A King, and No King Part 36

_Gob_.

Sir, here's the Princess.

_Arb_.

Leave us then alone, For the main cause of her imprisonment Must not be heard by any but her self.

[_Exit_ Gob.

You're welcome Sister, and would to heaven I could so bid you by another name: If you above love not such sins as these, Circle my heart with thoughts as cold as snow To quench these rising flames that harbour here.

_ [P]an_.

Sir, does it please you I should speak?

_Arb_.

Please me?

I, more than all the art of musick can, Thy speech doth please me, for it ever sounds, As thou brought'st joyfull unexpected news; And yet it is not fit thou shouldst be heard.

I pray thee think so.

_Pan_.

Be it so, I will.

Am I the first that ever had a wrong So far from being fit to have redress, That 'twas unfit to hear it? I will back To prison, rather than disquiet you, And wait till it be fit.

_Arb_.

No, do not goe; For I will hear thee with a serious thought: I have collected all that's man about me Together strongly, and I am resolv'd To hear thee largely, but I do beseech thee, Do not come nearer to me, for there is Something in that, that will undoe us both.

_Pan_.

Alas Sir, am I venome?

_Arb_.

Yes, to me; Though of thy self I think thee to be In equall degree of heat or cold, As nature can make: yet as unsound men Convert the sweetest and the nourishing'st meats Into diseases; so shall I distemper'd, Do thee, I pray thee draw no nearer to me.

_Pan_.

Sir, this is that I would: I am of late Shut from the world, and why it should be thus, Is all I wish to know.

_Arb_.

Why credit me _Panthea_, Credit me that am thy brother, Thy loving brother, that there is a cause Sufficient, yet unfit for thee to know, That might undoe thee everlastingly, Only to hear, wilt thou but credit this?

By Heaven 'tis true, believe it if thou canst.

_Pan_.

Children and fools are ever credulous, And I am both, I think, for I believe; If you dissemble, be it on your head; I'le back unto my prison: yet me-thinks I might be kept in some place where you are; For in my self, I find I know not what To call it, but it is a great desire To see you often.

_Arb_.

Fie, you come in a step, what do you mean?

Dear sister, do not so: Alas _Panthea_, Where I am would you be? Why that's the cause You are imprison'd, that you may not be Where I am.

_Pan_.

Then I must indure it Sir, Heaven keep you.

_Arb_.

Nay, you shall hear the case in short _Panthea_, And when thou hear'st it, thou wilt blush for me, And hang thy head down like a Violet Full of the mornings dew: There is a way To gain thy freedome, but 'tis such a one As puts thee in worse bondage, and I know, Thou wouldst encounter fire, and make a proof Whether the G.o.ds have care of innocence, Rather than follow it: Know that I have lost, The only difference betwixt man and beast, My reason.

_Pan_.

Heaven forbid.

_Arb_.

Nay 'tis gone; And I am left as far without a bound, As the wild Ocean, that obeys the winds; Each sodain pa.s.sion throwes me where it lists, And overwhelms all that oppose my will: I have beheld thee with a l.u.s.tfull eye; My heart is set on wickedness to act Such sins with thee, as I have been afraid To think of, if thou dar'st consent to this, Which I beseech thee do not, thou maist gain Thy liberty, and yield me a content; If not, thy dwelling must be dark and close, Where I may never see thee; For heaven knows That laid this punishment upon my pride, Thy sight at some time will enforce my madness To make a start e'ne to thy ravishing; Now spit upon me, and call all reproaches Thou canst devise together, and at once Hurle'em against me: for I am a sickness As killing as the plague, ready to seize thee.

_Pan_.

Far be it from me to revile the King: But it is true, that I shall rather choose To search out death, that else would search out me, And in a grave sleep with my innocence, Than welcome such a sin: It is my fate, To these cross accidents I was ordain'd, And must have patience; and but that my eyes Have more of woman in 'em than my heart, I would not weep: Peace enter you again.

_Arb_.

Farwell, and good _Panthea_ pray for me, Thy prayers are pure, that I may find a death However soon before my pa.s.sions grow That they forget what I desire is sin; For thither they are tending: if that happen, Then I shall force thee tho' thou wert a Virgin By vow to Heaven, and shall pull a heap Of strange yet uninvented sin upon me.

_Pan_.

Sir, I will pray for you, yet you shall know It is a sullen fate that governs us, For I could wish as heartily as you I were no sister to you, I should then Imbrace your lawfull love, sooner than health.

_Arb_.

Couldst thou affect me then?

_Pan_.

So perfectly, That as it is, I ne're shall sway my heart, To like another.

_Arb_.

Then I curse my birth, Must this be added to my miseries That thou art willing too? is there no stop To our full happiness, but these meer sounds Brother and Sister?

_Pan_.

There is nothing else, But these alas will separate us more Than twenty worlds betwixt us.