_Man._ No, sure; for the love to a widow generally begins here: and as the widow's cause goes against the heir or executors, the jointure-rivals commence their suit to the widow. _Free._ Well; but how, pray, have you passed your time here, since I was forced to leave you alone? You have had a great deal of patience. _Man._ Is this a place to be alone, or have patience in? But I have had patience, indeed; for I have drawn upon me, since I came, but three quarrels and two lawsuits. _Free._ Nay, faith, you are too curst to be let loose in the world: you should be tied up again in your sea-kennel, called a ship. But how could you quarrel here? _Man._ How could I refrain? A lawyer talked peremptorily and saucily to me, and as good as gave me the lie. _Free._ They do it so often to one another at the bar, that they make no bones on't elsewhere. _Man._ However, I gave him a cuff on the ear; whereupon he jogs two men, whose backs were turned to us, (for they were reading at a bookseller's,) to witness I struck him, sitting the courts; which office they so readily promised, that I called 'em rascals and knights of the post.[117] One of 'em presently calls two other absent witnesses, who were coming towards us at a distance; whilst the other, with a whisper, desires to know my name, that he might have satisfaction by way of challenge, as t'other by way of writ; but if it were not rather to direct his brother's writ, than his own challenge.--There, you see, is one of my quarrels, and two of my lawsuits. _Free._ So!--and the other two? _Man._ For advising a poet to leave off writing, and turn lawyer, because he is dull and impudent, and says or writes nothing now but by precedent. _Free._ And the third quarrel? _Man._ For giving more sincere advice to a handsome, well-dressed young fellow, (who asked it too,) not to marry a wench that he loved, and I had lain with. _Free._ Nay, if you will be giving your sincere advice to lovers and poets, you will not fail of quarrels. _Man._ Or if I stay in this place; for I see more quarrels crowding upon me. Let's be gone, and avoid 'em. _Enter_ NOVEL _at a distance, coming towards them._ A plague on him, that sneer is ominous to us; he is coming upon us, and we shall not be rid of him. _Nov._ Dear bully, don't look so grum upon me; you told me just now, you had forgiven me a little harmless raillery upon wooden legs last night. _Man._ Yes, yes, pray begone, I am talking of business. _Nov._ Can't I hear it? I love thee, and will be faithful, and always-- _Man._ Impertinent. 'Tis business that concerns Freeman only. _Nov._ Well, I love Freeman too, and would not divulge his secret.--Prithee speak, prithee, I must-- _Man._ Prithee let me be rid of thee, I must be rid of thee. _Nov._ Faith, thou canst hardly, I love thee so. Come, I must know the business.