is sufficient
anywhere. 'Tis but borrowing so much dirt. You have large acres, and
can soon repay it. Money is but dirt, Sir Joseph--mere dirt.

SIR JO. But, I profess, 'tis a dirt I have washed my hands of at
present; I have laid it all out upon my Back.

SHARP. Are you so extravagant in clothes, Sir Joseph?

SIR JO. Ha, ha, ha, a very good jest, I profess, ha, ha, ha, a very good
jest, and I did not know that I had said it, and that's a better jest
than t'other. 'Tis a sign you and I ha'n't been long acquainted; you
have lost a good jest for want of knowing me--I only mean a friend of
mine whom I call my Back; he sticks as close to me, and follows me
through all dangers--he is indeed back, breast, and head-piece, as it
were, to me. Agad, he's a brave fellow. Pauh, I am quite another thing
when I am with him: I don't fear the devil (bless us) almost if he be by.
Ah! had he been with me last night--

SHARP. If he had, sir, what then? he could have done no more, nor
perhaps have suffered so much. Had he a hundred pound to lose?
[_Angrily_.]

SIR JO. O Lord, sir, by no means, but I might have saved a hundred
pound: I meant innocently, as I hope to be saved, sir (a damned hot
fellow), only, as I was saying, I let him have all my ready money to
redeem his great sword from limbo. But, sir, I have a letter of credit
to Alderman Fondlewife, as far as two hundred pound, and this afternoon
you shall see I am a person, such a one as you would wish to have met
with--

SHARP. That you are, I'll be sworn. [_Aside_.] Why, that's great and
like yourself.

SCENE II.

[_To them_] CAPTAIN BLUFFE.

SIR JO. Oh, here a' comes--Ay, my Hector of Troy, welcome, my bully, my
Back; agad, my heart has gone a pit pat for thee.

BLUFF. How now, my young knight? Not for fear, I hope; he that knows me
must be a stranger to fear.

SIR JO. Nay, agad, I hate fear ever since I had like to have died of a
fright. But--

BLUFF. But? Look you here, boy, here's your antidote, here's your
Jesuits' powder for a shaking fit. But who hast thou got with thee? is
he of mettle? [_Laying his hand upon his sword_.]

SIR JO. Ay, bully, a devilish smart fellow: 'a will fight like a cock.

BLUFF. Say you so? Then I honour him. But has he been abroad? for
every cock will fight upon his own dunghill.

SIR JO. I don't know, but I'll present you--

BLUFF. I'll recommend myself. Sir, I honour you; I understand you lo