Arnold. No, I called thee not. I called to mind
My bullet-shattered thigh, and the hot thirst
Of fever. Did not Washington himself
Send me the sword-knots he received from France,
And Congress vote a horse caparisoned
To bear me proudly?
Treason. Ay; they kept back that
Which all out-weighed the rest.
Arnold. My rank!
My rank!
Five brigadiers promoted over me!
Treason. They paid with compliment.
Arnold. A soldier's rank
Is, as his guiding genius in the sky,
A holy thing. That rank which I had earned
They gave to striplings.
Treason. Pay them well for it!
Arnold. Leave me: I do desire to be alone.
Treason. Without me, Arnold, thou art not alone.
I am beside thee till thy dying breath:
When Treason leaves, he hands thee unto Death.
Arnold. It is not treason to preserve one's life
Among wild beasts; nor treason to demand
The reasonable payment of a debt;
Nor treason for the savior of a land—
Listen:—There was a stripling in the town
Where I was born; and this rash vigorous boy
Seized by the nose a bull, that in a fright
Had rushed aboard a crowded ferry-boat,
And held him through his plunges till he fell,
Subdued by pain. The boy for no reward,
But for the devil in him, did the thing.
But had he been a man, and sought reward,
Had he been banged about this rocking world
As I have, holding terror by the horns,
Could he not ask a pittance?—Leave me, friend.
I am exhausted, taking all the brunt
And getting kicks for pay. Nay, leave me, Sir,
The argument is over. Let me rest.
[Sits down and tries to sleep.]