A KING, AND NO KING. By Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher Persons Represented in the Play. Arbaces, _King_ of Iberia. Tigranes, _King of_ Armenia. Gobrias, _Lord Protector, and Father of_ Arbaces. Bacurius, _another Lord_. Mardonius.) Bessus, ) _Two Captains_ Ligo[n]es, _Father of_ Spaconia. _Two Gentlemen_. _Three Men and a Woman_. Philip, _a servant, and two Citizens Wives_. _A Messenger_. _A Servant to_ Bacurius. _Two Sword-men_. _A Boy_. Arane, ) _The [Queen-Mother_. Panthea,) _Her Daughter_. Spaconia,) _A Lady Daughter of_ Ligones Mandane,) _A waiting woman, and other attendants_. * * * * * _Actus primus. Scena prima_. * * * * * _Enter_ Mardonius _and_ Bessus, _Two Captains_. _Mar_. _Bessus_, the King has made a fair hand on't, he has ended the Wars at a blow, would my sword had a close basket hilt to hold Wine, and the blade would make knives, for we shall have nothing but eating and drinking. _Bes_. We that are Commanders shall do well enough. _Mar_. Faith _Bessus_, such Commanders as thou may; I had as lieve set thee Perdue for a pudding i'th' dark, as _Alexander_ the Great. _Bes_. I love these jests exceedingly. _Mar_. I think thou lov'st 'em better than quarrelling _Bessus_, I'le say so much i'thy behalf, and yet thou 'rt valiant enough upon a retreat, I think thou wouldst kill any man that stopt thee if thou couldst. _Bes_. But was not this a brave Combate _Mardonius_? _Mar_. Why, didst thou see't? _Bes_. You stood wi'me. _Mar_. I did so, but me thought thou wink'dst every blow they strook. _Bes_. Well, I believe there are better souldiers than I, that never saw two Princes fight in lists. _Mar_. By my troth I think so too _Bessus_, many a thousand, but certainly all that are worse than thou have seen as much. _Bes_. 'Twas bravely done of our King. _Mar_. Yes, if he had not ended the wars: I'me glad thou dar'st talk of such dangerous businesses. _Bes_. To take a Prince prisoner in the heart of's own Country in single combat. _Mar_. See how thy blood curdles at this, I think thou couldst be contented to be beaten i'this passion. _Bes_. Shall I tell you truly? _Mar_. I. _Bes_. I could willingly venture for't. _Mar_. Um, no venture neither _Bessus_. _Bes_. Let me not live, if I do not think 'tis a braver piece of service than that I'me so fam'd for. _Mar_. Why, art thou fam'd for any valour? _Bes_. Fam'd! I, I warrant you. _Mar_. I'me e'en heartily glad on't, I have been with thee e're since thou cam'st to th'wars, and this is the first word that ever I heard on't, prethee who fames thee. _Bes_. The Christian world. _Mar_. 'Tis heathenishly done of'em in my conscience, thou deserv'st it not. _Bes_. Yes, I ha' don good service. _Mar_.