 | The Tragedie of Bonduca |  |
Scæna tertia.
Enter Macer and Judas, with meat and a bottle.Mac.
Hang it o'th' side o'th' rock, as though the Britains
stole hither to relieve him; who first ventures
to fetch it off, is ours. I cannot see him.
Jud.
He lies close in a hole above, I know it,
gnawing upon his anger: ha? no, 'tis not he,
Macer.
'Tis but the shaking of the boughs.
Jud.
—shake 'em,
I am sure they shake me soundly. There.
Macer.
'Tis nothing.
Jud.
Make no noise: if he stir, a deadly tempest
of huge stones fall upon us: 'tis done: away close.
Ext.
Enter Caratach.
Car.
Sleep stil, sleep sweetly child, 'tis all thou feedst on.
No gentle Britain neer; no valiant charitie
to bring thee food? poor knave, thou art sick, extreme sick,
almost grown wild for meat; and yet thy goodnesse
will not confesse, nor show it. All the woods
are double lin'd with souldiers; no way left us
to make a noble scape: I'll sit down by thee,
and when thou wak'st, either get meat to save thee,
or lose my life i'th' purchase. Good gods comfort thee.
Enter Junius, Decius, Petillius, Guide.
Guide.
Ye are not far off now, Sir.
Jun.
Draw the Companies
the closest way thorow the woods; we'll keep on this way.
Guide.
I will Sir: half a furlong more you'll come
within the sight o'th' Rock; keep on the left side,
you'll be discovered else: I'll lodge your Companies
in the wilde vines beyond ye.
Dec.
Do ye mark him?
Jun.
Yes, and am sorry for him.
Petill.
Junius,
pray let me speak two words with you.
Jun.
Walk afore,
I'll overtake ye straight.
Dec.
I will.
Exit.
Jun.
Now, Captain.
Petill.
You have oft told me, you have lov'd me, Junius.
Jun.
Most sure I told you truth then.
Petill.
And that love
should not deny me any honest thing.
Jun.
It shall not.
Petill.
Dare ye swear it?
I have forgot all passages between us
that have been ill, forgiven too, forgot you.
Jun.
What would this man have? By—I do, Sir,
so it be fit to grant ye.
Petill.
'Tis most honest.
Jun.
Why, then I'll do it.
Petill.
Kill mee.
Jun.
How?
Petill.
Pray kill me.
Jun.
Kill ye?
Pet.
I, kill me quickly, suddenly,
now kill me.
Jun.
On what reason? ye amaze me.
Pet.
If ye do love me, kill me, ask me not why:
I would be kill'd, and by you.
Jun.
Mercy on me,
What ails this man? Petillius.
Petill.
Pray ye dispatch me,
ye are not safe whilest I live: I am dangerous,
troubled extremely, even to mischief, Junius,
an enemie to all good men: fear not, 'tis justice;
I shall kill you else.
Jun.
Tell me but the cause,
and I will do it.
Petill.
I am disgrac'd, my service
slighted, and unrewarded by the Generall,
my hopes left wilde and naked; besides these,
I am grown ridiculous, an asse, a folly
I dare not trust my self with: Prethee kill me.
Jun.
All these may be redeem'd as easily
as you would heal your finger.
Petill.
Nay—
Jun.
Stay, I'll do it,
you shall not need your anger: But first, Petillius,
you shall unarm your self; I dare not trust
a man so bent to mischief.
Petill.
There's my sword;
and do it handsomely.
Jun.
yes, I will kill ye,
beleeve that certaine: but first i'll lay before ye
the most extreme fool ye have plaid in this,
the honour purpos'd for ye, the great honour
the Generall intended ye,
Petill.
How?
Jun.
And then I'll kill ye,
because ye shall die miserable. Know Sir,
the Regiment was given me, but till time
call'd ye to do some worthie deed might stop
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I mean his death. How soon this time's come to ye,
and hasted by Swetonius? Go, saves he,
Junius and Decius, and go thou Petillius;
distinctly, thou Petillius, and draw up,
to take stout Caratach: there's the deed purpos'd,
a deed to take off all faults, of all natures:
And thou Petillius; Mark it, there's the honour,
and that done, all made even.
