Enter JUNIUS, PETILLIUS, and a Herald.

Pet. Let him go on. Stay; now he talks.
Jun. Why,

Why should I love mine enemy? what's beauty?
Of what strange violence, that, like the plague,
It works upon our spirits? Blind they feign him;
I'm sure, I find it so

Pet. A dog shall lead you.

Jun. His fond affections blinder

Pet. Hold you there still?
Jun. It takes away my sleep-
Pet. Alas, poor chicken!

Jun. My company, content, almost my fa

shion

Pet. Yes, and your weight too, if you follow it. Jun. 'Tis sure the plague, for no man dare

come near me

Without an antidote; 'tis far worse, hell.

They are as handsome things, to me more useful,
And possible to rule too. Did I but love,
Yet 'twere excusable, my youth would bear it;
But to love there, and that no time can give me,
Mine honour dare not ask (she has been ravished),
My nature must not know (she hates our nation),
Thus to dispose my spirit!

Pet. Stay a little; he will declaim again.

Jun. I will not love! I am a man, have reason, And I will use it; I'll no more tormenting, Nor whining for a wench; there are a thou

sand

Leap at sixteen like a strong stallion.

Jun. I will be man again.

Pet. Now mark the working!

The devil and the spirit tug for't: Twenty pound Upon the devil's head!

Jun. I must be wretched!

Pet. I knew I'd won.

Jun. Nor have I so much power

To shun my fortune.

Pet. I will hunt thy fortune

With all the shapes imagination breeds, [Music. But I will fright thy devil. Stay, he sings now. [Song, by JUNIUS, and PETILLIUS after him, in mockage.

Enter JUDAS and his four companions (halters about their necks), BONDUCA, her Daughters, and NENNIUS following.

Bond. Come, hang them presently.

Nen. What made your rogueships Harrying for victuals here? Are we your friends? Or do you come for spies? Tell me directly, Would you not willingly be hanged now? Don't ye long for it?

Judas. What say ye? shall we hang in this vein? Hang we must,

And 'tis as good to dispatch it merrily,
As pull an a-se like dogs to't.

1 Sold. Any way,

ders,

Pet. To the end of all flesh, woman.

Dem. This love has made him a stout soldier. Pet. Oh, a great one,

Fit to command young goslings. But what news? Dem. I think the messenger's come back from Penius

By this time; let's go know.

Pet. What will you say now

If he deny to come, and take exceptions

3 Sold. I had as lieve 'twere toothsome too: But all agree, and I'll not stick out, boys. 4 Sold. Let us hang pleasantly.

Judas. Then pleasantly be it:

Captain, the truth is, we had as lieve hang With meat in our mouths, as ask your pardon

I do beseech your ladyship, retire;

I'll tell you presently: You see the time's short;
One crash even to the settling of my conscience.
Nen. Why, is't no more but up, boys?
Judas. Yes, ride too, captain;
Will you but see my seat?

1 Daugh. Ye shall be set, sir,
Upon a jade shall shake ye.
Judas. Sheets, good madam,
Will do it ten times better.

1 Daugh. Whips, good soldier, Which you shall taste before you hang, to mortify you;

'Tis pity you should die thus desperate.

2 Daugh. These are the merry Romans, the brave madcaps:

'Tis ten to one we'll cool your resolutions. Bring out the whips.

Judas. 'Would your good ladyships Would exercise them too!

4 Sold. Surely, ladies,

We'll shew you a strange patience.
Nen. Hang them, rascals!
They'll talk thus on the wheel.

Enter CARATACH.

Car. Now, what's the matter?

What are these fellows? what's the crime com

mitted,

That they wear necklaces?

Nen. They are Roman rogues,

Taken a-foraging.

Car. Is that all, Nennius?

Judas. 'Would I were fairly hanged! This is the devil,

The kill-cow Caratach.

Car. And you would hang them?
Nen. Are they not enemies?

1 Sold. My breech makes buttons.

1 Daugh. Are they not our tormentors? Car. Tormentors? flea-traps!

Pluck off your halters, fellows.

Nen. Take heed, Caratach;

Taint not your wisdom.

Car. Wisdom, Nennius?

Why, who shall fight against us, make our honours,
And give a glorious day into our hands,
If we dispatch our foes thus? What's their offence?
Stealing a loaf or two to keep out hunger?
A piece of greasy bacon, or a pudding?
Do these deserve the gallows? They are hungry.
Poor hungry knaves, no meat at home left, starved:
Art thou not hungry?

