Racine: Phaedra

264
CALDERON
Scene II. A wooded pass near the field of battle: drums,
trumpets, and firing. Cries of " God save Basiliol
Segismund." Enter Fife, running.
Fife.—God save them both, and save them all ! say I !
Oh—what hot work !—Whichever way one turns
The whistling bullet at one's ears— I've drifted
Far from my mad young—master—whom I saw
Tossing upon the very crest of battle.
Beside the Prince—God save her first of all
With all my heart I say and pray—and so
Commend her to His keeping—bang!—bang!—bang!
And for myself—scarce worth His thinking of
I'll see what I can do to save myself
Behind this rock, until the storm blows over.
[Skirmishes, shouts, firing.
Enter King Basilio, Astolfo, and Clotaldo.
King.—The day is lost
Astolfo.— Do not despair—the rebels
King.—Alas! the vanquished only are the rebels.
Clotaldo.—Ev'n if this battle lost us, 'tis but one
Gain'd on their side, if you not lost in it
Another moment and too late : at once
Take horse, and to the capital, my liege,
Where in some safe and holy sanctuary
Save Poland in your person.
Astolfo.— Be persuaded:
You know your son : have tasted of his temper;
At his first onset threatening unprovoked
The crime predicted for his last and worst.
How whetted now with such a taste of blood,
And thus far conquest!
King.— Ay, and how he fought I
Oh how he fought, Astolfo ;
ranks of men
Falling as swathes of grass before the mower
I could but pause to gaze at him, although,
Like the pale horseman of the Apocalypse,
Each moment brought him nearer—Yet I say.