Beaumont Fletchers Works, vol 2 | Page 7

out, Antigonus, the old Antigonus, The wise and fortunate Antigonus, The great, the valiant, and the fear'd Antigonus, Has sent a desperate son, without discretion To bury in an hour his age of honour.
Dem. I am ashamed.
Leo. 'Tis ten to one, I die with ye: The coward will not long be after ye; I scorn to say I saw you fall, sigh for ye, And tell a whining tale, some ten years after To boyes and girles in an old chimney corner, Of what a Prince we had, how bravely spirited; How young and fair he fell: we'l all go with ye, And ye shall see us all, like sacrifices In our best trim, fill up the mouth of ruine. Will this faith satisfie your folly? can this show ye 'Tis not to die we fear, but to die poorly, To fall, forgotten, in a multitude? If you will needs tempt fortune now she has held ye, Held ye from sinking up.
Dem. Pray do not kill me, These words pierce deeper than the wounds I suffer, The smarting wounds of loss.
Leo. Ye are too tender; Fortune has hours of loss, and hours of honour, And the most valiant feel them both: take comfort, The next is ours, I have a soul descries it: The angry bull never goes back for breath But when he means to arm his fury double. Let this day set, but not the memorie, And we shall find a time: How now Lieutenant?
Enter Lieutenant.
Lieu. I know not: I am mall'd: we are bravely beaten, All our young gallants lost.
Leo. Thou art hurt.
Lieu. I am pepper'd, I was i'th' midst of all: and bang'd of all hands: They made an anvile of my head, it rings yet; Never so thresh'd: do you call this fame? I have fam'd it; I have got immortal fame, but I'le no more on't; I'le no such scratching Saint to serve hereafter; O' my conscience I was kill'd above twenty times, And yet I know not what a Devil's in't, I crawled away, and lived again still; I am hurt plaguily, But now I have nothing near so much pain Colonel, They have sliced me for that maladie.
Dem. All the young men lost?
Lie. I am glad you are here: but they are all i'th' pound sir, They'l never ride o're other mens corn again, I take it, Such frisking, and such flaunting with their feathers, And such careering with their Mistres favours; And here must he be pricking out for honour, And there got he a knock, and down goes pilgarlick, Commends his soul to his she-saint, and Exit. Another spurs in there, cryes make room villains, I am a Lord, scarce spoken, but with reverence A Rascal takes him o're the face, and fells him; There lyes the Lord, the Lord be with him.
Leo. Now Sir, Do you find this truth?
Dem. I would not.
Lieu. Pox upon it, They have such tender bodies too; such Culisses, That one good handsom blow breaks 'em a pieces.
Leo. How stands the Enemy?
Lieu. Even cool enough too: For to say truth he has been shrewdly heated, The Gentleman no doubt will fall to his jewlips.
Leo. He marches not i'th' tail on's.
Lieu. No, plague take him, He'l kiss our tails as soon; he looks upon us, As if he would say, if ye will turn again, friends, We will belabor you a little better, And beat a little more care into your coxcombs. Now shall we have damnable Ballads out against us, Most wicked madrigals: and ten to one, Colonel, Sung to such lowsie, lamentable tunes.
Leo. Thou art merry, How e're the game goes: good Sir be not troubled, A better day will draw this back again. Pray go, and cheer those left, and lead 'em off, They are hot, and weary.
Dem. I'le doe any thing.
Leo. Lieutenant, send one presently away To th' King, and let him know our state: and hark ye, Be sure the messenger advise his Majestie To comfort up the Prince: he's full of sadness.
Lieu. When shall I get a Surgeon? this hot weather, Unless I be well pepper'd, I shall stink, Colonel.
Leo. Go, I'le prepare thee one.
Lieu. If ye catch me then, Fighting again, I'le eat hay with a horse. [Exit.

SCENA III.
Enter Leucippe (reading) and two Maids at a Table writing.
Leu. Have ye written to Merione?
1 Ma. Yes, Madam.
Leu. And let her understand the hopes she has, If she come speedilie--
1 Ma. All these are specified.
Leu. And of the chain is sent her, And the rich stuff to make her shew more handsom here?
1 Maid. All this is done, Madam.
Leu. What have you dispatcht there?
2 Maid. A letter to the Country maid, and't please ye.
Leu. A pretty girle, but peevish, plaguy peevish: Have ye bought the embroydered gloves, and that purse for