Of wine in Taverns; I have one leg shot,
One arm disabled, and am honour'd more,
By losing them, as I did, in the face
Of a brave enemy, than if they were
As when I put to Sea; you are French-men only,
In that you have been laied, and cur'd, goe to:
You mock my leg, but every bone about you,
Makes you good Almanack-makers, to foretell
What weather we shall have.
 
 
Din. Put up your Sword.
 
 
Cler. Or turn it to a Crutch, there't may b[e] usefull,
And live on the relation to your Wife
Of what a brave man you were once.
 
 
Din. And tell her,
What a fine vertue 'tis in a young Lady
To give an old man pap.
 
 
Cler. Or hire a Surgeon
To teach her to roul up your broken limbs.
 
 
Din. To make a Pultess, and endure the scent
Of oils, and nasty Plasters.
 
 
Verta. Fie Sir, fie,
You that have stood all dangers of all kinds, to
Yield to a Rivalls scoffe?
 
 
Lamira. Shed tears upon
Your Wedding day? this is unmanly Gentlemen.
 
 
Champ. They are tears of anger: O that I should live
To play the woman thus! All powerfull heaven,
Restore me, but one hour, that strength again,
That I had once, to chastise in these men
Their folies, and ill manners, and that done,
When you please, I'le yield up the fort of life,
And do it gladly.
 
 
Cler. We ha' the better of him,
We ha' made him cry.
 
 
Verdo. You shall have satisfaction.
And I will do it nobly, or disclaim me.
 
 
Beaup. I say no more, you have a Brother, Sister,
This is your wedding day, we are in the street,
And howsoever they forget their honour,
'Tis fit I lose not mine, by their example.
 
 
Vert. If there be Laws in Paris, look to answer
This insolent affront.
 
 
Cler. You that live by them,
Study 'em for heavens sake; for my part I know not
Nor care not what they are. Is the[re] ought else
That you would say;
 
 
Din. Nothing, I have my ends.
 
 
Lamira weeps, I have said too much I fear;
So dearly once I lov'd her, that I cannot
Endure to see her tears.                     [Exeunt Dinant, and Cleremont.
 
 
Champ. See you perform it,
And do it like my Nephew.
 
 
Verdo. If I fail in't
Ne'r know me more, Cousin Beaupre.
 
 
Champ. Repent not
What thou hast done, my life, thou shalt not find
I am decrepit; in my love and service,
I will be young, and constant, and believe me,
For thou shalt find it true, in scorn of all
The scandals these rude men have thrown upon me
I'le meet thy pleasures with a young mans ardour,
And in all circumstances of a Husband,
Perform my part.
 
 
Lamira. Good Sir, I am your servant,
And 'tis too late now, if I did repent,
(Which as I am a virgin yet, I do not)
To undoe the knot, that by the Church is tyed.
Only I would beseech ye, as you have
A good opinion of me, and my vertues,
For so you have pleas'd to stile my innocent weakness,
That what hath pass'd be[t]ween Dinant and me,
Or what now in your hearing he hath spoken,
Beget not doubts, or fears.
 
 
Champ. I apprehend you,
You think I will be jealous; as I live
Thou art mistaken sweet; and to confirm it
Discourse with whom thou wilt, ride where thou wilt,
Feast whom thou wilt, as often as thou wilt,
For I will have no other guards upon thee
Than thine own thoughts.
 
 
Lamira. I'le use this liberty
With moderation Sir.
 
 
Beaup. I am resolv'd.
Steal off, I'le follow you.
 
 
Champ. Come Sir, you droop;
Till you find cause, which I shall never give,
Dislike not of your Son in Law.
 
 
Verta. Sir, you teach me
The language I should use; I am most happy
In being so near you.                     [Exeunt Verdone, and Beaupre.
 
 
Lamira. O my fears! good nurse
Follow my Brother unobserv'd, and learn
Which way he takes.
 
 
Nurs. I will be carefull Madam.                     [Exit Nurse.
 
 
Champ. Between us complements are superfluous,
On Gentlemen, th' affront we have met here
We'l think upon hereafter, 'twere unfit
To cherish any thought to breed unrest,
Or to our selves, or to our Nuptial feast.                     [Exeunt.
 

Enter Dinant, and Cleremont.

 
Cler. We shall have sport, ne'r fear't.
 
 
Din. What sport I prethee?
 
