Who craves to see you instantly: another ARTEVELDE (after a pause). Ha! Lord Occo, saidst thou? tell me, what of him! CAPTAIN. He waits your leisure, sir. ARTEVELDE. And when comes that? He shall not wait my leisure. And what more? CAPTAIN. Sir, Van den Bosch would see you. ARTEVELDE. It is well: I will attend the Lord of Occo first, And Van den Bosch shall find me at my house Some half hour hence. How look we, sir, abroad? CAPTAIN. The citizens are trooping to the Stadt-House. 'Tis said Sir Simon and Sir Guisebert pass From door to door incessantly. ARTEVELDE. To beg? CAPTAIN. To gain a strong attendance. ARTEVELDE. Wo the while! A bear, a fiddle, and a pair of monkeys, Had sped the service better. CAPTAIN. Both mean and notable, and rich and poor, Have they solicited, assuring all That when it shall be heard what terms of peace That after painful travail for their love ARTEVELDE. I'll swear they will. But what? Thou look'st not over cheerily; Think'st thou the knights have made some way then, ha? CAPTAIN. The deacons of eight crafts have sided with them, And many of the aldermen. ARTEVELDE. Ay, truly? CAPTAIN. And all the men of lineage. ARTEVELDE. That's as thou hearest. CAPTAIN. The citizens pass'd by me in the street By scores and hundreds, and of them I saw ARTEVELDE. Build up, and then pull down, and then build And always in the ruins some are-Well? CAPTAIN. And I'm afeard, though loth I am to think it, up, A few amongst your guard have fallen off ARTEVELDE. Is't so ? Why, wherefore should I wish that it were not? SCENE IV.-The Dwelling-house of the Lord of Occo. OCCO. The mariners, then, are for us ? AESWYN. 1 OCCO. They are ours. And these are of the curriers that thou bring'st me? AESWYN. The deacons of that craft-they're backward still : They're ever harping upon Artevelde, Who told their worships when they did him homage If his poor humour govern'd, nothing else But leathern jerkins should be worn in Ghent. OCCO. We'll deal with them the same as with the fullers; So bring them in. [Exit VAN AESWYN. Well done, Sir Curriers! These precious moments must be given to you! Re-enter VAN AESWYN with the two Craftsmen. Good-morrow, masters-Ha! my valued friend, Jacob Van Ryk; and if my eyes see true, Master AESWYN. Van Muck. OCCO. Tush, tush, sir! tell not me. Have I forgotten my old friend Van Muck, And I should take no step without advice. To see much difference 'twixt this hour and that, With flesh upon our bones, or holding back Till famine wastes it or steel hacks it off: I see no difference. VAN MUCK. Truly, sir, nor I. OCCO. Aye, but there is a difference, my friends, Who take a step or two before the herd, Whilst the will's free, who lead and do not followThese men have claims; they have a right to say, Reward us for our voluntary service; Nor will they be unanswer'd, that I know: 'First serve the first,' is what they say at Bruges. VAN RYK. 'Tis a good proverb, sir, for early men, And we have ne'er been slack in things of credit; OCCO. t; Why look ye now; too surely, should ye shout, |