John Fletcher - A King, and No King

Spa .

'Tis by me his own desire so, that you would not love him.

Pan .

His own desire! why credit me Thalestris, I am no common wooer: if he shall wooe me, his worth may be such, that I dare not swear I will not love him; but if he will stay to have me wooe him, I will promise thee, he may keep all his graces to himself, and fear no ravishing from me.

Spa .

'Tis yet his own desire, but when he sees your face, I fear it will not be; therefore I charge you as you have pity, stop these tender ears from his enchanting voice, close up those eyes, that you may neither catch a dart from him, nor he from you; I charge you as you hope to live in quiet; for when I am dead, for certain I will walk to visit him if he break promise with me: for as fast as Oaths without a formal Ceremony can make me, I am to him.

Spa .

Indeed it is not, Spaconia is my name; but I desire not to be known to other.

Pan .

Why, by me you shall not, I will never do you wrong, what good I can, I will, think not my birth or education such, that I should injure a stranger Virgin; you are welcome hither, in company you wish to be commanded, but when we are alone, I shall be ready to be your servant.

[ Exeunt .

Enter three Men and a Woman .

1 .

Come, come, run, run, run.

2 .

We shall out-go her.

3 .

One were better be hang'd than carry out women fidling to these shews.

Wom .

Is the King hard by?

1 .

You heard he with the Bottles said, he thought we should come too late: What abundance of people here is!

Wom .

But what had he in those Bottles?

3 .

I know not.

2 .

Why, Ink goodman fool.

3 .

Ink, what to do?

Wom .

Let's take our places, we shall have no room else.

2 .

The man told us he would walk o' foot through the people.

3 .

I marry did he.

1 .

Our shops are well look't to now.

2 .

'Slife, yonder's my Master, I think.

1 .

No 'tis not he.

Enter a man with two Citizens-wives.

1 Cit .

Lord how fine the fields be, what sweet living 'tis in the

Country!

2 Cit .

I poor souls, God help 'em; they live as contentedly as one of us.

1 Cit .

My husbands Cousin would have had me gone into the Country last year, wert thou ever there?

2 Cit .

I, poor souls, I was amongst 'em once.

1 Cit .

And what kind of creatures are they, for love of God?

2 Cit .

Very good people, God help 'em.

1 Cit .

Wilt thou go down with me this Summer when I am brought to bed?

2 Cit .

Alas, it is no place for us.

1 Cit .

Why, pray thee?

2 Cit .

Why you can have nothing there, there's no body cryes brooms.

1 Cit .

No?

2 Cit .

No truly, nor milk.

1 Cit .

Nor milk, how do they?

2 Cit .

They are fain to milk themselves i'th' Country.

1 Cit .

Good Lord! but the people there, I think, will be very dutiful to one of us.

2 Cit .

I God knows will they, and yet they do not greatly care for our husbands.

1 Cit .

Do they not? Alas! I'good faith I cannot blame them: for we do not greatly care for them our selves. Philip , I pray choose us a place.

Phil .

There's the best forsooth.

1 Cit .

By your leave good people a little.

3 .

What's the matter?

Phil .

I pray you my friend, do not thrust my Mistress so, she's with

Child.

2 .

Let her look to her self then, has she not had showing enough yet? if she stay shouldring here, she may haps go home with a cake in her belly.

3 .

How now, goodman squitter-breech, why do you lean on me?

Phi .

Because I will.

3 .

Will you Sir sawce-box?

1 Cit .

Look if one ha'not struck Philip , come hither Philip , why did he strike thee?

Phil .

For leaning on him.

1 Cit .

Why didst thou lean on him?

Phil .

I did not think he would have struck me.

1 Cit .

As God save me la thou'rt as wild as a Buck, there's no quarel but thou'rt at one end or other on't.

3 .

It's at the first end then, for he'l ne'r stay the last.

1 Cit .

Well slip-string, I shall meet with you.

3 .

When you will.

1 Cit .

I'le give a crown to meet with you.

3 .

At a Bawdy-house.

1 Cit .

I you're full of your Roguery; but if I do meet you it shall cost me a fall.

Flourish. Enter one running .

4

The King, the King, the King. Now, now, now, now.

Flourish. Enter Arb. Tigr. The two Kings and Mardonius.

All .

God preserve your Majesty.

Arb .

I thank you all, now are my joyes at full, when I behold you safe, my loving Subjects; by you I grow, 'tis your united love that lifts me to this height: all the account that I can render you for all the love you have bestowed on me, all your expences to maintain my war, is but a little word, you will imagine 'tis slender paiment, yet 'tis such a word, as is not to be bought but with your bloods, 'tis Peace.

All .

God preserve your Majesty.

All .

God bless your Majesty.

Arb .

See all good people, I have brought the man whose very name you fear'd, a captive home; behold him, 'tis Tigranes ; in your heart sing songs of gladness, and deliverance.

1 Cit .

Out upon him.

2 Cit .

How he looks.

3 Wom .

Hang him, hang him.

Mar .

These are sweet people.

Tigr .

Sir, you do me wrong, to render me a scorned spectacle to common people.

Arb .

It was so far from me to mean it so: if I have ought deserv'd, my loving Subjects, let me beg of you, not to revile this Prince, in whom there dwells all worth of which the name of a man is capable, valour beyond compare, the terrour of his name has stretcht it self where ever there is sun; and yet for you I fought with him single, and won him too; I made his valour stoop, and brought that name soar'd to so unbeliev'd a height, to fall beneath mine: this inspir'd with all your loves, I did perform, and will for your content, be ever ready for a greater work.