Bonduca — Act III (Part 9 of 10)

Car. Home,
Home and spin, woman, spin, go spin! you trifle.
Open before there, or all’s ruin’d—How?

[Shouts within.

Now comes the tempest on ourselves, by Heaven!

Car. Oh, woman, scurvy woman, beastly woman!

[Exit.

Drus. Victoria, victoria!

Pen. How’s that, Drusius?

Drus. They win, they win, they win! Oh, look, look, look, sir,
For Heaven’s sake, look! The Britons fly, the Britons fly! Victoria!

Enter Suetonius, Soldiers, and Captains.

Suet. Soft, soft, pursue it soft, excellent soldiers!
Close, my brave fellows, honourable Romans!
Oh, cool thy mettle, Junius; they are ours,
The world cannot redeem ’em: Stern Petillius,
Govern the conquest nobly. Soft, good soldiers!

[Exeunt.

Enter Bonduca, Daughters, and Britons flying.

Bond. Shame! whither fly ye, ye unlucky Britons?
Will ye creep into your mothers’ wombs again? Back, cowards!
Hares, fearful hares, doves in your angers! leave me?
Leave your queen desolate? her hapless children
To Roman rape again, and fury?

Enter Caratach and Hengo.

Car. Fly, ye buzzards!
Ye have wings enough, ye fear! Get thee gone, woman,

[Loud shout within.

Shame tread upon thy heels! All’s lost, all’s lost! Hark,
Hark, how the Romans ring our knells!

[Exeunt Bonduca, Daughters, etc.

Hengo. Good uncle,
Let me go too.

Car. No, boy; thy fortune’s mine;
I must not leave thee. Get behind me; shake not;
I’ll breech you, if you do, boy.—

Enter Petillius, Junius, and Decius.

Come, brave Romans!
All is not lost yet.

Jun. Now I’ll thank thee, Caratach.

[Fight. Drums.

Car. Thou art a soldier; strike home, home! Have at you!

Pen. His blows fall like huge sledges on an anvil.