Maurice Hewlett

“ Captain Brazenhead spoke as one in a dream. "I do not," he said. "Get on!"
The Egyptian, most uneasy, shifted his ground. "Alack the day, noble Captain, in the which I left that proud city and went down with a horse to sell—to Bristol——"
Captain Brazenhead started, snorted, and pounced upon him.
"That horse thou stolest, vile thief! He is branded on thy shoulder; thou art a dead man. A flea-bitten white gelding—that screwed the off-hind foot——"
"Oh, sir, oh, sir!" cried the Egyptian, falling on his knees. "That horse was never yours!" ”

“ The Egyptian shivered.
"Aye," said Brazenhead, "die is the word." He was irritated with the man. "Cock's wounds!" he cried out, "am I Executioner to the Duke of Milan, and execute no man? Is it to be said of me: 'Testadirame is an unprofitable servant'? Never in life! Dog, thou diest!"
The Egyptian shook like a straw in the wind. ”

“ Nay, Brazenhead, nay, Testadirame, my ancient, strike thy metal while 'tis hot....
"Milan falls—Milan falls! And there's the thigh of Italy under my thigh!
"Now Rome, the city old, lies about the knee of Italy—is, as you may say, the knee-cap; and Venice is the hamstring. Let me work it out, let me work it out. You cut the hamstring, and the knee gives, and the leg drops. Venice gives me Rome; Naples is the toe. Cut the hamstring; the knee is nerveless; then gangrene assails the toe, and it fritters and falls off. But with Milan to add to Pavia, who is to keep me from Venice? ”