oldier's
trade, so my dear, tempting, provoking. (_Catches her round._)

_Ros._ Hay, keep your hands off, you have taught me enough of the manual
exercise already; but say now, were you indeed so great a hero in the
battle as you told my lady?

_L'Ec._ Pshaw! I did'nt tell her half, my modesty forbade, but for thee,
my pretty Rosabelle--

_Ros._ Ay, with me, I'm certain your modesty will be no obstacle.

_L'Ec._ None, for while I gaze upon the face of an angel, the devil
himself can't put me out of countenance.

DUETTO.--_Rosabelle and L'Eclair._

_Ros._ Tell, soldier, tell! and mark you tell me truly,
How oft in battle have you slain a foe?

_L'Ec._ Go, count the leaves when winds are heard unruly,
In autumn that from mighty forests blow.

_Ros._ Did e'er a captain, worth a costly ransom,
Own you his conqueror in the deadly broil?

_L'Ec._ I've twigg'd field-marshals, pickings snug and handsome,
Twelve waggons now are loaded with my spoil.

_Both._ Oh! loudly, proudly, sound the soldier's fame!
Oh! flashy, dashy, flaunt the soldier's dame!

_Ros._ Tell, soldier, tell! and mark, you tell me truly,
Did foreign maids ne'er win your roving vow?

_L'Ec._ O! blood and fire! --I swear I can't speak coolly,
By Mars! to you, and only you, I bow.

_Ros._ Say, shall love's chain of blossoms hold for ever?
Nor time, nor absence, bid its bloom depart?

_L'Ec._ Not sword, or gun, such magic links can sever,
Or rend from Rosabelle her hero's heart.

_Both._ O! loudly, proudly, &c.

SCENE III.--_A front wood, stage very dark, thunder and lightning._

Enter _Longueville_ and _Bertrand_, the latter disguised and
masqued.

_Long._ Come, sir, to your post! what! a coward even to the last? you
tremble.

_Bert._ I do indeed, the storm is terrible, it seems as if heaven's own
voice were clamoring to forbid the deed. [_Thunder._

_Long._ This tumult of the night assists our enterprise; its thunders
will drown your victim's dying groan. Where have you placed the bravoes?

_Bert._ Hard by--just where the horse-road sinks into a hollow dell, and
over-spreading branches almost choke the pass, there we may rush upon
the wretched youth securely, and there our poniards--

_Long._ Hush!--a footstep!--who passes there?

Enter _1st Bravo_.

_1st Br._ Sanguine!

_Long._ Wherefore are you here, and parted from your fellow?

_1st Br._ I left him lurking in the hollow