Practise, Silk-worm, Compass.
Pra. It was a barbarous injury, I confess:
But if you will be counsell'd, Sir, by me,
The reverend Law lies open to repair
Your Reputation. That will gi'you damages;
Five thousand Pound for a Finger, I have known
Given in Court: and let me pack your Jury.
Silk. There's noithing vexes me, but that he has stain'd
My new white Sattin Doublet; and bespatter'd
My spick and span Silk-stockings, o' the day
They were drawn on: and here's a spot i' my House too.
Com. Shrewd maims! your Clothes are wounded desperately.
And that (I think) troubles a Courtier more,
An exact Courtier, than a gash in his Flesh.
Silk. My Flesh? I swear had he giv'n me twice so much,
I never should ha' reckon'd it. But my Clothes
To be defac'd, and stigmatiz'd so foully!
I take it as a contumely done me
Above the wisdom of our Laws to right.
Com. Why, then you'll challenge him?
Silk. I will advise,
Though Mr.Practice here doth urge the Law;
And reputation it will make me of credit,
Beside great damages. (Let him pack my Jury.)
Com. He speaks like Mr. Practice, one that is
The Child of a Proffesion he's vow'd to,
And servant of the study he hath taken,
A pure Apprentice of Law! But you must have
The Counsel o' the Sword; and square your action
Unto their Canons, and that Brother-hood,
If you do right.
Pra. I tell you, Mr. Compass,
You speak not like a Friend unto the Laws,
Nor scarce a subject, to perswade him thus,
Unto the breach o' the Peace; Sir you forget
There is a Court above, of the Star-Chamber,
To punish Routs and Riots.
Com. No, young Master,
Although your name be Practice there in Term-time,
I do remember it. But you'll not hear
What I was bound to say; but like a wild
Young haggard Justice, fly at breach o' the Peace,
Before you know wether the amorous Knight
Dares break the Peace of Conscience in a Duel.
Silk. Troth, Mr. Compass, I take you my Friend;
You shall appoint of me in any matter
That's reasonable, so we may meet fair,
On even terms.
Com. I shall perswade no other,
(And take you learned Counsel to advise you)
I'll run along with him. You say you'll meet him
On even terms. I do not see indeed
How that can be, 'twitxt Ironside and you,
Now I consider it, He is my Brother.
I do confess (we ha' call'd so twenty year:)
But you are, Sir a Knight in Court, allied there,
And so befriended, you may easily answer
The worst succes: He is known, noted, bold
Boy o' the Sword, hath all Mens Eyes upon him;
And there's no London-Jury, but are led
In Evidence, as far by common Fame,
As they are by present Deposition.
Then you have many Brethren, and near Kinsmen.
If he kill you, it will be a lasting quarrel
'Twixt them, and him. Whereas Rud. Ironside,
Although he ha' got his Head into a Beaver,
With a huge Feather, 's but a Corriers Son,
And has not two old Cordov'an Skins to leave
In Leather Caps to mourn him, ig he die.
Again, you are generally belov'd, he hated
So much, that all the Hearts, and Votes of Men
Go with you, in the wishing all prosperity
Unto your purpose: he's a fat, corpolent,
Unwieldy Fellow: you, a dieted Spark,
Fit for the Combat. He has kill'd so many,
As it is ten to one his turn is next;
You never fought with any; less, slew any:
And therefore have the hopes before you.
I hope these things thus specified unto you,
Are fair advantages: you cannot encounter
Him upon equal terms. Beside, Sir Silk-worm,
He hath done you wrong in a most high degree:
And sense of such an injury receiv'd,
Should so exacuate, and wet your Choler,
As you should count your self an Host of Men,
Compar'd to him. And therefore you, Brave Sir,
Have no more reason to provoke, or challenge
Him, than the huge great Porter has to try
His strength upon an Infant.
Silk. Mr. Compass,
You rather spur me on, than any way
Abate my Courage to the Enterprise.
Com. All Counsel's as it's taken. If you stand
On point of Honour, not t'have any odds,
I have rather then dissuaded you, than otherwise:
If upon terms of humour and revenge,
I have encourag'd you. So that I think,
I have done the part of a Friend on either side:
In furnishing your fear with matter first,
If you have any: Or, if you dare fight,
To heighten, and confirm your resolution.
Pra. I now do crave your pardon, Mr. Compass:
I did not apprehend your way before,
The true Perimitter of it: you have Circles,
And such fine Draughts about!
Silk. Sir, I do thank you,
I thank you, Mr. Compass, heartily:
I must confess, I never fought before,
And I'll glad to do things orderly,
In the right place: I pray you instruct me.
Is't best I fight ambitiously, or maliciously?
Com. Sir, if you never fought before, be wary,
Trust not yourself too much.
Silk. Why? I assure you,
I'm very angry.
Com. Do not suffer, though,
The flatulous, windy Choler of your Heart,
To move the Clapper of your Understanding,
Which is the guiding faculty, your Reason:
You know not, if you'll fight, or no, being brought
Upo' the place.
Silk. O yes, I have imagin'd
Him treble arm'd, provok'd too, and as furious
As Homer makes Achilles; and I find
My self not frighted with his Fame one jot.
Com. Well, yet take heed. These fights imaginary,
Are less than skirmishes; the fight of Shadows:
For Shadows have their figure, motion,
And their umbratil action from the real
Posture, and motion of the Bodies act:
Whereas (imaginarily) many times,
Those Men may fight, dare scarce eye one another,
And much less meet. But if there be no help,
Faith I would wish you, send him a fair Challenge.
Silk. I will go pen it presently.
Com. But word it
In the most generous terms.
Silk. Let me alone.
Pra. And silken Phrase: the courtliest kind of quarrel.
Com. He'll make it a Petition for his Peace.
Pra. O, yes, of right, and he may do it by Law.