ElizabethanDrama.org

presents

the Annotated Popular Edition of

A KING and NO KING

by Francis Beaumont

amd John Fletcher

c. 1611

Featuring complete and easy-to-read annotations.

Annotations and notes © Copyright ElizabethanDrama.org, 2018
This annotated play may be freely copied and distributed.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.	INTRODUCTION to the PLAY
The Iberians:	A King and No King is a fine tragicomedy featuring one
	of Elizabethan literature's funniest characters, the cowardly
Arbaces, King of Iberia.	and obsequious Captain Bessus. More notably, this play is
Arane, the Queen-Mother.	one of several of the era to explore the controversial subject
Panthea, her daughter.	of incest. Our plot is driven primarily by the outrageous
Gobrias, Lord-Protector.	mood-swings of the King of Iberia, Arbaces.
Bacurius, a Lord.
	OUR PLAY'S SOURCE
Mardonius, a Captain.
Bessus, a Captain.	The text of the play is taken from Beaumont and Fletcher,
	a collection of plays presented as part of the Mermaid
Two Sword-Men.	series, cited at #3 below, with some emendations made
Three Shop-Men.	based on the original 1619 quarto.
Citizens’ Wives, &c.
Philip, a servant.	NOTES on the ANNOTATIONS
The Armenians:	Mentions made in the annotations of Dyce, Bond,
	and Weber refer to the commentary of these scholars in
Tigranes, King of Armenia.	their editions of our play.
Lygones, a Lord	The most commonly cited sources are listed in the
Spaconia, daughter of Lygones.	footnotes immediately below. The complete list of footnotes
	appears at the end of this play.
Gentlemen, Attendants, &c.	1. Oxford English Dictionary (OED) online.
	2. Crystal, David and Ben. Shakespeare's Words.
SCENE:	London; New York: Penguin, 2002.
During the First Act the Frontiers of Armenia;	3. Strachey, J., ed. Beaumont and Fletcher, Vol. II.
Afterwards the Metropolis of Iberia.	London: Vizetelley & Co., 1887.
	6. Dyce, Alexander, ed. The Works of Beaumont and
	Fletcher. London: Edward Moxon, 1863.
AUTHORSHIP	7. Bond, R. Warwick., ed. The Works of Francis
	Beaumont and John Fletcher. London: George Bell &
E.H.C. Oliphant (The Plays of Beaumont and Fletcher.	Sons, 1904.
New Haven: Yale University Press, 1927), in his study of	8. Weber, Henry. The Works of Beaumont and Fletcher.
the collaborations of Beaumont and Fletcher, assigns to	Edinburgh: John Ballantyne & Co., 1812.
our two authors the following scenes:
Beaumont: Acts I, II, III; Act IV, scene 4: Act V, scenes
2 and 4.
Fletcher: Act IV, scenes 1, 2 and 3; Act V, scenes 1 and 3.

	ACT I.
	SCENE I.
	The Camp of Arbaces, on the Frontiers of Armenia.	Scene I: the long war - stretching for a full decade perhaps -between the Armenians and Iberians has finally ended; our play's opening Scene takes place in the camp of the victorious Iberians, who have been led by their king Arbaces. An important key to the plot is that the Iberian leaders have not been home since the war broke out all those years ago. Iberia here refers to a small but distinct polity or nation-state lying directly to the east of the Black Sea; Armenia, historically, has comprised a much larger region east and south of the Black Sea, and often contained Iberia within its borders; none of this is important to our story, as Beaumont and Fletcher were simply using these names for their general exotic nature.
	Enter Mardonius and Bessus.	Entering Characters: Mardonius and Bessus are Iberian military commanders, or captains; looking forward to celebrating their kingdom's victory over Armenia, the pair also review the circumstances that led to the sudden end of the conflict.
1	Mar. Bessus, the king has made a fair hand on't; he	= been successful.^1
2	has ended the wars at a blow. Would my sword had	= "I wish".
	a close basket hilt, to hold wine, and the blade would	= the sense is "closed off", containing no open sides.^1
4	make knives! for we shall have nothing but eating
	and drinking.
6
	Bes. We that are commanders shall do well enough.	= both Mardonius and Bessus have men serving under them.
8
	Mar. Faith, Bessus, such commanders as thou may:	= truly. = ie. "may do well enough""; Mardonius, a man's man and real soldier, begins teasing Bessus over his pretensions to possessing military prowess.
10	I had as lieve set thee perdu for a pudding i' the dark	10-11: perhaps "I would rather (had as lieve) put you into
	as Alexander the Great.	a concealed (in the dark) position to ambush (set thee
12		perdu) a sausage (pudding) than Alexander the Great."^1,7
	Bes. I love these jests exceedingly.
14
	Mar. I think thou lovest 'em better than quarrelling,	= fighting.
16	Bessus; I'll say so much in thy behalf. And yet thou art
	valiant enough upon a retreat: I think thou wouldst kill
18	any man that stopt thee, an thou couldst.	= if; Mardonius is pulling no punches in mocking Bessus.
20	Bes. But was not this a brave combat, Mardonius?	= an excellent battle or duel.
22	Mar. Why, didst thou see ‘t?
24	Bes. You stood with me.	= it is quickly becoming clear that the two men are not really equals: while Bessus addresses Mardonius with the respectful "you", Mardonius addresses Bessus with the familiar "thee".
26	Mar. I did so; but methought thou winkedst every blow	= "closed your eyes at".
	they strake.	= common variation of struck.
28
	Bes. Well, I believe there are better soldiers than I, that
30	never saw two princes fight in lists.	= an enclosed space used for a combat.
32	Mar. By my troth, I think so too, Bessus, − many a	= truly, an oath.^1
	thousand: but, certainly, all that are worse than thou
34	have seen as much.
36	Bes. 'Twas bravely done of our king.	36: to his credit, Bessus takes his companion's relentless
		insults with decent good humour; of = by.
38	Mar. Yes, if he had not ended the wars. I'm glad thou
	darest talk of such dangerous businesses.
40
	Bes. To take a prince prisoner in the heart of his own	= king.
42	country, in single combat!	= to prevent the further slaughter of more soldiers by continuing their multi-year war, the kings of Armenia and Iberia agreed to settle the conflict with a one-on-one battle; Arbaces, the king of Iberia, defeated Tigranes, the king of Armenia, giving Iberia the victory. Note that the combat does not have to end with one party being killed; here, presumably, Tigranes was overcome by Arbaces, and submitted rather than be killed.
44	Mar. See how thy blood cruddles at this! I think thou	44-45: "look at how your blood curdles (cruddles) in fear
	couldst be contented to be beaten i' this passion.	just in recounting this fight! I believe you would be satisfied
46		with a beating while you are in this emotional state (passion)." A recurring motif in the play (unfortunately for Bessus) is Bessus' getting smacked around.
	Bes. Shall I tell you truly?
48
	Mar. Ay.
50
	Bes. I could willingly venture for ‘t.	= take a chance.^2
52
	Mar. Hum; no venture neither, good Bessus.	= risk.^2
54
	Bes. Let me not live, if I do not think it is a braver	55-56: Bessus allows that the king's combat was even a
56	piece of service than that I'm so famed for.	greater martial act than his own famous feat!
58	Mar. Why, art thou famed for any valour?
60	Bes. Famed! Ay, I warrant you.	= assure.
62	Mar. I’m e’en very heartily glad on't: I have been	= even.
	with thee ever since thou camest to the wars, and this
64	is the first word that ever I heard on't. Prithee, who	= of it. = "please (tell me)"; prithee is a common abbre- viation for "I pray thee".
	fames thee?	= "exalts or spreads your fame or reputation?"^2
66
	Bes. The Christian world.
68
	Mar. 'Tis heathenishly done of 'em; in my conscience,	= heathenishly humorously contrasts with Christian.
70	thou deservest it not.
72	Bes. Yes, I ha' done good service.
74	Mar. I do not know how thou may'st wait of a man in's	74-76: whereas Bessus was referring in line 72, of course,
	chamber, or thy agility in shifting a trencher; but	to his military service, Mardonius, equivocating, takes
76	otherwise no service, good Bessus.	service to mean "domestic service": "I don't know what
		kind of a job you would do serving another man in his rooms, or about your ability to clear a table (shift a trencher); but other than that, I cannot see you doing anyone any good service of any kind, my dear Bessus." of (line 74) = on. trencher (line 75) = a wooden plate.
78	Bes. You saw me do the service yourself.
80	Mar. Not so hasty, sweet Bessus: where was it? is the
	place vanished?
82
	Bes. At Bessus' Desperate Redemption.	83: Bessus humorously gives the location of his great feat
84		a name; redemption = rescue.^2
	Mar. At Bessus' Desperate Redemption! where's that?
86
	Bes. There, where I redeemed the day; the place
88	bears my name.
90	Mar. Prithee, who christened it?	= "please tell me".
92	Bes. The soldier.	= soldiers.
94	Mar. If I were not a very merrily disposed man, what
	would become of thee? One that had but a grain of	= ie. "any man who had even just".
96	choler in the whole composition of his body would	= bad temper.
	send thee of an errand to the worms for putting thy	= humorous for "kill thee"; of = on.
98	name upon that field: did not I beat thee there, i' th'
	head o' the troops, with a truncheon, because thou	= military baton or club.
100	wouldst needs run away with thy company, when we	= wanted to or felt compelled to.
	should charge the enemy?
102
	Bes. True; but I did not run.
104
	Mar. Right, Bessus: I beat thee out on't.	105: the beating Mardonius administered to Bessus kept
106		him from running away.
	Bes. But came not I up when the day was gone, and
108	redeemed all?
110	Mar. Thou knowest, and so do I, thou meanedst to fly,	= run away.
	and thy fear making thee mistake, thou rannest upon the	= "caused you to make a mistake". 111-2: thou rannest…gavest = while thinking he was running away from the battle, Bessus was so panicked he ended up frenziedly charging the enemy!
112	enemy; and a hot charge thou gavest; as, I'll do thee	112-3: I'll do thee right = "I'll give you credit".
	right, thou art furious in running away; and I think we
114	owe thy fear for our victory. If I were the king, and
	were sure thou wouldst mistake always, and run away
116	upon the enemy, thou shouldst be general, by this light.	= a common oath.
118	Bes. You'll never leave this till I fall foul.	= let go of this topic. = "get into an argument with you."^1
120	Mar. No more such words, dear Bessus; for though I
	have ever known thee a coward, and therefore durst	= dared.
122	never strike thee, yet if thou proceedest, I will	= "if you continue on like this".
	allow thee valiant, and beat thee.	= "grant you are"; in this speech, Mardonius has changed tacks: he would never beat Bessus if he were a coward; he would only thrash him if he were to be considered brave.
124
	Bes. Come, come, our king's a brave fellow.	= Bessus tries to change the subject!
126
	Mar. He is so, Bessus; I wonder how thou camest to
128	know it. But, if thou wert a man of understanding, I
	would tell thee, he is vain-glorious and humble, and	129-131: he is…in an hour = the extreme mood swings of their king, Arbaces, are the primary moving force of the play.
130	angry and patient, and merry and dull, and joyful and
	sorrowful, in extremities, in an hour. Do not think me	131-3: Do not…hear it = "I would tell this to anyone, so
132	thy friend for this; for if I cared who knew it, thou	don't think this sharing of my opinion of the king with
	shouldst not hear it, Bessus. Here he is, with the	you suggests I consider you a close friend or confidant; if I wanted to be discreet about who I told, I would never tell you."
134	prey in his foot.	= a metaphor from falconry;^7 prey refers to the king's captive.
136	Enter Arbaces, Tigranes,	Entering Characters: Arbaces is the King of Iberia, and the
	two Gentlemen, and Attendants.	victor of the war; Tigranes, the King of Armenia, is his prisoner. Arbaces and Tigranes are both pronounced with three syllables, the stress on the second syllable: ar-BA-ces, ti-GRA-nes.
138
	Arb. Thy sadness, brave Tigranes, takes away	= as the victor of their combat, Arbaces uses the informal, and perhaps slightly insulting, "thee" in addressing Tigranes; Tigranes, however, will appropriately employ the respectful and formal "you" in addressing his conqueror.
140	From my full victory: am I become	140-2: am I…o'ercome him? = "do you think me of so
	Of so small fame, that any man should grieve	little reputation that any man should feel ashamed when
142	When I o'ercome him? They that placed me here	I defeat him?"
	Intended it an honour, large enough
144	For the most valiant living, but to dare	= bravest person alive.
	Oppose me single, though he lost the day.
146	What should afflict you? You are free as I;	146-8: You are…formerly = Arbaces actually is quite
	To be my prisoner, is to be more free	magnanimous toward his opponent in his victory over him;
148	Than you were formerly: and never think,	he would be well within his rights to treat Tigranes more harshly. But the Iberian monarch is so indecorously insistent in talking about his generosity that he subtracts greatly from its value.
	The man I held worthy to combat me
150	Shall be used servilely. Thy ransom is,	= treated.
	To take my only sister to thy wife;
152	A heavy one, Tigranes; for she is	= weighty ransom.
	A lady, that the neighbor-princes send	= kings.
154	Blanks to fetch home. I have been too unkind	= blank checks, as it were, for Arbaces to fill in the amount as he sees fit, if only he would allow the neighbouring kings to marry his sister.
	To her, Tigranes: she’s but nine years old,	= she was.
156	I left her, and ne'er saw her since; your wars	= ie. "when I left her to go to the wars".
	Have held me long, and taught me, though a youth,
158	The way to victory. She was a pretty child;
	Then, I was little better; but now fame
160	Cries loudly on her, and my messengers
	Make me believe she is a miracle.	= ie. the king has received numerous reports of his sister's
162	She'll make you shrink, as I did, with a stroke	great beauty.
	But of her eye, Tigranes.
164
	Tigr. Is't the course of	165-171: the exasperated Tigranes berates Arbaces for boasting of his defeating Tigranes in Tigranes' own country.
166	Iberia to use their prisoners thus?	= treat.
	Had fortune thrown my name above Arbaces',	167: ie. "had I been able to defeat you".
168	I should not thus have talked; for in Armenia
	We hold it base. You should have kept your temper	169: ie. "we consider it bad form."
170	Till you saw home again, where 'tis the fashion,
	Perhaps, to brag.
172
	Arb. Be you my witness, earth,
174	Need I to brag? Doth not this captive prince	174-5: Need I…sufficiently = "why would I need to brag when the fact that the king I defeated is sitting here as my prisoner says it all?"
	Speak me sufficiently, and all the acts	= speak for.
176	That I have wrought upon his suffering land?	= worked, ie. brought.
	Should I, then, boast? Where lies that foot of ground
178	Within his whole realm, that I have not passed
	Fighting and conquering? Far, then, from me
180	Be ostentation. I could tell the world
	How I have laid his kingdom desolate,
182	By this sole arm, propt by divinity;	= supported by God or Providence.
	Stript him out of his glories; and have sent
184	The pride of all his youth to people graves;	= populate, fill.
	And made his virgins languish for their loves;	185: "and caused the maidens of Armenia to mourn for their slaughtered men."
186	If I would brag. Should I, that have the power	= this clause concludes the sentence begun in line 180; the sentence is a typically complex Elizabethan one, in which the premise appears at the end of the sentence, the conclusion at the beginning, and a list of various claims Arbaces asserts he could have made appear in between them (separated here by semi-colons, which actually makes this sentence easier to read: the clauses were all originally separated only by commas): "if I wanted to brag, I could tell all of these things to the world: how, etc..."
	To teach the neighbor-world humility,
188	Mix with vain-glory?
190	Mar. [Aside] Indeed, this is none!	= ie. not bragging; Mardonius frequently provides humorous and ironic commentary for the audience.
192	Arb. Tigranes, no: did I but take delight	= "if I did take delight".
	To stretch my deeds as others do, on words,	= exaggerate.
194	I could amaze my hearers.
196	Mar. [Aside] So you do.
198	Arb. But he shall wrong his and my modesty,	198-9: But he…boast = "any man who thinks I am apt to
	That thinks me apt to boast: after an act	brag is unfair to or demonstrates injustice with respect to my, as well as his own, good or temperate character (modesty)."
200	Fit for a god to do upon his foe,
	A little glory in a soldier's mouth	201-2: "it is acceptable, indeed proper, for a soldier to exult
202	Is well-becoming; be it far from vain.	a bit when he can - it is not vain at all."
204	Mar. [Aside]
	'Tis pity, that valour should be thus drunk.	= ie. inebriated, and therefore more prone to a loosening of
206		the tongue.
	Arb. I offer you my sister: and you answer,
208	I do insult: a lady that no suit,	208: I do insult = "that I insult you".
	Nor treasure, nor thy crown, could purchase thee,	208-210: a lady…with me = "this is a woman that you
210	But that thou fought'st with me.	only could have gotten by being courageous enough to
		fight with me; otherwise, no amount of wooing, nor wealth, nor even a crown, would have won her."
212	Tigr. Though this be worse
	Than that you spoke before, it strikes me not;	= Bond suggests "affects", a term from astrology.
214	But that you think to overgrace me with
	The marriage of your sister troubles me.
216	I would give worlds for ransoms, were they mine,
	Rather than have her.
218
	Arb. See, if I insult,	= "he says I am insulting him".
220	That am the conqueror, and for a ransom	= ie. "I, who am".
	Offer rich treasure to the conquerèd,
222	Which he refuses, and I bear his scorn!	= ie. "and yet I am required to".
	It cannot be self-flattery to say,
224	The daughters of your country, set by her,	= set in comparison to.
	Would see their shame, run home, and blush to death
226	At their own foulness. Yet she is not fair,	= ugliness.^3
	Nor beautiful, those words express her not:	= do not describe her well enough.
228	They say, her looks have something excellent,
	That wants a name. Yet were she odious,	= ie. there is no name for it.
230	Her birth deserves the empire of the world:
	Sister to such a brother, that hath ta'en
232	Victory prisoner, and throughout the earth	= Victory is personified.
	Carries her bound, and should he let her loose,	= ie. Victory.
234	She durst not leave him. Nature did her wrong,	= dares. = now Arbaces refers to his sister; Elizabethan playwrights used an abundance of pronouns, rendering some of the passages tricky to interpret.
	To print continual conquest on her cheeks,	234: ie. she conquers in love all who meet her.
236	And make no man worthy for her to take,	236-7: And make…near her = a strange line: the only man worthy of marrying Arbaces' sister is Arbaces, who is too close to her in kinship (too near her) to do so.
	But me, that am too near her; and as strangely	237-8: and as…for me = a cryptic line; perhaps "and Nature
238	She did for me; but you will think I brag.	(She) did the same for me", ie. "no woman is as worthy for me to take as a wife as my sister is." strangely = wonderfully.^8
240	Mar. [Aside] I do, I'll be sworn. Thy valour and thy	240-4: in this aside, Mardonius, apostrophizing to the king,
	passions severed would have made two excellent	uses "thee" to signal his contempt.
242	fellows in their kinds. I know not whether I should be	240-2: Thy valour…their kinds = the king's twin characteristics of courage and unbridled emotionalism (passions) are, could they be separated (severed), substantial enough to comprise two separate individuals. in their kinds = in their own natures.^1
	sorry thou art so valiant, or so passionate: would one	243-4: would one…away = "I wish one of the two qualities
244	of 'em were away!	would disappear!"
246	Tigr. Do I refuse her, that I doubt her worth?
	Were she as virtuous as she would be thought;	247-250: the beginning of another lengthy and complex
248	So perfect, that no one of her own sex	sentence; these lines comprise a list: "(1) were your sister
	Could find a want; had she so tempting fair,	as virtuous as she wants everyone to think she is; (2) were
250	That she could wish it off, for damning souls;	she so perfect, that no woman could find in her a single defect (want);^1 and (3) even if she had such great beauty (fair)^5 that she would wish she could get rid of it to prevent it from causing, due to its tempting quality, others' souls to be damned;"^7
	I would pay any ransom, twenty lives,
252	Rather than meet her married in my bed.
	Perhaps I have a love, where I have fixed	253-5: Tigranes finally notes that he may just have his own sweetheart elsewhere.
254	Mine eyes, not to be moved, and she on me;	= altered.
	I am not fickle.	255: "I am not so inconstant", ie. "my heart is not so changeable."
256
	Arb. Is that all the cause?	257: "is that the only reason you have to not marry my sister?" Arbaces is dismissive, and insultingly so, of Tigranes' loyalty to his own beloved.
258	Think you, you can so knit yourself in love	= tie or unite.
	To any other, that her searching sight	= Arbaces' sister's. = piercing.^2
260	Cannot dissolve it? So, before you tried,	260: it = ie. the bonds of love between Tigranes and his
	You thought yourself a match for me in fight.	love. 260-1: So…in fight = Arbaces' point is that Tigranes' determination to not be overcome by Arbaces' sister when he meets her is similar to that determination he presumably had not to lose to Arbaces in their single-combat - and is further doomed to the same failure.
262	Trust me, Tigranes, she can do as much
	In peace as I in war; she'll conquer too:
264	You shall see, if you have the power to stand	= withstand.
	The force of her swift looks. If you dislike,	= sharp.^2 = ie. "still don't like her after you meet her".
266	I'll send you home with love, and name your ransom
	Some other way; but if she be your choice,
268	She frees you. To Iberia you must.
270	Tigr. Sir, I have learned a prisoner's sufferance,	= to suffer as a prisoner should.
	And will obey. But give me leave to talk	= permission.
272	In private with some friends before I go.
274	Arb. Some two await him forth, and see him safe;	= "attend him".
	But let him freely send for whom he please,
276	And none dare to disturb his conference;
	I will not have him know what bondage is,
278	Till he be free from me.
280	[Exit Tigranes with Attendants.]
282	This prince, Mardonius,
	Is full of wisdom, valour, all the graces
284	Man can receive.
286	Mar. And yet you conquered him.
288	Arb. And yet I conquered him, and could have done’t
	Had’st thou joined with him, though thy name in arms	= "even if you had". = reputation or fame.
290	Be great. Must all men that are virtuous	= valiant.^1
	Think suddenly to match themselves with me?
292	I conquered him, and bravely; did I not?	= excellently.
294	Bes. An please your majesty, I was afraid at first −	= if it; an (it) please your majesty (or lordship, etc.) is a common phrase of deference.
296	Mar. When wert thou other?	= ie. anything but.
298	Arb. Of what?
300	Bes. That you would not have spied your best	299ff: Bessus presumes to suggest Arbaces did not fight from the most advantageous tactical position, and advises him on what he should have done!
	advantages; for your majesty, in my opinion, lay too
302	high; methinks, under favour, you should have lain thus.	= with your permission. = Bessus accompanies his words with a demonstration.
304	Mar. Like a tailor at a wake.	303: Mardonius compares Bessus' posturing to a tailor
		defending himself with his yardstick from bullies at an English parish festival (wake);^1,7 tailors generally were held in low regard in Elizabethan society, and the target of many jokes.
306	Bes. And then, if't please your majesty to remember, at
	one time − by my troth, I wished myself wi' you.	= truth. = "I could have been out there with you."
308
	Mar. By my troth, thou wouldst ha' stunk 'em both
310	out o' th' lists.	= ie. field of battle.
312	Arb. What to do?	311: Arbaces is unusually permissive with Bessus, and curious as to what he will suggest.
314	Bes. To put your majesty in mind of an occasion: you	= "a situation that arose (during your fight)."
	lay thus, and Tigranes falsified a blow at your leg,	= feigned, a term from fencing.^1
316	which you, by doing thus, avoided; but, if you had
	whipped up your leg thus, and reached him on the ear,
318	you had made the blood-royal run about his head.	= would have.
320	Mar. What country fence-school didst thou learn that at?	= rustic fencing-school; country suggests an absence of sophistication.
322	Arb. Puff! did not I take him nobly?	= pshaw!
324	Mar. Why, you did	324-5: Mardonius' daring words to the king reveal his role
	And you have talked enough on't.	as mentor and close advisor to Arbaces.
326
	Arb. Talked enough!
328	Will you confine my words? By Heaven and earth,	= Heaven is almost always pronounced as a one-syllable word, with the medial 'v' omitted: Hea'n.
	I were much better be a king of beasts	= "would be better off if I were".
330	Than such a people! If I had not patience
	Above a god, I should be called a tyrant
332	Throughout the world: they will offend to death	= "my subjects dare to offend me".
	Each minute. Let me hear thee speak again,	333-4: Let me…earth again = ie. "if you say another word,
334	And thou art earth again. Why, this is like	then you are dead."
	Tigranes' speech, that needs would say I bragged.	= "who felt obliged to", or "who had to".
336	Bessus, he said I bragged.
338	Bes. Ha, ha, ha!
340	Arb. Why dost thou laugh?
	By all the world, I'm grown ridiculous
342	To my own subjects. Tie me to a chair,
	And jest at me! But I shall make a start,	= the sense is, "I am going to do something about this".
344	And punish some, that others may take heed	344-5: take heed…haughty = ie. "learn from them not to be
	How they are haughty. Who will answer me?	so arrogant."
346	He said I boasted: speak, Mardonius,
	Did I? − He will not answer. Oh, my temper!
348	I give you thanks above, that taught my heart	= ie. God, or the gods.
	Patience; I can endure his silence. What, will none	= no one.
350	Vouchsafe to give me answer? Am I grown	= deign, condescend.
	To such a poor respect? or do you mean
352	To break my wind? Speak, speak, some one of you	= perhaps meaning "to have me exhaust myself with
	Or else, by Heaven −	talking"; a person with a disease of the lungs that
354		caused difficulty in breathing was said to be broken- winded.^1
	1st Gent. So please your −
356
	Arb. Monstrous!	356f: Arbaces has really worked himself up to a pitch of
358	I cannot be heard out; they cut me off,	complete irrationality; monstrous is trisyllabic:
	As if I were too saucy. I will live	MON-stro-ous.^7
360	In woods, and talk to trees; they will allow me
	To end what I begin. The meanest subject
362	Can find a freedom to discharge his soul,	= "say what's on his mind".
	And not I. Now it is a time to speak;
364	I hearken.	= "I'm listening."
366	1st Gent. May it please −
368	Arb. I mean not you;
	Did not I stop you once? But I am grown	369-370: But I…idly = "but I have apparently reached a
370	To talk but idly: let another speak.	point where I speak in vain (idly)", ie. "no one listens to anything I say." It is worth noting that the original quarto reads "But I am grown / To balk, but I desire, let another speak"; to balk means "to ignore", which here can be modified to mean "to be ignored", so that the line as it appeared originally does make sense (desire would have to be trisyllabic: de-SI-er); the passage has elicited a great deal of commentary by early editors, but I have adopted the reading accepted by Dyce.
372	2nd Gent. I hope your majesty −	372: Arbaces' response suggests the 2nd Gentleman speaks in an affected way, deliberately lengthening his words.^1
374	Arb. Thou drawl'st thy words,	= several of the early editions, including the original, have drawest here, which has the same meaning as drawl'st of "prolonging".^1
	That I must wait an hour, where other men	375-6: That I…instants = "so that I have to wait an hour
376	Can hear in instants: throw your words away	to hear what you have to say, whereas other men can
	Quick and to purpose; I have told you this.	tell me their thoughts in a brief moment."
378
	Bes. An't please your majesty −	= if it.
380
	Arb. Wilt thou devour me? This is such a rudeness	= the sense is "engulf", suggesting a complete eclipsing.
382	As yet you never showed me: and I want	= lack.
	Power to command too; else, Mardonius
384	Would speak at my request. − Were you my king,
	I would have answered at your word, Mardonius:
386	I pray you, speak, and truly; did I boast?
388	Mar. Truth will offend you.	= read as "the truth".
390	Arb. You take all great care
	What will offend me, when you dare to utter
392	Such things as these.
394	Mar. You told Tigranes, you had won his land
	With that sole arm, propped by divinity:
396	Was not that bragging, and a wrong to us,	= ie. the soldiers.
	That daily ventured lives?	= "risked our lives?"
398
	Arb. O, that thy name	399-401: "oh, if only your fame and reputation were as great
400	Were great as mine! 'would I had paid my wealth	as mine! and if only I had disposed of my wealth, so that
	It were as great, as I might combat thee!	we were equal in our financial conditions, so that I could fight you!" Arbaces is touching on a convention of dueling, which is that no man should ever deign to challenge or fight with another who is not of equal status and rank to himself.
402	I would, through all the regions habitable,
	Search thee, and, having found thee, with my sword
404	Drive thee about the world, till I had met
	Some place that yet man's curiosity
406	Had missed of; there, there would I strike thee dead:
	Forgotten of mankind, such funeral rites	= by.
408	As beasts would give thee, thou shouldst have.
410	Bes. The king
	Rages extremely: shall we slink away?
412	He'll strike us.
414	2nd Gent. Content.	= "sounds good to me"
416	Arb. There I would make you know, 'twas this sole arm.
	I grant, you were my instruments, and did	417-8: I grant…commanded you = "I'll allow that you (my soldiers) acted on my behalf, but you only performed what I commanded you to do." instruments = means, agents.
418	As I commanded you; but 'twas this arm
	Moved you like wheels; it moved you as it pleased. −	= the image is of interlocking wheels, in which the turning of one (the king's sword-wielding arm) causes all the others to move. Moved = ie. "which moved".
420	Whither slip you now? What, are you too good	= "and where are you going?" The others are sliding away from him!
	To wait on me? Puff! I had need have temper,	= "I must need a good temper", ie. it is necessary for the king to be able to keep his composure and equanimity, to rule such a people.
422	That rule such people; I have nothing left
	At my own choice: I would I might be private!	= "I wish I were a private citizen!"
424	Mean men enjoy themselves; but 'tis our curse	= men of lower status or rank. = "my" (the "royal we").
	To have a tumult, that, out of their loves,	= commotion.^1 = ie. "love for me".
426	Will wait on us, whether we will or no.	= "whether we want them to or not".
	Go, get you gone! Why, here they stand like death;
428	My words move nothing.
430	1st Gent. Must we go?
432	Bes. I know not.	432: the self-contradictory rantings of the king confuse the others.
434	Arb. I pray you, leave me, sirs. I'm proud of this,	434-5: the king is highly sarcastic.
	That you will be entreated from my sight.
436
	[Exeunt two Gentlemen, Bessus, and Attendants.
438	Mardonius is going out.]	438: ie. Mardonius will be called back before he exits the
		stage.
440	Why, now they leave me all! − Mardonius!
442	Mar. Sir?
444	Arb. Will you leave me quite alone? methinks,
	Civility should teach you more than this,
446	If I were but your friend. Stay here, and wait.
448	Mar. Sir, shall I speak?
450	Arb. Why, you would now think much
	To be denied; but I can scarce entreat	450-1: but I…would have = "I barely can get anyone to do
452	What I would have. Do, speak.	what I ask them to."
454	Mar. But will you hear me out?
456	Arb. With me you article, to talk thus. Well,	= negotiate, as if stipulating terms of a treaty.^2,16
	I will hear you out.
458
	Mar. [Kneels.] Sir, that I have ever loved you,
460	My sword hath spoken for me; that I do,	= Mardonius means that his lifetime of fighting in wars on Arbaces' behalf proves his loyalty to the king.
	If it be doubted, I dare call an oath,
462	A great one, to my witness; and were	462: Mardonius' verse lines contain a great number of irregularities, such as this line of only 9 syllables, and line 466 below with its superfluous syllable; for a brief discussion, see Postscript 3 at the end of the play.
	You not my king, from amongst men I should
464	Have chose you out, to love above the rest:
	Nor can this challenge thanks; for my own sake	= "but I wouldn't demand thanks for doing this." challenge = demand as a right.
466	I should have done it, because I would have loved
	The most deserving man, for so you are.
468
	Arb. [Raising him.]
470	Alas, Mardonius, rise! you shall not kneel:
	We all are soldiers, and all venture lives;	= "risk our".
472	And where there is no difference in men's worths,	472-3: And where…jests = "amongst men of equal
	Titles are jests. Who can outvalue thee?	worthiness, it would be a joke to have their relationships to each other be defined by their titles;" Arbaces' point is that Mardonius should not need to treat him differently than other men do just because he is the king.
474	Mardonius, thou hast loved me, and hast wrong;	= "you have been wronged."
	Thy love is not rewarded; but believe
476	It shall be better: more than friend in arms,	= ie. better rewarded from now on. = ie. "you are more than my".
	My father and my tutor, good Mardonius!	= "you are (like) my father".
478
	Mar. Sir, you did promise you would hear me out.
480
	Arb. And so I will: speak freely, for from thee
482	Nothing can come, but worthy things and true.
484	Mar. Though you have all this worth, you hold some qualities
	That do eclipse your virtues.	= conceal, prevent from being seen.
486
	Arb. Eclipse my virtues!
488
	Mar. Yes,
490	Your passiöns, which are so manifold, that they	= expressions of emotions. = variable or diverse.^1
	Appear even in this: when I commend you,
492	You hug me for that truth; when I speak of your faults,
	You make a start, and fly the hearing. But −	= run from listening.
494
	Arb. When you commend me! Oh, that I should live
496	To need such commendations! If my deeds	496-7: If my deeds…earth = "if my deeds alone did not proclaim my praiseworthiness around the world".
	Blew not my praise themselves about the earth,
498	I were most wretched! Spare your idle praise:	= "I would be".
	If thou didst mean to flatter, and shouldst utter
500	Words in my praise, that thou thought'st impudence,
	My deeds should make 'em modest. When you praise,	= ie. "the praise my actions actually deserve are much greater in comparison (should make'em modest) than the accolades you are giving me."
502	I hug you! 'tis so false, that, wert thou worthy,	= "this is such a lie".
	Thou shouldst receive a death, a glorious death,
504	From me. But thou shalt understand thy lies;
	For shouldst thou praise me into Heaven, and there
506	Leave me enthroned, I would despise thee though	= notwithstanding or then.^7,8
	As much as now, which is as much as dust,
508	Because I see thy envy.	= malice.
510	Mar. However you will use me after, yet,	= treat.
	For your own promise sake, hear me the rest.
512
	Arb. I will, and after call unto the winds,	513-5: "the wind will hear what I have to say with as much patience as I will have to listen to you."
514	For they shall lend as large an ear as I	= the phrase lend an ear dates back at least to 1480.^1
	To what you utter. Speak.
516
	Mar. Would you but leave	= cease.
518	These nasty tempers, which I do not say
	Take from you all your worth, but darken 'em,	= subtract. = "conceal them"; Mardonius reprises his
520	Then you would shine indeed.	eclipsing imagery of line 485.
522	Arb. Well.
524	Mar. Yet I would have	524-6: "It is not that I want you to be perfect: rather, you
	You keep some passiöns, lest men should take you	should hang onto some of your imperfections (ie. your
526	For a god, your virtues are such.	undesirable emotionalism), because people otherwise
		will mistake you for a god, as your virtues are so inhumanly great."
528	Arb. Why, now you flatter.
530	Mar. I never understood the word. Were you	= ie. "I only speak the absolute truth."
	No king, and free from these wild moods, should I	= "if I had the opportunity to".
532	Choose a companiön for wit and pleasure,	= "intelligent conversation and my own pleasure".
	It should be you; or for honesty to interchange	533-4: interchange / my bosom with = ie. "exchange my
534	My bosom with, it should be you; or wisdom	most intimate thoughts with".
	To give me counsel, I would pick out you;
536	Or valour to defend my reputation,
	Still I would find out you, for you are fit	= ever, always.
538	To fight for all the world, if it could come
	In questiön. Now I have spoke: consider
540	To yourself, find out a use; if so, then what	540: a use = ie. "a beneficial way to use what I have told
	Shall fall to me is not material.	you". 540-1: if so…material = "so long as you have learned a lesson from what I have just said, then it doesn't matter what happens to me", ie. "you can do whatever you want to me."
542
	Arb. Is not material? more than ten such lives	543f: the violence of Arbaces' mood suddenly disappears.
544	As mine, Mardonius. It was nobly said;
	Thou hast spoke truth, and boldly such a truth
546	As might offend another. I have been
	Too passionate and idle; thou shalt see	= foolish.
548	A swift amendment. But I want those parts	= lack. = qualities.
	You praise me for: I fight for all the world!
550	Give thee a sword, and thou wilt go as far
	Beyond me as thou art beyond in years;	551: Arbaces confirms for us that Mardonius is older and much more experienced than he is.
552	I know thou dar'st and wilt. It troubles me
	That I should use so rough a phrase to thee:	= ie. speak so brusquely.
554	Impute it to my folly, what thou wilt,
	So thou wilt pardon me. That thou and I
556	Should differ thus!
558	Mar. Why, 'tis no matter, sir.
560	Arb. 'Faith, but it is: but thou dost ever take	= "you always".
	All things I do thus patiently; for which
562	I never can requite thee but with love,	= "(sufficiently) repay".
	And that thou shalt be sure of. Thou and I
564	Have not been merry lately: pray thee, tell me,
	Where hadst thou that same jewèl in thine ear?	= "where did you get". = earrings were in fashion for men
566		in this period.^7
	Mar. Why, at the taking of a town.
568
	Arb. A wench,	569ff: now the king banters playfully with Mardonius.
570	Upon my life, a wench, Mardonius,	= woman; Arbaces suggests Mardonius had or has a lover
	Gave thee that jewel.	who gave him the earrings as a gift.
572
	Mar. Wench! They respect not me;	= pay attention to or notice.^1
574	I'm old and rough, and every limb about me,
	But that which should, grows stiffer. I' those businesses,	= "except for the one that should": Mardonius is self-
576	I may swear I am truly honest; for I pay	deprecating and coarsely suggestive! 575-8: I' those…certainty = Mardonius suggests that when it comes to women, he properly pays for what he gets; the king continues to joke with the old soldier about the cost of prostitutes. Note that lines 575 and 576 appear to be what are called alexandrines, containing 6 instead of 5 iambs, and thus 12 syllables.
	Justly for what I take, and would be glad
578	To be at a certainty.	= fixed rate.^7
580	Arb. Why, do the wenches encroach upon thee?	580: "do the whores impose themselves on you?" or perhaps "try to raise their prices on you?"
582	Mar. Ay, by this light, do they.	= a vow of affirmation.
584	Arb. Didst thou sit at an old rent with 'em?	= hold out for the old rate or price.^7
586	Mar. Yes, faith.
588	Arb. And do they improve themselves?	= make a profit or increase their rates.^1,7
590	Mar. Ay, ten shillings to me, every new young fellow	= ie. "charged to me, and to every".
	they come acquainted with.
592
	Arb. How canst live on't?	593: "how can you live on what is left over when you have
594		to pay so much for these women?"
	Mar. Why, I think, I must petition to you.
596
	Arb. Thou shalt take 'em up at my price.	597: "you will pay them at my price;" but the line is ambiguous, as the king could mean "a price that I set", or "a price that I could pay."
598
	Enter two Gentlemen and Bessus.	599: the Gentlemen and Bessus return to the stage, no doubt
600		approaching Arbaces very hesitantly, even as they are able to hear the banter between Mardonius and the king.
	Mar. Your price!
602
	Arb. Ay, at the king's price.
604
	Mar. That may be more than I'm worth.
606
	1st Gent. Is he not merry now?
608
	2nd Gent. I think not.
610
	Bes. He is, he is: We'll show ourselves.
612
	Arb. Bessus! I thought you had been in Iberia by this; I	613: in Iberia = Arbaces has apparently ordered Bessus to return to Iberia ahead of him to bring news and instruc- tions back to Gobrias, the Lord Protector. this = this time.
614	bade you haste; Gobrias will want entertainment for me.	= lack; the sense is, if Bessus doesn't return early enough to inform Gobrias that the king is returning, he won't have time to prepare an appropriate reception for him.
616	Bes. An't please your majesty, I have a suit.	= request, petition.
618	Arb. Is't not lousy, Bessus? what is't?	= filled with lice; the king now is truly in a merry mood, taking Bessus' use of suit to mean a suit of clothing!
620	Bes. I am to carry a lady with me −	= bring along.
622	Arb. Then thou hast two suits.	622: one for the king - his current request, which he has yet to enunciate - and one for the lady, in the sense of wooing.
624	Bes. And if I can prefer her to the lady Panthea, your	= recommend; we remember that earlier in the scene,
	majesty's sister, to learn fashions, as her friends term it,	Tigranes had requested permission from Arbaces to confer
626	it will be worth something to me.	with one or another individuals; one of them turns out to be Bessus, whom Tigranes has asked a favour: would he petition the king for permission to place a lady-acquaintance of his with Arbaces' sister Panthea as a servant?
628	Arb. So many nights' lodgings as 'tis thither; will't not?	627: Arbaces suggests that Bessus will receive as many sexual favors from the lady as the number of days and nights it will take for them to return to Iberia.
630	Bes. I know not that, sir; but gold I shall be sure of.	630: "I am only aware of the fact that I will be rewarded (by Tigranes) with some gold for doing him this favour."
632	Arb. Why, thou shalt bid her entertain her from me,	632: "tell Panthea that I wish for her to take on this woman you speak of as a servant".
	so thou wilt resolve me one thing.	633: "if you will tell me just one thing."
634
	Bes. If I can.
636
	Arb. 'Faith, ‘tis a very disputable question; and yet I	= matter open to debate.
638	think thou canst decide it.
640	Bes. Your majesty has a good opinion of my
	understanding.	= intellect.
642
	Arb. I have so good an opinion of it: 'tis whether thou	= ie. "the question is".
644	be valiant.
646	Bes. Somebody has traduced me to you: do you see	= slandered.
	this sword, sir?
648
	[Draws.]
650
	Arb. Yes.
652
	Bes. If I do not make my back-biters eat it to a knife	653: back-biters = slanderers; this still-current term actually dates back to the early 13th century.^1 eat it to a knife = literally to chew the sword down till it is the size of a knife.
654	within this week, say I am not valiant.	= "then you can say I am a coward."
656	Enter a Messenger.
658	Mess. Health to your majesty!
660	[Delivers a letter.]
662	Arb. From Gobrias?	= Gobrias is the Lord Protector, meaning that he has been
		running the state during the king's long absence.
664	Mess. Yes, Sir.
666	Arb. How does he? is he well?
668	Mess. In perfect health.
670	Arb. Take that for thy good news. −
672	[Gives money.]
674	A trustier servant to his prince there lives not
	Than is good Gobrias.
676
	[Reads.]	677: there is a pause here as the king reads the message;
678		he reacts in an obviously stunned manner.
	1st Gent. The king starts back.
680
	Mar. His blood goes back as fast.	681: "he grows pale just as quickly."
682
	2nd Gent. And now it comes again.	683: "now he is growing flushed."
684
	Mar. He alters strangely.
686
	Arb. The hand of Heaven is on me: be it far
688	From me to struggle! If my secret sins	= private or concealed, though the sense might be "unknown".
	Have pulled this curse upon me, lend me tears
690	Enow to wash me white, that I may feel	= plural form of "enough". = the color of goodness or purity,^1 used with innocence in line 691.
	A child-like innocence within my breast:
692	Which once performed, oh, gives me leave to stand	= permission.
	As fixed as Constancy herself: my eyes	= the quality of constancy is personified.
694	Set here unmoved, regardless of the world,
	Though thousand miseries encompass me!	687-695: "Heaven is punishing me for any unknown or
696		private sins I have committed, so I will not fight it! If I have sinned, let me cry enough tears to atone for such sins, and return to a state of innocence; which if I may do so, then let me stand here with a firmness that will allow me to bear all the misery the world can heap on me."
	Mar. This is strange! − Sir, how do you?
698
	Arb. Mardonius, my mother −	= Mardonius, usually trisyllabic, has four syllables here.
700
	Mar. Is she dead?
702
	Arb. Alas, she's not so happy! Thou dost know	= fortunate.
704	How she hath laboured, since my father died,
	To take by treason hence this loathèd life,	705: Arane, the queen mother, seems to regularly conspire to kill Arbaces, her son the king!
706	That would but be to serve her. I have pardoned,
	And pardoned, and by that have made her fit	= "and by doing so (repeatedly pardoning her) have only given her more opportunities".
708	To practise new sins, not repent the old.
	She now had hired a slave to come from thence,	= from there, ie. Iberia.
710	And strike me here; whom Gobrias, sifting out,	= ie. kill.
	Took, and condemned, and executed there,
712	The carefull'st servant! Heaven, let me but live	= ie. Gobrias.
	To pay that man! Nature is poor to me,	= repay, reward.
714	That will not let me have as many deaths
	As are the times that he hath saved my life,
716	That I might die 'em over all for him.
718	Mar. Sir, let her bear her sins on her own head;
	Vex not yourself.	= trouble.
720
	Arb. What will the world
722	Conceive of me? with what unnatural sins	= think.
	Will they suppose me laden, when my life
724	Is sought by her that gave it to the world?
	But yet he writes me comfort here: my sister,	= ie. "he also gives me some good news in this letter."
726	He says, is grown in beauty and in grace,
	In all the innocent virtues that become
728	A tender spotless maid: she stains her cheeks	728: spotless = without sin, innocent.
	With mourning tears, to purge her mother's ill;	728-9: she stains…ill = she weeps as if she were in mourning in order to remove the sinful nature of their mother; interestingly, Arbaces in lines 688-691 had just used the same imagery of shedding tears as a way to do penance for one's sins.
730	And 'mongst that sacred dew she mingles prayers,	= a lovely metaphor for Panthea's tears.
	Her pure oblations, for my safe return. −	= religious offerings.
732	If I have lost the duty of a son,	732: "If I have forgotten how to behave like a good son".
	If any pomp or vanity of state	733: "if my focus on the trappings of power and the trivial matters relating to my rule".
734	Made me forget my natural offices,	= duties as a son.
	Nay, further, if I have not every night
736	Expostulated with my wand'ring thoughts,	736: "demanded of my restless thoughts", ie. "asked myself".
	If aught unto my parent they have erred,	736: "if in any way my thoughts were not those of a dutiful son". aught = anything.
738	And called 'em back; do you direct her arm	= Arbaces apostrophizes to the gods.^6
	Unto this foul dissembling heart of mine:
740	But if I have been just to her, send out
	Your power to compass me, and hold me safe	= enclose within a protective circle.^1
742	From searching treason! I will use no means	= piercing or wounding.^2
	But prayer: for, rather suffer me to see	743-5: for, rather…blood = I would rather die than protect
744	From mine own veins issue a deadly flood,	myself by having my mother done away with." deadly flood = ie. blood.
	Than wash my danger off with mother's blood.	744-5: dramatists of the era often signaled the end of a scene with a rhyming couplet.
746
	Mar. I ne'er saw such sudden extremities.	= ie. violent outbursts.^1
	[Exeunt.]
	ACT I, SCENE II.
	Another part of the Camp.
	Enter Tigranes And Spaconia.	Entering Characters: we have already met Armenia's King Tigranes; Spaconia is his sweetheart.
1	Tigr. Why, wilt thou have me fly, Spaconia?	= run away; the original editions all say die here, but fly is
2	What should I do?	accepted by the old editors as correct.
4	Spa. Nay, let me stay alone;	4f: Spaconia lays on a guilt trip: in love with Tigranes, she
	And when you see Armenia again,	does not want him to go to Iberia without her; however,
6	You shall behold a tomb more worth than I:	since he is a prisoner of Arbaces, it is not clear to him
	Some friend, that ever loves me or my cause,	what exactly else he is supposed to do.
8	Will build me something to distinguish me
	From other women; many a weeping verse
10	He will lay on, and much lament those maids	= expound.^1
	That place their loves unfortunately high,	= who; in 11-12, Spaconia bemoans the heart-ache
12	As I have done, where they can never reach.	expected for those women (such as herself) who fall in
	But why should you go to Iberia?	love with men of too high a rank to realistically expect
14		to be able to marry them.
	Tigr. Alas, that thou wilt ask me! Ask the man
16	That rages in a fever, why he lies
	Distempered there, when all the other youths	= deranged or diseased.^2
18	Are coursing o'er the meadows with their loves:	= running swiftly.^1
	Can I resist it? am I not a slave
20	To him that conquered me?
22	Spa. That conquered thee,
	Tigranes, he has won but half of thee −
24	Thy body; but thy mind may be as free
	As his; his will did never combat thine,	= ie. free will, freedom to think as he wishes.
26	And take it prisoner.
28	Tigr. But if he by force
	Convey my body hence, what helps it me,
30	Or thee, to be unwilling?
32	Spa. O, Tigranes!
	I know you are to see a lady there;	33-35: Spaconia is really more worried that Tigranes
34	To see, and like, I fear: perhaps the hope	will forget about her when he meets Arbaces' sister, as he will likely fall in love with her.
	Of her makes you forget me ere we part.	= "before we have even parted".
36	Be happier than you know to wish! farewell.
38	Tigr. Spaconia, stay, and hear me what I say.
	In short, destruction meet me, that I may	= "may ruin fall upon me". = so that.
40	See it, and not avoid it, when I leave	= ie. destruction. = cease.
	To be thy faithful lover! Part with me
42	Thou shalt not; there are none that know our love;	42: there are…our love = the secrecy of their relationship is a key component to the plot.
	And I have given gold unto a captain,	= military commander^1 (he is referring to Bessus).
44	That goes unto Iberia from the king,
	That he would place a lady of our land	45-46: Bessus will place Spaconia with Arbaces' sister
46	With the king's sister that is offered me;	Panthea as a servant or lady-in-waiting; we have seen Bessus already get Arbaces' approval for this transaction.
	Thither shall you, and, being once got in,	= "to there you shall go".
48	Persuade her, by what subtle means you can,	48-49: Spaconia is to try to convince Panthea to refuse to take Tigranes as a husband.
	To be as backward in her love as I.	49: "to be as unwilling or unfavourable in her love towards
50		me as I shall be towards her."
	Spa. Can you imagine that a longing maid,
52	When she beholds you, can be pulled away	= drawn away, ie. dissuaded.
	With words from loving you?	= ie. with mere words.
54
	Tigr. Dispraise my health,	= speak critically of.
56	My honesty, and tell her I am jealous.
58	Spa. Why, I had rather loose you. Can my heart	= set you free.
	Consent to let my tongue throw out such words?
60	And I, that ever yet spoke what I thought,	= ie. have always spoken the truth.
	Shall find it such a thing at first to lie!
62
	Tigr. Yet, do thy best.
64
	Enter Bessus.
66
	Bes. What, is your majesty ready?
68
	Tigr. There is the lady, captain.
70
	Bes. Sweet lady, by your leave. I could wish myself
72	more full of courtship for your fair sake.	= courtly behavior or breeding.^1,3
74	Spa. Sir, I shall feel no want of that.	= lack.
76	Bes. Lady, you must haste; I have received new letters
	from the king, that require more speed than I expected:
78	he will follow me suddenly himself; and begins to call	= right away.
	for your majesty already.	= ie. Tigranes.
80
	Tigr. He shall not do so long.
82
	Bes. Sweet lady, shall I call you my charge hereafter?	= official responsibility
84
	Spa. I will not take upon me to govern your tongue, sir:
86	you shall call me what you please.
88	[Exeunt.]

