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MERYLL Then hearken to me。 Thou hast come to join the Yeomen
of the Guard！
LEONARD Well？
MERYLL None has seen thee but ourselves？
LEONARD And a sentry； who took scant notice of me。
MERYLL Now to prove thy words。 Give me the despatch and get
thee hence at once！ Here is money； and I'll send thee
more。 Lie hidden for a space； and let no one know。
I'll convey a suit of Yeoman's uniform to the
Colonel's cell he shall shave off his beard； so that
none shall know him； and I'll own him as my son； the
brave Leonard Meryll； who saved his flag and cut his
way through fifty foes who thirsted for his life。 He
will be welcomed without question by my brother…
Yeomen； I'll warrant that。 Now； how to get access to
the Colonel's cell？ ＇To PHOEBE＇ The key is with they
sour…faced admirer； Wilfred Shadbolt。
PHOEBE ＇demurely＇ I think I say； I think I can get anything
I want from Wilfred。 I think mind I say； I think you
may leave that to me。
MERYLL Then get thee hence at once； lad and bless thee for
this sacrifice。
PHOEBE And take my blessing； too； dear； dear Leonard！
LEONARD And thine。 eh？ Humph！ Thy love is newborn； wrap it up
carefully； lest it take cold and die。
No。 4。 Alas！ I waver to and fro
（TRIO）
Phoebe； Leonard； and Meryll
PHOEBE Alas！ I waver to and fro！
Dark danger hangs upon the deed！
ALL Dark danger hangs upon the deed！
LEONARD The scheme is rash and well may fail；
But ours are not the hearts that quail；
The hands that shrink； the cheeks that pale
In hours of need！
ALL No； ours are not the hearts that quail；
The hands that shrink； the cheeks that pale
The hands that shrink； the cheeks that pale
In hours of need！
MERYLL The air I breathe to him I owe：
My life is his I count it naught！
PHOEBE
and LEONARD That life is his so count it naught！
MERYLL And shall I reckon risks I run
When services are to be done
To save the life of such an one？
Unworthy thought！ Unworthy thought！
PHOEBE
and LEONARD And shall we reckon risks we run
To save the life of such an one？
ALL Unworthy thought！ Unworthy thought！
We may succeed who can foretell？
May heav'n help our hope
May heav'n help our hope；
farewell！
May heav'n help our hope；
Help our hope；
farewell！
＇LEONARD embraces MERYLL and PHOEBE； and then exits。 PHOEBE
weeping。
MERYLL ＇goes up to PHOEBE＇ Nay； lass； be of good cheer； we
may save him yet。
PHOEBE Oh！ see； after they bring the poor gentleman from the
Beauchamp！ ＇pronounced Bee'cham＇ Oh； father！ his hour
is not yet come？
MERYLL No； no they lead him to the Cold Harbour Tower to
await his end in solitude。 But softly the Lieutenant
approaches！ He should not see thee weep。
＇Enter FAIRFAX； guarded by YEOMEN。 The LIEUTENANT enters；
meeting him。
LIEUT。 Halt！ Colonel Fairfax； my old friend； we meet but
sadly。
FAIRFAX Sir； I greet you with all good…will； and I thank you
for the zealous acre with which you have guarded me
from the pestilent dangers which threaten human life
outside。 In this happy little community； Death； when
he comes； doth so in punctual and business…like
fashion； and； like a courtly gentleman； giveth due
notice of his advent； that one may not be taken
unawares。
LIEUT。 Sir； you bear this bravely； as a brave man should。
FAIRFAX Why； sir； it is no light boon to die swiftly and
surely at a given hour and in a given fashion！ Truth
to tell； I would gladly have my life； but if that may
not be； I have the next best thing to it； which is
death。 Believe me； sir； my lot is not so much amiss！
PHOEBE ＇aside to MERYLL＇ Oh； father； father； I cannot bear
it！
MERYLL My poor lass！
FAIRFAX Nay； pretty one； why weepest thou？ Come； be comforted。
Such a life as mine is not worth weeping for。 ＇sees
MERYLL＇ Sergeant Meryll； is it not？ ＇to LIEUTENANT＇
May I greet my old friend？ ＇Shakes MERYLL's hand；
MERYLL begins to weep＇ Why； man； what's all this？ Thou
and I have faced the grim old king a dozen times； and
never has his majesty come to me in such goodly
fashion。 Keep a stout heart； good fellow we are
soldiers； and we know how to die； thou and I。 Take my
word for it； it is easier to die well than to live
well for； in sooth； I have tried both。
No。 5。 Is life a boon？
（BALLAD）
Fairfax
FAIRFAX Is life a boon？
If so； it must befall
That Death； whene'er he call；
Must call too soon。
Though fourscore years he give；
Yet one would pray to live
Another moon！
What kind of plaint have I；
Who perish in July；
who perish in July？
I might have had to die；
Perchance； in June！
I might have had to die；
Perchance； in June！
Is life a thorn？
Then count it not a whit！
Nay； count it not a whit！
Man is well done with it；
Soon as he's born
He should all means essay
To put the plague away；
And I； war…worn；
Poor captured fugitive；
My life most gladly give
I might have had to live；
Another morn！
I might have had to live；
Another morn！
＇At the end； PHOEBE is led off； weeping； by MERYLL。
FAIRFAX And now； Sir Richard； I have a boon to beg。 I am in
this strait for no better reason than because my
kinsman； Sir Clarence Poltwhistle；