A King, and No King, Francis Beaumont & John Fletcher [best books for 20 year olds .TXT] 📗

First know our last King your supposed Father Was olde and feeble when he marryed her, And almost all the Land as shee past hope Of issue from him.

Arb.

Therefore shee tooke leave To play the whoore, because the King was old: Is this the comfort?

Ara.

What will you find out To give me satisfaction, when you find How you have injur'd me: let fire consume mee, If ever I were whore.

Gob.

Forbeare these starts, Or I will leave you wedded to despaire, As you are now: if you can find a temper, My breath shall be a pleasant westerne wind, That cooles, and blastes not.

Arb.

Bring it out good Father, He lie, artd listen here as reverentlie As to an Angell: If I breathe too loude, Tell me; for I would be as still as night.

Gob.

Our King I say was old, and this our Queene Desired to bring an heire; but yet her husband Shee thought was past it, and to be dishonest I thinke shee would not; if shee would have beene, The truth is, shee was watcht so narrowlie, And had so slender opportunitie, Shee hardly could have beene: But yet her cunning Found out this way; shee fain'd her selfe with child, And postes were sent in haste throughout the Land, And God was humbly thankt in every Church, That so had blest the Queen, and prayers were made For her safe going, and deliverie: Shee fain'd now to grow bigger, and perceiv'd This hope of issue made her feard, and brought A farre more large respect from everie man. And saw her power increase, and was resolv'd, Since shee believ'd shee could not have't indeede; At least shee would be thought to have a child.

Arb.

Doe I not heare it well: nay, I will make No noise at all; but pray you to the point, Quicke as you can.

Gob.

Now when the time was full, Shee should be brought abed; I had a sonne Borne, which was you: This the Queene hearing of, Mov'd me to let her have you, and such reasons Shee shewed me, as shee knew would tie My secresie: shee sware you should be King; And to be short, I did deliver you Unto her, and pretended you were dead; And in mine owne house kept a Funerall, And had an emptie coffin put in earth: That night the Queene fain'd hastilie to labour, And by a paire of women of her owne, Which shee had charm'd, shee made the world believe Shee was deliver'd of you: you grew up As the Kings sonne, till you were six yeere olde; Then did the King die, and did leave to me Protection of the Realme; and contrarie To his owne expectation, left this Queene Truly with Childe indeed of the faire Princesse Panthea: Then shee could have torne her heire, And did alone to me yet durst not speake In publike; for shee knew shee should be found A Traytor, and her talke would have beene thought Madnesse or any thing rather then truth: This was the onely cause why shee did seeke To poyson you, and I to keepe you safe: And this the reason why I sought to kindle Some sparke of love in you to faire Panthea, That shee might get part of her right agen.

Arb.

And have you made an end now, is this all? If not, I will be still till I am aged, Till all my heires are silver.

Gob.

This is all.

Arb.

And is it true say you Maddam?

Ara.

Yes, God knowes it is most true.

Arb.

Panthea then is not my Sister.

Gob.

No.

Arb.

But can you prove this?

[Gob.]

If you will give consent: else who dare goe about it.

Arb.

Give consent? Why I will have them all that know it rackt To get this from um: All that waites without Come in, what ere you be come in, and be Partakers of my Joy: O you are welcome.

Ent. Mar: Bessus, and others.

Mardonius the best newes, nay, draw no neerer They all shall heare it: I am found no King.

Mar.

Is that so good newes?

Art.

Yes, the happiest newes that ere was heard.

Mar.

Indeed twere well for you, If you might be a little lesse obey'd.

Arb.

On, call the Queene.

Mar.

Why she is there.

Arb.

The Queene Mardonius, Panthea is the Queene, And I am plaine Arbaces, goe some one, She is in Gobrius house; since I saw you There are a thousand things delivered to me You little dreame of.

Mar.

So it should seeme: My Lord, What furi's this.

Gob.

Beleeve me tis no fury, All that he sayes is truth.

Mar.

Tis verie strange.

Arb.

Why doe you keepe your hats off Gentlemen, Is it to me? in good faith it must not be: I cannot now command you, but I pray you For the respect you bare me, when you tooke Me for your King, each man clap on his hat at my desire.

Mar.

We will: but you are not found So meane a man, but that you may be cover'd As well as we, may you not?

Arb.

O not here, You may, but not I, for here is my Father in presence.

Mar.

Where?

Arb.

Why there: O the whole storie Would be a wildernesse to loose thy selfe For ever; O pardon me deare Father, For all the idle, and unreverent words That I have spoke in idle moodes to you: I am Arbaces, we all fellow subjects, Nor is the Queene Panthea now my Sister.

Bes.

Why if you remember fellow subject Arbaces, I tolde you once she was not your sister, I say she look't nothing like you.

Arb.

I thinke you did good Captaine Bessus.

Bes.

Here will arise another question now amongst the Swordmen, whether I be to call him to account for beating me, now he's prov'd no King.

Enter Ligones.

Ma.

Sir, heres Ligones The Agent for the Armenian King.

Arb.

Where is he, I know your businesse good Ligones.

Lig.

We must have our King againe, and will.

Arb.

I knew that was your businesse, you shall have You King againe, and have him so againe As never King was had. Goe one of you And bid Bacurius bring Tigranes hither, And bring the Ladie with him, that Panthea The Queene Panthea sent me word this morning Was brave Tigranes mistresse.

Lig.

Tis Spaconia.

Arb.

I, I, Spaconia.

Lig.

She is my daughter.

Arb.

Shee is so, I could now tell any thing I never heard; your King shall goe so home As never man went.

Mar.

Shall he goe on's head?

Arb.

He shall have Chariots easier than ayre That I will have invented; and nere thinke He shall pay any ransome; and thy selfe That art the Messenger shall ride before him On a Horse cut out of an entire Diamond, That shall be made to goe with golden wheeles, I know not how yet.

Lig.

Why I shall be made For ever, they belied this King with us And sayd he was unkind.

Arb.

And then thy daughter, She shall have some strange thinke, wele have the Kingdome Sold utterly, and put into a toy. Which she shall weare about her carelesly Some where or other. See the vertuous Queene.

Enter Pan.

Behold the humblest subject that you have Kneele here before you. Pan. Why kneele you To me that am your vassall?

Arb.

Grant me one request.

Pan.

Alas, what can I grant you? What I can I will.

Arb.

That you will please to marry me, If I can prove it lawfull.

Pan.

Is that all? More willingly, then I would draw this ayre.

Arb.

Ile kisse this hand in earnest.

Mar.

Sir, Tigranes is comming though he made it strange To see the Princesse any more.

Arb.

The Queene,

Enter Tig. and Spa.

Thou meanest: O my Tigranes pardon me, Tread on my necke I freely offer it, And if thou beest so given; take revenge, For I have injur'd thee.

Tig.

No, I forgive, And rejoice more that you have found repentance, Then I my libertie.

Arb.

Maist thou be happie In thy faire choice; for thou art temperate: You owe no ransome to the state, know that; I have a thousand joyes to tell you of, Which yet I dare not utter, till I pay My thankes to Heaven for um: will you goe With me, and helpe me; pray you doe.

Tig.

I will.

Arb.

Take then your faire one with you and your Queene Of goodnesse, and of us; O give me leave To take your arme in mine: Come every one That takes delight in goodnesse, helpe to sing Loude thankes for me, that I am prov'd no King.

FINIS.
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Publication Date: 08-10-2010

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