From The Battle of Hexham; or, Days of Old: a play in three acts by George Colman

To arms, to arms, when Captains cry, With a heigho! the trumpets blow-- To legs, to legs, brave boys, say I! Heigho; (I needs must go.) Arrows swift begin to fly, With a heigho! Twang goes the bow-- And soldiers tumble down and die:-- Heigho! (I'll not do so.) Whizzing by come balls of lead; With a heigho! thump they go.-- Tall men grow shorter by the head; Heigho! (I'd rather grow.) In time of trouble I'm away; With a heigho!--ill winds blow; But always ready at pay day; Heigho! (Great folks do so.) (Enter another VILLAGER.) 1 Vil. Now, goodman Hobs, whence come you? 2 Vil. There is a great lord come in, from the routed party, who has taken shelter in our village, since break of day. One of your great friends, good sir. [ (To the FOOL.) Fool. Didst see him! how look'd he? 2 Vil. I tended him, some quarter of an hour:--troth, he seem'd wondrous weary. Fool. Of thy company.--Now could I be weary too, and find in my heart to be dull:--but here come females; and, were a man's head emptier than a spendthrift's purse, they will ever bring something out on't. Hence comes it, that your dull husband's head is improved by your lively wife:--if she can bring out nothing else, why she brings out horns. (Enter VILLAGERS, Male and Female.) Now, good folk, whither go you? 3 Vil. Truly, sir, this is our season for making of hay; and here am I, sir, with the rest of our village, going about it. Fool. Now might I, were it not for disgracing the army, turn mower among these clowns;--and why not? Soldiers are but cutters down of flesh, and flesh is grass, all the world over. I'll e'en out, this morning, and do execution in the field.--Come, lads and maidens! One roundelay, and we'll to't!

Song--Fool Monologue from The Battle of Hexham; or, Days of Old: a play in three acts

Rehearse Song--Fool's monologue