of his life, and under the compulsion of base fear, vilify us all', offer to betray' you, and deliver all the intelligence in his power against you, and that with the forfeit of his soul upon oath', never trust my judgment in any thing. he 2d Capt. D. O for the love of laughter', let him fetch his drum`; says he has a stratagem` for't. When your lordship sees the upshot of this affair, and to what metal this counterfeit lump of ore will be melted', if you give him not John Drum's entertainment, your partiality is indeed beyond the influence of reason'. Here he comes`. Enter DELGRADO. 1st Capt. D. O, for the love of laughter', hinder not the humor of his design; let him fetch off his drum', any how. Count R. How now, Monsieur'? this drum sticks sorely in your disposition'. A drum so lost! 2d Capt. D. Hang' it, let it go'; 'tis but a drum. It was a disaster of war that Cesar himself` could not have prevented, if he had been there to command. Count R. Well, we have reason to be satisfied with our success'. Some dishonor we had in the loss of that drum', but it is not to be recovered'. Del. It might have been recovered. Count R. It might, but it is not now`. Del. It is to be recovered; but that the merit of service is seldom attached to the real performer', I would have that` drum or another', or hic jacet. Count R. Why', if you have a stomach' to't, Monsieur', if you think your skill in stratagem can recover' this instrument of honor, be magnanimous in the enterprise', and go on. I will do honor to the attempt as a worthy exploit. If you speed well' in it, the Duke shall both speak' of it, and extend to you what further becomes his greatness, even to the utmost extent of your merit'. Del. By the hand of a soldier', I will undertake it. Count R. But you must not now slumber' in it. Del. I'll about it this evening. I will contrive my plans, prepare myself for the encounter, and, by midnight', look to hear further from me. Count R. I know thou art valiant. Farewell! [Exit. 1st Capt. D. No more than a fish' loves water. Is not this a strange fellow, my lord', that so confidently undertakes this business, which he knows is not to be done'? 2d Capt. D. You' do not know him, my lord', as we do: certain it is, that he will steal himself into a man's favor', and for a week escape discovery', but when you find him out', you have him ever after`. Count R. Why, do you think that he will make no attempt at the deed, which he so boldly and seriously promises'? 1st Capt. D. None in the world; but return with an invention', and clap upon you two or three plausible lies; but we have almost encompassed him; you shall see him fall to-night; for, indeed', he is not worthy of your lordship's confidence'. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-Without the Florentine Camp. Enter 1st CAPTAIN DUMAIN, with five or six soldiers in ambush. 1st Capt. D. He can come no other way but by this hedge corner". When you sally upon him, speak what terrible language you will; though you understand it not yourselves', no matter; for we must not seem to understand' him; but some one among us must be an interpreter'. 1st Soldier. Good Captain', let me be the interpreter. 1st Capt. D. Are you not acquainted' with him? Knows he not your voice'? 1st Sold. No', sir, I warrant` you. 1st Capt. D. But what linsey-woolsey have you to speak to us again? 1st Sold. Even such as you speak to me'. 1st Capt. D. He must think us some band of strangers' in the enemy's army'. Now, he hath a smack of all neighboring languages'; therefore we must all gabble', each after his own fancy; so we seem' to know what we say, is to know straight to our purpose'. As for you, interpreter', you must seem very politic'. But, hide: ho! here he comes; to beguile two hours in sleep', and then to return and swear to the lies he forges`. of. Enter DELGRADO. Del. Ten o'clock': within these two hours 'twill be time enough to go home'. What shall I say I have done? It must be a very plaŭsible invention that carries it. They begin to smoke' me; and disgraces have, of late, knocked too often at my door'. I find my tongue is too fool-hardy'; but my heart hath the fear of Mars before it, and of his creatures, not daring to make good' the reports of my tongue'. 1st Capt. D. This is the first truth' that thy tongue was ever guilty [Aside, Del. What madness should move me to undertake the recovery of this drum`; being not ignorant of the impossibility', and knowing` I had no such purpose? I must give myself some hurts, and say', I got them in the exploit. Yet slight ones will not carry` it: they will say';-Come you off with so little'?