2 Sw. If he have beaten him, I grant the case.
But how? we cannot be too subtle in this business.
I say, but how?

Bes. Even with his royal hand.

1 Sw. Was it a blow of love, or indignation?

Bes. ’Twas twenty blows of indignation, gentlemen;
Besides two blows o’ th’ face.

2 Sw. Those blows o’ th’ face have made a new cause on’t;
The rest were but an honourable rudeness.

1 Sw. Two blows o’ th’ face, and given by a worse man,
I must confess, as the swordmen say, had turn’d
The business: Mark me, brother, by a worse man:
But, being by his prince, had they been ten,
And those ten drawn ten teeth, besides the hazard
Of his nose for ever, all this had been but favours.
This is my flat opinion, which I’ll die in.

2 Sw. The king may do much, captain, believe it;
For had he crack’d your skull through, like a bottle,
Or broke a rib or two with tossing of you
Yet you bad last no honour. This is surage,
You may imagine, but this is truth now, captain.

Bes. I will be glad to embrace it, gentlemen.
But how far may he strike me?

1 Sw. There’s another;
A new cause rising from the time and distance,
In which I will deliver my opinion.
He may strike, beat, or cause to be beaten;
For these are natural to man:
Your prince, I say, may beat you so far forth
As his dominion reaches; that’s for the distance;
The time, ten miles a-day, I take it.

2 Sw. Brother, you err, ’tis fifteen miles a-day;
His stage is ten, his beatings are fifteen.

Bes. ’Tis of the longest, but we subjects must—

1 Sw. Be subject to it: You are wise and virtuous.

Bes. Obedience ever makes that noble use on’t,
To which I dedicate my beaten body.
I must trouble you a little further, gentlemen o’ th’ sword.

2 Sw. No trouble at all to us, sir, if we may
Profit your understanding: We are bound,
By virtue of our calling, to utter our opinion
Shortly, and discretely.

Bes. My sorest business is, I have been kick’d.

2 Sw. How far, sir?

Bes. Not to flatter myself in it, all over:
My sword lost, but not forced; for discretely
I render’d, it, to save that imputation.

1 Sw. It show’d discretion, the best part of valour.

2 Sw. Brother, this is a pretty cause; pray ponder on’t:
Our friend here has been kick’d.

1 Sw. He has so, brother.

2 Sw. Sorely, he says. Now, had he set down here,
Upon the mere kick, ’t had been cowardly.

I Sw. I think, it had been cowardly, indeed.