 | The Tragedie of Bonduca |  |
Scæna Tertia.
Enter Judas and his four Companions (halters about their necks) Bonduca, her Daughters, Nennius following.Bon.
Come, hang 'm presently.
Nen.
What made your Rogueships
harrying for victuals here? Are we your friends?
or doe you come for Spies? tell me directly,
Would you not willingly be hang'd now? do not ye long for't?
Jud.
What say ye? shall wee hang in this vain? Hang we must,
and 'tis as good to dispatch it merrily,
as pull an arse like dogs to't.
1. Soul.
Any way,
so it be handsome.
3. Soul.
I had as lief 't were toothsom too: but all agree,
and I'll not out Boyes.
4. Soul.
Let's hang plesantly.
Jud.
Then plesantly be it: Captain, the truth is,
we had as lief hang with meat in our mouthes,
as ask your pardon empty.
Bon.
These are brave hungers.
What say you to a leg of Beef now, sirha?
Jud.
Bring me acquainted with it, and I'll tell ye.
Bon.
Torment 'em wenches: I must back; then hang 'em.
Jud.
We humbly thank your Grace.
1 Daugh.
The Rogues laugh at us.
2. Daugh.
Sirha, What think you of a wench now?
Jud.
A wench, Lady?
I do beseech your Ladiship, retire,
I'll tell ye presently, ye see the time's short;
one crash; even to the setling of my conscience.
Nen.
Why, is't no more but up, boyes?
Jud.
Yes, ride too Captain.
Will you but see my seat?
1 Daugh.
Ye shall be set, Sir,
upon a Jade shall shake ye.
Jud.
Sheets, good Madam,
will do it ten times better.
1. Daugh.
Whips, good Souldier,
which ye shall taste before ye hang, to mortifie ye;
'tis pitie ye should die thus desperate.
2. Daugh.
These are the merry Romans, the brave mad caps.
'tis ten to one wee'll cool your resolutions.
Bring out the whips.
Jud.
Would your good Ladyships
would exercise 'em too.
4. Soul.
Surely Ladies,
we'ld shew you a strange patience.
Nen.
Hang 'em, Rascals,
they'l talk thus on the wheel.
Enter Caratach.
Car.
Now what's the matter?
What are these fellows? whats the crime committed,
that they wear necklaces?
Nen.
They are Roman Rogues,
taken a forraging.
Car.
Is that all, Nennius?
Jud.
Would I were fairly hang'd; this is the divell,
the kill-cow Caratach.
Car.
And you would hang 'em.
Nen.
Are they not enemies?
1. Soul.
My breech makes buttons.
1. Daugh.
Are they not our tormentors?
Car.
Tormentors? Flea-traps.
Pluck off your halters, fellows.
Nen.
Take heed, Caratach,
taint not your wisdome.
Car.
Wisdome, Nennius?
why, who shall fight against us, make our honours,
and give a glorious day into our hands,
if we dispatch our foes thus? what's their offence?
stealing a loafe or two to keep out hunger,
a piece of greazie bacon, or a pudding?
do these deserve the gallows? They are hungry,
poor hungry knaves, no meat at home left, starv'd:
Art thou not hungry?
Jud.
Monstrous hungry.
Car.
He looks like hungers self: get 'em some victuals,
and wine to cheer their hearts, quick: Hang up poor pilchers?
2. Soul.
This is the bravest Captain—
Nen.
Caratach,
I'll leave you to your will.
Car.
I'll answer all, Sir.
2. Daugh.
Let's up, and view his entertainment of 'em.
I am glad they are shifted any way, their tongues else
would still have murdred us.
1. Daugh.
Let's up, and see it.
Exeunt.
Enter Hengo.
Car.
Sit down poor knaves: why, where's this wine and victuals?
who waites there?
Suit.
within.
Sir, 'tis coming.
Hen.
Who are these Uncle?
Car.
They are Romans, Boy.
Hen.
Are these they
that vex mine Aunt so? can these fight? they look
like emptie scabbards, all, no mettle in 'em,
like men of clouts, set to keep crows from orchards;
why, I dare fight with these.
Car.
That's my good chicken. And how do ye?
how do you feel your stomacks?
Jud.
