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 ?

Ꭱ

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?

VAN MUCK.

I wait to ask him for my company :
I was the captain of a company.

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.

VAN MUCK.

He has finish'd

His daily rounds, and will be here anon.

SIR FLEUREANT.

Name me a place of meeting.

VAN MUCK.

The west dyke,

Behind the sutler Merlick's tent.

SIR FLEUREANT.

Do thou

And Kortz, and Bulsen, at the hour of nine,
Be there to take my orders. Get thee gone,
And be not seen till then. Go this way out,
That so the Regent meet thee not.

[Exit VAN MUCK. That seed

Is sown, but whether I shall reap the fruits,
Is yet in Artevelde's arbitrement.

Let him comply, and those three hens shall meet
To hatch an addle egg.

HERALD.

"Tis more than time

That I were fairly on the road to France.

You're pushing on apace.

SIR FLEUREANT.

Our thrift lies there.

Spare time, spend gold, and so you win the day!

'For strongest castle, tower, and town,

The golden bullet beateth down!'

Enter VAN ARTEVELDE.

ARTEVELDE.

You are equipp'd, I see, for taking horse;

[Trumpets again.