1 Sw. A tall man, but intemperate; ’tis great pity.
Once more, suppose the boy kick’d.

2 Sw. Forward.

1 Sw. And, being thoroughly kick’d, laughs at the kicker.

2 Sw. So much for us. Proceed.

1 Sw. And in this beaten scorn, as I may call it,
Delivers up his weapon; where lies the error?

Bes. It lies i’ the beating, sir: I found it four days since.

2 Sw. The error, and a sore one, as I take it,
Lies in the thing kicking.

Bes. I understand that well; ’tis sore indeed, sir.

1 Sw. That is according to the man that did it.

2 Sw. There springs a new branch: Whose was the foot?

Bes. A lord’s.

1 Sw. The cause is mighty; but, had it been two lords,
And both had kick’d you, if you laugh’d, ’tis clear.

Bes. I did laugh; but how will that help me, gentlemen?

2 Sw. Yes, it shall help you, if you laugh’d aloud.

Bes. As loud as a kick’d man could laugh, I laugh’d, sir.

1 Sw. My reason now: The valiant man is known
By suffering and contemning; you have
Enough of both, and you are valiant.

2 Sw. If he be sure he has been kick’d enough:
For that brave sufferance you speak of, brother,
Consists not in a beating and away,
But in a cudgell’d body, from eighteen
To eight and thirty; in a head rebuked
With pots of all size, daggers, stools, and bedstaves:
This shows a valiant man.

Bes. Then I am valiant, as valiant as the proudest;
For these are all familiar things to me;
Familiar as my sleep, or want of money;
All my whole body’s but one bruise, with beating.
I think I have been cudgell’d with all nations,
And almost all religions. 2 Sw. Embrace him, brother! this man is valiant;
I know it by myself, he’s valiant. 1 Sw. Captain, thou art a valiant gentleman,
To bide upon, a very valiant man.

Bes. My equal friends o’ th’ sword, I must request
Your hands to this. 2 Sw. ’Tis fit it should be.

Bes. Boy,
Get me some wine, and pen and ink, within.—
Am I clear, gentlemen? 1 Sw. Sir, when the world has taken notice what we have done,
Make much of your body; for I’ll pawn my steel,
Men will be coyer of their legs hereafter.

Bes. I must request you go along, and testify
To the lord Bacurius, whose foot has struck me,
How you find my cause. 2 Sw. We will; and tell that lord he must be ruled;
Or there be those abroad, will rule his lordship.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.—An Apartment in the Palace.

Enter ARBACES at one door, and GOBRIAS with PANTHEA at another.