WELLINGTON
We must examine it. It may have use.
[Another company of soldiers enters, dragging some equipages that
have lost their horses by the traces being cut. The carriages
contain ladies, who shriek and weep at finding themselves captives.]
What women bring they there?
THIRD OFFICER
Mixed sorts, my lord.
The wives of many young French officers,
The mistresses of more—in male attire.
Yon elegant hussar is one, to wit;
She so disguised is of a Spanish house,—
One of the general’s loves.
WELLINGTON
Well, pack them off
To-morrow to Pamplona, as you can;
We’ve neither list nor leisure for their charms.
By God, I never saw so many wh—-s
In all my life before!
[Exeunt WELLINGTON, officers, and infantry. A soldier enters with
his arm round a lady in rich costume.]
SOLDIER
We must be married, my dear.
LADY [not knowing his language]
Anything, sir, if you’ll spare my life!
SOLDIER
There’s neither parson nor clerk here. But that don’t matter—hey?
LADY
Anything, sir, if you’ll spare my life!
SOLDIER
And if we’ve got to unmarry at cockcrow, why, so be it—hey?
LADY
Anything, sir, if you’ll spare my life!
SOLDIER
A sensible ’ooman, whatever it is she says; that I can see by her
pretty face. Come along then, my dear. There’ll be no bones broke,
and we’ll take our lot with Christian resignation.
[Exeunt soldier and lady. The crowd thins away as darkness closes
in, and the growling of artillery ceases, though the wheels of the
flying enemy are still heard in the distance. The fires kindled
by the soldiers as they make their bivouacs blaze up in the gloom,
and throw their glares a long way, revealing on the slopes of the
hills many suffering ones who have not yet been carried in.
The last victorious regiment comes up from the rear, fifing and
drumming ere it reaches its resting-place the last bars of “The
Downfall of Paris”:—
Transcriber’s Note: There follows in musical notation four bars
from that song in 2/4 time, key of C—
\\E EF G F\E EF G F\E EC D DB\C \\