Bessus , the King has made a fair hand o n'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 . Faith Bessus , such Commanders as thou may ; I had as lieve set thee Perdue for a pudding i'th ’ dark , as Alexander the Great . 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 . Why , didst thou see't ? I did so , but me thought thou wink'dst every blow they strook . By my troth I think so too Bessus , many a thousand , but certainly all that are worse than thou have seen as much . Yes , if he had not ended the wars : I'me glad thou dar'st talk of such dangerous businesses . See how thy blood curdles at this , I think thou couldst be contented to be beaten i'this passion . I . Um , no venture neither Bessus . Why , art thou fam 'd for any valour ? I'me e'en heartily glad o n'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 o n't , prethee who fames thee . ‘ Tis heathenishly done of'em in my conscience , thou deserv'st it not . I do not know how thou mayst wait of a man in 's Chamber , or thy agility of shifting of a Trencher , but otherwise no service good Bessus . Not so hasty sweet Bessus , where was it , is the place vanish 'd ? At Bessus desp'rate redemption , where 's that ? Pray thee , who Christened it ? If I were not a very merrily dispos 'd man , what would become of thee ? one that had but a grain of choler in the whole composition of his body , would send thee of an errand to the worms for putting thy name upon that field : did not I beat thee there i'th ’ head o'th ’ Troops with a Trunchion , because thou wouldst needs run away with thy company , when we should charge the enemy ? Right Bessus , I beat thee out o n't . Thou knowest , and so do I , thou meanedst to flie , and thy fear making thee mistake , thou ranst upon the enemy , and a hot charge thou gav'st , as I'le do thee right , thou art furious in running away , and I think , we owe thy fear for our victory ; If I were the King , and were sure thou wouldst mistake alwaies and run away upon th ’ enemy , thou shouldst be General by this light . No more such words dear Bessus , for though I have ever known thee a coward , and therefore durst never strike thee , yet if thou proceedest , I will allow thee valiant , and beat thee . He is so Bessus , I wonder how thou cam'st to know it . But if thou wer't a man of understanding , I would tell thee , he is vain-glorious , and humble , and angry , and patient , and merry and dull , and joyful and sorrowful in extremity in an hour : Do not think me thy friend for this , for if I ear 'd who knew it , thou shouldst not hear it Bessus . Here he is with his prey in his foot . Indeed this is none . So you do . ‘ Tis pity that valour should be thus drunk . I do I'le be sworn . Thy valour and thy passions sever 'd , would have made two excellent fellows in their kinds : I know not whether I should be sorry thou art so valiant , or so passionate , wou 'd one of ‘ em were away . And yet you conquer 'd him . When wert thou other ? Like a Taylor at a wake . By my troth thou wouldst ha ’ stunk ‘ em both out o'th ’ Lists . What Country Fence-school learn'st thou at ? Why you did , and you have talked enough o n't . Truth will offend you . You told Tigranes , you had won his Land , With that sole arm propt by Divinity : Was not that bragging , and a wrong to us , That daily ventured lives ? Sir . Sir shall I speak ? But will you hear me out ? Sir , that I have ever lov 'd you , my sword hath spoken for me ; that I do , if it be doubted , I dare call an oath , a great one to my witness ; and were you not my King , from amongst men , I should have chose you out to love above the rest : nor can this challenge thanks , for my own sake I should have done it , because I would have lov 'd the most deserving man , for so you are . Sir , you did promise you would hear me out . Though you have all this worth , you hold some qualities that do Eclipse your vertues . Yes , your passions , which are so manifold , that they appear even in this : when I commend you , you hug me for that truth : but when I speak your faults , you make a start , and flie the hearing but . However you will use me after , yet for your own promise sake , hear me the rest . Would you but leave these hasty tempers , which I do not say take from you all your worth , but darken ‘ em , then you will shine indeed . Yet I would have you keep some passions , lest men should take you for a God , your vertues are such . I never understood the word , were you no King , and free from these moods , should I choose a companion for wit and pleasure , it should be you ; or for honesty to enterchange my bosom with , it should be you ; or wisdom to give me counsel , I would pick out you ; or