mountain
Melts under their hot wheels, and from their ax’trees
Hugs claps of thunder plough the ground
before ’em!
Till then, I’ll dream what Rome was.
Enter Suetonius, Petillius, Demetrius, Macer, and Soldiers.
Suet. Oh, bravely fought!
Honour ’till now ne’er show’d her golden face
I’ the field: Like lions, gentlemen,
you have held
Your heads up this day. Where’s young Junius,
Curius, and Decius?
Pet. Gone to heaven, I think, sir.
Suet. Their worths go with ’em! Breathe a while. How do ye?
Pet. Well; some few scurvy wounds; my heart’s whole yet.
Dem. ’Would they would give us more ground!
Suet. Give? we’ll have it.
Pet. Have it? and hold it too, despite the devil.
Enter Junius, Decius, and Curius.
Jun. Lead up to th’ head, and line sure! The queen’s battle
Begins to charge like wildfire. Where’s the
general?
Suet. Oh, they are living yet.—Come, my brave soldiers,
Come, let me pour Rome’s blessing on ye; Live,
Live,
and lead armies all! Ye bleed hard.
Jun. Best;
We shall appear the sterner to the foe.
Dec. More wounds, more honour.
Pet. Lose no time.
Suet. Away then;
And stand this shock, ye have stood the world.
Pet. We’ll grow to’t.
Is not this better now than lousy loving?
Jun. I am myself, Petillius.
Pet. ’Tis I love thee.
[Exeunt Romans.
Enter Bonduca, Caratach, Daughters, Nennius, and Soldiers.
Car. Charge ’em i’ th’ flanks! Oh, you have play’d the fool
The fool extremely, the mad fool!
Bond. Why, cousin?
Car. The woman fool! Why did you give the word
Unto the carts to charge down, and our people,
In
gross before the enemy? We pay for’t;
Our own swords cut our throats! Why, pox on’t!
Why do you offer
to command? The devil,
The devil, and his dam too! who bid you
Meddle in men’s affairs?
Bond. I’ll help all.
[Exeunt all but Caratach.