Come out, I say: this was not wont to be, 1. Friend. By Manhood's reverend honor but we must. 1. Friend. O blasphemy To sacred valor. Cap. Lead me where you list. 1. Friend. Pardon this traiterous slumber, clog'd with evils : Give Captains rather wives than such tame devils. The Field. Enter Captain AGER with his too Friends. Cap. Well, your wills now. 1. Friend. Our wills? our loves, our duties To honor'd fortitude: what wills have wo But our desires to nobleness and merit, Valor's advancement, and the sacred rectitude Due to a valorous cause? Cap. Oh, that's not mine. 2. Friend. War has his Court of Justice, that's the field, Where all cases of Manhood are determined, And your case is no mean one. Cap. True, then 't were virtuous; But mine is in extremes, foul and unjust. Well, now ye 've got me hither, ye are as far To seek in your desire as at first minute: For by the strength and honor of a vow. I will not lift a finger in this quarrel. 1. Friend. How! not in this! be not so rash a sinner. And never presume then to serve her more: And let that honorable name of soldier Fall from you like a shiver'd wreath of laurel, As grace to penitence; whose fair memory E'en crowns fame in your issue; for that blessedness, Give not this ill place, but in spite of hell And all her base fears be exactly valiant. Cap. Oh! oh! 2. Friend. Why, well said; there's fair hope in that. Another such a one. Cap. Came they in thousands, 'Tis all against you. 1. Friend. Then poor friendless Merit, Heav'n be good to thee, thy Professor leaves thee. Enter COLONEL and his two friends. He's come; do you but draw; we'll fight it for you, 1. Friend. O dead manhood! Had ever such a cause so faint a servant ? Shame brand me if I do not suffer for him. Col. I've heard, Sir, you 've been guilty of much boasting For your brave carliness at such a meeting, You've lost the glory of that way this morning: I was the first to-day. Cap. So were you ever In my respect, Sir. 1. Friend. O most base præludium! Cap. I never thought on victory our mistress With greater reverence than I have your worth, Nor ever lov'd her better. Success in you has been my absolute joy, And when I've wish'd content I've wish'd your friendship. Col. I come not hither, Sir, for an encomium. I came provided For storms and tempests, and the foulest season From the incensed prison of man's blood. Cap. Tis otherwise with me: I come with mildness, Peace, constant amity, and calm forgiveness, The weather of a Christian and a friend. 1. Friend. Give me a valiant Turk, though not worth ten-pence. Cap. Yet, Sir, the world will judge the injury mine, Insufferably mine, mine beyond injury, Thousands have made a less wrong reach to hell, That then I should not pardon. Why should Man (And vented only in forgetful fury) Chain all the hopes and riches of his soul For he that makes his last peace with his Maker He must expect the same return again, Whose venture is deceitful. Must he not, Sir? For here'll be nothing done, I perceive that. Cap. What shall be done in such a worthless business But to be sorry and to be forgiven? You, Sir, to bring repentance; and I pardon. Col. I bring repentance, Sir? Cap. If't be too much To say, repentance; call it what you please, Sir; Do Col. I sorry by fame's honor, I am wrong'd: you seek for peace and draw the quarrel larger? Cap. Then 'tis I'm sorry that I thought you so. 1. Friend. A Captain! I could gnaw his title off. Cap. Nor is it any misbecoming virtue, Sir, In the best manliness, to repent a wrong: Which made me bold with you. 1. Friend. I could cuff his head off. 2. Friend. Nay, pish. Col. So once again take thou thy peaceful rest then ; But as I put thee up, I must proclaim This Captain here, both to his friends and mine, A base submissive Coward: so I leave him. [To his sword. Cap. Oh, heaven has pitied my excessive patience, And sent me a Cause: now I have a Cause: A Coward I was never. Col. How! -Come you back, Sir. Cap. You left a Coward here. Col. Yes, Sir, with you. Cap. 'Tis such base metal, Sir, 't will not be taken, It must home again with you. 2. Friend. Should this be true now 1. Friend. Impossible! Coward do more than Bastard! Col. I prithee mock me not, take heed you do not, For if I draw once more I shall grow terrible, And rage will force me do what will grieve honor. Cap. Ha, ha, ha. Col. He smiles, dare it be he? what think ye, Gentlemen ? Your judgments; shall I not be cozen'd in him? This cannot be the man; why he was bookish, Made an invective lately against fighting, A thing in truth that mov'd a little with me; Than thousand Cowards came to, and grew thankful. Cap. Blessed remembrance in time of need; I'd lost my honor else. 2. Friend. Do you note his joy? Cap. I never felt a more severe necessity: Why, would you be more cruel than your injury? Noble and fair. Col. I'll venture it once again, And if't be but as true as it is wondrous I shall have that I come for. Your leave, Gentlemen. [They fight. 1. Friend. If he should do 't indeed, and deceive us all now Stay, by this hand he offers; fights i'faith; Fights: by this light, he fights, Sir. 2. Friend. So methinks, Sir. 1. Friend. An absolute Punto, ha ? 2. Friend. "Twas a Passado, Sir. 1. Friend. Why, let it pass, and 'twas: I'm sure 'twas some. what. What's that now? 2. Friend. That's a Punto. |