Arc. Ha, keep off.
Phi. What mean you, Sir?
Lis. We are your friends.
Arc. I know your faces, but
Am not secure, I would not be betraid.
Lis. You wrong our hearts, who truly honor you.
Arc. They say I must be kill'd.
Phi. By whom?
Arc. I know not, nor wou'd I part with life so tamely.
Phi. We dare engage ours in your quarrel, hide
Your sword, it may beget suspition,
It's enough to question you.
Arc. I am confident;
Pray pardon me, come, I despise all danger:
Yet a dear friend of mine, my Uncle told me
He would not see my body full of wounds.
Lis. Your Uncle, this is strange.
Arc. Yes, my honest Uncle,
If my unlucky Stars have pointed me
So dire a fate.
Phi. There is some strange mistake in't.
Enter Antigonus.
Ant. Arcadius, the Queen would speak with you,
You must make haste.
[Ar[c].] Though to my death, I flie
Upon her summons I give up my breath
Then willingly, if she command it from me.
Phi. This does a little trouble me.
Lis. I know not
What to imagine, something is the ground
Of this perplexity, but I hope there is not
Any such danger as he apprehends.
Enter Queen, Lisimachus, Macarius, Eubulus, Seleucus, Arcadius, [Ladies, Attendants and Gent.]
Qu. We have already granted to Seleucus
And they shall try their valour, if Arcadius
Have spirit in him to accept the challenge,
Our Royal word is past.
Phi. This is strange.
Eub. Madam, my son knew not what he ask'd,
And you were cruel to consent so soon.
Mac. Wherein have I offended, to be rob'd
At once, of all the wealth I have, Arcadius
Is part of me.
Eub. [Seleucus's] life and mine
Are twisted on one thred, both stand or fall
Together, hath the service for my Countrey
Deserved but this reward, to be sent weeping
To my eternal home? Was't not enough
When I was young, to lose my bloud in wars,
But the poor remnant that is scarcely warm
And faintly creeping through my wither'd veins
Must be let out to make you sport.
Mac. How can
We, that shall this morn see the sacred oyl,
Fall on your Virgin tresses, hope for any
Protection hereafter, when this day
You sacrifice the blood of them that pray for you.
Arcadius, I prethee speak thy self,
It is for thee I plead.
Eub. Seleucus, kneel
And say thou hast repented thy rash suit;
If e'er I see thee fight, I be thus wounded,
How will the least drop forc'd from thy veins,
Afflict my heart.
Mac. Why, that's good;
Arcadius, speak to her; hear him Madam.
Arc. If you call back this honor you have done me
I shall repent I live, doe not perswade me:
Seleucus, thou art a noble enemy,
And I will love thy soul, though I despair
Our bodies friendly conversation:
I would we were to tugg upon some cliffe,
Or like two prodigies i'th' air, our conflict
Might generally be gaz'd at, and our bloud
Appease our grandsires ashes.
Mac. I am undone.
Sel. Madam, my father says I have offended,
If so, I beg your pardon, but beseech you
For your own glory, call not back your word.
Eub. They are both mad.
Qu. No more, we have resolv'd,
And since their courage is so nobly flam'd,
This morning we'll behold the Champions
Within the List, be not afraid, their strife
Will stretch so far as death, so soon as we
Are Crown'd, prepare your selves, Seleucus. [Kisses her hand.
Sel. I have receiv'd another life in this high favour,
And may lose what nature gave me.
Qu. Arcadius, to encourage thy young valour,
We give thee our Fathers sword.
Command it from our Armory; Lisimachus,
To our Coronation. [Exeunt.
Sel. I'll forfeit
My head for a rebellion, than suffer it. [Exit.
Arc. I am circled with confusions, I'll do somewhat
My brains and friends assist me. [Exit.
Phi. But do you think they'll fight indeed?
Lis. Perhaps
Her Majesty will see a bout or two.
And yet 'tis wondrous strange, such spectacles
Are rare i'th' Court, and they were to skirmish naked
Before her, then there might be some excuse.
