 | Bonduca : or, The British Heroine |  |
SCENE I.
Enter Nennius, Soldiers with Macer, and other Soldiers with Halters about their Necks.Nenn.
Come, hang 'em presently. What made your Rogueships
Harrying for Victuals here? Are we your Friends?
Or do you come for Spies? Tell me directly,
Wou'd you not willingly be hang'd now?
D'ye not long for't?
Mac.
No, not much: I'll ask my Fellow Skeletons
How they approve of it. What say you?
Shall we hang in this vein? Hang we must;
And 'tis as good to dispatch it merrily,
As hang an Arse to't.
1 Sold.
Any way, so it be handsome.
Mac.
I'd as leave 'twere toothsom too.
2 Sold.
Nay faith, since we must hang,
Let's hang pleasantly.
Mac.
Then pleasantly be it, Captain. The Truth on't is,
We had as live hang with Meat in our Mouths,
As ask your Pardon empty.
Nenn.
What say you to a Chine of Beef now, Sirrah?
Mac.
Bring me acquainted with it, and i'll tell you.
Nenn.
Or what think you of a Wench, Sirrah?
Mac.
'Twou'd be excellent if she were well boil'd,
Or Roasted; but I am somewhat too low kept
To make use of her any way but with my Teeth.
Enter Caratach.
Car.
Now what's the matter?
What are these Fellows? What's the Crime committed,
That they wear Necklaces?
Nenn.
They are Roman Rogues, taken a Foraging.
Car.
Is that all, Nennius?
Mac.
Wou'd I were fairly hang'd! This is that Devil,
That Kill-crow Caratach.
Car.
And wou'd you hang 'em?
Nenn.
Are they not our Enemies?
Car.
Enemies! Flea-traps.
Pluck oft your Halters, Follows.
Nenn.
Take heed, Caratach: Taint not your Wisdom.
Car.
Wisdom, Nennius?
Why, who shall fight against us? make our Honours,
19
If we dispatch our Foes thus? What's their Offence?
Stealing a Loaf or two to keep out Hunger?
Does this deserve the Gallows? Poor Hungry Knaves,
That have no Meat at home: Are you not hungry?
Mac.
Monstrous Hungry.
Car.
That Fellow wears the very Face of Hunger:
Get 'em some Meat and Wine, to chear their Hearts.
Make hast I say.
1. Sould.
What does he mean by this, Captain?
Mac.
To let us alone, because we are not worth Hanging.
Car.
Sit down poor Knaves: Why where's this Wine,
And Meat? Who waits there?
Enter Servants with Wine and Meat, and Hengo with 'em.
Serv.
'Tis here Sir.
Heng.
Who are these Uncle?
Car.
They are Romans, Boy.
Heng.
Are these they
That vex my Aunt so? Can these Fight?
They look like Men of Clouts, set to keep Crows
From Orchards: Why I dare Fight with these.
Car.
That's my good Chicken.
Well Gentlemen, how d'ye feel your Stomacks?
Mac.
Mightily coming, Sir.
Car.
I find a little Grace will serve your turns.
Give 'em some Wine.
Mac.
Not yet, we're very Busie.
Heng.
Hark'e Fellow, Can ye do any thing but Eat?
Mac.
Yes, I can Drink too; prithee hold thy Peace,
Little Boy, I'm busie.
Car.
Here Famine, here's to thy General.
Mac.
Thank you; now I believe I have time
To Pledge you.
Car.
Fill 'em more VVine, give 'em full Bowls.
Now which of you all, in Recompence
Of this Favour, dare give me a home Thrust,
In the next Battle?
Mac.
VVhy Faith Sir, to do you a sufficient Recompence,
I don't much care, If I knock Your Brains out.
Car.
Why, Faith I'll forgive thee.
Heng.
Thou dar'st as well be hang'd:
Thou knock his Brains out? Thou Skin of Man!
Uncle, I will not hear this.
Mac.
Pray little gentleman, don't spoil my Stomach:
You eat when you will, I am glad to Eat.
20
Hengo.
You kill my Unkle?
Car.
He shan't Child.
Hengo.
He cannot, he's a Rogue;
An Eating Rogue: Oh that I wear a Man!
Mac.
By this VVine, the Youth's brim-ful of Provocation;
But 'tis no matter: Here Noble Caratach,
Thy Health.
1. Sold.
Hark ye, Macer, if he should hang us now
After all?
Mac.
Let him, I'll hang like a Gentleman and a Roman.
Capt. your humble Servant: VVe thank you heartily
For your good Chear; and shall be glad to meet you
As well provided as we meet you now.
Car.
Go, see 'em to their Tents, their VVine
Has over-Master'd them.
[Exeunt Caratach, Hengo, and Nennius.
Mac.
Well; Bless the Founder, I say: A Pox of
These Britains, I say, how many pound of Beef
Do they Devour to our one pound of Horse-flesh?
[Exeunt.
| Bonduca : or, The British Heroine | |