Act 3 — SCENE III.
Reading edition
Near Combe Park.
Enter Pursenet and Boy.
Pur. A gull call you him? let me always set upon wise men; they’ll be afraid of their lives; they have a feeling of their iniquities, and know[604] what ’tis to die with fighting: ’sfoot, this gull lays on without fear or wit. How deep’s it, sayst thou, boy?
Boy. By my faith, three inches, sir.
Pur. La, this was long of you, you rogue!
Boy. Of me, sir?
Pur. Forgive me, dear boy; my wound ached, and I grew angry: there’s hope of life, boy, is there not?
Boy. Pooh, my life for yours!
Pur. A comfortable boy in man’s extremes! I was ne’er so afraid in my life but the fool would have seen my face: he had me at such advantage, he might have commanded my scarf. I ’scaped well there; ’t’ad choked me; my reputation had been past recovery: yet live I unsuspected, and still fit for gallants’ choice societies. But here I vow, if e’er I see this Bouser when he cannot see me, either in by-lane, privilege[d] place, court, alley, or come behind him when he’s standing,[605]
271Or take him when he reels from a tavern late,
Pissing again[606] a conduit, wall, or gate;
When he’s in such a plight, and clear from me[n],
I’ll do that I’m[607] asham’d to speak till then. [Exit.