_Friend._ S"death, you lye, Sir--I do.
_Tim._ Gad zoors, Sir, lye to a Privy-Counsellor, a Major of Horse!
Brother, this is an Affront to our Dignities: draw and I"ll side with you.
[They both draw on _Friendly_, the Ladies run off.
_Friend._ If I disdain to draw, "tis not that I fear your base and cowardly Force, but for the respect I bear you as Magistrates, and so I leave you.
[Goes out.
_Tim._ An arrant Coward, gad zoors.
_Dull._ A mere Paultroon, and I scorn to drink in his Company.
[Exeunt, putting up their Swords.
SCENE III. A _Sevana_, or large Heath.
Enter _Whimsey_, _Whiff_, and _Boozer_, with some Soldiers arm"d.
_Whim._ Stand--stand--and hear the word of Command--do ye see yon Cops, and that Ditch that runs along Major _Dullman"s_ Plantation?
_Booz._ We do.
_Whim._ Place your Men there, and lie flat on your Bellies, and when _Bacon_ comes, (if alone) seize him, d"ye see.
_Whiff._ Observe the Command now (if alone) for we are not for blood-shed.
_Booz._ I"ll warrant you for our parts.
[Exeunt all but _Whim._ and _Whiff_.
_Whim._ Now we have ambusht our Men, let"s light our Pipes, and sit down and take an encouraging dram of the Bottle.
[Pulls a Bottle of Brandy out of his Pocket--they sit.
_Whiff._ Thou art a Knave, and hast emptied half the Bottle in thy Leathern Pockets; but come, here"s young _Frightall"s_ Health.
_Whim._ What, wilt drink a Man"s Health thou"rt going to hang?
_Whiff._ "Tis all one for that, we"ll drink his Health first, and hang him afterwards, and thou shalt pledge me, d"ye see, and though "twere under the Gallows.
_Whim._ Thou"rt a Traitor for saying so, and I defy thee.
_Whiff._ Nay, since we are come out like loving Brothers to hang the General, let"s not fall out among our selves; and so here"s to you, [Drinks.] though I have no great Maw to this Business.
_Whim._ Prithee, Brother _Whiff_, do not be so villainous a Coward, for I hate a Coward.
_Whiff._ Nay, "tis not that--but, my _Whiff_, my _Nancy_ dreamt to night she saw me hanged.
_Whim._ "Twas a cowardly Dream, think no more on"t; but as Dreams are expounded by contraries, thou shalt hang the General.
_Whiff._ Ay--but he was my Friend, and I owe him at this time a hundred Pounds of Tobacco.
_Whim._ Nay, then I am sure thou"dst hang him if he were thy Brother.
_Whiff._ But hark--I think I hear the Neighing of Horses, where shall we hide our selves? for if we stay here, we shall be mawled d.a.m.nably.
[Exeunt both behind a Bush, peeping.
Enter _Bacon_, _Fearless_, and 3 or 4 Footmen.
_Bac._ Let the Groom lead the Horses o"er the _Sevana_; we"ll walk it on Foot, "tis not a quarter of a Mile to the Town; and here the Air is cool.
_Fear._ The Breezes about this time of the Day begin to take wing, and fan refreshment to the Trees and Flowers.
_Bac._ And at these Hours how fragrant are the Groves!
_Fear._ The Country"s well, were but the people so.
_Bac._ But come, lets on-- [They pa.s.s to the Entrance.
_Whim._ There, Boys-- [The Soldiers come forth and fall on _Bacon_.
_Bac._ Hah! Ambush--
[Draws, _Fearless_ and Footmen draw, the Soldiers after a while fighting, take _Bacon_ and _Fearless_, they having laid 3 or 4 dead.
_Whiff._ So, so, he"s taken; now we may venture out.
_Whim._ But are you sure he"s taken?
_Whiff._ Sure! can"t you believe your Eyes, come forth; I hate a Coward--Oh, Sir, have we caught your Mightiness.
_Bac._ Are you the Authors of this valiant Act? None but such villainous Cowards durst have attempted it.
_Whim._ Stop his railing Tongue.
_Whiff._ No, no, let him rail, let him rail now his Hands are ty"d, ha, ha. Why, good General _Frightall_, what, was no body able d"ye think to tame the roaring Lyon?
_Bac._ You"ll be hanged for this.
_Whim._ Come, come, away with him to the next Tree.
_Bac._ What mean you, Villains?
_Whiff._ Only to hang your Honour a little, that"s all. We"ll teach you, Sir, to serve your Country against Law.
As they go off, enter _Daring_ with Soldiers.
_Dar._ Hah--my General betray"d!--this I suspected.