That neither fear or shame e'er found, the devil Has ranked amongst them multitudes; say the men fail, They'll poison us with their petticoats; say they fail, They have priests enough to pray us into nothing. Suet. These are imaginations, dreams of nothing; The man, that doubts or fears Dec. I am free of both. Pet. And I as free as any; As careless of my flesh, of that we call life, As if it were my diet. Yet, noble general, To find advantage out; how, found, to follow it Suet. 'Tis true, Petillius, And worthily remembered: The rule is certain, But there to bear the field, then to be conquerors, And having forced his spirit, ere he cools, Due to this day of ruin, but destruction; woman Is infinite in number better likes me, I'll tell ye all my fears; one single valour, More doubts me than all Britain: He's a soldier Pet. Ready for all employments, Suet. 'Tis well governed; To-morrow we'll draw out, and view the cohorts: Pet. In his cabin, sick of the mumps, sir. Pet. In love, indeed in love, most lamentably loving, To the tune of Queen Dido. Dec. Alas, poor gentleman! I'll be a spokesman for him. Suet. Who is it? Pet. The devil's dam, Bonduca's daughter, Her youngest, cracked in the ring. Suet. I'm sorry for him: But sure his own discretion will reclaim him; 'Till more come in; tell them, if now they con quer, The fat of all the kingdom lics before them. Pen. How long is it, Regulus, since I com | Room for his execution? what air to cool us, manded In Britain here? Reg. About five years, great Penius. But poisoned with their blasting breaths and curses, Where we lie buried quick above the ground, Pen, The general, some five months! Are all And are with labouring sweat, and breathless my actions So poor and lost, my services so barren, That I'm remembered in no nobler language But must come up? Macer, I do beseech you, sir, Weigh but the time's estate. Pen. Yes, good lieutenant, I do, and his that sways it. Must come up? Am I turned bare centurion? Must, and shull, Fit embassies to court my honour ? Macer. Sir Pen. Set me to lead a handful of my men Against an hundred thousand barbarous slaves, That have marched name by name with Rome's best doers? Serve them up some other meat; I'll bring no food To stop the jaws of all those hungry wolves; Cur. Penius, where lies the host? Pen. The battle's lost. Cur. So soon? Pen. No; but 'tis lost, because it must be won; The Britons must be victors. Whoever saw A troop of bloody vultures hovering About a few corrupted carcasses, Let him behold the silly Roman host, Girded with millions of fierce Britain's swains, With deaths as many as they have had hopes; And then go thither, he that loves his shame! I scorn my life, yet dare not lose my name. Cur. Do not you hold it a most famous end, When both our names and lives are sacrificed For Rome's encrease? Pen. Yes, Curius; but mark this too: Into this Britain gulf, this quicksand mun, pain, Killed like to slaves, and cannot kill again? Drus. Penius, mark antient wars, and know, He, that advances one foot higher, dies for it. Run through the regiment, upon your duties, And charge them, on command, beat back again; By heaven, I'll tithe them all else! Reg. We'll do our best, [Ere. Drus. and Reg, Pen. Back! cease your bawling drums there! I'll beat the tubs about your brains else. Back! Do I speak with less fear than thunder to ye? Must I stand to beseech ye? Home, home!-Ha! D'ye stare upon me? Are those minds I moulded, Those honest valiant tempers I was proud To be a fellow to, those great discretions Made your names feared and honoured, turned to wildfires? Oh, gods, to disobedience? Command, farewell! Take your own wills! 'tis fit your long experience | Of what strange violence, that, like the plague, Should now know how to rule yourselves; I Enter DRUSIUS and REGULUS. Drus. Oh, turn again, great Penius! see the soldier In all points apt for duty. Reg. See his sorrow For his disobedience, which he says was haste, And haste, he thought, to please you with. See, captain, The toughness of his courage turned to water; See how his manly heart melts. Pen. Go; beat homeward; There learn to eat your little with obedience; And henceforth strive to do as I direct ye. Macer. My answer, sir. [Exeunt soldiers. Pen. Tell the great general, My companies are no faggots to fill breaches; Myself no man that must, or shall, can carry: Bid him be wise, and where he is, he's safe then; And when he finds out possibilities, He may command me. Commend me to the cap tains. It works upon our spirits? Blind they feign him; I'm sure, I find it so Pet. A dog shall lead you. Jun. His fond affections blinder- Jun. My company, content, almost my fashion Pet. Yes, and your weight too, if you follow it. Jun. 'Tis sure the plague, for no man dare Know all this, and fool still? Do I know further, That, when we have enjoyed our ends, we lose them, And all our appetites are but as dreams Pet. Sweet philosopher! Jun. Do I know on still, and yet know nothing? Mercy, gods! Why am I thus ridiculous? Jun. Can red and white, Pet. But one cheek, Junius? An half-faced mistress! Jun. With a little trim, That wanton fools call fashion, thus abuse me? Take me beyond my reason? Why should not I Doat on my horse well trapt, my sword well hatched? They are as handsome things, to me more useful, And possible to rule too. Did I but love, Yet 'twere excusable, my youth would bear it; But to love there, and that no time can give me, Mine honour dare not ask (she has been ravished), My nature must not know (she hates our nation), Thus to dispose my spirit! Pet. Stay a little; he will declaim again. Jun. I will not love! I am a man, have reason, And I will use it; I'll no more tormenting, Nor whining for a wench; there are a thousand Pet. Hold thee there, boy! Jun. A thousand will entreat me. Pet. Ten thousand, Junius. Jun. I am young and lusty, And to my fashion valiant. I will be man again. Pet. Now mark the working! 