Chapter 55

Enter _Bacon_ and _Fearless_ with their Swords drawn, all bloody.

_Bac._ ‘Tis just, ye Gods! that when ye took the Prize for which I fought, Fortune and you should all abandon me.

_Fear._ Oh, fly, Sir, to some place of safe retreat, for there’s no mercy to be hop’d if taken. What will you do? I know we are pursu’d, by Heaven, I will not die a shameful Death.

_Bac._ Oh, they’ll have pity on thy Youth and Bravery, but I’m above their Pardon. [A noise is heard.

_Within._ This way--this way--hay halloo.

_Fear._ Alas, Sir, we’re undone--I’ll see which way they take. [Exit.

_Bac._ So near! Nay, then to my last shift. [Undoes the Pomel of his Sword. Come, my good Poison, like that of _Hannibal_; long I have born a noble Remedy for all the Ills of Life. [Takes Poison. I have too long surviv’d my Queen and Glory, those two bright Stars that influenc’d my Life are set to all Eternity. [Lies down.

Enter _Fearless_, runs to _Bacon_, and looks on his Sword.

_Fear._ --Hah--what have ye done?

_Bac._ Secur’d my self from being a publick Spectacle upon the common Theatre of Death.

Enter _Daring_ and Soldiers.

_Dar._ Victory, Victory! they fly, they fly, where’s the victorious General?

_Fear._ Here,--taking his last Adieu.

_Dar._ Dying! Then wither all the Laurels on my Brows, for I shall never triumph more in War; where are the Wounds?

_Fear._ From his own Hand, by what he carried here, believing we had lost the Victory.

_Bac._ And is the Enemy put to flight, my Hero? [Grasps his Neck.

_Dar._ All routed Horse and Foot; I plac’d an Ambush, and while they were pursuing you, my Men fell on behind, and won the day.

_Bac._ Thou almost makest me wish to live again, if I cou’d live now fair _Semernia’s_ dead.--But oh--the baneful Drug is just and kind, and hastens me away--Now while you are Victors, make a Peace--with the _English_ Council, and never let Ambition,--Love,--or Interest, make you forget, as I have done, your Duty and Allegiance--Farewel--a long Farewel-- [Dies embracing their Necks.

_Dar._ So fell the _Roman Cassius_, by mistake--

Enter Soldiers with _Dunce_, _Tim._ and _Dullman_.

_Sold._ An’t please your Honour, we took these Men running away.

_Dar._ Let ‘em loose--the Wars are at an end, see where the General lies--that great-soul’d Man, no private Body e’er contain’d a nobler; and he that cou’d have conquered all _America_, finds only here his scanty length of Earth. Go, bear the Body to his own Pavilion-- [Soldiers go out with the Body. though we are Conquerors we submit to treat, and yield upon Condition: You, Mr. _Dunce_, shall bear our Articles to the Council.

_Dun._ With Joy I will obey you.

_Tim._ Good General, let us be put in the Agreement.

_Dar._ You shall be obliged--

[Ex. _Dar._ _Dun._ _Dull._ and _Tim._ as _Fear._ goes out a Soldier meets him.

_Sold._ What does your Honour intend to do with _Whimsey_ and _Whiff_, who are condemn’d by a Council of War?

Enter _Daring_, _Dullman_, _Tim._ _Fearless_, and Officers.

_Dar._ You come too late, Gentlemen, to be put into the Articles; nor am I satisfy’d you’re worthy of it.

_Dull._ Why, did not you, Sir, see us lie dead in the Field?

_Dar._ Yes, but I see no Wound about you.

_Tim._ We were stun’d with being knock’d down; Gads zoors, a Man may be kill’d with the but-end of a Musquet, as soon as with the point of a Sword.

Enter _Dunce_.

_Dun._ The Council, Sir, wishes you Health and Happiness, and sends you these sign’d by their Hands-- [Gives Papers.

_Dar._ reads.

That you shall have a general Pardon for your self and Friends; that you shall have all new Commissions, and _Daring_ to command as General; that you shall have free leave to inter your dead General in _James_ Town. And to ratify this, we will meet you at Madam _Surelove’s_ House, which stands between the Armies, attended only by our Officers.

The Council’s noble, and I’ll wait upon them.

[Exeunt.