But you may take your sword in hand, to gain your liberty,
And if that you do conquer me, O, then you shall be free.”
“The time it is improper our valor for to try,
For if we take our swords in hand, then one of us must die;
I am a man of honor, with courage brave and bold,
And I fear not the face of clay, although ’tis clothed in gold.”
He saw that his conspiracy would soon be brought to light;
He begg’d for pen and paper, and asked leave to write
A line to General Arnold, to let him know his fate,
And beg for his assistance; but now it was too late.