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Pet. Not yet, sir, for I think they mean to | I am persuaded they love me: I never

lodge him;

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We must all die; my little brother died,

I saw him die, and he died smiling; sure

Blasphemed them, uncle, nor transgressed my

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Hengo. And am not I as fully allied unto you In those brave things, as blood?

Car. Thou art too tender.

Hengo. To go upon my legs? they were made
to bear me.

I can play twenty mile a-day; I see no reason,
But, to preserve my country and myself,
I should march forty.

Car. What wouldst thou be, living

To wear a man's strength?

Hengo. Why, a Caratach,

A Roman-hater, a scourge sent from heaven
To whip these proud thieves from our kingdom.
Hark,

Hark, uncle, hark! I hear a drum.

[Drum.

Enter JUDAS and his people to the door.

Judas. Beat softly,

Softly, I say; they're here. Who dare charge? 1 Sold. He,

That dares be knocked on the head: I'll not

come near him.

Judas. Retire again, and watch then. How

he stares!

He has eyes would kill a dragon. Mark the boy well;

There's no great pain in it, uncle. But pray tell If we could take or kill him-A pox on ye,

me,

Whither must we go when we're dead?

Car. Strange questions!—

How fierce ye look! See, how he broods the boy?

The devil dwells in his scabbard. Back, I say!

Why, to the blessedest place, boy-Ever sweet- Apace, apace! he has found us.

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Car. Do ye hunt us?

[They retire.

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I can eat moss, nay, I can live on anger,

Thou mock-made man of mat? Charge home, To vex these Romans. Let's be wary, uncle.

sirrah!

Hang thee, base slave, thou shakest.

Judas. Upon my conscience,

The boy will beat me! how it looks, how bravely, How confident the worm is! a scabbed boy

To handle me thus !--Yield, or I cut thy head off. Hengo. Thou darest not cut my finger; here 'tis, touch it.

Judas. The boy speaks sword and buckler! Prithee yield, boy;

Come, here's an apple, yield.

Hengo. By Heaven, he fears me!

I'll give you sharper language: When, ye coward,
When come ye up?

Judas. If he should beat me-
Hengo. When, sir?

I long to kill thee! Come, thou canst not escape

me;

I've twenty ways to charge thee, twenty deaths Attend my bloody staff.

Judas. Sure, 'tis the devil,

A dwarf devil in a doublet!
Hengo. I have killed

A captain, sirrah, a brave captain, and when I've done,

I've kicked him thus. Look here; see how I charge
This staff!
Judas. Most certain this boy will cut my throat
yet.

Enter two Soldiers running.

1 Sold. Flee, flee! he kills us.
2 Sold. He comes, he comes!
Judas. The devil take the hindmost!

[Exeunt Judas, &c. Hengo. Run, run, ye rogues, ye precious rogues, ye rank rogues!

A comes, a comes, a comes, a comes! that's he,

boys!

What a brave cry they make!

Enter CARATACH, with a head.

Car. How does my chicken?

Hengo. 'Faith, uncle, grown a soldier, a great soldier;

For, by the virtue of your charging-staff,
And a strange fighting face I put upon it,
I've out-braved Hunger.

Car. That's my boy, my sweet boy!
Here, here's a Roman's head for thee.
Hengo. Good provision!

Car. I warrant thee; come cheerfully. Hengo. And boldly!

SCENE III.

[Exeunt.

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take me,

Take me, and swallow me, make ballads of me, Shame, endless shame! and, pray, do you forsake me!

Drus. What shall we do?

Pen. Good gentlemen, forsake me;

You were not wont to be commanded. Friends, pray do it,

And do not fear; for, as I am a coward,

I will not hurt myself, (when that mind takes me, I'll call to you, and ask your help) I dare not. Throws himself upon the ground.

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Pet. Your leave, sir;

Pet. Good-morrow, gentlemen! Where's the And I beseech you note me, for I love you,

tribune?

Reg. There.

Drus. Whence come you, good Petillius?
Pet. From the general.

Drus. With what, for Heaven's sake?
Pet. With good counsel, Drusius,
And love, to comfort him.

Drus. Good Regulus,

Step to the soldier and allay his anger;

For he is wild as winter. [Exeunt Drus. and Reg. Pet. Oh, are you there? have at you!-Sure he's dead,

It cannot be he dare out-live this fortune;
He must die, 'tis most necessary; men expect it,
And thought of life in him goes beyond coward.
Forsake the field so basely? Fy upon it!
So poorly to betray his worth, so coldly
To cut all credit from the soldier? Sure
If this man mean to live, (as I should think it
Beyond belief) he must retire, where never
The name of Rome, the voice of arms, or honour,
Was known or heard of yet. He's certain dead,
Or strongly means it; he's no soldier else,
No Roman in him; all he has done but outside,
Fought either drunk or desperate. Now he rises.
How does lord Penius?

Pen. As you see.

