2d Sold. So I will, sir. 1st Capt. D. Till then I'll keep him dark and safely locked. SCENE III. The Florentine Camp. [Exeunt. Enter CAPTAIN DUMAIN, his brother and soldiers. 1st Capt. D. 2d Capt. D. Yes, at the appointed hour. 1st Capt. D. That approaches apace: I would gladly have him see his follower anatomized, that he might take a measure of his own judgment, in which he hath set him so high. 2d Capt. D. We will not meddle with him till he come. But here is his lordship now. Enter COUNT ROSENCRANTZ. Count R. Come, shall we have this dialogue between the fool and the soldier? Bring forth this counterfeit model; he has deceived me, like a double meaning prophesier. 1st Capt. D. Bring him forth. [Exeunt Soldiers.] He has set in the stocks all night, poor knave. Count R. No matter; his heels have deserved it, in usurping spurs so long. How does he carry himself? 1st Capt. D. I have told your lordship already; the stocks carry him. But, to answer you as you would be understood, he weeps like a sick girl: he hath confessed himself to Morgan, whom he supposes to be a friar, from the time of his remembrance, to the very instant of his setting in the stocks. And what think you he has confessed? Count R. Nothing of me, has he? 2d Capt. D. His confession is taken, and shall be read to his face. If your lordship be in it, as I believe you are, you must have the patience to hear it Re-enter Soldiers, with DELGRADO. Count R. A plague' upon him! muffled! he can' say nothing of me; hush! hush! 2d Capt. D. Porto tartarossa. 1st Sold. them? He calls for tortures; what will you say without Del. I will confess what I know, without constraint; if ye pinch me like a pasty, I can say no more. 1st Sold. 2d Capt. D. 1st Sold. Bosko chimurcho. Boblifindo chicurmusco. Our general bids you answer to what I ask you out of a note. Del. And truly as I hope to live. 1st Sold. [Reading.] First demand of him, how many horses the Duke is strong. What say you to that? Del. Five or six thousand, but very weak and unserviceable; the troops are all scattered, and the commanders very poor rogues', upon my reputation and credit, and as I hope to live. 1st Sold. Shall I set down your answer so? Del. Do. I'll take my sacrament' on 't, how and which way you will. Count R. All's one to him. What a past-saving slave is this! 1st Capt. D. You are deceived', my lord; this is Monsieur Delgrado' the gallant militarist', (that was his own phrase',) that had the whole theory of war in the knot of his scarf, and the practice in the sheath of his dagger. 2d Capt. D. I will never trust a man again, for keeping his sword clean'; nor believe he can have every thing in him by wearing his apparel neatly. 1st Sold. Well, that's' set down'. Del. Five or six thousand horse, I said-I will say true --or thereabouts: set down-for I'll speak truth. Count R. He is very near the truth' in this. 1st Sold. Well, that's' set down. Del. I humbly thank you, sir: a truth's a truth; the rogues are marvelously poor. 1st Sold. Demand of him, of what strength they are afoot. What say you to that? Del. By my troth, sir, if I were to live but this present hour, I will tell true. Let me see'; Spurio', a hundred and fifty'; Sebastian', so many'; Corambus', so many`; Cosmo', Lodovick', and Grati', two hundred and fifty each'; mine own company', Lammond', Bentii', two hundred and fifty each'; so that the muster-file, rotten and sound, upon my life, amounts not to fifteen thousand full; half of which dare not shake the snow from off their cassocks, lest they shake themselves' to pieces. Count R. What shall be done' to him? 1st Capt. D. Nothing, but let him have thanks. Demand of him my character, and what credit I have with the Duke. 1st Sold. Well, that's' set down. [Reading from a note.] You shall demand of him, whether one Captain Dumain` be in the camp: what his reputation is with the Duke', what his -valor, honesty, expertness in wars'; or whether he thinks it were possible, with well-weighed sums of gold, to corrupt him to a revolt. What say you to this'? What do you know` of it? Del. I beseech you let me answer to the particulars. Demand them singly. 1st Sold. Do you know' this Captain Dumain? Del. I know him. He was a butcher's apprentice in Paris, from whence he was whipped for some paltry theft. [Dumain lifts up his hand to strike him. Count R. Nay, by your leave, hold your hands; though I know, his brains are forfeit to the next tile that falls. 1st Sold. Well', is this captain in the Duke's camp? Del. Upon my knowledge he is', and a mean, dirty villain. 