	ACT II.
	SCENE I.
	The Capital of Iberia.	The Setting: the first act having taken place in Armenia,
	An Apartment in the Palace.	the remainder of the play is set in Iberia.
	Enter Gobrias, Bacurius, Arane, Panthea,	Entering Characters: Gobrias has been Protector of the
	Waiting-women and Attendants.	realm during King Arbaces' long absence from Iberia during
		the wars; Panthea is Arbaces' sister, Arane the queen-mother, and Bacurius a lord.
1	Gob. My Lord Bacurius, you must have regard
2	Unto the queen; she is your prisoner;	= ie. Arane, the queen-mother. = Bacurius has been charged
	'Tis at your peril, if she make escape.	with keeping Arane confined or under house arrest for
4		her plotting to kill the king.
	Bac. My Lord, I know't; she is my prisoner,
6	From you committed: yet she is a woman;
	And, so I keep her safe, you will not urge me	7-8: so I…close: "so long as I keep her harmless (safe),
8	To keep her close. I shall not shame to say,	don't ask me to keep her confined."
	I sorrow for her.
10
	Gob. So do I, my lord:
12	I sorrow for her, that so little grace	12-13: so little…govern her = ie. Arane seems to have little
	Doth govern her, that she should stretch her arm	of the moral compass that God grants to humans.
14	Against her king; so little womanhood
	And natural goodness, as to think the death	15: natural = natural could carry a connotation describing
16	Of her own son.	the type of feelings one would normally have for a close relative. think (line 15) = intend.^7
18	Arane. Thou know'st the reason why,	18-19: "you know why I did this; you are pretending to be
	Dissembling as thou art, and wilt not speak.	ignorant of the real story here, and will say nothing of it." Arane is addressing Gobrias; there is a back-story here, the details of which we will not learn for a long while.
20
	Gob. There is a lady takes not after you;	= "who is nothing at all like you;" Gobrias points to Panthea, Arane's daughter, here.
22	Her father is within her; that good man,	22: Gobrias refers to Arane's deceased husband, the former king, whom Panthea more takes after.
	Whose tears paid down his sins. Mark how she weeps;	23: paid down = paid for in part, like a mortgage;^1 this is now the third time the idea of redeeming one's sins with tears of repentance has been used in our play. she = ie. Panthea
24	How well it does become her! And if you
	Can find no disposition in yourself	25-27: "if your natural disposition doesn't lead you to cry,
26	To sorrow, yet by gracefulness in her	then you should cry because logic (reason) says you
	Find out the way, and by your reason weep:	should, and learn from Panthea's virtue (gracefulness)^1
28	All this she does for you, and more she needs,	how to do so."
	When for yourself you will not lose a tear.
30	Think how this want of grief discredits you;	30-31: "think how disgraceful it is to you not to grieve, and
	And you will weep, because you cannot weep.	you will grieve that you cannot grieve" (Weber, quoting an earlier editor). want (line 30) = lack.
32
	Arane. You talk to me, as having got a time	33-34: You talk…purpose = basically, Arane is reminding
34	Fit for your purpose; but you know, I know	Gobrias of his past claims that he knows when it will be
	You speak not what you think.	appropriate to reveal whatever it is Arane is accusing him of hiding.
36
	Pan. I would my heart	37-39: I would…mother = "I wish my heart was made of
38	Were stone, before my softness should be urged	stone, so that it could resist any encouragement to show
	Against my mother! A more troubled thought	tender regard (softness) towards my mother!" Note how softness linguistically contrasts with her "hard" heart of stone.
40	No virgin bears about her: should I excuse	= a chaste and unmarried woman. = "if I were to".
	My mother's fault, I should set light a life,	= ie. assign a low value to Arbaces' life.^1
42	In losing which a brother and a king
	Were taken from me: if I seek to save
44	That life so loved, I lose another life,	= ie. the king's life. = ie. Arane's life.
	That gave me being, − I shall lose a mother,
46	A word of such a sound in a child's ear,
	That it strikes reverence through it. May the will
48	Of Heaven be done, and if one needs must fall,	48-49: if one…answer all = "if one of them - either my
	Take a poor virgin's life to answer all!	brother or my mother - must lose his or her life, let me be
50		the one to die instead!" Note that lines 48-49 comprise a rhyming couplet, which was occasionally used to signal the end of a speech or a character's part (at least temporarily, as here) in a scene.
	Arane. But, Gobrias, let us talk. You know, this fault
52	Is not in me as in another woman.	= Arane suggests there is another who should shoulder the blame for this situation.
54	[They walk apart.]	54ff: Arane and Gobrias refer, in this intense discussion, to
		that something mysterious that happened in the past.
56	Gob. I know it is not.
58	Arane. Yet you make it so.
60	Gob. Why, is not all that's past beyond your help?
62	Arane. I know it is.
64	Gob. Nay, should you publish it	= "if you were to". = proclaim.
	Before the world, think you 'twould be believed?
66
	Arane. I know, it would not.
68
	Gob. Nay, should I join with you,
70	Should we not both be torn, and yet both die	= ie. torn to death.^3
	Uncredited?	= unbelieved; Gobrias' point is that it would be profitless to
72		reveal their secret to the world, as they would be both killed and not believed.
	Arane. I think we should.
74
	Gob. Why, then,
76	Take you such violent courses? As for me,
	I do but right in saving of the king
78	From all your plots.
80	Arane. The king!
82	Gob. I bade you rest	82-84: Gobrias has been trying to convince Arane to bear
	With patience, and a time would come for me	patiently with the situation, and that he will in time
84	To reconcile all to your own content;	resolve everything to her satisfaction.
	But by this way you take away my power;
86	And what was done, unknown, was not by me,
	But you; your urging being done,
88	I must preserve mine own; but time may bring	= "save the life of one who is my own"; the exact meaning
	All this to light, and happily for all.	of this line is meant to be enigmatic for us yet.
90
	Arane. Accursèd be this over-curious brain,	= too-clever.^1
92	That gave that plot a birth! Accursed this womb,
	That after did conceive to my disgrace!	93: this line is especially mysterious. Here ends the curious dialogue between the Lord Protector and queen-mother. Frankly, the reader need not worry about the puzzling back-story; it will all become clear later. Located at the end of the play, Postscript 2 reviews several of these lines of dialogue. Readers may wish to consult the Postscript (after they have completed the play) to review what Arane and Gobrias meant when they spoke these particular lines.
94
	Bac. My Lord-protector, they say, there are divers	= various.
96	letters come from Armenia, that Bessus has done
	good service, and brought again a day by his particular	= saved the day.
98	valour: received you any to that effect?
100	Gob. Yes; 'tis most certain.
102	Bac. I'm sorry for't; not that the day was won, but that	102f: more back-story: Bacurius appears to regret that he
	'twas won by him. We held him here a coward: he did	and other nobles had mocked Bessus for his obvious
104	me wrong once, at which I laughed, and so did all the	cowardice before he went off to the wars and performed,
	world; for nor I, nor any other, held him worth my	as they have been informed, so well; in fact, if they had
106	sword.	known he was a valiant and honourable man, they would
		have, when he had insulted them in the past, challenged him to a duel, rather than laugh at him as not worth their time, as they had done.
108	Enter Bessus and Spaconia.
110	Bes. Health to my Lord-protector! From the king these	110-1: Bessus, we remember, had been sent ahead of the
	letters, − and to your grace, madam, these.	royal party back to Iberia to deliver letters bearing news
112		and instructions from Arbaces.
	[Gives letters to Gorbias and Panthea.]
114
	Gob. How does his majesty?
116
	Bes. As well as conquest, by his own means and his
118	valiant commanders, can make him: your letters will
	tell you all.
120
	Pan. I will not open mine, till I do know
122	My brother's health: good captain, is he well?
124	Bes. As the rest of us that fought are.
126	Pan. But how's that? is he hurt?	126: Bessus' answer was not explicit enough in its assurance of Arbaces' well-being for Panthea.
128	Bes. He's a strange soldier that gets not a knock.	= blow, thump.
130	Pan. I do not ask how strange that soldier is
	That gets no hurt, but whether he have one.
132
	Bes. He had divers.	= various or several(injuries).
134
	Pan. And is he well again?
136
	Bes. Well again, an't please your grace! Why, I was	= a frequent stylistic occurrence in this play is for characters
138	run twice through the body, and shot i' the head with	to repeat words spoken by others to express disbelief.
	a cross arrow, and yet am well again.	= an arrow shot from a cross-bow^1
140
	Pan. I do not care how thou dost: is he well?
142
	Bes. Not care how I do? Let a man, out of the
144	mightiness of his spirit, fructify foreign countries with	= make fruitful,^1 ie. fertilize.
	his blood, for the good of his own, and thus he shall be	145: his own = ie. his own country. 145-6: thus he…answered = "this is the answer he gets!"
146	answered. Why, I may live to relieve, with spear and
	shield, such a lady [as you] distressed.	= the earliest edition omitted these words.
148
	Pan. Why, I will care: I'm glad that thou art well;
150	I prithee, is he so?
152	Gob. The king is well, and will be here to-morrow.
154	Pan. My prayer is heard. Now will I open mine.	= ie. her letter.
156	[Reads.]
158	Gob. Bacurius, I must ease you of your charge.−	= ie. Bacurius' responsibility for keeping Arane confined.
	Madam, the wonted mercy of the king,	= accustomed.^2
160	That overtakes your faults, has met with this,	= literally "passes" or "catches up to", but the sense is "overrides" or "supersedes".
	And struck it out; he has forgiven you freely:	= removed or expunged her crime.
162	Your own will is your law; be where you please.
164	Arane. I thank him.
166	Gob. You will be ready to wait	= ie. greet.
	Upon his majesty to-morrow?
168
	Arane. I will.
170
	Bac. Madam, be wise, hereafter. I am glad
172	I have lost this office.	= position, ie. job (of jailer).
174	[Exit Arane.]
176	Gob. Good captain Bessus, tell us the discourse	= combat (from course = charging together of opponents
	Betwixt Tigranes and our king, and how	in combat);^1 Dyce, however, prefers "story", and Weber
178	We got the victory.	"transaction".
180	Pan. I prithee do;
	And if my brother were in any danger,
182	Let not thy tale make him abide there long
	Before thou bring him off, for all that while	= "save him".
184	My heart will beat.	= ie. pound.
186	Bes. Madam, let what will beat, I must tell truth, and
	thus it was: they fought single in lists, but one to one.	= in single combat in an area enclosed for that purpose; lists was originally used in the Middle Ages to denote an arena in which jousting tournaments were held.^1
188	As for my own part, I was dangerously hurt but three
	days before; else perhaps we had been two to two, −	= "otherwise, I might have fought alongside the king in a
190	I cannot tell, some thought we had; and the occasion	two-on-two battle."
	of my hurt was this: the enemy had made trenches −
192
	Gob. Captain, without the manner of your hurt
194	Be much material to this business,	= business is trisyllabic here: BU-si-ness.
	We'll hear't some other time.
196
	Pan. I prithee, leave it,
198	And go on with my brother.
200	Bes. I will; but 'twould be worth your hearing. To the
	lists they came, and single sword and gauntlet was their	= armored glove which protected the wrist.^2
202	fight.	= agreed-to mode of fighting, ie. equipment.
204	Pan. Alas!
206	Bes. Without the lists there stood some dozen captains	= outside. = commanders, ranking officers.
	of either side mingled, all which were sworn, and one of	= ie. to abide by the result of the combat.
208	those was I; and 'twas my chance to stand next a captain	= ie. next to.
	of the enemies' side, called Tiribasus; valiant, they said,
210	he was. Whilst these two kings were stretching	= straining^1 (in their combat).
	themselves, this Tiribasus cast something a scornful
212	look on me, and asked me, who I thought would
	overcome. I smiled, and told him, if he would fight with	= ie. overcome the other.
214	me, he should perceive by the event of that, whose king	214-5: he should…would win = he would be able to predict which king would be victorious based on who would win a fight between the two of them (Tiribasus and Bessus). event = outcome.
	would win. Something he answered; and a scuffle was
216	like to grow, when one Zipetus offered to help him: I −	= ie. "likely to have grown out of our argument."
218	Pan. All this of is thyself: I prithee, Bessus,
	Tell something of my brother; did he nothing?
220
	Bes. Why, yes; I'll tell your grace. They were not to	= a title for the princess.
222	fight till the word given; which for my own part, by my	222-3: by my troth = in truth.
	troth, [I confess,] I was not to give.	= these perhaps unnecessary words were omitted in the first edition.
224
	Pan. See, for his own part!	225: "See! Again he is talking about himself!"
226
	Bac. I fear, yet, this fellow's abused with a good	227: ie. "I'm afraid Bessus' fame as a hero in the war has
228	report.	gone to his head"; abused = misled.
230	Bes. Ay, but I −
232	Pan. Still of himself!
234	Bes. Cried, "Give the word!" when, as some of them
	say, Tigranes was stooping; but the word was not given	= bowing or submitting;^1 Bessus' account is humorously confused.
236	then; yet one Cosroes, of the enemies' part, held up his	= side.
	finger to me, which is as much with us martialists, as,
238	"I will fight with you:" I said not a word, nor made sign
	during the combat; but that once done −
240
	Pan. He slips o’er all the fight!	241: "his account is all over the place!"
242
	Bes. I called him to me; “Cosroes," said I −
244
	Pan. I will hear no more.
246
	Bes. No, no, I lie.
248
	Bac. I dare be sworn thou dost.
250
	Bes. "Captain," said I; so 'twas.	251: Bessus clarifies: in line 247, he meant that he had lied
252		about how he addressed his counterpart in the other army.
	Pan. I tell thee, I will hear no further.
254
	Bes. No? Your grace will wish you had.
256
	Pan. I will not wish it. What, is this the lady	257-8: Arbaces, we remember, has requested Panthea to
258	My brother writes to me to take?	take on Spaconia as an attending servant.
260	Bes. An't please your grace this is she. − Charge, will	= Bessus chivalrously addresses Spaconia as "my dear
	you come nearer the princess?	responsibility."
262
	Pan. You are welcome from your country; and this land
264	Shall show unto you all the kindnesses
	That I can make it. What's your name?
266
	Spa. Thalestris.
268
	Pan. You're very welcome: you have got a letter	269-273: "you are very welcome here: the letter from the
270	To put you to me, that has power enough	king is of such strong influence with me (ie. she would do
	To place mine enemy here; then much more you,	anything the king asks of her) that even if he wanted me
272	That are so far from being so to me,	to take on a personal enemy of mine as a servant, I would
	That you ne'er saw me.	gladly do so; but you are far from being such a one - especially because you have never seen me before - so it is easy for me to submit to the king's request."
274
	Bes. Madam, I dare pass my word for her truth.	274: Bessus, without being asked, vouches for Spaconia's
276		character; but the ladies wonder why Bessus feels the need to raise the issue at all.
	Spa. My truth?
278
	Pan. Why, captain, do you think I am afraid she'll steal?
280
	Bes. I cannot tell; servants are slippery; but I dare give
282	my word for her, and for her honesty: she came along	= honesty, in addition to its usual meaning, also could mean
	with me, and many fayours she did me by the way; but,	"chastity"; Bessus' succeeding statements suggest he
284	by this light, none but what she might do with modesty,	inappropriately has this second meaning in mind as well.
	to a man of my rank.
286
	Pan. Why, captain, here's nobody thinks otherwise.
288
	Bes. Nay, if you should, your grace may think your	289-290: if you...pleasure = "well, if you were thinking
290	pleasure; but I am sure I brought her from Armenia, and	she did other 'services' for me on the way here, it's alright by me."
	in all that way, if ever I touched any bare of her above	= ie. bare skin.
292	her knee, I pray God I may sink where I stand.
294	Spa. Above my knee?
296	Bes. No, you know I did not; and if any man will say I
	did, this sword shall answer. Nay, I'll defend the
298	reputation of my charge whilst I live. Your grace shall	= ie. Spaconia.
	understand I am secret in these businesses, and know	= discreet.^1
300	how to defend a lady's honour.
302	Spa. I hope your grace knows him so well already,
	I shall not need to tell you he's vain and foolish.
304
	Bes. Ay, you may call me what you please, but I'll
306	defend your good name against the world. − And so I
	take my leave of your grace, − and of you, my Lord-
308	protector. − I am likewise glad to see your lordship well.	= ie. Bacurius.
310	Bac. Oh, captain Bessus, I thank you. I would speak
	with you anon.	= soon.^2
312
	Bes. When you please, I will attend your lordship.
314
	[Exit.]
316
	Bac. Madam I'll take my leave too.
318
	Pan. Good Bacurius!
320
	[Exit Bacurius.]
322
	Gob. Madam, what writes his majesty to you?
324
	Pan. Oh, my lord,
326	The kindest words! I'll keep 'em while I live,
	Here in my bosom; there's no art in 'em;	= unnecessary rhetoric or verbal sophistry.
328	They lie disordered in this paper, just
	As hearty nature speaks 'em.
330
	Gob. And to me	331f: another important piece of our plot is that Gobrias has,
332	He writes, what tears of joy he shed, to hear	over the many years Arbaces was away at war, sent the
	How you were grown in every virtuous way;	king letters telling him what a virtuous and beautiful
334	And yields all thanks to me, for that dear care	young woman Panthea has grown into under his care.
	Which I was bound to have in training you.
336	There is no princess living that enjoys
	A brother of that worth.
338
	Pan. My lord, no maid
340	Longs more for anything, or feels more heat
	And cold within her breast, than I do now
342	In hope to see him.
344	Gob. Yet I wonder much
	At this: he writes, he brings along with him
346	A husband for you, that same captive prince;
	And if he love you, as he makes a show,
348	He will allow you freedom in your choice.	= ie. "to decide if you want to marry him."
350	Pan. And so he will, my lord, I warrant you;
	He will but offer, and give me the power
352	To take or leave.
354	Gob. Trust me, were I a lady,
	I could not like that man were bargained with	355-6: Gobrias suggests Panthea should be instinctively
356	Before I choose him.	wary of any man selected by another for her to marry.
358	Pan. But I am not built
	On such wild humours; if I find him worthy,	= fancies, whims.
360	He is not less because he's offerèd.
362	Spa. [Aside]
	'Tis true he is not: would he would seem less!	363: "it's true, Tigranes is not worth less just because Arbaces offers him to Panthea; indeed, I wish he were of lesser worth!" Spaconia's asides let the audience know she is very worried Panthea and Tigranes will fall in love despite their contrary intents.
364
	Gob. I think there is no lady can affect	= love; 365-7: we may get the sense Gobrias does not want
366	Another prince, your brother standing by:	Panthea to marry the king of Armenia; it is rather odd for
	He doth eclipse men's virtues so with his.	him to suggest to her that no man can compare to her
368		brother.
	Spa. [Aside] I know a lady may, and more, I fear,
370	Another lady will.
372	Pan. Would I might see him!	= "I wish".
374	Gob. Why so you shall. My businesses are great:
	I will attend you when it is his pleasure
376	To see you, madam.
378	Pan. I thank you, good my lord.
380	Gob. You will be ready, madam?
382	Pan. Yes.
384	[Exit Gobrias with Attendants.]
386	Spa. I do beseech you, madam, send away
	Your other women, and receive from me
388	A few sad words, which, set against your joys,	= compared with.
	May make 'em shine the more.
390
	Pan. Sirs, leave me all.	= occasionally, as here, sir was applied to women.^1
392
	[Exeunt Waiting-women.]
394
	Spa. [Kneels] I kneel, a stranger here, to beg a thing	395: I kneel = Spaconia assumes the traditional and ancient
396	Unfit for me to ask, and you to grant:	posture of supplication.
	'Tis such another strange ill-laid request,	stranger = foreigner.
398	As if a beggar should entreat a king
	To leave his sceptre and his throne to him,
400	And take his rags to wander o'er the world,	= ie. for the king to take the beggar's rags.
	Hungry and cold.
402
	Pan. That were a strange request.	= would be.
404
	Spa. As ill is mine.	= inappropriate.^1
406
	Pan. Then do not utter it.
408
	Spa. Alas, 'tis of that nature, that it must
410	Be uttered, ay, and granted, or I die!
	I am ashamed to speak it; but where life	411-4: but where…saving of it = "but where a life is at
412	Lies at the stake, I cannot think her woman,	stake, I would not consider any woman to be a true woman if she did not plead or utter something, even if it were unreasonable-sounding, in order to possibly save it."
	That will not talk something unreasonably
414	To hazard saving of it. I shall seem	414: hazard = risk.
	A strange petitioner, that wish all ill	414-6: I shall…aught = "I will surely appear strange in
416	To them I beg of, ere they give me aught;	asking for a favour from a person who would bring harm (ill) to that person, when she has not yet had a chance to do anything (aught) for me."
	Yet so I must. I would you were not fair	= wish. = beautiful.
418	Nor wise, for in your ill consists my good:
	If you were foolish, you would hear my prayer;	419-421: ie. "if you were foolish, you would give me what
420	If foul, you had not power to hinder me, −	I ask for (hear my prayer); if you were ugly (foul),^7 then
	He would not love you.	you would not have the power to stop me from getting
422		what I want - for he (meaning Tigranes) would not fall in love with you, and my desire would be fulfilled without any trouble."
	Pan. What's the meaning of it?
424
	Spa. Nay, my request is more without the bounds	= outside.
426	Of reason yet: for 'tis not in the power
	Of you to do what I would have you grant.
428
	Pan. Why, then, 'tis idle. Prithee, speak it out.	= in vain, pointless.
430
	Spa. Your brother brings a prince into this land
432	Of such a noble shape, so sweet a grace,	= form, appearance.
	So full of worth withal, that every maid	= in addition.
434	That looks upon him gives away herself
	To him for ever; and for you to have,
436	He brings him: and so mad is my demand,	= "Arbaces brings Tigranes (for you to have);" the frequent use of pronouns makes interpretation sometimes tricky; one wonders how easily a 17th century audience could follow some of the more complex and pronoun-heavy sentences.
	That I desire you not to have this man,
438	This excellent man; for whom you needs must die,	= ie. will necessarily die for.
	If you should miss him. I do now expect
440	You should laugh at me.
442	Pan. Trust me, I could weep
	Rather; for I have found in all thy words
444	A strange disjointed sorrow.	= perhaps "disconnected" or "incoherent".^1
446	Spa. 'Tis by me
	His own desire too, that you would not love him.	447: "Tigranes also does not want you to fall in love with him."
448
	Pan. His own desire! Why, credit me, Thalestris,	449f: Panthea is rather taken aback by the presumption implied by Spaconia that she (Panthea) will necessarily fall in love with Armenian king.
450	I am no common wooer: if he shall woo me,	= vulgar.
	His worth may be such, that I dare not swear	= ie. so great.
452	I will not love him: but if he will stay	= not deign.
	To have me woo him, I will promise thee
454	He may keep all his graces to himself,
	And fear no ravishing from me.
456
	Spa. 'Tis yet
458	His own desire; but when he sees your face,
	I fear it will not be. Therefore I charge you,	= charge normally suggests a command, but here the sense may be more like "beg".
460	As you have pity, stop those tender ears	460-1: stop those…voice = an allusion to the Odyssey, in which Odysseus ordered his sailors to stop up their ears, to prevent them from hearing the enchanting song of the sea-creatures known as the Sirens, which would otherwise lure them to their deaths.
	From his enchanting voice; close up those eyes
462	That you may neither catch a dart from him,	= ie. a glance, one of Cupid's arrows.
	Nor he from you: I charge you, as you hope	= entreat.^2
464	To live in quiet; for when I am dead,	= peace.
	For certain I shall walk to visit him,	= the sense is "haunt him", as a ghost.
466	If he break promise with me: for as fast	466-8: for as…to him = Spaconia suggests that she and
	As oaths, without a formal ceremony,	Tigranes have made vows to marry each other; such
468	Can make me, I am to him.	vows, though made in the absence of a priest, were
		considered to be practically as binding as if the two had been "formally" married. fast (line 466) = bound, tied.
470	Pan. Then be fearless;
	For if he were a thing 'twixt god and man,	471-3: For if he…passion = ie. "no matter how beautiful
472	I could gaze on him, − if I knew it sin	he might be, if I knew it would be a sin to fall in love
	To love him, − without passion. Dry your eyes:	with him, I could look on him without doing so."^6 Note how this rather awkward sentence contains two conditional elements.
474	I swear you shall enjoy him still for me;	= forever in place of.
	I will not hinder you. But I perceive
476	You are not what you seem: rise, rise, Thalestris,	476-7: Panthea recognizes that Spaconia is really of a higher
	If your right name be so.	rank than a mere domestic.
478
	Spa. [Rising] Indeed, it is not:
480	Spaconia is my name; but I desire
	Not to be known to others.
482
	Pan. Why, by me
484	You shall not; I will never do you wrong;
	What good I can, I will: think not my birth	= ie. "can do for you".
486	Or education such, that I should injure
	A stranger-virgin. You are welcome hither.	= a maiden from a foreign land.
488	In company you wish to be commanded;	488: ie. "when others are around we will play the parts of
	But when we are alone, I shall be ready	a servant and her mistress."
490	To be your servant.
	[Exeunt.]
	ACT II, SCENE II.
	Fields in the Neighborhood of the City.	Scene ii: although the scene takes place in exotic Iberia,
	A great Crowd.	the commoners portrayed here are very English!
	Enter three Shop-Men and a Woman.	= apprentices.^1
1	1st Shop-M. Come, come, run, run, run.	1: the woman is lagging behind.
2
	2nd Shop-M. We shall outgo her.
4
	3rd Shop-M. One were better be hanged than carry
6	women out fiddling to these shows.	= behaving idly or frivolously,^1 suggesting women slow everyone down.
8	Wom. Is the king hard by?	= nearby.
10	1st Shop-M. You heard, he with the bottles said he	= ie. a vendor selling bottles of something or another.
	thought we should come too late. What abundance of	= have.
12	people here is!
14	Wom. But what had he in those bottles?
16	3rd Shop-M. I know not.
18	2nd Shop-M. Why, ink, goodman fool.	= normally a title of respect used for members of the middle
		level of society, but often used, as here, mockingly.
20	3rd Shop-M. Ink, what to do?
22	1st Shop-M. Why the king, look you, will many times
	call for those bottles, and break his mind to his friends.	= disclose his thoughts.^1
24
	Wom. Let's take our places quickly; we shall have no
26	room else.
28	2nd Shop-M. The man told us, he would walk o'foot	= ie. the king.
	through the people.
30
	3rd Shop-M. Ay, marry, did he.	= an oath, derived from the Virgin Mary. = "he did indeed
32		say that."
	1st Shop-M. Our shops are well looked to now.
34
	2nd Shop-M. 'Slife, yonder's my master, I think.	= God's life (an oath); in 1605, Parliament passed a statute
36		banning the blasphemous use of God's name on stage; consequently, implied blasphemies such as this became the norm in drama. Our Shop-Men are apprentices; the 2nd Shop-Man thinks he recognizes his employer in the crowd.
	1st Shop-M. No, ‘tis not he.
38
	Enter two Citizens' Wives, and Philip.	Entering Characters: Philip is a servant of the 1st
40		Citizen's Wife; a citizen was a freeman of the city.^16
	1st Cit.W. Lord, how fine the fields be! What sweet
42	living 'tis in the country!
44	2nd Cit.W. Ay, poor souls, God help 'em, they live as	44ff: the citizens engage in some sympathetic stereotyping
	contentedly as one of us.	of the simple, unsophisticated lives of country-folk, but
46		of course they are primarily showing off their own ignorance.
	1st Cit.W. My husband's cousin would have had me
48	gone into the country last year. Wert thou ever there?
50	2nd Cit.W. Ay, poor souls, I was amongst 'em once.
52	1st Cit.W. And what kind of creatures are they, for
	love of God?
54
	2nd Cit.W. Very good people, God help 'em.
56
	1st Cit.W. Wilt thou go with me down this summer,
58	when I am brought to bed?	= ie. to give birth; the 1st Citizen's Wife is pregnant.
60	2nd Cit.W. Alas, tis no place for us!
62	1st Cit.W. Why, prithee?
64	2nd Cit.W. Why, you can have nothing there; there's
	nobody cries brooms.	= a street vendor cries his or her product to alert others
66		to what he or she is selling; the wives believe the country-folk are so poor that hardly any goods are available for them to purchase.
	1st Cit.W. No!
68
	2nd Cit.W. No, truly, nor milk.
70
	1st Cit.W. Nor milk! how do they?
72
	2nd Cit.W. They are fain to milk themselves i' the	= compelled.^2
74	country.
76	1st Cit.W. Good lord! But the people there, I think,
	will be very dutiful to one of us.	77: ie. "will treat us well or properly."
78
	2nd Cit.W. Ay, God knows, will they; and yet they do
80	not greatly care for our husbands.
82	1st Cit.W. Do they not? alas! i' good faith, I cannot
	blame them, for we do not greatly care for them
84	ourselves. − Philip, I pray, choose us a place.	= ie. to sit.
86	Phil. There's the best, forsooth.
88	1st Cit.W. By your leave, good people, a little.	= the 1st Citizen's Wife asks for some room to sit by the
		Shop-Men.
90	1st Shop-M. What's the matter?
92	Phil. I pray you, my friend, do not thrust my mistress
	so; she's with child.
94
	2nd Shop-M. Let her look to herself, then; has she not
96	had thrusting enough yet? If she stay shouldering here,	= rather dirty, referring to her impregnation.
	she may hap to go home with a cake in her belly.	= 96-97: If she…belly = the 2nd Shop-Man believes Philip is falsely claiming his mistress is pregnant in order to finagle a seat from the crowd; thus, the Shop-Man asserts, if she sticks around, she may end up truly with child (Williams, p. 173).^17 cake in her belly = slang for pregnancy, similar to the modern "bun in the oven".
98
	3rd Shop-M. How now, goodman squitter-breech!	= squitter as a noun refers to diarrhea, and as a verb means
100	why do you lean so on me?	"to squirt"; breech was the old singular form of breeches,
		which were the first layer of covering for the loins and upper legs; so the insulting compound squitter-breech suggests Philip is suffering from diarrhea!^1 Note the use of mock titles, goodman in this line, Sir in line 104 below.
102	Phil. Because I will.
104	3rd Shop-M. Will you, Sir Sauce-box?	= one who makes fresh remarks.^1
106	[Strikes him.]
108	1st Cit.W. Look, if one ha' not struck Philip! – Come
	hither, Philip; why did he strike thee?	= to here; English has sadly long since lost its directional
110		adverbs, which had been carried over from the proto-German from which English descended; hither means "in this direction" or "towards here", as opposed to hence ("from here"), and here, which was used only to indicate a static location. The same goes for the triplets thither, thence and there, and whither, whence and where.
	Phil. For leaning on him.
112
	1st Cit.W. Why didst thou lean on him?
114
	Phil. I did not think he would have struck me.
116
	1st Cit.W. As God save me, la, thou’rt as wild as a	= an exclamation meant to call attention to a statement;^1
118	buck; there's no quarrel, but thou art at one end or other	the 1st Citizen's Wife berates Philip for his penchant for
	on't.	getting involved in squabbles.
120
	3rd Shop-M. It's at the first end, then, for he'll ne'er
122	stay the last.	122: ie. "make it to the other (end);" the 3rd Shop-Man suggests Philip is either a weakling or coward.
124	1st Cit.W. Well, slip-string, I shall meet with you.	= rogue^1 = "get even with you." The 1st Citizen's Wife,
		despite her criticism of Philip in her last speech, does not shrink from a good verbal row herself!
126	3rd Shop-M. When you will.
128	1st Cit.W. I'll give a crown to meet with you.
130	3rd Shop-M. At a bawdy-house.	= brothel; the 3rd Shop-Man takes meet with you in its more literal sense.
132	1st Cit.W. Ay, you're full of your roguery; but if I do	132-3: but if I…fall = "but if I do meet up with you (ie. get
	meet you, it shall cost me a fall.	revenge on you), I will be hung for my actions." The phrase it shall cost me a fall was a common one, and seems to refer to the expected punishment one might get for committing a particular action, as here, or "I'll fail trying"; the term fall may have derived from wrestling, where it was (and still is) used to refer to the throwing down of one's opponent, but fall also was used punningly in this phrase to refer to the fall experienced while being hanged. The Wife's point is that if she does manage to pay the Shop-Man back, it will be done most effectively, and the Shop-Man will greatly regret it.
134
	Flourish.	= a fanfare from a horn plays, to announce the entrance
136	Enter a Man running.	of the king.
138	Man. The king, the king, the king, the king! Now,
	now, now, now!
140
	Enter Arbaces, Tigranes, Mardonius, and Soldiers.
142
	All. God preserve your majesty!
144
	Arb. I thank you all. Now are my joys at full,
146	When I behold you safe, my loving subjects.
	By you I grow; 'tis your united love
148	That lifts me to this height.
	All the account that I can render you	149-152: All the…little word = "the only way I can pay you
150	For all the love you have bestowed on me,	all back, in return for all the love you shower on me, and the taxes you have paid to maintain this long war, is with one little word."
	All your expenses to maintain my war,
152	Is but a little word: you will imagine	152-3: you will…payment = "you may think it is an
	'Tis slender payment; yet 'tis such a word	insufficient payment."
154	As is not to be bought without our bloods:
	'Tis peace!
156
	All. God preserve your majesty!
158
	Arb. Now you may live securely in your towns,
160	Your children round about you; you may sit
	Under your vines, and make the miseries
162	Of other kingdoms a discourse for you,	= topic of discussion.
	And lend them sorrows. For yourselves, you may
164	Safely forget there are such things as tears;
	And may you all, whose good thoughts I have gained,
166	Hold me unworthy, when I think my life	166-8: my life…estate = "my life is too valuable to sacrifice
	A sacrifice too great to keep you thus	to keep you in such peaceful circumstances."
168	In such a calm estate!
170	All. God bless your majesty!
172	Arb. See, all good people, I have brought the man,
	Whose very name you feared, a captive home:
174	Behold him; 'tis Tigranes! In your hearts
	Sing songs of gladness and deliverance.
176
	1st Cit.W. Out upon him!	177: an expression of scorn.
178
	2nd Cit.W. How he looks!
180
	Wom. Hang him, hang him!
182
	Mar. These are sweet people.
184
	Tigr. Sir, you do me wrong,
186	To render me a scornèd spectacle
	To common people.
188
	Arb. It was far from me
190	To mean it so. − If I have aught deserved,	= anything.
	My loving subjects, let me beg of you
192	Not to revile this prince, in whom there dwells
	All worth, of which the nature of a man
194	Is capable; valour beyond compare;
	The terror of his name has stretched itself
196	Wherever there is sun: and yet for you
	I fought with him single, and won him too;	= ie. in single combat; the line's meter is off: Dyce wonders if "I" should be placed before won.
198	I made his valour stoop, and brought that name,	= bow down. = ie. the name of Tigranes.
	Soared to so unbelieved a height, to fall
200	Beneath mine: this inspired with all your loves,	= Arbaces' boastfulness is highly unattractive.
	I did perform; and will, for your content,
202	Be ever ready for a greater work.
204	All. The Lord bless your majesty!
206	Tigr. [Aside] So, he has made me
	Amends now with a speech in commendation
208	Of himself; I would not be so vain-glorious.
210	Arb. If there be anything in which I may
	Do good to any creature here, speak out;	= for. = person.
212	For I must leave you: and it troubles me,
	That my occasions, for the good of you,	=circumstances;^2 what specific occasions he is referring to
214	Are such as call me from you: else my joy	remain unexplained.
	Would be to spend my days amongst you all.
216	You show your loves in these large multitudes
	That come to meet me. I will pray for you:
218	Heaven prosper you, that you may know old years,
	And live to see your children's children
220	Sit at your boards with plenty! When there is	= dinner tables.
	A want of anything, let it be known	= lack.
222	To me, and I will be a father to you:
	God keep you all!
224
	All. God bless your majesty, God bless your majesty!
226
	[Flourish. Exeunt Arbaces, Tigranes,
228	Mardonius, and Soldiers.]
230	1st Shop-M. Come, shall we go? all's done.
232	Wom. Ay, for God's sake: I have not made a fire yet.
234	2nd Shop-M. Away, away! all's done.
236	3rd Shop-M. Content. − Farewell, Philip.	= "good enough". = the Shop-Man is highly sarcastic.
238	1st Cit.W. Away, you halter-sack, you!	= a sack with strings which allow it to be hung up;^7 thus, one fit for the gallows.^1
240	2nd Shop-M. Philip will not fight; he's afraid on's face.	= "fear is written on his face."
242	Phil. Ay, marry; am I afraid of my face?
244	3rd Shop-M. Thou wouldst be Philip, if thou sawest it
	in a glass: it looks so like a visor.	= mirror. = grotesque mask.
246
	1st Cit.W. You'll be hanged, sirrah.
248
	[Exeunt the three Shop-Men and Woman.]
250
	Come Philip, walk afore us homewards. − Did not his	= a servant usually preceded his or her master or mistress
252	majesty say he had brought us home peas for all our	as they moved about in the public eye.
	money?
254
	2nd Cit.W. Yes marry, did he.
256
	1st Cit.W. They're the first I heard on this year, by my	= ie. of them.
258	troth. I longed for some of 'em. Did he not say, we
	should have some?
260
	2nd Cit.W. Yes, and so we shall anon, I warrant you,	= shortly. = assure.
262	have every one a peck brought home to our houses.	= one peck equals a quarter of a bushel.^1
	[Exeunt.]

