Page:Works of Sir John Suckling.djvu/252

232 The time: Baruthen had the watch to-night;

To-morrow 'twill be at my tent.

Dor. Good! and d'you know what has fall'n out to-night?

Str. Yes, Grainevert and my lieutenant-coronel;

But they are friends again.

Dor. Pish, pish! The young Palatine of Plocence

And his grave guardian—surpris'd to-night,

Carry'd by the enemy out of his quarters.

Gra. As a chicken by a kite out of a back-side,

Was't not so?

Dor. Is that all?

Gra. Yes.

My coronel did not love him: he eats sweetmeats

Upon a march too.

Dor. Well—hark ye, worse yet!

Almerin's gone! forced the court of guard

Where he was a prisoner, and has made an escape!

Gra. So pale and spiritless a wretch

Drew Priam's curtain in the dead of night,

And told him half his Troy was burnt.

He was of my mind: I would have done so myself.

Dor. Well,

There is high suspicions abroad: ye shall

See strange discoveries i' the council of war.

Gra. What council?

Dor. One called this morning. Y'are all sent to.

Gra. I will put on clean linen, and speak wisely.

Vil. 'Sfoot, we'll have a round first.

Gra. By all means, sir.

Come, let the State stay, And drink away; There is no business above it: It warms the cold brain, Makes us speak in high strain; He's a fool that does not approve it. The Macedon youth Left behind him this truth, That nothing is done with much thinking: He drank and he fought, Till he had what he sought; The world was his own by good drinking.