Of all the queans that on my humble head
Have pour'd the vials of their wrath and scorn,
This is the prettiest, and I think, the proudest.
If one might bolt the bran from her discourse
I should take leave to guess her firm resolve
Was not fast clench'd till Artevelde took Bruges.
Whichever way it be, my path is plain
Though slippery, and forth I go upon it.

ACT III.

SCENE I.-Night. A Dingle in the Outskirts of the Camp, behind a Sutler's Tent.

VAN KORTZ, to whom enter VAN MUCK.

Van Kortz. Who's there-Van Muck? halloa you, boy! what speed?

Van Muck. Hush, hush! speak low; is no one here

but

you?

Van Kortz. No jolly soul beside.

Van Muck.

Has the watch past?

Van Kortz. By my permission, yes. I drew a shaft Chock to the steel, and from behind this tree

Aim'd it at Serjeant Laubscher's black old heart,

In quittance of an ancient debt I owe him;

But pooh! I let him pass.

Van Muck.

Why, were you mad?

What care I?

It would have baulk'd our meeting.

Van Kortz.

Van Muck. It is a matter of five hundred marks

And then you'll-here he is-no, 'tis but Bulsen.

Enter BULSEN.

Bulsen. Well, is all right? 'tis close upon the hour. Van Kortz. Nothing is stirring; forth from the trees, stand forth,

That he may see us, lest he miss the spot.

Art certain that he'll bring the money hither?

Van Muck. I saw it in his hands; doubtless he'll bring it.

Van Kortz. Why, hark ye then-what need to go to
Ghent,

Or Bruges, or Ypres, to get gold that's here?

Van Muck. He gives it us for taking letters hence, To Ghent, and Bruges, and Ypres.

Van Kortz.

Hold thy peace, Thou nick-ear'd lubber; what have we to do

With whys and wherefores? Here he brings the gold, And hence he takes it not, if we be men.

What say ye?

Bulsen.

Van Muck.

Cut his throat!

How now! how now!

Pluck up thy heart;

I would not for the world.

Van Kortz.

Hast courage but for half a sin? As good

To eat the devil as the broth he's boil'd in.

Van Muck. For mercy's sake do nothing to molest him!

'Twas I that brought him here, and God he knows I did not go about to take his life.

Van Kortz. Why, go thy way then; two like me and Bulsen

Are men enough.

Bulsen.

Enough to win the booty,

And by that token, friend, enough to share it.

Van Kortz. Go to the devil with thy dolorous cheer; There is no manhood in thee. Get thee gone,

Or I shall try six inches of my knife

On thine own inmeats first.

Bulsen.

Thou'dst best be gone;

Thou art but in the way.

Van Kortz.

Go, pudding-heart!

Take thy huge offal and white liver hence,
Or in a twinkling of this true-blue steel

I shall be butching thee from nape to rump.

Bulsen. Go thou thy ways, and thank thy prosperous

stars

Thou art let live.

Van Muck.

I am rewarded bravely

For bringing this about! but ye shall see
If it be better for you.

Bulsen.

Hold, come back

What, fast and loose-is that your game?—soho!
I see him coming.

Sir Fleureant (without). Soft! was that the tent
He spoke of? surely then-or-nay, I know not—
Where am I going?

Van Kortz.

Come along, sir, come—

Where art thou going?—I will tell thee where,—
Going to grass, Sir Fleureant of Heurlée,

With thy teeth upward. May that serve thy turn?
Halloa, then, come along!

Bulsen.

Beware, beware.

Thou art the noisiest of all the cut-throats;

Will nothing stop thy tongue? This way, sir, here.

Enter SIR FLEUREANT OF HEURLÉE.

VAN MUCK (passing between SIR FLEUREANT and the others).
Your sword, Sir Fleureant! stand upon your guard;
We are not safe-there oft are men about

At such dark hours as this, that might surprise us-
Look to your guard-but we shall be a match
For more than one such?

If

Bulsen.

any

Never fear, Van Muck;

such should break upon our meeting

We'd parley with them first, and see what good
Might come of fighting or of speaking fair.

Sir Fleureant. Where is the danger? you are dreaming, friends!

Let me explain the matter I've in hand.

Van Kortz. Come, come, Sir Hurly-Burly! where's your metal?

Write us the matter down in white and yellow.
No danger! but I say there shall be danger—
Out with this money-what if the Regent knew—
Are men like us to be entrapp'd and sold
And see no money down, Sir Hurly-Burly?
You are a knight and we are vile crossbow-men,
But steel is steel, and flesh is still but flesh,
So let us see your chinkers.

Sir Fleureant (to Van Muck). Sure he's drunk?
Why brought you me a drunken knave like this?
Van Muck. He is not drunk, sir; better that he

were;

If they are for foul play, so am not I,

Nor did I mean it.

Sir Fleureant.

Aye, is that their game?
Sirs, ye mistook our honest friend, Van Muck;
I could not in hard money bring you here
More than a moiety of the sums you'll earn
By carrying of my letters; it is thus :

So much I'll pay you now, and as much more
You will receive in France from Hetz St. Croix,
King Charles's master of accompt. The king
Gave order for the payments.

Bulsen.

It is well;

We will convey your letters, sir, with speed.

Van Kortz. We'll trust to meet you afterward at

court

To see us justly paid.

Sir Fleureant.

Inquire for me

When you arrive at Senlis or at Lisle,

Or wheresoe'er the court may then abide.
Here are the letters and the skins of gold

1 give with each. The word is now 'Despatch!'

Speak not, nor eat nor drink with friend or foe,
But each man take his wallet on his back,
And steal away. No lack of Frenchmen's friends
You'll find at Bruges or Ypres, and these letters
Will bring you to their knowledge; and at Ghent
Though France may find less favour with the many,
Still there are some that will befriend you. Hence!
What noise is that?

Van Muck.

It is the second watch. Sir Fleureant. Away then ;-fare you well.

[Exeunt VAN MUCK, KORTZ, and BULSEN.

Now if one miscreant of the three play false
This head is worth the value of a potsherd.
Speed is my best safe-conduct, then, to France.

SCENE II.-The Pavilion, as in Scene III. of Act II. ARTE-
VELDE and ELENA. CECILE attending in the background.
Elena. On your way hither, then, you passed through
Ghent,

The city which you saved. How sweet a pleasure,
Revisiting a place which owes to you

All that it hath of glory or of ease!

Artevelde. Verily yes, it should have overjoy'd me. How diverse, how contrarious is man!

I know not wherefore, but I scarce was pleased
To see that town now wallowing in wealth,
Which last I saw, and saw with hearty courage,
Pinch'd like a beggar wintering at death's door.
Now, both the mart was full, and church; road, bridge,
River, and street, were populous and busy,
And money-bags were toss'd from hand to hand
Of men more thriftless than a miser's heir.

I liked it not; my task, it seem'd, was done;

The arrow sped, the bow unbent, the cord
Soundless and slack. I came away ill-pleased.
Elena. Perhaps you suffer'd losses in the siege?
Artevelde. Not in the siege; but I have suffer'd
something.