--When you have gained a great victory, how much of the glory
goes to the horse whose back you bestrode?
SOLDIER.--Nonsense! A horse cannot appreciate glory; he prefers corn.
F.--And this you call non-appreciation! But listen. (_Reads_) "During
the Crusades, a part of the armament of a Turkish ship was two hundred
serpents." In the pursuit of glory you are at least not above
employing humble auxiliaries. These be curious allies.
S.--What stuff a fool may talk! No true soldier would pit a serpent
against a brave enemy. These worms were _sailors_.
F.--A nice distinction, truly! Did you ever, my most acute professor
of vivisection, employ your trenchant blade in the splitting of hairs?
S.--I have split masses of them.
* * * * *
FOOL.--Speaking of the Crusades: at the siege of Acre, when a part of
the wall had been thrown down by the Christians, the Pisans rushed
into the breach, but the greater part of their army being at dinner,
they were bloodily repulsed.
SOLDIER.--You appear to have a minute acquaintance with military
history.
F.--Yes--being a fool. But was it not a sin and a shame that those
feeders should not stir from their porridge to succour their suffering
comrades?
S.--Pray why should a man neglect his business to oblige a friend?
F.
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