The History of Duelling. Vol. 2 (of 2)Millingen, J. G. (John Gideon)
Philosophy
The History of Duelling. Vol. 2 (of 2)
Millingen, J. G. (John Gideon)
Dueling
“I made a thrust at my enemy, but was short, and in drawing back my arm
I received a great wound thereon, which I interpreted as a reward for my
short shooting; but in revenge, I pressed into him, though I then missed
him also; and then received a wound in my right pap, which passed level
through my body, and almost to my back. And there we wrestled for the
two greatest and dearest prizes we could ever expect trial for—honour
and life; in which struggling, my hand, having but an ordinary glove on
it, lost one of her servants, though the meanest, which hung by a skin,
and to sight yet remaineth as before, and I am put in hope one day to
recover the use of it again. But at last breathless, yet keeping our
holds, there past on both sides propositions of quitting each other’s
swords; but when amity was dead, confidence could not live, and who
should quit first was the question, which on neither part either would
perform; and restriving again afresh, with a kick and a wrench together
I freed my long-captive weapon, which incontinently levying at his
throat, being master still of his, I demanded if he would ask his life
or yield his sword? Both which, though in that imminent danger, he
bravely denied to do. Myself being wounded, and feeling loss of blood,
having three conduits running on me, began to make me faint, and he
courageously persisting not to accord to either of my propositions,
remembrance of his former bloody desire, and feeling of my present
estate, I struck at his heart, but with his avoiding, missed my aim, yet
passed through his body, and drawing back my sword, repassed it through
again, through another place, when he cried, ‘Oh! I am slain,’ seconding
his speech with all the force he had to cast me: but being too weak,
after I had defended his assault, I easily became master of him, laying
him on his back, when, being upon him, I redemanded if he would request
his life? But it seems he prized it not at so dear a rate to be
beholding for it, bravely replying he scorned it! which answer of his
was so noble and worthy, as I protest, I could not find in my heart to
offer him any more violence, only keeping him down; till at length, his
surgeon, afar off, cried out he would immediately die if his wounds were
not stopped: whereupon I asked if he desired his surgeon should come?
which he accepted of; and so, being drawn away, I never offered to take
his sword, accounting it inhumane to rob a dead man, for so I held him
to be.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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