1st Sold. Bosko chimurcho.

2d Capt. D. Boblifindo chicurmusco.

1st Sold. You are a merciful general. Our general bids you answer to what I ask you out of a note.

Del. And truly as I hope to live.

1st Sold. [Reading.]

horses the Duke is strong.

First demand of him, how many
What say you to that?

Del. Five or six thousand, but very weak and unserviceable; the troops are all scattered, and the commanders very poor rogues`, upon my reputation and credit, and as I hope to live. 1st Sold. Shall I set down your answer so?

Del. Do. I'll take my sacrament on 't, how and which way you will.

Count R. All's one to him. What a past-saving slave is this! 1st Capt. D. You are deceived, my lord; this is Monsieur Delgrado the gallant militarist, (that was his own phrase`,) that had the whole theory of war in the knot of his scarf, and the practice in the sheath of his dagger.

2d Capt. D. I will never trust a man again, for keeping his sword clean; nor believe he can have every thing in him by wearing his apparel neatly.

1st Sold. Well, that's set down`.

Del. Five or six thousand horse, I said- I will say true or thereabouts: set down-for I'll speak truth.

Count R. He is very near the truth in this.

1st Capt. D. No thanks to him, though.

Del. Poor rogues`, I pray you, say.

1st Sold. Well, that's set down.

Del. I humbly thank you, sir: a truth's a truth; the rogues are marvelously poor.

1st Sold. Demand of him, of what strength they are afoot. What say you to that?

Del. By my troth, sir, if I were to live but this present hour, I will tell true. Let me see; Spurio', a hundred and fifty; Sebastian, so many`; Corambus', so many`; Cosmo ́, Lodovick ́, and Grati ́, two hundred and fifty each; mine own company, Lammond', Bentii', two hundred and fifty each; so that the muster-file, rotten and sound, upon my life, amounts not to fifteen thousand full; half of which

dare not shake the snow from off their cassocks, lest they shake themselves to pieces.

Count R. What shall be done to him?

1st Capt D. Nothing, but let him have thanks. Demand of him my character, and what credit I have with the Duke?

1st. Sold. Well, that's set down. [Reading from a note.] You shall demand of him, whether one Captain Dumain、 be in the camp: what his reputation is with the Duke, what his valor, honesty, expertness in wars; or whether he thinks it were possible, with well-weighed sums of gold, to corrupt him to a revolt. What say you to this? What do you know` of it. Del. I beseech you let me answer to the particulars. Demand them singly.

1st Sold. Do you know this Captain Dumain? Del. I know him. He was a butcher's apprentice in Paris, from whence he was whipped for some paltry theft. [Dumain lifts up his hand to strike him. Count R. Nay, by your leave, hold your hands; though I know, his brains are forfeit to the next tile that falls.

1st Sold. Well, is this captain in the Duke's camp? Del. Upon my knowledge he is, and a mean, dirty villain. 1st Capt D. [To Count R.] Nay`, look not so upon me ́; we shall hear of your lordship anon.

1st Sold. What is his reputation with the Duke?

Del. The Duke knows him for no other but a poor officer of mine; and writ to me this other day, to turn him out o' the band. I think I have his letter in my pocket.

1st Sold. Marry, we 'll search.

Del. In good sadness, I do not know: either it is there, or it is upon file`, with the Duke's other letters, in my tent. 1st Sold. Here 't is`; here's a paper; shall I read it you? Del. I do not know, if it be it, or no.

Count R. Our interpreter does it well. 1st Capt D. Excellently.

1st Sold. [Reads.] The count's a fool and full of gold. Del. That's not the Duke's letter, sir; that is a notice to a certain person to take heed of one Count Rozencrantz`, a foolish, idle boy; for all that, very knavish. Pray you, sir, put it up again.

1st Sold. Nay, I'll read it first, by your favor.

[Reading.] When he swears oaths, bid him drop gold, and take`it; After he scores, he never pays the score:

Half won is match well made; match, and well make`it.

He ne'er pays after debts, take it before.

For count of this, the count 's a fool, I know it,
Who pays before, but not when he does owe it.

Count R. He shall be whipped through the army, with these rhymes on his forehead.

2d Capt. D. This is your devoted friend, the learned linguist, and the gallant soldier.

Count R. I could endure any thing before but a cat`, now he's a cat to me.

and

1st Sold. I perceive, sir, by the general's looks, we shall be fain to hang you.

