Ralph . March fair, my hearts! Lieutenant, beat the rear up.—Ancient, let your colours fly; but have a great care of the butcher’s hooks at Whitechapel; they have been the death of many a fair ancient.—Open your files, that I may take a view both of your persons and munition. —Sergeant, call a muster.

Serg . A stand!—William Hammerton, pewterer!

Ham . Here, captain!

Ralph . A corselet and a Spanish pike; ’tis well: can you shake it with a terror?

Ham . I hope so, captain.

Ralph . Charge upon me. [ He charges on Ralph .]—’Tis with the weakest: but more strength, William Hammerton, more strength. As you were again!—Proceed, Sergeant.

Serg . George Greengoose, poulterer!

Green . Here!

Ralph . Let me see your piece, neighbour Greengoose: when was she shot in?

Green . An’t like you, master captain, I made a shot even now, partly to scour her, and partly for audacity.

Ralph . It should seem so certainly, for her breath is yet inflamed; besides, there is a main fault in the touch-hole, it runs and stinketh; and I tell you moreover, and believe it, ten such touch-holes would breed the pox in the army. Get you a feather, neighbour, get you a feather, sweet oil, and paper, and your piece may do well enough yet. Where’s your powder?

Green . Here.

Ralph . What, in a paper! as I am a soldier and a gentleman, it craves a martial court! you ought to die for’t. Where’s your horn? answer me to that.

Green . An’t like you, sir, I was oblivious.

Ralph . It likes me not you should be so; ’tis a shame for you, and a scandal to all our neighbours, being a man of worth and estimation, to leave your horn behind you: I am afraid ’twill breed example. But let me tell you no more on’t.—Stand, till I view you all.—What’s become o’ the nose of your flask?

1st Sold . Indeed, la, captain, ’twas blown away with powder.

Ralph . Put on a new one at the city’s charge.—Where’s the stone of this piece?

2nd Sold . The drummer took it out to light tobacco.

Ralph . ’Tis a fault, my friend; put it in again.—You want a nose,—and you a stone.—Sergeant, take a note on’t, for I mean to stop it in the pay.—Remove, and march! [ They march .] Soft and fair, gentlemen, soft and fair! double your files! as you were! faces about! Now, you with the sodden face, keep in there! Look to your match, sirrah, it will be in your fellow’s flask anon. So; make a crescent now; advance your pikes; stand and give ear!—Gentlemen, countrymen, friends, and my fellow-soldiers, I have brought you this day, from the shops of security and the counters of content, to measure out in these furious fields honour by the ell, and prowess by the pound. Let it not, oh, let it not, I say, be told hereafter, the noble issue of this city fainted; but bear yourselves in this fair action like men, valiant men, and free men! Fear not the face of the enemy, nor the noise of the guns, for, believe me, brethren, the rude rumbling of a