University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

Point Levi.
Wolfe, Leonatus and Britannicus.
Wolfe.
This distant battery avails us not;
We waste our troops and harrass out our men,
And expend our ball and powder but to
Little purpose: I long to see our foes,
And grapple with them in a close engagement.

Britannicus.
In that let all our resolutions fix,
And let ev'ry movement center in that
Purpose, to Montmorenci let's transfer
The war, and with all our force united,
Steadily pursue the end we've plann'd, and
Launch destruction 'mongst their troops.

Wolfe.
Your sentiments concur with mine:
To-morrow we'll attack 'em; th' Admirals
Have promis'd all th' assistance in their pow'r,
And I doubt not the hearty concurrence
Of their officers and th' English seamen.

Leonatus.
All our officers and troops seem well pleas'd
And once fully resolv'd; they only wait
The signal for the undertaking.

Britannicus.
A greater emulation ne'er was known,
Nor firmer union ever subsisted,
Betwixt the soldiery and the seamen;
The sep'rate corps no more support with cool
Indifference each other's cause, nor in
Their wonted disagreement jar: All seem
To strive who shall be most alert t' exert
Themselves to gain a glorious name; and like
Gallant and faithful brothers in the war,
Aspire to stand with the most intrepid
Souls, the greatest shock of danger.

Wolfe.
We will not fail on our parts to answer
Their warmest expectations, and lead them
On to take gigantic danger by the
Throat; and tho' repell'd, we'll force the Frenchmen
To confess we fought like sons of liberty.
Now let us hence to where our several
Stations call us:
Meanwhile, let us not grow tardy, but with
Redoubled fury cannonade, and ply
Them with disploding storms of shells, as if
We meant to bury them in iron graves:
Perhaps some lucky shell, or shot, mark'd out
By fate, may do more than at other times,
A month of toilsome siege.

[Exeunt omnes