OCCO.

They must be

Whomso' the Earl may please to name hereafter.
The lists are written out, though not divulged;
But, what is worthiest note, upon the file

Your name appears not.

ARTEVELDE.

By my faith, that's strange!

But are these tidings certain ?

OCCO.

Beyond doubt.

ARTEVELDE.

How came you by them, if they be so certain?

OCCO.

They're rumour'd-very confidently rumour'd.
I had them also from my spies at Bruges;
A most sagacious spy-he saw the lists;
He never yet deceived me-there's no doubt.

ARTEVELDE.

And what do you advise, if this be truth?

OCCO.

Why, if the town be obstinately bent
On making peace, my counsel to yourself,
Whose life peace places not in jeopardy,
Would be to leave the forward part to us,
Whose only hope of safety is resistance;
So that, if we should fall, you still may
stand,
Whatever turn things take. And bear in mind,
If there be danger, and the crafts turn on us,
To throw yourself among the mariners;
There's none of all the crafts so wholly with us.

Aye, say you so? And my part, as you think,
Is to hold back and see you play the game.
My apprehension of a leader's part

Is different from this. I ask'd your counsel,
And I have not unprofitably heard it :
Now I will give you mine, and be you pleased
To profit in like sort, lest worse befall you.
I too have had my spies upon the watch,
And what they brought me sounded in my ears
A note of warning link'd with names well known,
Now known for traitors' names. I hereupon
Took order for a numerous company,
Selected for their hardihood and faith,
To be for ever close upon the heels

Of these same traitors at all guild-assemblies
And use their weapons on a sign from me.
Which matters recommending to your notice,
My counsel to you is to stay at home.

Enter VAN AESWYN.

AESWYN.

[Exit.

My lord, Sir Guisebert Grutt is much impatient,
And sends one message on another's heels

To ask why tarry you?

OCCO.

I am not well.

AESWYN.

But they are setting forth immediately;
The market-place is full to overflowing.

I'm ill at ease; I know not; what think'st thou ?

AESWYN.

If he but knew it half an hour too soon,

His knowledge is of small account.

OCCO.

God's death!

But I am ignorant how long he's known it-
How many he has practised with and gain'd—
How many may have falsely seem'd to swerve
By his direction, only to delude

And so embolden me to my destruction.
I would this hour were past!