THE SOURCE OF THE NILE, Ars 
others, had nothing to lofe but Netcho’s old cloak and the 
carpet. His fears, however, made him think otherwife, nor 
could he banifh his apprehenfions of the crooked knives, 
and, what he called, the operation. Netcho having ordered 
and converfed with his men in his own language, which I 
did not underftand, faid after, with great compofure and firm 
tone of voice, That he had come to lodge in the market-place 
of Dara that night, and would not be put out of his quarters, 
by boys of the character of Mehedin and Confu; that, in his. 
prefent circumftances, with the few troops he had, he did. 
not feek to fight, but even with this force, fuch as it was,. 
if attacked, he would not decline it—Whatever country, or 
whatever diftance of time and place heroes live at, their 
hearts are always in unifon, and {peak the fame language 
on fimilar and great occafions. There old Netcho, without 
having ever heard of Shakefpeare, repeated the very words. 
that, 300 years ago, our great king Henry V. did before the 
battle of Agincourt :— 
The fum of all my anfwer is but this,. 
We would not feck a battle as we are; 
Yet, as we are, we fay we will not fhun it. 
So tell your matter— 
SHAKESPEARE, 
We had not advanced but a few paces, before two of the 
town came to us; the noife of our approach had been 
heard, and all the dogs had been barking for half an hour. 
Soon after, arrived a fon of Negadé Ras Mahomet, who af- 
fured us all was in peace; that they had been expecting us 
and Ayto Adigo with us; that he heard nothing of Guebra 
Mehedin, only that he had retreated with great precipitation 
: . i homewards 
