"No arts, no letters, no society, and, which is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent death, and the life of Man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." LEVIATHAN, Part I. c. 18. DRAMATIS PERSONE. MEN OF GHENT. PHILIP VAN ARTEVELDE. PETER VAN DEN BOSCH, SIR GUY, LORD OF Occo, Leaders of the White-Hoods. PETER VAN NUITRE, FRANS ACKERMAN, VAN AESWIN, Squire to Sir Guy of Occo. HENRY VAN DRONGELEN, Page to Van Artevelde. FATHER JOHN OF HEDA, a Monk, formerly Preceptor to Van Artevelde. CLARA VAN ARTEVELDE, Sister of Philip Van Artevelde. The SCENE is laid sometimes at GHENT, sometimes at BRUGES, or in its neighborhood. SCENE I. - A Street in the Suburbs of Ghent. OCCO. Sir Guisebert Grutt, and, by my faith, I think SIR SIMON. Sir, in good time. We'd have a word with you before we go. SIR GUISEBERT. Yea, my lord: It looks not well when nobles fall away One from another. That the small-crafts here OCCO. O, dear sirs, I could remind you how your sometime selves SIR GUISEBERT. Truly, why not? To whoso merits it 't will freely fall; So give us leave to make a good report Of how you stand affected. 'T were your wisdom. OCCO. Kind sirs, I thank you; you shall say, so please you, Cry out for war, and having not a hope It would not then behoove me to stand out - though, to say truth, The Earl should do himself but little service Were he to deal too hardly with us all. SIR SIMON. 'Tis fairly spoken, sir. When we come back, Bringing conditions with us as we trust, We'll look for aid from you amongst the Commons. For truly there are here a sort of crafts We'll look for your support. OCCO. Well, God speed you, sirs. To fair conditions you shall find me friendly. [Exeunt SIR SIMON BETTE and SIR GUISEBERT GRUTT. VAN AESWYN comes forward. AESWYN. My lord, were those that parted from you here OCCO. Ay ! Would they had passed the wind-mills - how they I've flung my line, and yonder pair of hooks But compromised I am not, no, nor will be, Till it be seen if yet my suit may thrive With yon fair frozen dew-drop: all that's left AESWYN. "T is said she is but backwardly inclined To any of her swains. |