Sir _Sig_. I’ll call my own man, Sir, by what name I please, Sir; and let
me tell you, Reverend Mr. _Tickletext_, I scorn to be served by any man
whose name has not an _Acho_ or an _Oucho_, or some _Italiano_ at the end
on’t--therefore _Giovanni Peperacho_ is the name by which you shall be
distinguish’d and dignify’d hereafter.
_Tick_. Sir _Signal_, Sir _Signal_, let me tell you, that to call a man
out of his name is unwarrantable, for _Peter_ is call’d _Peter_, and
_John John_; and I’ll not see the poor Fellow wrong’d of his Name for
ne’er a _Giovanni_ in _Rome_.
Sir _Sig_. Sir, I tell you that one _Italian_ Name is worth any two
_English_ Names in Europe, and I’ll be judg’d by my Civility-Master.
_Tick_. Who shall end the dispute if he be of my opinion?
Sir _Sig_. _Multo voluntiero_, which is as much as to say, with all my
heart.
_Jack_. But, Sir, my Grandmother wou’d never own me, if I should change
the cursen Name she gave me with her own hands, an’t please your Worship.
Sir _Sig_. He _Bestia_! I’ll have no more of your Worship, Sirrah, that
old _English_ Sir Reverence, let me have you call me _Signior
Illustrissimo_ or Patrona Mea_--or--
_Tick_. Ay, that I like well enough now:--but hold, sure this is one of
your Masters.
_Enter_ Petro _drest like a French Fencing-Master_.
_Pet_. Signior _Barberacho_ has sent me to teach you de Art of Fencing.
Sir _Sig_. _Illustrissimo Signior Monsieur_, I am the Person who am to
learn.
_Tick_. Stay, Sir, stay--let me ask him some few questions first: for,
Sir, I have play’d at Back-Sword, and cou’d have handled ye a weapon as
well as any Man of my time in the University.
Sir _Sig_. Say you so, Mr. _Tickletext?_ and faith, you shall have a bout
with him.
[Tick. _gravely goes to_ Petro.
_Tick_. Hum--hum--Mr. _Monsieur_--pray what are the Guards that you like
best?
_Pet_. _Monsieur, eder de Quart or de Terse_, dey be both _French_ and
_Italian_: den for your Parades, Degagements, your Advancements, your
Eloynements and Retierments, dey be de same.
_Tick_. Cart and Horse, what new-found inventions and words have we
here?--Sir, I wou’d know, whether you like St. _George’s_ Guard or not.
_Pet_. Alons--_Monsieur, Mettez vous en Guard!_ take de Flurette.
Sir _Sig_. Nay, faith and troth, Governor, thou shalt have a Rubbers with
him.
[Tick, _smiling refuses_.
_Tick_. Nay, _certo_, Sir _Signal_,--and yet you shall prevail;--well,
Sir, come your ways.
[_Takes the Flurette_.
_Pet_. Set your right foot forward, turn up your hand so--dat be _de
Quart_--now turn it dus--and dat be _de Terse_.
_Tick_. Hocus Pocus, Hicksius Doxius--here be de Cart, and here be de
Horse--why, what’s all this for; hah, Sir--and where’s your Guard all
this while?
Sir _Sig_. Ay, Sir, where’s your Guard, Sir, as my Governour says, Sir,
hah?
_Tick_. Come, come, Sir, I must instruct you, I see; Come your ways,
Sir.--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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