[_Exit 3 Gent_.
_Bes_.
Good morrow good Sir. Certainly my safest way were to print my
self a coward, with a discovery how I came by my credit, and clap
it upon every post; I have received above thirty challenges
within this two hours, marry all but the first I put off with
ingagement, and by good fortune, the first is no madder of
fighting than I, so that that's referred, the place where it must
be ended, is four days journey off, and our arbitratours are
these: He has chosen a Gentleman in travel, and I have a special
friend with a quartain ague, like to hold him this five years,
for mine: and when his man comes home, we are to expect my
friends health: If they would finde me challenges thus thick, as
long as I liv'd, I would have no other living; I can make seven
shillings a day o'th' paper to the Grocers: yet I learn nothing
by all these but a little skill in comparing of stiles. I do
finde evidently, that there is some one Scrivener in this Town,
that has a great hand in writing of Challenges, for they are all
of a cut, and six of 'em in a hand; and they all end, my
reputation is dear to me, and I must require satisfaction: Who's
there? more paper I hope, no, 'tis my Lord _Bacurius_, I fear all
is not well betwixt us.
_Enter_ Bacurius.
_Bac_.
Now Captain _Bessus_, I come about a frivolous matter, caus'd by
as idle a report: you know you were a coward.
_Bes_.
Very right.
_Bac_.
And wronged me.
_Bes_.
True my Lord.
_Bac_.
But now people will call you valiant, desertlesly I think, yet
for their satisfaction, I will have you fight with me.
_Bes_.
O my good Lord, my deep Engagements.
_Bac_.
Tell not me of your Engagements, Captain _Bessus_, it is not to
be put off with an excuse: for my own part, I am none of the
multitude that believe your conversion from Coward.
_Bes_.
My Lord, I seek not Quarrels, and this belongs not to me, I am
not to maintain it.
_Bac_.
Who then pray?
_Bes_.
_Bessus_ the Coward wrong'd you.
_Bac_.
Right.
_Bes_.
And shall _Bessus_ the Valiant, maintain what _Bessus_ the Coward
did?
_Bac_.
I pray thee leave these cheating tricks, I swear thou shalt fight
with me, or thou shall be beaten extreamly, and kick'd.
_Bes_.
Since you provoke me thus far, my Lord, I will fight with you,
and by my Sword it shall cost me twenty pound, but I will have my
Leg well a week sooner purposely.
_Bac_.
Your Leg? Why, what ailes your Leg? i'le do a cure on you, stand
up.
_Bes_.
My Lord, this is not Noble in you.
_Bac_.
What dost thou with such a phrase in thy mouth? I will kick thee
out of all good words before I leave thee.
_Bes_.
My Lord, I take this as a punishment for the offence I did when I
was a Coward.
_Bac_.
When thou wert? Confess thy self a Coward still, or by this
light, I'le beat thee into Spunge.
_Bes_.
Why I am one.
_Bac_.
Are you so Sir? And why do you wear a Sword then?
Come unbuckle.
_Bes_.
My Lord.
_Bac_.
Unbuckle I say, and give it me, or as I live, thy head will ake
extreamly.
_Bes_.
It is a pretty Hilt, and if your Lordship take an affection to
it, with all my heart I present it to you for a New-years-gift.
_Bac_.