FATHER JOHN.

My horses, ho!

ARTEVELDE.

Let me attend you.

SCENE II-A Platform near Artevelde's Pavilion.—VAN MUCK is seated at some distance in the background.

Enter SIR FLEUREANT and the Herald.

SIR FLEUREANT.

Then be it as I said: the sun shall set

"Twixt seven and eight; ere then I'll know my course; And if the Regent lend a willing ear

To the Duke's message, and this lady send

Upon his summons, merrily we go

Together, and who meets us on the road

Shall say, a goodly company, God bless them!
A man, a woman, and a pursuivant.

But 'twill not be so.

HERALD.'

Let us hope it may.

SIR FLEUREANT.

Assure yourself 'twill otherwise befall.

He will retain her, or herself hold back.
Then shall it be your prudence to depart
With your best speed, whilst I invent a cause
For lingering. I will not take my answer,
But spin the matter of my mission out
Into such length as with that web to hide
My underworkings. Be you gone from Flanders
Fast as you may and far, when this falls out,

And you shall tell the Duke with what good will

I hazard in his service loss of all

I have to lose,—my life.

HERALD.

Loth should I be

To leave you so, but rest assured your zeal
Shall to the Duke be zealously commended.

SIR FLEUREANT (discovering VAN MUCK).
Whom have we here? a listener? God forbid !
And yet he seems attentive, and his ears
Are easy of approach, the cover'd way,
Scarp, counterscarp, and parapet, is rased.
Holloa, sir, are you there! Give you good-day!
What think you we were saying?

VAN MUCK.

I'm hard of hearing, sir, I ask your pardon.

SIR FLEUREANT.

Oh! we can pardon that; what, deaf-stone-deaf?

VAN MUCK.

No, sir, thank God! no deafer than yourself,
But slowish, sir, of hearing.

SIR FLEUREANT.

What, snail-slow?

VAN MUCK.

No, sir, no slower than another man,

But not so quick of hearing, sir, as some,

Being a little deaf.

SIR FLEUREANT.

Content thee, friend;

Thine ears are sharper than thine apprehension.

But wherefore want they flaps ? who dock'd them thus ?

R

VAN MUCK.

It is no trouble nor no loss to you,

Whoever did it.

SIR FLEUREANT.

Pardon me, my friend,

It troubles me and doth offend mine eyes
To see thee lack those handles to thy head.
Tell me who snipp'd them?

VAN MUCK.

'Twas my lord, the Regent.

SIR FLEUREANT.

The Regent? [To the Herald.] Upon this I go to work. The Regent? and you wait upon him here?

I was a little master'd, sir, with drink,
The night we carried Yerken, and a maid
Than ran upon me, sir, I know not how,
Forswore herself, and said I forced her will.

Well.

SIR FLEUREANT.

VAN MUCK.

And 'twas this that lost me my command.

SIR FLEUREANT.

Impossible! I've done as much myself

A thousand times.

VAN MUCK.

'Twas nothing, sir, but this.

SIR FLEUREANT.

Oh, monstrous! and you ask him to replace you?

VAN MUCK.

Yea, sir, to give me my command again.

SIR FLEUREANT.

And wilt thou ask him to replace thine ears?

No, sir.

VAN MUCK.

SIR FLEUREANT.

Why not? for you'll succeed as soon.
I've heard that never did he change his mind
But once, since he was Regent; once he did;
'Twas when he kindly pardon'd Peter Shultz :
He changed his mind and hung him.

VAN MUCK.

By our lady!

I would not ask him if I knew for certain

He would deny me.

SIR FLEUREANT.

What, deny thee? hang thee.

Take service with another lord—leave him;
Thou hast been foully dealt with. Never hope
To conquer pride with humbleness, but turn
To them that will be proud to use thee well.
I'll show thee many such, and to begin,

Here is myself. What lack'st thou? Money? See

I am provided: hold me forth thy hand;

The Regent left thee hands; was that his skill?
The injury that disables is more wise

Than that which stings—a hand he left to take—
And here's to fill it-and a hand to strike-
Look not amazed, I ask thee not to lift it;
I ask thee but to carry me a letter

As far as Bruges.

VAN MUCK.

Sir, I'll be bound to do it.

SIR FLEUREANT.

And are there many men besides thyself
That have lost rank and service in the camp?

VAN MUCK.

It was but yesterday two constables

Had their discharge.

SIR FLEUREANT.

And why were they dismiss'd?

VAN MUCK.

'Twas by the Regent's order; 'twas, he said, Because they made more riots in the camp Than they prevented.

What are they call'd?

SIR FLEUREANT.

He is hard to please.

VAN MUCK.

Jan Bulsen and Carl Kortz.

[Trumpets are heard at a little distance.

HERALD.

Hark to the Regent's trumpets.