Page:Acharnians and two other plays (1909).djvu/45

Rh 2nd Semichor. And if it is, what right has he to say so?

None in the world; and he shall suffer for it. 1st Semichor. Hands off there! what are ye after? Leave him go!

I'll grapple ye else, and heave ye neck and crop. 2nd Semichor. Lamachus! Lamachus!

Lamachus arise!

Let the gaze,

Of thine eyes,

In a blaze,

Daunt and amaze

Thine enemies.

Bring along

All the throng,

Hardy comrades, bold and strong,

For assault or standing fight;

Hasten and assist the right. Lamachus. Whence came that noise of battle on mine ears?

Where am I summoned? whither must I rush?

To the rescue or assault? what angry shout

Rouses the slumbering Gorgon on my shield? Dic. Ο Lamachus, with your glorious crests and conquests! 2nd Semichor. Ο Lamachus! if there an't this fellow here

Abusing us and all the state this long while! Lam. How dare ye, sirrah, a beggar to talk thus? Dic. Ο mighty Lamachus, have mercy upon me,

If, being a beggar, I prated and spoke amiss. Lam. What were your words? repeat them, can't ye? Dic. I can't.

I can't remember; I'm so terrified.

The terror of that crest quite turned me dizzy;

Do take the hobgoblin away from me, I beseech you. Lam. There then. Dic. Now turn it upside down. Lam. See there. Dic. Now give me one of the feathers. Lam. Here, this plume.

Take it. Dic. Now clasp your hands across my forehead,

For I feel that I shall strain in vomiting.

Those crests turned me so sick!