	ACT III.
	SCENE I.
	A Room in the Palace.
	Enter Arbaces And Gobrias.
1	Arb. My sister take it ill!	= ie. did not take the news well.
2
	Gob. Not very ill;
4	Something unkindly she does take it, sir,
	To have her husband chosen to her hands.	= the phrase means, "already prepared for her";^1 the sense
6		is "on her behalf" or "for her".
	Arb. Why, Gobrias, let her: I must have her know,
8	My will, and not her own, must govern her.
	What, will she marry with some slave at home?
10
	Gob. Oh, she is far from any stubbornness!
12	You much mistake her: and no doubt will like
	Where you will have her: but, when you behold her,	= ie. "whoever you decide she should marry."
14	You will be loth to part with such a jewel.
16	Arb. To part with her! why, Gobrias, art thou mad?	16-17: Arbaces senses the strange underlying suggestion
	She is my sister.	of Gobrias' assertion.
18
	Gob. Sir, I know she is:
20	But it were a pity to make poor our land,
	With such a beauty to enrich another.	19-21: Gobrias clarifies: if Arbaces' sister were to marry a
22		foreign king, she would have to leave Iberia to live with him.
	Arb. Pish! Will she have him?
24
	Gob. [Aside] I do hope she will not. −	25-26: the dash at the end of an aside signals the speaker
26	I think she will, sir.	returning to address another character on the stage.
28	Arb. Were she my father and my mother too,
	And all the names for which we think folks friends,
30	She should be forced to have him, when I know
	'Tis fit. I will not hear her say she's loth.
32
	Gob. [Aside] Heaven, bring my purpose luckily to pass!
34	You know 'tis just. − She will not need constraint,	34: You know 'tis just = Gobrias apostrophizes to Provi-
	She loves you so.	dence: "you know my goal here is appropriate or lawful."
36		constraint (line 34) = ie. "to be coerced".
	Arb. How does she love me? Speak.
38
	Gob. She loves you more than people love their health,
40	That live by labour; more than I could love
	A man that died for me, if he could live
42	Again.
44	Arb. She is not like her mother, then.
46	Gob. Oh, no! When you were in Armenia,
	I durst not let her know when you were hurt;
48	For at the first, on every little scratch,	= from. = ie. on hearing the news about.
	She kept her chamber, wept, and could not eat	= to her room.
50	Till you were well; and many times the news
	Was so long coming, that, before we heard,
52	She was as near her death as you your health.
54	Arb. Alas, poor soul! But yet she must be ruled:	= "governed (by me)".
	I know not how I shall requite her well.	= repay.
56	I long to see her: have you sent for her,
	To tell her I am ready?
58
	Gob. Sir, I have.
60
	Enter a Gentleman and Tigranes.
62
	Gent. Sir, here is the Armenian king.
64
	Arb. He's welcome.
66
	Gent. And the queen-mother and the princess wait
68	Without.
70	Arb. Good Gobrias, bring 'em in.−
72	[Exit Gobrias.]
74	Tigranes, you will think you are arrived
	In a strange land, where mothers cast to poison	= plan or conspire.^1
76	Their only sons: think you, you shall be safe?
78	Tigr. Too safe I am, sir.	= very.^2
80	Re-enter Gobrias, with Aranes, Panthea, Spaconia,
	Bacurius, Mardonius, Bessus, and two Gentlemen.
82
	Arane. [Kneels] As low as this I bow to you; and would
84	As low as is my grave, to show a mind
	Thankful for all your mercies.
86
	Arb. Oh, stand up,	87ff: with his generous mercy and tolerance towards Arane, Arbaces shows the most appealing side of his personality.
88	And let me kneel! the light will be ashamed
	To see observance done to me by you.	= obeisance.^2
90
	Arane. You are my king.
92
	Arb. You are my mother: rise.
94
	[Raises her.]
96
	As far be all your faults from your own soul
98	As from my memory! then you shall be
	As white as Innocence herself.	= the color white was a symbol of purity; Innocence is
100		personified.
	Arane. I came
102	Only to show my duty, and acknowledge
	My sorrows for my sins: longer to stay,	= ie. "for me to stay any longer"; Arane recognizes that
104	Were but to draw eyes more attentively	her embarrassing presence will draw attention away
	Upon my shame. That power, that kept you safe	from the king.
106	From me, preserve you still!
108	Arb. Your own desires
	Shall be your guide.
110
	[Exit Arane.]
112
	Pan. Now let me die!	113-119: Panthea's speech seems likely an aside.
114	Since I have seen my lord the king return
	In safety, I have seen all good that life
116	Can show me: I have ne'er another wish
	For Heaven to grant; nor were it fit I should;
118	For I am bound to spend my age to come
	In giving thanks that this was granted me.	119: at the conclusion of Panthea's speech, a long and
120		uncomfortable silence likely ensues.
	Gob. Why does not your majesty speak?
122
	Arb. To whom?
124
	Gob. To the princess.
126
	Pan. Alas, sir, I am fearful you do look
128	On me as if I were some loathèd thing,
	That you were finding out a way to shun!
130
	Gob. Sir, you should speak to her.
132
	Arb. Ha!
134
	Pan. I know I am unworthy, yet not ill-	135-6: yet not…kneel = "yet I am not lacking innocence,
136	Armed with which innocence, here I will kneel	with which I will kneel".
	Till I am one with earth, but I will gain
138	Some words and kindness from you.
140	[Kneels.]
142	Gob. Will you speak, sir?
144	Arb. [Aside] Speak! am I what I was?	144f: Arbaces is emotionally shaken up on seeing his beautiful sister for the first time since she has grown up; yet, because of the uncomfortable feelings her appearance is causing him, he will pretend not to understand who she is.
	What art thou, that dost creep into my breast,	= Arbaces apostrophizes to Love; see the note at line 149
146	And dar'st not see my face? Show forth thyself.	below.
	I feel a pair of fiery wings displayed
148	Hither, from thence. You shall not tarry there;	= "to here from there" (ie. "from there to here").
	Up, and begone; if you be'st Love, begone!	= ie. Cupid; lines 149-156 contain a number of allusions to Love as Cupid, with his wings and arrows (darts), to whom Arbaces is apostrophizing.
150	Or I will tear thee from my wounded flesh,
	Pull thy loved down away, and with a quill,	= feathery material (of Cupid's wings).^1 = the hollow shaft of a feather.^1
152	By this right arm drawn from thy wanton wing,	152: "which I have pulled with my right hand from your lewd or wicked wing".
	Write to thy laughing mother in thy blood,	= ie. Cupid's mother was Venus; she was called the "laughter-loving queen" in Orphic Hymn LV to Aphrodite (Venus).^18
154	That you are powers belied, and all your darts	= ie. "your supposed powers to cause a person to fall in
	Are to be blown away by men resolved,	love are revealed to be a sham."
156	Like dust. I know thou fear'st my words: away!
158	Tigr. [Aside] Oh, misery! why should he be so slow?
	There can no falsehood come of loving her:
160	Though I have given my faith, she is a thing	= ie. his vows to marry Spaconia. = ie. Panthea.
	Both to be loved and served beyond my faith.
162	I would he would present me to her quickly.	= wish.
164	Pan. Will you not speak at all? are you so far
	From kind words? Yet, to save my modesty,	165-6: to save…answer = "to keep me from having to
166	That must talk till you answer, do not stand	behave in a manner more open or forward than is appropriate, by talking continuously to fill in the embarrassing empty space until you say something".
	As you were dumb; say something, though it be
168	Poisoned with anger, that may strike me dead.
170	Mar. Have you no life at all? For manhood sake,
	Let her not kneel, and talk neglected thus.
172	A tree would find a tongue to answer her,
	Did she but give it such a loved respect.
174
	Arb. You mean this lady: lift her from the earth;
176	Why do you let her kneel so long? – Alas,
178	[They raise Panthea.]
180	Madam, your beauty uses to command,	= is accustomed.
	And not to beg! what is your suit to me?	= ie. she should not be kneeling to him.
182	It shall be granted; yet the time is short,
	And my affairs are great. − But where's my sister?
184	I bade she should be brought.	= asked, past tense of bid.
186	Mar. [Aside] What, is he mad?
188	Arb. Gobrias, where is she?
190	Gob. Sir!
192	Arb. Where is she, man?
194	Gob. Who, sir?
196	Arb. Who! hast thou forgot? my sister.
198	Gob. Your sister, sir!
200	Arb. Your sister, sir! Some one that hath a wit,	= who. = ie. any intelligence.
	Answer, where is she?
202
	Gob. Do you not see her there?
204
	Arb. Where?
206
	Gob. There.
208
	Arb. There! where?
210
	Mar. 'Slight, there: are you blind?	= by God's light, an oath.
212
	Arb. Which do you mean? that little one?	= Arbaces here indicates Spaconia.
214
	Gob. No, sir.
216
	Arb. No, sir! Why, do you mock me? I can see
218	No other here but that petitioning lady.	= Arbaces now indicates Panthea, who as a supplicant
		(one who is petitioning) had been on her knees to him.
220	Gob. That's she.
222	Arb. Away!
224	Gob. Sir, it is she.
226	Arb. 'Tis false.
228	Gob. Is it?
230	Arb. As hell! By Heaven, as false as hell!
	My sister! − Is she dead? If it be so,	231f: Is she dead…= Arbaces takes a new but still odd tack: he pretends that his sister must actually be dead, but no one has the courage to tell him.
232	Speak boldly to me, for I am a man,
	And dare not quarrel with divinity;	= argue with God's will.
234	And do not think to cozen me with this.	= deceive.
	I see you all are mute, and stand amazed,	= stunned, in wonder.
236	Fearful to answer me: it is too true;
	A decreed instant cuts off every life,	237: ie. every person will die when Providence decides it is time.
238	For which to mourn is to repine: she died	= to complain; the sense is that it is pointless to mourn
	A virgin though, more innocent than sleep,	the dead.
240	As clear as her own eyes; and blessedness
	Eternal waits upon her where she is:
242	I know she could not make a wish to change
	Her state for new; and you shall see me bear
244	My crosses like a man. We all must die;
	And she has taught us how.
246
	Gob. Do not mistake,
248	And vex yourself for nothing; for her death	= trouble.
	Is a long life off yet, I hope. 'Tis she;
250	And if my speech deserve not faith, lay death	= credit, belief. ^2
	Upon me, and my latest words shall force	= last.
252	A credit from you.	= "you to believe me."
254	Arb. Which, good Gobrias?
	That lady dost thou mean?
256
	Gob. That lady, sir:
258	She is your sister; and she is your sister
	That loves you so; 'tis she for whom I weep,
260	To see you use her thus.	= treat.
262	Arb. It cannot be.
264	Tigr. [Aside] Pish! this is tedious:
	I cannot hold; I must present myself:
266	And yet the sight of my Spaconia	= Spaconia, we remember, though silent, is present.
	Touches me as a sudden thunder-clap	= affects.
268	Does one that is about to sin.
270	Arb. Away!
	No more of this. Here I pronounce him traitor,
272	The direct plotter of my death, that names
	Or thinks her for my sister: 'tis a lie,
274	The most malicious of the world, invented
	To mad your king. He that will say so next,	= drive to madness.
276	Let him draw out his sword, and sheathe it here;	= Arbaces points to his own breast.
	It is a sin fully as pardonable.
278	She is no kin to me, nor shall she be:
	If she were ever, I create her none:	= to create meant to invest or ordain with a title, like a
280	And which of you can question this? My power	knight or a priest.
	Is like the sea, that is to be obeyed,
282	And not disputed with: I have decreed her
	As far from having part of blood with me
284	As the naked Indians. Come and answer me,	= the English were familiar with American Indians, since
	He that is boldest now: is that my sister?	the founding of Jamestown in 1607; Captain John Smith,
286		a leader of the colony, had returned to England in 1608 and quickly published A True Relation, a narrative of his experiences, which included extensive descriptions of the American natives.
	Mar. [Aside] Oh, this is fine!
288
	Bes. No, marry, she is not, an't please your majesty;
290	I never thought she was; she's nothing like you.
292	Arb. No; 'tis true, she is not.
294	Mar. [To Bessus] Thou shouldst be hang'd.
296	Pan. Sir, I will speak but once. By the same power
	You make my blood a stranger unto yours,
298	You may command me dead; and so much love
	A stranger may impórtune; pray you, do.	= plead for. = ie. "please, command me to be killed."
300	If this request appear too much to grant,
	Adopt me of some other family	= to.
302	By your unquestioned word; else I shall live
	Like sinful issues, that are left in streets	= ie. bastards.
304	By their regardless mothers, and no name	= indifferent (literally, the mothers are without regard for
	Will be found for me.	their offspring).^1
306
	Arb. I will hear no more. −
308	Why should there be such music in a voice,	308-311: the lines between the dashes are likely an aside; parts or all of lines 311-324 between the dashes may also be spoken as asides.
	And sin for me to hear it? All the world	= ie. because of the improper feelings her voice raises in him.
310	May take delight in this; and 'tis damnation	= ie. "and yet".^6
	For me to do so. − You are fair and wise,
312	And virtuous, I think; and he is blessed
	That is so near you as your brother is:
314	But you are naught to me but a disease,	= nothing.
	Continual torment without hope of ease.	314-5: note the rhyming couplet here.
316	Such an ungodly sickness I have got,
	That he that undertakes my cure must first	= ie. by helping him satisfy his sinful desire.
318	O'erthrow divinity, all moral laws,
	And leave mankind as unconfined as beasts,	319-321: Arbaces suggests men may as well be animals,
320	Allowing them to do all actiöns	fulfilling all their most instinctive base desires without
	As freely as they drink when they desire.	conscience, if they are permitted to do what he is thinking of doing; the imagery is agonizingly powerful.
322	Let me not hear you speak again; yet so
	I shall but languish for the want of that,	323-4: I shall…kill me = either option - having or not
324	The having which would kill me. − No man here	having Panthea - will destroy him. languish = waste away or weaken. want of that = ie. non-fulfillment of his sinful desire.
	Offer to speak for her; for I consider
326	As much as you can say. I will not toil	326-8: I will not…you both = likely an aside. toil = entrap.^1
	My body and my mind too; rest thou there;	= Bond suggests that Arbaces here is addressing his own
328	Here's one within will labour for you both.	body; he may collapse onto his chair of state from
		exhaustion.^7
330	Pan. I would I were past speaking!
332	Gob. Fear not, madam;
	The king will alter: 'tis some sudden rage,
334	And you shall see it end some other way.
336	Pan. Pray Heaven it do!
338	Tigr. [Aside]
	Though she to whom I swore be here, I cannot	= ie. Spaconia. = ie. took a vow to be faithful to or marry.
340	Stifle my passion longer; if my father
	Should rise again, disquieted with this,	= ie. out of his grave.
342	And charge me to forbear, yet it would out −	= "command me to desist". = come out.
	Madam, a stranger and a prisoner begs	= foreigner.
344	To be bid welcome.
346	Pan. You are welcome, sir,
	I think; but if you be not, 'tis past me	347-8: but if…you so = "but if you are not welcome here, then it is not in my ability to make you so."
348	To make you so; for I am here a stranger
	Greater than you: we know from whence you come;	= from where; though technically redundant, since whence
350	But I appear a lost thing, and by whom	alone means "from where"; poets, however, frequently added from to whence, hence and thence for the sake of filling the meter.
	Is yet uncertain; found here in the court,
352	And only suffered to walk up and down,	= tolerated, barely permitted.
	As one not worth the owning.
354
	Spa. [Aside] Oh, I fear
356	Tigranes will be caught! he looks, methinks,
	As he would change his eyes with her. Some help	= "exchange amorous glances" (OED).
358	There is above for me, I hope!
360	Tigr. Why do you turn away, and weep so fast,
	And utter things that misbecome your looks?	= are unsuitable for.^1
362	Can you want owning?	= lack.
364	Spa. [Aside] Oh, 'tis certain so.
366	Tigr. Acknowledge yourself mine.	366: Tigranes is moving very fast on Panthea! He may also
		at this point be talking to her partially out of the hearing of the other characters on the stage.
368	Arb. How now?
370	Tigr. And then
	See if you want an owner.	= lack.
372
	Arb. They are talking!
374
	Tigr. Nations shall own you for their queen.
376
	Arb. Tigranes, art not thou my prisoner?
378
	Tigr. I am.
380
	Arb. And who is this?
382
	Tigr. She is your sister.
384
	Arb. She is so.
386
	Mar. [Aside] Is she so again? that's well.	387: Mardonius sardonically cheers the fact that Arbaces is acknowledging Panthea as his sister.
388
	Arb. And how, then, dare you offer to change words with her?	= exchange; this line is another example of an alexandrine, a line with 12 syllables in iambic meter.
390
	Tigr. Dare do it! Why, you brought me hither, sir,	391-2: Tigranes reminds Arbaces that it was his idea to
392	To that intent.	have Tigranes meet and marry Panthea.
394	Arb. Perhaps I told you so:
	If I had sworn it, had you so much folly
396	To credit it? The least word that she speaks	= believe.
	Is worth a life. Rule your disordered tongue,	= ie. control, restrain. = ie. disorderly, unruly.^1
398	Or I will temper it.
400	Spa. [Aside] Blest be that breath!	400: Spaconia is overjoyed that Arbaces appears unwilling
		to let Tigranes converse with, never mind marry, Panthea.
402	Tigr. Temper my tongue! Such incivilities
	As these no barbarous people ever knew:
404	You break the laws of nature, and of nations;	= Tigranes has no idea how near he has come to the truth!
	You talk to me as if I were a prisoner
406	For theft. My tongue be tempered! I must speak,
	If thunder check me, and I will.
408
	Arb. You will!
410
	Spa. [Aside] Alas, my fortune!
412
	Tigr. Do not fear his frown.
414	Dear madam, hear me.
416	Arb. Fear not my frown? But that 'twere base in me	= "except that it would be ignoble or dishonourable of me".
	To fight with one I know I can o'ercome,
418	Again thou shouldst be conquerèd by me.	= "you, Tigranes, would be".
420	Mar. [Aside] He has one ransom with him already;	420-1: "Arbaces is already up one ransom; I believe he
	methinks, 'twere good to fight double or quit.	should go for double or nothing!"
422
	Arb. Away with him to prison! − Now, sir, see
424	If my frown be regardless. − Why delay you?	= is not worthy of being regarded or heeded.^1
	Seize him, Bacurius! − You shall know my word
426	Sweeps like a wind, and all it grapples with
	Are as the chaff before it.	427: at this point, the Two Gentlemen and Bacurius move to
428		seize Tigranes.
	Tigr. Touch me not.
430
	Arb. Help there!
432
	Tigr. Away!
434
	1st Gent. It is in vain to struggle.
436
	2nd Gent. You must be forced.
438
	Bac. Sir, you must pardon us;
440	We must obey.
442	Arb. Why do you dally there?
	Drag him away by any thing.	= ie. means.
444
	Bac. Come, sir.
446
	Tigr. Justice, thou ought'st to give me strength enough	= Tigranes briefly apostrophizes to personified Justice.
448	To shake all these off. − This is tyranny,
	Arbaces, subtler than the burning bull's,	= an allusion to the 7th century B.C. Sicilian ruler Phalaris: he is most remembered for a brass bull that he ordered to be constructed to be used as an instrument of torture: a victim would be placed inside the bull, which would be roasted over a fire; the screams of the occupant would sound like the roar of the bull.^4
450	Or that famed tyrant's bed. Thou might'st as well	= an allusion to a mythological Greek robber known as Polypemon or Procrustes; this gentleman placed his victims into a bed that was either too large or too small, forcing them to fit it by either stretching or cutting down their legs, killing them. He himself was eventually killed by the great hero Theseus.^4
	Search i' the deep of winter through the snow
452	For half-starved people, to bring home with thee
	To show 'em fire and send 'em back again,
454	As use me thus.	= treat.
456	Arb. Let him be close, Bacurius.	= confined; Bacurius, who we remember was Arane's jailer,
		will be responsible for keeping Tigranes prisoner as well; it is unclear (but not really important) whether Arbaces' prisoners are kept in Bacurius' home or in an actual prison.
458	[Exit Tigranes, led off by Bacurius
	and two Gentlemen.]
460
	Spa. [Aside] I ne'er rejoiced at any ill to him
462	But this imprisonment: what shall become
	Of me forsaken?
464
	Gob. You will not let your sister
466	Depart thus discontented from you, sir?
468	Arb. By no means, Gobrias: I have done her wrong,
	And made myself believe much of myself
470	That is not in me. − You did kneel to me,	= Arbaces now addresses Panthea.
	Whilst I stood stubborn and regardless by,
472	And, like a god incensèd, gave no ear	= an angry god.
	To all your prayers.
474
	[Kneels.]
476
	Behold, I kneel to you:
478	Show a contempt as large as was my own,
	And I will suffer it; yet, at the last,	= endure.
480	Forgive me.
482	Pan. Oh, you wrong me more in this
	Than in your rage you did! you mock me now.
484
	[Kneels.]
486
	Arb. Never forgive me, then; which is the worst
488	Can happen to me.
490	Pan. If you be in earnest,
	Stand up, and give me but a gentle look
492	And two kind words, and I shall be in Heaven.
494	Arb. Rise you, then, too. Here I acknowledge thee,
496	[Rising, and raising Panthea.]
498	My hope, the only jewèl of my life,
	The best of sisters, dearer than my breath,
500	A happiness as high as I could think:
	And when my actions call thee otherwise,
502	Perdition light upon me!	= ruin.
504	Pan. This is better
	Than if you had not frowned; it comes to me
506	Like mercy at the block: and when I leave	506: the block = ie. the execution block, where beheadings .
	To serve you with my life, your curse be with me!	take place. when I leave = "if I ever cease".
508
	Arb. Then, thus I do salute thee; and again,	509: Arbaces kisses (salutes) Panthea on the lips.
510
	[Kisses her.]
512
	To make this knot the stronger. − [Aside] Paradise
514	Is there! − It may be you are yet in doubt;
	This third kiss blots it out. − [Aside] I wade in sin,	515-6: Arbaces' aside: the king's resolve to resist his
516	And foolishly entice myself along! −	feelings for his sister has collapsed.
	Take her away; see her a prisoner
518	In her own chamber, closely, Gobrias.	= ie. confined.
520	Pan. Alas, sir, why?
522	Arb. I must not stay the answer. –	= stop to give an answer.
	Do it.
524
	Gob. Good sir!
526
	Arb. No more: do it, I say.
528
	Mar. [Aside] This is better and better.
530
	Pan. Yet, hear me speak.
532
	Arb. I will not hear you speak. −
534	Away with her! Let no man think to speak
	For such a creature; for she is a witch,	= on behalf of. = a frequent Elizabethan motif was to
536	A poisoner, and a traitor!	accuse a woman of witchcraft for causing another to (undesirably) fall in love with her.
538	Gob. Madam, this office grieves me.	= duty or assigned job.
540	Pan. Nay, 'tis well;
	The king is pleased with it.
542
	Arb. Bessus, go you along too with her. I will prove	543: another alexandrine; though Dyce suggests along is
544	All this that I have said, if I may live	superfluous.
	So long: but I am desperately sick;
546	For she has given me poison in a kiss, −	= given, like most normally two-syllable words with a medial 'v', is pronounced as a monosyllable, with the 'v' omitted: gi'n.
	She had it 'twixt her lips, − and with her eyes
548	She witches people. Go, without a word!	= bewitches, enchants.
550	[Exeunt Gobrias, Panthea, Bessus,
	and Spaconia.]
552
	Why should you, that have made me stand in war	553-565: this entire speech, an apostrophe to the gods, is likely an aside, except for the last few words spoken to Mardonius.
554	Like Fate itself, cutting what threads I pleased,	554: Arbaces compares his skill in war to that of the three
	Decree such an unworthy end of me	Fates of Greek mythology, who measured out the
556	And all my glories? What am I, alas,	length of each person's life with a thread; when the third Fate, Atropos, cut the thread, its assignee died.
	That you oppose me? If my secret thoughts
558	Have ever harboured swellings against you,	= arrogant or rebellious thoughts; swellings alludes to the notion of one being swollen with pride.
	They could not hurt you; and it is in you
560	To give me sorrow, that will render me	560-1: that will…mercy = "which will qualify me then to receive thy mercy."
	Apt to receive your mercy: rather so,	= "let this be", ie. "please have mercy on me, by taking away these unnatural feelings in me".
562	Let it be rather so, than punish me
	With such unmanly sins. Incest is in me
564	Dwelling already; and it must be holy,	564-5: and it…thence = "that power (it) would have to be
	That pulls it thence. − Where art, Mardonius?	a holy one that could remove my desire or sin."^7
566
	Mar. Here, sir.
568
	Arb. I prithee, bear me, if thou canst.	569-570: Arbaces leans on Mardonius, asking him if he
570	Am I not grown a strange weight?	feels unusually heavy.
572	Mar. As you were.	572: "the same as you were before."
574	Arb. No heavier?
576	Mar. No, sir.
578	Arb. Why, my legs
	Refuse to bear my body! Oh, Mardonius,
580	Thou hast in field beheld me, when thou know'st	= "seen me in the battlefield".
	I could have gone, though I could never run!	= ie. run away.
582
	Mar. And so I shall again.
584
	Arb. Oh, no, ‘tis past.
586
	Mar. Pray you, go rest yourself.
588
	Arb. Wilt thou hereafter, when they talk of me,
590	As thou shalt hear, nothing but infamy,
	Remember some of those things?
592
	Mar. Yes, I will.
594
	Arb. I prithee, do; for thou shalt never see
596	Me so again.
598	Mar. I warrant ye.	598: "I assure you, you will."
600	[Exeunt.]	Arbaces' Prisoners: the current scorecard shows Bacurius acting as Tigranes' jailer, and Gobrias keeping Panthea confined in his own home.
	ACT III, SCENE II.
	A Room in the House of Bessus.
	Enter Bessus.
1	Bes. They talk of fame; I have gotten it in the wars,	= reputation (for valour).
2	and will afford any man a reasonable pennyworth.	2: "and would gladly sell any amount of my reputation that I can for a reasonable price."^1
	Some will say, they could be content to have it, but	= ie. glad to have a reputation for bravery.
4	that it is to be achieved with danger: but my opinion is
	otherwise: for if I might stand still in cannon-proof,	= ie. even if. = always. = ie. armour that is cannon-proof.
6	and have fame fall upon me, I would refuse it. My
	reputation came principally by thinking to run away;
8	which nobody knows but Mardonius, and I think he
	conceals it to anger me. Before I went to the wars, I	= Mardonius knows Bessus is unhappy to be thought of as a hero.
10	came to the town a young fellow, without means or
	parts to deserve friends; and my empty guts persuaded	= qualities.
12	me to lie, and abuse people, for my meat; which I did,	= vilify or slander; Bessus is explaining the round-about
	and they beat me: then would I fast two days, till my	way he used to be able to procure food.
14	hunger cried out on me, "Rail still!" Then, methought,
	I had a monstrous stomach to abuse 'em again; and	= inclination,^1 with obvious pun.
16	did it. In this state I continued, till they hung me up by	16-17: they hung …hazel-sticks = a punishment "inflicted
	the heels, and beat me with hazel-sticks, as if they	on recreant knights" (Dyce).
18	would have baked me, and have cozened somebody	18-19: cozened…venison = tricked (cozened) someone into thinking he was venison.
	with me for venison. After this I railed, and eat quietly;	= ate unmolested.^7
20	for the whole kingdom took notice of me for a baffled	= disgraced^1 or treated humiliatingly.^6
	whipped fellow, and what I said was remembered in	21-22: what I said…in mirth = once people realized what a joke Bessus was, they would feed him, as if they were rewarding him for entertaining them.
22	mirth, but never in anger; of which I was glad. − I would	22-23: I would…again = "I wish my situation was as it used to be!" at that pass = at that state of affairs.^1
	it were at that pass again! After this, Heaven called an	23-25: Heaven…for me = an aunt of Bessus' died, and she left him a nice sum of money, which was held in trust for Bessus by a cousin of his.
24	aunt of mine, that left two hundred pounds in a
	cousin's hand for me; who, taking me to be a gallant	25-27: who…with 'em = assuming Bessus to be a typically
26	young spirit, raised a company for me with the money,	ambitious young man, the cousin used Bessus' inheritance
