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OTHUS.

Another time, valiant Justiniani,

With more respect to warlike ceremony
We will conduct ourselves.
Rodrigo well hath pled his own excuse;
And I, thou knowest, am but new in arms.

JUSTINIANI.

Methinks, ev'n to a child it had been plain

That, when so circumstanced——

OTHUS.

Hush, hush, I pray thee, now! the emp'ror comes:

This is his hour of cheerful relaxation,
Snatch'd from each circling day of busy cares,
A faint gleam thrown across a dismal gloom,
Let us not dark it with our petty brawls.

Enter Constantine.

CONSTANTINE (saluting them).

A pleasant meeting to us all, brave friends,

After our day of toil! There be amongst us
Tir'd limbs that well have earn'd their hour of rest;
This kindly-social hour, this fleeting bliss
Of the tir'd labourer. Undo our bracings,

And let us sup as lightly as we may. (Taking off his helmet, which he gives to an attendant.)

This galls me strangely;

Mine armourer, methinks, has better skill