Thou shalt not lack, whilst thou hast a day to live, 215
Money, apparrell——
Coo. And sword and bucklers?
Mis. Gou. And sword and bucklers too, my gallant Dick,
So thou wilt use but this in my defence. 219
Coom. This! no, faith, I have no minde to this; breake my head, if this breake not, if we come to any tough play. Nay, mistres, I had a sword, I, the flower of Smithfield for a sword, a right fox,[1745] i faith; with that, and a man had come over with a smooth and a sharpe stroke, it would have cried twang, and then, when I had doubled my point, traste my ground, and had carried my buckler before me like a garden but,[1746] and then come in with a crosse blowe, and over the picke[1747] of his buckler two elles long, it would have cryed twang, twang, mettle, mettle: but a dogge hath his day; tis gone, and there are few good ones made now. I see by this dearth of good swords that[1748] dearth of sword and buckler fight begins to grow ont:[1749] I am sorrye for it; I shall never see good manhood againe, if it be once gone; this poking fight of rapier and dagger will come up then; then a man, a tall[1750] man, and a good sword and buckler man, will be spitted like a cat or a cunney; then a boy will be as good as a man, unlesse the Lord shewe mercie unto us; well, I had as lieve bee hang'd as live to see that day. Wel, mistres, what shal I do? what shal I do? 237
Mis. Gour. Why, this, brave Dicke. Thou knowest that Barnses[1751] wife
And I am foes: now, man me to her house;
And though it be darke, Dicke, yet weelle have no light, 240
Least that thy maister should prevent our journey