	and sent me into Armenia with 'em. Away I would	to raise a company of soldiers for Bessus to lead in the war with Armenia; Elizabethan drama is filled with men of means who use their wealth to raise a private regiment to earn a reputation and serve their country or city-state.
28	have run from them, but that I could get no company;	= ie. no one to run away with him, punning on company.
	and alone I durst not run. I was never at battle but
30	once, and there I was running, but Mardonius cudgelled	= beat.
	me: yet I got loose at last, but was so afraid that	31-32: was so…do = Bessus was so blinded by his own
32	I saw no more than my shoulders do, but fled with	fear, etc.
	my whole company amongst my enemies, and
34	overthrew 'em: now the report of my valour is come	34: overthrew = defeated. 34-35: come over = ie. reached home.
	over before me, and they say I was a raw young	35-36: was a raw young fellow: ie. before he went to fight
36	fellow, but now I am improved: − a plague on their	in the wars.
	eloquence! 'twill cost me many a beating: and
38	Mardonius might help this too, if he would; for now
	they think to get honour on me, and all the men I
40	have abused call me freshly to account, (worthily,
	as they call it) by the way of challenge.	37-41: 'twill...challenge = now that Bessus turns out to have
42		been, as far as anyone knows, a valiant soldier, those he had vilified to procure food will reconsider their previous tolerance of his behavior, and will challenge him to a duel! Bessus' conundrum is as follows: the code of dueling demanded that only men of equal status could honourably be seen to challenge and accept combat. Before the wars, Bessus was considered to be of rank and character well below that of the men he insulted, and so could not be fought with any honour. But now that Bessus, thanks to his alleged heroics on the battlefield, is recognized to be actually a man of valour and distinction, those he abused feel that their honour now demands satisfaction from Bessus - and there is no statute of limitations to save our hero! The code of honour that men followed in dueling was a subtle and complex one which will be a target of much satire in this play; see the note at the end of this scene for a quick review of the primary points regarding the issuing of challenges.
	Enter a Gentleman.
44
	Gent. Good-morrow, Captain Bessus.
46
	Bes. Good-morrow, sir.
48
	Gent. I come to speak with you −
50
	Bes. You're very welcome.
52
	Gent. From one that holds himself wronged by you	= the Gentleman is delivering a challenge on behalf of another.
54	some three years since. Your worth, he says, is famed,	= ago.
	and he doth nothing doubt but you will do him right, as	= typical euphemism for accepting a challenge to a duel;
56	beseems a soldier.	the sense is to "give him a chance to defend his honour."
58	Bes. [Aside] A pox on 'em, so they cry all!	= "they all say the same thing!"
60	Gent. And a slight note I have about me for you, for
	the delivery of which you must excuse me: it is an office
62	that friendship calls upon me to do, and no way
	offensive to you, since I desire but right on both sides.	= the Gentleman is behaving in the proper manner of what
64		is known as the second, a person appointed by each party to represent them in negotiating the exact terms of the duel, e.g. location, weapons to be used, etc. The code technically required the duel to be fought for the sake of determining the truth of any indecorous comments that passed between the parties, so as to preserve their honours, and not for any purposes of revenge; hence the Gentleman's desire to do right on both sides.^14
	[Gives him a letter.]
66
	Bes. 'Tis a challenge, sir, is it not?
68
	Gent. 'Tis an inviting to the field.	69: again, the Gentleman prefers to use a euphemism; as
70		sovereigns generally frowned upon dueling (in England, James I had favoured prosecuting participants), a language of euphemisms was developed so that those who chose to continue the practice could avoid using any explicit and incriminating phrases.
	Bes. [Aside] An inviting? Oh, cry you mercy! − What a
72	compliment he delivers it with! he might as agreeably to	72-73: he might…speech = the Gentleman's language is so
	my nature present me poison with such a speech.	complimentary that he could persuade Bessus to take
74		poison with such a speech.
	[Reads.]
76
	Um, um, um − reputation − um, um, um − call
78	you to account − um um, um − forced to this − um, um,
	um − with my sword − um, um, um − like a gentleman
80	− um, um, um − dear to me − um, um, um −
	satisfaction. – 'Tis very well, sir; I do accept it; but he
82	must wait an answer this thirteen weeks.
84	Gent. Why, sir, he would be glad to wipe off his
	stain as soon as he could.	= ie. to his honour.
86
	Bes. Sir, upon my credit, I am already engaged to two	= "on my honour", ie. "you may believe me".
88	hundred and twelve; all which must have their stains
	wiped off, if that be the word, before him.	= ie. correct phrase.
90
	Gent. Sir, if you be truly engaged but to one, he shall	= even.
92	stay a competent time.	= wait for an appropriate (competent)^1 period of time.
94	Bes. Upon my faith, sir, to two hundred and twelve:
	and I have a spent body too, much bruised in battle; so
96	that I cannot fight, I must be plain with you, above
	three combats a-day. All the kindness I can show him,
98	is to set him resolvedly in my roll the two hundred and	= definitely.^1 = list or register of his opponents.
	thirteenth man, which is something; for, I tell you, I
100	think there will be more after him than before him; I
	think so. Pray you commend me to him, and tell him	= typical polite Elizabethan phrase: "give him my regards."
102	this.
104	Gent. I will, sir. Good-morrow to you.
106	[Exit Gentleman.]
108	Bes. Good-morrow, good sir. − Certainly, my safest way	= ie. "the surest way I can get out of this".
	were to print myself a coward, with a discovery how I	= ie. proclaim on a poster.^1 = disclosure,^1 ie. explanation.
110	came by my credit, and clap it upon every post. I have	= reputation. = attach, slap.
	received above thirty challenges within this two hours:
112	Marry, all but the first I put off with engagement; and,	= ie. "by telling them I already had other challenges to be met first."
	by good fortune, the first is no madder of fighting than I;	= the first man to challenge Bessus turned out to be as undesirous to fight a duel as Bessus was; Bessus' following description of the dance he and his opponent have gone through to both avoid combat, while hanging on to a thread of honour, is quite funny.
114	so that that's referred: the place where it must be ended	114: referred = deferred, postponed.^1 114-5: the place…journey off = the field of combat was a four-days' journey away; a duel would normally be held in an out-of-the-way location so as to avoid detection by the authorities.^15
	is four days' journey off, and our arbitrators are these; he	= seconds. = ie. "as follows:"
116	has chosen a gentleman in travel, and I have a special	= ie. who is presently traveling.
	friend with a quartan ague, like to hold him this five	116: quartan ague = old name for malaria, suggesting a fever that recurs every fourth day. hold him this = keep him unavailable for.
118	years, for mine; and when his man comes home, we are
	to expect my friend's health. If they would send me	= ie. wait until his friend's health improves.
120	challenges thus thick, as long as I lived, I would have no	120-1: I would…living = ie. "I would need no other income."
	other living: I can make seven shillings a-day o' th' paper	= ie. by selling the sheets of paper; paper was an expensive commodity in those days; note that Bessus talks of shillings, which were certainly not legal tender in Iberia.
122	to the grocers. Yet I learn nothing by all these, but a
	little skill in comparing of styles: I do find evidently that	= ie. handwriting styles.
124	there is some one scrivener in this town, that has a great	= one authorized to draw up legal documents.^1
	hand in writing of challenges, for they are all of a cut,	= skill.^2 = similar in wording or form.
126	and six of 'em in a hand; and they all end, "My	= ie. in the same handwriting.
	reputation is dear to me, and I must require satisfaction."
128	− Who's there? more paper, I hope. No; 'tis my lord	= Bessus' soliloquy is coming to an end; someone has
	Bacurius: I fear all is not well betwixt us.	entered his home.
130
	Enter Bacurius.
132
	Bac. Now, Captain Bessus! I come about a frivolous
134	matter, caused by as idle a report: you know, you were	= ie. a foolish.
	a coward.
136
	Bes. Very right.
138
	Bac. And wronged me.	= insulted or slandered.
140
	Bes. True, my lord.
142
	Bac. But now, people will call you valiant; −	143-4: although Bacurius knows Bessus to be a coward,
144	desertlessly, I think; yet, for their satisfaction, I will	and therefore unworthy of dueling with, other people
	have you fight with me.	do not, so to preserve his honour in the eyes of the other
146		citizens of Iberia he must challenge Bessus.
	Bes. Oh, my good lord, my deep engagements −
148
	Bac. Tell not me of your engagements, Captain Bessus!
150	It is not to be put off with an excuse. For my own part, I
	am none of the multitude that believe your conversion
152	from coward.
154	Bes. My lord, I seek not quarrels, and this belongs not	= ie. "this challenge".
	to me; I am not to maintain it.	= "the one to maintain this quarrel with you"
156
	Bac. Who, then, pray?
158
	Bes. Bessus the coward wronged you.
160
	Bac. Right.
162
	Bes. And shall Bessus the valiant maintain what
164	Bessus the coward did?
166	Bac. I prithee, leave these cheating tricks! I swear	= ie. "this chopping logic or sophistry."
	thou shalt fight with me, or thou shalt be beaten	167-8: leaving all pretense of politeness behind, Bacurius
168	extremely and kicked.	switches pronouns, addressing Bessus with the
		contemptuous "thee".
170	Bes. Since you provoke me thus far, my lord, I will
	fight with you; and, by my sword, it shall cost me	171: by my sword = an oath.
172	twenty pounds but I will have my leg well a week	171-3: it shall…purposely = "since you are eager
	sooner purposely.	to fight, I will speed up the healing of my leg, even if I have to pay a doctor 20 pounds to have it done so, so that we can hurry forward the date of our appointment."
174
	Bac. Your leg! why, what ail's your leg? I'll do a cure
176	on you. Stand up!
178	[Kicks him.]
180	Bes. My lord, this is not noble in you.
182	Bac. What dost thou with such a phrase in thy mouth?	182: Bessus has no business uttering the word "noble".
	I will kick thee out of all good words before I leave thee.
184
	[Kicks him.]
186
	Bes. My lord, I take this as a punishment for the
188	offence I did when I was a coward.
190	Bac. When thou wert! confess thyself a coward still,
	or, by this light, I'll beat thee into sponge.	= common Elizabethan oath; = in addition to its everyday
192		meaning, sponge also refers to one who lives off the generosity of others,^1 which is how Bessus kept body and soul together before the war, as Bessus notes.
	Bes. Why, I am one.
194
	Bac. Are you so, sir? and why do you wear a sword,
196	then? Come, unbuckle; quick!
198	Bes. My lord!
200	Bac. Unbuckle, I say, and give it me; or, as I live, thy
	head will ache extremely.
202
	Bes. It is a pretty hilt; and if your lordship take an
204	affection to it, with all my heart I present it to you, for a
	new-year's gift.
206
	[Gives him his sword, with a knife in the scabbard.]	= there existed a custom of wearing a sheathed dagger attached to the scabbard of one's sword.^3 This stage direction was added by Weber.
208
	Bac. I thank you very heartily. Sweet captain, farewell.	209: Bacurius returns to his mock formality.
210
	Bes. One word more: I beseech your lordship to render	= ie. return to.
212	me my knife again.
214	Bac. Marry, by all means, captain. [Gives him back
	the knife.] Cherish yourself with it, and eat hard,	= at this time knives were the primary utensil used to bring
216	good captain; we cannot tell whether we shall have	solid food to the mouth.^11
	any more such. Adieu, dear captain.
218
	[Exit.]
220
	Bes. I will make better use of this than of my sword.
222	A base spirit has this vantage of a brave one; it keeps	222: base spirit = cowardly man.
	always at a stay, nothing brings it down, not beating. I	vantage of = advantage over. 222-3: it keeps always at a stay = a base spirit remains unbroken (keeps)^2 despite (always)^1 any setback (stay)^2.
224	remember I promised the king, in a great audience, that I
	would make my backbiters eat my sword to a knife:
226	How to get another sword I know not; nor know any
	means left for me to maintain my credit but impudence:	= honour, credibility.
228	Therefore I will outswear him and all his followers, that	= ie. convince by outdoing everyone else in vowing this is
	this is all that's left uneaten of my sword.	true.
230
	[Exit.]	The Dueling Code and Challenges, Part 1: the most detailed English exposition of the rules of dueling extant in the time of Beaumont and Fletcher may have been a 1594 publication, Of Honor and Honorable Quarrels, written by Vincentio Saviolo. Saviolo lays out a very specific formula for the exchange of words that lead to a duel.
		The conflict opens with an accusation; for example, person A may accuse B of behaving treacherously; B then must accuse A of being a liar. According to Saviolo, it is incumbent on A, the one being accused of lying, to back up, or maintain, his words, which he may do by issuing a challenge to B. B in turn, if he is to preserve his honour, is obliged to accept the challenge, and he gets to choose the weapons.
		We may remember the scrupulously polite manner in which the Gentleman at the beginning of this scene spoke to Bessus. This too was part of the code, which specifically admonishes adversaries to speak respectfully to each other; for one to address the other in an insulting fashion would bring dishonour on himself only, and "showeth himself rather to have mind to fight with the pen than with the sword."
		Saviolo's dueling code is so absurdly detailed as to almost appear to be a parody rather than a guidebook in earnest. He categorizes and discusses at great length, for example, the different types of slanders, or lies, a man may tell another (conditional lies, the lie in general - of which there are two kinds, "the one having respect to the person, and the other to the injury" - the lie in particular, and foolish lies), and he further hopes to instruct his audience with such hoary sentences as this:
		"This man whosoever he be saith, that with reason they may be refuseth, doth charge him that brought them, and he who saith that they may not be refused in reason, chargeth him that refuseth to fight with them, and therefore the task being given as well on the affirmative as negative, the lie may accordingly be given, and no more the affirmative than the negative may it be wrested or sent back, being both in the one and in the other manner given for repulse, and not of any injury."
	ACT III, SCENE III.
	An Apartment in the Palace.
	Enter Mardonius.
1	Mar. I'll move the king; he is most strangely altered:	= speak or appeal to.^1
2	I guess the cause, I fear, too right; Heaven has
	Some secret end in't, and 'tis a scourge, no question,	= purpose in this. = punishment.
4	Justly laid upon him. He has followed me
	Through twenty rooms; and ever, when I stay	= each time, always. = pause.
6	To wait his command, he blushes like a girl,
	And looks upon me as if modesty
8	Kept in his business; so turns away from me;	= business is trisyllabic here.
	But, if I go on, he follows me again.
10
	Enter Arbaces.
12
	See, here he is. I do not use this, yet,	= ie. make use of or deal with this.^1
14	I know not how, I cannot choose but weep
	To see him: his very enemies, I think,
16	Whose wounds have bred his fame, if they should see
	Him now, would find tears in their eyes.	= ie. out of pity.
18
	Arb. I cannot utter it! Why should I keep
20	A breast to harbour thoughts I dare not speak?
	Darkness is in my bosom; and there lie
22	A thousand thoughts that cannot brook the light. −	= tolerate being in the light, so as to be plainly visible; note how light contrasts with darkness.
	How wilt thou vex me, when this deed is done,	23-24: Arbaces apostrophizes to personified Conscience;
24	Conscience, that art afraid to let me name it!	what will his conscience do to him if he actually does
		the deed, if he cannot even name it?
26	Mar. How do you, sir?
28	Arb. Why very well, Mardonius.
	How dost thou do?
30
	Mar. Better than you, I fear.
32
	Arb. I hope thou art; for, to be plain with thee,
34	Thou art in hell else. Secret scorching flames,	= "you would be in hell otherwise." = hidden.^2
	That far transcend earthly material fires,
36	Are crept into me, and there is no cure:
	Is it not strange, Mardonius, there's no cure?
38
	Mar. Sir, either I mistake, or there is something hid,	39: another alexandrine; see Postscript 3 at the end of the
40	That you would utter to me.	play for a discussion of the problems of Mardonius'
		verse lines.
42	Arb. So there is:
	But yet I cannot do it.
44
	Mar. Out with it, sir.
46	If it be dangerous, I will not shrink
	To do you service. I shall not esteem	= value.
48	My life a weightier matter than indeed
	It is. I know 'tis subject to more chances	= "it is", ie. "my life is". = accidents.^1
50	Than it has hours; and I were better lose it
	In my king's cause than with an ague or
52	A fall, or, sleeping, to a thief; as all these	= ie. who would kill him while he slept.
	Are probable enough. Let me but know
54	What I shall do for you.
56	Arb. It will not out. Were you with Gobrias,	= come out.
	And bade him give my sister all content	= "did you ask him to".
58	The place affords, and give her leave to send
	And speak to whom she please?
60
	Mar. Yes, sir, I was.
62
	Arb. And did you to Bacurius say as much
64	About Tigranes?
66	Mar. Yes.
68	Arb. That's all my business.
70	Mar. Oh, say not so!
	You had an answer of all this before:	71: ie. "you asked me all this before."
72	Besides, I think this business might be uttered	72-73: "if this is all you had to say, it could have been said
	More carelessly.	with less anxiety" (carelessly = with less care, ie. less
74		worry or anxiety).
	Arb. Come, thou shalt have it out. I do beseech thee,
76	By all the love thou hast professed to me,
	To see my sister from me.	= "for me", "on my behalf".
78
	Mar. Well; and what?
80
	Arb. That's all.
82
	Mar. That's strange: Shall I say nothing to her?
84
	Arb. Not a word:
86	But, if thou lov'st me, find some subtle way
	To make her understand by signs.
88
	Mar. But what shall I make her understand?
90
	Arb. Oh, Mardonius, for that I must be pardoned.
92
	Mar. You may; but I can only see her then.	= ie. if Arbaces can't even explain to Mardonius what
94		message he should impart to Panthea, then he is not going to be able to accomplish anything other than to to look at her.
	Arb. 'Tis true.
96
	[Gives him a ring.]
98
	Bear her this ring, then; and, on more advice,
100	Thou shalt speak to her: tell her I do love
	My kindred all; wilt thou?
102
	Mar. Is there no more?
104
	Arb. Oh, yes! And her the best;
106	Better than any brother loves his sister:
	That's all.
108
	Mar. Methinks, this need not have been
110	Delivered with such cautiön. I'll do it.
112	Arb. There is more yet: wilt thou be faithful to me?
114	Mar. Sir, if I take upon me to deliver it,
	After I hear it, I'll pass through fire to do it.
116
	Arb. I love her better than a brother ought.
118	Dost thou conceive me?	= understand.
120	Mar. I hope I do not, sir.	120: Mardonius starts to sense - uncomfortably - what
		Arbaces is getting at; he will equivocate until Arbaces finally is forced to spell it out for him.
122	Arb. No! thou art dull. Kneel down before her,
	And never rise again, till she will love me.
124
	Mar. Why, I think she does.
126
	Arb. But, better than she does
128	Another way; as wives love husbands.
130	Mar. Why,
	I think there are few wives that love their husbands
132	Better than she does you.
134	Arb. Thou wilt not understand me. Is it fit	= appropriate.
	This should be uttered plainly? Take it, then,	= explicitly.
136	Naked as it is; I would desire her love
	Lasciviously, lewdly, incestuously,
138	To do a sin that needs must damn us both,
	And thee too. Dost thou understand me now?
140
	Mar. Yes; there's your ring again.
142	[Gives back the ring.] What have I done
	Dishonestly in my whole life, name it,
144	That you should put so base a business to me?
146	Arb. Didst thou not tell me thou wouldst do it?
148	Mar. Yes, if I undertook it: but if all
	My hairs were lives, I would not be engaged
150	In such a cause to save my last life.
152	Arb. Oh, Guilt, how poor and weak a thing art thou!	152-6: Arbaces apostrophizes to personified Guilt.
	This man that is my servant, whom my breath
154	Might blow about the world, might beat me here,
	Having his cause; whilst I, pressed down with sin,	= reason (to do so).
156	Could not resist him. − Dear, Mardonius,
	It was a motion misbeseeming man,	= impulse. = inappropriate or unfitting for.
158	And I am sorry for it.
160	Mar. Pray God you may be so! You must
	understand, nothing that you can utter can remove
162	my love and service from my prince; but otherwise,	= king.
	I think I shall not love you more, for you are sinful;
164	and, if you do this crime, you ought to have no laws,
	for, after this, it will be great injustice in you to
166	punish any offender for any crime. For myself, I
	find my heart too big; I feel I have not patience to
168	look on, whilst you run these forbidden courses.
	Means I have none but your favour; and I am rather	= ie. of survival.
170	glad that I shall lose 'em both together than keep
	'em with such conditions. I shall find a dwelling
172	amongst some people, where, though our garments
	perhaps be coarser, we shall be richer far within,	= ie. "in our spiritual welfare or souls".
174	and harbour no such vices in 'em. God preserve
	you, and mend you!	175: Mardonius starts to exit the stage as he concludes his
176		speech.
	Arb. Mardonius! Stay, Mardonius! for, though
178	My present state requires nothing but knaves	178-182: "my current condition (state) requires me to use
	To be about me, such as are prepared	the basest of men - those without qualms or compunction -
180	For every wicked act, yet who does know	to help me out right now (ie. to assist me in pursuing my
	But that my loathèd fate may turn about,	sinful desires); but who knows when I will need virtuous
182	And I have use for honest men again?	men to serve me again?"
	I hope I may: I prithee, leave me not.
184
	Enter Bessus.
186
	Bes. Where is the king?
188
	Mar. There.
190
	Bes. An't please your majesty, there's the knife.	= if it.
192
	Arb. What knife?
194
	Bes. The sword is eaten.
196
	Mar. Away, you fool! the king is serious,
198	And cannot now admit your vanities.	= ie. deal with. = foolishness, inanities^2
200	Bes. Vanities! I'm no honest man, if my enemies have
	not brought it to this. What, do you think I lie?	= ie. eaten his sword till it was reduced to a knife.
202
	Arb. No, no; 'tis well, Bessus; tis very well:
204	I'm glad on't.
206	Mar. If your enemies brought it to this, your enemies
	are cutlers. Come, leave the king.	= those who repair and deal in cutting utensils.
208
	Bes. Why, may not valour approach him?	= ie. a courageous man; valour is an appellation, meaning himself.
210
	Mar. Yes; but he has affairs. Depart, or I shall be	= no doubt meaning "the king (he) has other business
212	something unmannerly with you.	right now"; but he could refer to valour, in which
		case the meaning of the line is a little more insulting, and interesting: "but valour has other business to attend to than to interact with you."
214	Arb. No; let him stay, Mardonius, let him stay;
	I have occasions with him very weighty,	= business. = important.
216	And I can spare you now.
218	Mar. Sir?
220	Arb. Why, I can spare you now.
222	Bes. Mardonius, give way to the state affairs.
224	Mar. Indeed, you are fitter for his present purpose.
226	[Exit.]
228	Arb. Bessus, I should employ thee: wilt thou do't?	228ff: Beaumont's comic genius is apparent in the ensuing dialogue; the juxtaposition of the king's hopelessly tragic situation with the inane responses of the clueless Bessus results in one of the classic conversations of the entire Elizabethan canon.
230	Bes. Do't for you? By this air, I will do anything,	= an oath: "I swear".
	without exception, be it a good, bad, or indifferent thing.
232
	Arb. Do not swear.
234
	Bes. By this light, but I will; anything whatsoever.	= Bessus swears again anyway!
236
	Arb. But I shall name a thing
238	Thy conscience will not suffer thee to do.	= allow, permit.
240	Bes. I would fain hear that thing.	= like to
242	Arb. Why, I would have thee get my sister for me, −
	Thou understand'st me, − in a wicked manner.
244
	Bes. Oh, you would have a bout with her? I'll do't, I'll	= literally "have a round with", as in a fencing match; but
246	do't, i'faith.	also, as here, a common euphemism for "sleep with".
248	Arb. Wilt thou? dost thou make no more on't?
250	Bes. More? No. Why, is there anything else? If there	250-1: Bessus doesn't even blink at the proposal!
	be, tell me; it shall be done too.
252
	Arb. Hast thou no greater sense of such a sin?
254	Thou art too wicked for my company,
	Though I have hell within me, and may'st yet
256	Corrupt me further. Pray thee, answer me,
	How do I show to thee after this motion?	= appear.
258
	Bes. Why, your majesty looks as well, in my opinion,
260	as ever you did since you were born.
262	Arb. But thou appear'st to me, after thy grant,	= "granting (ie. of my request)".
	The ugliest, loathèd, détestable thing,	263: detestable is stressed on its first syllable.
264	That I have ever met with. Thou hast eyes
	Like flames of sulphur, which, methinks, do dart	= lightning bolts. = shoot.
266	Infection on me; and thou hast a mouth	= corruption, moral contamination.^1
	Enough to take me in, where there do stand	= ie. "consume me".
268	Four rows of iron teeth.	267: possible allusion to the ancient mythical monster
		known as the manticore, a red-shaded quadruped with the face of man and a mouth containing three rows of iron teeth.^12
270	Bes. I feel no such thing: but 'tis no matter how I look;
	I'll do your business as well as they that look better:	= "appear better than I do (if I look like a monster to you)".
272	and when this is dispatched, if you have a mind to	272-3: if you…it hard = a good candidate for the most
	your mother, tell me, and you shall see I'll set it hard.	outrageous line in all of Elizabethan literature!
274
	Arb. My mother? − Heaven forgive me, to hear this!
276	I am inspired with horror. − Now I hate thee
	Worse than my sin; which, if I could come by,	= the sense is, "if I could get a hold of it".^1
278	Should suffer death eternal, ne'er to rise
	In any breast again. Know, I will die
280	Languishing mad, as I resolve I shall,	= am determined.
	Ere I will deal by such an instrument.	= before. = with. = agent, ie. Bessus.
282	Thou art too sinful to employ in this:
	Out of the world, away!
284
	[Beats him.]
286
	Bes. What do you mean, sir?
288
	Arb. Hung round with curses, take thy fearful flight
290	Into the deserts; where, ‘mongst all the monsters,
	If thou find'st one so beastly as thyself,
292	Thou shalt be held as innocent!	= "considered in comparison to be".
294	Bes. Good sir −
296	Arb. If there were no such instruments as thou,	296-7: while Bessus' complete lack of comprehension
	We kings could never act such wicked deeds.	regarding the immorality of what he has been asked to
298	Seek out a man that mocks divinity,	do is worthy of a bit of head-shaking (though really too
	That breaks each precept both of God and man,	funny to condemn), it is hardly fair for Arbaces to blame
300	And nature’s too, and does it without lust,	Bessus for his own depravity.
	Merely because it is a law and good,
302	And live with him; for him thou can'st not spoil;
	Away, I say ! −
304
	[Exit Bessus.]
306
	I will not do this sin:
308	I'll press it here, till it do break my breast.
	It heaves to get out; but thou art a sin,
310	And, spite of torture, I will keep thee in.	= "despite the resulting feeling of torture", or "even if I
		were tortured".
312	[Exit.]

