A King, and No King Part 1

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_ s.p.a.conia.

_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_.

s.p.a.conia,) _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_.