Nice as he seems in breeding and in forms,

With patience heard a supple, fawning priest--
Strip all the shrines of fam'd antiquity,

Ev'n make great Cæsar and the son of Philip
Resign their laurels to his nobler claim :

"Nay, thought him sparing, doubtless, that he left "Great Hercules and Jove unspoil'd to grace him! "By my good sword, an oath with soldiers sacred,” By Heav'n, 'twould make an honest stomach heave To see a throat so squeamish for another, Open and gulp a potion down, enough To poison half mankind.

Ath. Brave Ribemont,

The king's distaste was that you prais'd his foes.
To talk of Cressy and of Edward's feats,

Was to remind him of our crown's disgrace:
'Twas to proclaim what we should wish forgotten,
Our slaughter'd armies, and our monarch's flight.
Rib. What, are our ears too delicate for truth ?
If English valour has disgrac'd our arms,
Instead of mean forgetting, we should stamp
The hated image stronger on our minds;
For ever murmur and for ever rage,
'Till thence eras'd by nobler feats of arms.
Such are my thoughts, and such my resolution:
I share our country's scandal, and would join
My sword, my blood! to purge away the stain.
Ath. Here, then, occasion meets thy patriot-wish;
Here you may help to blanch our sullied glory.
Rib. I differ, Athens, widely in opinion,
D

The harvest is too thin, the field too bare

To yield the reapers honour. "On my soul, "I pity the brave handful we encircle,

"And almost wish myself an Englishman "To share a fate so noble.

"Ath. Gallant spirit!”

Rib. Would our exulting king acquire renown, Let him reduce his numbers down to theirs. Then sword to sword, and shield to shield, oppose, In equal strife, these wonderous sons of war; There conquest would be glorious! But, as now, With all our thousands and ten thousands join'd, By Heaven! 'tis most infamous to fight.

Ath. I must away; my duty calls me hence.
I must applaud this generous regard

For a brave people that have done you honour;
Convinc'd, whene'er you face these fearless foes,
You'll fight them warmly as you've prais'd-

Rib. Farewel-On my soul,

I pity the brave handful we encircle,

And almost wish myself an Englishman,

To share a fate so noble.

[Exeunt severally.

SCENE IV.

Changes to the English Camp. Enter AUDLEY and CHANDOS, meeting.

Aud. You're well encounter'd, Chandos, where's the prince?

Chan. Directing the entrenchments: every duty
His active ardor leads him to engross.

Such heavenly fortitude inflames his soul,
That all beholders catch new courage from it,
And stifle with astonishment their fears!
From cool unruffled thoughts his orders issue,
While with the meanest soldier he partakes
In ev'ry toil inspiring, by example,
A glorious zeal and spirit thro' the camp.
Aud. Yet feels he, as the father of our host,
For every man's misfortune, but his own.
Thrice have I seen him, in successive rounds,
Kindle new courage in each drooping heart,
And drive all fear, all diffidence, away.
Yet on the task would tenderness intrude,
As dangers stole and imag’d on his mind:
When, pausing, he would turn his head aside,
Heave a sad sigh, and drop a tender tear.

Enter SALISBURY.

Chan. Well, what says Salisbury?
Sal. Why, faith, but little:

It is yon Frenchmens' place to talk at present.

Aud. How stand the troops?

Sal. Believe me, not so firm,

But our light-footed enemies, if dext'rous,

May trip up all their heels.

Chan. True to his humour!

My good Lord Salisbury will have his gibe,
Howe'er affliction wrings.

Sal. And wherefore not?

Will burial faces buy us our escape?

I wish they would: then no Hibernian hag,
Whose trade is sorrow, should out-sadden me.
But, as the business stands, to weep or laugh,
Alike is bootless; here is our dependence.

Aud. What are their numbers ?

[Touching his sword.

Chan. Full an hundred thousand.

Sal. Ours but some eight:-great odds, my friends! No matter:

The more will be our glory when we've beat them. Aud. What swells their host so mightily (I'm

told)

The Earls of Neydo, Saltsburg and Nassau,

Have join'd their troops. The Earl of Douglas too Assists them with three thousand hardy Scots, Their old and sure allies.

Chan. I hear the same.

"Sal. What! Scotchmen here? whose monarch is our pris'ner.

"Aud. Ta'en by a priest and woman! at the head "Of such raw numbers as their haste could gather, "When all our vet'ran warriors, with their king, "Were winning laurels on the fields of France. "Chan. And hither now, perhaps, his subjects

come

"To fight for captives to exchange against him. "Sal. For captives! This poor carcase they may

get,

"When 'tis fit booty for their kites and crows: "But while this tongue can speak, I'd root it out "Ere Scot or Frenchman it should own my master." Chan. The prince approaches, lords!

Enter PRINCE, WARWICK, and Attendants.

Prince. Hah! saidst thou, Warwick!

Arnold gone over to the foe?

War. He is.

A trusty spy brought the intelligence,
Who saw him entering the adverse camp,

Leading his captive charge.

Prince. Impossible!

War. I've search'd his quarters since, myself, and there

Nor he nor Mariana can be found.

Prince. What has a prince that can attract or bind
The faith of friends, the gratitude of servants?
Blush, greatness, blush! Thy pow'r is all but poor,
Too impotent to bind one bosom to thee-

A blow like this I was not arm'd to meet-
It pierces to my soul.

1

Sal. All-righteous Heav'n,

Reward the villain's guilt ?-Believe not, prince,
Throughout our host, another can be found
That worlds would buy to such a base revolt.
Prince. I hope it, will believe it, Salisbury.
Yet must lament that one has prov'd so worthless.-
I lov'd him too!—But since he has forgot
The ties of duty, gratitude, and honour,