Every stroke they receiv'd did not cleave them asunder. Yet so great was their courage, so equal their skill, That they both seem'd as safe as a thief in a mill; While in doubtful attention dame Victory stood, And which side to take could not tell for her blood, But remain'd like the Ass 'twixt the two bottles of hay Without ever moving an inch either way; Till Jove to the Gods signified his intention In a speech that he made them too tedious to mention. But the upshot of it was, that at that very bout From a wound in Figg's side the hot blood spouted out; Her ladyship then seem'd to think the case plain, But Figg stepping forth, with a sullen disdain, Shew'd the gash, and appeal'd to the company round If his own broken sword had not given him the wound. That bruises and wounds a man's spirit should touch, With danger so little, with honour so much! Well, they both took a dram, and return'd to the battle, And with a fresh fury they made the swords rattle; While Sutton's right arm was observed to bleed By a touch from his rival, so Jove had decreed; Just enough for to shew that his blood was not _icor_, But made up, like Figg's, of the common red liquor. Again they both rush'd with as equal a fire on, That the company cried, 'Hold, enough of cold iron; To the quarter-staff now, lads;' so first having dram'd it, They took to their wood, and i'faith never shamm'd it. The first bout they had was so fair and so handsome, That to make a fair bargain it was worth a King's ransom; And Sutton such bangs to his neighbour imparted, Would have made any fibres but Figg's to have smarted. Then after that bout they went on to another; But the matter must end in some fashion or other, So Jove told the Gods he had made a decree, That Figg should hit Sutton a stroke on the knee; Though Sutton, disabled as soon as it hit him, Would still have fought on, but Jove would not permit him. 'Twas his fate, not his fault, that constrain'd him to yield, And thus the great Figg became lord of the field." Sir Richard Steele exhibited a bill in the Court of Chancery against the holders of Drury-lane Theatre for a share in the profits of the house by virtue of his patent, in October 1725. The editor of the Flying Post observes in February 1727: "The directors of the Royal Academy of Musick have resolved, that after the excellent Opera, composed by Mr. Handel, which is now performing, Signior Attilia shall compose one; and Signior Bononcini is to compose the next after that. Thus, as this Theatre can boast of the three best voices in Europe, and the best instruments, so the town will have the pleasure of hearing these three different styles of composing."