'Pet. There's their joyful supper. The devil and the spirit tug for it: Twenty pound And no doubt they are at it. Upon the devil's head! Jun. I must be wretched! Pet. I knew I'd won. Jun. Nor have I so much power To shun my fortune. Pet. I will hunt thy fortune With all the shapes imagination breeds, [Music. But I will fright thy devil. Stay, he sings now. [Song, by Junius, and Petillius after him, in mockage. Jun. Must I be thus abused? Pet. Yes, marry must you. Let's follow him close: Oh, there he is; now read it. Herald [reading]. "It is the general's command, that all sick persons, old and unable, retire within the trenches; he, that fears, has liberty to leave the field: Fools, boys, and cowards must not come near the regiments, for fear of their infections; especially those cowards, they call lovers." Jun. Ha? Pet. Read on. Herald [Reading]. "If any common soldier love an enemy, he's whipped and made a slave : If any captain, cast, with loss of honours, flung out of the army, and made unable ever after to bear the name of a soldier." Jun. The pox consume ye all, rogues! [Exit. Pet. Let this work; He has something now to chew upon. gone; Come, shake no more. Herald. Well, sir, you may command me, But not to do the like again for Europe; He's I would have given my life for a bent two-pence. Pet. There's your payment, And keep this private. Herald. I am schooled for talking. Enter DEMETRIUS. [Exit. Dem. But, for heaven's sake, Pet. Drawing on, poor gentleman. Pet. To the end of all flesh, woman. Dem. This love has made him a stout soldier. Pet. Oh, a great one, Fit to command young goslings, But, what news? Dem. I think the messenger's come back from Penius By this time; let's go know. Pet. What will you say now Dare say what no man dares believe, dares do But that's all one: I'll lay you my black armour Pet. You'll pay? Dem. I will. Pet. Then keep thine old use, Penius! Be stubborn and vainglorious, and I thank thee. Come, let's go pray for six hours; most of us I fear will trouble heaven no more: Two good blows Struck home at two commanders of the Britons, And my part's done. Dem. I do not think of dying. Pet. 'Tis possible we may live; But, Demetrius, With what strange legs, and arms, and eyes, and Enter JUDAS and his four companions (halters about their necks), BONDUCA, her daughters, and NENNIUS following. Bond. Come, hang them presently. Nen. What made your rogueships Harrying for victuals here? Are we your friends?" Or do you come for spies? Tell me directly, Would you not willingly be hanged now? Do not ye long for it? Judas. What say ye? shall we hang in this vein? Hang we must, And 'tis as good to dispatch it merrily. 1 Sold. Any way, So it be handsome. 3 Sold. I had as lieve 'twere toothsome too : But all agree, and I'll not stick out, boys. 2 Daugh. These are the merry Romans, the That vex my aunt so? can these fight? they look brave madcaps : 'Tis ten to one we'll cool your resolutions. Bring out the whips. Judas. 'Would your good ladyships Would exercise them too! 4 Sold. Surely, ladies, We'll shew you a strange patience. Enter CARATACH. Car. Now, what's the matter? Why, I dare fight with these. Car. That's my good chicken.!— And how d'ye? how d'ye feel your stomachs? Judas. Wondrous apt, sir; As shall appear, when time calls. Car. That's well; down with it. A little grace well serve your turns. Eat softly! You'll choke, ye knaves, else. Give them wine! What are these fellows? what's the crime com- We're even a little busy. Hengo. Can that fellow Do any thing but eat? Thou fellow! Judas. Away, boys Away; this is no boy's play. Hengo. By heaven, uncle, Judas. 'Would I were fairly hanged! This is If his valour lie in his teeth, he is the most valiant. the devil, The kill-cow Caratach. Car. And you would hang them? Nen. Are they not enemies? 1 Daugh. Are they not our tormentors? Pluck off your halters, fellows. Nen. Take heed, Caratach; Taint not your wisdom. Car. Wisdom, Nennius? Why, who shall fight against us, make our honours, If we dispatch our foes thus? What's their offence? Do these deserve the gallows? They are hungry. Judas. Monstrous hungry. Car. He looks Like hunger's self. Get them some victuals, And wine to cheer their hearts; quick! Hang up poor pilchers? 2 Sold. This is the bravest captain Nen. Caratach, I'll leave you to your will. Car. I'll answer all, sir. 2 Daugh. Let's up and view his entertainment of them! Car. I am glad to hear you talk, sir. What's the price of a couple of crammed Car. Some twenty Britons, boy; these are Hengo. Do not the cowards eat hard too? Come, I'll sit with you too. Sit down by me, boy. Car. Hearty knaves! more meat there. 1 Sold. That's a good hearing. Car. Stay now, and pledge me. Judas. This little piece, sir. Car. By-heaven, square eaters! More meat, I say! Upon my conscience, The poor rogues have not eat this month! how terribly They charge upon their victuals! Dare ye fight thus? Judas. Believe it, sir, like devils. Here's to thy general. Judas. Most excellent captain, I will now pledge thee. Car. And tomorrow-night, say to him, His head is mine. Judas. I can assure you, captain, He will not give it for this washing. |