_L'Ec._ Yes, faith! saluting is one of the first lessons in a soldier's trade, so my dear, tempting, provoking. (_Catches her round._) _Ros._ Hay, keep your hands off, you have taught me enough of the manual exercise already; but say now, were you indeed so great a hero in the battle as you told my lady? _L'Ec._ Pshaw! I did'nt tell her half, my modesty forbade, but for thee, my pretty Rosabelle-- _Ros._ Ay, with me, I'm certain your modesty will be no obstacle. _L'Ec._ None, for while I gaze upon the face of an angel, the devil himself can't put me out of countenance. DUETTO.--_Rosabelle and L'Eclair._ _Ros._ Tell, soldier, tell! and mark you tell me truly, How oft in battle have you slain a foe? _L'Ec._ Go, count the leaves when winds are heard unruly, In autumn that from mighty forests blow. _Ros._ Did e'er a captain, worth a costly ransom, Own you his conqueror in the deadly broil? _L'Ec._ I've twigg'd field-marshals, pickings snug and handsome, Twelve waggons now are loaded with my spoil. _Both._ Oh! loudly, proudly, sound the soldier's fame! Oh! flashy, dashy, flaunt the soldier's dame! _Ros._ Tell, soldier, tell! and mark, you tell me truly, Did foreign maids ne'er win your roving vow? _L'Ec._ O! blood and fire! --I swear I can't speak coolly, By Mars! to you, and only you, I bow. _Ros._ Say, shall love's chain of blossoms hold for ever? Nor time, nor absence, bid its bloom depart? _L'Ec._ Not sword, or gun, such magic links can sever, Or rend from Rosabelle her hero's heart. _Both._ O! loudly, proudly, &c. SCENE III.--_A front wood, stage very dark, thunder and lightning._ Enter _Longueville_ and _Bertrand_, the latter disguised and masqued. _Long._ Come, sir, to your post! what! a coward even to the last? you tremble. _Bert._ I do indeed, the storm is terrible, it seems as if heaven's own voice were clamoring to forbid the deed. [_Thunder._ _Long._ This tumult of the night assists our enterprise; its thunders will drown your victim's dying groan. Where have you placed the bravoes? _Bert._ Hard by--just where the horse-road sinks into a hollow dell, and over-spreading branches almost choke the pass, there we may rush upon the wretched youth securely, and there our poniards-- _Long._ Hush!--a footstep!--who passes there? Enter _1st Bravo_. _1st Br._ Sanguine! _Long._ Wherefore are you here, and parted from your fellow? _1st Br._ I left him lurking in the hollow, while I sought you out to ask advice. Just now, a horse without a rider, burst furiously through the thicket where we lay; the lightning flashed brightly at the time, and I plainly marked the steed to be the very same young Florian rode, when we dogged him from the last inn, at sunset. _Bert._ (_involuntarily_) merciful God! then thou hast preserved him.