There is gimcracks in't, the Queen is wise
Above her years.
Phi. Macarius is perplex'd.
Enter Eubulus.
Lis. I cannot blame him, but my Lord Eubulus
Returns, they are both troubled, 'las good men,
But our duties are expected, we forget. [Ex. Phil. Lis.
Eub. I must resolve, and yet things are not ripe,
My brains upon the torture.
Mac. This may quit
The hazard of his person, whose least drop
Of blood, is worth more than our families.
My Lord Eubulus, I have thought a way
To stay the young mens desperate proceedings,
It is our cause they fight, let us beseech
The Queen, to grant us two the priviledge
Of Duel, rather than expose their lives
To eithers fury; it were pity they
Should run upon so black a destiny,
We are both old, and may be spar'd, a pair
Of fruitless trees, mossie, and wither'd trunks,
That fill up too much room.
Eub. Most willingly,
And I will praise her charity to allow it;
I have not yet [forg[o]t] to use a sword,
Let's lose no time, by this act, she will licence
Our souls to leave our bodies but a day,
Perhaps an hour the sooner; they may live
To do her better service, and be friends
When we are dead, and yet I have no hope
This will be granted, curse upon our faction.
Mac. If she deny us—
Eub. What?
Mac. I wou'd do somewhat—
Eub. There's something o' th' suddain struck upon
My imagination that may secure us.
Mac. Name it, if no dishonor wait upon't
To preserve them, I'll accept any danger.
Eub. There is no other way, and yet my heart
Would be excus'd, but 'tis to save his life.
Mac. Speak it Eubulus.
Eub. In your ear I shall,
It sha'not make a noise if you refuse it.
Mac. Hum? though it stir my bloud, I'll meet Arcadius,
If this preserve thee not, I must unseal
Another mistery. [Exit.
Enter Queen, Lisimachus, Cassander, Charilla, Lisander, Philocles, Antigonus.
Qu. We owe to all your loves, and will deserve
At least by our endeavours, that none may
This day repent their prayers, my Lord Protector.
Cas. Madam, I have no
Such Title now, and am blest to lose
That name so happily: I was but trusted
With a glorious burden.
Qu. You have prov'd
Your self our faithful Counsellor, and must still
Protect our growing state: a Kingdoms Scepter
Weighs down a womans arm, this Crown sits heavy
Upon my brow already, and we know
There's something more than mettal in this wreath,
Of shining glory, but your faith, and counsel,
That are familiar with mysteries,
And depths of state, have power to make us fit
For such a bearing, in which both you shall
Doe loyal service, and reward your Duties.
Cas. Heaven preserve your Highness.
Qu. But yet my Lords and Gentlemen, let none
Mistake me, that because I urge your wisdoms,
I shall grow careless, and impose on you
The managing of this great Province, no,
We will be active too, and as we are
In dignity above your persons, so,
The greatest portion of the difficulties
We call to us, you in your several places
Relieving us with your experience,
Observing in your best directions
All modesty, and distance; for although
We are but young, no action shall forfeit
Our royal priviledge, or encourage any
Too unreverent boldness; as it will become
Our honor to consult, e'r we determine
Of the most necessary things of state,
So we are sensible of a check,
But in a brow, that saucily controuls
Our action, presuming on our years
As few, or frailty of our sex; that head
Is not secure, that dares our power or justice.
Phi. She has a brave spirit, look how the Protector
Grows pale already.
Qu. But I speak to you
Are perfect in obedience, and may spare
This Theme, yet 'twas no [immat[eriall]
Part of our character, since I desire
All should take notice, I have studied
The knowledge of my self, by which I shall
Better distinguish of your worth and persons
In your relations to us.
Lis. This language
Is but a threatening to some body.
Qu. But we miss some, that use not to absent
Their duties from us, where's Macarius?
Cas. Retir'd to grieve, your Majesty hath given
Consent, Arcadius should enter [the] List
To day with young Seleucus.
Qu. We [purpose]
Enter Gentleman.