Arb. Perhaps, I told you so:
If I had sworn it, had you so much folly
To credit it? The least word that she speaks
Is worth a life. Rule your disorder’d tongue,
Or I will temper it!

Spa. Blest be that breath!

Tigr. Temper my tongue! Such incivilities
As these no barbarous people ever knew:
You break the laws of nature, and of nations;
You talk to me as if I were a prisoner
For theft. My tongue be temper’d! I must speak,
If thunder check me, and I will.

Arb. You will?

Spa. Alas, my fortune!

Tigr. Do not fear his frown.
Dear madam, hear me.

Arb. Fear not my frown? But that ’twere base in me
To fight with one I know I can o’ercome,
Again thou shouldst be conquered by me.

Mar. He has one ransom with him already; methinks, ’twere good to fight double or quit.

Arb. Away with him to prison!—Now, sir, see
If my frown be regardless.—Why delay you?
Seize him, Bacurius!—You shall know my word
Sweeps like a wind; and all it grapples with
Are as the chaff before it.

Tigr. Touch me not.

Arb. Help there!

Tigr. Away!

1 Gent. It is in vain to struggle.

2 Gent. You must be forced.

Bac. Sir, you must pardon us;
We must obey.

Arb. Why do you dally there?
Drag him away by anything.

Bac. Come, sir.

Tigr. Justice, thou ought’st to give me strength enough
To shake all these off.—This is tyranny,
Arbaces, subtler than the burning bull’s,
Or that famed tyrant’s bed. Thou might’st as well
Search i’ the deep of winter through the snow
For half-starved people, to bring home with thee
To show ’em fire and send ’em back again,
As use me thus.

Arb. Let him be close, Bacurius.

[Exit Tigranes, led off by Bacurius and Gentlemen.

Spa. I ne’er rejoiced at any ill to him,
But this imprisonment: What shall become
Of me forsaken?

Gob. You will not let your sister
Depart thus discontented from you, sir?

Arb. By no means, Gobrias: I have done her wrong,
And made myself believe much of myself,
That is not in me.—You did kneel to me,
Whilst I stood stubborn and regardless by,
And, like a god incensed, gave no ear
To all your prayers. [Kneels.] Behold, I kneel to you:
Show a contempt as large as was my own,
And I will suffer it; yet, at the last,
Forgive me.