Page:The Rehearsal - Villiers (1672).djvu/51

 Bayes. Ay, and so she would have done, but that they hinder'd her.

Smi. How, Sir? whether you would or no?

Bayes. Ay, Sir; the Plot lay so that, I vow to gad, it was not to be avoided.

Smi. Marry, that was hard.

John. But, pray, who hinder'd her?

Bayes. Why, the battel, Sir, that's just coming in at door. And I'l tell you now a strange thing: though I don't pretend to do more than other men, I gad, I'l give you both a whole week to ghess how I'l represent this Battel.

Smi. I had rather be bound to fight your Battel, Sir, I assure you.

Bayes. Why, there's it now: fight a Battel? there's the common error. I knew presently where I should have you. Why, pray, Sir, do but tell me this one thing, Can you think it a decent thing, in a battel before Ladies, to have men run their Swords through one another, and all that?

Johns. No, faith, 'tis not civil.

Bayes. On the other side; to have a long relation of Squadrons here, and Squadrons there: what is that but a dull prolixity?

Johns. Excellently reason'd, by my troth!

Bayes. Wherefore, Sir, to avoid both those Indecorums, I sum up my whole battel in the representation of two persons only, no more: and yet so lively, that, I vow to gad, you would swear ten thousand men were at it, really engag'd. Do you mark me?

Smi. Yes, Sir; but I think I should hardly swear, though, for all that.

Bayes. By my troth, Sir, but you would, though, when you fee it: for I make 'em both come out in Armor, Cap-a-pea, with their Swords drawn, and hung, with a scarlet Ribbon at their wrists, (which, you know, represents fighting enough) each of 'em holding a Lute in his hand.

Smi. How, Sir, instead of a Buckler?