NEWCOMBE. He'll knock us on the head!
HUGH TALBOT. Yes. At the last. Your five lives against our
people's safety. You'd not give up the bridge?
JOHN TALBOT. Five? Our five? But you--you are the sixth.
FENTON. You stay with us, Captain. And then we'll fight--you'll
see how we shall fight.
HUGH TALBOT. I shall be seeing you fight, perhaps, but I cannot
stay now at Cashala.
(_Rises._)
DRISCOLL. Ye won't be staying with us?
BUTLER (_laughing harshly_). Now, on my soul! Is this your faith,
Hugh Talbot? One liar I've followed, Charles Stuart, the son of a
liar, and now a second liar--
JOHN TALBOT (_catching BUTLER'S throat_). A plague choke you!
HUGH TALBOT (_stepping between_ JOHN TALBOT _and_ BUTLER). Ha' done,
Jack! Ha' done! What more, Myles Butler?
BUTLER. Tell us whither you go, when you turn your back on us
that shall die at Cashala--you that come walking under the rebel
flag--that swore to bring us aid--and have not brought it! Tell
us whither you go now!
HUGH TALBOT. Well, I'm a shade doubtful, Myles, my lad, though
hopeful of the best.
BUTLER. 'Tis to Cromwell you go--you that have made your peace
with him--that have sold us--
DRISCOLL. Captain! A' God's name, what is it that you're meaning?
HUGH TALBOT. I mean that you shall hold the Bridge of
Cashala--whatever happen to you--whatever happen to me--
FENTON. To you? Captain Talbot!
HUGH TALBOT. I am going unto Cromwell--as you said, Myles. I gave
my promise.
DRISCOLL. Your promise?
JOHN TALBOT. We--have been very blind. So--they made you
prisoner?
HUGH TALBOT. Aye, Jack. When I tried to cut my way through to
bring you aid. And they granted me this half hour on my parole to
come unto you.