valour to defend my reputation , still I should find you out ; for you are fit to fight for all the world , if it could come in question : Now I have spoke , consider to your self , find out a use ; if so , then what shall fall to me is not material . Why ‘ tis no matter Sir . Why at the taking of a Town . Wench ! they respect not me , I 'm old and rough , and every limb about me , but that which should , grows stiffer , I'those businesses I may swear I am truly honest : for I pay justly for what I take , and would be glad to be at a certainty . I by this light do they . Yes faith . I ten shillings to me , every new young fellow they come acquainted with . Why I think I must petition to you . Your price ? That may be more than I'me worth . His blood goes back as fast . This is strange , Sir , how do you ? Is she dead ? Sir let her bear her sins on her own head , Vex not your self . I n'ere saw such suddain extremities . These are sweet people . Have you no life at all ? for man-hood sake Let her not kneel , and talk neglected thus ; A tree would find a tongue to answer her , Did she but give it such a lov 'd respect . What , is he mad ? S'light , there , are you blind ? O this is fine . Thou shou'dst be hang 'd . Is she so again ? that 's well . He has one ransome with him already ; me-thinks ‘ T were good to fight double , or quit . Here Sir . As you were . No Sir . And so I shall again . Pray you go rest your self . Yes I will . I'le move the King , he is most strangely alter 'd ; I guess the cause I fear too right , Heaven has some secret end i n't , and ‘ tis a scourge no question justly laid upon him : he has followed me through twenty Rooms ; and ever when I stay to wait his command , he blushes like a Girl , and looks upon me , as if modesty kept in his business : so turns away from me , but if I go on , he follows me again . Enter Arbaces . See , here he is . I do not use this , yet I know not how , I cannot chuse but weep to see him ; his very Enemies I think , whose wounds have bred his fame , if they should see him now , would find tears i'their eyes . How do you Sir ? Better than you I fear . Sir , either I mistake , or there is something hid That you would utter to me . Out with it Sir , if it be dangerous , I will not shrink to do you service , I shall not esteem my life a weightier matter than indeed it is , I know it is subject to more chances than it has hours , and I were better lose it in my Kings cause , than with an ague , or a fall , or sleeping , to a Thief ; as all these are probable enough : let me but know what I shall do for you . Yes Sir , I was . Yes . O say not so , You had an answer of this before ; Besides I think this business might Be utter 'd more carelesly . Well , and what ? That 's strange , I shall say nothing to her ? But what shall I make her understand ? You may , but I can only see her then . Is there no more ? Methinks this need not have been delivered with such a caution ; I'le do it . Sir , if I take upon me to deliver it , after I hear it , I'le pass through fire to do it . I hope you do not Sir . Why , I think she does . Why , I think there are few Wives that love their Husbands better than she does you . Yes , there 's your Ring again ; what have I done Dishonestly in my whole life , name it , That you should put so base a business to me ? Yes ; if I undertook it , but if all My hairs were lives , I would not be engag 'd In such a case to save my last life . Heaven grant you may be so : you must understand , nothing that you can utter , can remove my love and service from my Prince . But otherwise , I think I shall not love you more . For you are sinful , and if you do this crime , you ought to have no Laws . For after this , it will be great injustice in you to punish any offender for any crime . For my self I find my heart too big : I feel I have not patience to look on whilst you run these forbidden courses . Means I have none but your favour , and I am rather glad that I shall lose ‘ em both together , than keep ‘ em with such conditions ; I shall find a dwelling amongst some people , where though our Garments perhaps be courser , we shall be richer far within , and harbour no such vices in ‘ em : the Gods preserve you , and mend . There . Away you fool , the King is serious , And cannot now admit your vanities . If your enemies brought it to this , your enemies are Cutlers , come leave the King . Yes , but he has affairs , depart , or I shall be something unmannerly with you . Sir ? Indeed you are fitter for this present purpose . His fit begins to take him now again , ‘ Tis a strange Feaver , and ‘ twill shake us all anon , I fear , Would he were well cur 'd of this raging folly : Give me the