_Whiff._ Nay, since we are come out like loving Brothers to hang the
General, let’s not fall out among our selves; and so here’s to you,
[Drinks.] though I have no great Maw to this Business.
_Whim._ Prithee, Brother _Whiff_, do not be so villainous a Coward, for
I hate a Coward.
_Whiff._ Nay, ‘tis not that--but, my _Whiff_, my _Nancy_ dreamt to night
she saw me hanged.
_Whim._ ‘Twas a cowardly Dream, think no more on’t; but as Dreams are
expounded by contraries, thou shalt hang the General.
_Whiff._ Ay--but he was my Friend, and I owe him at this time a hundred
Pounds of Tobacco.
_Whim._ Nay, then I am sure thou’dst hang him if he were thy Brother.
_Whiff._ But hark--I think I hear the Neighing of Horses, where shall we
hide our selves? for if we stay here, we shall be mawled damnably.
[Exeunt both behind a Bush, peeping.
Enter _Bacon_, _Fearless_, and 3 or 4 Footmen.
_Bac._ Let the Groom lead the Horses o’er the _Sevana_; we’ll walk it on
Foot, ‘tis not a quarter of a Mile to the Town; and here the Air is
cool.
_Fear._ The Breezes about this time of the Day begin to take wing, and
fan refreshment to the Trees and Flowers.
_Bac._ And at these Hours how fragrant are the Groves!
_Fear._ The Country’s well, were but the people so.
_Bac._ But come, lets on-- [They pass to the Entrance.
_Whim._ There, Boys-- [The Soldiers come forth and fall on _Bacon_.
_Bac._ Hah! Ambush--
[Draws, _Fearless_ and Footmen draw, the Soldiers after a while
fighting, take _Bacon_ and _Fearless_, they having laid 3 or 4
dead.
_Whiff._ So, so, he’s taken; now we may venture out.
_Whim._ But are you sure he’s taken?
_Whiff._ Sure! can’t you believe your Eyes, come forth; I hate a
Coward--Oh, Sir, have we caught your Mightiness.
_Bac._ Are you the Authors of this valiant Act? None but such villainous
Cowards durst have attempted it.
_Whim._ Stop his railing Tongue.
_Whiff._ No, no, let him rail, let him rail now his Hands are ty’d, ha,
ha. Why, good General _Frightall_, what, was no body able d’ye think to
tame the roaring Lyon?
_Bac._ You’ll be hanged for this.
_Whim._ Come, come, away with him to the next Tree.
_Bac._ What mean you, Villains?
_Whiff._ Only to hang your Honour a little, that’s all. We’ll teach you,
Sir, to serve your Country against Law.
As they go off, enter _Daring_ with Soldiers.
_Dar._ Hah--my General betray’d!--this I suspected.
[His Men come in, they fall on, release _Bacon_ and _Fearless_,
and his Man, and get Swords. _Whimsey’s_ Party put _Whim._ and
_Whiff_ before ‘em striking ‘em as they endeavour to run on this
side or that, and forcing ‘em to bear up, they are taken after
some fighting.
_Fear._ Did not the General tell you Rogues, you’d be all hang’d?
_Whiff._ Oh, _Nancy_, _Nancy_, how prophetick are thy Dreams!
_Bac._ Come, lets on--
_Dar._ S’death, what mean you, Sir?
_Bac._ As I designed--to present my self to the Council.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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