The Battle of Hexham Part 7

Then, take my boy!--for I will trust thee, fellow.

I must perforce;--but mark;--for still I doubt:-- If for a moment--mark me, fellow, well!

Thou givest me cause to think thy d.a.m.n'd intent Aims at my dear child's life, that very moment, Tho' that the next should be my last, I'll plunge Thy weapon to thy heart.

_Gondi._ Fear not.

_Marg._ Lead on.

[_Exeunt_:--_GONDIBERT leading the PRINCE, and MARGARET following with the Sword over Gondibert's Head._

ACT III.

SCENE I.

_A Village, on the Skirts of the Forest._

_Enter FOOL and a VILLAGER._

_Vil._ Tell me, good fellow, now, I pr'ythee--

_Fool._ But wilt thou lend an ear to my tale?

_Vil._ That will I; all the ears I am worth.

_Fool._ Then need not I tell the story:--for, if thou lend'st all thy ears, then thou'lt have none left to hear it.--Wast ever in a battle, old boy?

_Vil._ No, truly!

_Fool._ Then thou art a dead man.

_Vil._ What, for not being in a battle!

_Fool._ Yea, marry,--by the very first rapier that comes in thy way;--for no man can live by the sword but a soldier;--and of soldiers there are three degrees; and three only.

_Vil._ As how?

_Fool._ As thus:--Your hot fighter--your cool fighter--and your fighter-shy.--The last degree makes a wondrous figure, in many muster-rolls.

_Vil._ Of which last you make one.

_Fool._ In some degree.

_Vil._ And it was that made you run from the battle.

_Fool._ Right; running is your only surety. Bully Achilles, the great warrior of old, thought otherwise; and he was vulnerable only in the heel:--now, my heels always insure me from being wounded.--Dost know why Heaven makes one leg of a man stouter than the other?

_Vil._ No.

_Fool._ That he may be able to put the best leg foremost, when there's occasion.

_Vil._ And you had occasion enough, last night.

_Fool._ Truly, had I; and thus came I to your cottage; where I slept on a bare board all night.

_Vil._ Ah! Heaven knows my lodging is poor enough! but such as it is, you are welcome.

_Fool._ Nay, I quarrel not with the lodging; I only complain of the board--and now wouldst thou know my story.

_Vil._ I would willingly hear of the battle that was lost.

_Fool._ Then pr'ythee, ask of those that found it: but, come, I'll e'en tell thee how it was.----Thou hast a wife?

_Vil._ Yes, forsooth;--that was my old dame you saw at home.

_Fool._ Keep her there; for nature plainly intended her for a homely woman--Didst ever quarrel with her before marriage?

_Vil._ Never.

_Fool._ Afterwards, a little?

_Vil._ Um!--Why, to say the truth, my poor dame has a fine flourish with a cudgel; but people will needs fall out, now and then, when once they come together.

_Fool._ That's the very way we lost the battle:--for had the two parties never met, depend on't, one had never cudgel'd the other.

_Vil._ Ma.s.s! thou art a rare fellow in the field!

_Fool._ Very rare;--for I never come there but when I can't help it.

SONG.--FOOL.

_To arms, to arms, when Captains cry,_ _With a heigho! the trumpets blow--_ _To legs, to legs, brave boys, say I!_ _Heigho;_ _I needs must go._

_Arrows swift begin to fly,_ _With a heigho! Tw.a.n.g goes the bow--_ _And soldiers tumble down and die:--_ _Heigho!_ _I'll not do so._

_Whizzing by come b.a.l.l.s of lead;_ _With a heigho! thump they go.--_ _Tall men grow shorter by the head;_ _Heigho!_ _I'd rather grow._

_In time of trouble I'm away;_ _With a heigho!--ill winds blow;_ _But always ready at pay day;_ _Heigho!_ _Great folks do so._

_Enter another VILLAGER._

_1 Vil._ Now, goodman Hobs, whence come you?

_2 Vil._ There is a great lord come in, from the routed party, who has taken shelter in our village, since break of day. One of your great friends, good sir. [_To the FOOL._

_Fool._ Didst see him! how look'd he?