warrs , where men are mad , and may talk what they list , and held the bravest fellows ; This pelting prating peace is good for nothing : drinking 's a vertue to't . This combat has undone him : if he had been well beaten , he had been temperate ; I shall never see him handsome again , till he have a Horse-mans staffe yok 'd thorow his shoulders , or an arm broken with a bullet . Now the clap comes . ‘ Tis well said , by my soul . Would Bessus were here to take her aside and search her , He would quickly tell you what she carried Sir . If this hold , ‘ twill be an ill world for Bawdes , Chamber-maids and Post-boyes , I thank heaven I have none I but his letters patents , things of his own enditing . This would make a Saint swear like a souldier . Sir , you have done well now . No . I have no letters Sir to anger you , But a dry sonnet of my Corporals To an old Suttlers wife , and that I 'll burn , Sir . ‘ Tis like to prove a fine age for the Ignorant . Yes , and I know you wo'not , or if you doe , you 'll miss it quickly . Who shall tell you of these childish follies When I am dead ? who shall put to his power To draw those vertues out of a flood of humors , When they are drown 'd , and make'em shine again ? No , cut my head off : Then you may talk , and be believed , and grow worse , And have your too self-glorious temper rot Into a deep sleep , and the Kingdom with you , Till forraign swords be in your throats , and slaughter Be every where about you like your flatterers . Do , kill me . There comes a good man , love him too , he 's temperate , You may live to have need of such a vertue , Rage is not still in fashion . This Love , or what a devil it is I know not , begets more mischief than a Wake . I had rather be well beaten , starv 'd , or lowsie , than live within the Air o n't . He that had seen this brave fellow Charge through a grove of Pikes but t'other day , and look upon him now , will ne'r believe his eyes again : if he continue thus but two days more , a Taylor may beat him with one hand tied behind him . Sir , the King has seen your Commission , and believes it , and freely by this warrant gives you power to visit Prince Tigranes , your Noble Master . But is the main of all your business ended in this ? You serve a worthy person , and a stranger I am sure you are ; you may imploy me if you please without your purse , such Offices should ever be their own rewards . I may have need of you , and then this courtesie , If it be any , is not ill bestowed ; But may I civilly desire the rest ? I shall not be a hurter if no helper . Stay there Sir : If he have reacht the Noble worth of Captain , He may well claim a worthy Gentlewoman , Though she were yours , and Noble . I confess such fellows Be in all Royal Camps , and have and must be , To make the sin of Coward more detested In the mean souldier that with such a foil Sets off much valour . By description I should now guess him to you , it was Bessus , I dare almost with confidence pronounce it . Captain do you call him ? Believe me Sir , you have a misery Too mighty for your age : A pox upon him , For that must be the end of all his service : Your Daughter was not mad Sir ? I would fain counsel you , but to what I know not , he 's so below a beating , that the Women find him not worthy of their Distaves , and to hang him were to cast away a Rope ; he 's such an Airie , thin unbodyed Coward , that no revenge can catch him : I'le tell you Sir , and tell you truth ; this Rascal fears neither God nor man , he has been so beaten : sufferance has made him Wainscot : he has had since he was first a slave , at least three hundred Daggers set in 's head , as little boys do new Knives in hot meat , there 's not a Rib in 's body o ’ my Conscience that has not been thrice broken with dry beating : and now his sides look like two Wicker Targets , every way bended ; Children will shortly take him for a Wall , and set their Stone-bows in his forehead , he is of so base a sense , I cannot in a week imagine what shall be done to him . ‘ Tis no great matter if you have not : if a Laming of him , or such a toy may do you pleasure Sir , he has it for you , and I'le help you to him : ‘ tis no news to him to have a Leg broken , or Shoulder out , with being turn 'd o'th ’ stones like a Tansie : draw not your Sword if you love it ; for on my Conscience his head will break it : we use him i'th ’ Wars like a Ram to shake a wall withal . Here comes the very person of him , do as you shall find your temper , I must leave you : but if you do not break him like a Bisket , you are much to blame Sir . What Tragedy is near ? That hand was never wont to draw a sword , but it cry 'd dead to something . How do you Sir ? Why Sir , are you thus ? why do your hands proclaim a lawless War against your self ? Sir he is . Sir , I have mark't . You are more variable than you were . To day no Hermit could be humbler than you were to us all . And now you take new rage into your eyes , as you would look us all out of the Land . Sir , I will speak . It is my duty . I fear you will kill your self : I am a subject , and you shall do me wrong i n't : ‘ tis my cause , and I may speak . I am sorry ‘ tis so ill . I pray you let me see your Sword put up before I go : I'le leave you then . Heaven put into your bosome temperate thoughts , I'le leave you though I fear . Is that so good news ? Indeed ‘ twere well for you if you might be a little less obey 'd . Why she is there . So it should seem my Lord , what fury 's this ? ‘ Tis very strange . We will , you are not found so mean a man , but that you may be cover 'd as well as we , may you not ? Where ? Sir here 's Lygones , the agent for the Armenian State . Shall he go on 's head ? Sir , the King has seene your Commission , and beleeves it , and freely by this warrant gives you leave to visit Prince Tigranes your noble Master . But is the maine of all your businesse Ended in this ? You serve a worthy person , and a stranger I am sure you are ; you may imploy mee if you please , without your purse , such Officers should ever be their owne rewards . I may have neede of you , and then this curtesie , If it be any , is not ill bestowed : But may I civilly desire the rest ? I shall not be a hurter , if no helper . Stay there Sir : If he have reacht the noble worth of Captaine , He may well claime a worthy gentlewoman , Though shee were yours , and noble . I confesse such fellowes Be in all royall Campes , and have , and must be To make the sinne of coward more detested In the meane Souldier , that with such a foyle Sets of much valour : By description I should now guesse him to you . It was Bessus , I dare almost with confidence pronounce it . Captaine , doe you call him ? Beleeve me Sir , you have a miserie Too mighty for your age : A pox upon him , For that must be the end of all his service : Your daughter was not mad Sir ? I would faine counsell you ; but to what I know not : Hee 's so below a beating , that the women Find him not worthy of their distaves ; and To hang him , were to cast away a rope , Hee 's such an ayrie thin unbodied coward , That no revenge can catch him : He tell you Sir , and tell you truth ; this rascall Feares neither God nor man , has beene so beaten : Sufferance has made him wanscote ; he has had Since hee was first a slave , at least three hundred daggers Set in his head , as little boyes doe new knives in hot meat ; Ther 's not a rib in 's bodie a my conscience , That has not beene thrice broken with drie beating ; And now his sides looke like to wicker targets , Everie way bended : Children will shortly take him for a wall , And set their stone-bowes in his forhead : is of so low a sence , I cannot in a weeke imagine what should be done to him . Tis no great matter if you have not , if a laming of him , or such a toy may doe you pleasure Sir , he has it for you , and Ile helpe you to him : tis no newes to him to have a leg broke , or a shoulder out , with being turnd ath ’ stones like a Tanzie : Draw not your sword , if you love it ; for my conscience his head will breake it : we use him ith ’ warres like a Ramme to shake a wall withall ; here comes the verie person of him , doe as you shall find your temper I must leave you : but if you doe not breake him like a bisket , you are much too blame Sir . Ex . Mardo . Enter Bessus and Sword-men . How doe you Sir ? Why Sir are you thus ? Why does your hand proclaime a lawlesse warre Against your selfe ? Sir he is . Arb . Tis well . I can forbeare your questions then , be gone Sir , I have markt . You are more variable then you were . To day no Hermit could be humblier Then you were to us all . And now you take new rage into your eies , As you would looke us all out of the Land . Sir I will speake . It is my dutie , I feare you will kill your selfe : I am a subject , And you shall doe me wrong i n't : tis my cause , And I may speake . I am sorrie tis so ill . I pray you let mee see your sword put up Before I goe ; Ile leave you then . God put into your bosome temperate thoughts , He leave you though I feare . Is that so good newes ? Indeed twere well for you , If you might be a little lesse obey 'd . Why she is there . So it should seeme : My Lord , What furi 's this . Tis verie strange . 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 ? Where ? Shall he goe on 's head ? Sir , Tigranes is comming though he made it strange To see the Princesse any more .