Sir Luc. Now-you're quite out-for if you stand so when I take my aim

[Levelling at him. Acres. Zounds! Sir Lucius-are you sure it

is not cocked?

Sir Luc. Never fear.

Acres. But-but-you don't know-it may go off of its own head!

Sir Luc. Pho! be easy.-Well, now if I hit you in the body, my bullet has a double chance for if it misses a vital part of your right side-'twill be very hard if it don't succeed on the left!

Acres. A vital part!

Sir Luc. But, there--fix yourself so-[Placing him]-let him see the broad side of your full front-there-now a ball or two may pass clean through your body, and never do any harm at all.

Acres. Clean through me!-a ball or two clean through me!

Sir Luc. Ay-may they-and it is much the genteelest attitude into the bargain.

Acres. Look'ee! Sir Lucius-I'd just as lieve be shot in an awkward posture as a genteel one; so, by my valor! I will stand edgeways. Sir Luc. [Looking at his watch.] Sure they don't mean to disappoint us-Hah!-no, faith —I think I see them coming.

Acre. Hey!-what!-coming!

Sir Luc. Ay.-Who are those yonder getting over the stile?

Acres. There are two of them indeed!-well -let them come-hey, Sir Lucius !-we--we— we-we-won't run.

Si Luc. Run!

Acres. No--I say we won't run, by my valor!

Sir Luc. What the devil's the matter with you?

Acres. Nothing-nothing-my dear friendmy dear Sir Lucius-but I-I-I don't feel quite so bold, somehow, as I did.

Sir Luc. O fy!—consider your honor. Acres. Ay-true-my honor. Do, Sir Lucius, edge in a word or two every now and then about my honor.

Sir Luc. Well, here they're coming.

[Looking.

Acres. Sir Lucius-if I wa'n't with you, I should almost think I was afraid.-If my valor should leave me!-Valor will come and go.

Sir Luc. Then pray keep it fast, while you have it.

Acres. Sir Lucius-I doubt it is going-yes -my valor is certainly going!-it is sneaking off!I feel it oozing out as it were at the palms of my hands!

Sir Luc. Your honor-your honor.-Here they are.

Acres. O mercy!-now-that I was safe at Clod Hall! or could be shot before I was aware!

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 myselfto do a kind office, first for your friend—then to proceed to business on your own account. Acres. What, Jack!-my dear Jack!—my dear friend!

Abs. Hark'ee, Bob, Beverley's at hand.

Sir Luc. Well, Mr. Acres-I don't blame your saluting 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 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 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

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.

Acres. Why no-Sir Lucius-I tell you, 'tis one 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!

Abs. Hold, Bob-let me set you right-there is no such man as Beverley in the case.-The person who 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 valor has oozed away with a vengeance!

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 anything of the kind, with the greatest pleasure.

Sir Luc. Pho! pho! you are little better than a coward.

Acres. Mind, gentlemen, he calls me coward; coward was the word, by my valor! Sir Luc. Well, sir?

Acres. Look'ee, Sir Lucius, 'tisn't that I mind the word coward-coward may be said in joke-But if you had called me a poltroon, odds daggers and balls

Sir Luc. Well, sir?

Acres. I should have thought you a very illbred man.

Sir Luc. Pho! you are beneath my notice.

Abs. Nay, Sir Lucius, you can't have a better second than my friend Acres-He is a most determined dog-called in the country, Fighting Bob.-He generally kills a man a weekdon't you, Bob?

Acres. Ay—at home!

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