Whereupon the bold Sutton first mounted the stage,
Made his honours as usual, and yearned to engage;
When Fig, with a visage so fierce, yet sedate,
Came and entered the lists with his fresh shaven pate;
Their arms were encircled with armigers too,
With a red ribbon Sutton’s, and Fig’s with a blue.
Thus advanced the two heroes, ’tween shoulder and elbow,
Shook hands, and went to’t, and the word it was, “Bilbo!”
Stanzas iv. to viii. describe the back-sword play, in which both men broke their weapons, and Fig has blood drawn by his own broken blade, whereon he appeals and another bout is granted. Fig then wounds Sutton in the arm and the sword play is over. Stanzas ix. and x. wind up the match (with cudgels), as follows:—
Then after that bout they went on to another,