Part 8 (2/2)

[_Shouting and huzzaing._]

_A Cav._ A _toast_! gentlemen. ”Noll's nose a-fire, and the devil's youngest daughter to baste it with aqua-vitae!”

_All._ Ha! ha!

_A Cav._ Would that Goring's moonrakers might come across the snuffling organ and cut it off. We would have it by way of _pavillon_. Thou, Frank Howard! shouldst carry it as senior cornet. Thou wouldst be like curly-headed David with the spoils of the Philistine drum-major Goliah. Led on by its light we'd march direct to Whitehall, our trumpets sending dismay to the virtue of the starched coifs of the round rosy rogues of London.

_A Cav._ [_Arranging his love-lock._] Plague on't, I don't think their virtue would tremble at the chance.

_Anoth. Cav._ Lord! what rumpling of sober dimities! Poor little plump partridges, they cannot help their forced puritanism.--But all women are for king and cavalier in their hearts.

[_Two Cavaliers advance with angry gestures to the front of the stage._]

_1st Cav._ I tell thee, Wilmington! 'twas I she did regard.

_2nd Cav._ And I tell thee that thou thinkest wrong.

I know she loves me.

_1st Cav._ Did she tell thee so?

_2nd Cav._ This kerchief was hers.

_1st Cav._ Bah! Thou didst steal it from thy mother, boy! Go home and return it to her.

_2nd Cav._ Ha!

_3rd Cav._ Who is this piece of goods--she at the White Dragon?

_1st Cav._ Nay, a mercer's daughter. Wouldst like the address? She entertaineth well.

_2nd Cav._ How! 'Tis false!

_1st Cav._ I met her yestereen, and she said thou shouldst have been a canting Psalmsinger. Thou art so innocent a youth.

_2nd Cav._ h.e.l.l's fire! I'll not bear this. I tell thee she waved her hand to me from her lattice, and dropped this kerchief.

_1st Cav._ And to me she gave her garter when I left her.

_2nd Cav._ To hang thyself? Nay, thou liest!

_1st Cav._ [_Strikes him down._] Take that, thou fool!

[_He rises, they draw. Closing in of the Cavaliers near, confusion._]

_3rd Cav._ Hold, gentlemen! 'Tis a mere wanton!

I believe these wenches are dowered by old Noll to set our young hot-bloods by the ears. Hold! 'Tis not worth!

[_They continue tonight. The 2nd Cavalier is wounded._]

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