best books for 20 year olds .TXT] 📗
- Author: Francis Beaumont & John Fletcher
Book online «A King, and No King, Francis Beaumont & John Fletcher [best books for 20 year olds .TXT] 📗». Author Francis Beaumont & John Fletcher
all this had been but favours: this is my flat opinion, which I'le die in.
2.
The King may do much Captain, believe it; for had he crackt your Scull through, like a bottle, or broke a Rib or two with tossing of you, yet you had lost no honour: This is strange you may imagine, but this is truth now Captain.
Bes.
I will be glad to embrace it Gentlemen; But how far may he strike me?
1.
There is another: a new cause rising from the time and distance, in which I will deliver my opinion: he may strike, beat, or cause to be beaten: for these are natural to man: your Prince, I say, may beat you, so far forth as his dominion reacheth, that's for the distance; the time, ten miles a day, I take it.
2.
Brother, you err, 'tis fifteen miles a day, His stage is ten, his beatings are fifteen.
Bes.
'Tis the longest, but we subjects must--
1.
Be subject to it; you are wise and vertuous.
Bes.
Obedience ever makes that noble use on't, To which I dedicate my beaten body; I must trouble you a little further, Gentlemen o'th' Sword.
2.
No trouble at all to us Sir, if we may Profit your understanding, we are bound By vertue of our calling to utter our opinions, Shortly, and discreetly.
Bes.
My sorest business is, I have been kick'd.
2.
How far Sir?
Bes.
Not to flatter my self in it, all over, my sword forc'd but not lost; for discreetly I rendred it to save that imputation.
1.
It shew'd discretion, the best part of valour.
2.
Brother, this is a pretty cause, pray ponder on't; Our friend here has been kick'd.
1.
He has so, brother.
2.
Sorely he saies: Now, had he set down here Upon the meer kick, 't had been Cowardly.
1.
I think it had been Cowardly indeed.
2.
But our friend has redeem'd it in delivering His sword without compulsion; and that man That took it of him, I pronounce a weak one, And his kicks nullities. He should have kick'd him after the delivering Which is the confirmation of a Coward.
1.
Brother, I take it, you mistake the question; For, say that I were kick'd.
2.
I must not say so; Nor I must not hear it spoke by the tongue of man. You kick'd, dear brother! you're merry.
1.
But put the case I were kick'd?
2.
Let them put it that are things weary of their lives, and know not honour; put the case you were kick'd?
1.
I do not say I was kickt.
2.
Nor no silly creature that wears his head without a Case, his soul in a Skin-coat: You kickt dear brother?
Bes.
Nay Gentlemen, let us do what we shall do, Truly and honest[l]y; good Sirs to the question.
1.
Why then I say, suppose your Boy kick't, Captain?
2.
The Boy may be suppos'd is liable.
1.
A foolish forward zeal Sir, in my friend; But to the Boy, suppose the Boy were kickt.
Bes.
I do suppose it.
1.
Has your Boy a sword?
Bes.
Surely no; I pray suppose a sword too.
1.
I do suppose it; you grant your Boy was kick't then.
2.
By no means Captain, let it be supposed still; the word grant, makes not for us.
1.
I say this must be granted.
2
This must be granted brother?
1.
I, this must be granted.
2.
Still this must?
1.
I say this must be granted.
2.
I, give me the must again, brother, you palter.
1.
I will not hear you, wasp.
2.
Brother, I say you palter, the must three times together; I wear as sharp Steel as another man, and my Fox bites as deep, musted, my dear brother. But to the cause again.
Bes.
Nay look you Gentlemen.
2.
In a word, I ha' done.
1.
A tall man but intemperate, 'tis great pity; Once more suppose the Boy kick'd.
2.
Forward.
1.
And being thorowly kick'd, laughs at the kicker.
2
So much for us; proceed.
1.
And in this beaten scorn, as I may call it, Delivers up his weapon; where lies the error?
Bes.
It lies i'th' beating Sir, I found it four dayes since.
2.
The error, and a sore one as I take it, Lies in the thing kicking.
Bes.
I understand that well, 'tis so indeed Sir.
1.
That is according to the man that did it.
2.
