not from the enemie: wee will binde and hoodwinke
him so, that he shall suppose no other but that he is car
ried into the Leager of the aduersaries, when we bring
him to our owne tents: be but your Lordship present
at his examination, if he do not for the promise of his
life, and in the highest compulsion of base feare, offer to
betray you, and deliuer all the intelligence in his power
against you, and that with the diuine forfeite of his
soule vpon oath, neuer trust my iudgement in anie
thing.
O for the loue of laughter, let him fetch his
drumme, he sayes he has a stratagem for't: when your
Lordship sees the bottome of this successe in't, and to
what mettle this counterfeyt lump of ours will be mel
ted if you giue him not Iohn drummes entertainement,
your inclining cannot be remoued. Heere he comes.
O for the loue of laughter hinder not the ho
nor of his designe, let him fetch off his drumme in any
hand.
How now Monsieur? This drumme sticks sore
ly in your disposition.
A pox on't, let it go, 'tis but a drumme.
But a drumme: Ist but a drumme? A drum so
lost. There was excellent command, to charge in with
our horse vpon our owne wings, and to rend our owne
souldiers.
That was not to be blam'd in the command
of the
seruice: it was a disaster of warre that
Cæsar him
selfe could not haue preuented, if he had beene there to
command.
Well, wee cannot greatly condemne our suc
cesse: some dishonor wee had in the losse of that drum,
but it is not to be recouered.
It might haue beene recouered.
It might, but it is not now.
It is to be recouered, but that the merit of ser
uice is sildome attributed to the true and exact perfor
mer, I would haue that drumme or another, or
hic ia
cet
.
Why if you haue a stomacke, too't Monsieur: if
you thinke your mysterie in stratagem, can bring this
instrument of honour againe into his natiue quarter, be
magnanimious in the enterprize and go on, I wil grace
the attempt for a worthy exploit: if you speede well in
it, the Duke shall both speake of it, and extend to you
what further becomes his greatnesse, euen to the vtmost
syllable of your worthinesse.
By the hand of a souldier I will vndertake it.
But you must not now slumber in it.
Ile about it this euening, and I will presently
pen downe my dilemma's, encourage my selfe in my
certaintie, put my selfe into my mortall preparation:
and by midnight looke to heare further from me.
May I bee bold to acquaint his grace you are
gone about it.
I know not what the successe wil be my Lord,
but the attempt I vow.
I loue not many words.
No more then a fish loues water. Is not this
