139 I was a mad conspirator, chiefly too, Put on a judge's brow, and use a tongue Fly, cowards, fly! Glocester is at your backs! Throw your slack bridles o'er the flurried manes, 2d Knight. Sure of a bloody prey, seeing the fens Stephen. Will swamp them girth-deep. We are well breathed, follow! Enter Earl BALDWIN and Soldiers, as defeated. Stephen. De Redvers ! What is the monstrous bugbear that can fright Baldwin? 20 Baldwin. No scare-crow, but the fortu nate star Of boisterous Chester, whose fell truncheon now Points level to the goal of victory. This way he comes, and if you would maintain. Ply well the rowell with faint trembling Your person unaffronted by vile odds, SCENE II. [Exeunt. Alarum. - Another part of the Field Trumpets sounding a Victory. Enter GLOCESTER, Knights, and Forces. Glocester. Now may we lift our bruised visors up, And take the flattering freshness of the air, While the wide din of battle dies away 1st Knight. Will Stephen's death be mark'd there, my good Lord, Or that we gave him lodging in yon towers? Glocester. Fain would I know the great usurper's fate. Enter two Captains severally. 1st Captain. My Lord! ? Glocester. Whence come you 2d Knight. From Stephen, my good Prince, Stephen! Stephen! 30 Glocester. Why do you make such echoing of his name? 2d Knight. Because I think, my lord, he is no man, But a fierce demon, 'nointed safe from wounds, And misbaptized with a Christian name. Glocester. A mighty soldier!- Does he still hold out? 2d Knight. He shames our victory. His valour still Keeps elbow-room amid our eager swords, And holds our bladed falchions all aloof His gleaming battle-axe being slaughtersick, Smote on the morion of a Flemish knight, Broke short in his hand; upon the which he flung 41 The heft away with such a vengeful force, It paunch'd the Earl of Chester's horse, who then Spleen-hearted came in full career at him. Glocester. Did no one take him at a van tage then? 2d Knight. Three then with tiger leap upon him flew, Whom, with his sword swift-drawn and nimbly held, |