doubted, I dare call an oath, a great one to
my witness; and were you not my King, from amongst men, I should
have chose you out to love above the rest: nor can this challenge
thanks, for my own sake I should have done it, because I would
have lov'd the most deserving man, for so you are.

_Arb_.

Alas _Mardonius_, rise you shall not kneel,
We all are souldiers, and all venture lives:
And where there is no difference in mens worths,
Titles are jests, who can outvalue thee?
_Mardonius_ thou hast lov'd me, and hast wrong,
Thy love is not rewarded, but believe
It shall be better, more than friend in arms,
My Father, and my Tutor, good _Mardonius_.

_Mar_.

Sir, you did promise you would hear me out.

_Arb_.

And so I will; speak freely, for from thee
Nothing can come but worthy things and true.

_Mar_.

Though you have all this worth, you hold some qualities that do
Eclipse your vertues.

_Arb_.

Eclipse my vertues?

_Mar_.

Yes, your passions, which are so manifold, that they appear even
in this: when I commend you, you hug me for that truth: but when
I speak your faults, you make a start, and flie the hearing but.

_Arb_.

When you commend me? O that I should live
To need such commendations: If my deeds
Blew not my praise themselves about the earth,
I were most wretched: spare your idle praise:
If thou didst mean to flatter, and shouldst utter
Words in my praise, that thou thoughtst impudence,
My deeds should make 'em modest: when you praise I hug
you? 'tis so [false], that wert thou worthy thou shouldst receive
a death, a glorious death from me: but thou shalt understand
thy lies, for shouldst thou praise me into Heaven, and there
leave me inthron'd, I would despise thee though as much as
now, which is as much as dust because I see thy envie.

_Mar_.

However you will use me after, yet for your own promise sake,
hear me the rest.

_Arb_.

I will, and after call unto the winds, for they shall lend as
large an ear as I to what you utter: speak.

_Mar_.

Would you but leave these hasty tempers, which
I do not say take from you all your worth, but darken 'em,
then you will shine indeed.

_Arb_.

Well.

_Mar_.

Yet I would have you keep some passions, lest men should take you
for a God, your vertues are such.

_Arb_.

Why now you flatter.

_Mar_.

I never understood the word, were you