Boy. O Hodge, Dicke Coomes hath been as good as a crye of hounds, to make a breathd[1876] hayre of me! but didst thou see my master?
Hod. I met him even now, and he askt me for thee, and he is gone up and downe, whoing like[1877] an owle for thee. 230
Boy. Owle, ye asse!
Hod. Asse! no, nor glasse, for then it had been Owleglasse[1878]: but whose that, boy?
Bo. By the masse, tis our Coomes and Nicolas; and it seemes they are providing to fight. 235
Hod. Then, we shall have fine sport, i faith. Sirra, lets stand close, and when they have fought a bout or two, weele run away with the torch, and leave them to fight darkling; shall we?
Boy. Content; Ile get the torch: stand close. 239
Coo. So, now my back hath roome to reach: I doe not love to be lac't[1879] in, when I goe to lace[1879] a rascall. I pray God, Nicholas proove not a fly:[1880] it would do me good to deale with a good man now, that we might have halfe a dozen good smart stroakes. Ha, I have seen the day I could have daunst in my fight, on, two, three, foure, and five, on the head of him; six, seaven, eight, nine, and ten, on the sides of him; and, if I went so far as fifteene, I warrant I shewed[1881] him a trick of one and twentie; but I have not fought this foure dayes, and I lacke a little practise of my warde; but I shall make a shift: ha, close [Aside].—Are ye disposed, sir? 249
Nic. Yes, indeed, I feare no colours:[1882] change sides, Richard.
Coo. Change the gallowes! Ile see thee hangd[1883] first.