OF AN HOLY WAR. 110 



with us, for we were speaking of the affairs of Chris 

 tendom at this day ; wherein we would be glad also 

 to have your opinion. POLLIO. My lords, I have 

 journeyed this morning, and it is now the heat of 

 the day ; therefore your lordships discourses had 

 need content my ears very well, to make them in- 

 treat mine eyes to keep open. But yet if you will 

 give me leave to awake you, when I think your dis 

 courses do but sleep, I will keep watch the best I 

 can. EUPOLIS. You cannot do us a greater favour. 

 Only I fear you will think all our discourses to be 

 but the better sort of dreams ; for good wishes, 

 without power to effect, are not much more. But, 

 Sir, when you came in, Martius had both raised our 

 attentions, and affected us with some speech he had 

 begun ; and it falleth out well, to shake off your 

 drowsiness ; for it seemed to be the trumpet of a 

 war. And therefore, Martius, if it please you, to 

 begin again ; for the speech was such, as deserveth 

 to be heard twice ; and I assure you, your auditory 

 is not a little amended by the presence of Pollio. 

 MARTIUS. When you came in, Pollio, I was saying 

 freely to these lords, that I had observed, how by 

 the space now of half a century of years, there had 

 been, if I may speak it, a kind of meanness in the 

 designs and enterprises of Christendom. Wars with 

 subjects, like an angry suit for a man s own, that 

 might be better ended by accord. Some petty 

 acquests of a town, or a spot of territory ; like a far 

 mer s purchase of a close or nook of ground, that 

 lay fit for him. And although the wars had beeu 