	ACT IV.
	SCENE I.
	A Room in the House of Gobrias.	= Panthea, we remember, is being held in confinement in Gobrias' home.
	Enter Gobrias, Panthea, and Spaconia.	Entering Characters: Spaconia is visiting with Panthea.
1	Gob. Have you written, madam?	= ie. to Arbaces.
2
	Pan. Yes, good Gobrias.
4
	Gob. And with a kindness and such winning words
6	As may provoke him, at one instant, feel	= immediately.
	His double fault; your wrong, and his own rashness?	= ie. "the injury he has done to you".
8
	Pan. I have sent words enough, if words may win him
10	From his displeasure; and such words, I hope,
	As shall gain much upon his goodness, Gobrias.	= prevail.^1
12	Yet fearing, since they are many, and a woman's,	12-14: "yet I worry that, because I have written so much,
	A poor belief may follow, I have woven	and because the words are those of a mere woman, my
14	As many truths within 'em to speak for me,	letter will not be credited, so I have incorporated as many maxims of eternal truths that are innately wise as I could"; they (line 12) refers to her "words".
	That, if he be but gracious and receive 'em −
16
	Gob. Good lady, be not fearful: though he should not
18	Give you your present end in this, believe it,	= immediate goal (ie. release from confinement).
	You shall feel, if your virtue can induce you
20	To labour out this tempest (which, I know,	20: labour out = ride out, survive.^7
	Is but a poor proof 'gainst your patience),	20-21: (which…patience) = the sense is that this troubling period (ie. this tempest) cannot defeat Panthea's patience. proof against = armor or protection against.^1
22	All those conténts your spirit will arrive at,	= joys, pleasures; the stress in conduct is on the second syllable.
	Newer and sweeter to you. Your royal brother,
24	When he shall once collect himself, and see	= come to his senses, gather himself together; the OED's earliest recorded published entry for the still-common phrase to collect oneself is from Shakespeare's The Winter Tale, believed to be performed in 1610 or so.
	How far he has been asunder from himself,	= separated (contrasted with collect).
26	What a mere stranger to his golden temper,	= complete, absolute.
	Must, from those roots of virtue, never dying,	27-31: note the extended botanical metaphor.
28	Though somewhat stopt with humour, shoot again	28: stopt = plugged up, blocked or prevented from appearing. humour = eccentric fancies.
	Into a thousand glories, bearing his fair branches
30	High as our hopes can look at, straight as justice,
	Loaden with ripe conténts. He loves you dearly:	= satisfactions, pleasures; content was sometimes used in
32	I know it, and I hope I need not further	the plural form like this, even into the early 18th century.
	Win you to understand it.	= ie. "have to persuade you".
34
	Pan. I believe it:
36	Howsoever, I am sure I love him dearly;
	So dearly, that if anything I write
38	For my enlarging should beget his anger,	= "which serves the purpose of freeing me from confine-
	Heaven be a witness with me, and my faith,	ment".
40	I had rather live entombèd here.
42	Gob. You shall not feel a worse stroke than your grief;
	I am sorry 'tis so sharp. I kiss your hand,
44	And this night will deliver this true story	= ie. Panthea's letter to Arbaces.
	With this hand to your brother.	= Gobrias raises or indicates his own hand here.
46
	Pan. Peace go with you!
48	You are a good man. −
50	[Exit Gobrias.]
52	My Spaconia,
	Why are you ever sad thus?
54
	Spa. Oh, dear lady!
56
	Pan. Prithee, discover not a way to sadness,	= "don't show me" (discover = reveal, ie. un-cover).
58	Nearer than I have in me. Our two sorrows	= ie. "more than I already have".
	Work, like two eager hawks, who shall get highest.	= "which one shall reach the greatest height."
60	How shall I lessen thine? for mine, I fear,
	Is easier known than cured.
62
	Spa. Heaven comfort both,
64	And give yours happy ends, however I	= ie. "your sorrow a happy conclusion".
	Fall in my stubborn fortunes.	= ie. from the height of line 59.
66
	Pan. This but teaches	= Bond suggests This refers to Panthea's "mood of
68	How to be more familiar with our sorrows,	resignation".
	That are too much our masters. Good Spaconia,
70	How shall I do you service?
72	Spa. Noblest lady,
	You make me more a slave still to your goodness,
74	And only live to purchase thanks to pay you;	= "I only".
	For that is all the business of my life now.
76	I will be bold, since you will have it so,
	To ask a noble favour of you.
78
	Pan. Speak it; 'tis yours; for from so sweet a virtue
80	No ill demand has issue.	= base.
82	Spa. Then, ever-virtuous, let me beg your will
	In helping me to see the prince Tigranes,
84	With whom I am equal prisoner, if not more.
86	Pan. Reserve me to a greater end, Spaconia;	86: ie. "this is an easy thing to grant you; you could have asked for a more difficult favour than this."
	Bacurius cannot want so much good manners	= lack.
88	As to deny your gentle visitation,
	Though you came only with your own command.	= "armed with no authority or permission to see him other
90		than your own desire."
	Spa. I know they will deny me, gracious madam,
92	Being a stranger, and so little famed,	= foreigner. = with so little renown or reputation.
	So utter empty of those excellencies	93-94: So utter…authority = the idea is that the greater a reputation or status one who asks for a favour has, the more likely it is to be granted; and Spaconia is without any such quality in Iberia.
94	That tame authority: but in you, sweet lady,	= "who have any control over those in office or power" (Dyce, quoting another earlier editor).
	All these are natural; beside, a power	95-97: a power…kingdom = Spaconia understands that as
96	Derived immediate from your royal brother,	Panthea is the sister of the king, any request she makes
	Whose least word in you may command the kingdom.	would be particularly difficult to refuse.
98
	Pan. More than my word, Spaconia, you shall carry,
100	For fear it fail you.
102	Spa. Dare you trust a token?	= an Elizabethan convention was for a person of authority
	Madam, I fear I am grown too bold a beggar.	or power to give a personal item, such as a piece of jewelry,
104		to a messenger, who would then in delivering the message to a third party present the "token" as visual evidence of the authenticity of the message, thus granting authority to the third party to do whatever is requested.
	Pan. You are a pretty one; and, trust me, lady,
106	It joys me I shall do a good to you,
	Though to myself I never shall be happy.
108	Here, take this ring, and from me as a token
110	[Gives ring.]	110: when Spaconia presents Panthea's ring to Bacurius, her request to visit with Tigranes will more likely be granted.
112	Deliver it: I think they will not stay you.	= "prevent you (from seeing Tigranes)".
	So, all your own desires go with you, lady!
114
	Spa. And sweet peace to your grace!
116
	Pan. Pray Heaven, I find it!
118
	[Exeunt.]
	ACT IV, SCENE II.
	A Prison.	The Setting: Dyce notes the setting actually likely takes place in a room in Bacurius' house, where Tigranes is confined.
	Tigranes is discovered.	= a curtain at the back of the stage is drawn open to reveal (discover) Tigranes.
1	Tigr. Fool that I am! I have undone myself,	= ruined.
2	And with my own hand turned my fortune round,	= the allusion is to personified Fortune's wheel, which she spins around, arbitrarily raising and lowering people's circumstances and states.
	That was a fair one: I have childishly	= ie. his fortune, that was already agreeable.
4	Played with my hope so long, till I have broke it,	= "toyed with my expectations (hope)".
	And now too late I mourn for't. Oh, Spaconia,
6	Thou hast found an even way to thy revenge now!
	Why didst thou follow me, like a faint shadow,
8	To wither my desires? But, wretched fool,	= ie. "wretched fool that I am".
	Why did I plant thee 'twixt the sun and me,	9: the image is that of an eclipse; Spaconia (thee) stands between Tigranes and Panthea (the sun), the woman he loves.
10	To make me freeze thus? why did I prefer her	= recommend Spaconia^7 (for employment in Panthea's household).
	To the fair princess? Oh, thou fool, thou fool,	11: meaning himself again.
12	Thou family of fools, live like a slave still,
	And in thee bear thine own hell and thy torment!
14	Thou hast deserved it. Couldst thou find no lady,
	But she that has thy hopes, to put her to,	= place Spaconia in a difficult or awkward situation.^1
16	And hazard all thy peace? none to abuse,	= risk.
	But she that loved thee ever, poor Spaconia?
18	And so much loved thee, that in honesty	18-19: Tigranes recognizes that in order to preserve his
	And honour thou art bound to meet her virtues!	own honour, he must remain loyal to Spaconia - it would be shameful if he were to allow her to behave in a more worthy manner than he does.
20	She, that forgot the greatness of her griefs,	20-22: She…woman's = a much argued-about passage:
	And miseries that must follow such mad passions,	perhaps, "she, who has forgotten her griefs and miseries
22	Endless and wild as woman’s! she, that for thee,	which must necessarily follow on the heels of such intense or crazy emotions, which are as endless and wild as they are in women.^7
	And with thee, left her liberty, her name,
24	And country! You have paid me, equal Heavens,	= repaid. = just.^1
	And sent my own rod to correct me with,	= literature of the period makes frequent reference to the metaphorical rod of punishment (correction).
26	A woman! For inconstancy I'll suffer;	= disloyalty or unfaithfulness (to Spaconia).
	Lay it on, justice, till my soul melt in me,
28	For my unmanly, beastly, sudden doting
	Upon a new face, after all my oaths,
30	Many, and strange ones.	= strong.^2
	I feel my old fire flame again, and burn
32	So strong and violent, that, should I see her	= ie. Spaconia.
	Again, the grief and that would kill me.
34
	Enter Bacurius and Spaconia.
36
	Bac. Lady,
38	Your token I acknowledge; you may pass:	38: Bacurius recognizes, and defers to, the permission
	There is the king.	granted by Panthea to Spaconia to see the prisoner
40		Tigranes, as evidenced by Panthea's ring.
	Spa. I thank your lordship for it.
42
	[Exit Bacurius.]
44
	Tigr. She comes, she comes! Shame hide me ever from her!
46	Would I were buried, or so far removed,	= "I wish I".
	Light might not find me out! I dare not see her.
48
	Spa. Nay, never hide yourself! For, were you hid
50	Where earth hides all her riches, near her centre,	ie. "all its gold, silver, and other precious metals".
	My wrongs, without more day, would light me to you:	51: without more day = "without even needing the light of the sun (to show me where you are)". light me = "show me the way".
52	I must speak ere I die. Were all your greatness	52-53: Were all…perjured man = "even if you were twice
	Doubled upon you, you're a perjured man,	as great a man as you are, you are still a perjurer (for having broken your vow to me)".
54	And only mighty in your wickedness
	Of wronging women. Thou art false, false prince!	= Spaconia dramatically changes pronouns: with "thee", she signals her contempt for Tigranes.
56	I live to see him: poor Spaconia lives
	To tell thee thou art false, and then no more:	= ie. "then I live no more"^7 (in line 52 she said "I must speak ere I die").
58	She lives to tell thee, thou art more inconstant	= disloyal.
	Than all ill women ever were together;	59: "than were all the evil women who ever lived com- bined."
60	Thy faith as firm as raging overflows,	60: that is, an overflowing stream is anything but stable or constant (firm).^2
	That no bank can command; and as lasting	= contain. = the meter of the line is off; some early editions omit and, fixing the meter, but leaving the line short.
62	As boys' gay bubbles, blown i' the air and broken:	62: note the interesting and rare (for this play) alliteration in this line.
	The wind is fixed to thee; and sooner shall	= compared to.
64	The beaten mariner with his shrill whistle	= driven (by a rough sea).^1
	Calm the loud murmurs of the troubled main,	= sea.
66	And strike it smooth again, than thy soul fall
	To have peace in love with any: thou art all
68	That all good men must hate; and if thy story	68-72: and if…ashes: a common dramatic convention was
	Shall tell succeeding ages what thou wert,	for a character to imagine that his or her love story will
70	Oh, let it spare me in it, lest true lovers,	be passed on as a moral lesson or example to succeeding
	In pity of my wrongs, burn thy black legend,	ages.
72	And with their curses shake thy sleeping ashes!
74	Tigr. Oh! oh!
76	Spa. The Destinies, I hope, have pointed out	= ie. the Fates of Greek mythology, who determine the
	Our ends alike, that thou may'st die for love,	course of one's life.^1
78	Though not for me; for, this assure thyself,
	The princess hates thee deadly, and will sooner
80	Be won to marry with a bull, and safer,	80: marry with a bull = perhaps a glancing reference to Pastpiiae (or Pasiphae), who in Greek mythology was married to King Minos of Crete; cursed by Poseidon with lust for Minos' prize bull, she copulated with the bull by concealing herself in a life-size model of a cow; the resulting offspring was the Minotaur.^4 safer = more assuredly.^1
	Than such a beast as thou art. − I have struck,	81-82: between the dashes, a likely aside: Spaconia worries she is over-doing her chastising, as she does not really want to hurt Tigranes.
82	I fear too deep; beshrew me for it! − Sir,	= curse.
	This sorrow works me, like a cunning friendship,	83-84: This sorrow…with it: the sense is that the feeling of affliction or sadness is visited upon her as much as it was intended to affect Tigranes, just as friends tend to become more alike over time.
84	Into the same piece with it. − He's ashamed:	84-85: another aside between the dashes; Spaconia regrets
	Alas, I have been too rugged! − Dear my lord,	berating Tigranes too harshly.
86	I am sorry I have spoken anything,
	Indeed I am, that may add more restraint
88	To that too much you have. Good sir, be pleased	= now penitent and calm again, Spaconia again switches
	To think it was a fault of love, not malice;	pronouns, returning to the more respectful "you".
90	And do as I will do, − forgive it, prince:
	I do, and can, forgive the greatest sins
92	To me you can repent of. Pray believe me.
94	Tigr. Oh, my Spaconia! oh, thou virtuous woman!
96	Spa. No more; the king, sir.
98	Enter Arbaces, Bacurius, and Mardonius.
100	Arb. Have you been careful of our noble prisoner,
	That he want nothing fitting for his greatness?	= lacks.
102
	Bac. I hope his grace will quit me for my care, sir.	103: his grace = ie. Tigranes; though more properly used
104		for dukes and duchesses (especially after the reign of Henry VIII), grace is often used by Elizabethan stage characters in addressing or referring to monarchs.^1 quit = reward.^1
	Arb. 'Tis well. − Royal Tigranes, health!
106
	Tigr. More than the strictness of this place can give, sir,
108	I offer back again to great Arbaces.
110	Arb. We thank you, worthy prince; and pray excuse us;
	We have not seen you since your being here.
112	I hope your noble usage has been equal	= treatment.
	With your own person: your imprisonment,	= "with what a person of your rank is due."
114	If it be any, I dare say, is easy;
	And shall not out-last two days.
116
	Tigr. I thank you.
118	My usage here has been the same it was,
	Worthy a royal conqueror. For my restraint,
120	It came unkindly, because much unlooked-for;
	But I must bear it.
122
	Arb. What lady's that, Bacurius?
124
	Bac. One of the princess' women, sir.
126
	Arb. I feared it.
128	Why comes she hither?
130	Bac. To speak with the prince Tigranes.
132	Arb. From whom, Bacurius ?
134	Bac. From the princess, sir.
136	Arb. I knew I had seen her.	136: Arbaces is likely becoming visibly agitated, based on
		Mardonius' next line; the king suspects that Panthea has sent Spaconia to woo or communicate with Tigranes on her (Panthea's) own behalf, and he is jealous.
138	Mar. [Aside] His fit begins to take him now again:
	'tis a strange fever, and 'twill shake us all anon, I fear.	= shortly.
140	Would he were well cured of this raging folly! Give
	me the wars, where men are mad, and may talk what
142	they list, and held the bravest fellows; this pelting,	= wish. = are revered as. = worthless or contemptible;^6 Mardonius expresses a typical Elizabethan stage soldier's sentiment, that peace leads to societal weakness and softness.
	prattling peace is good for nothing; drinking's a virtue
144	to't.	= compared to it.
146	Arb. I see there's truth in no man, nor obedience,	= honesty, reliability.
	But for his own ends. Why did you let her in?
148
	Bac. It was your own command to bar none from him:
150	Besides, the princess sent her ring, sir, for my warrant.	= as an authorization or sanction for Bacurius' admitting Spaconia.
152	Arb. A token to Tigranes, did she not?	152: Arbaces believes that Panthea had given Spaconia the ring to give to Tigranes as a token of Panthea's admiration for him, and not just as a sign of her grant for Spaconia to visit him.
	Sirrah, tell truth.	= this form of address, usually reserved for servants, can
154		also be used, as it is here, to express authority, and signals Arbaces' annoyance at Bacurius.
	Bac. I do not use to lie, sir;
156	'Tis no way I eat or live by; and I think
	This is no token, sir.	= keepsake, ie. symbol of love.
158
	Mar. [Aside] This combat has undone him: if he had	= Mardonius refers not to the war with Armenia, but rather Arbaces single combat with Tigranes; he believes the king's victory there led him, perhaps out of some misplaced hubris, to lose all his sense of proportion.
160	been well beaten, he had been temperate. I shall never
	see him handsome again, till he have a horseman's staff	= gracious in behavior.^1 = spear or lance.^2
162	poked through his shoulders, or an arm broke with a
	bullet.
164
	Arb. I am trifled with.	= being toyed with.
166
	Bac. Sir?
168
	Arb. I know it, as I know thee to be false.
170
	Mar. [Aside] Now the clap comes.	= explosion or sudden blow;^1 Mardonius is reacting to the
172		king's calling Bacurius a liar.
	Bac. You never knew me so, sir, I dare speak it;
174	And durst a worse man tell me, though my better −	174: Bacurius' blood is up: "if a man who was less than a king, but still of higher rank than me, had talked this way to me…"; the remaining thought, that he would ask such a person to let him defend his honour in a duel, is implied. durst = dared.
176	Mar. [Aside] 'Tis well said, by my soul.	176: Mardonius greatly admires Bacurius' refusing to back down in the face of the king's wrath.
178	Arb. Sirrah, you answer as you had no life.	178: in so brazenly risking execution, Bacurius speaks as if he places no value on his own life.
180	Bac. That I fear, sir, to lose nobly.	180: Bacurius finishes the king's sentence: ie. "(I have no
		life) that I fear to lose in a noble cause."
182	Arb. I say, sir, once again −
184	Bac. You may say what you please, sir:
186	Mar. [Aside] Would I might do so!	186: Mardonius wishes he had the courage to say what he
		was thinking; his asides here are delightful.
188	Arb. I will, sir; and say openly,
	This woman carries letters: by my life,	189: This woman carries letters = Arbaces asserts Spaconia
190	I know she carries letters; this woman does it.	is carrying love-letters between Panthea and Tigranes. by my life = an oath, "I swear".
192	Mar. 'Would Bessus were here, to take her aside and	192-4: Mardonius appears to be trying to defuse the rising
	search her! he would quickly tell you what she	tension with his rough soldier's humor;^7 but what
194	carried, sir.	Spaconia might be carrying - perhaps either venereal
		disease or a baby (either derived from Bessus) - is unclear.
196	Arb. I have found it out, this woman carries letters.
198	Mar. [Aside] If this hold, 'twill be an ill world for	198-9: If this…boys = "if this is going to be the way things
	bawds, chambermaids, and post-boys. I thank Heaven,	are from now on, then there will be bad endings for those who act as traditional go-betweens for secret lovers (a class which includes providers of prostitutes [ie. procuresses, or bawds], ladies' maids, and boys who carry messages or mail.".^1
200	I have none but his letters-patents, things of his own	= documents granting him various privileges.^1
	inditing.	= composition.
202
	Arb. Prince, this cunning cannot do't.
204
	Tigr. Do what, sir? I reach you not.	= "don't understand you".
206
	Arb. It shall not serve your turn, prince.	= purpose.
208
	Tigr. Serve my turn, sir?
210
	Arb. Ay, sir, it shall not serve your turn.
212
	Tigr. Be plainer, good sir.
214
	Arb. This woman shall carry no more letters back to
216	your love, Panthea; by Heaven she shall not; I say she
	shall not.
218
	Mar. [Aside] This would make a saint swear like a	= ie. this treatment.
220	soldier, and a soldier like Termagant.	= the name of a violent but imaginary Islamic god who appeared in the old morality plays.^7 Tergamant was considered the ultimate ranter.^19
222	Tigr. This beats me more, king, than the blows you	= injures, hurts.
	gave me.
224
	Arb. Take 'em away both, and together let ‘em be	= ie. both Tigranes and Spaconia; again the king addresses Bacurius, who seems to serve as the jailer of all of Arbaces' imagined enemies.
226	prisoners, strictly and closely kept; or, sirrah, your
	life shall answer it; and let nobody speak with 'em	= for it.
228	hereafter.
230	Tigr. Well, I am subject to you,	= ie. "subject to your control".
	And must endure these passions.	= wild emotional outbursts.
232
	Spa. [Aside]
234	This is th' imprisonment I have looked for always,
	And the dear place I would choose.
236
	[Exeunt Bacurius, Tigranes, and Spaconia.]
238
	Mar. Sir, have you done well now?
240
	Arb. Dare you reprove it?	= with "you", Arbaces signals formal distancing of himself
242		from Mardonius.
	Mar. No.
244
	Arb. You must be crossing me.	245: "you must always be thwarting my will."
246
	Mar. I have no letters, sir, to anger you,	247-9: Mardonius is highly sarcastic: he refers to an
248	But a dry sonnet of my corporal's,	imaginary secret love-letter between one of his officers
	To an old sutler's wife; and that I'll burn, sir.	and the wife of one of the army's sutlers (line 249, one who sells the army provisions), which, given the king's apparent hostility towards such missives, would subject the officer and wife to punishment, and thus which Mardonius must now destroy to protect those involved; the subtext of Mardonius' comment is that kings have no business involving themselves in such trivial and private matters.
250	'Tis like to prove a fine age for the ignorant.	= "this is likely".
252	Arb. How darest thou so often forfeit thy life?
	Thou knowest it is in my power to take it.
254
	Mar. Yes, and I know you wo' not; or, if you do,	= would not. = ie. "if you were to take my life".
256	You'll miss it quickly.
258	Arb. Why?
260	Mar. Who shall then tell you of these childish follies,
	When I am dead? who shall put to his power	= set his power to work.^7
262	To draw those virtues out of a flood of humours,	262: humours = whims, fancies.
	Where they are drowned, and make 'em shine again?	262-3: a neat image of the king's virtues drowned out by his ghastly and violent emotions;
264	No, cut my head off:
	Then you may talk, and be believed and grow worse,	= ie. as no one will be around to contradict or censure whatever Arbaces says.
266	And have your too self-glorious temper rocked	= ie. self-glorifying.^1 = the original editions have rot here;
	Into a dead sleep, and the kingdom with you,	but the emendation to rocked has been accepted by all
268	Till foreign swords be in your throats and slaughter	editors.
	Be everywhere about you, like your flatterers.
270	Do, kill me.
272	Arb. Prithee, be tamer, good Mardonius.
	Thou know'st I love thee; nay, I honour thee;	= his emotions once again swinging back to mildness, Arbaces returns to using the intimate and affectionate "thee" with Mardonius.
274	Believe it, good old soldier, I am thine;
	But I am racked clean from myself; bear with me;	= driven or stretched,^2 as on the instrument of torture.
276	Wo't thou bear with me, good Mardonius?	= will or would.
278	Enter Gobrias.
280	Mar. There comes a good man; love him too; he's temperate;
	You may live to have need of such a virtue;
282	Rage is not still in fashion.
284	Arb. Welcome, good Gobrias.
286	Gob. My service and this letter to your grace.
288	[Gives letter.]
290	Arb. From whom?
292	Gob. From the rich mine of virtue and all beauty,
	Your mournful sister.
294
	Arb. She is in prison, Gobrias, is she not?	= ie. confined in Gobrias' house.
296
	Gob. [Kneels]
298	She is, sir, till your pleasure do enlarge her,	= free.
	Which on my knees I beg. Oh, 'tis not fit
300	That all the sweetness of the world in one,	= ie. contained in a single person.
	The youth and virtue that would tame wild tigers,
302	And wilder people that have known no manners,	302: ie. barbarians, or any uncivilized peoples.
	Should live thus cloistered up! For your love's sake,
304	If there be any in that noble heart	= ie. any love.
	To her, a wretched lady, and forlorn,
306	Or for her love to you, which is as much
	As nature and obedience ever gave,
308	Have pity on her beauties!
310	Arb. Prithee, stand up. 'Tis true, she is too fair,	= beautiful.
312	[Gobrias rises.]
314	And all these commendations but her own:
	Would thou hadst never so commended her,	315-6: Arbaces blames Gobrias' letters praising Panthea's
316	Or I ne'er lived to have heard it, Gobrias!	beauty and virtue, which he had sent to the king while he was away at war, for his predicament.
	If thou but knew'st the wrong her beauty does her,
318	Thou wouldst, in pity of her, be a liar.	= ie. dispraise rather than praise Panthea's obvious good looks.
	Thy ignorance has drawn me, wretched man,
320	Whither myself, nor thou, canst well tell. Oh my fate!	= in which direction, to where.
	I think she loves me, but I fear another	= ie. another love or person.
322	Is deeper in her heart: how think'st thou, Gobrias?
324	Gob. I do beseech your grace, believe it not;
	For, let me perish, if it be not false.
326	Good sir, read her letter.
328	[Arbaces reads.]
330	Mar. [Aside] This love, or what a devil it is, I know
	not, begets more mischief than a wake. I had rather	= an English parish festival,^1 which presumably included lots of drinking and rowdiness.
332	be well beaten, starved, or lousy, than live within	= infested with lice, or just plain filthy.
	the air on't. He, that had seen this brave fellow charge	= ie. any man. = ie. Arbaces.
334	through a grove of pikes but t'other day, and look
	upon him now, will ne'er believe his eyes again. If
336	he continue thus but two days more, a tailor may beat	= tailors were considered cowardly and effeminate, and
	him with one hand tied behind him.	were thus frequently made the butt of such jokes.
338
	Arb. Alas, she would be at liberty;
340	And there be thousand reasons, Gobrias,
	Thousands, that will deny it;
342	Which if she knew, she would contentedly
	Be where she is, and bless her virtue for it,
344	And me, though she were closer: she would, Gobrias;	= "even if she were confined more closely than she is".^7
	Good man, indeed she would.
346
	Gob. Then, good sir, for her satisfactiön,
348	Send for her, and with reason let her know
	Why she must live thus from you.
350
	Arb. I will. Go, bring her to me.
352
	[Exeunt.]
	ACT IV, SCENE III.
	A Room in the House of Bessus.
	Enter Bessus, two Sword-Men, and a Boy.	Entering Characters: the two Sword-Men are professional instructors whom Bessus has hired to advise him regarding how to handle his disputes with those who would challenge him to a duel.^3 The Boy is Bessus' servant.
1	Bes. You're very welcome, both! − Some stools there,	= chairs were rarely used in Elizabethan times; most every person sat on a stool.
2	boy; and reach a table. − Gentlemen o' th' sword, pray
	sit, without more compliment. − Begone, child.	= "no need for formalities here."
4
	[Exit Boy.]
6
	I have been curious in the searching of you, because I	= fastidious or careful.^1
8	understand you wise and valiant persons.
10	1st Sw.M. We understand ourselves, sir.
12	Bes. Nay, gentlemen, and my dear friends o' the sword,	12ff: though this farcical scene between the foolish Sword-Men and Bessus could appropriately enough be presented in prose, it has been suggested that it was instead deliberately, and humorously, written in verse as to suggest a "mock-heroic" dialogue.^7 The verse, however, has a fair amount of irregularity to it; see Postscript 3 at the end of the play on the problems of the verse lines of Bessus and the Sword-Men.
	No compliment, I pray; but to the case	= in this conversation, case (or cause) refers to the grounds of a quarrel between gentlemen; the complex code of dueling is satirized wonderfully in this scene.
14	I hang upon, which, in few, is my honour.	= ie. in few words.
16	2nd Sw.M. You cannot hang too much, sir, for your honour.	= the 2nd Sword-Man humorously uses hang in its "gallows" sense.
	But to your case: be wise, and speak [the] truth.
18
	Bes. My first doubt is, my beating by my prince.	= dread.^3 = "my being beat up by my king."
20
	1st Sw.M. Stay there a little, sir; Do you doubt a beating?	21: Stay there a little = "stop there a moment".
22	Or have you had a beating by your prince?	21-22: Do you…prince = The Sword-Man asks for a
		clarification: does Bessus worry about a future beating, or has he already been beaten? doubt = dread.^6 The humour of the entire scene will be based on the absurd parsing, by the Sword-Men, of the exact conditions which must be present which would require a beating victim to challenge his tormenter. As a point of comparison, and for a little context regarding physical assaults and duels, see the note at the end of this scene.
24	Bes. Gentlemen o' th' sword, my prince has beaten me.
26	2nd Sw.M. Brother, what think you of this case?	= they are not necessarily siblings; brother could mean simply "fellow sword-man" or "brother in arms".
28	1st Sw.M. If he have beaten him, the case is clear.	= ie. there are clear grounds for a challenge.
30	2nd Sw.M. If he have beaten him, I grant the case. –
	But how? − we cannot be too subtle in this business. −	= "how did he beat you?" = careful, particular.^1
32	I say, but how?
34	Bes. Even with his royal hand.
36	1st Sw.M. Was it a blow of love or indignation?
38	Bes. 'Twas twenty blows of indignation, gentlemen,
	Besides two blows o' th' face.
40
	2nd Sw.M. Those two blows o' th' face have made a new case on't;	41-42: the absurd argument here is that the twenty blows did not impinge on Bessus' honour, and therefore need
42	The rest were but an honourable rudeness.	not require him to challenge the king to preserve that honour; but the two blows to the face did.
44	1st Sw.M. Two blows o' th' face, and given by a worse man,	44f: the 1st Sword-Man disagrees with the 2nd; the king has every right to beat his subjects; only if the two blows
	I must confess, as we sword-men say, had turned	had come from anyone other than the king would they
46	The business: mark me, brother, by a worse man;	be grounds for a challenge.
	But, being by his prince, had they been ten,
48	And those ten drawn ten teeth, besides the hazard
	Of his nose for ever, all these had been but favours.	= expressions of goodwill.^1
50	This is my flat opinion, which I'll die in.	= unqualified. = ie. in defending or sticking to this opinion.
52	2nd Sw.M. The king may do much, captain, believe it;	52: the 2nd Sword-Man agrees with his buddy.
	For had he cracked your skull through, like a bottle,
54	Or broke a rib or two with tossing of you,
	Yet you had lost no honour. This is strange,
56	You may imagine, but this is truth now, captain.
58	Bes. I will be glad to embrace it, gentlemen.	58: Bessus is of course relieved that, his honour not being
	But how far may he strike me?	impinged upon by Arbaces' beating, he does not to
60		have to challenge the king.
	1st Sw.M. There's another,
62	A new cause rising from the time and distance,
	In which I will deliver my opinion.
64	He may strike, beat, or cause to be beaten;
	For these are natural to man:
66	Your prince, I say, may beat you so far forth
	As his dominion reacheth; that's for the distance;	= "so much for".
68	The time, ten miles a-day, I take it.
70	2nd Sw.M. Brother, you err, 'tis fifteen miles a-day;
	His stage is ten, his beatings are fifteen.	= ie. distance.
72
	Bes. 'Tis of the longest, but we subjects must −
74
	1st Sw.M. Be subject to it: you are wise and virtuous.
76
	Bes. Obedience ever makes that noble use on't,
78	To which I dedicate my beaten body.
	I must trouble you a little further, gentlemen o' th' sword.
80
	2nd Sw.M. No trouble at all to us, sir, if we may
82	Profit your understanding: we are bound,
	By virtue of our calling, to utter our opinions
84	Shortly and discretely.
86	Bes. My sorest business is, I have been kicked.
88	2nd Sw.M. How far, sir ?
90	Bes. Not to flatter myself in it, all over:
	My sword lost, but not forcèd; for discretely	91: not forced = Bessus' sword was not forced from him -
92	I rendered it, to save that imputation.	he had, at least in outward show, voluntarily handed his sword over to Bacurius (even though he was really under duress). discretely (line 91) = separately, ie. not connected in any way to his kicking.^1
94	1st Sw.M. It showed discretion, the best part of valour.	94: this proverbial sentiment originated in Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part I: "The better part of valour is discretion."
96	2nd Sw.M. Brother, this is a pretty case; pray, ponder on't:	= worthy.^1
	Our friend here has been kicked.
98
	1st Sw.M. He has so, brother.
100
	2nd Sw.M. Sorely, he says. Now, had he sit down here	= acquiesced, backed down.^1
102	Upon the mere kick, 't had been cowardly.
104	1st Sw.M. I think, it had been cowardly indeed.
106	2nd Sw.M. But our friend has redeemed it, in delivering	= ie. his honour.
	His sword without compulsion; and that man
108	That took it of him, I pronounce a weak one,	= from.
	And his kicks nullities.	= of no importance, ie. nothing to quarrel over.
110	He should have kicked him after the delivery,
	Which is the confirmation of a coward.
112
	1st Sw.M. Brother, I take it you mistake the question;
114	For say, that I were kicked.
116	2nd Sw.M. I must not say so;	116f: the 2nd Sword-Man's equivocation leads to an
	Nor I must not hear it spoke by th' tongue of man:	absurd argument between the two advisors.
118	You kicked, dear brother! you are merry.	= kidding.
120	1st Sw.M. But put the case, I were kicked.	= suppose.
122	2nd Sw.M. Let them put it,
	That are things weary of their lives, and know	= ie. "those who would kick you are people who are".
124	Not honour! Put the case, you were kicked!
126	1st Sw.M. I do not say I was kicked.
128	2nd Sw.M. Nor no silly creature that wears his head	= simple or weak.^1
	Without a case, his soul in a skin-coat:	= unprotected;^7 the sense of this speech is to suggest
130	You kicked, dear brother!	that no one who was vulnerable to a severe beating
		would dare kick his companion.^7
132	Bes. Nay, gentlemen, let us do what we shall do,
	Truly and honestly! Good sirs, to the question.
134
	1st Sw.M. Why, then, I say, suppose your boy kicked, captain.	= was kicked; in order to appease his fellow, the 1st Sword- Man changes the hypothetical scenario: but now the 2nd Sword-Man misunderstands his colleague to mean he was kicked by the Boy.
136
	2nd Sw.M. The boy may be supposed, he’s liable:	= likely to do so.
138	But, kick my brother!
140	1st Sw.M. A foolish, forward zeal, sir, in my friend,	140: the 1st Sword-Man apologizes to Bessus (Sir) for
	But to the boy: suppose the boy were kicked.	his friend's hypersensitivity and aggressive misunder-
142		standing.
	Bes. I do suppose it.
144
	1st Sw.M. Has your boy a sword?
146
	Bes. Surely, no; I pray, suppose a sword too.	= "let's suppose he had".
148
	1st Sw.M. I do suppose it. You grant, your boy was kicked then.
150
	2nd Sw.M. By no means, captain; let it be supposed still;
152	The word "grant" makes not for us.	152: the brothers are chopping logic; "I'm not granting
		that he was actually kicked, only supposing he was."
154	1st Sw.M. I say, this must be granted.
156	2nd Sw.M. This must be granted, brother!	156: the 2nd Sword-Man repeats his colleague's words
		out of disbelief; now he objects to his using the word must.
158	1st Sw.M. Ay, this must be granted.
160	2nd Sw.M. Still the must!
162	1st Sw.M. I say, this must be granted.
164	2nd Sw.M. Give me the must again! brother, you palter.	= equivocate.^1
166	1st Sw.M. I will not hear you, wasp.	= the 1st Sword-Man implies his companion is acting like a
		persistent, petty jerk.^1
168	2nd Sw.M. Brother,
	I say, you palter: the must three times together!
170	I wear as sharp steel as another man,
	And my fox bites as deep: musted, my dear brother!	= common term for the ancient English broadsword.^3
172	But to the case again.
174	Bes. Nay, look you, gentlemen −
176	2nd Sw.M. In a word, I ha' done.	= "I am done arguing".
178	1st Sw.M. A tall man, but intemperate; 'tis great pity.	= brave man, ie. referring to his associate.
	Once more, suppose the boy kicked.
180
	2nd Sw.M. Forward.	181: "fine, continue."
182
	1st Sw.M. And, being throughly kicked, laughs at the kicker.	= common alternative for thoroughly.
184
	2nd Sw.M. So much for us. Proceed.
186
	1st Sw.M. And in this beaten scorn, as I may call it,	187-8: the 1st Sword-Man has presented, in the hypothetical
188	Delivers up his weapon; where lies the error?	case of the Boy being beaten and then turning over his sword, exactly what happened between Bessus and Bacurius.
190	Bes. It lies i' the beating, sir: I found it four days since.	= ago.
192	2nd Sw.M. The error, and a sore one, as I take it,	= severe.^2
	Lies in the thing kicking.
194
	Bes. I understand that well; 'tis sore indeed, sir.	= Bessus puns on sore.
196
	1st Sw.M. That is, according to the man that did it.
198
	2nd Sw.M. There springs a new branch: whose was the foot?	= ie. line of argument.
200
	Bes. A lord's.
202
	1st Sw.M. The case is mighty; but, had it been two lords,
204	And both had kicked you, if you laughed, ‘tis clear.	= ie. then the case is clear.
206	Bes. I did laugh; but how will that help me, gentlemen?
208	2nd Sw.M. Yes, it shall help you, if you laughed aloud.
210	Bes. As loud as a kicked man could laugh, I laughed, sir.
212	1st Sw.M. My reason now: the valiant man is known
	By suffering and contemning; you have [had]	213: contemning = scorning. 213-4: you have…valiant = ie. "by suffering the
214	Enough of both, and you are valiant.	kicking, and then showing scorn by laughing at it, you have proved you are valiant, ie. your honour has been preserved."
216	2nd Sw.M. If he be sure he has been kicked enough;
	For that brave sufferance you speak of, brother,	= suffering.
218	Consists not in a beating and away,
	But in a cudgelled body, from eighteen	219-220: from eighteen…thirty = the ages when such a beating would be most resented by the recipient.^7
220	To eight and thirty; in a head rebuked	= ie. struck.
	With pots of all size, daggers, stools, and bed-staves:	= "wooden pins in the side of the bedstead for holding the
222	This shows a valiant man.	bed-clothes in position" (Bond).
224	Bes. Then I am valiant, as valiant as the proudest;
	For these are all familiar things to me;
226	Familiar as my sleep or want of money;	= lack.
	All my whole body's but one bruise with beating:
228	I think I have been cudgelled with all nations,	= beaten.
	And almost all religions.
230
	2nd Sw.M. Embrace him, brother! this man is valiant;
232	I know it by myself, he's valiant.
234	1st Sw.M. Captain, thou art a valiant gentleman;
	Abide upon’t, a very valiant man.	= depend.^3
236
	Bes. My equal friends o' th' sword, I must request	237-8: I must…to this = "let's shake on this".
238	Your hands to this.
240	2nd Sw.M. 'Tis fit it should be.
242	Bes. [To boy within.] Boy,
	Get me some wine, and pen and ink, within. −
244	Am I clear, gentlemen?	= the sense is "in the clear", or "free of any further
		obligation in this matter."
246	1st Sw.M. Sir, when the world has taken notice what
	We have done, make much of your body; for I'll pawn
248	My steel, men will be coyer of their legs	= more reserved, ie. people will be more careful about who
	Hereafter.	they go around kicking from now on!
250
	Bes. I must request you go along,	251-3: Bessus requests the Sword-Men go with him to
252	and testify to the lord Bacurius,	Bacurius and explain what they have discussed; Bessus
	Whose foot has struck me, how you find my case.	is relieved that he is not required to challenge or fight with him.
254
	2nd Sw.M. We will; and tell that lord he must be ruled,	= ie. governed by this decision.
256	Or there be those abroad will rule his lordship.	256: a threat to Bacurius is implied.
258	[Exeunt.]	The Dueling Code and Challenges, Part 2: in addition to articulating rules for dealing with slanders, Vincentio Saviolo, in his 1594 treatise Honor and Honorable Quarrels, also explains how potential duelists should develop their cause in the case of a battery. If person A strikes B, B must accuse A of injuring him; A must respond that B is lying, and B, to back up his accusation, is the one who must issue the challenge. However, if B does not deny beating A, then there is no cause for a challenge (because a duel should never be offered for purposes of revenge) and B should seek damages in law. We can compare this to the situation described in the note at the end of Act II.ii, in which A, having made a charge against B (which B calls a lie), must be the one to challenge; in other words, one must be accused of lying in order to challenge his adversary.
	ACT IV, SCENE IV.
	An Apartment in the Palace.
	Enter on one side Arbaces,
	on the other Gobrias and Panthea.	Entering Characters: Gobrias has convinced Arbaces to
		meet Panthea to explain the reason for her imprisonment.
1	Gob. Sir, here's the princess.
2
	Arb. Leave us, then, alone;
4	For the main cause of her imprisonment
	Must not be heard by any but herself. −
6
	[Exit Gobrias.]
8
	You're welcome, sister; − and I would to Heaven	9f: and I would…: the rest of the speech may be an aside.
10	I could so bid you by another name! −
	If you above love not such sins as these,	= Arbaces asks God, or the gods, for help, sort of: "if you
12	Circle my heart with thoughts as cold as snow,	disapprove of incest, then remove the love I have for my
	To quench these rising flames that harbour here.	sister from my heart."
14
	Pan. Sir, does it please you I shall speak?
16
	Arb. Please me!
18	Ay, more than all the art of music can,
	Thy speech doth please me; for it ever sounds	= always.
20	As thou brought'st joyful, unexpected news:
	And yet it is not fit thou shouldst be heard;	= appropriate.
22	I prithee, think so.	22: "please, believe me."
24	Pan. Be it so; I will.
	I am the first that ever had a wrong
26	So far from being fit to have redress,	= appropriate, qualified; note how in this speech Panthea has picked up on Arbaces' use of the word fit, and uses fit repeatedly, providing a sense of sarcasm; the repeated rhyming of it with fit also gives the lines a Dr. Seuss-ish quality.
	That 'twas unfit to hear it: I will back
28	To prison, rather than disquiet you,	= trouble, upset.
	And wait till it be fit.
30
	Arb. No, do not go;
32	For I will hear thee with a serious thought:
	I have collected all that's man about me	= ie. all the qualities desirable in a true man.
34	Together strongly, and I am resolved	= determined.
	To hear thee largely: but I do beseech thee,	= freely.
36	Do not come nearer to me, for there is
	Something in that, that will undo us both.	= ruin.
38
	Pan. Alas, sir, am I venom?
40
	Arb. Yes, to me;
42	Though, of thyself, I think thee to be in	42-44: I think…can make = Arbaces means that he believes Panthea to be of a perfect or an ideal temperament.
	As equal a degree of heat or cold	43: the specific reference here is to the four humours, or fluids, - phlegm, blood, yellow bile and black bile - which were believed to be contained within the human body; if these humours were present in their correct proportions, then the possessor was in good health; but if there was too much or too little of any humour, sickness, or an exaggerated temperament of one type or another, would manifest itself: for example, if a person suffered from an excess of yellow bile, he or she would tend towards choler, or anger. The humours could further be classified by their "temperature": black bile and phlegm were cold, blood and yellow bile hot; Panthea, says Arbaces, is in possession of a good balance of these humours.
44	As nature can make; yet, as unsound men	= unhealthy, sick.
	Convert the sweetness and the nourishing'st meats	= food.
46	Into diseases, so shall I, distempered,	= "in my disordered state".
	Do thee: I prithee, draw no nearer to me.
48
	Pan. Sir, this is that I would: I am of late	= "what I wanted to see you about".
50	Shut from the world; and why it should be thus
	Is all I wish to know.
52
	Arb. Why, credit me,	= believe.
54	Panthea, credit me, that am thy brother,
	Thy loving brother, that there is a cause
56	Sufficient, yet unfit for thee to know,
	That might undo thee everlastingly,	= ruin.
58	Only to hear. Wilt thou but credit this?	= "even just to hear it."
	By Heaven, tis true; believe it, if thou canst.
60
	Pan. Children and fools are ever credulous,
62	And I am both I think, for I believe.
	If you dissemble, be it on your head!	= "are deceiving me".
64	I'll back unto my prison. Yet, methinks,
	I might be kept in some place where you are;
66	For in myself I find, I know not what	66-68: this must be torture for Arbaces to have to hear this.
	To call it, but it is a great desire
68	To see you often.
70	Arb. Fie, you come in a step; what do you mean?	= an expression of reproach.^1 = Panthea likely moves
	Dear sister, do not so! Alas, Panthea;	closer to Arbaces.
72	Where I am would you be? why, that's the cause	= "is where you would like to be?"
	You are imprisoned, that you may not be
74	Where I am.
76	Pan. Then I must endure it, sir.
	Heaven keep you!
78
	Arb. Nay, you shall hear the cause in short, Panthea;	= briefly.
80	And, when thou hear'st it, thou wilt blush for me,
	And hang thy head down, like a violet
82	Full of the morning's dew. There is a way
	To gain thy freedom; but 'tis such a one
84	As puts thee in worse bondage, and I know	84: bondage = slavery.
	Thou wouldst encounter fire, and make a proof	84-87: I know…follow it = "I know you would gladly
86	Whether the gods have care of innocence,	walk through fire to test (make a proof) whether the gods
	Rather than follow it. Know, I have lost,	will protect those who are free from sin, or they will accompany or practice (follow) it."
88	The only difference betwixt man and beast,	= between.
	My reason.	= ability to reason, perhaps suggesting "sanity".
90
	Pan. Heaven forbid!
92
	Arb. Nay, it is gone;
94	And I am left as far without a bound	= limits.
	As the wild ocean, that obeys the winds;
96	Each sudden passion throws me where it lists,	= wants to.
	And overwhelms all that oppose my will.	= who.
98	I have beheld thee with a lustful eye;
	My heart is set on wickedness, to act
100	Such sins with thee, as I have been afraid
	To think of. If thou dar'st consent to this,
102	(Which, I beseech thee, do not,) thou mayst gain
	Thy liberty, and yield me a content:	= satisfaction.^1
104	If not, thy dwelling must be dark and close,	= confined and concealed.^1
	Where I may never see thee: for Heaven knows,
106	That laid this punishment upon my pride,
	Thy sight at some time will enforce my madness	= "seeing you". = reinforce, ie. magnify or intensify.^1
108	To make a start e'en to thy ravishing.	= ie. "my sexually assaulting or raping you."
	Now spit upon me, and call all reproaches
110	Thou canst devise together, and at once
	Hurl 'em against me; for I am a sickness,
112	As killing as the plague, ready to seize thee.
114	Pan. Far be it from me to revile the king!
	But it is true that I shall rather choose
116	To search out death, that else would search out me,	= otherwise.
	And in a grave sleep with my innocence,
118	Than welcome such a sin. It is my fate;
	To these cross accidents I was ordained,	= adverse fortunes.^1
120	And must have patience; and, but that my eyes	= except for the fact that.
	Have more of woman in 'em than my heart,	= typical Elizabethan expression for crying.
122	I would not weep. Peace enter you again!
124	Arb. Farewell; and, good Panthea, pray for me,
	(Thy prayers are pure,) that I may find a death,
126	However soon, before my passions grow,
	That they forget what I desire is sin;	= read as "so that".
128	For thither they are tending. If that happen,	= in that direction.
	Then I shall force thee, though thou wert a virgin	129: force thee = "take you (sexually) by force". 129-130 : though thou…Heaven = "even if you had taken a vow to Heaven to remain celibate", as if she had entered a convent.
130	By vow to Heaven, and shall pull a heap	= Heaven, unusually, is disyllabic here.
	Of strange yet un-invented sin upon me.	= never before thought of or seen.
132
	Pan. Sir, I will pray for you; yet you shall know
134	It is a sullen fate that governs us:
	For I could wish, as heartily as you,
136	I were no sister to you; I should then
	Embrace our lawful love, sooner than health.
138
	Arb. Couldst thou affect me, then?	= "love me (in that way)".
140
	Pan. So perfectly,
142	That, as it is, I ne'er shall sway my heart
	To like another.	= ie. love.
144
	Arb. Then, I curse my birth.
146	Must this be added to my miseries,
	That thou art willing too? Is there no stop	= obstacle.
148	To our full happiness but these mere sounds,	= ie. words alone.
	Brother and sister?
150
	Pan. There is nothing else:
152	But these, alas! will separate us more
	Than twenty worlds betwixt us!
154
	Arb. I have lived
156	To conquer men, and now am overthrown	= defeated.
	Only by words, brother and sister. Where
158	Have those words dwelling? I will find 'em out,
	And utterly destroy 'em; but they are
160	Not to be grasped: let ‘em be men or beasts,	= ie. "let words be but".
	And I will cut 'em from the earth; or towns,
162	And I will raze 'em, and then blow 'em up:
	Let 'em be seas, and I will drink 'em off,
164	And yet have unquenched fire left in my breast;
	Let 'em be anything but merely voice.
166
	Pan. But 'tis not in the power of any force
168	Or policy to conquer them.	= expedience or cunning.^1,2
170	Arb. Panthea,
	What shall we do? shall we stand firmly here,
172	And gaze our eyes out?
174	Pan. Would I could do so!
	But I shall weep out mine.
176
	Arb. Accursèd man,
178	Thou bought'st thy reason at too dear a rate;	178: "you have obtained your ability to reason at too high a price;" Arbaces apostrophizes to humanity.
	For thou hast all thy actions bounded in	= limited.
180	With curious rules, when every beast is free:	= scrupulously careful or strict.^3,7
	What is there that acknowledges a kindred	= ie. "what animal".
182	But wretched man? Who ever saw the bull
	Fearfully leave the heifer that he liked,
184	Because they had one dam?	= ie. the same mother.
186	Pan. Sir, I disturb you
	And myself too; 'twere better I were gone.
188
	Arb. I will not be so foolish as I was;
190	Stay, we will love just as becomes our births,
	No otherwise: brothers and sisters may
192	Walk hand in hand together; so will we.
	Come nearer: Is there any hurt in this?	193: the couple hold hands here.
194
	Pan. I hope not.
196
	Arb. Faith, there is none at all:
198	And tell me truly now, is there not one	= anyone.
	You love above me?	= more than.
200
	Pan. No, by Heaven.
202
	Arb. Why, yet
204	You sent unto Tigranes, sister.
206	Pan. True,
	But for another: for the truth −
208
	Arb. No more:
210	I'll credit thee; I know thou canst not lie,	= believe.
	Thou art all truth.
212
	Pan. But is there nothing else
214	That we may do, but only walk? Methinks
	Brothers and sisters lawfully may kiss.
216
	Arb. And so they may, Panthea; so will we;
218	And kiss again too: we were scrupulous	= the sense is "overly-scrupulous".
	And foolish, but we will be so no more.
220
	Pan. If you have any mercy, let me go
222	To prison, to my death, to anything:
	I feel a sin growing upon my blood,
224	Worse than all these, hotter, I fear, than yours.	223-4: like Panthea, the reader, too, may find him- or herself
		breathing a little heavier here!
226	Arb. That is impossible: what should we do?
228	Pan. Fly, sir, for Heaven's sake.
230	Arb. So we must: away!
	Sin grows upon us more by this delay.
232
	[Exeunt severally.]	= in separate directions: Panthea returns to Gobrias' house.
		Incest and the Law in England: Historically, the ecclesiastical courts handled cases involving sex between blood relatives. A 1650 law passed by Parliament made incest a capital offense, but the law appears to have been enforced rarely, if at all. The crime of incest was not again addressed by any modern statute in England until 1908.^20

