_Whiff._ Lord, does your Honour take us for Starters?
_Fear._ Yes, Sirrah, and believe you are now rubbing off--confess, or I"ll run you through.
_Whiff._ Oh, mercy, Sir, mercy, we"ll confess.
_Whim._ What will you confess? we were only going behind yon Hedge to untruss a point; that"s all.
_Whiff._ Ay, your Honours will smell out the truth, if you keep us here long.
_Dar._ Here, carry them Prisoners to my Tent.
[Ex. Soldiers with _Whim._ and _Whiff_.
Enter _Ranter_ without a Hat, and Sword drawn, _Daring_ angrily goes the other way.
_Ran._ A pox of all ill luck, how came I to lose _Daring_ in the fight?
Ha--who"s here? _Dullman_ and _Timorous_ dead--the Rogues are Counterfeits.--I"ll see what Moveables they have about them, all"s lawful Prize in War.
[Takes their Money, Watches and Rings; goes out.
_Tim._ What, rob the dead?--why, what will this villanous World come to?
[Clashing of Swords, just as they were going to rise.
Enter _Hazard_ bringing in _Ranter_.
_Haz._ Thou cou"dst expect no other Fate, young Man; thy Hands are yet too tender for a Sword.
_Ran._ Thou look"st like a good-natur"d Fellow, use me civilly, and _Daring_ shall ransom me.
_Haz._ Doubt not a generous Treatment. [They go out.
_Dull._ So the Coast is clear, I desire to move my Quarters to some place of more safety-- [They rise and go off.
Enter _Wellman_ and Soldiers hastily.
_Well._ "Twas this way _Bacon_ fled. Five hundred Pound for him who finds the Rebel.
[Go out.
SCENE IV. Changes to another part of the Wood.
Enter _Bacon_ and _Fearless_ with their Swords drawn, all b.l.o.o.d.y.
_Bac._ "Tis just, ye G.o.ds! that when ye took the Prize for which I fought, Fortune and you should all abandon me.
_Fear._ Oh, fly, Sir, to some place of safe retreat, for there"s no mercy to be hop"d if taken. What will you do? I know we are pursu"d, by Heaven, I will not die a shameful Death.
_Bac._ Oh, they"ll have pity on thy Youth and Bravery, but I"m above their Pardon.
[A noise is heard.
_Within._ This way--this way--hay halloo.
_Fear._ Alas, Sir, we"re undone--I"ll see which way they take.
[Exit.
_Bac._ So near! Nay, then to my last shift.
[Undoes the Pomel of his Sword.
Come, my good Poison, like that of _Hannibal_; long I have born a n.o.ble Remedy for all the Ills of Life.
[Takes Poison.
I have too long surviv"d my Queen and Glory, those two bright Stars that influenc"d my Life are set to all Eternity.
[Lies down.
Enter _Fearless_, runs to _Bacon_, and looks on his Sword.
_Fear._ --Hah--what have ye done?
_Bac._ Secur"d my self from being a publick Spectacle upon the common Theatre of Death.
Enter _Daring_ and Soldiers.
_Dar._ Victory, Victory! they fly, they fly, where"s the victorious General?
_Fear._ Here,--taking his last Adieu.
_Dar._ Dying! Then wither all the Laurels on my Brows, for I shall never triumph more in War; where are the Wounds?
_Fear._ From his own Hand, by what he carried here, believing we had lost the Victory.
_Bac._ And is the Enemy put to flight, my Hero? [Grasps his Neck.
_Dar._ All routed Horse and Foot; I plac"d an Ambush, and while they were pursuing you, my Men fell on behind, and won the day.
_Bac._ Thou almost makest me wish to live again, if I cou"d live now fair _Semernia"s_ dead.--But oh--the baneful Drug is just and kind, and hastens me away--Now while you are Victors, make a Peace--with the _English_ Council, and never let Ambition,--Love,--or Interest, make you forget, as I have done, your Duty and Allegiance--Farewel--a long Farewel-- [Dies embracing their Necks.
_Dar._ So fell the _Roman Ca.s.sius_, by mistake--
Enter Soldiers with _Dunce_, _Tim._ and _Dullman_.
_Sold._ An"t please your Honour, we took these Men running away.
_Dar._ Let "em loose--the Wars are at an end, see where the General lies--that great-soul"d Man, no private Body e"er contain"d a n.o.bler; and he that cou"d have conquered all _America_, finds only here his scanty length of Earth. Go, bear the Body to his own Pavilion-- [Soldiers go out with the Body.
though we are Conquerors we submit to treat, and yield upon Condition: You, Mr. _Dunce_, shall bear our Articles to the Council.
_Dun._ With Joy I will obey you.
_Tim._ Good General, let us be put in the Agreement.
_Dar._ You shall be obliged--