University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

Enter Gothmund and Egbert.
Arminius.
Gothmund, you are welcome;
And you brave Egbert. Inguiomer, you see
The warlike chiefs, who by my choice are destin'd
To burst the barriers of the Roman camp,
And let wild uproar loose.

Inguiomer.
Confide in them;
Their valour in the field has oft been prov'd.

Arminius.
Thus then, my friends: you, Segimund, must lead
A brave, a chosen, well compacted band,
To storm the eastern gate. Against the foe
Use his own arts. The military shall
Form with your bucklers: under that advance
To sap their walls, and to hew down their gates.
Those barriers levell'd, rush undaunted forward;
Enter their camp, lead on your valiant troops,
And plant your swords in ev'ry breast you meet.

Segimund.
This night shall prove me worthy of your choice.

Arminius.
Egbert, 'tis yours to head a strong reserve,
And follow in the rear; support the ranks,
And heap new terror on the astonish'd foe.
You, Gothmund, must assault the western gate.
A brave, a warlike, a well chosen number
Of fierce battalions will obey your signals.

Inguiomer.
There at the head of well embodied squadrons
I plant my standard, to watch all events,
All turns and all vicissitudes of war;
And if the foe alarm'd should sally forth,
He'll rush on sure destruction.

Arminius.
At the head
Of my division I shall circle round
To the wide open vale, and in the woods
That skirt the borders, find a station fit
For my battalions; there in ambush wait
To intercept Cæcina in his flight,
And give his legions to the slaughtering sword.

Segimund.
Our duty calls; we'll seek our sev'ral posts,
And form our lines.

Arminius.
Yet stay; another word:
Remember all to move in silent order;
Let not a stir, no voice, no sound be heard.
Let ev'ry soldier hush his pent up valour,
Till in one moment, one collected blow
You burst upon 'em: To conceal our march
A night of vapours hovers o'er our heads.
While you advance, let shouts, and hideous tumult,
War-songs, and howlings, sound throughout our camp,
With horrid uproar; let fires blaze to heav'n,
And dart a sudden lustre o'er all the field.
Veleda comes; my valiant friends farewell.

[Exeunt Inguiomer, Segimund, Egbert, and Gothmund.