Petill.
Stay.
Jun.
No, I'll kill ye.
He knew thee absolute, and full in souldier,
daring beyond all dangers, found thee out
according to the boldnesse of thy spirit,
a subject, such a subject.
Petill.
Heark ye Junius,
I will live now.
Jun.
By no means. Wooed thy worth,
held thee by the chin up, as thou sankst, and shew'd thee
how honour held her arms out: Come, make ready,
since ye will die an asse.
Petill.
Thou wilt not kill me.
Jun.
By—but I will Sir: I'll have no man dangerous
live to destroy me afterward. Besides, you have gotten
honour enough, let young men rise now. Nay,
I do perceive too by the Generall, (which is
one main cause ye shall die) how ere he carry it,
such a strong doting on ye, that I fear,
you shall command in chief: how are we paid then?
Come, if you will pray, dispatch it.
Petill.
Is there no way?
Jun.
Not any way to live.
Petill.
I will do any thing,
redeem my self at any price: good Junius,
let me but die upon the Rock, but offer
my life up like a Souldier.
Jun.
You will seek then
to out-doe every man.
Petill.
Beleeve it Junius,
you shall goe stroak by stroak with me.
Jun.
You'll leave off too,
as you are noble, and a souldier,
for ever these mad fancies.
Petill.
Dare ye trust me?
By all that's good and honest.
Jun.
There's your sword then,
and now come on a new man: Vertue guide thee.
Exeunt.
Enter Caratach and Hengo on the Rock.
Car.
Courage my Boy, I have found meat: look Hengo,
look where some blessed Britain, to preserve thee,
has hung a little food and drink: cheer up Boy,
do not forsake me now.
Hengo.
O Uncle, Uncle,
I feel I cannot stay long: yet I'll fetch it,
to keep your noble life: Uncle, I am heart whole,
and would live.
Car.
Thou shalt, long I hope.
Hen.
But my head, Uncle:
me thinks the Rock goes round.
Enter Macer & Jud.
Macer.
Mark 'em well, Judas.
Jud.
Peace, as you love your life.
Hen.
Do not your hear
the noise of bels?
Car.
of bels Boy? 'tis thy fancie,
alas, thy bodie's full of wind.
Hengo.
me thinks Sir,
they ring a strange sad knell, a preparation
to some neer funerall of State: nay, weep not,
mine owne sweet Uncle, you will kill me sooner.
Car.
O my poor chicken.
Hen.
Fie, faint-hearted Uncle:
Come, tie me in your belt, and let me down.
Car.
I'll go my self, Boy.
Hengo.
No, as ye love mee, Uncle;
I will not eat it, if I doe not fetch it;
the danger onely I desire: pray tie me.
Car.
I will, and all my care hang ore thee: come child,
my valiant-child.
Hengo.
Let me down apace, Uncle,
and ye shall see how like a Daw I'll whip it
from all their policies: for 'tis most certain
a Roman train: and ye must hold me sure too,
you'll spoil all else. When I have brought it Uncle,
wee'll be as merry—
Car.
Go i'th' name of heaven Boy.
Hengo.
Quick, quick, Uncle, I have it. Oh.
Judas shoots Hengo.
Car.
What ailest thou?
Hengo.
O my best Uncle, I am slain.
Car.
I see yee, and heaven direct my hand: destruction
Caratach kils Judas with a stone from the Rock.
go with thy coward soul. How dost thou Boy?
Oh villain, pocky villain.
Hengo.
O Uncle, Uncle,
oh how it pricks mee: am I preserv'd for this?
extremely pricks me.
Car.
Coward, rascall Coward,
dogs eat thy flesh.
Hen.
Oh I bleed hard: I faint too, out upon't,
how sick I am? the lean Rogue, Uncle.
Car.
Look Boy,
I have laid him sure enough.