Del. My life, in any case: not that I am afrăid to die; but that my offenses being many, I would repent out the remainder of my nature. Let me live, sir, in a dungeon`, in the stocks, or any where, so I may live.

1st Sold. We'll see what may be done, so you confess freely; therefore once more to this Captain Dumain. You have answered to his reputation with the Duke ́, and to his valor. What, his honesty?

He pre

De!. He will steal, sir, an egg out of a cloister. tends not to keep oaths; but in breaking them is stronger than Hercules. He will lie, sir, with such volubility', that you would think truth were a fool`; drunkenness is his best virtue`. I have but little more to say, sir, of his honesty: he has every thing that an honest man should not have; what an honest man should have, he has nothing`. Count R. Hang him. 1st Sold. His qualities

He is more and more a cat. being at this poor price, I need not ask you if gold will corrupt him to revolt.

Del. Sir, for the fourth part of a French crown, he will sell the fee-simple of his salvation, the inheritance of it, and cut the entail from all remainder.

1st Sold. What's his brother, the other Captain Dumain? 2d Capt. D. Why does he ask of me?

1st Sold. What's he?

Del. E'en a crow of the same nest`; not altogether so great as the other in goodness, but greater a great deal in evil. He excels his brother for a coward, yet his brother is reputed one of the best that is: in a retreat, he outruns a lackey; marry, in coming on he has the cramp.

1st Sold. If your life is saved, will you undertake to betray your friends?

Del. Ay, the Captain of their horse, Count Rozencrantz, and all of them.

1st Sold. I'll whisper with the general and know his pleasure.

Del. I'll no more drumming; a plague of all drums. Only to seem to deserve well, and to get the good opinion of that foolish young boy, the count, have I run into this danger. Yet who would have suspected an ambush where I was taken? [Aside.

1st. Sold. There is no remedy, sir', but you must die`. The general says, you ́, that have so traitorously discovered the secrets of your army, and made such villainous reports of men in high estimation", can serve the world for no honest use; therefore you must die. Come, headsman, off with his head.

Del. O, sir, let me live, or let me see my death!

1st. Sold. That you shall, and take your leave of all your friends.

So`,
look about you; know you any here?
Count R. Good morrow, noble captain.

[Unmuffling him.

2d Capt. D. God bless you, Captain Delgrado. 1st. Capt. D. God save you, noble captain.

2d Capt. D. What greeting will you to my lord Lafeu`? I'm for France.

1st Capt. D. Good captain, will you give me a copy of your sonnet? If I were not a very coward, I'd compel it of you; but fare-you-well. [Exeunt Count R., Capt. D. and brother.

1st Sold. You are undone, captain; all but your scarf, that has a knot on 't yet.

of

Del. Who can not be crushed with a plot?

1st. Sold. I'm for France, too: farewell, we shall speak you there.

Del. Yet I am thankful. If my heart were great, 'T would burst at this. Captain I'll be no more;

[Exit.

But I will eat, and drink ́, and sleep as soft
As captain shall; simply the thing I am

Shall make me live. Who knows himself a braggart
Let him fear this.

Rust, sword! cool, blushes! and, Delgrado, live!
Safest in shame! being fool'd, by foolery thrive!
There's place and means for every man alive`.

[Exit

LXVIII. A PASSAGE IN HUMAN LIFE.

1. In my daily walks into the country, I was accustomed to pass a certain cottage. It had nothing particularly picturesque about it. It had its little garden, and its vine spreading over its front; but, beyond these, it possessed no feature likely to fix it in the mind of the poet or novel-writer, and which might induce him to people it with creatures of his own fancy. In fact, it appeared to be inhabited by persons as little extraordinary as itself. A "good man of the house" it might possess, but he was never visible. The only inmates I ever saw, were a young woman, and another female, in the wane of life, no doubt the mother.

2. The damsel was a comely, fresh, mild-looking cottage girl, always seated in one spot, near the window, intent on her needle. The old dame was as regularly busied, to and fro, in household affairs. She appeared one of those good housewives, who never dream of rest, except when in sleep. The cottage stood so near the road, that the fire at the further end of the room, showed you, without your being rudely inquisitive, the whole interior in a single moment of passing. A clean hearth and a cheerful fire, shining upon homely, but neat and orderly furniture, spoke of comfort: but whether the old dame enjoyed, or merely diffused that comfort, was a problem.

3. I passed the house many successive days. It was always alike, the fire shining brightly and peacefully,—the girl seated at her post by the window, the housewife going to and fro, catering and contriving, dusting and managing. One morning as I went by, there was a change. The dame