	ACT V.
	SCENE I.
	Before the Palace.	= in front of.
	Enter Mardonius and Lygones.	Entering Characters: Lygones is an Armenian Lord, and thus a subject of Tigranes'.
1	Mar. Sir, the king has seen your commission, and believes it;	= document delegating authority to Lygones to act on behalf of the government of Armenia.
2	And freely, by this warrant, gives you power	= ie. official permission from Arbaces to Lygones.
	To visit prince Tigranes, your noble master.
4
	Lyg. I thank his grace, and kiss his hand.
6
	Mar. But is the main of all your business	= business is trisyllabic here, and in line 11 below:
8	Ended in this?	BUS-i-ness.
10	Lyg. I have another, but a worse:
	I am ashamed: it is a business −
12
	Mar. You seem a worthy person; and a stranger	= foreigner.
14	I am sure you are: you may employ me,
	If you please, without your purse; such offices	= Mardonius is happy to help out Lygones without
16	Should ever be their own rewards.	requiring a bribe or payment.
18	Lyg. I am bound to your nobleness.
20	Mar. I may have need of you, and then this courtesy,	20-21: ie. "after all, I may need a favour from you one day,
	If it be any, is not ill bestowed.	in which case this help I give you will have been worth bestowing."
22	But may I civilly desire the rest?	22: "may I, without offending you, inquire about your
	I shall not be a hurter, if no helper.	other mission?"
24
	Lyg. Sir, you shall know I have lost a foolish daughter,
26	And with her all my patiënce: pilfered away	= stolen away, though Lygones does not necessarily think she was kidnapped; rather, he is bitter she has run away.
	By a mean captain of your king's.	= base commander.
28
	Mar. Stay there, sir:	= stop.
30	If he have reached the noble worth of captain,	30-32: "if the man you describe has reached the level
	He may well claim a worthy gentlewoman,	of commander in the king's army, than it is surely
32	Though she were yours and noble.	appropriate for him to have taken a woman who is not
		just of gentle birth, but one who is even noble - even if she is your daughter - for a wife.
34	Lyg. I grant all that too. But this wretched fellow
	Reaches no further than the empty name
36	That serves to feed him: were he valiant,
	Or had but in him any noble nature,
38	That might hereafter promise him a good man,
	My cares were so much lighter, and my grave	39: My cares were = "my worries would be".
40	A span yet from me.	39-40: and my grave…from me = the sense is, "and my death not yet near." span = a small distance, literally the width of a stretched-out hand.^1
42	Mar. I confess, such fellows	42-43: "I admit, every army contains a few of such worthless
	Be in all royal camps, and have and must be,	soldiers".
44	To make the sin of coward more detested
	In the mean soldier, that with such a foil	45-46: with such…valour = common Elizabethan metaphor from jewelry, of a setting made of a lesser metal used to enhance (set off) the splendor of a jewel; the idea is that the cowardice of a base (mean) soldier makes the valour of the better men more conspicuous.
46	Sets off much valour. By descriptiön,	= ie. "by your description".
	I should now guess him to you; it was Bessus,
48	I dare almost with confidence pronounce it.
50	Lyg. 'Tis such a scurvy name as Bessus;	50f: when Bessus, in the play's first scene, left Armenia
	And, now I think, 'tis he.	with Spaconia to place her in Panthea's household,
52		Lygones had assumed Bessus was actually taking Spaconia - his daughter - for himself.
	Mar. Captain do you call him?
54	Believe me, sir, you have a misery	54-55: you have…your age = you are too old to have to
	Too mighty for your age: a pox upon him!	endure a grief such as this."
56	For that must be the end of all his service.
	Your daughter was not mad, sir?	57: Mardonius assumes that, if she was not taken by force, that Lygones' daughter must have been insane if she voluntarily eloped with Bessus.
58
	Lyg. No; 'would she had been!	= "it would have been better if she were (mad)!"
60	The fault had had more credit. I would do something.	60: "this error in judgment would be more understandable. I wish there was something I could do."
62	Mar. I would fain counsel you, but to what I know not.	= like to.
	He's so below a beating, that the women	= unworthy of.
64	Find him not worthy of their distaves; and	= distaffs - instruments for weaving - which Mardonius imagines could be used as weapons, if it were worth it, to beat Bessus off with.
	To hang him were to cast away a rope.	= throw away, ie. waste.
66	He's such an airy, thin, unbodied coward,
	That no revenge can catch him.
68	I'll tell you, sir, and tell you truth: this rascal
	Fears neither God nor man; has been so beaten,	= ie. beaten so often.
70	Sufferance has made him wainscot; he has had,	= suffering. = oak, ie. tough or hard as oak.^1
	Since he was first a slave.
72	At least three hundred daggers set in's head,
	As little boys do new knives in hot meat;
74	There's not a rib in's body, o' my conscience,	= honestly, truly.
	That has not been thrice broken with dry beating;	= ie. severe.^7
76	And now his sides look like two wicker targets,	76: two wicker targets = two small round shields made of wicker. 76-78: Bond interprets: Bessus' sides are so battered with beatings that they have taken on the uneven surface of wicker or a roughly-built wall.^7
	Every way bended:
78	Children will shortly take him for a wall,	= "soon mistake him".
	And set their stone-bows in his forehead. He	79: ie. use his head like a wall on which to rest their cross-
80	Is of so base a sense, I cannot in	bows as they prepare to shoot them.^7
	A week imagine what should be done to him.	stone-bows (line 79) = cross-bows used to shoot stones.^3
82
	Lyg. Sure, I have committed some great sin,	= "certainly, I must have".
84	That this strange fellow should be made my rod:	= instrument of punishment.^1
	I would see him; but I shall have no patience.	= "I would like to meet him."
86
	Mar. 'Tis no great matter, if you have not. If a laming	87f: Mardonius gives his guest permission to beat up Bessus! laming = probably should be lamming, a word which appears in the third scene of this Act, and means "beating".
88	of him, or such a toy, may do you pleasure, sir, he has	= trifle.
	it for you; and I'll help you to him: ‘tis no news to him
90	to have a leg broken, or a shoulder out, with being
	turn'd o' the stones like a tansy. Draw not your sword,	= Mardonius seems to be indicating an injury of some kind to Bessus' testicles - stones was a common vulgarism for these organs. A tansy was an early version of an omelet, a cake of eggs mixed with a number of ingredients, including cream, sugar, rose-water, spinach and various herbs, including tansy; the phrase like a tansy is indicated by both the OED and The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia of 1914 to mean "completely" or "properly". Putting it all together, we get something like, perhaps, "tossed around completely on his testicles."
92	if you love it; for, on my conscience, his head will
	break it; we use him i' the wars like a ram, to shake a	= ie. a battering-ram.
94	wall withal. Here comes the very person of him; do as	= "by that means", or "in this way."^1
	you shall find your temper; I must leave you: but if
96	you do not break him like a biscuit, you're much to
	blame, sir.
98
	[Exit.]
100
	Enter Bessus and the two Sword-Men.
102
	Lyg. Is your name Bessus?
104
	Bes. Men call me Captain Bessus.
106
	Lyg. Then, Captain Bessus, you are a rank rascal,
108	without more exordiums, a dirty frozen slave! And	= further introductory words or preamble.^1
	with the favour of your friends here, I will beat you.
110
	2nd Sw.M. Pray, use your pleasure, sir; you seem to
112	be a gentleman.
114	Lyg. [Beats Bessus.] Thus, Captain Bessus, thus!
116	[Kicks him, &c.]
118	Thus twinge your nose, thus kick you, and thus tread you.
120	Bes. I do beseech you, yield your cause, sir, quickly.	= "tell me the reason for this" (cause also means "grounds
		for a quarrel).
122	Lyg. Indeed, I should have told you that first.
124	Bes. I take it so.
126	1st Sw.M. Captain, he should, indeed; he is mistaken.
128	Lyg. Sir, you shall have it quickly, and more beating:
	You have stolen away a lady, Captain Coward,
130	And such a one −
132	[Beats him.]
134	Bes. Hold, I beseech you, hold, sir!
	I never yet stole any living thing
136	That had a tooth about it.	= ie. in.
138	Lyg. Sir, I know you dare lie.	= Bessus will take lie to mean lay with, as in sleep with.
140	Bes. With none but summer-whores, upon my life, sir:
	My means and manners never could attempt	141-2: generally, "because of my general lack of financial
142	Above a hedge or haycock.	means, as well as my habit (manners)^1, I never take for myself any woman other than the absolute basest of prostitutes." More specifically, Bessus is referring to those whores who service clients outside of the brothels they are normally attached to, thus cheating their employers of income; such prostitutes were known as hedge whores,^21 a term suggesting they transacted business under hedges, or as Bessus adds, conical haystacks (haycocks).^1
144	Lyg. Sirrah, that quits not me. Where is this lady?	= answers.^2
	Do that you do not use to do, tell truth,
146	Or, by my hand, I'll beat your captain's brains out,
	Wash 'em and put 'em in again, that will I.
148
	Bes. There was a lady, sir, I must confess,
150	Once in my charge; the prince Tigranes gave her
	To my guard, for her safety. How I used her	= treated.
152	She may herself report; she's with the prince now.
	I did but wait upon her like a groom,	= servant.
154	Which she will testify, I am sure; if not,
	My brains are at your service, when you please, sir,
156	And glad I have 'em for you.
158	Lyg. This is most likely. Sir, I ask your pardon	= more (apparently not sarcastic); the scenario Bessus
	And am sorry I was so intemperate.	just described is more likely to have occurred than the
160		thought that Lygones' daughter voluntarily hooked up with Bessus.
	Bes. Well, I can ask no more. You would think it
162	strange now, to have me beat you at first sight.
164	Lyg. Indeed I would; but I know your goodness can
	forget twenty beatings: you must forgive me.
166
	Bes. Yes; there's my hand. Go where you will, I shall
168	think you a valiant fellow, for all this.
170	Lyg. [Aside] My daughter is a whore;	169: Lygones still blames Spaconia, but now for running away with Tigranes rather than with Bessus.
	I feel it now too sensible; yet I will see her;	= ie. with the senses.
172	Discharge myself of being father to her,	171: he will disown her.
	And then back to my country, and there die. −
174	Farewell, captain.
176	Bes. Farewell, sir, farewell; commend me to the
	gentlewoman, I pray.
178
	[Exit Lygones.]
180
	1st Sw.M. How now, captain? bear up, man.
182
	Bes. Gentlemen o' the sword, your hands once more;
184	I have been kicked again; but the foolish fellow is
	penitent, he asked me mercy, and my honour's safe.
186
	2nd Sw.M. We knew that, or the foolish fellow
188	had better have kicked his grandsire.	= "would have been better off had he".
190	Bes. Confirm, confirm, I pray.
192	1st Sw.M. There be our hands again.
194	2nd Sw.M. Now let him come, and say he was not
	sorry, and he sleeps for it.	= lies in death,^1 ie. dies.
196
	Bes. Alas, good, ignorant old man! let him go, let him
198	go: these courses will undo him.	= ruin.
	[Exeunt.]
	ACT V, SCENE II.
	A Prison.	The Setting: As did Scene iv of Act IV, this scene likely
		actually takes place in a room in Bacurius' house.
	Enter Lygones and Bacurius.
1	Bac. My lord, your authority is good, and I am glad it is
2	so; for my consent would never hinder you from seeing
	your own king: I am a minister, but not a governor of	= ie. a servant of the state.^1
4	this state. Yonder is your king; I'll leave you.
6	[Exit.]
8	Enter Tigranes and Spaconia.
10	Lyg. There he is,
	Indeed, and with him my disloyal child.
12
	Tigr. I do perceive my fault so much, that yet,	13-14: Tigranes is addressing Spaconia; Arbaces, we
14	Methinks, thou shouldst not have forgiven me.	remember, had imprisoned the two together in Act IV.ii.
16	Lyg. Health to your majesty!
18	Tigr. What, good Lygones!
	Welcome: what business brought thee hither?
20
	Lyg. Several
22	Businesses: my public business will appear
	By this;
24
	[Gives a paper.]
26
	I have a message to deliver,
28	Which, if it please you so to authorize,
	Is an embassage from the Armenian state
30	Unto Arbaces for your liberty:
	The offer's there set down; please you to read it.	= proposed ransom.
32
	Tigr. There is no alteration happened since
34	I came thence?
36	Lyg. None, sir; all is as it was.
38	Tigr. And all our friends are well?
40	Lyg. All very well.
42	[Tigranes reads.]
44	Spa. [Aside]
	Though I have done nothing but what was good,	45-47: Spaconia reveals in this aside that she never told her
46	I dare not see my father: it was fault	father of her affair with Tigranes, or the purpose that
	Enough not to acquaint him with that good.	brought her to Iberia.
48
	Lyg. Madam, I should have seen you.
50
	Spa. Oh, good sir, forgive me!
52
	Lyg. Forgive you! why, I am no kin to you, am I?	53: Lygones is sarcastic.
54
	Spa. Should it be measured by my mean deserts,	= "what I deserve for my base or undignified behavior".
56	Indeed you are not.
58	Lyg. Thou couldst prate unhappily	= mischievously or wantonly.^3,6
	Ere thou couldst go; would thou couldst do as well!	= "before you could walk." = act, behave.
60	And how does your custom hold out here?
62	Spa. Sir?
64	Lyg. Are you in private still, or how?	= private, among other things, can refer to engaging in
		sexual intimacy;^1 Lygones is vaguely and sarcastically asking if Spaconia is continuing to prostitute herself.
66	Spa. What do you mean?
68	Lyg. Do you take money? Are you come to sell sin
	yet? perhaps I can help you to liberal clients: or has	= generous.
70	not the king cast you off yet? Oh, thou vild creature,	= common variation for "vile".
	whose best commendation is, that thou art a young
72	whore! I would thy mother had lived to see this; or,
	rather, that I had died ere I had seen it! Why didst not	= "why did you not".
74	make me acquainted when thou wert first resolved
	to be a whore? I would have seen thy hot lust satisfied
76	more privately: I would have kept a dancer, and a
	whole consort of musicians, in my own house, only	= company.^3
78	to fiddle thee.	= obvious and vaguely suggestive pun.
80	Spa. Sir, I was never whore.
82	Lyg. If thou couldst not
	Say so much for thyself, thou shouldst be carted.	= in Elizabethan England, prostitutes were punished by
84		being paraded around publicly in carts.
	Tigr. Lygones, I have read it, and I like it;
86	You shall deliver it.
88	Lyg. Well, sir, I will:
	But I have private business with you.	= ie. of a personal, rather than public, matter.
90
	Tigr. Speak; what is't?
92
	Lyg. How has my age deserved so ill of you,
94	That you can pick no strumpets i' the land,
	But out of my breed?	= ie. "own family?"
96
	Tigr. Strumpets, good Lygones!
98
	Lyg. Yes; and I wish to have you know, I scorn
100	To get a whore for any prince alive;	= beget. = ie. king.
	And yet scorn will not help: methinks, my daughter
102	Might have been spared; there were enow besides.	= ie. "enough other women for you to choose from".
		enow = plural form of "enough".
104	Tigr. May I not prosper but she's innocent
	As morning light, for me! and, I dare swear,
106	For all the world.
108	Lyg. Why is she with you, then?	108f: Lygones, sarcastic, asks "if Spaconia is not your
	Can she wait on you better than your man?	whore, then what is she, your domestic help?"
110	Has she a gift in plucking off your stockings?
	Can she make caudles well, or cut your corns?	= a type of warm, medicinal gruel.^2
112	Why do you keep her with you? For a queen,	112-3: For a queen…her = "I know you do not think her good enough to be your queen"; however, the homonym for queen, "quean", means "whore", so that Lygones' meaning is double.
	I know, you do contemn her; so should I;	= scorn.
114	And every subject else think much at it.
116	Tigr. Let 'em think much; but 'tis more firm than earth.
	Thou seest thy queen there.
118
	Lyg. Then have I made a fair hand: I called her whore.	119f: Lygones' unenthusiastic speech seems to suggest he
120	If I shall speak now as her father, I cannot choose but	is unsure himself what to make out of what he has heard.
	greatly rejoice that she shall be a queen; but if I shall	121-3: but if…whore = a monarch's advisor always
122	speak to you as a statesman, she were more fit to be	prefers for the monarch to marry from only the highest
	your whore.	ranks of society, such as a princess from another country.
124
	Tigr. Get you about your business to Arbaces;	125-6: Tigranes recognizes the lack of purpose in Lygones'
126	Now you talk idly.	speech.
128	Lyg. Yes, sir, I will go.
	And shall she be a queen? She had more wit	= cleverness.
130	Than her old father, when she ran away:
	Shall she be queen? now, by my troth, 'tis fine.
132	I'll dance out of all measure at her wedding;	= moderation; but measure also refers to a stately dance.
	Shall I not, sir?
134
	Tigr. Yes, marry, shalt thou.	= a mild oath, derived from the Virgin Mary, but he is also obviously punning on wedding.
136
	Lyg. I'll make these withered kexes bear my body	= dry stalks,^3 ie. his legs
138	Two hours together above ground.
140	Tigr. Nay, go;
	My business requires haste.
142
	Lyg. Good Heaven preserve you!
144	You are an excellent king.
146	Spa. Farewell, good father.
148	Lyg. Farewell, sweet virtuous daughter.	148f: at a superficial level, Lygones finally appears to
	I never was so joyful in my life,	believe and accept his good fortune, but his words
150	That I remember: shall she be a queen?	come across, at least to this editor, as oddly uncon-
	Now I perceive a man may weep for joy;	vincing.
152	I had thought they had lied that said so.
154	[Exit.]
156	Tigr. Come, my dear love.
158	Spa. But you may see another,	158-9: Spaconia is worried that if Tigranes sees Panthea
	May alter that again.	again (she refers to her rival indirectly as another), he
160		will change his mind about her once again.
	Tigr. Urge it no more:
162	I have made up a new strong constancy,
	Not to be shook with eyes. I know I have
164	The passions of a man; but if I meet
	With any subject that should hold my eyes
166	More firmly than is fit, I'll think of thee,
	And run away from it: let that suffice.
	[Exeunt.]
	ACT V, SCENE III.
	A Room in the house of Bacurius.
	Enter Bacurius and Servant.
1	Bac. Three gentlemen without, to speak with me?	= outside.
2
	Serv. Yes, sir.
4
	Bac. Let them come in.
6
	Enter Bessus and the two Sword-Men.
8
	Serv. They are entered, sir, already.
10
	Bac. Now, fellows, your business? − Are these the gentlemen?
12
	Bes. My lord, I have made bold to bring these gentlemen,
14	My friends o' the sword, along with me.
16	Bac. I am
	Afraid you'll fight, then.
18
	Bes. My good lord, I will not;
20	Your lordship is mistaken; fear not, lord.
22	Bac. Sir, I am sorry for't.
24	Bes. I ask no more in honour. − Gentlemen,	24: Bessus takes Bacurius' ironic apology as a general one
	You hear my lord is sorry.	for his beating Bessus; his honour satisfied, he no longer
26		has to meet him in a duel! Bacurius, however, hurries to correct Bessus' misimpression: his apology was not for having beaten Bessus, but rather for the fact that Bessus has challenged him, and he is sorry he must beat him yet again.
	Bac. Not that I have
28	Beaten you, but beaten one that will be beaten;
	One whose dull body will require a lamming,	= beating.^3
30	As surfeits do the diet, spring and fall.	= just as occasional overindulgence in food (surfeit) requires a succeeding period of scaling back.^1
	Now, to your sword-men:
32	What come they for, good captain Stockfish?	= a dried cod, often beaten before cooking;^1 hence its use to refer to Bessus.
34	Bes. It seems your lordship has forgot my name.	= Bessus is ever willing to give others the benefit of the doubt!
36	Bac. No, nor your nature neither; though they are	36-38: though they…man's = Bessus' name and nature are
	Things fitter, I must confess, for any thing	not worth recollecting for Bacurius, nor for any honest man for that matter.
38	Than my remembrance, or any honest man's:
	What shall these billets do? be piled up in my	= thick pieces of wood, as used for fire-wood;^1 Bacurius is
40	woodyard?	referring to the Sword-Men.
42	Bes. Your lordship holds your mirth still, Heaven continue it!
	But, for these gentlemen, they come −
44
	Bac. To swear
46	You are a coward? Spare your book; I do believe it.	= "no need to get your Bible (to swear on)".
48	Bes. Your lordship still draws wide; they come to	= is off the mark; a metaphor from archery.
	vouch, under their valiant hands, I am no coward.
50
	Bac. That would be a show, indeed, worth seeing.	51f: Bacurius praises the entertainment value of the two Sword-Men avowing that Bessus is not a coward, and he recommends that they take their show on the road and make money off of it.
52	Sirrah, be wise and take money for this motion; travel	52: Sirrah = a form of address used to express an assump- tion of authority, and with it a bit of contempt. take = charge. motion = puppet show.
	with it; and where the name of Bessus has been
54	known, or a good coward stirring, 'twill yield more	= "make you more money".
	than a tilting: this will prove more beneficial to you,	= jousting tournament.
56	if you be thrifty, than your captainship, and more
	natural. − Men of most valiant hands, is this true?	= realistic, ie. conforming with Bessus' nature.^1
58
	2nd Sw.M. It is so, most renowned.
60
	Bac. 'Tis somewhat strange.
62
	1st Sw.M. Lord, it is strange, yet true.
64	We have examined, from your lordship's foot there
	To this man's head, the nature of the beatings;
66	And we do find his honour is come off
	Clean and sufficient: this, as our swords shall help us!
68
	Bac. You are much bound to your bilbo-men;	= sword-men; the term, which Fletcher coined, comes from Bilboa, a Spanish city known for the manufacture there of the high-quality Spanish sword called a "bilbo".^3
70	I am glad you're straight again, captain. 'Twere good	70-71: 'Twere good…them = "you should reward them for
	You would think on some way to gratify them:	their good service to you"; note that Bacurius, with his use of the pronoun "you", covers his irony with only the thinnest veneer of formality.
72	They have undergone a labour for you, Bessus,
	Would have puzzled Hercules with all his valour.	= which would.
74		72-73: note the allusion to the 12 labours of Hercules.
	2nd Sw.M. Your lordship must understand we are no men
76	Of the law, that take pay for our opinions;
	It is sufficient we have cleared our friend.
78
	Bac. Yet there is something due, which I, as touched
80	In conscience, will discharge. − Captain, I'll pay
	This rent for you.	= fee or charge;^1 Bacurius would like to give the Sword-Men
82		their due compensation.
	Bes. Spare yourself, my good lord;
84	My brave friends aim at nothing but the virtue.
86	Bac. That's but a cold discharge, sir, for their pains.	86: the sense of the line is, "that is not much for all their
		efforts."
88	2nd Sw.M. Oh, lord! my good lord!
90	Bac. Be not so modest; I will give you something.
92	Bes. They shall dine with your lordship; that's sufficient.
94	Bac. Something in hand the while. You rogues, you apple-squires,	94f: Bacurius finally takes off the gloves. apple-squires = kept men.^3
	Do you come hither, with your bottled valour,
96	Your windy froth, to limit out my beatings?	= used to describe something of little or no value.^1
98	[Kicks them.]
100	1st Sw.M. I do beseech your lordship!
102	2nd Sw.M. Oh, good lord!
104	Bac. 'Sfoot, what a bevy of beaten slaves are here! −	= by God's foot. = company (a collective term, like "flock", used often for a group of women).^1
	Get me a cudgel, sirrah, and a tough one.	= club or stick; Bacurius is addressing his own servant.
106
	[Exit Servant.]
108
	2nd Sw.M. More of your foot, I do beseech your lordship!	109ff: perhaps because they know that receiving a good
110		beating proves one is honourable, the Sword-Men encourage Bacurius to further thrash them.
	Bac. You shall, you shall, dog, and your fellow beagle.
112
	1st Sw.M. O' this side, good my lord.
114
	Bac. Off with your swords; for if you hurt my foot,
116	I'll have you flead, you rascals.	= flayed.^1
118	1st Sw.M. Mine's off, my lord.
120	2nd Sw.M. I beseech your lordship, stay a little; my strap's	= wait a moment.
	Tied to my cod-piece point: now, when you please.	= points were tagged laces used to tie pieces of clothing to
122		each other; the cod-piece, of course, is the well-known bit of stuffing used to enhance a man's, er, appearance.
	[They take off their swords.]
124
	Bac. Captain, these are your valiant friends; you long
126	For a little too?
128	Bes. I am very well, I humbly thank your lordship.
130	Bac. What's that in your pocket hurts my toe, you mongrel?
	Thy buttocks cannot be so hard; out with't quickly.
132
	2nd Sw.M. [Takes out a pistol.] Here 'tis, sir;	133: this stage direction was added by Weber.
134	A small piece of artillery, that a gentleman,
	A dear friend of your lordship's, sent me with,
136	To get it mended, sir; for, if you mark,	= will notice.
	The nose is somewhat loose.	= muzzle.^1
138
	Bac. A friend of mine, you rascal! −
140	I was never wearier of doing nothing,
	Than kicking these two foot-balls.	= the word football has been used to describe a kicking
142		sport since at least 1409, and the ball itself since 1425; in those early days, a football was usually made of an inflated pig's bladder encased in leather; by the 16th century, football was also used to refer to a person who was easily kicked around.^1
	Enter Servant.
144
	Serv. Here's a good cudgel, sir.
146
	Bac. It comes too late; I am weary; prithee, do thou
148	beat them.
150	2nd Sw.M. My lord, this is foul play, i'faith, to put a
	fresh man upon us: men are but men, sir.
152
	Bac. That jest shall save your bones. − Captain, rally	153: Bacurius is amused enough by the 2nd Sword-Man's
154	up your rotten regiment, and begone. − I had rather	last comment that he decides to call off any further pummeling!
	thresh than be bound to kick these rascals till they
156	cried, "ho!" − Bessus, you may put your hand to them	= stop, hold.
	now, and then you are quit. – Farewell: as you like	= paid, ie. Bessus and Bacurius are all even again.
158	this, pray visit me again; 'twill keep me in good breath.	= the sense is "good shape".
160	[Exit.]
162	2nd Sw.M. H’as a devilish hard foot; I never felt the like.	= he has.
164	1st Sw.M. Nor I; and yet, I am sure, I ha’ felt a hundred.
166	2nd Sw.M. If he kick thus i' the dog-days, he will be dry-foundered. –	166: dog-days = literally referring to the height of summer, and figuratively to Bacurius' youth when his strength would have been greatest. dry-foundered = made lame, usually applied to a horse with an inflamed hoof.^1
	What cure now, captain, besides oil of bays?	= oil from the bay, or laurel, tree has been used as a salve since ancient times;^13 interestingly, laurel oil is also used to treat the hooves of horses, tying in with dry- foundered in line 163.^9
168
	Bes. Why, well enough, I warrant you; you can go?	= that will work well enough. = ie. walk.^7
170
	2nd Sw.M. Yes, Heaven be thanked! but I feel a shrewd ache;	= severe.
172	Sure, h’as sprung my huckle-bone.	= hip.
174	1st Sw.M. I ha' lost a haunch.
176	Bes. A little butter, friend, a little butter;
	Butter and parsley is a sovereign matter:	= effective as a cure.^1 = substance.
178	Probatum est.	= "it has been proved", a phrase usually used to describe
		formulas.^10
180	2nd Sw.M. Captain, we must request
	Your hand now to our honours.
182
	Bes. Yes, marry, shall ye;
184	And then let all the world come; we are valiant
	To ourselves, and there's an end.
186
	1st Sw.M. Nay, then, we must
188	Be valiant. Oh, my ribs!
190	2nd Sw.M. Oh, my small guts!	= intestines.^1
	A plague upon these sharp-toed shoes! they are murderers.	= long shoes with pointed toes (called Krakows, after the
192		city from which they were believed to have originated) were popular with the upper classes of England in the late 14th and 15th centuries.^22
	[Exeunt.]
	ACT V, SCENE IV.
	An Apartment in the Palace.
	Enter Arbaces, with his sword drawn.
1	Arb. It is resolved: I bore it whilst I could;	= decided.
2	I can no more. Hell, open all thy gates,
	And I will thorough them: if they be shut,	= (go) through; thorough was commonly used for through.
4	I'll batter 'em, but I will find the place
	Where the most damned have dwelling! Ere I end,	= "before I am through".
6	Amongst them all they shall not have a sin,	6-7: yikes! Arbaces is prepared to commit all the worst sins - murder, incest and suicide.
	But I may call it mine: I must begin
8	With murder of my friend, and so go on	= Arbaces means Gobrias, whom he blames for bringing him to this pass.
