 | The Loyal Svbiect |  |
Scæna prima.
Enter Theodor and Putskie.Theodor.
Captaine, your friend's prefer'd, the Princesse has her,
Who, I assure my selfe, will use her nobly;
A prettie sweet one 'tis indeed.
Put.
Well bred Sir,
I doe deliver that upon my credit,
And of an honest stock.
Theod.
It seemes so Captaine,
And no doubt will doe well.
Put.
Thanks to your care sir;
But tell me Noble Colonell, why this habit
Of discontent is put on through the Army?
And why your valiant father, our great Generall,
The hand that taught to strike, the Love that lead all;
Why he, that was the father of the warre,
He that begot, and bred the Souldier,
Why he sits shaking of his Armes, like Autumne,
His Collours folded, and his Drums cas'd up,
The tongue of war for ever ty'd within us?
Theod.
It must be so: Captaine you are a stranger,
But of a small time here a souldier,
Yet that time shewes ye a right good, and great one,
Else I could tell yee houres are strangely alter'd:
The young Duke has too many eyes upon him,
Too many feares 'tis thought too, and to nourish those,
Maintains too many Instruments.
Put.
Turne their hearts,
Or turn their heeles up, heaven: 'Tis strange it should be.
The old Duke lov'd him dearely.
Theod.
He deserv'd it;
And were he not my Father, I durst tell yee,
The memorable hazzards he has run through
Deserv'd of this man too; highly deserv'd too;
Had they been lesse, they had been safe Putskie,
And sooner reach'd regard.
Put.
There you strook sure sir.
The.
Did I never tell thee of a vow he made
Some yeares before the old Duke dyed?
Put.
I have heard yee
Speake often of that vow; but how it was,
Or to what end, I never understood yet?
The.
Ile tell thee then: and then thou wilt finde the reason:
The last great Muster, ('twas before ye serv'd here,
Before the last Dukes death, whose honour'd bones
Now rest in peace) this yong Prince had the ordering,
(To Crowne his fathers hopes) of all the Army:
Who (to be short) put all his power to practise;
Fashion'd, and drew 'em up: but alas, so poorely
So raggedly and loosely, so unsouldier'd,
The good Duke blush'd, and call'd unto my father,
Who then was Generall: Goe Archus speedily,
And chide the Boy, before the souldier finde him,
Stand thou between his ignorance and them,
Fashion their bodies new to thy direction:
Then draw thou up, and shew the Prince his errours.
My Sire obey'd, and did so; with all duty
Inform'd the Prince, and read him all directions:
This bred distaste, distaste grew up to anger,
And anger into wilde words broke out thus:
Well Archus, if I live but to command here,
To be but Duke once, I shall then remember,
I shall remember truely, trust me, I shall,
And by my Fathers hand; the rest his eyes spoke.
To which my Father answer'd (somewhat mov'd too)
And with a vow he seal'd it: Royall sir,
Since for my faith and fights, your I corne and anger
Onely pursue me; if I live to that day,
That day so long expected to reward me,
By his so ever noble hand you swore by,
And by the hand of Justice, never Armes more
Shall rib this body in, nor sword hang here, sir:
The Conflicts I will doe you service then in,
Shall be repentant prayers. So they parted.
The time is come; and now you know the wonder.
Put.
I finde a feare too, which begins to tell me,
The Duke will have but poore and slight defences
If his hot humour raigne, and not his honour:
How stand yon with him, Sir?
The.
A perdue Captaine,
Full of my fathers danger.
Put.
He has rais'd a young man,
They say a slight young man, I know him not,
For what desert?
The.
Beleeve it, a brave Gentleman,
Worth the Dukes respect, a cleere sweet Gentleman,
And of a noble soule: Come, let's retire us,
And wait upon my father, who within this houre
You will finde an alter'd man.
Put.
I am sorry for't sir.
Exeunt.
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