There springs a new branch, whose was the foot?
Bes.
A Lords.
1.
The cause is mighty, but had it been two Lords, And both had kick'd you, if you laugh, 'tis clear.
Bes.
I did laugh, But how will that help me, Gentlemen?
2.
Yes, it shall help you if you laught aloud.
Bes.
As loud as a kick'd man could laugh, I laught Sir.
1.
My reason now, the valiant man is known By suffering and contemning; you have Enough of both, and you are valiant.
2.
If he be sure he has been kick'd enough: For that brave sufferance you speak of brother, Consists not in a beating and away, But in a cudgell'd body, from eighteen To eight and thirty; in a head rebuk'd With pots of all size, degrees, stools, and bed-staves, This showes a valiant man.
Bes.
Then I am valiant, as valiant as the proudest, For these are all familiar things to me; Familiar as my sleep, or want of money, All my whole body's but one bruise with beating, I think I have been cudgell'd with all nations, And almost all Religions.
2.
Embrace him brother, this man is valiant, I know it by my self, he's valiant.
1.
Captain, thou art a valiant Gentleman, To bide upon, a very valiant man.
Bes.
My equall friends o'th'Sword, I must request your hands to this.
2.
'Tis fit it should be.
Bes.
Boy, get me some wine, and pen and Ink within: Am I clear, Gentlemen?
1.
Sir, the world has taken notice what we have done, Make much of your body, for I'll pawn my steel, Men will be coyer of their legs hereafter.
Bes.
I must request you goe along and testife to the Lord Bacurius, whose foot has struck me, how you find my cause.
2.
We will, and tell that Lord he must be rul'd, Or there are those abroad, will rule his Lordship.
[Exeunt.
Enter Arbaces at one door, and Gob. and Panthea at another.
Gob.
Sir, here's the Princess.
Arb.
Leave us then alone, For the main cause of her imprisonment Must not be heard by any but her self.
[Exit Gob.
You're welcome Sister, and would to heaven I could so bid you by another name: If you above love not such sins as these, Circle my heart with thoughts as cold as snow To quench these rising flames that harbour here.
[P]an.
Sir, does it please you I should speak?
Arb.
Please me? I, more than all the art of musick can, Thy speech doth please me, for it ever sounds, As thou brought'st joyfull unexpected news; And yet it is not fit thou shouldst be heard. I pray thee think so.
Pan.
Be it so, I will. Am I the first that ever had a wrong So far from being fit to have redress, That 'twas unfit to hear it? I will back To prison, rather than disquiet you, And wait till it be fit.
Arb.
No, do not goe; For I will hear thee with a serious thought: I have collected all that's man about me Together strongly, and I am resolv'd To hear thee largely, but I do beseech thee, Do not come nearer to me, for there is Something in that, that will undoe us both.
Pan.
Alas Sir, am I venome?
Arb.
Yes, to me; Though of thy self I think thee to be In equall degree of heat or cold, As nature can make: yet as unsound men Convert the sweetest and the nourishing'st meats Into diseases; so shall I distemper'd, Do thee, I pray thee draw no nearer to me.
Pan.
Sir, this is that I would: I am of late Shut from the world, and why it should be thus, Is all I wish to know.
Arb.
Why credit me Panthea, Credit me that am thy brother, Thy loving brother, that there is a cause Sufficient, yet unfit for thee to know, That might undoe thee everlastingly, Only to hear, wilt thou but credit this? By Heaven 'tis true, believe it if thou canst.
Pan.
Children and fools are ever credulous, And I am both, I think, for I believe; If you dissemble, be it on your head; I'le back unto my prison: yet me-thinks I might be kept in some place where you are; For in my self, I find I know not what To call it, but it is a great desire To see you often.
Arb.
Fie, you come in a step, what do you mean? Dear sister, do not so: Alas Panthea, Where I am would you be? Why that's the cause You are imprison'd, that you may not be Where I am.
Pan.
Then I must indure it Sir, Heaven keep you.
Arb.
