A Merry Dialogue between Band, Cuff, and Ruff · chunk 1 of 3
Anonymous · published 1615 · first performed or written 1615 (Annals) entertainment; academic entertainment · at University unassigned nearest T46 Swords, quarrels and valour · 526 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T46: rapier, sword, fight, gentlemen, gentleman, kicked, kill, dagger, signor, valour.
CVFFE, where art thou? Here at hand. Where is this Cuff? Almost at your Elbow. OH Band, art thou there? I thought thou hadst been worn out of date by this time, or shrunk in the wetting at least. What? do you think I am afraid of your great words? no, you shall know that there be men of fashion in place, as well as yourself. Good Band, do not fret so. A scurvy shagrag Gentleman, new come out of the North, a Puny, a Freshman, come up hither to learn fashions and seek to expel me? Nay: if you be so broad with him, Band, we shall have a fray presently. Sir, I'll pull down your Choler from you. It was fit time for me to stay you up, for I am sure you were a falling Band. Well, Band, for all you are so stiff, I'll make you limber enough before I have done with you. No, Hodge Peake, it's more than you can do. 'sfoot, let me come to him: well, Band, let me catch you in another place, and I will make cutwork of you. there's ne'er a Spanish Ruff of you all can do it. 'sfoot, if these two should go together by the cares and hurt one another, Ruff would be in a fine plight: would he not? Well, Band, look to thyself, for if I meet thee, I will lace thee roundly. Lace me? thou wouldest be laced thyself, Ruff, for this is the very truth, thou art a plain Knave. If they talk of lacing, I were best look about myself. Darest thou meet me in the field? In the field? why? thou art but an effeminate fellow, Ruff; for all thou art so well set: but at what weapon? Nay, I will give thee that advantage, bring thou what weapons thou wilt, I scorn to make any thing of thee, Band, but needle work. 'sfoot, thou shalt know, a Gentleman and a Soldier scorns thy proffer. A Soldier? Did you not hear of the great Bands went over of late? Where did you serve? in the Low Countries? It may be so; for I am sure he is a Holland Band. Where I have served, it is no matter, but I am sure I have been pressed oft. Truly, his Laundress will bear him witness thereof. Press me no pressings, I'll make you know that Ruff is steeled to the back, if I had my stick here, you should feel it. Nay bragger, it is not your great words can carry it away so; give Band but a hem, and he will be for you at any time, name the place, the time and hour of our meeting. The place, the Paper mills, where I will tear thee into rags, before I have done with thee: the time, tomorrow in the afternoon about one: but do you hear? we will fight single, you shall not be double, Band. Now I perceive, the Spaniard and the Hollander will to it roundly. But do you hear? once more do not say at our next meeting you forgot the time.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
VFFE, where art thou? Here at hand. Where is this Cuffe? Almoſt at your Elbow. OH Band, art thou there? I thought thou haddeſt beene worne out of date by this time, or ſhrunke in the wetting at leaſt. What? doe you thinke I am afraid of your great words? no, you ſhall know that there be men of faſhion in place, as well as your ſelfe. Good Band, doe not fret ſo. A ſcurvie ſhag-ragge Gentleman, new come out of the North, a Punie, a Freſhman, come vp hither to learne faſhions and ſeeke to expell me? Nay: if you bee ſo broad with him, Band, we ſhall haue a fray preſently. Sir, Ile pull downe your Choller from you. It was fit time for mee to ſtay you vp, for I am ſure you were a falling Band. Well, Band, for all you are ſo ſtiffe, Ile make you limber enough before I haue done with you. No, Hodge Peake, its more then you can doe. Sfoot, let mee come to him: well, Band, let mee catch you in another place, and I will make cut-worke of you. Ther's ne're a Spaniſh Ruffe of you all can doe it. Sfoot, if theſe two ſhould goe together by the cares and hurt one another, Ruffe would be in a fine plight: would he not? Well, Band, looke to thy ſelfe, for if I meet thee, I will lace thee roundly. Lace me? thou wouldeſt bee laced thy ſelfe, Ruffe, for this is the very truth, thou art a plaine Knaue. If they talke of lacing, I were beſt looke about my ſelfe. Dareſt thou meet me in the field? In the field? why? thou art but an effeminate fellow, Ruffe; for all thou art ſo well ſet: but at what weapon? Nay, I will giue thee that aduantage, bring thou what weapons thou wilt, I ſcorne to make any thing of thee, Band, but needle worke. Sfoot, thou ſhalt know, a Gentleman and a Souldier ſcornes thy proffer. A Souldier? Did you not heare of the great Bands went ouer of late? Where did you ſerue? in the Lowe Countries? It may be ſo; for I am ſure he is a Holland Band. Where I haue ſerued, it is no matter, but I am ſure I haue beene preſſed oft. Truely, his Landreſſe will beare him witneſſe thereof. Preſſe mee no preſſings, Ile make you know that Ruffe is ſteeled to the back, if I had my ſtick here, you ſhould feele it. Nay bragger, it is not your great words can carrie it away ſo; giue Band but a hemme, and he will bee for you at any time, name the place, the time and houre of our meeting. The place, the Paper mills, where I will teare thee into rags, before I haue done with thee: the time, to morrow in the after-noone about one: but doe you heare? wee will fight ſingle, you ſhall not be double, Band. Now I perceiue, the Spaniard and the Hollander will to it roundly. But doe you heare? once more doe not ſay at our next meeting you forgot the time.