University of Virginia Library

SCENE 4.

SCENE. The Palace.
Enter Prince de Bergue Discoursing with Fagel and Spinosa with other Officers.
Prince.
I'm glad to find that gen'rous Resolution
Appears in both the Soldiers and the Burghers
To keep the Town even to the last extremity.

Fagel.
Never did men appear with greater Brav'ry
In all the Sieges History makes mention
Then this of Mons.

Prince.
Have the French form'd their Camp?

Fagel.
They'r very busy in pursuit of Ruin,
Their Horse consist of two and forty Squadrons,
And in fit posts they now their Foot are placing;
Great numbers of the Boors they have compell'd
To work upon the Lines and drain the Marshes,
As yet their Bombs and Cannon are behind,
Nor have they given us one kind Salute
From mouth of Gun, but hourly we expect it.

Prince.
Since in Civility they are so backward,
Let us then first begin—And you Spinosa
Go quickly then and order Colonel Harcourt,
With a pickt number of bold daring Youths
Assisted by some few Dragoons and Horse,
That instantly they make a furious Sally
Upon the Foe, and Heaven succeed their Arms.

Spinosa.
I know, my Lord, the Message will be welcome,
Their youthful Blood is ready to boil or'e
With Rage against the French, with half that Eagerness
They would not fly to the desired embraces
Of the most charming of their Mistresses
As now they will to Arms.

Prince.
No Speeches Marshal—
Their Truth I doubt not—execute your Orders.

Spinosa.
I go my Lord.
Exit Spinosa.

Prince.
If my presaging hopes are true propheticks,
Our Enemies will soon repent this Visit.

Enter one from the French Camp.
Officer.
My Lord, A Messenger from the Enemy:

Prince.
Your Business, Sir.

Mess.
'Tis from the noble Marquess de Bouffleers,
Who to your Highness bid me give this Summons.

Prince.
Read it Captain,

To an Officer.
Officer
Reads.
To you the Prince and Governour of Mons,
My Royal Master his kind Greeting sends,
And in his Name commands you to surrender
The Town and Citadel without delay;
Which just Demand, if proudly you refuse,
Himself attended with his Son the Dauphine,
And all the Flower of France will force you to't,
Bouffleers.

Prince.
Go tell the Marquess from the Prince Bergue,
The King of France affords me too much Honour
To come himself in Person to behold
The brave Defence we are resolv'd to make.
Exit Messenger.
Surrender Mons, my dear lov'd Native Town?
As soon I'd sell my valued Right of Birth
With Arms and plenty of Provisions stor'd,
We doubt not but to tire the Force of France.
Scarce thirteen years are past since they attempted
To gain the Town, but then they were repulsed
At height of Noon, and beaten from their Trenches
By the brave Valour of the great Nassau
Now Britains Monarch at the Hague Consulting
The fittest Methods Christendom to free
From servile Chains and Arbitrary Sway
Which gladly France would on all Europe lay.