ACRES
Ay—at home!
Sir LUCIUS Well, then, captain, 'tis we must begin—so come out, my little counsellor—[Draws his sword]—and ask the gentleman, whether he will resign the lady, without forcing you to proceed against him?
ABSOLUTE Come on then, sir—[Draws]; since you won't let it be an amicable suit, here's my reply.
[Enter Sir ANTHONY ABSOLUTE, DAVID, Mrs. MALAPROP, LYDIA, and JULIA.]
DAVID Knock 'em all down, sweet Sir Anthony; knock down my master in particular; and bind his hands over to their good behaviour!
Sir ANTHONY Put up, Jack, put up, or I shall be in a frenzy—how came you in a duel, sir?
ABSOLUTE Faith, sir, that gentleman can tell you better than I; 'twas he called on me, and you know, sir, I serve his majesty.
Sir ANTHONY Here's a pretty fellow; I catch him going to cut a man's throat, and he tells me, he serves his majesty!—Zounds! sirrah, then how durst you draw the king's sword against one of his subjects?
ABSOLUTE Sir! I tell you, that gentleman called me out, without explaining his reasons.
Sir ANTHONY Gad! sir, how came you to call my son out, without explaining your reasons!