	To that incestuous ravishing, and end
10	My life and sins with a forbidden blow	10-11: with a…myself = "by committing suicide";
	Upon myself!	Christianity, of course, has always frowned on suicide.
12
	Enter Mardonius.
14
	Mar. What tragedy is near?	15-17: Mardonius reacts to seeing Arbaces with his sword in his hand.
16	That hand was never wont to draw a sword,	= accustomed.
	But it cried "dead" to something.	17: ie. without killing someone (this is meant to be a
18		compliment to the king's martial skills).
	Arb. Mardonius,
20	Have you bid Gobrias come?
22	Mar. How do you, sir?
24	Arb. Well. Is he coming?
26	Mar. Why, sir, are you thus?
	Why does your hand proclaim a lawless war	27-28: Mardonius believes Arbaces is intent on killing
28	Against yourself ?	himself.
30	Arb. Thou answer'st me one question with another:
	Is Gobrias coming?
32
	Mar. Sir, he is.
34
	Arb. 'Tis well:
36	I can forbear your questions, then. Begone.	= dispense with.^1
38	Mar. Sir, I have marked −	= noticed.
40	Arb. Mark less; it troubles you and me.
42	Mar. You are
	More variable than you were.
44
	Arb. It may be so.
46
	Mar. To-day no hermit could be humbler	47-48: Mardonius reminds Arbaces of how mildly he had
48	Than you were to us all.	behaved when they were together earlier; humbler
		is trisyllabic: HUM-bul-er.^7
50	Arb. And what of this?
52	Mar. And now you take new rage into your eyes,
	As you would look us all out of the land.
54
	Arb. I do confess it; will that satisfy?
56	I prithee, get thee gone.
58	Mar. Sir, I will speak.
60	Arb. Will ye?
62	Mar. It is my duty.
	I fear you'll kill yourself: I am a subject,	63-65: I am…speak = since he is one of the king's subjects,
64	And you shall do me wrong in't; 'tis my cause,	Mardonius, who has an interest in his sovereign's health,
	And I may speak.	would be harmed if the king were to kill himself; thus, he
66		has standing to say his peace. cause (line 64) = grounds for speaking.
	Arb. Thou art not trained in sin,
68	It seems, Mardonius: kill myself! by Heaven,
	I will not do it yet; and, when I will,
70	I'll tell thee; then I shall be such a creature,	70-71: then I…a word = "when I have done the unnamable thing I have set out to do, you will gladly give me permission to kill myself."
	That thou wilt give me leave without a word.
72	There is a method in man's wickedness;	= perhaps a variation on there being a method to one's madness, a phrase which originated in Shakespeare's Hamlet (c.1600); but an early editor saw an allusion to a line from the Satires of the Roman poet Juvenal.
	It grows up by degrees: I am not come	= greater.
74	So high as killing of myself; there are
	A hundred thousand sins 'twixt me and it,
76	Which I must do; I shall come to't at last,
	But, take my oath, not now. Be satisfied,	= ie. "I won't kill myself right now"
78	And get thee hence.	= ie. "away from here."
80	Mar. I am sorry 'tis so ill.
82	Arb. Be sorry, then:
	True sorrow is alone; grieve by thyself.	= Bond notes this phrase was proverbial; the idea of acting or being alone in one's sorrow was common in early English literature.
84
	Mar. I pray you let me see your sword put up	= replaced in its sheathe.
86	Before I go: I'll leave you then.
88	Arb. [Sheathing his sword] Why, so.
	What folly is this in thee? is it not
90	As apt to mischief as it was before?	= as able to do harm.
	Can I not reach it, think'st thou? These are toys	91-92: Arbaces suggests that Mardonius' belief, that simply putting the sword away will stop Arbaces from using it if he wants to, is childish.
92	For children to be pleased with, and not men.
	Now I am safe, you think: I would the book	93-98: I would…fortunes = briefly, Arbaces wishes he
94	Of Fate were here: my sword is not so sure	could carve up the book of Fate, so that it could be
	But I would get it out, and mangle that,	rewritten, changing his destiny.
96	That all the Destinies should quite forget
	Their fixed decrees, and haste to make us new,	= ie. new decrees.^6
98	For other fortunes; mine could not be worse.
	Wilt thou now leave me?
100
	Mar. Heaven put into your bosom temperate thoughts!	= moderate.
102	I'll leave you, though I fear.
104	[Exit Mardonius.]
106	Arb. Go; thou art honest.
	Why should the hasty errors of my youth
108	Be so unpardonable to draw a sin,
	Helpless, upon me?	= that cannot be helped.
110
	Enter Gobrias.
112
	Gob. [Aside] There is the king;
114	Now it is ripe.	= ie. the time is ripe for Gobrias to finally reveal to the king
		the secret he has been hinting at having throughout the play.
116	Arb. Draw near, thou guilty man,
	That art the author of the loathed'st crime
118	Five ages have brought forth, and hear me speak:	= allusion to the ancient Greek idea, as described by the
	Curses incurable, and all the evils	8th century B.C. poet Hesiod, that humanity has passed
120	Man's body or his spirit can receive,	through five ages: the golden age first, then silver, bronze,
	Be with thee!	heroic, and iron; the ages describe a long-term and
122		continuous decline in the condition of mankind.
	Gob. Why, sir, do you curse me thus?
124
	Arb. Why do I curse thee? If there be a man
126	Subtle in curses, that exceeds the rest,
	His worst wish on thee! thou hast broke my heart.
128
	Gob. How, sir! Have I preserved you, from a child,
130	From all the arrows malice or ambition	= Malice and Ambition are personified.
	Could shoot at you, and have I this for pay?	= "this is how you repay me?"
132
	Arb. 'Tis true, thou didst preserve me, and in that,
134	Wert cruèller than hardened murderers
	Of infants and their mothers: thou didst save me,
136	Only till thou hadst studied out a way	= worked out or thought out.
	How to destroy me cunningly thyself;
138	This was a curious way of torturing.	= ingenious, skillful or elaborate.^1
140	Gob. What do you mean?
142	Arb. Thou know'st the evils thou hast done to me:
	Dost thou remember all those witching letters	= bewitching.
144	Thou sent'st unto me to Armenia,
	Filled with the praise of my belovèd sister,
146	Where thou extol'dst her beauty? − what had I	146-8: what had…To me = "why did you keep telling me
	To do with that? what could her beauty be	how beautiful she was - what does a brother care about
148	To me? − and thou didst write how well she loved me! −	that?"
	Dost thou remember this? − so that I doted	= became infatuated.^1
150	Something before I saw her.
152	Gob. This is true.
154	Arb. Is it? and, when I was returned, thou know'st,
	Thou didst pursue it, till thou wound'st me in
156	To such a strange and unbelieved affection,	= love.
	As good men cannot think on.
158
	Gob. This I grant;
160	I think I was the cause.
162	Arb. Wert thou? Nay, more.
	I think thou meant'st it.	= ie. intended.
164
	Gob. Sir, I hate a lie:
166	As I love Heaven and honesty, I did;
	It was my meaning.	= intention.
168
	Arb. Be thine own sad judge:
170	A further condemnation will not need:
	Prepare thyself to die.
172
	Gob. Why, sir, to die?
174
	Arb. Why shouldst thou live? was ever yet offender	= "was there ever before such a convicted criminal".
176	So impudent, that had a thought of mercy
	After confession of a crime like this?
178	Get out I cannot where thou hurl'st me in;	= "I cannot escape from where".
	But I can take revenge; that's all the sweetness
180	Left for me.
182	Gob. [Aside] Now is the time. − Hear me but speak.
184	Arb. No. Yet I will be far more merciful
	Than thou wert to me: thou didst steal into me
186	And never gav’st me warning: so much time	186-8: so much…ever = "if I had given as much time to
	As I give thee now, had prevented me	listen to you in the past as I give you now to speak - which
188	For ever. Notwithstanding all thy sins,	is to say, none at all - I would not be in the situation I am in now." had prevented me = "would have anticipated me", ie. "kept me out of this predicament."
	If thou hast hope that there is yet a prayer	189-190: a conscientious murderer would let his victim
190	To save thee, turn and speak it to thyself.	make a confession of his sins to save his soul before
		killing him.
192	Gob. Sir, you shall know your sins, before you do 'em:
	If you kill me −
194
	Arb. I will not stay then.	= hold off.
196
	Gob. Know
198	You kill your father.
200	Arb. How?
202	Gob. You kill your father.
204	Arb. My father! Though I know it for a lie,
	Made out of fear, to save thy stainèd life,	= disgraced, guilty.^1
206	The very reverence of the word comes 'cross me,
	And ties mine arm down.
208
	Gob. I will tell you that
210	Shall heighten you again; I am thy father;
	I charge thee hear me.	= entreat, order.
212
	Arb. If it should be so,
214	As 'tis most false, and that I should be found
	A bastard issue, the despisèd fruit	= Arbaces has a new worry now: if Gobrias is his father, and Arane his mother, and since Gobrias and Arane were never married, then he, Arbaces, would be illegitimate.
216	Of lawless lust, I should no more admire	= wonder or be surprised at.^3
	All my wild passions! But another truth	= ie. a different truth altogether;^6Arbaces assumes Gobrias
218	Shall be wrung from thee: if I could come by	is lying.^8
	The spirit of pain, it should be poured on thee,
220	'Till thou allow'st thyself more full of lies
	Than he that teaches thee.
222
	Enter Arane.
224
	Arane. Turn thee about;	= "turn around."
226	I come to speak to thee, thou wicked man!
	Hear me, thou tyrant!
228
	Arb. I will turn to thee:
230	Hear me, thou strumpet! I have blotted out	= harlot, since (as Arbaces believes) she had been
	The name of mother, as thou hast thy shame.	impregnated by Gobrias.
232
	Arane. My shame! Thou hast less shame than any thing:
234	Why dost thou keep my daughter in a prison?
	Why dost thou call her sister, and do this?
236
	Arb. Cease, thou strange impudence, and answer quickly!	= extreme. = unusual use of impudence as a noun
238		describing a person.
	[Draws his sword.]
240
	If thou contemn'st me, this will ask an answer,	= scorns.
242	And have it.
244	Arane. Help me, gentle Gobrias!
246	Arb. Guilt dare not help guilt: though they grow together	246-8: the image is of two conspirators, worrying about
	In doing ill, yet at the punishment	trying to save their own skins, abandoning each other
248	They sever, and each flies the noise of other.	to their individual fates.
	Think not of help; answer!	247-8: at the…sever = at the moment of retribution,
250		the conspirators separate.
	Arane. I will; to what?
252
	Arb. To such a thing, as, if it be a truth,
254	Think what a creature thou hast made thyself,
	That didst not shame to do what I must blush
256	Only to ask thee. Tell me who I am,
	Whose son I am, without all circumstance;	= "who is my father". = "without drawing out your
258	Be thou as hasty as my sword will be,	explanation with too much detail."
	If thou refusest.
260
	Arane. Why, you are his son.
262
	Arb. His son? Swear, swear, thou worse than woman damned!
264
	Arane. By all that's good, you are.
266
	Arb. Then art thou all
268	That ever was known bad. Now is the cause
	Of all my strange misfortunes come to light.
270	What reverence expect'st thou from a child,
	To bring forth which thou hast offended Heaven,
272	Thy husband, and the land? Adulterous witch,
	I know now why thou wouldst have poisoned me:
274	I was thy lust, which thou wouldst have forgot!
	Then, wicked mother of my sins and me,
276	Show me the way to the inheritance
	I have by thee, which is a spacious world
278	Of impious acts, that I may soon possess it.
	Plagues rot thee as thou liv'st, and such diseases
280	As use to pay lust recompense thy deed!	= repay.
282	Gob. You do not know why you curse thus.
284	Arb. Too well.
	You are a pair of vipers; and behold
286	The serpent you have got! There is no beast,	= begotten (ie. himself).
	But, if he knew it, has a pedigree
288	As brave as mine, for they have more descents;	= excellent. = even if. = descendents or offspring.^1
	And I am every way as beastly got,
290	As far without the compass of a law,	= beyond the permitted limits.
	As they.
292
	Arane. You spend your rage and words in vain,
294	And rail upon a guess; hear us a little.	= ie. pure speculation.
296	Arb. No, I will never hear, but talk away
	My breath, and die.
298
	Gob. Why, but you are no bastard.
300
	Arb. How's that?
302
	Arane. Nor child of mine.
304
	Arb. Still you go on
306	In wonders to me.
308	Gob. Pray you, be more patient:
	I may bring comfort to you.
310
	Arb. I will kneel,	311f: the wind has quite suddenly gone out of Arbaces'
312		sails.
	[Kneels.]
314
	And hear with the obedience of a child.
316	Good father, speak! I do acknowledge you,
	So you bring comfort.	= so long as.
318
	Gob. First know, our last king, your supposèd father,
320	Was old and feeble when he married her,	= ie. Arane.
	And almost all the land as she, past hope	321-2: "everyone in our country (all the land) was, like
322	Of issue from him.	Arane herself, past hope of her producing an heir from
		him"; such a concern was always a great one in a monarchy: much angst in particular was spent in England over the fact that Queen Elizabeth I had never married or had any children. A civil war for possession of the throne was always a possibility when there was no accepted heir to the kingdom.
324	Arb. Therefore she took leave
	To play the whore, because the king was old:	= sleep with Gobrias.
326	Is this the comfort?
328	Arane. What will you find out	328-330: What will..injured me = "how will you devise
	To give me satisfaction, when you find	(find out) a way to recompense me when you realize
330	How you have injured me? Let fire consume me,	how you have wronged me (with these undeserved insults)?"
	If ever I were whore!
332
	Gob. Forbear these starts,	= outbursts.^1
334	Or I will leave you wedded to despair,
	As you are now. if you can find a temper,
336	My breath shall be a pleasant western wind,
	That cools and blasts not.
338
	Arb. Bring it out, good father.
340	I'll lie, and listen here as reverently	= lie down.
342	[Lies down.]	= perhaps on a couch or even on the floor; an odd stage
		direction, but one matching the fantastic behaviour of the king.
344	As to an angel: if I breathe too loud,
	Tell me; for I would be as still as night.
346
	Gob. Our king, I say, was old, and this our queen
348	Desired to bring an heir, but her yet husband,
	She thought was past it; and to be dishonest,	= unchaste.
350	I think she would not: if she would have been,	= "even if she wanted to be unchaste ".
	The truth is, she was watched so narrowly,	= closely.
352	And had so slender opportunities,	= few.
	She hardly could have been. But yet her cunning
354	Found out this way; she feigned herself with child,
	And posts were sent in haste throughout the land,	= messengers.
356	And God was humbly thanked in every church,
	That so had blessed the queen, and prayers were made
358	For her safe going and delivery.
	She feigned now to grow bigger; and perceived
360	This hope of issue made her feared, and brought	= "that this expectation (hope) that she would have a
	A far more large respect from every man,	child".
362	And saw her power increase, and was resolved,
	Since she believed she could not have't indeed,	= ie. "have a child in fact".
364	At least she would be thought to have a child.
366	Arb. Do I not hear it well? nay, I will make	= "am I not doing a good job listening quietly?"
	No noise at all; but, pray you, to the point,
368	Quick as you can!
370	Gob. Now when the time was full
	She should be brought to bed, I had a son
372	Born, which was you. This, the queen hearing of,
	Moved me to let her have you: and such reasons	= "proposed to me".
374	She showed me, as she knew would tie
	My secrecy: she swore you should be king;	373-5: such reasons…king = Arane persuaded Gobrias to hand his son over to her as her own, and got him to swear to never reveal this, by promising to make Arbaces the King of Iberia.
376	And, to be short, I did deliver you
	Unto her, and pretended you were dead,	= Gobrias pretended that Arbaces, his own baby son, had
378	And in mine own house kept a funeral,	died, when in reality he had secretly turned him over to
	And had an empty coffin put in earth.	Arane, who acted as if he were her own.
380	That night this queen feigned hastily to labour,
	And by a pair of women of her own,
382	Which she had charmed, she made the world believe	= persuaded (to play along in the conspiracy).^1
	She was delivered of you. You grew up
384	As the king's son, till you were six years old:
	Then did the king die, and did leave to me
386	Protection of the realm; and, contrary
	To his own expectation, left this queen
388	Truly with child, indeed, of the fair princess
	Panthea. Then she could have torn her hair,
390	And did alone to me, yet durst not speak	390-2: yet durst…traitor = at this point, the consequences
	In public, for she knew she should be found	of revealing that Arbaces was not really Arane's son
392	A traitor; and her tale would have been thought	would have been disastrous.
	Madness, or any thing rather than truth.
394	This was the only cause why she did seek	394-5: Arane wanted to kill Arbaces, to bring the crown
	To poison you, and I to keep you safe;	back to the legitimate sovereign, Panthea, her real off- spring; Gobrias of course did what was necessary to save his son's life.
396	And this the reason why I sought to kindle
	Some sparks of love in you to fair Panthea,
398	That she might get part of her right again.	= that is, if Arbaces were to marry Panthea, the legitimate
		heir to the throne, then Panthea, in becoming queen, would return the throne into Arane's lineage where it belongs.
400	Arb. And have you made an end now? Is this all?
	If not, I will be still till I be aged,
402	Till all my hairs be silver.
404	Gob. This is all.
406	Arb. [Rising] And is it true, say you too, madam?
408	Arane. Yes;
	Heaven knows, it is most true.
410
	Arb. Panthea, then, is not my sister?
412
	Gob. No.
414
	Arb. But can you prove this?
416
	Gob. If you will give consent,	417-8: based on Arbaces' response to these lines, Gobrias'
418	Else who dares go about it?	meaning is likely, "if you assure those who know the truth
		(ie. the midwives and attendants who were present at Arane's fake birthing and sworn forever to secrecy - see lines 381-2 above) that they will not suffer any repercussions for spilling what they know about the matter, then you will get your evidence; otherwise, who would dare say anything?"
420	Arb. Give consent?
	Why, I will have 'em all that know it racked	421-2: I will…from 'em = "I would have anyone who can
422	To get this from 'em. − All that wait without,	prove this tortured (racked), if that is what is necessary to get them to bring to light what they know."
	Come in; whate'er you be, come in, and be
424	Partakers of my joy! −
426	Re-enter Mardonius, with Bessus, two Gentlemen,
	and Attendants.
428
	Oh, you are welcome!
430	Mardonius, the best news! − Nay, draw no nearer;
	They all shall hear it: − I am found no king.
432
	Mar. Is that so good news?
434
	Arb. Yes, the happiest news
436	That e'er was heard.
438	Mar. Indeed, 'twere well for you	= Mardonius manages to get in one more little gibe at the
	If you might be a little less obeyed.	king - though this might be delivered as an aside.
440
	Arb. One call the queen.
442
	Mar. Why, she is there.
444
	Arb. The queen,
446	Mardonius! Panthea is the queen,	= Panthea, as the sole heir of Arane and her husband,
	And I am plain Arbaces. – Go, some one;	the former and now-deceased king, is the legitimate
448	She is in Gobrias' house.	sovereign.
450	[Exit 1st Gentleman.]
452	Since I saw you,
	There are a thousand things delivered to me
454	You little dream of.
456	Mar. So it should seem. − My lord,
	What fury's this?	= madness or frenzy.^1
458
	Gob. Believe me, 'tis no fury;
460	All that he says is truth.
462	Mar. 'Tis very strange.
464	Arb. Why do you keep your hats off, gentlemen?	464-6: generally men took their hats off in the presence of
	Is it to me? I swear, it must not be;	their superiors; but Arbaces, as the son of Gobrias, is
466	Nay, trust me, in good faith, it must not be:	actually no better than any of the other members of the
	I cannot now command you; but I pray you,	court, so they need not keep their hats off for him.
468	For the respect you bare me when you took
	Me for your king, each man clap on his hat
470	At my desire.
472	Mar. We will: but you are not found	= but is omitted by some editors for the sake of the meter.
	So mean a man but that you may be covered	= ie. the king should equally keep his hat on.
474	As well as we; may you not?
476	Arb. Oh, not here!	476-8: Arbaces distinguishes himself from the other
	You may, but not I, for here is my father	courtiers: he feels obliged to keep his hat off as a
478	In presence.	sign of respect in the presence of his father.
480	Mar. Where?
482	Arb. Why, there. Oh, the whole story
	Would be a wilderness, to lose thyself	= ie. "lose thyself in".
484	For ever. − Oh, pardon me, dear father,
	For all the idle and unreverent words	= foolish.
486	That I have spoke in idle moods to you! −
	I am Arbaces; we all fellow-subjects;
488	Nor is the queen Panthea now my sister.
490	Bes. Why, if you remember, fellow-subject Arbaces,
	I told you once she was not your sister; ay, and she
492	looked nothing like you.
494	Arb. I think you did, good captain Bessus.
496	Bes. [Aside] Here will arise another question now
	amongst the sword-men, whether I be to call him
498	to account for beating me, now he is proved no king.
500	Enter Lygones.
502	Mar. Sir, here's Lygones, the agent for the Armenian
	state.
504
	Arb. Where is he? − I know your business, good Lygones.
506
	Lyg. We must have our king again, and will.
508
	Arb. I knew that was your business. You shall have
510	Your king again; and have him so again
	As never king was had. − Go, one of you,
512	And bid Bacurius bring Tigranes hither;
	And bring the lady with him, that Panthea,	= ie. Spaconia.
514	The queen Panthea, sent me word this morning
	Was brave Tigranes' mistress.
516
	[Exit 2nd Gentleman.]
518
	Lyg. 'Tis Spaconia.
520
	Arb. Ay, ay, Spaconia.
522
	Lyg. She is my daughter.
524
	Arb. She is so. I could now tell any thing
526	I never heard. Your king shall go so home
	As never man went.
528
	Mar. Shall he go on's head?	= on his own account, ie. hitchhiking.
530
	Arb. He shall have chariots easier than air,
532	That I will have invented; and ne'er think
	He shall pay any ransom: and thyself,
534	That art the messenger, shall ride before him
	On a horse cut out of an entire diamond,
536	That shall be made to go with golden wheels,
	I know not how yet.
538
	Lyg. [Aside] Why, I shall be made	= "my success in life is assured".
540	For ever! They belied this king with us	= told untruths about Arbaces.
	And said he was unkind.
542
	Arb. And then thy daughter;
544	She shall have some strange thing: we'll have the kingdom
	Sold utterly and put into a toy,	= trinket.
546	Which she shall wear about her carelessly,
	Somewhere or other. –
548
	Enter Panthea with 1st Gentleman.
550
	See the virtuous queen! −
552	Behold the humblest subject that you have,
	Kneel here before you.
554
	[Kneels.]
556
	Pan. Why kneel you to me,
558	That am your vassal?
560	Arb. Grant me one request.
562	Pan. Alas; what can I grant you? what I can I will.
564	Arb. That you will please to marry me,
	If I can prove it lawful.
566
	Pan. Is that all?
568	More willingly than I would draw this air.
570	Arb. [Rising] I'll kiss this hand in earnest.
572	Re-enter 2^nd Gentleman.
574	2nd Gent. Sir, Tigranes
	Is coming, though he made it strange at first	= a matter of scruple.^3
576	To see the princess any more.	574-6: Dyce notes that in line 511 above, Arbaces had
		asked the 2nd Gentleman to find Bacurius, and have him return with Tigranes, but Bacurius does not appear here.
578	Arb. The queen,
	Thou mean'st. −
580
	Enter Tigranes and Spaconia.
582
	Oh, my Tigranes, pardon me!
584	Tread on my neck: I freely offer it;
	And, if thou be'st so given, take revenge,
586	For I have injured thee.
588	Tigr. No; I forgive,
	And rejoice more that you have found repentance,
590	Than I my liberty.
592	Arb. May'st thou be happy
	In thy fair choice, for thou art temperate!
594	You owe no ransom to the state! Know that
	I have a thousand joys to tell you of,
596	Which yet I dare not utter, till I pay
	My thanks to Heaven for 'em. Will you go
598	With me, and help me? pray you, do.
600	Tigr. I will.
602	Arb. Take, then, your fair one with you: − and you, queen
	Of goodness and of us, oh, give me leave
604	To take your arm in mine! − Come, every one
	That takes delight in goodness, help to sing
606	Loud thanks for me, that I am proved no king.
608	[Exeunt.]
	FINIS	Postscript 1. Bessus: Bessus is one of the most appealing comic characters in all of Elizabethan drama; he is completely aware of his own cowardice, is glad to let everyone know it, and never shows any bitterness towards those who mistreat him, or to life or fate in general. He is most willing to do favours for others, and his willingness to go to any length to appease and excuse the most outrageous behavior directed at him is ingeniously funny.
		Postscript 2. The Mysterious Conversation of Act II.i: in lines 56-93 of the opening scene of Act II, Gobrias and Arane engage in a conversation in which they refer repeatedly to the secrets they were carrying, the contents of which were not revealed until the play's closing scene. Such dialogue must be, I expect, frustrating to many readers, because, frankly, it is aggravating to try to follow conversations when we don't understand what they are talking about.
		It may be of interest, then, to return to what were at the time a few of the more enigmatic lines of the discussion between the Lord Protector and Queen Mother, now that the play has concluded:
		(1) Line 80: Arane: "the king!" Arane is stunned that Gobrias would refer to Arbaces as king, when he really is no such thing, not being related to the previous king (Arane's husband), and thus having no claim to legitimacy.
		(2) Line 88: Gobrias: "I must preserve mine own. " Gobrias means he must do whatever it takes to save the life of his own son, Arbaces, even if it means crossing Arane, who has been trying to kill him.
		(3) Lines 91-92: Arane: "Accursed be this over-curious brain, / That gave birth to this plot!" When Arane's husband the king died, and Arane had been pretending to be pregnant with the heir to the throne, it was she who, learning of the birth of Gobrias' son, came up with the idea of convincing Gobrias to give Arbaces to her to pretend it was her own baby.
		(4) Lines 92-93: Arane: "Accursed this womb, / That did ever conceive to my disgrace!" Arane, surprisingly, actually did become pregnant by the king, this time with Panthea.
		We may also note that it is now clear why Gobrias put so much effort into sending letters to Arbaces while he was in Armenia telling him how beautiful Panthea had become, and why he further spent so much capital discouraging Arbaces from forcing Panthea to marry Tigranes, and describing to the king how much Panthea loved him!
		Postscript 3. The Problem of Prose vs. Verse: the various old published editions of this play neatly demonstrate the difficulty that editors can have in determining whether certain speeches should be printed in verse or prose. Specifically, the issue in A King and No King revolves around how to present the speeches of Mardonius, and many of the speeches of Lygones, Bessus and the Sword-Men. The alert reader will notice, in reading the play, that those lines of these characters that are presented as verse are of noticeably lesser "quality" than those lines of verse spoken by the other, more elevated (ie. higher ranking) characters; that is, they are clearly less regular, which is generally to say they contain many more extra syllables that make the iambic rhythm somewhat herky-jerky.
		So, were these lines intended to be verse or prose? The old editors come to different conclusions.
		The topic is discussed, and a satisfying solution to the quandary is presented, in the Variorum Edition of the plays of Beaumont and Fletcher, published in 1904 (cited in footnote #7 at the top of this play). The editor suggests that the lines in question of these characters are actually too suggestive of having meter, imperfect as it often is, to have been intended as prose. To put it another way, prose has no or little meter; perfect iambic pentameter has perfect rhythm; the lines in question have a good deal of meter, so they were likely intended to be printed in verse. However, they were written as less regular verse to match the "rougher", or less exalted, qualities of their speakers. The authors, in other words, deliberately wanted to give their lines a certain increased degree of "fluidity" than would be contained in pure prose, but not so much as would be contained in the speeches of the more elevated characters.
		In light of this discussion, I generally have presented the lines at issue of Mardonius et al. as verse.

BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER'S INVENTED WORDS

Like all of the writers of the era, Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher made up words when they felt like it, usually by adding prefixes and suffixes to known words, combining words, or using a word in a way not yet used before. The following is a list of words from A King and No King that are indicated by the OED as being either the first or only use of a given word, or, as noted, the first use with a given meaning:

bilbo-man

bottled (as an adjective, describing something kept in a bottle)

cross-arrow

curdle / cruddle (used to describe blood)

desertlessly

dry-foundered

gracefulness (meaning virtuousness)

kex (applied figuratively to a person / legs))

lay it on (phrase referring to inflicting blows)

like a tansy (phrase)

over-grace

rebuke (meaning to beat)

squitter-breach

summer-whore

uninvented

utter (meaning altogether, or to the highest degree)

where (indicating who one should marry)

woman (meaning the qualities of a woman)

FOOTNOTES.

The footnotes in the annotations correspond as follows:

1. Oxford English Dictionary (OED) online.

2. Crystal, David and Ben. Shakespeare's Words. London; New York: Penguin, 2002.

3. Strachey, J., ed. Beaumont and Fletcher, Vol. II. London: Vizetelley & Co., 1887.

4. Smith, W., ed. A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. London: John Murray, 1849.

5. Kelite, John S. The Works of the British Dramatists. Edinburgh: William P. Nimmo, 1873.

6. Dyce, Alexander, ed. The Works of Beaumont and Fletcher. London: Edward Moxon, 1863.

7. Bond, R. Warwick., ed. The Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher. London: George Bell & Sons, 1904.

8. Weber, Henry. The Works of Beaumont and Fletcher. Edinburgh: John Ballantyne & Co., 1812.

9. Horse Wellness Store Website. Effol Hoof Oil. Retreived 8/10/2016: www.horsewellness-store.com/proddetail.php?prod=EF111000.

10. Oxford Dictionaries Website. probatum est. Retrieved 8/11/2016: www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/probatum-est.

11. Nelson, Walter. Mass Historia Website. Elizabethan Dining. Retrieved 8/9/2016: www.walternelson.com/dr/elizabethan-feast.

12. New World Encyclopedia Website. Manticore: Retrieved 8/24/2106: www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Manticore.

13. Goobsi Website. Bay Laurel Essential Oil. Retrieved 8/10/2016: www.goobsi.com/ingredients/bay-laurel-essential-oil/.

14. Saviolo, Vincentio. His Practice, in Two Books, Vol. II. London: John Wolff, 1595.

15. The Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th edition. New York: 1911.

16. Bailey, Nathan. An Universal Etymological English Dictionary. London: Printed for T. Osborne etc., 1763.

17. Williams, Gordon. A Dictionary of Sexual Imagery in Shakespearean and Stuart Literature. London: The Athlone Press, 1994.

18. Taylor, Thomas, trans. The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus. London: Bertram Dobell, 1896.

19. Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. New York: Harper and Brothers Publishers, undated.

20. Denbo, Seth J. Speaking relatively: a history of incest and the family in eighteenth-century England.

Doctorate Thesis, University of Warwick, 2001. Retrieved 7/01/2018: http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/2835/.

21. Grose, Francis. A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. London: Printed for S. Hooper, 1788.

22. Lambert, Tim. A Brief History of Boots and Shoes.Retrieved 7/2/2018: www.localhistories.org/shoes/html.