—and great ones I dare not give. Tongue', I must put you into a butter-woman's mouth, and buy another of Bajazet's mute', if you prattle me into these perils. 1st Capt. D. Is it possible', he should know' what he is, and be' what he is! [Aside. Del. I would the cutting of my garments would serve' the turn; or the breaking of my Spanish sword'. 1st Capt. D. We cannot let you off so. [Aside. Del. Or the shaving of my beard', and say it was in stratagem'. 1st Capt. D. "Twould not do. [Aside. Del. Or to drown my clothes', and say', I was stripped'. 1st Capt. D. Hardly serve'. [Aside. Del. Though I swore I leaped from the window of the citadel'1st Capt. D. How deep'? [Aside. Del. Thirty fathom'. 1st Capt. D. Three great oaths would scarce make that be believed`. [Aside Del. I would I had any drum of the enemy's'; I would swear, I had recovered it. 1st Capt. D. You shall hear one anon. Del. A drum now of the enemy's'! [Aside. [Alarum within. 1st Capt. D. Throca movousus, cargo, cargo, cargo. [They seize him and blindfold him. 1st Sold. Boskos thromuldo boskos. Del. I know you are the Muskos' regiment, And I shall lose my life for want of language`; If there be here German', or Dane', Low Dutch', Italian, or French', let him speak to me; I will discover that', which shall undo The Florentine. 1st Sold. Boskos vanvado : I understand thee, and can speak thy tongue`;— Betake thee to thy faith, for seventeen poniards Del. Oh! oh! oh! 1st Sold. Manka revania dulche. O, pray', pray, pray`,— 1st Capt. D. Oscorbi dulchos volivorca. 1st Sold. The general is content to spare thee yet'; And, hood-winked as thou art', will lead thee on To gather news' from thee; perhaps', thou may'st inform Del. O, let me live', And all the secrets of our camp I'll show'; Their force', their purposes; nay I'll speak that', Which thou wilt wonder at. 1st Sold. But wilt thou speak truly'? Del. If I do not', hang' me for a spy. 1st Sold. Acordo linta Come on, thou art granted space'. [Exit, with Delgrado guarded. 1st Capt. D. Go, tell Count Rozencrantz, and my brother, We have caught the woodcock, and will keep him muffled', Till we do hear from them. 2d Sold. Captain', I will'. 1st Capt. D. He will betray us all unto ourselves': Inform 'em that`. 2d Sold. So I will, sir. 1st Capt. D. Till then' I'll keep him dark and safely locked. SCENE III.-The Florentine Camp. Enter CAPTAIN DUMAIN, his brother, and soldiers. Shall we not have the Count to-night'? Yes, at the appointed hour'. [Exeunt. 1st Capt. D. 2d Capt. D. 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 ROZENCRANTZ. 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 sat in the stocks' all night', pōōr 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 wench: 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. He calls for tortures; what will you say without them? Del. I will confess what I know without constraint; if ye pinch me like a pasty', I can say no more'. 1st Sold. Bosko chimurcho. 2d Capt. D. Boblibindo chicurmusco. 1st Sold. You are a merciful general. 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 horse 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. Shalı 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 ap parel neatly'. 1st Sold. Well, that's set down. Del. Five or six thousand horse', I said-I will say true-or there abouts: 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 ar marvelously poor'. 1st Sold. Demand of him, of what strength they are afoot. Wha say you to that? Del. By my troth', sir', if I were to live but this present hour', will tell true. Let me see'; Spurio', a hundred and fifty'; Sebastian so many; Corambus', so many`; Cosmo', Lodovick', and Gratii', tw hundred and fifty each'; mine own company', Lammond', Bentii', tw hundred and fifty each; so that the muster-file', rotten' and sound upon my life', amounts not to fifteen thousand full; half of which dar 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 hin my character', and what credit I have with the Duke'. Yo 1st Sold. Well, that's set down. [. [Reading from_a_note.] shall demand of him, whether one Captain Dumain be in the camp what his reputation is with the Duke`, what his valor`, honesty', expert ness in wars`; or whether he thinks it were possible, with well-weighe 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 then 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 of Florence'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 apon file, with the Duke's other' letters, in my tent. 1st Sold. Here 'tis'; here's a paper; shall I read it to 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`. |