bottom of the news is, our general is cut i' the
middle, and but one half of what he was yester-
day, for the other has half, by the entreaty and 212
grant of the whole table. He'll go, he says, and
sowl the porter of Rome gates by the ears: he
will mow down all before him, and leave his
passage polled. 216
2. Serv. And he's as like to do 't as any man
I can imagine.
3. Serv. Do 't! he will do 't; for—look you,
sir—he has as many friends as enemies; which 220
friends, sir—as it were—durst not—look you,
sir—show themselves—as we term it—his friends,
whilst he's in directitude.
1. Serv. Directitude! what's that? 224
3. Serv. But when they shall see, sir, his crest
up again, and the man in blood, they will out of
their burrows, like conies after rain, and revel all
with him. 228
1. Serv. But when goes this forward?
3. Serv. To-morrow; to-day; presently. You
shall have the drum strook up this afternoon;
'tis, as it were, a parcel of their feast, and to be 232
executed ere they wipe their lips.
2. Serv. Why, then we shall have a stirring
world again. This peace is nothing but to rust
iron, increase tailors, and breed ballad-makers. 236
1. Serv. Let me have war, say I; it exceeds
peace as far as day does night; it's spritely,
210 bottom: fundamental part
212, 213 by . . . table: the whole table uniting both in requesting and granting
214 sowl: drag
215, 216 leave . . . polled: leave headless bodies where he passes
223 directitude: error for 'discreditude,' discredit (?)
226 in blood: in fine fettle
227 conies: rabbits
230 presently: at once
232 parcel: part
235 nothing: good for nothing
