Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 06 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_1 Sold._ Hark ye _Judas_,
If he should hang us after all this.
_Jud._ Let him:
I'll hang like a Gentleman and a _Roman_.
_Car._ Take away there,
They have enough.
_Jud._ Captain, we thank you heartily
For your good cheer, and if we meet to morrow,
One of us pays for't.
_Car._ Get 'em guides, their Wine
Has over-master'd 'em.
_Enter second Daughter, and a Servant._
_2 Daugh._ That hungry fellow
With the red beard there, give it him, and this,
To see it well delivered.
_Car._ Farewel knaves;
Speak nobly of us, keep your words to morrow.
_Enter a Guide._
And do something worthy your meat. Go, guide 'em,
And see 'em fairly onward.
_Jud._ Meaning me, Sir?
_Serv._ The same.
The youngest daughter to the Queen intreats ye
To give this privately to Captain _Junius_,
This for your pains.
_Jud._ I rest her humble servant,
Commend me to thy Lady. Keep your Files, boys.
_Serv._ I must instruct ye farther.
_Jud._ Keep your Files there.
Order, sweet friends: faces about now.
_Guide._ Here Sir,
Here lies your way.
_Jud._ 'Bless the Founders, I say,
Fairly, good soldiers, fairly march now: close, boys. [_Exeunt._
_Scæna Quarta._
_Enter_ Swetonius, Petillius, Demetris, Decius, Macer.
_Swet._ Bid me be wise, and keep me where I am,
And so be safe: not come, because commanded;
Was it not thus?
_Ma._ It was, Sir.
_Pet._ What now think ye?
_Swet. Must come_, so hainous to him, so distasteful?
_Pet._ Give me my money.
_Dem._ I confess 'tis due, Sir,
And presently I'll pay it.
_Swet._ His obedience.
So blind at his years and experience,
It cannot find where to be tendred?
_Ma._ Sir,
The Regiment was willing, and advanc'd too,
The Captains at all points steel'd up: their preparations
Full of resolve, and confidence; Youth and fire,
Like the fair breaking of a glorious day,
Guilded their _Phalanx_: when the angry _Penyus_
Stept like a stormy cloud 'twixt them and hopes.
_Swet._ And stopt their resolutions?
_Ma._ True: his reason
To them was ods, and ods so infinite,
Discretion durst not look upon.
_Swet._ Well _Penyus_,
I cannot think thee coward yet; and treacherous
I dare not think: thou hast lopt a limb off from me,
And let it be thy glory, thou wast stubborn,
Thy wisdom, that thou leftst thy General naked:
Yet e'r the Sun set, I shall make thee see,
All valour dwels not in thee; all command
In one experience. Thou wilt too late repent this,
And wis[h], I must come up, had been thy blessing.
_Petill._ Let's force him.
_Swet._ No, by no means; he's a torrent
We cannot easily stemme.
_Petill._ I think, a Traitor.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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