University of Virginia Library

A DRVNKARDS Duello.

A Worshipper of Bacchus, ripe in Grape,
From merry drunk, and toyish as an Ape,
Fell Lyon drunkard, and in Claret heate,
His cup-companion did with combate threat,
To meete next morning in Saint Georges field,
Whereto the other did encounter yeeld,
And so they left the Tauerne very late,
The Challenger reel'd home with drunken pate,
And put himselfe in complete armour, like
The God of battell, Dagger, sword, halfe Pike,
And beates vpon his aduersaries dore,
Saying, I come like Beuis to the Bore,
Appeare, base coward, rowse thee from thy den.
The other with the noyse awakening then,
Comes downe, and findes behinde his doore to stand,
A Paring shouell, which he tooke in hand,
And lends to braue Sir Lancelot of the Lake,
A blowe that made his steeled coxcombe ake,
Who double wounded, fell as he were slaine.
The other quiet went to bed againe,
And his confounded enemy lets lye,
At last the stumbling watch with light come by,
Seeing an armed man all myery foule,
They gaze on him, like Woodcocks at an Owle,
Then get him vp, and leaning on their Bils,
They samen him according to their skils,
As who, and what, and where, and which, and why?
And thus, and so, and then, and whence, and I,
Then holding of the Lanthorne to his face,
He thus deliuers them his wofull case:
You braue browne Bill-men that behold the wight,
Whom durt hath spoiled of his armour bright,
Note well the admonition that I giue,
In charitie with all your neighbours liue,
For I with malice on my friend did frowne,
And Ioue with thunderbolt hath strooke me downe,
His very hand, none else hath done the deede,
My wounds are inward, for I feele them bleed,
Disarme this heauy burden from my backe,
Knocke Vintners vp, to saue my life with Sacke.