SOR. This is strange! You mistake me, sure, for Edipus.

I'm no expounder of riddles.

ARI. The colonels and officers o' th' field Avoid him with like haste, as they wouldChain-shot.

SOR. Why, good signior?

ARI. They are eclipsed with his presence, as lesser

Lights before the sun: his valour drowns the voice Of Hannibal and Scipio, he hath

Increased the number of the worthies, his name Makes 'em up ten; you may see it i'th' last Impression.

SOR. You should do well to write each other's annals,

They would make voluminous books; and this
Language seems rarely in the epistles

Dedicatory; for there 'tis frequent

To bely men with praise. Shall I entreat
My absence?

ARI. Not yet, for your soul's health! How chance you made

Not us your great examples before the General? SOR. In what, sir?

ARI. Did you not hear us make a noise? pro

nounce

With accent loud, A battery, a battery?

LIZA. Sir, you must learn to make a noise whilst

you

Remain i'th' camp. We are volunteers! we

Hang captains, officers, all such as trail

The limber pike for pay.

We come to th' war

For fame; honour is our pay.

ARI. When you are skilful how to make a noise

I'th' camp, you may be privileged to roar

I'th' city; to wear a lock o'er your left

Shoulder, large as a horse's mane.

SOR. Sir! my affairs deprive of the rest
Of your instructions. I would hasten
My departure.

ARI. First leave your name behind you.

SOR. I'm call'd Soranzo.

ARI. If we did know your tent, you should receive

A visit from us.

SOR. Y'ave learn'd where the Lieutenant

General's

Regiment is quartered?

ARI. By perfect demonstration.

SOR. There you shall find my tent.

LIZA. Dost know Piracco?

SOR. I've heard of Captain Piracco, he has A ripe imposthume in his thigh. He was Here now with the General.

ARI. The same, pox on him! I saw him do good Service at the battle of Lepanto.

I was loth to see the rascal found'red,

Whilst this arm and short blade could rescue him From seven firelocks.

LIZA. That was the time you catch'd the bullets In your fist as they flew about him.

ARI. No, that was at Milan in a skirmish
Against the Grisons. Dost know Mervole ?
SOR. You mean, Ensign Mervole, the duellist.
ARI. No matter for his title: we call each
Other by the corruption of our names,
Tom and Dick: 'Tis a blunt garb, but it
Becomes soldiers. The slave is famous in
Duels, he has proffered at us too; but

We keep him at distance with a certain reverse.
Observe me, sir! with a punto sublimato
That is raised by your nether guard! present
Your weapon naked!

Enter MERVOLE, PIRACCO.

LIZA. 'Slight! Here they are! End your dis

course.

ARI. I shall attend you at your tent.

SOR. These are rare blades!

[Exit Soranzo.

MER. I'm as melancholy as an old witch

Over a smoky fire.

PIRA. Is all thy money fled?

MER. I ha'not a ducat left to buy me food: Upon a march, at noon my stomach grumbles

And at night sickens.

PIRA. These limbs did never spread

And swell thus with vacant meals.

MER. 'Tis a penance prescrib'd by my confessor, I must live my days upon the smoke of a match. PIRA. And thy offence is want of meat.

MER. I ne'er thrived since I grew proud, since I Tore the taffeta from my colours

To line my doublet. What are those?

PIRA. 'Slight, my subjects! Mervole, stroke
Thy heart, use it kindly: I'll give thee cause
To desire long life. Ariotto, take

Your hand from your pocket! I must subtract
From my exchecquer.

ARI. 'Sdeath, Captain! What do you mean?
Discover us before a stranger?

LIZA. This is contrary to our covenant Signed at our last Court-du-Guard.

ARI. So, Captain!

Lengthen your discourse,

D'ye not see him hearken?

PIRA. Be as private as you please, but my want

Decrees it I must visit my exchecquer.

:

ARI. It is Lizaro's turn now. I disbursed Last time.

LIZA. I could consent to reason: This is tyranny To demand it before a stranger. PIRA. I shall bore you, if you

Endanger my imposthume.

[Lizaro presents.

So I'll be modest, these four ducats shall

Suffice me at present. Mervole, bring

Thy person near us.

MER. I like these morning exchecquers rarely. PIRA. I resign Ariotto to thy use!

He is thy tribute.

ARI. Captain, you mistake us, we have not more Patience than belongs to mortals.

LIZA. By this hand, plain tyranny!

MER. Subject! I come to levy my last tax. Nay, no rebellion, you see my iron

Sceptre.

ARI. By this light, Ancient ! This is a mere jest, A device of mirth, usual 'tween Piracco

And us. Captain, what do you mean, will you
Betray our purses, and our fames? A mere
Jest, 'faith, Ancient !

MER. Good wits! break these jests as often as You please, I'll take 'em in earnest, I.

Nay, nay! quick! permit my easy search, unless You have an appetite to taste my steel.

ARI. Well! The sturdy oak must bend, when the devil

Rides by in a whirl-wind. We'll write an indenture, Which when y'ave sign'd, my purse-strings are untied.

MER. An indenture!

PIRA. Ay, ay! It only concludes thy promise Never to reveal thyself their pensioner,

Nor them cowards.

MER. This I consent to, gratis.

ARI. Well, when you have sign'd

MER. How! it shall be sign'd after dinner;

You must disturb the tribute now.

LIZA. By this day! he should not have the ninth

part

O'th' three and thirtieth corner of a doit

Ere he had sign'd.

MER. No, Signior, you'll make a novice o'me! A city heir! I must sign at all hours

When you please; my steel is ready.

ARI. Nay, nay, good Ancient!

kindly

Here! use me

The less you take, the more remains for your
Future service.

MER. I will be temperate, the slave does keep His purse so warm. One-two-whoreson mongrel! Three-four-five-Must they enjoy this precious

earth

Whilst men of merit fast, till their lean bones Fret their skin out? six-seven-eight-Ay, eight ducats!

There keep the rest till I call for❜t.

ARI. Death! y'have pillag'd me; the purse is empty!

MER. Which way can you sufficiently reward The merit of an old soldier, dog?

You volunteers are no more to us, than

Bulrushes to pikes, or pikes to May-poles.

ARI. Hell swallow me! if I could not find in

heart

my To be valiant.

LIZ. O Tyranny! tyranny!

PIRA. Hast thou not cause to bless me? Beside this

Daily tribute I take my choice of both

Their wardrobes, when my own grows aged.

MER. Do'st thou hear, subject? provide me, against

To-morrow night, seventeen! let me see,―ay, ay,