Judas. Monstrous hungry.

Car. He looks

I am glad they are shifted any way; their tongues else

Would still have murdered us.

1 Daugh Let's up and see it. [Exeunt. Enter HENGO.

Car. Sit down, poor knaves! Why, where's this wine and victuals?

Who waits there?

Serv. [Within.] Sir, 'tis coming.
Hengo. Who are these, uncle?
Car. They are Romans, boy.
Hengo. Are these they,

That vex my aunt so? can these fight? they look
Like empty scabbards all, no mettle in them;
Like men of clouts, set to keep crows from or-
chards:

Why, I dare fight with these.

Car. That's my good chicken!And how d'ye? how d'ye feel your stomachs? Judas. Wondrous apt, sir;

As shall appear, when time calls.

Car. That's well; down with it.

A little grace well serve your turns. Eat softly! You'll choke, ye knaves, else. Give them wine! Judas. Not yet, sir;

We're even a little busy...

Hengo. Can that follow

Do any thing but eat? Thou fellow!
Judas. Away, boy;

Away; this is no boy's play.

Hengo. By heaven, uncle,

If his valour lie in his teeth, he is the most valiant.
Car. I am glad to hear you talk, sir.
Hengo. Good uncle, tell me,

What's the price of a couple of crammed Romans? Car. Some twenty Britons, boy; these are good soldiers.

Hengo. Do not the cowards eat hard too?
Car. No more, boy,

Come, I'll sit with you too. Sit down by me, boy.
Judas. Pray bring your dish then.

Car. Hearty knaves! more meat there. 1 Sold. That's a good hearing. Car. Stay now, and pledge me." Judas. This little piece, sir. Car. By heaven, square eaters! More meat, I say! Upon my conscience, The poor rogues have not eat this month! how terribly

They charge upon their victuals! Dare ye fight thus?

Judas. Believe it, sir, like devils.
Car. Well said, Famine!

Here's to thy general.

Judas. Most excellent captain,

I will now pledge thee.

Cur. And to-morrow-night, say to him, His head is mine.

Judas. I can assure you, captain, He will not give it for this washing. Car. Well said.

[Daughters above.

1 Daugh. Here's a strange entertainment: How the thieves drink!

Most sweetly, and most fearfully, I'll do it.

Hengo. Uncle, I'll kill him with a great pin.
Car. No more, boy!

I'll pledge thy captain. To ye all, good fellows! 2 Daugh. In love with me? that love shall cost your lives all.

Come, sister, and advise me; I have here
A way to make an easy conquest of them,
If fortune favour me. [Exeunt Daughters.

Car. Let's see you sweat,
To-morrow, blood and spirit, boys; this wine
Turned to stern valour.

1 Sold. Hark you, Judas ;

If he should hang us after all this?
Judas. Let him:

I'll hang like a gentleman, and a Roman.
Car. Take away there;

They have enough.

Judas. Captain, we thank you heartily

For your good cheer; and if we meet to-morrow, One of us pays for it.

Car. Get them guides; their wine Has over-mastered them.

Enter second Daughter and a Servant.

2 Daugh. That hungry fellow

With the red beard there, give it him, and this, To see it well delivered.

Pet. Give me my money. Dem. I confess 'tis due, sir, And presently I'll pay it.

Suet. His obedience

So blind at his years and experience,
It cannot find where to be tendered?
Macer. Sir,

The regiment was willing, and advanced too, The captains at all points steeled up; their preparations

Full of resolve and confidence; youth and fire,
Like the fair breaking of a glorious day,
Gilded their phalanx; when the angry Penius
Stept, like a stormy cloud, 'twixt them and hopes.
Suet. And stopped their resolutions?
Macer. True; his reason

To them was odds, and odds so infinite,
Discretion durst not look upon.

Suet. Well, Penius,

I cannot think thee coward yet ; and treacherous I dare not think; thou hast lopt a limb off from

me;

And let it be thy glory, thou was stubborn,
Thy wisdom, that thou left'st thy general naked!
Yet, ere the sun set, I shall make thee see
All valour dwells not in thee, all command
In one experience. Thou'lt too late repent this.
And wish I must come up' had been thy blessing.
Pet. Let's force him.

Suet. No, by no means; he's a torrent
We cannot easily stem.

Pet. I think, a traitor.

Suet. No ill words! let his own shame first revile him.

That wine I have, see it, Demetrius,
Distributed amongst the soldiers,

To make them high and lusty; when that's done,
Petillius, give the word through, that the eagles