Bellario, are you here? A man of your known parts, And quarrel in an ale-house?

Bell. Pardon, captain;

'Twas no offence of mine; I lit by chance Into their company: necessity, you know,Marc. Hold thee, here's gold; furnish thyself with speed:

Thou shalt be my lieutenant.

Bell. Thanks, brave captain.

Marc. These shall along with us too. Receive your press.

Calve. Oh, good captain, I have a wife, indeed,

sir.

Marc. If she be a striker, I will press her too. Black. 'Sfoot, I'll go, an't be but to be rid of mine.

Snip. Oh, that I had been hanged out of the way! Sweet captain!

Marc. Prate not, take it, you were best.

Const. He is my prisoner, captain; I attached him Of high-treason, for breaking my tapster's head. Marc. Away, you corcomb! Bring 'em on, Bel

lario.

[Exit. Const. Pray, gentlemen, will you pay your reckoning then?

Snip. Not a cross," by this hand, and stay me if thou darest.

5 Receive your press.] That is, your press-money, which was paid to the soldiers when impressed for the king's service, and after the receipt of which they were not allowed to absent themselves, without leave, from their companies. Mr Douce derives the word from the French prest, ready.

Not a cross.] A piece of money stamped with a cross. Touchstone thus quibbles upon the word:-" For my part I had rather bear with you than bear you: yet I should bear no cross, if I did hear you; for I think you have no money in your purse."

Black. I'll go to all the wars in the world before I'll pay a doit.

Bell. To wars, my boys! Why, 'tis the bravest life.

I'll sing you a song now shall encourage you,
And make you fight like furies.
All. Oh, let's hear't.

3

SONG, by BELLARIO.

Hark, oh hark, you valiant soldiers,
How the drum and trumpets sound!
How true valour shall be crown'd

SCENE III.

An Apartment in the House of Tullius.

Enter PHILADELPHA, and LELIA disguised as JANUS her Page.

Phi. Thy news darts death and horror to my heart:

Think'st thou 'tis true?

Lel. Madam, I wish 'twere false; but, credit me, It is a general rumour through the city.

This song, according to a frequent practice, is left imperfect in the MS., as the prompter did not find it necessary for his occupation.

Enter ARMANUS.

Here comes one can resolve you.

Phi. My lord's best friend, best welcome! Oh, Armanus,

Free my sad fears from this same killing sound, That flies from vulgar mouths; words dipt in gall Have pierced my quickest sense. Must Tullius leave me?

Arm. Pardon me, lady,

If my harsh language shall offend your ears
In seconding what you have caught already:
My friend must leave you; no desire of his,
Purchase of fame or wealth, but the king's will
And country's safety, care of public good,
Which, like the gods' decrees, must be observed.
The Sabines, that have bowed their lowly necks
Thus long beneath Rome's mild and gentle yoke,
Pull their sad fates from our unwilling hands
By base rebellion and foul breach of faith;
And your great lord, for such is the king's love,
Must go as general to correct their pride,
An honour that great princes emulate,
And strive to be preferred to: let that grace,
With thought of his return and high renown
Clear your wet eyes, and make pale fear grow red
To see a woman valiant.

Phi. You have words

Able to comfort a despairing soul:

Yet sure you do but try me; it cannot be,
Nor shall I ever think nature would waste
Such pains and cost to frame a man in whom
She might admire herself, to be a prey

Emulate.] i. e. Envy. See above, p. 10.

For cut-throats in his prime.
Arm. No, lady, Heaven defend!
A better angel guards him.

Phi. Where is he, good Armanus ?

Have we but one poor minute's time to part in,
And shall we lose a sand or thought of that?
Arm. Ere you can wish again, he'll visit you.
'Phi. Visit indeed, for I am sick to death
To think of his departure.'

Arm. He is now in conference with young Marius.

Lel. Marius?

Arm. That should have wed his sister, the bright Lelia.

Lel. Hold, my heart!

Phi. Is he call'd home again?

Arm. And in more grace than ever.

Phi 'Deed, I am glad on't.

[Aside.

Lel. [Aside.] My breast's too little to contain my

joy;

My tongue will sure betray me,

Arm. Both by this

Are entering the first court.

Phi Look, Janus.

'Lel. Apart.] Look? my eye-ball's out." Phi. And give me notice ere they enter here, Lest the wished sight o'ercome me.

'Lel. I could stand

A tedious winter's night on a cold plain

[Aside.

To entertain the object.' Marius, I come. [Erit. Phi. Tell me, Armanus, must the general fight? Arm. Yes, fairest, if the day

Grow dangerous; for when the soldiers' spirits Grow weak and faint, it heartens up the troops, And adds a double strength to see him strike.

Phi. Alas, my Tullius never practised it,

Or if he were inured or trained in arms,

He has not the heart, I know, to kill a man:
I never saw him angry.

Arm. 'Tis a sign

He is the better man, more temperate;
For he that knows how to respect a friend
Best knows which way to use an enemy:
Smooth amorists are roughest warriors.

[A flourish of drums and trumpets, and shouts
within.

Hark, madam, how the general salutes you,
And with what joy the soldiers welcome him!
Who would not leap to hear it?-See, they come.

Enter LELIA, MARCUS TULLIUS, and MARIUS.

Lel. My message was before me.
Phi. Oh, dear love!

[They embrace. Mar. What a true sorrow speaks that mute em

brace!

'Lel. [Aside.] Durst I unclasp the book in which is writ

My heart's affection, thou would'st read it here; But envious time forbids it.'

M. Tull. Comfort, sweet!

Think not on danger; that is farthest off;
Imagine I accompany the king

In a short progress: 'tis no more, my love,
Although stern Mars, the cruel god of war,
Ever since that still-remembered time
He lay in Vulcan's gyves a laughing-stake,

• Although stern Mars was the cruel god of war.] So the MS. 1 He lay in Vulcan's gyves a laughing-stake.] This word has, since our poets' time, been altered to laughing-stock.