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31 And lose thine offices.

Cal.I am valiant grown, At all these years, and thou art but a slave!

Mel.Leave! Some company will come, and I respect Thy years, not thee, so much, that I could wish To laugh at thee alone.

Cal.I'll spoil your mirth: I mean to fight with thee. There lie, my cloak! This was my father's sword, and he durst fight. Are you prepared?

Mel.Why wilt thou dote thyself Out of thy life? Hence, get thee to bed! Have careful looking-to, and eat warm things, And trouble not me: My head is full of thoughts, More weighty than thy life or death can be.

Cal.You have a name in war, where you stand safe Amongst a multitude; but I will try What you dare do unto a weak old man In single fight. You will give ground, I fear. Come, draw.

Mel.I will not draw, unless thou pull'st thy death Upon thee with a stroke. There's no one blow, That thou canst give, hath strength enough to kill me. Tempt me not so far then: The power of earth Shall not redeem thee.

Cal.I must let him alone: He's stout and able; and, to say the truth, However I may set a face, and talk, I am not valiant. When I was a youth, I kept my credit with a testy trick I had, 'mongst cowards, but durst never fight.

Mel.I will not promise to preserve your life, If you do stay.

Cal.I would give half my land That I durst fight with that proud man a little. If I had men to hold him, I would beat him Till he ask'd me mercy.

Mel.Sir, will you be gone?

Cal.I dare not stay; but I'll go home, and beat My servants all over for this.

Mel.This old fellow haunts me! But the distracted carriage of my Amintor Takes deeply on me: I will find the cause. I fear his conscience cries, he wrong'd Aspatia.

Enter AMINTOR.

Amin.Men's eyes are not so subtle to perceive My inward misery: I bear my grief Hid from the world. How art thou wretched then? For aught I know, all husbands are like me; And every one I talk with of his wife, Is but a well dissembler of his woes, As I am. 'Would I knew it! for the rareness afflicts me now.

Mel.Amintor, we have not enjoy'd our Friendship of late, For we were wont to charge our Souls in talk. Amin.