 
Cler. Why we must fight, I know it, and I long for't,
It was apparent in the fiery eye
Of young Verdone, Beaupre look'd pale and shook too,
Familiar signs of anger. They are both brave fellows
Tri'd and approv'd, and I am proud to encounter
With men, from whom no honour can be lost;
They will play up to a man, and set him off.
When e're I go to the field, heaven keep me from
The meeting of an unflesh'd youth or, Coward,
The first, to get a name, comes on too hot,
The Coward is so swift in giving ground,
There is no overtaking him without
A hunting Nag, well breath'd too.
 
 
Din. All this while,
You ne'r think on the danger.
 
 
Cler. Why 'tis no more
Than meeting of a dozen friends at Supper,
And drinking hard; mischief comes there unlook'd for,
I am sure as suddain, and strikes home as often,
For this we are prepar'd.
 
 
Din. Lamira Loves
Her Brother Beaupre dearly.
 
 
Cler. What of that?
 
 
Din. And should he call me to account for what
But now I spake, nor can I with mine honour
Recant my words, that little hope is left me,
E're to enjoy what (next to Heaven) I long for,
Is taken from me.
 
 
Cer. Why what can you hope for,
She being now married?
 
 
Din. Oh my Cleremont,
To you all secrets of my heart lye open,
And I rest most secure that whatsoe're
I lock up there, is as a private thought,
And will no farther wrong me. I am a French-man,
And for the greater part we are born Courtiers,
She is a woman, and however yet,
No heat of service had the power to melt
Her frozen Chastity, time and opportunitie
May work her to my ends, I confess ill ones,
And yet I must pursue 'em: now her marriage,
In probabilitie, will no way hurt,
But rather help me.
 
 
Cler. Sits the wind there? pray you tell me
How far off dwells your love from lust?
Din. Too near,
But prethee chide me not.
 
 
Cler. Not I, goe on boy,
I have faults my self, and will not reprehend
A crime I am not free from: for her Marriage,
I do esteem it (and most batchellors are
Of my opinion) as a fair protection,
To play the wanton without loss of honour.
 
 
Din. Would she make use of't so, I were most happy.
 
 
Cler. No more of this. Judge now,
Whether I have the gift of prophecie.
 

Enter Beaupre, and Verdone.

 
Beaup. Monsieur Dinant,
I am glad to find you, Sir.
 
 
Din. I am at your service.
 
 
Verd. Good Monsieur Cleremont, I have long wish'd
To be known better to you.
 
 
Cler. My desires
Embrace your wishes Sir.
 
 
Beaup. Sir, I have ever
Esteem'd you truly noble, and profess
I should have been most proud, to have had the honour
To call you Brother, but my Fathers pleasure
Denied that happiness. I know no man lives,
That can command his passions, and therefore
Dare not condemn the late intemperate language
You were pleas'd to use to my Father and my Sister,
He's old and she a woman, I most sorrie
My honour does compel me to entreat you,
To do me the favour, with your sword to meet me
A mile without the Citie.
 
 
Din. You much honour me.
In the demand, I'le gladly wait upon you.
 
 
Beaup. O Sir you teach me what to say: the time?
 
 
Din. With the next Sun, if you think fit.
 
 
Beaup. The place?
 
 
Din. Near to the vineyard eastward from the Citie.
 
 
Beaup. I like it well, this Gentleman if you please
Will keep me company.
Cler. That is agreed on;
And in my friends behalf I will attend him.
 
 
Verd. You shall not miss my service.
 
 
Beaup. Good day Gentlemen.                     [Ex. Beaup. and Verd.
 
 
Din. At your Commandment.
 
 
Cler. Proud to be your servants.
I think there is no Nation under Heaven
That cut their enemies throats with complement,
And such fine tricks as we do: If you have
Any few Prayers to say, this night you may
Call 'em to mind and use 'em, for my self,
As I have little to lose, my care is less,
So till to morrow morning I bequeath you
To your devotions; and those paid, but use
That noble courage I have seen, and we
Shall fight, as in a Castle.
 
 
Din. Thou art all honour,
Thy resolution would steel a Coward,
And I most fortunate in such a Friend;
All tenderness and nice respect of woman
Be now far from me, reputation take
A full possession of my heart, and prove
Honour the first place holds, the second Love.                     [Exeunt.
 

Enter Lamira, Charlote.

 
Lami. Sleeps my Lord still, Charlote?
 
 
Char. Not to be wak'd.
By your Ladiships cheerfull looks I well perceive
That this night the good Lord hath been
At an unusual service, and no wonder
If he rest after it.
 
 
Lamira. You are very bold.
 
 
Char. Your Creature Madam, and when you are pleas'd
Sadness to me's a stranger, your good pardon
If I speak like a fool, I could have wisht
To have ta'ne your place to night, had bold Dinant
Your first and most obsequious servant tasted
Those delicates, which by his lethargie
As it appears, have cloy'd my Lord.
 
