University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

A great Noise of Shooting is heard for some time, after which the Scene changes to the City of Mons.
Enter Fagel with several Officers.
Fagel.
Secure the Horn-Works, mount the Canon higher,
And Fire so fast upon 'em, that the Enemy
May loose themselves in Clouds of Fire and Smoak,
I hate to Fight in Jest—How fare the Troops
(to the Officers.
That you command, are they all brave and lusty?

1 Officer.
Like Soldiers in the most exalted sence
They Fight, and if of any fault they'r guilty,
'Tis they expose themselves too near to Danger.

Fagel.
A Messenger is just arrived in Town
From our Chief Head the Marquess Castanaga,
T'inform the Burghers if they still persist
To keep the Town till timely Succours come
They shall be free from Taxes Twenty years:
Had you but seen with what Excess of Joy
The Message they receiv'd, you would have smil'd;
Fighting tho not agreeing with their Temper,
Yet to be freed from Tribute are Valiant,
For they hate Taxes worser than the French.
Enter Collonel Brannacio.
(embracing him)
Welcome thou Soul of War, what sort of News
From Brussels does the Lov'd Brannacio bring?

Col. Brannacio.
News is a Drug, for all Discourse and Talk
Is laid aside, excepting Mons Beleaguer'd;
Of this the very Children learn to prattle,
And it is taken and reliev'd each hour:
'Twas by Disguise my self and some few more
Got into the Town

Fagel.
And how appears the Army?

Branac.
Dreadful enough in sight and apprehension
To those who want true Courage to defy
The Force of such a Formidable Foe.
I met a Gentleman upon the Road,
Going in hast to the Marquess Castanaga
T'inform him of the Present State of Mons,
And press for speedy Succours for our Aid.

Fagel.
Tho Plenty never was esteem'd a Burthen,
At present we no Helps nor Aids require;
Provisions we have got so great a Stock,
To last four Months without the least Recruits;
Our Men are hearty and unanimous,
Each striving who his Fellow shall out-do
For acts of Valour; nay the very Burghers
Are Soldiers too, and hourly on the Walls
The Random Bullets do their Breasts expose.

Brannacio.
The Prince just now receiv'd a haughty Message
From Monsieur Lovis, That for ev'ry day
They stubbornly held out (since their great Monarch
Was in the Camp,) they should for such offence
Pay numerous Crowns for each delaying Morning.
Bravado's—Let them first defend the Claim
They make before they seize upon our Purses.

[A Trumpet heard!]
[Exeunt.]
Enter several Burghers and Souldiers running cross the Stage with Buckets in their hands, crying out, Quench the Fire, quench the Fire. The Scene closes.