_Arnold_ (_solus_). This is the time for dark and dangerous action; This is the time that thieves and murderers choose To execute their desperate designs. But art thou, Arnold, less than murderer, Who thus prepare to stab thy bleeding country? And can I then descend to be a traitor! By honest toils a name have I acquired, Great and unequalled in the rolls of fame; And shall that name to infamy be doomed By one base act that mars and cankers all? For this have I in winter's joyless reign Explored the naked wilds of northern clime, When mid the snows and frosts and chilling winds Cold earth has been my bed. Ambition, rise And fire my soul to nobler purposes. To-morrow Major Andre comes to meet me, And I am to consult on ways and means To give this fort up to my country's foes. Shall I repent of my unjust proceedings, Admit this daring Briton to my portal, And say I did thus to entrap the man Who is grand vizar to Sir Henry Clinton? Whose scheming head doth hurt our country more Than all their host beside? But that would be ungenerous--more than that, Ten thousand guineas are the offered price Of my desertion--more than that, perhaps I shall henceforward be caressed by kings And bear a generalship that may reduce These states revolted back to Britain's sway. * * * * * For now I do imagine They have no rights, no claims to independence. Born were we all, subjected to a king, And that subjection must return again. The people are not dull republicans, By nature they incline to monarchy. How glorious should I be to have a share In bringing back my country to allegiance. Can France uphold them in their proud demand, That race of puny, base, perfidious dogs? Sooner shall all the house of Bourbon sink Their Rochambault, D'Estang and La Fayette, And Spain confederate cease to be a nation, And all their allies dwindle into atoms, Ere Britain will withdraw her righteous claim Or yield a jot of her dominion here To any people living. Then, Andre, come, The sooner Britain gains this fort the better. SCENE II.--MAJOR ANDRE, LUCINDA. _Parlor._ _Maj. Andre._ I cannot leave this city, sweet Lucinda, without imparting to you that I am going a little way toward the American lines, at the request of his Excellency, upon some business of importance. I am come to chat a little with you ere I go. It may be some days before you see me again. _Lucinda._ If it be not too great a presumption in me, my dear Major, I would beg to know whether you depart on a peaceable or hostile errand. You must pardon a woman's curiosity. I had a frightful dream about you a few nights ago, which I cannot banish from my mind ever since.