English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Enter Lewes_.
_Lew_. Where are these Lords? the one hath sate with me
And suddenly is risen from the boord,
The other came not at all. Daughter, saw you
The Prince or _Pembrooke_ which way they are gone?
_Kath_. Backe to their Tents, my Lord, as I suppose.
_Lew_. Back to their tents and take no leave of us?
Nay, then I feare their meaning was too smoothe
And some black Treason cover'd in their smiles.
Which we will seeke immediately to prevent.
[_Exeunt_.
_Actus Secundus_.
[SCENE 1.]
_Enter Dicke Bowyer and soldiers, with Drum and colours_.
_Bow_. Stand, give the word along, stand.
_Lieu_. Stand there!
_Bow_. Lieutenant.
_Lieu_. Captayne.
_Bow_. Is the watch set in the King's quarter yet.
_Lieu_. An houre agoe.
_Bow_. 'Zounds what foolish Canaanits were they to run in debt to their
eyes for an houres sleepe sooner then they needed! Sergeant.
_Ser_. Anon, Sir.
_Bow_. Anon, Sir! s'hart the Rogue answers like a Drawer, but tis the
tricke of most of these Sergeants, all clincum clancum. Gods dynes[118],
I am an _Onyon_ if I had not rather serve formost in the forlorne hoope
of a battell or runne poynt blancke against the mouth of a double
charged Cannon then come under the arrests of some their pewter pessels.
Zounds, tis hotter a great deale then hell mouth and _Dives_ burning in
Sulphur: but thou art none of the genealogy of them. Where must we watch
to night?
_Serg_. In the furthest Trenches that confront the enemies campe.
_Bow_. Thats the next way to have all our throats cut.
_Lieu_. That cannot be; you know, Captain, there's a peace toward.
_Bow_. A pox a peace, it keeps our Ancient whole, but s'hart our
gaberdines go to wrack. But _futra_! tis well known since _Dick Bowyer_
came to France he hath shewed himselfe a gentleman and a Cavaliero and
sets feare at's heeles. And I could scape (a pox on it) th'other thing,
I might haps return safe and sound to England. But what remedy? al flesh
is grasse and some of us must needes be scorcht in this hote Countrey.
Lieutenant _Core_, prithee lead my Band to their quarter; and the rogues
do not as they should, cram thy selfe, good _Core_, downe their throats
and choak them. Who stands Sentronell to night, Sir?
_Sol_. That must I, Captayne.
_Bow_. You, _Rafe Nod_? zounds, soldiers, follow my discipline, say your
prayers, you are all dead men, all dust and ashes, all wormes meat.
_Lieu_. How so, Captayne?
_Bow_. Doe you make him Sentronell? s'hart heele nod[119] presently: and
he do not sleepe sitting upon the poynt of a Spanish needle, _Dicke
Bowyer's_ a very shittle-cocke. _Nod_! zounds, he is one of the nine
sleepers, a very Dormouse: & I had a pageant to present of the seven
deadly Sinnes[120], he should play Slouth; and he did not sleepe when he
should speake his part I am a Badger.
_Soul_. That's true; you have halfe the nature of a Badger, for one leg
is shorter then another.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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