University of Virginia Library

Scene VIII.

—A Street in Bruges.—It is Night.—The Earl of Flanders and Sir Robert Mareschault enter, preceded by Attendants bearing torches.
Earl.
What succours we can find I'll lead myself.
Was ever such disaster! Madmen first,
And cowards after!

Enter a Soldier in haste.
Soldier.
Fly, my Lord! fly, fly!
The gates are lost; they're now within the walls.

Earl.
Why say they are, and must I therefore fly?
Make for the Market-place; we'll rally there
Whoever will be rallied.—Pass we on—
Lights to the Market-place.

Enter another Soldier.
Soldier.
Is't you, my Lord?
Oh! not that way! the men of Ghent are there.
Fly, fly, my Lord!

Earl.
The men of Ghent are where?

Soldier.
I' the Market-place, my Lord.

Earl.
Already there!

Sir Robert.
Put out your lights.

Earl.
Ay, truly, now all's lost.
Put out your lights, good fellows all, and fly.
Save me ye cannot, and ye may yourselves.
[The lights are extinguished.
Which way to turn I know not.

Sir Robert.
Down the street
I see the flash of cressets that come hither;
Hence, in God's name! Here, varlet, doff thy cloak,
And give it to my Lord.

Earl.
Throw mine away,
Or it might else betray thy life; get hence;
But if thou fallest in the enemy's hands,
Have a good tongue; say not thou saw'st me here.
Adieu, Sir Robert; each the other hazards
By holding thus together.

Sir Robert
Sir, Farewell. [Exit.
[The Earl, left alone, knocks at the door of a house; a window is opened above and a woman looks out.


Woman.
Who's he that knocks?

Earl.
A much endanger'd man.

Woman.
We're all endanger'd on such nights as these.
I cannot let thee in.

Earl.
I pray thee, do.

Woman.
Art thou a man-at-arms?

Earl.
Yea, truly.

Woman.
Ah!
Then get thee gone; they'll ransack every house
To hunt out men-at-arms. Go, get thee gone.

Earl.
I have no arms upon me.

Woman.
Get thee gone!

Earl.
I am the Earl of Flanders.

Woman.
Good my Lord!
O mercy! my good Lord, and is it you?
Woe's me! I'll ope the door. The many times
That alms were given me at your Lordship's gate
And I to hold you haggling here! Woe's me!
[She descends and opens the door.
Come in, my gracious Lord; up yonder steps
You'll find a cock-loft and a couch of straw;
Betwixt the mattress and the boards lie flat,
And you may well be hidden. Here are lights!
Come in, come in.

[They enter the house.
Enter Van Muck, followed by several Men of Ghent.
He knocks at the door.
Van Muck.
No answer? Nay then, knock me in this door.

[The woman opens it.
Woman.
Why, valiant Sirs, you would not sure molest
A widow and her children.

Van Muck.
Who's within?

Woman.
Three helpless orphans; as I hope for grace;
No soul beside.

Van Muck.
Wilt take thy oath of that?

Woman.
I pray God strike me dead upon the threshold
If any be within but my three babes,
Myk, Lodowyk, and Jan.

Van Muck.
Why, as we came
We saw a man go in.

Woman.
Good Sir, good Sir,
You are deceived; there was no man at all;
'Twas I look'd out and emptied down a bucket!
A man! God help us; no.

Van Muck.
Go in and see.

[Some of the men enter the house.
Woman.
Walk in, your worships; pray walk in—walk in.
You see my humble house: one room below,
And one above. Sir, will you not walk in?

Van Muck.
No, no; I'll keep the door.

Woman.
These times, sweet Sir,
Are hard for widow'd women and their babes.

[The men come out again.
One of the Men.
'Tis as she says: three children are asleep;
Three in the cock-loft; there is none beside.

Van Muck.
Good even to you, Dame. Friends, follow me.

[Exeunt Van Muck and his Men.
Woman.
Beshrew your hearts, ye filthy dogs of Ghent!
The Devil catch you by the throat! for once
You've miss'd your game. Ah, gracious Lord, away!