SCENE II. A field of battle strewed with slain, and some people seen upon the back ground searching amongst the dead bodies. Enter Hereulf and Ethelbert.
Her. (stopping short and holding up his hands.)
Good mercy! see at what a bloody price
Ethwald this doubtful victory has purchased,
That in the lofty height to which he climbs
Will be a slight step of but small advantage.
Rose cheerily, and girt your armour on
With ail the vigour, and capacity,
And comeliness of strong and youthful men.
Ye also, taken in your manhood's wane,
With grizzled pates, from mates, whose wither'd hands
For some good thirty years had smooth'd your couch:
Alas! and ye whose fair and early growth
Did give you the similitude of men
Ere your fond mothers ceas'd to tend you still,
As nurselings of their care, ye lie together!
Alas, alas! and many now there be,
Smiling and crowing on their mother's breast,
Twining, with all their little infant ways,
