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Friends, by your leave,
I somewhat must upon your goodness bear.
Give me my helmet and my sword again:

This is no partial fray.(Beginning to arm, whilst all the rest follow his example.)

RODRIGO.

Well, let us jostle with these ragged craft,

And see who grapples best.(Buckling on his armour gayly.)

JUSTINIANI.

A soldier scorns to draw his honour'd blade

On such mean foes: we'll beat them off with sticks.

OTHUS.

Words will, perhaps, our better weapons prove,

When us'd as brave men's arms should ever be,
With skill and boldness. Swords smite single foes,
But thousands by a word are struck at once.

(As they all gather round Constantine, and are ready to follow him, enter Valeria in great alarm, followed by Lucia, and several ladies.)

VALERIA (to Constantine).

O, hast thou heard it?

CONSTANTINE.

Yes, my love, they've told me.