Wondrous apt, Sir,
as shall appear when time calls.
Car.
That's wel, down with't,
a little grace will serve your turns: eat softly,
55
Jud.
Not yet, Sir,
we're even a little busie.
Hen.
Can that fellow
do any thing but eat? thou fellow.
Jud.
Away Boy,
away, this is no boyes play.
Hen.
By ---, Uncle,
if his valour lie in's teeth, he's the most valiant.
Car.
I am glad to hear ye talk, Sir.
Hen.
Good Uncle tell me,
What's the price of a couple of cramm'd Romans?
Car.
Some twenty Britains boy; these are good soldiers,
Hen.
Do not the cowards eat hard too?
Car.
No more, boy.
Come, I'll sit with you too; sit down by me, boy.
Jud.
Pray bring your dish then.
Car.
Hearty knaves: More meat there.
1. Soul.
That's a good hearing.
Car.
Stay now and pledge me.
Jud.
This little piece Sir.
Car.
By—square eaters,
More meat I say: upon my conscience
the poor Rogues have not eat this month: how terribly
they charge upon their victuals: dare ye fight thus?
Jud.
Beleeve it sir, like devils.
Car.
Wel said famine,
Here's to thy General.
Jud.
Most excellent Captain, I wil now pledge thee.
Car.
And to morrow night, say to him,
His head is mine.
Jud.
I can assure ye Captain,
He wil not give it for this washing.
Car.
Wel said.
Daughters above.
1. Daugh.
Here's a strange entertainment: how the theeves drink.
2. Daug.
Danger is dry, they look'd for colder liquor.
Car.
Fil 'em more wine, give 'em ful bowls; which of you all now
in recompence of this good, dare but give me
a sound knock in the Battell?
Jud.
Delicate Captain,
to doe thee a sufficient recompence,
I'll knock thy brains out.
Car.
Do it.
Hen.
Thou dar'st as well be damn'd: thou knock his brains out,
thou skin of man? Uncle, I will not hear this.
Jud.
Tie up your whelp.
Hen.
Thou kill my Uncle?
Would I had but a sword for thy sake, thou dry'd dog.
Car.
What a mettle
this little vermine caries.
Hen.
Kill mine Uncle?
Car.
He shall not, child.
Hen.
He cannot: he's a Rogue,
an onely eating Rogue: Kill my sweet Uncle?
oh that I were a man.
Jud.
By this wine,
which I will drink to Captain Junius,
who loves the Queens most excellent Majesties little daughter
most sweetly, and most fearfully, I will do it.
Hen.
Uncle, I'll kill him with a great pin.
Car.
No more, Boy.
I'll pledge thy Captain: To ye all, good Fellows.
2. Daugh.
In love with me? that love shall cost your lives all:
Come Sister, and advise me; I have here
a way to make an easie conquest of 'em,
if fortune favour me.
Car.
Let's see ye sweat
to morrow, blood and spirit, Boyes, this wine
turn'd to sterne valour.
1. Soul.
Heark ye Judas,
if he should hang us after all this.
Jud.
Let him:
I'll hang like a Gentleman, and a Roman.
Car.
Take away there,
they have enough.
Jud.
Captain, wee thank you heartily
for your good cheer, and if we meet to morrow,
one of us payes for't.
Car.
Get 'em guides, their wine
Enters 2d Daughter and a Servant.
has over master'd 'em.
2. Daugh.
That hungry fellow
with the red beard there, give it him, and this,
to see it well deliverd.
Car.
Farewell, knaves;
speak nobly of us, keep your words to morrow,
Enter a Guide.
and doe something worthy your meat. Go, guide 'em,
and see 'em fairly onward.
Jud.
Meaning me, Sir?
Serv.
The same.
The youngest daughter to the Queen intreats ye
to give this privately to Captain Junius,
this for your pains.
Jud.
I rest her humble servant.
Commend me to thy Lady. Keep your files, boyes.
Serv.
I must instruct ye farther.
Jud.
Keep your files there.
Order, sweet friends: faces about now.
Guide.
Here Sir,
here lies your way.
Jud.
'Blesse the founders, I say.
Fairly, good souldiers, fairly march now: close, boyes.
Exeunt.
| The Tragedie of Bonduca | |