Hengo.
Have ye knockt his brains out?
Car.
I warrant thee for stirring more: cheer up, child.
Hen.
Hold my sides hard, stop, stop, oh wretched fortune,
must we part thus? Still I grow sicker, Uncle.
Car.
Heaven look upon this noble child.
Hengo.
I once hop'd
I should have liv'd to have met these bloody Romans
at my swords point, to have reveng'd my father,
to have beaten 'em: oh hold me hard. But Uncle—
Car.
Thou shalt live still I hope Boy. Shall I draw it?
Hen.
Ye draw away my soul then. I would live
a little longer; spare me heavens, but onely
to thank you for your tender love. Good Uncle,
good noble Uncle weep not.
Car.
Oh my chicken,
my deer Boy, what shall I lose?
Hengo.
Why, a child,
that must have died how-ever: had this scap'd me,
feaver or famine: I was born to die, Sir.
Car.
But thus unblown, my Boy?
Heng.
I goe the straighter
my journey to the gods: Sure I shall know ye
when ye come, Uncle.
Car.
Yes, Boy.
Hen.
And I hope
wee shall enjoy together that great blessednesse
you told me of.
Car.
Most certain, child.
Hengo.
I grow cold,
mine eyes are going.
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Lift 'em up.
Hengo.
Pray for me;
and noble Uncle, when my bones are ashes,
think of your little Nephew. Mercie.
Car.
Mercie.
You blessed angels take him.
Hengo.
Kisse me: so.
Farewell, farewell.
Dies.
Car.
Farewell the hopes of Britain,
thou Royall graft, Farewell for ever. Time and Death,
ye have done your worst. Fortune now see, now proudly
pluck off thy vail, and view thy triumph: Look,
look what thou hast brought this Land to. Oh fair flower,
how lovely yet thy ruines show, how sweetly
even death embraces thee! The peace of heaven,
the fellowship of all great souls be with thee.
Enter Petillius & Junius on the rock.
Hah? dare ye Romans? ye shall win me bravely.
Thou art mine.
Fight.
Jun.
Not yet, Sir.
Car.
Breathe ye, ye poor Romans,
and come up all, with all your ancient valours,
like a rough winde I'll shake your souls, and send 'em—
Enter Swetonius, and all the Roman Captains.
Swet.
Yeeld thee bold Caratach; by all—
as I am souldier, as I envie thee,
I'll use thee like thy self, the valiant Britain.
Pet.
Brave soldier yeeld; thou stock of Arms and Honor,
thou filler of the world with fame and glory.
Jun.
Most worthy man, we'l woo thee, be thy prisoners.
Swet.
Excellent Britain, do me but that honour,
that more to me then Conquests, that true happinesse,
to be my friend.
Car.
O Romans, see what here is:
had this Boy liv'd—
Swet.
For Fames sake, for thy Swords sake,
as thou desirest to build thy vertues greater:
by all that's excellent in man, and honest—
Car.
I do beleeve: Ye have had me a brave foe;
make me a noble friend, and from your goodnesse,
give this Boy honourable earth to lie in.
Swet.
He shall have fitting Funerall.
Car.
I yeeld then,
not to your blowes, but your brave courtesies.
Petill.
Thus we conduct then to the arms of Peace
the wonder of the world.
Swet.
Thus I embrace thee,
Flourish.
and let it be no flattery that I tell thee,
thou art the onely Souldier.
Car.
How to thank ye
I must hereafter finde upon your usage.
I am for Rome?
Swet.
Ye must.
Car.
Then Rome shall know
the man that makes her spring of glory grow.
Swet.
Petillius, you have shown much worth this day, redeem'd much errour,
ye have my love again, preserve it. Junius,
with you I make him equall in the Regiment.
Jun.
The elder and the nobler: I'll give place, Sir.
Swet.
Ye shew a friends soul.
March on, and through the Camp in every tongue.
the Vertues of great Caratach be sung.
Exeunt.
| The Tragedie of Bonduca | |