[_Enter IRETON, HARRISON, and Soldiers, L.U.E._] _Ire._ [_Reading Papers._] Give us to drink, good measure; for the flesh is thirsty. That we have shall be paid. Who is that fellow [_points to William_] with his sword drawn? _Har._ Ha! a malignant.--Smite him! _Sold._ Lo! he shall die. _Host._ Hold! hold! 'tis an innocent youth. He did but draw his weapon to defy the evil one. He is strong in prayer. [_To William aside._] Speak quickly, an thou lovest thyself--something from Tobit, or the Psalmody. _Har._ Thou hearest--Sin-Despise! touch not the youth. Lo, I myself have wrestled with the powers of darkness. [_To William._] In what shape cometh he? _Will._ With horns, an't please you, [_Aside._] very like Master Newborn there. _Har._ [_To himself._] With me 'tis different. In the curtain'd night, A Form comes shrieking on me, With such an edg'd and preternatural cry 'T would stir the blood of clustering bats from sleep, Tear their hook'd wings from out the mildew'd eaves, And drive them circling forth-- I tell ye that I fight with him until The sweat like blood puts out my burning eyes. Call you this dreaming? _Will._ [_Aside to the Host._] Dost think the gentleman eats suppers? _Ire._ A plague upon his damn'd repentant fancies! _Har._ [_Still to himself._] 'Twas on the heath, As he did gripe and hold it from his breast, He cut my blade with fifty pallid fingers, On his knees, crying out He had at home an old and doating father; And yet I slew him! There was a ribbon round his neck That caught in the hilt of my sword. A stripling, and so long a dying? Why 'Tis most unnatural! _Host._ [_Aside to William._] I would not have his conscience to be vintner to the Parliament. _Will._ [_To Host._] Nor I, for my master to be a fat-witted Duke, and I his chief serving-man. _Ire._ Here we need counsel, and he raves of dreams And devils. Yet, 'tis true, he fights as if He were possess'd by them. Come, Harrison! Will you not hear how fortune dawns upon us?-- _Har._ Ay! indeed-- Excuse me, Ireton, I was something absent; I think my health of late is shatter'd much. Sometimes I talk aloud. Did I not speak But now of Joab in the Bible, And how he did slay Abner?-- Thou know'st I read the Scripture very oft. _A Trooper._ Ay! he goes to bed with it under his pillow, lest the evil one should prevail. Desborough told him of it. _Har._ Heard you of Falkland's death? _Ire._ At Newbury?-- I did. On either side, in this sad war The good and noble seem the ripest fruit, And so fall first. _Har._ Thus let them perish, all That strive against the Lord. Is Cromwell nigh?-- _Ire._ He will be here anon. _Har._ [_To himself._] The mighty men Of Israel slew _all_. It was a sin To spare the child in the womb. I am a fool To shiver thus to think that night must come. The lion trembles at the sun's eclipse, But, not for murder of the innocent lamb. Who walks across my grave?--