2 Sold. He comes, he comes!

Judas. The devil take the hindmost!

[Exeunt Judas and Soldiers.

Hengo. Run, run, ye rogues, ye precious rogues, ye rank rogues!
’A comes, ’a comes, ’a comes, ’a comes! that’s he, boys!
What a brave cry they make!

Enter Caratach with a Head.

Car. How does my chicken?

Hengo. ’Faith, uncle, grown a soldier, a great soldier;
For, by the virtue of your charging-staff,
And a strange fighting face I put upon’t,
I have out-brav’d Hunger.

Car. That’s my boy, my sweet boy!
Here, here’s a Roman’s head for thee.

Hengo. Good provision!
Before I starve, my sweet-faced gentleman,
I’ll try your favour.

Car. A right complete soldier!
Come, chicken, let’s go seek some place of strength
(The country’s full of scouts) to rest a while in;
Thou wilt not else be able to endure
The journey to my country. Fruits and water
Must be your food a while, boy.

Hengo. Anything;
I can eat moss, nay, I can live on anger,
To vex these Romans. Let’s be wary, uncle.

Car. I warrant thee; come cheerfully.

Hengo. And boldly!

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.—The Tent of Penius.

Enter Penius, Drusius, and Regulus.

Reg. The soldier shall not grieve you.

Pen. Pray ye forsake me;
Look not upon me, as ye love your honours!
I am so cold a coward, my infection
Will choke your virtues like a damp else.

Drus. Dear captain!

Reg. Most honoured sir!

Pen. Most hated, most abhorred!
Say so, and then ye know me, nay, ye please me.
Oh, my dear credit, my dear credit!

Reg. Sure
His mind is dangerous.

Drus. The good gods cure it!

Pen. My honour, got through fire, through stubborn breaches,
Through battles that have been as hard to win as heaven,
Through Death himself, in all his horrid trims,
Is gone for ever, ever, ever, gentlemen!
And now I am left to scornful tales and laughters,
To hootings at, pointing with fingers, “That’s he,
That’s the brave gentleman forsook the battle,
The most wise Penius, the disputing coward.”
Oh, my good sword, break from my side, and kill me;
Cut out the coward from my heart!