FIRST CUIRASSIER
Peace! what's amiss with the boor, may I crave?
FIRST SHARPSHOOTER
He has cheated at play, the cozening knave!
FIRST CUIRASSIER
But say, has he cheated you, man, of aught?
FIRST SHARPHOOTER
Just cleaned me out – and not left me a groat.
FIRST CUIRASSIER
And can you, who've the rank of a Friedland man,
So shamefully cast yourself away,
As to try your luck with the boor at play?
Let him run off, so that run he can.
[The peasant escapes, the others throng together.
FIRST ARQUEBUSIER
He makes short work – is of resolute mood —
And that with such fellows as these is good.
Who is he? not of Bohemia, that's clear.
SUTLER-WOMAN
He's a Walloon – and respect, I trow,
Is due to the Pappenheim cuirassier!
FIRST DRAGOON (joining)
Young Piccolomini leads them now,
Whom they chose as colonel, of their own free might,
When Pappenheim fell in Luetzen's fight.
FIRST ARQUEBUSIER
Durst they, indeed, presume so far?
FIRST DRAGOON
This regiment is something above the rest.
It has ever been foremost through the war,
And may manage its laws, as it pleases best;
Besides, 'tis by Friedland himself caressed.
FIRST CUIRASSIER (to the Second.)
Is't so in truth, man? Who averred it?
SECOND CUIRASSIER
From the lips of the colonel himself I heard it.
FIRST CUIRASSIER
The devil! we're not their dogs, I weep!
FIRST YAGER
How now, what's wrong? You're swollen with spleen!
SECOND YAGER
Is it anything, comrades, may us concern?
FIRST CUIRASSIER
'Tis what none need be wondrous glad to learn.
The Soldiers press round him.
To the Netherlands they would lend us now —
Cuirassiers, Yagers, and Shooters away,
Eight thousand in all must march, they say.
SUTLER-WOMAN
What! What! again the old wandering way —
I got back from Flanders but yesterday!
SECOND CUIRASSIER (to the Dragoons)
You of Butler's corps must tramp with the rest.
FIRST CUIRASSIER
And we, the Walloons, must doubtless be gone.
SUTLER-WOMAN
Why, of all our squadrons these are the best.
FIRST CUIRASSIER
To march where that Milanese fellow leads on.