1st Capt. D. [To Count R.] Nay', look not so upon me'; we shall hear of your lordship' anon. 1st Sold. What is his reputation with the Duke? Del. The Duke knows him for no other but a poor officer of mine'; and writ to me this other day, to turn him out o' the band. I think I have his letter in my pocket. 1st Sold. Marry, we'll search. Del. In good sadness, I do not know': either it is there', or it is upon file', with the Duke's other letters, in my tent. 1st Sold. Here 't is'; here's a paper; shall I read it you? Del. I do not know', if it be it, or no. Count R. Our interpreter does it well. 1st Capt. D. Excellently. 1st Sold. [Reads.] The count's a fool and full of gold. Del. That's not the Duke's letter, sir; that is a notice to a certain person to take heed of one Count Rosencrantz`, a foolish, idle boy'; for all that, very knavish. Pray you, sir, put it up' again. 1st Sold. Nay, I'll read it first, by your favor. [Reading.] When he swears oaths, bid him drop gold, and take`it; After he scores, he never pays` the score: Half won is match well made`; match, and well make it. He ne'er pays after debts, take it before. Count R. He shall be whipped through the army, with these rhymes on his forehead. 2d Capt. D. This is your devoted friend, the learned linquist, and the gallant soldier. Count R. I could endure any thing before but a cat', and now he's a cat' to me. 1st Sold. I perceive, sir, by the general's looks, we shall be fain to hang' you. Del. My life', in any case; not that I am afraid to die; but that my offenses being many, I would repent out the remainder of my nature. Let me live, sir, in a dungeon`, in the stocks, or anywhere, so I may live. 1st Sold. We'll see what may be done, so you confess freely; therefore, once more to this Captain Dumain. You have answered to his reputation with the Duke', and to his valor. What, his honesty? Del. He will steal, sir, an egg out of a cloister. He pretends not to keep oaths; but in breaking them is stronger than Hercules. He will lie, sir, with such volubility', that you would think truth were a fool'; drunkenness is his best virtue'. I have but little more to say, sir, of his honesty: he has every thing' that an honest man should not have; what an honest man should have, he has nothing`. Count R. Hang him. He is more and more a cat. 1st Sold. His qualities being at this poor price, I need not ask you if gold will corrupt him to revolt. Del. Sir, for the fourth part of a French crown, he will sell the fee-simple of his salvation, the inheritance of it, and cut the entail from all remainder. 1st Sold. What's his brother', the other Captain Dumain? 2d Capt. D. Why does he ask of me? 1st Sold. What's he? Del. E'en a crow of the same nest'; not altogether so great as the other in goodness, but greater a great deal in evil. He excels his brother for a coward, yet his brother is reputed one of the best that is: in a retreat, he outruns a lackey; marry, in coming on he has the cramp. 1st Sold. If your life is saved, will you undertake to betray your friends? Del. Ay, the captain of their horse, Count Rosencrantz, and all of them. 1st Sold. I'll whisper with the general and know his pleasure. Del. I'll no more drumming'; a plague' of all drums. Only to seem to deserve well, and to get the good opinion of that foolish young boy, the count, have I run into this danger. Yet who would have suspected an ambush where I was taken? [Aside. 1st Sold. There is no remedy, sir', but you must die! The general says, you', that have so traitorously discovered the secrets of your army, and made such villainous reports of men in high estimation', can serve the world for no honest use; therefore, you must die. Come, headsman, off with his head. Del. O sir, let me live', or let me see' my death! 1st Sold. That you shall', and take your leave of all your friends. [Unmuffling him. So', look about you; know you any here'? 2d Capt. D. 1st Capt. D. 2d Capt. D. I'm for France. What greeting will you to my lord Lafeu`? 1st Capt. D. Good captain, will you give me a copy of your sonnet? If I were not a very coward, I'd compel it of you; but fare you well. [Exeunt Count R., Capt. D. and brother. 1st Sold. You are undone, captain; all but your scarf, that has a knot on't yet. Del. Who can not be crushed with a plot? 1st Sold. I'm for France, too': farewell', we shall speak of you there. Del. Yet I am thankful. "T would burst at this. If my heart were great, [Exit. |