Pet. I'm glad on't;

Continue so still. The lord general,
The valiant general, great Suetonius-

Pen. No more of me is spoken; my name is perished.

Pet. He that commanded fortune and the day, By his own valour and discretion,

(When, as some say, Penius refused to come, But I believe them not) sent me to see you. Pen. Ye are welcome; and pray see me, see me well;

You shall not see me long.

Pet. I hope so, Penius.The gods defend, sir!

Pen. See me and understand me: This is he, Left to fill up your triumph; he, that basely Whistled his honour off to the wind, that coldly Shrunk in his politic head, when Rome, like

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And bring along all comfort: Are we gods,
Allied to no infirmities? are our natures
More than men's natures? When we slip a little
Out of the way of virtue, are we lost?
Is there no medicine called sweet mercy?
Pen. None, Petillius;

There is no mercy in mankind can reach me,
Nor is it fit it should; I've sinned beyond it.
Pet. Forgiveness meets with all faults.
Pen. 'Tis all faults,

All sins I can commit, to be forgiven;
"Tis loss of whole man in me, my discretion,
To be so stupid, to arrive at pardon!
Pet. Oh, but the general-

Pen. He is a brave gentleman,

A valiant, and a loving; and, I dare say,
He would, as far as honour durst direct him,
Make even with my fault; but 'tis not honest,
Nor in his power: examples, that may nourish
Neglect and disobedience in whole bodies,
And totter the estates and faiths of armies,
Must not be played withal; nor out of pity
Make a general forget his duty;

Nor dare I hope more from him than is worthy.
Pet. What would you do?
Pen. Die.

Pet. So would sullen children,
Women that want their wills, slaves disobedient,
That fear the law. Die? Fy, great captain! you
A man to rule men, to have thousand lives
Under your regiment, and let your passion
Betray your reason? I bring you all forgiveness,
The noblest kind commends, your place, your

honour

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Pen. And thou didst it nobly,

Like a true man, a soldier; and I thank thee, I thank thee, good Petillius, thus I thank thee! Pet. Since you are so justly made up, let me tell you, 'Tis fit you die indeed.

Pen. Oh, how thou lovest me!

Pet. For say he had forgiven you, say the people's whispers.

Were tame again, the time run out for wonder, What must your own command think, from whose swords

You have taken off the edges, from whose valours The due and recompense of arms; nay, made it

doubtful

Whether they knew obedience! must not these kill you?

2

Say they are won to pardon you, by mere miracle |
Brought to forgive you, what old valiant soldier,
What man that loves to fight, and fight for Rome,
Will ever follow you more! Dare you know these
ventures?

If so, I bring you comfort; dare you take it?
Pen. No, no, Petillius, no.

Pet. If your mind serve you,

You may live still; but how? yet pardon me: You may out-wear all too; but when? and certain

There is a mercy for each fault, if tamely
A man will take it upon conditions.

Pen. No, by no means: I am only thinking now, sir,

(For I am resolved to go) of a most base death, Fitting the baseness of my fault. I'll hang. Pet. You shall not; you are a gentleman I honour;

I would else flatter you, and force you live, Which is far baser. Hanging? 'tis a dog's death, An end for slaves.

Pen. The fitter for my baseness.

Pet. Besides, the man, that is hanged, preaches his end,

And sits a sign for all the world to gape at.

Pen. That is true;, I'll take a fitter: poison.
Pet. No,

'Tis equal ill; the death of rats and women,

Lovers, and lazy boys, that fear correction;
Die like a man.

Pen. Why, my sword, then.

Pet. Ay, if your sword be sharp, sir,

There is nothing under heaven that's like

sword;

Your sword is a death indeed!

Pen. It shall be sharp, sir.

Pet. Why, Mithridates was an arrant ass To die by poison, if all Bosphorus

your

Could lend him swords: Your sword must do the deed;

'Tis shame to die choaked, fame to die and bleed. Pen. Thou hast confirmed me; and, my good Petillius,

Tell me no more I may live.

Pet. 'Twas my commission;

But now I see you in a nobler way,

A way to make all even.

Pen. Farewell, captain!

Be a good man, and fight well; be obedient; Command thyself, and then thy men. Why shakest thou?

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The great and honoured Penius!-
Pen. That again!

Oh, how it heightens me! again, Petillius!
Pet. Most excellent commander !-
Pen. Those were mine,

Mine, only mine!

Pet. They are still.

Pen. Then, to keep them

From ever falling more, have at ye! Heavens,
Ye everlasting powers, I'm yours: The work is
done,
[Kills himself.