Nay, you shall hear the case in short Panthea, And when thou hear'st it, thou wilt blush for me, And hang thy head down like a Violet Full of the mornings dew: There is a way To gain thy freedome, but 'tis such a one As puts thee in worse bondage, and I know, Thou wouldst encounter fire, and make a proof Whether the gods have care of innocence,
2.
The King may do much Captain, believe it; for had he crackt your Scull through, like a bottle, or broke a Rib or two with tossing of you, yet you had lost no honour: This is strange you may imagine, but this is truth now Captain.
Bes.
I will be glad to embrace it Gentlemen; But how far may he strike me?
1.
There is another: a new cause rising from the time and distance, in which I will deliver my opinion: he may strike, beat, or cause to be beaten: for these are natural to man: your Prince, I say, may beat you, so far forth as his dominion reacheth, that's for the distance; the time, ten miles a day, I take it.
2.
Brother, you err, 'tis fifteen miles a day, His stage is ten, his beatings are fifteen.
Bes.
'Tis the longest, but we subjects must--
1.
Be subject to it; you are wise and vertuous.
Bes.
Obedience ever makes that noble use on't, To which I dedicate my beaten body; I must trouble you a little further, Gentlemen o'th' Sword.
2.
No trouble at all to us Sir, if we may Profit your understanding, we are bound By vertue of our calling to utter our opinions, Shortly, and discreetly.
Bes.
My sorest business is, I have been kick'd.
2.
How far Sir?
Bes.
Not to flatter my self in it, all over, my sword forc'd but not lost; for discreetly I rendred it to save that imputation.
1.
It shew'd discretion, the best part of valour.
2.
Brother, this is a pretty cause, pray ponder on't; Our friend here has been kick'd.
1.
He has so, brother.
2.
Sorely he saies: Now, had he set down here Upon the meer kick, 't had been Cowardly.
1.
I think it had been Cowardly indeed.
2.
But our friend has redeem'd it in delivering His sword without compulsion; and that man That took it of him, I pronounce a weak one, And his kicks nullities. He should have kick'd him after the delivering Which is the confirmation of a Coward.
1.
Brother, I take it, you mistake the question; For, say that I were kick'd.
2.
I must not say so; Nor I must not hear it spoke by the tongue of man. You kick'd, dear brother! you're merry.
1.
But put the case I were kick'd?
2.
Let them put it that are things weary of their lives, and know not honour; put the case you were kick'd?
1.
I do not say I was kickt.
2.
Nor no silly creature that wears his head without a Case, his soul in a Skin-coat: You kickt dear brother?
Bes.
Nay Gentlemen, let us do what we shall do, Truly and honest[l]y; good Sirs to the question.
1.
Why then I say, suppose your Boy kick't, Captain?
2.
The Boy may be suppos'd is liable.
1.
A foolish forward zeal Sir, in my friend; But to the Boy, suppose the Boy were kickt.
Bes.
I do suppose it.
1.
Has your Boy a sword?
Bes.
Surely no; I pray suppose a sword too.
1.
I do suppose it; you grant your Boy was kick't then.
2.
By no means Captain, let it be supposed still; the word grant, makes not for us.
1.
I say this must be granted.
2
This must be granted brother?
1.
I, this must be granted.
2.
Still this must?
1.
I say this must be granted.
2.
I, give me the must again, brother, you palter.
1.
I will not hear you, wasp.
2.
Brother, I say you palter, the must three times together; I wear as sharp Steel as another man, and my Fox bites as deep, musted, my dear brother. But to the cause again.
Bes.
Nay look you Gentlemen.
2.
In a word, I ha' done.
1.
A tall man but intemperate, 'tis great pity; Once more suppose the Boy kick'd.
2.
Forward.
1.
And being thorowly kick'd, laughs at the kicker.
2
So much for us; proceed.
1.
And in this beaten scorn, as I may call it, Delivers up his weapon; where lies the error?
Bes.
It lies i'th' beating Sir, I found it four dayes since.
2.
The error, and a sore one as I take it, Lies in the thing kicking.
Bes.
I understand that well, 'tis so indeed Sir.
1.
That is according to the man that did it.
2.
There springs a new branch, whose was the foot?
Bes.
A Lords.
1.
The cause is mighty, but had it been two Lords, And both had kick'd you, if you laugh, 'tis clear.
