--_Apartment in_ EDWARD'S _Tent._
_Enter_ EDWARD _and_ PERCY.
_Edward_.--How fares it with these stubborn rebels now?
Do they still talk of death as of a bridal,
While we protract the ceremony?
_Percy_.--I learn, my liege, we've got two glorious allies--
Two most right honourable gentlemen--
Aiding the smooth-tongued orator:
_Disease_ and _Famine_ have espoused our cause,
And the said traitor Elliot is their oracle.
_Edward_.--Touching this man, we have advice from him,
In which he speaketh much concerns the wants
And murmurings of the citizens: he, too,
Adds, they hold out expecting help from Douglas,
And recommendeth that we should demand
The other son of Seton as a hostage,
In virtue of a truce for fourteen days:
This is his snare. The sons once in his power,
Their father yields, or both hang up before him.
_Percy_.--'Tis monstrous generous of our friendly Scot;
And what return expects he for his service?
_Edward_.--On giving up the father's head--his place.
_Percy_.--I fear the lady will have his head first.
Did you but see her eyes!
I'd bet my coronet 'gainst our friar's cowl,
Man wink not treason in his bedchamber
But she detect it. Then her ears, again;
'Sdeath! she can hear the very sound of light
As it does steal, i' the morning, through her curtains.
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