Man. How could I refrain? A lawyer talked peremptorily and saucily to me, and as good as gave me the lie.
Free. They do it so often to one another at the bar, that they make no bones on't elsewhere.
Man. However, I gave him a cuff on the ear; whereupon he jogs two men, whose backs were turned to us, (for they were reading at a bookseller's,) to witness I struck him, sitting the courts; which office they so readily promised, that I called 'em rascals and knights of the post.[117] One of 'em presently calls two other absent witnesses, who were coming towards us at a distance; whilst the other, with a whisper, desires to know my name, that he might have satisfaction by way of challenge, as t'other by way of writ; but if it were not rather to direct his brother's writ, than his own challenge.—There, you see, is one of my quarrels, and two of my lawsuits.
Free. So!—and the other two?
Man. For advising a poet to leave off writing, and turn lawyer, because he is dull and impudent, and says or writes nothing now but by precedent.
Free. And the third quarrel?
Man. For giving more sincere advice to a handsome, well-dressed young fellow, (who asked it too,) not to marry a wench that he loved, and I had lain with.
Free. Nay, if you will be giving your sincere advice to lovers and poets, you will not fail of quarrels.
Man. Or if I stay in this place; for I see more quarrels crowding upon me. Let's be gone, and avoid 'em.
Enter Novel at a distance, coming towards them.