Dag. Why are you so long, Sword, before you speak? Sword. Are duels put down? Then I am forced to be friends. Speak then. Dag. Then, in brief, it shall be thus. Sword, you shall bear chief force i' th' camp, and be made general of the field, to bear sway every where. As for you, Rapier, since duels are put down, you shall live quietly and peaceable here i' th' Court, and go every day in velvet. You shall be friends with every one, and be on every one's side; that if occasion serve, and Sword be absent, so that matters are driven to a push, Rapier shall be the only man to perform a combat: and I myself will back you both, as occasion shall serve. How say ye, are ye content? Rap. We are. Dag. Then go before to my house, to the Dagger in Cheap and there we'll conclude all. Rap. Along, Sword. [Exeunt Sword and Rapier. Dag. Our weapons drawn, and yet no hurt ye find: Betweene Band, Cuffe, and Ruffe, Done by an excellent Wit, and lately acted in a Shew in the Famous Universitie of Cambridge. London, printed by W. Stansby for Miles Partrich, and are to be sold at his shop neere Saint Dunstone's Church-yard, in Fleet Street. To the Readers of the Old Book Collector's Miscellany. The punning species of wit with which this and the preceding Dramatic Dialogues abound, is likely to have procured them many academical admirers. The particular occasion which introduced them does not appear; but as they are curious specimens of the taste of a former age in its scholastic entertainments, and by no means devoid of humour, we have reprinted them. Fencing was introduced into England from France, and soon became popular. Fencing-schools were opened in various parts of the town, and from what we can glean from our early dramatic writers, they were by no means Moral Schools, or Schools for Morals; but as every gentleman was supposed to wear a sword, and some feeling inclined also to use "schools" became a necessity, and we can, therefore, easily imagine that such a smartly written and right "Merrie Dialogue between Sword, Rapier, and Dagger," would be likely to draw. one, The "Merrie Dialogue between Band, Cuff, and Ruff," is of considerable value as an illustration of the history of the costume of the period. The band, as an article of ornament for the neck, was the common wear of gentlemen, though now exclusively retained by the clergy and lawyers; the cuff, as a fold at the end of a sleeve, or the part of the sleeve turned back from the hand, was made highly fantastical by means of ornamental "cut work;" the ruff, as a female neck ornament, made of plaited lawn, or other material, is well-known, but it was formerly used by both sexes. effeminacy and coxcombry of a man's ruff, is well ridiculed by many of our dramatic writers. The Cuff. Almost at your elbow. Ruff. Oh, Band, art thou there? I thought thou hadst been worn out of date by this time, or shrunk in the washing at least. Band. What, do you think I am afraid of your greatness? No, you shall know that there are men of fashion in place as well as yourself. Cuff. Good Band, do not fret so. Band. A scurvy shig-shag gentleman, new come out of the North; a puisne, a very freshman, come up hither to learn fashions; and seek to expel me? Cuff. Nay, if you be so broad with him, Band; we shall have a fray presently. Ruff. Sir, I'll pull down your collar for you (He jostles B. and C. stays him.) Cuff. It was time for me to stay you: for I am sure you were a falling Band. Ruff. Well, Band, for all you are so stiff, I'll make you limber enough before I leave you. Band. No, hog-yonker, its more than thou canst do. Cuff. O let me come to him. Well, Band, let me catch you in another place, and I'll make cutwork of you. Band. Cut-work of me! No, there's ne'er a Spanish Ruff of you all can do it. Cuff. S'foot, if these two should go together by the ears, Cuff would be in a fine plight; would he not? Ruff. Well, Band, thou hadst need look to thyself: for if I meet thee, I will lace thee roundly. Band. Lace me? Thou wouldst be laced thyself; for this is the very truth, Ruff, thou art but a plain knave. |