Elizabeth Cary - The Tragedy of Mariam, Act 2, Scene 2 lyrics

scene 2 [CONSTABARUS and BABAS' sons.] BABAS' FIRST SON Now, valiant friend, you have our lives redeemed, Which lives, as saved by you, to you are due: Command and you shall see yourself esteemed Our lives and liberties belong to you. This twice six years, with hazard of your life, You have concealed us from the tyrant's sword: Though cruel Herod's sister were your wife, You durst in scorn of fear this grace afford. In recompense we know not what to say, A poor reward were thanks for such a merit, Our truest friendship at your feet we lay, The best requital to a noble spirit. CONSTABARUS Oh, how you wrong our friendship, valiant youth! With friends there is not such a word as “debt”: Where amity is tied with bond of truth, All benefits are there in common set. Then is the golden age with them renewed, All names of properties are banished quite: Division, and distinction, are eschewed: Each hath to what belongs to others right. And 'tis not sure so full a benefit, Freely to give, as freely to require: A bounteous act hath to glory following it, They cause the glory that the act desire. All friendship should the pattern imitate, Of Jesse's son and valiant Jonathan: For neither sovereign's nor father's hate A friendship fixed on virtue sever can. Too much of this, 'tis written in the heart, And needs no amplifying with the tongue: Now may you from your living tomb depart, Where Herod's life hath kept you overlong. Too great an injury to a noble mind, To be quick buried; you had purchased Some years ago, but that you were confined, While thousand meaner did advance their name. Your best of life, the prime of all your years, Your time of action is from you bereft. Twelve winters have you overpa**ed in fears: Yet if you use it well, enough is left. And who can doubt but you will use it well? The sons of Babas have it by descent: In all their thoughts each action to excel, Boldly to act, and wisely to invent. BABAS' SECOND SON Had it not like the hateful cuckoo been, Whose riper age his infant nurse doth k**: So long we had not kept ourselves unseen, But Constabarus safely crossed our will: For had the tyrant fixed his cruel eye On our concealèd faces, wrath had swayed His justice so, that he had forced us die. And dearer price than life we should have paid, For you, our truest friend, had fallen with us: 140 And we, much like a house on pillars set, Had clean depressed our prop, and therefore thus Our ready will with our concealment met. But now that you, fair lord, are dangerless, The sons of Babas shall their rigor show: And prove it was not baseness did oppress Our hearts so long, but honor kept them low. BABAS' FIRST SON Yet do I fear this tale of Herod's d**h At last will prove a very tale indeed: It gives me strongly in my mind, his breath Will be preserved to make a number bleed: I wish not therefore to be set at large, Yet peril to myself I do not fear: Let us for some days longer be your charge, Till we of Herod's state the truth do hear. CONSTABARUS What, art thou turned a coward, noble youth, That thou beginn'st to doubt undoubted truth? BABAS' FIRST SON Were it my brother's tongue that cast this doubt, I from his heart would have the question out With this keen falchion, but 'tis you, my lord, Against whose head I must not lift a sword: I am so tied in gratitude. CONSTABARUS Believe You have no cause to take it ill; If any word of mine your heart did grieve, The word dissented from the speaker's will. I know it was not fear the doubt begun, But rather valor and your care of me; A coward could not be your father's son. Yet know I doubts unnecessary be: For who can think that in Anthonius' fall, Herod his bosom friend should scrape unbruised? Then, Caesar, we might thee an idiot call, If thou by him should'st be so far abused. BABAS' SECOND SON Lord Constabarus, let me tell you this, Upon submission Caesar will forgive; And therefore though the tyrant did amiss, It may fall out that he will let him live. Not many years agone it is since I, Directed thither by my father's care In famous Rome for twice twelve months did lie, My life from Hebrews' cruelty to spare. There though I were but yet of boyish age, I bent mine eye to mark, mine ears to hear, Where I did see Octavius, then a page, When first he did to Julius' sight appear: Methought I saw such mildness in his face, And such a sweetness in his looks did grow, Withal, commixed with so majestic grace, His phys'nomy his fortune did foreshow: For this I am indebted to mine eye, But then mine ear received more evidence, By that I knew his love to clemency, How he with hottest choler could dispense. CONSTABARUS But we have more than barely heard the news, It hath been twice confirmed. And though some tongue Might be so false with false report t'abuse, A false report hath never lasted long. But be it so that Herod have his life, Concealment would not then a whit avail: For certain 'tis, that she that was my wife, Would not to set her accusation fail. And therefore now as good the venture give, And free ourselves from blot of cowardice As show a pitiful desire to live, For, who can pity but they must despise? BABAS' FIRST SON I yield, but to necessity I yield; I dare upon this doubt engage mine arm: That Herod shall again this kingdom wield, And prove his d**h to be a false alarm. BABAS' FIRST SON I doubt it too: God grant it be an error, 'Tis best without a cause to be in terror: And rather had I, though my soul be mine, My soul should lie, than prove a true divine. CONSTABARUS Come, come, let fear go seek a dastard's nest, Undaunted courage lies in a noble breast. [Exeunt.]