Black. We are indeed;

It puts me into a cold sweat to think on't.
Snip. 'Would my mother's cat

Had killed me in my cradle !

Black. Or my wife, whose nails are sharper, Scratched out my eyes I might not see my death. Bell. Tut, man, courage!

Let's fight it valiantly, and never fear.
Snip. Truly, lieutenant, I dare not fight.
Bell. Not fight, man! Why?

Snip. Because there was an old woman once Told me, if ever I fought I should be killed. Calve. She told us all three so, indeed, lieutenant. Bell. Hang her, damned witch! Can there be a braver death

Than to die for our country?
Snip. Bravery call you it?

'Tis an invisible bravery, a man's ne'er seen
To wear it.

Lieutenant, here's all the money I

have:

Speak a good word to the general I may go home

again,

You may say I'm troubled with a catching disease That will infect the army.

Black. Or, do you hear,

Tell him we are not our own men; when we Came forth, 'twas only drink that made us valiant; And, unless he'll be at the charge to keep us drunk As long as the wars last, we shall be able

To do him no service at all.

Bell. You shall not want for drink, boys, take my word.

Pox on't! 'Tis base to return; you shall have every rogue

And tattered tinker kick you, spit at you,

And every wench in Rome, as ye pass by, fling dirt at you,

Saying,

"There are the soldiers durst not draw their blades."

Snip. But they shall find we dare, and strike home too.

I am now resolved, and will be valiant;
This bodkin quilts their skins as full of holes
As e'er was canvas doublet.9

Bell. Spoke like a man, bold Snip.

Black. These words have fired me too,
And, though their skull-caps be of anvil-proof,
This blade shall hammer some of 'em.

Calve. [Draws.] Then come forth,

Thou Durindan so bright.'

Bell. Why, how now? Mad, Orlando?

Calve. I am mad,

My hair, like bristles, raise their forked ends.
Against these Sabines; I shall leather 'em.
Black. Well said, my tough Calveskin. One
health now,

Here at the sutler's, to our victory;
Then each man to his quarter.

Snip. Done, i'faith.

Bell. Give us some liquor here.

Enter Sutler.

Sut. You shall, gentlemen, instantly.
How much will't please you have?
Bell. Each man his double measure.

This bodkin quilts their skins as full of holes

As e'er was canvas doublet.] The tailor quibbles upon the usual sense of bodkin, and that which it also bore at the time, viz. a small dagger. So in Lilly's Sappho and Phaon: "There will be a desperate fray between two, made at all weapons, from the brown bill to the bodkin."-Doublets were worked in eyelet holes, or pounced, according to the technical phrase at the time.

2

Sut. In a trice.

[Exit.

Bell. Shall's have a catch, my hearts?

Calve. Ay, good lieutenant.

Black. Methinks a soldier should sing nothing else;

Catch that catch may is all our life, you know. Bell. Blacksnout's conceited too.3

Re-enter Sutler with Drink.

Sut. Here, gentlemen.

Bell. Come on then, boys, and each man bear a [A Song; then exeunt.a

part.

ACT III. SCENE I.

Rome. An Apartment in the Palace.

Enter TITUS MARTIUS and RUFINUS.

Titus. Away, injurious man! Tysiphone must learn to imitate

3 Blacksnout's conceited too.] Conceit was used at the time for a pleasant thought, a clinch of wit.

4 Lower down on the page we have these words crossed out in th MS. "The God a mercy, Lieutenant." Whether they refer to the song or not cannot now be ascertained.

Those baleful tortures thou hast put me to
With thy protraction: A willing suitor
Might well ere this have tempted, wooed, and

won,

And seen the longing fruit of hot desire With blushes call him father, while thou'rt fumbling.

Impatience brooks no stay. By Heaven, but that

Ruf. Come, spare your threats, or I shall spare my service.

If I had known your madness had preferred
A sudden fall before deliberate comfort,
I could have fitted you.

Titus. Bring'st thou comfort then?

Ruf. Yes, were your ears prepared to entertain it. Titus. Pardon a lover's passion, dear Rufinus: Is beauteous Philadelpha then content To make her heaven (for so is every place Where she, celestial star, shall deign to shine) In our yet duskish court? Which, if she do, Memnon's miraculous palace set by ours,

Shall seem a cottage, or some coarser building. Why stands my Mercury mute? Speak, will my love

Be pleased these circling arms shall be her sphere,
While our loved kisses make the music harsh,
The intelligencers on the winged spheres
Sound so divinely?

Ruf. Sir, you are too hasty;

Your eager appetite must wait a while
On ceremony; 'twould not fit the state
Of such a high-born lady to descend,
Or come at first beck.

Titus. Where's your comfort then?
Ruf. 'Sblood, give me leave, or starve! I'll keep
it still.

Titus. Come, come, my rage is o'er. Pr'ythee,

proceed:

How did she stand the parley? With what looks, Or patience, entertain thy embassy?

Ruf. I'll tell you, sir: When first I spoke of love,
She started back, and marked her beauteous brow
With angry characters; still I went on,
And, by fair courtship and persuasion,
Moved her to ask what kind of man he was,
Or how compared with Tullius; which I,
With my best art sublimed, blazoned your worth,
Which made a deep impression; but your name
Dispersed all clouds, and, with a clear aspect,
Seemed to embrace your suit: only she craves,
Out of a longing virgin modesty,

A little time to ripen young desire
That buds already in her blushing cheek.
Titus. What time must we expect?

Ruf. But ten short days.

Titus. But ten short days, dost say? The siege of Troy

Was shorter far, though it were ten twelve moons.
The limping fire god ne'er was half so hot
Upon the Gorgon-armed Minerva's lance
As I am upon her. Before that time,
If Tullius do survive, he may return:

Then where were all my hopes? No, I've a plot
To give slow time new wings.

Should love's bright flame live ten days here unquenched,

"Twould burn me into ashes.

Hark! 'tis thus:

To-morrow's sun, by time's alternate course,

Lights the first day that gave life to these eyes,
Which, as propitious, we will celebrate,
And make an edict, that what lord or lady,
Any of noble blood, within ten miles,