Enter a CAPTAIN.

CAPTAIN.  My lord.

LANCIOTTO.  They worsted us to-day.

CAPTAIN.  Not much, my lord.

LANCIOTTO.  With little loss, indeed. 
Their strength is in position.  Mark you, sir.
[Draws on the ground with his sword.]
Here is the pass; it opens towards the plain,
With gradual widening, like a lady’s fan. 
The hills protect their flank on either hand;
And, as you see, we cannot show more front
Than their advance may give us.  Then, the rocks
Are sorry footing for our horse.  Just here,
Close in against the left-hand hills, I marked
A strip of wood, extending down the gorge: 
Behind that wood dispose your force ere dawn. 
I shall begin the onset, then give ground,
And draw them out; while you, behind the wood,
Must steal along, until their flank and rear
Oppose your column.  Then set up a shout,
Burst from the wood, and drive them on our spears. 
They have no outpost in the wood, I know;
’Tis too far from their centre.  On the morrow,
When they are flushed with seeming victory,
And think my whole division in full rout,
They will not pause to scrutinize the wood;
So you may enter boldly.  We will use
The heart to-day’s repulse has given to them,
For our advantage.  Do you understand?

  CAPTAIN.  Clearly, my lord.

LANCIOTTO.  If they discover you,
Before you gain your point, wheel, and retreat
Upon my rear.  If your attack should fail
To strike them with a panic, and they turn
In too great numbers on your small command,
Scatter your soldiers through the wood: 
Let each seek safety for himself.

  CAPTAIN.  I see.

LANCIOTTO.  Have Pluto shod; he cast a shoe to-day: 
Let it be done at once.  My helmet, too,
Is worn about the lacing; look to that. 
Where is my armourer?

  CAPTAIN.  At his forge.

LANCIOTTO.  Your charge
Must be at sunrise—­just at sunrise, sir—­
Neither before nor after.  You must march
At moonset, then, to gain the point ere dawn. 
That is enough.

  CAPTAIN.  Good-even! [Going.

LANCIOTTO.  Stay, stay, stay! 
My sword-hilt feels uneasy in my grasp; [Gives his sword.]
Have it repaired; and grind the point.  Strike hard! 
I’ll teach these Ghibelins a lesson. [Loud laughter within.]
Ha! 
What is that clamour?

Enter hastily PEPE, tattered and travel-stained.

PEPE.  News from Rimini! [Falls exhausted.

LANCIOTTO.  Is that you, Pepe?  Captain, a good-night!
[Exit CAPTAIN.]
I never saw you in such straits before. 
Wit without words!