_Whiff._ Ay, what can you say for your self, did you not draw your Sword, Sirrah?
_Haz._ I did.
_Tim._ "Tis sufficient, he confesses the Fact, and we"ll hear no more.
_Haz._ You will not hear the Provocation given.
_Dull._ "Tis enough, Sir, you drew--
_Whim._ Ay, ay, "tis enough, he drew--let him be fin"d.
_Friend._ The Gentleman should be heard, he"s Kinsman too to Colonel _John Surelove_.
_Tim._ Hum--Colonel _Surelove"s_ Kinsman.
_Whiff._ Is he so? nay, then all the reason in the World he should be heard, Brothers.
_Whim._ Come, come, Cornet, you shall be Friends with the Gentleman; this was some drunken bout, I"ll warrant you.
_Tim._ Ha, ha, ha, so it was, Gads zoors.
_Whiff._ Come, drink to the Gentleman, and put it up.
_Tim._ Sir, my service to you, I am heartily sorry for what"s pa.s.s"d, but it was in my drink.
[Drinks.
_Whim._ You hear his Acknowledgments, Sir, and when he"s sober he never quarrels. Come, Sir, sit down, my Service to you.
_Haz._ I beg your excuse, Gentlemen--I have earnest business.
_Dull._ Let us adjourn the Court, and prepare to meet the Regiments on the _Sevana_.
[All go but _Friend._ and _Hazard_.
_Haz._ Is this the best Court of Judicature your Country affords?
_Friend._ To give it its due, it is not. But how does thy Amour thrive?
_Haz._ As well as I can wish in so short a time.
_Friend._ I see she regards thee with kind Eyes, Sighs and Blushes.
_Haz._ Yes, and tells me I am so like a Brother she had --to excuse her kind concern,--then blushes so prettily, that, Gad, I cou"d not forbear making a discovery of my Heart.
_Friend._ Have a care of that, come upon her by slow degrees, for I know she is virtuous;--but come, let"s to the _Sevana_, where I"ll present you to the two Colonels, _Wellman_ and _Downright_, the Men that manage all till the arrival of the Governour.
[Exeunt.
SCENE II. The _Sevana_ or Heath.
Enter _Wellman_, _Downright_, _Boozer_, and Officers.
_Well._ Have you dispatch"d the Scouts, to watch the Motions of the Enemies? I know that _Bacon_ is violent and haughty, and will resent our vain Attempts upon him; therefore we must be speedy in prevention.
_Down._ What Forces have you raised since our last order?
_Booz._ Here"s a List of "em, they came but slowly in, till we promised every one a Bottle of Brandy.
Enter _Officer_ and _Dunce_.
_Offi._ We have brought Mr. _Dunce_ here, as your Honour commanded us; after strict search we found him this Morning in bed with Madam _Flirt_.
_Down._ No matter, he"ll exclaim no less against the Vices of the Flesh the next Sunday.
_Dun._ I hope, Sir, you will not credit the Malice of my Enemies.
_Well._ No more, you are free, and what you counsell"d about the Ambush, was both prudent and seasonable, and perhaps I now wish it had taken effect.
Enter _Friendly_ and _Hazard_.
_Friend._ I have brought an _English_ Gentleman to kiss your Hands, Sir, and offer you his Service, he is young and brave, and Kinsman to Colonel _Surelove_.
_Well._ Sir, you are welcome; and to let you see you are so, we will give you your Kinsman"s Command, Captain of a Troop of Horse-Guards, and which I"m sure will be continued to you when the Governour arrives.
_Haz._ I shall endeavour to deserve the Honour, Sir.
Enter _Dull._ _Tim._ _Whim._ and _Whiff_, all in Buff, Scarf, and Feather.
_Down._ So, Gentlemen, I see you"re in a readiness.
_Tim._ Readiness! What means he, I hope we are not to be drawn out to go against the Enemy, Major.
_Dull._ If we are, they shall look a new Major for me.
_Well._ We were debating, Gentlemen, what course were best to pursue against this powerful Rebel.
_Friend._ Why, Sir, we have Forces enough, let"s charge him instantly, Delays are dangerous.
_Tim._ Why, what a d.a.m.n"d fiery Fellow is this?
_Down._ But if we drive him to extremities, we fear his siding with the _Indians_.
_Dull._ Colonel _Downright_ has. .h.i.t it; why should we endanger our Men against a desperate Termagant; If he love Wounds and Scars so well, let him exercise on our Enemies--but if he will needs fall upon us, "tis then time enough for us to venture our Lives and Fortunes.
_Tim._ How, we go to _Bacon_! under favour, I think "tis his duty to come to us, an you go to that, Gads zoors.
_Friend._ If he do, "twill cost you dear, I doubt, Cornet.--I find by our List, Sir, we are four thousand Men.
_Tim._ Gads zoors, not enough for a Breakfast for that insatiate _Bacon_, and his two Lieutenant Generals, _Fearless_ and _Daring_.