And better were it, in my mind, the stream

Should be betwixt us, than as much dry land.

ARTEVELDE.

We will to council, and consider there

What may be best. If they be here to-night,

We may abide them. Whither away, Vauclaire ?

VAUCLAIRE.

You'll wish, my lord, to have the scouts, and others
That are informed, before you.

ARTEVELDE.

It were well.

[Exit VAUCLAIRE.

And thou, Van Ryk, go round, and fetch to council

The captains of the host.

[Exit VAN RYK.

This troubles me.

Three towns, and two before !—a deadly blow!

ELENA.

Oh say not so; when once they know you're near,

The towns will all hold out-all will be well.

Your presence ever righted your affairs,

Whatever was amiss.

ARTEVELDE.

Two months ago,

My presence was a spell omnipotent

That seemed of power to win me all the world.
But now my fortune wears a faded beauty;
And as some dame, her hour of conquest past,
Repairs her ravaged charms, and here a tooth
Replaces, where the flesh had else fallen in
Making a wrinkle in the rounded cheek,
And there the never more redundant locks
Replenishes-so do I waste my pains

In patching fortunes which are past their prime.
It is a useless trouble; by my faith,

A most unprofitable, idle charge.

So soon as my advance made Courtray sure, Thence sent I with all speed to Rousselaere My best of chatelains, Walraven. Nay! Labour in vain! Precautions and endeavours Null, fruitless all !

ELENA.

Too anxious, Artevelde,

And too impatient are you grown of late.

You used to be so calm and even-minded,

That nothing ruffled you.

ARTEVELDE.

I stand reproved.

'Tis time and circumstance that tries us all;
And they that temperately take their start,
And keep their souls indifferently sedate
Through much of good and evil, at the last
May find the weakness of their hearts thus tried.
My cause appears more precious than it did

In its triumphant days.

ELENA.

You prize it more

The more it is endangered.

ARTEVELDE.

Even so.

A mother dotes upon the reckling child

More than the strong; solicitous cares, sad watchings,

Rallies, reverses, all vicissitudes,

Give the affection exercise and growth.

So is it in the nursing a sick hope.

Enter VAUCLAIRE'S LIEUTENANT.

LIEUTENANT.

The captains are in council met, my lord,

And wait upon your

leisure.

ARTEVELDE.

I am coming.

LIEUTENANT.

My master, sir, has heard, he bade me say,

That Cassel has revolted.

ARTEVELDE.

What of that?

LIEUTENANT.

He wished that you should know it first, my lord, And judge if it were fit to be disclosed

Before the council.

ARTEVELDE.

Fit to be disclosed!

Pooh! Tell the council I am coming. No;
I'll have no secrets. And for this forsooth,
What is it but that we are in the moult,

And here's a feather fallen? Say I come.

Another stab, and in a vital part!

For Cassel's defalcation is no less.

[Exit LIEUTENANT.

'Twere hard to keep a secret that is shared By yonder ape; my nose took note of that, Admonished by the musk upon his beard

As up

and down his salutations tost it,

Like a hen drinking. Well, it matters not.
The battle now is all, and that to win

Were to win back my losses; that to lose

Were to make all that I had lost before

Elena, think not that I stand in need

Of false encouragement. I have my strength,
Which, though it lie not in the sanguine mood,
Will answer my occasions. To yourself,