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 two Friends.

Capt. Well, your wills now.

1. Friend. Our wills? our loves, our duties
To honour'd fortitude: what wills have we
But our desires to nobleness and merit,
Valour's advancement, and the sacred rectitude
Due to a valorous cause?

Capt. 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.

Capt. True, then 'twere 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.

If

1. Friend. How! not in this! be not so rash a sinner. Why, Sir, do you ever hope to fight again then? Take heed on't, you must never look for that. Why, the universal stock of the World's injury Will be too poor to find a quarrel for you. Give up your right and title to desert, Sir; you fail virtue here, she needs you not All your time after; let her take this wrong, And never presume then to serve her more: Bid farewell to the integrity of Arms, And let that honorable name of soldier Fall from you like a shiver'd wreath of laurel, By thunder struck from a desertless forehead That wears another's right by usurpation. Good Captain, do not wilfully cast away

At one hour all the fame your life has won.
This is your native seat. Here you should seek
Most to preserve it; or if you will doat
So much on life, poor life, which in respect
Of life in honor is but death and darkness,
That you will prove neglectful of yourself
Which is to me too fearful to imagine)
Yet for that virtuous Lady's cause, your Mother,
Her reputation, dear to nobleness,

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.
Cap. I know too much to grant that.

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 earliness 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

Success in you has been my absolute joy,

And when I've wish'd content I've wish'd your friendship. Col. I came not hither, Sir, for an encomium.

I came provided

For storms and tempests, and the foulest season
That ever rage let forth, or blew in wildness

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 tenpence.

Cap. Yet, Sir, the world will judge the injury mine, Insufferable mine, mine beyond injury,

Thousands have made a less wrong reach to hell,
Aye and rejoyc'd in his most endless vengeance
(A miserable triumph though a just one)

But when I call to memory our long friendship,
Methinks it cannot be too great a wrong

That then I should not pardon. Why should Man
For a poor hasty syllable or two

(And vented only in forgetful fury)

Chain all the hopes and riches of his soul
To the revenge of that? die lost for ever?

For he that makes his last peace with his Maker
In anger, anger is his peace eternally :

He must expect the same return again,

Whose venture is deceitful: Must he not, Sir?
Col. I see what I must do, fairly put up again,

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,
Chuse your own word, I know you're sorry for it,
And that's as good.

Col.

Col. I sorry? by fame's honor, I am wrong'd:
Do 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 manlinesss, 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

[To his Sword.

This Captain here, both to his friends and mine,
That only came to see fair valor righted,

A base submissive Coward: so I leave him.

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, 'twill 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;
Put up a fouler contumely far

thankful.

Than thousand Cowards came to, and grew
Cap. Blessed remembrance in time of need:
I'd lost my honor else.

2. Friend.

2. Friend. Do you note his joy?

Cap. I never felt a more severe necessity :
Then came thy excellent pity. Not yet ready!
Have you such confidence in my just manhood
That you dare so long trust me, and yet tempt me
Beyond the toleration of man's virtue?

Why, would you be more cruel than your injury?
Do you first take pride to wrong me, and then think me
Not worth your fury? do not use me so:

I shall deceive you then: Sir, either draw,
And that not slightingly, but with the care

Of

your best preservation, with that watchfulness As you'd defend yourself from circular fire,

Your sin's rage, or her Lord (this will require it)
Or you'll be too soon lost: for I've an anger,
Has gather'd mighty strength against you; mighty,
Yet you shall find it honest to the last,

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 somewhat.

What's that now?

2. Friend. That's a Punto.

1. Friend. O go to then,

I knew 'twas not far off: What a world's this!

Is Coward a more stirring meat than Bastard?

ho! I honor thee:

'Tis right and fair, and he that breathes against it, He breathes against the justice of a man;

And