Bes.
I did laugh, But how will that help me, Gentlemen?
2.
Yes, it shall help you if you laught aloud.
Bes.
As loud as a kick'd man could laugh, I laught Sir.
1.
My reason now, the valiant man is known By suffering and contemning; you have Enough of both, and you are valiant.
2.
If he be sure he has been kick'd enough: For that brave sufferance you speak of brother, Consists not in a beating and away, But in a cudgell'd body, from eighteen To eight and thirty; in a head rebuk'd With pots of all size, degrees, stools, and bed-staves, This showes a valiant man.
Bes.
Then I am valiant, as valiant as the proudest, For these are all familiar things to me; Familiar as my sleep, or want of money, All my whole body's but one bruise with beating, I think I have been cudgell'd with all nations, And almost all Religions.
2.
Embrace him brother, this man is valiant, I know it by my self, he's valiant.
1.
Captain, thou art a valiant Gentleman, To bide upon, a very valiant man.
Bes.
My equall friends o'th'Sword, I must request your hands to this.
2.
'Tis fit it should be.
Bes.
Boy, get me some wine, and pen and Ink within: Am I clear, Gentlemen?
1.
Sir, the world has taken notice what we have done, Make much of your body, for I'll pawn my steel, Men will be coyer of their legs hereafter.
Bes.
I must request you goe along and testife to the Lord Bacurius, whose foot has struck me, how you find my cause.
2.
We will, and tell that Lord he must be rul'd, Or there are those abroad, will rule his Lordship.
[Exeunt.
Enter Arbaces at one door, and Gob. and Panthea at another.
Gob.
Sir, here's the Princess.
Arb.
Leave us then alone, For the main cause of her imprisonment Must not be heard by any but her self.
[Exit Gob.
You're welcome Sister, and would to heaven I could so bid you by another name: If you above love not such sins as these, Circle my heart with thoughts as cold as snow To quench these rising flames that harbour here.
[P]an.
Sir, does it please you I should speak?
Arb.
Please me? I, more than all the art of musick can, Thy speech doth please me, for it ever sounds, As thou brought'st joyfull unexpected news; And yet it is not fit thou shouldst be heard. I pray thee think so.
Pan.
Be it so, I will. Am I the first that ever had a wrong So far from being fit to have redress, That 'twas unfit to hear it? I will back To prison, rather than disquiet you, And wait till it be fit.
Arb.
No, do not goe; For I will hear thee with a serious thought: I have collected all that's man about me Together strongly, and I am resolv'd To hear thee largely, but I do beseech thee, Do not come nearer to me, for there is Something in that, that will undoe us both.
Pan.
Alas Sir, am I venome?
Arb.
Yes, to me; Though of thy self I think thee to be In equall degree of heat or cold, As nature can make: yet as unsound men Convert the sweetest and the nourishing'st meats Into diseases; so shall I distemper'd, Do thee, I pray thee draw no nearer to me.
Pan.
Sir, this is that I would: I am of late Shut from the world, and why it should be thus, Is all I wish to know.
Arb.
Why credit me Panthea, Credit me that am thy brother, Thy loving brother, that there is a cause Sufficient, yet unfit for thee to know, That might undoe thee everlastingly, Only to hear, wilt thou but credit this? By Heaven 'tis true, believe it if thou canst.
Pan.
Children and fools are ever credulous, And I am both, I think, for I believe; If you dissemble, be it on your head; I'le back unto my prison: yet me-thinks I might be kept in some place where you are; For in my self, I find I know not what To call it, but it is a great desire To see you often.
Arb.
Fie, you come in a step, what do you mean? Dear sister, do not so: Alas Panthea, Where I am would you be? Why that's the cause You are imprison'd, that you may not be Where I am.
Pan.
Then I must indure it Sir, Heaven keep you.
Arb.
Nay, you shall hear the case in short Panthea, And when thou hear'st it, thou wilt blush for me, And hang thy head down like a Violet Full of the mornings dew: There is a way To gain thy freedome, but 'tis such a one As puts thee in worse bondage, and I know, Thou wouldst encounter fire, and make a proof Whether the gods have care of innocence,
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