Don A. Loyalty's his centre, his circumf'rence, glory;
And t' after ages he'll show great in story.
Don O. And is our good friend, the Marquis d'Olivera,
In high esteem?
Don A. The boast of [all] our army: h' has exceeded
Hope, and made flattery impossible.
Don O. They say he did wonders at the siege of Mons.[56]
Don A. You mean, as I suppose, at the pursuit
O' th' German army, led by the Prince of Orange?
Indeed his courage and his conduct there
Were very signal.
Don O. You'll much oblige me if, whilst you expect
Your servant here, I might learn from yourself
Some few particulars of your own actions;
Fame speaks loudly of them, but not distinctly.
Don A. Fame, like water, bears up the lighter things,
And lets the weighty sink. I do not use
To speak in the first person; but if you needs
Will have a story to fill up the time,
I'll tell you an adventure of my own,
Where you'll find love so intermix'd with arms,
That, I am confident, 'twill raise your wonder,
How, being prepossess'd with such a passion,
I should, upon prudential motives only,
Be engag'd, as now you find me, to marry
A lady whom I never saw.
Don O. The person and the subject, sir, both challenge
My best attention.
Don A. [After a little pause.] The following evening to that glorious day,
Wherein the Duke of Alva gain'd such fame
Against the cautelous Nassau, some horse
Were sent from the army under my command.
To cover the Limbourg frontiers, much expos'd
To th' enemy's inroads. My troops scarce lodg'd,
I receiv'd intelligence that a party
Of th' enemy, about two hundred horse,
Were newly come t' a village three leagues off,
Intending there to lodge. Immediately
We sounded to horse, and march'd[57] to their surprise
So lustily,[58] that by the break of day
Their quarters were on fire.
Don O. You had been taught, sir, by your wise general,
That diligence in execution is
(Even above fortune) mistress of success.