Jun. I must be wretched!
Pet. I knew I had won.
Jun. Nor have I so much power
To shun my fortune.
Pet. I will hunt thy fortune
With all the shapes imagination breeds,
But I will fright thy devil. Stay, he sings
now.
[Song by Junius, and Petillius after him in mockage.
Jun. Must I be thus abused?
Pet. Yes, marry must you.
Let’s follow him close: Oh, there he is; now read it.
Herald. [Reads.] It is the general’s command, that all sick persons, old and unable, retire within the trenches; he that fears, has liberty to leave the field: Fools, boys, and cowards, must not come near the regiments, for fear of their infections; especially those cowards they call lovers.
Jun. Ha?
Pet. Read on.
Herald. [Reads.] If any common soldier love an enemy, he’s whipp’d and made a slave: If any captain, cast, with loss of honours, flung out o’ th’ army, and made unable ever after to bear the name of a soldier.
Jun. The pox consume ye all, rogues!
[Exit.
Pet. Let this work;
He has something now to chew upon. He’s gone;
Come, shake no more.
Herald. Well, sir, you may command me,
But not to do the like again for Europe;
I would have given my
life for a bent two-pence,
If I e’er read to lovers whilst I live again,
Or come within their confines—
Pet. There’s your payment,
And keep this private.
Herald. I am school’d for talking.
[Exit.
Enter Demetrius.
Pet. Now now, Demetrius? are we drawn?
Dem. ’Tis doing:
Your company stands fair. But pray you, where’s Junius?
Half his command are wanting,
with some forty
That Decius leads.
Pet. Hunting for victuals.
Upon my life, free-booting rogues! their stomachs
Are like a widow’s lust, ne’er
satisfied.
Dem. I wonder how they dare stir, knowing the enemy
Master of all the country.
Pet. Resolute hungers
Know neither fears nor faiths; they tread on ladders,
Ropes, gallows, and overdo all
dangers.
Dem. They may be hang’d though.