losopher
In the place of her that kick'd me off to ride,
I'd test his theory upon his hide.
But no bones broken, madam--sir, I mean?--

ROS.
A scratch here that a handkerchief will heal--
And you?--

FIFE.
A scratch in _quiddity_, or kind:
But not in '_quo_'--my wounds are all behind.
But, as you say, to stop this strain,
Which, somehow, once one's in the vein,
Comes clattering after--there again!--
What are we twain--deuce take't!--we two,
I mean, to do--drench'd through and through--
Oh, I shall choke of rhymes, which I believe
Are all that we shall have to live on here.

ROS.
What, is our victual gone too?--

FIFE.
Ay, that brute
Has carried all we had away with her,
Clothing, and cate, and all.

ROS.
And now the sun,
Our only friend and guide, about to sink
Under the stage of earth.

FIFE.
And enter Night,
With Capa y Espada--and--pray heaven!
With but her lanthorn also.

ROS.
Ah, I doubt
To-night, if any, with a dark one--or
Almost burnt out after a month's consumption.
Well! well or ill, on horseback or afoot,
This is the gate that lets me into Poland;
And, sorry welcome as she gives a guest
Who writes his own arrival on her rocks
In his own blood--
Yet better on her stony threshold die,
Than live on unrevenged in Muscovy.

FIFE.
Oh, what a soul some women have--I mean
Some men--

ROS.
Oh, Fife, Fife, as you love me, Fife,
Make yourself perfect in that little part,
Or all will go to ruin!

FIFE.
Oh, I will,
Please God we find some one to try it on.
But, truly, would not any one believe
Some fairy had exchanged us as we lay
Two tiny foster-children in one cradle?

ROS.
Well, be that as it may, Fife, it reminds me
Of what perhaps I should have thought before,
But better late than never--You know I love you,
As you, I know, love me, and loyally
Have follow'd me thus far in my wild venture.
Well! now then--having seen me safe thus far
Safe if not wholly sound--over the rocks
Into the country where my business lies
Why should not you return the way we came,
The storm all clear'd away, and, leaving me
(Who now shall want you, though not thank you, less,