That neither fire, nor age, nor melting envy,
Shall ever conquer. Carry my last words
To the great general: kiss his hands, and say,
My soul I give to Heaven, my fault to justice,
Which I have done upon myself; my virtue,
If ever there was any in poor Penius,
Made more, and happier, light on him!-I faint-
And where there is a foe, I wish him fortune.
I die. Lie lightly on my ashes, gentle earth! [Dies.
Pet. And on my sin! Farewell, great Penius!
The soldier is in fury; now I'm glad [Noise wi-

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Regulus;

Penius has found his last eclipse. Come, soldiers,
Come, and behold your miseries; come bravely,
Full of your mutinous and bloody angers,
And here bestow your darts. Oh, only Roman!
Oh, father of the wars!

Reg. Why stand ye stupid?

Where be your killing furies? whose sword now
Shall first be sheathed in Penius? Do ye weep?
Howl out, ye wretches! ye have cause; howl ever!
Who shall now lead ye fortunate? whose valour
Preserve ye to the glory of your country?
Who shall march out before ye, coyed and courted
By all the mistresses of war, Care, Counsel,
Quick-eyed Experience, and Victory twined to
him?

Who shall beget ye deeds beyond inheritance
To speak your names, and keep your honours li-

ving,

Ο

When children fail, and Time, that takes all with | To these fierce men, they will afford ye pity. him,

Build houses for ye to oblivion?

Drus. Oh, ye poor desperate fools, no more now soldiers,

Go home, and hang your arms up; let rust rot them;

And humble your stern valours to soft prayers! For ye have sunk the frame of all your virtues; The sun, that warmed your bloods, is set for ever. I'll kiss thy honoured cheek. Farewell, great Penius,

Thou thunderbolt, farewell!-Take up the body: To-morrow, mourning, to the camp convey it, There to receive due ceremonies. That eye That blinds itself with weeping, gets most glory. [Exeunt with a dead march.

Enter SUETONIS, JUNIUS, DECIUS, DEMETRIUS, CURIUS, and Soldiers: BONDUCA, two Daughters, and NENNIUS above. Drum and colours. Suet. Bring up the catapults, and shake the wall; We will not be outbraved thus.

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We love thy nobleness.

[Exit Decius.

Bond. I thank ye! ye say well;
But mercy and love are sins in Rome and hell.
Suet. You cannot escape our strength; you
must yield, lady;

You must adore and fear the power of Rome.
Bond. If Rome be earthly, why should any knee
With bending adoration worship her?
She's vicious; and, your partial selves confess,
Aspires the height of all impiety;
Therefore 'tis fitter I should reverence

The thatched houses, where the Britons dwell
In careless mirth; where the blessed household
gods

See nought but chaste and simple purity.
'Tis not high power that makes a place divine,
Nor that the men from gods derive their line;
But sacred thoughts, in holy bosoms stored,
Make people noble, and the place adored.
Suet. Beat the wall deeper!
Bond. Beat it to the centre,

We will not sink one thought.

Suet, I'll make ye.

Bond. No.

Enter PETILLIUS, who whispers SUETONIUS. Bond. Pity? Thou fearful girl, 'tis for those

wretches,

That misery makes tame. Wouldst thou live less?
Wast not thou born a princess? Can my blood,
And thy brave father's spirit, suffer in thee
So base a separation from thyself,

As mercy from these tyrants? Say they had mercy,

The devil a relenting conscience,
The lives of kings rest in their diadems,
Which to their bodies lively souls do give,
And, ceasing to be kings, they cease to live.
Shew such another fear, and, by the gods,
I'll fling thee to their fury.

Suet. He is dead then?
Pet. I think so certainly; yet all my means, sir,
Even to the hazard of my life-

Suet. No more :

We must not seem to mourn here.
Enter DECIUS.

Dec. There is a breach made;
Is it your will we charge, sir?
Suet. Once more, mercy,
Mercy to all that yield!

Bond. I scorn to answer;
Speak to him, girl, and hear thy sister.
1 Daugh. General,

Hear me, and mark me well, and look upon me,
Directly in my face, my woman's face,
Whose only beauty is the hate it bears ye;
See with thy narrowest eyes, thy sharpest wishes,
Into my soul, and see what there inhabits;
See if one fear, one shadow of a terror,
One paleness dare appear but from my anger,
To lay hold on your mercies. No, ye fools,
Poor Fortune's fools, we were not born for tri-
umphs,

To follow your gay sports, and fill your slaves
With hoots and acclamations.

Pet. Brave behaviour!

1 Daugh. The children of as great as Rome, as noble,

Our names before her, and our deeds her envy, Must we gild o'er your conquest, make your state, That is not fairly strong, but fortunate?

No, no, ye Romans! We have ways to escape ye, To make ye poor again, indeed our prisoners, And stick our triumphs full.

Pet. 'Sdeath, I shall love her.

1 Daugh. To torture ye with suffering, like our slaves;

To make ye curse our patience, wish the world Were lost again, to win us only, and esteem The end of all ambitions.

Bond. Do ye wonder?

We'll make our monuments in spite of fortune;

2 Daugh. Oh, mother, these are fearful hours; In spite of all your eagles' wings, we'll work

speak gently

A pitch above ye; and from our heart we'll stoop

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