Scevola. Excellent, Valerius. But is not that Collatine’s man? _Enter_ Clown. Valerius. The news with this hasty post? Clown. Did nobody see my lord Collatine? Oh! my lady commends her to you; here’s a letter. Collatine. Give it me. Clown. Fie upon’t! never was poor Pompey so overlaboured as I have been. I think I have spurred my horse such a question, that he is scarce able to wig or wag his tail for an answer; but my lady bade me spare for no horse-flesh, and I think I have made him run his race. Brutus. Cousin Collatine, the news at Rome? Collatine. Nothing but what you all may well partake. Read here, my lord, [Brutus _reads the letter_. “Dear lord, if ever thou wilt see thy Lucrece, Choose of the friends which thou affectest best, And, all important business set apart, Repair to Rome. Commend me to Lord Brutus, Valerius, Mutius, and Horatius; Say I entreat their presence, where my father Lucretius shall attend them. Farewell, sweet! The affairs are great, then do not fail to meet.” Brutus. I’ll thither as I live. [_Exit_. Collatine. I though I die. [_Exit_. Scevola. To Rome with expeditious wings we’ll fly. [_Exit_. Horatius. The news, the news? if it have any shape Of sadness, if some prodigy have chanced That may beget revenge, I’ll cease to chafe, Vex, martyr, grieve, torture, torment myself, And tune my humour to strange strains of mirth. My soul divines some happiness: speak, speak; I know thou hast some news that will create me Merry and musical, for I would laugh, Be new transhaped. I prithee sing, Valerius, That I may air with thee. Valerius. [_Sings_.]-- I’d think myself as proud in shackles As doth the ship in all her tackles; The wise man boasts no more his brains Than I’d insult in gyves and chains; As creditors would use their debtors, So could I toss and shake my fetters; But not confess: my thoughts should be In durance fast as those kept me. And could, when spite their hearts environs, Then dance to the music of my irons. Now tell us what’s the project of thy message? Clown. My lords, the princely Sextus has been at home, but what he hath done there I may partly mistrust, but cannot altogether resolve you: besides, my lady swore me that whatsoever I suspected I should say nothing. Valerius. If thou wilt not say thy mind, I prithee sing thy mind, and then thou mayst save thine oath. Clown. Indeed, I was not sworn to that; I may either laugh out my news or sing ’em, and so I may save mine oath to my lady. Horatius. How’s all at Rome, that with such sad presage Disturbèd Collatine and noble Brutus Are hurried from the camp with Scevola, And we with expedition ’mongst the rest, Are charged to Rome? Speak, what did Sextus there With thy fair mistress? Valerius. Second me, my lord, and we’ll urge him to disclose it. Catch.[5.63]