Lord.

He can come no other way but by this hedge-corner; when you sally upon him, speak what terrible language you will; though you understand it not your selves, no matter; for we must not seem to understand him, unless some one amongst us, whom we must produce for an Interpreter.

Sol.

Good Captain, let me be th' Interpreter.

Lord.

Art not acquainted with him? knows he not thy voice?

Sol.

No, Sir, I warrant you.

Lord.

But what linsie-woolsie hast thou to speak to us again?

Sol.

Ev'n such as you speak to me

Lord.

He must think us some band of strangers i'th' Adversaries entertainment. Now he hath a smack

of all neighbouring languages, therefore we must every one be a man of his own fancy; not to know what we speak one to another, so we seem to know, is to know straight our purpose: chough's language, gabble enough, and good enough. As for you, Interpreter, you must seem very politick. But couch, hoa! here he comes, to beguile two hours in a sleep, and then to return and swear the lies he forges.

Par.

Ten a clock; within these three hours 'twill be time enough to go home. What shall I say, I have done? it must be a very plausive invention that carries it. They begin to smoak me, and disgraces have of late knock'd too often at my door; I find, my tongue is too fool-hardy; but my heart hath the fear of Mars before it and of his creatures, not daring the reports of my tongue.

Lord.

This is the first truth that e'er thine own tongue was guilty of.

Par.

What the devil should move me to undertake the recovery of this drum, being not ignorant of the impossibility, and knowing I had no such purpose? I must give my self some hurts, and say, I got them in exploit; yet slight ones will not carry it. They will say, came you off with so little? and great ones I dare not give; wherefore what's the instance? (31) ^note

Lord.

Is it possible, he should know what he is, and be that he is?

Par.

I would, the cutting of my garments would serve the turn, or the breaking of my Spanish sword.

Lord.

We cannot afford you so.

Par.

Or the baring of my beard, and to say, it was in stratagem.

Lord.

'Twould not do.

Par.

Or to drown my cloaths, and say, I was stript.

Lord.

Hardly serve.

Par.

Though I swore, I leap'd from the window of the cittadel—

Lord.

How deep?

Par.

Thirty fathom.

Lord.

Three great oaths would scarce make that be believed.

Par.

I would, I had any drum of the enemies; I would swear, I recover'd it.

Lord.

You shall hear one anon.

Par.

A drum now of the enemies!

Lord.
Throco movousus, cargo, cargo, cargo.

All.
Cargo, cargo, villiando par corbo, cargo.

Par.
O ransom, ransom:—do not hide mine eyes. [They seize him and blindfold him.

Inter.
Boskos thromuldo boskos.

Par.
I know, you are the Muskos regiment,
And I shall lose my life for want of language.
If there be here German, or Dane, low Dutch,
Italian, or French, let him speak to me,
I'll discover That which shall undo the Florentine.

Inter.

Boskos vauvado; I understand thee, and can speak thy tongue; Kerelybonto,—Sir, betake thee to thy faith, for seventeen poniards are at thy bosom.

Par.
Oh!

Int.
Oh, pray, pray, pray.
Mancha ravancha dulche.

Lord.
Osceoribi dulchos votivorco.

Int.
The General is content to spare thee yet,
And, hood-winkt as thou art, will lead thee on
To gather from thee. Haply, thou may'st inform
Something to save thy life.

Par.
Oh let me live,
And all the secrets of our Camp I'll shew;
Their force, their purposes: nay, I'll speak That
Which you will wonder at.

Int.
But wilt thou faithfully?

Par.
If I do not, damn me.

Int.
Acordo linta.
Come on, thou art granted space. [Exit. [A short alarum within.

Lord.
Go, tell the Count Roussillon and my brother,
We've caught the woodcock, and will keep him muffled
'Till we do hear from them.

Sol.
Captain, I will.

Lord.
He will betray us all unto our selves,
Inform 'em That.

Sol.
So I will, Sir.

Lord.
'Till then I'll keep him dark and safely lockt. [Exeunt.

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