 
Lamira. No, more.
Char. I am silenc'd, Madam.
 
 
Lamira. Saw you my nurse this morning?
 
 
Charl. No Madam.
 
 
Lamira. I am full of fears.                     [Knock within.
Who's that?
 
 
Charl. She you enquir'd for.
 
 
Lamira. Bring her in, and leave me.                     [Exit Charlote.
Now nurse what news?
 

Enter Nurse.

 
Nurse. O Ladie dreadfull ones.
They are to fight this morning, there's no remedie.
I saw my Lord your Brother, and Verdone
Take horse as I came by.
 
 
Lamira. Where's Cleremont?
 
 
Nurse. I met him too, and mounted.
 
 
Lamira. Where's Dinant?
 
 
Nurse. There's all the hope, I have staid him with a trick,
If I have done well so.
 
 
Lamira. What trick?
 
 
Nurse. I told him,
Your Ladiship laid your command upon him,
To attend you presently, and to confirm it,
Gave him the ring he oft hath seen you wear,
That you bestowed on me: he waits without
Disguis'd, and if you have that power in him,
As I presume you have, it is in you
To stay or alter him.
 
 
Lamira. Have you learnt the place,
Where they are to encounter?
 
 
Nurse. Yes 'tis where
The Duke of Burgundie met Lewis th' eleventh.
 
 
Lamir. Enough, I will reward thee liberally,                     [Exit Nurse.
Goe bring him in: full dear I loved Dinant,
While it was lawfull, but those fires are quench'd
I being now anothers, truth forgive me
And let dissimulation be no crime,
Though most unwillingly I put it on
To guard a Brothers safetie.
 

Enter Dinant.

 
Din. Now your pleasure,
Though ill you have deserv'd it, you perceive
I am still your fool, and cannot but obey
What ever you command.
 
 
Lamira. You speak, as if
You did repent it, and 'tis not worth my thanks then,
But there has been a time, in which you would
Receive this as a favour.
 
 
Din. Hope was left then
Of recompence.
 
 
Lamira. Why I am still Lamira,
And you Dinant, and 'tis yet in my power,
I dare not say I'le put it into act,
To reward your love and service.
 
 
Din. There's some comfort.
 
 
Lami. But think not that so low I prize my fame,
To give it up to any man that refuses
To buy it, or with danger of performance
Of what I shall enjoin him.
 
 
Din. Name that danger
Be it of what horrid shape soever Ladie
Which I will shrink at; only at this instant
Be speedie in't.
 
 
Lamira. I'le put you to the trial:
You shall not fight to day, do you start at that?
Not with my Brother, I have heard your difference,
Mine is no Helens beauty to be purchas'd
With blood, and so defended, if you look for
Favours from me, deserve them with obedience,
There's no way else to gain 'em.
 
 
Din. You command
What with mine honour I cannot obey,
Which lies at pawn against it, and a friend
Equally dear as that, or life, engag'd,
Not for himself, but me.
 
 
Lamira. Why, foolish man,
Dare you solicite me to serve your lust,
In which not only I abuse my Lord,
My Father, and my family, but write whore,
Though not upon my forehead, in my conscience,
To be read hourly, and yet name your honour?
Yours suffers but in circumstance; mine in substance.
If you obey me, you part with some credit,
From whom? the giddy multitude; but mankind
Will censure me, and justly.
 
 
Din. I will lose,
What most I do desire, rather than hazard
So dear a friend, or write my self a coward,
'Tis better be no man.
 
 
Lamira. This will not do;
Why, I desire not, you should be a coward,
Nor do I weigh my Brothers life with yours,
Meet him, fight with him, do, and kill him fairly,
Let me not suffer for you, I am careless.
 
 
Din. Suffer for me?
 
 
Lamira. For you, my kindness to you
Already brands me with a strumpets name.
 
 
Din. O that I knew the wretch!
 
 
Lamira. I will not name him,
Nor give you any Character to know him;
But if you dare, and instantly ride forth
At the west port of the City, and defend there
My reputation, against all you meet,
For two hours only, I'le not swear Dinant,
To satisfie, (though sure I think I shall)
What ever you desire, if you denie this,
Be desperate, for willingly, by this light,
I'le never see thee more.
 
 
Din. Two hours, do you say?
 
 
Lamira. Only two hours.
 
 
Din. I were no Gentleman,
Should I make scruple of it; this favour arms me,
And boldly I'll perform it.                     [Exit.
 
 
Lamira. I am glad on't.
This will prevent their meeting yet, and keep
My Brother safe, which was the mark I shot at.                     [Exit.