Enter FAULKLAND and CAPTAIN ABSOLUTE. Sir Luc. Gentlemen, your most obedient. - Hah! what, Captain Absolute! So, I suppose, sir, you are come here, just like myself to do a kind office, first for your friend then to proceed to business on your own 5 account. Acres. What, Jack! my dear Jack! - my dear friend! Abs. Hark'ee, Bob, Beverley's at hand. ki y Sir Luc. Well, Mr. Acres - I don't blame your saluting Io the gentleman civilly. (To FAULKLAND.) So, Mr. Beverley, if you'll choose your weapons, the captain and I will measure the ground. Faulk. My weapons, sir! Acres. Odds life! Sir Lucius, I'm not going to fight 15 Mr. Faulkland; these are my particular friends. Sir Luc. What, sir, did you not come here to fight Mr. Acres? Faulk. Not I, upon my word, sir. Sir Luc. Well, now, that's mighty provoking! But I 20 hope, Mr. Faulkland, as there are three of us come on purpose for the game, you won't be so cantankerous as to spoil the party by sitting out. Abs. O pray, Faulkland, fight to oblige Sir Lucius. Faulk. Nay, if Mr. Acres is so bent on the matter 25 Acres. No, no, Mr. Faulkland; — I'll bear my disappointment like a Christian. Look'ee, Sir Lucius, there's no occasion at all for me to fight; and if it is the same to you, I'd as lieve let it alone. Sir Luc. Observe me, Mr. Acres I must not be trifled with. You have certainly challenged somebody and you came here to fight him. Now, if that gentleman is willing to represent him, I can't see, for my soul, why it isn't just the same thing. Beverley I've challenged - a fellow, you see, that dare not show his face ! — If he were here, I'd make him give up his pretensions directly. right there is The person who 10 Abs. Hold, Bob let me set you no such man as Beverley in the case. assumed that name is before you; and as his pretensions are the same in both characters, he is ready to support them in whatever way you please. Sir Luc. Well, this is lucky. Now you have an opportunity Acres. What, quarrel with my dear friend Jack Absolute? not if he were fifty Beverleys! Zounds! Sir Lucius, you would not have me so unnatural. Sir Luc. Upon my conscience, Mr. Acres, your valour has oozed away with a vengeance! 15 20 Acres. Not in the least! Odds backs and abettors! I'll be your second with all my heart — and if you should get a quietus, you may command me entirely. I'll get you snug lying in the Abbey here; or pickle you, and send you over to Blunderbuss-hall, or any thing of the kind, 25 with the greatest pleasure. Sir Luc. Pho! pho! you are little better than a coward. Acres. Mind, gentlemen, he calls me a coward; coward was the word, by my valour ! Sir Luc. Well, sir? 1 Acres. Look'ee, Sir Lucius, 'tisn't that I mind the word cels ! 211 30 ΙΟ 15 20 coward coward may be said in joke but if you had called me a poltroon, odds daggers and balls Acres. I should have thought you a very ill-bred man. Abs. Nay, Sir Lucius, you can't have a better second than friend Acres. my He is a most determined dog called in the country, Fighting Bob. — He generally kills a man a week don't you, Bob? Acres. Ayat home! Sir Luc. Well, then, captain, 'tis we must begin - so come out, my little counsellor (draws his sword) and ask the gentleman, whether he will resign the lady, without forcing you to proceed against him. Abs. Come on then, sir (draws); since you won't let it be an amicable suit, here's my reply. Enter SIR ANTHONY ABSOLUTE, DAVID, MRS. MALAPROP, LYDIA, and JULIA. Dav. Knock 'em all down, sweet Sir Anthony; knock down my master in particular; and bind his hands over to their good behaviour! Sir Anth. Put up, Jack, put up, or I shall be in a frenzy - how came you in a duel, sir? Abs. Faith, sir, that gentleman can tell you better than I; 'twas he called on me, and you know, sir, I serve his majesty. 25 Sir Anth. Here's a pretty fellow; I catch him going to cut a man's throat, and he tells me, he serves his majesty -Zounds! sirrah, then how durst you draw the king's sword against one of his subjects? |