Kings and rulers -- Drama; Political plays; Tragicomedy
Justice, thou ought'st to give me strength enough
To shake all these off; This is tyrannie,
_Arbaces_, sutler than the burning Bulls,
Or that fam'd _Titans_ bed. Thou mightst as well
Search i'th' deep of Winter through the snow
For half starv'd 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_ Tigr. _And_ Bac.
_Spa_.
I ne're rejoyc'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?
_Arb_.
By no means _Gobrias_, I have done her wrong,
And made my self believe much of my self,
That is not in me: You did kneel to me,
Whilest 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.
_Pan_.
O you wrong me more in this,
Than in your rage you did: you mock me now.
_Arb_.
Never forgive me then, which is the worst
Can happen to me.
_Pan_.
If you be in earnest,
Stand up and give me but a gentle look,
And two kind words, and I shall be in heaven.
_Arb_.
Rise you then to hear; I acknowledge thee
My hope, the only jewel of my life,
The best of Sisters, dearer than my breath,
A happiness as high as I could think;
And when my actions call thee otherwise,
Perdition light upon me.
_Pan_.
This is better
Than if you had not frown'd, it comes to me,
Like mercie 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 intice my self 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, doe it.
_Gob_.
Good Sir.
_Arb_.
No more, doe it I say.
_Mard_.
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 prisoner, 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
All this that I have said, if I may live
So long; but I am desperately sick,
For she has given me poison in a kiss;
She had't betwixt her lips, and with her eyes
She witches people: go without a word.
[_Exeunt_ Gob. Pan. Bes. _And_ Spaconia.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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