The Little French Lawyer, page 1 by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher
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Nurse to Lamira.
Charlotte, Waiting Gentlewoman to Lamira.
The Scene France.
The principal Actors were,
Joseph Taylor.
John Lowin.
John Underwood.
Robert Benfield.
Nicholas Toolie.
William Egleston.
Richard Sharpe.
Thomas Holcomb.
Actus Primus. Scena Prima.
Enter Dinant, a[n]d Cleremont.
Din. Disswade me not.
Clere. It will breed a brawl.
Din. I care not, I wear a Sword.
Cler. And wear discretion with it, Or cast it off, let that direct your arm, 'Tis madness else, not valour, and more base Than to receive a wrong.
Din. Why would you have me Sit down with a disgrace, and thank the doer? We are not Stoicks, and that passive courage Is only now commendable in Lackies, Peasants, and Tradesmen, not in men of rank And qualitie, as I am.
Cler. Do not cherish That daring vice, for which the whole age suffers. The blood of our bold youth, that heretofore Was spent in honourable action, Or to defend, or to enlarge the Kingdom, For the honour of our Country, and our Prince, Pours it self out with prodigal expence Upon our Mothers lap, the Earth that bred us For every trifle; and these private Duells, Which had their first original from the Fr[enc]h (And for which, to this day, we are justly censured) Are banisht from all civil Governments: Scarce three in Venice, in as many years; In Florence, they are rarer, and in all The fair Dominions of the Spanish King, They are never heard of: Nay, those neighbour Countries, Which gladly imitate our other follies, And come at a dear rate to buy them of us, Begin now to detest them.
Din. Will you end yet--
Cler. And I have heard that some of our late Kings, For