+Don A.+ The honour of our country and the terror Of others: Fortune consulted Reason When she bestow'd such favours upon him. +Don O.+ And yet 'tis said, he loses ground at court. +Don A.+ 'Tis possible: under a jealous prince A great's as prejudicial as an evil fame. +Don O.+ They say he's cruel, even to barbarity. +Don A.+ 'Tis mercy, that which they call cruelty. In a civil war, in fertile provinces (And the sun sees not richer than are these), The soldier, especially the auxiliary, Whose trade it is to fight for salary, Is brib'd by gain the rebels' lives to spare, That mutual quarter may prolong the war; Till this slow fever has consum'd their force, And then they'll fall to our rival France, of course. War made in earnest maketh war to cease, And vigorous prosecution hastens peace. +Don O.+ Y' have made me comprehend his conduct: he's sure As great a politician as a soldier. +Don A.+ Loyalty's his centre, his circumf'rence, glory; And t' after ages he'll show great in story. +Don O.+ And is our good friend, the Marquis d'Olivera, In high esteem? +Don A.+ The boast of [all] our army: h' has exceeded Hope, and made flattery impossible. +Don O.+ They say he did wonders at the siege of Mons.[56] +Don A.+ You mean, as I suppose, at the pursuit O' th' German army, led by the Prince of Orange? Indeed his courage and his conduct there Were very signal. +Don O.+ You'll much oblige me if, whilst you expect Your servant here, I might learn from yourself Some few particulars of your own actions; Fame speaks loudly of them, but not distinctly. +Don A.+ Fame, like water, bears up the lighter things, And lets the weighty sink. I do not use To speak in the first person; but if you needs Will have a story to fill up the time, I'll tell you an adventure of my own, Where you'll find love so intermix'd with arms, That, I am confident, 'twill raise your wonder, How, being prepossess'd with such a passion, I should, upon prudential motives only, Be engag'd, as now you find me, to marry A lady whom I never saw. +Don O.+ The person and the subject, sir, both challenge My best attention. +Don A.+ [_After a little pause._] The following evening to that glorious day, Wherein the Duke of Alva gain'd such fame Against the cautelous Nassau, some horse Were sent from the army under my command. To cover the Limbourg frontiers, much expos'd To th' enemy's inroads. My troops scarce lodg'd, I receiv'd intelligence that a party Of th' enemy, about two hundred horse, Were newly come t' a village three leagues off, Intending there to lodge. Immediately We sounded to horse, and march'd[57] to their surprise So lustily,[58] that by the break of day Their quarters were on fire.