Pet. Not yet, sir, for I think they mean to | I am persuaded they love me: I never lodge him; We must all die; my little brother died, I saw him die, and he died smiling; sure Blasphemed them, uncle, nor transgressed my 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 I can play twenty mile a-day; I see no reason, Car. What wouldst thou be, living To wear a man's strength? Hengo. Why, a Caratach, A Roman-hater, a scourge sent from heaven 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. Car. Do ye hunt us? [They retire. 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, Judas. If he should beat me- 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! A captain, sirrah, a brave captain, and when I've done, I've kicked him thus. Look here; see how I charge Enter two Soldiers running. 1 Sold. Flee, flee! he kills us. [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, Car. That's my boy, my sweet boy! Car. I warrant thee; come cheerfully. Hengo. And boldly! SCENE III. [Exeunt. 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. 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? Drus. With what, for Heaven's sake? 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; Pen. As you see. Pet. I'm glad on't; Continue so still. The lord general, 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 And bring along all comfort: Are we gods, There is no mercy in mankind can reach me, All sins I can commit, to be forgiven; Pen. He is a brave gentleman, A valiant, and a loving; and, I dare say, Nor dare I hope more from him than is worthy. Pet. So would sullen children, honour 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 | If so, I bring you comfort; dare you take it? 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 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. 'Tis equal ill; the death of rats and women, Lovers, and lazy boys, that fear correction; 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? The great and honoured Penius!- Oh, how it heightens me! again, Petillius! Mine, only mine! Pet. They are still. Pen. Then, to keep them From ever falling more, have at ye! Heavens, That neither fire, nor age, nor melting envy, Regulus; Penius has found his last eclipse. Come, soldiers, Reg. Why stand ye stupid? Where be your killing furies? whose sword now Who shall beget ye deeds beyond inheritance 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. We love thy nobleness. [Exit Decius. Bond. I thank ye! ye say well; You must adore and fear the power of Rome. The thatched houses, where the Britons dwell See nought but chaste and simple purity. 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? As mercy from these tyrants? Say they had mercy, The devil a relenting conscience, Suet. He is dead then? Suet. No more : We must not seem to mourn here. Dec. There is a breach made; Bond. I scorn to answer; Hear me, and mark me well, and look upon me, To follow your gay sports, and fill your slaves 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 |