better jest than t'other. 'Tis a sign you and I ha'n't been long
acquainted; you have lost a good jest for want of knowing me--I
only mean a friend of mine whom I call my Back; he sticks as close
to me, and follows me through all dangers--he is indeed back,
breast, and head-piece, as it were, to me. Agad, he's a brave
fellow. Pauh, I am quite another thing when I am with him: I
don't fear the devil (bless us) almost if he be by. Ah! had he
been with me last night -

SHARP. If he had, sir, what then? he could have done no more, nor
perhaps have suffered so much. Had he a hundred pound to lose?
[Angrily]

SIR JO. O Lord, sir, by no means, but I might have saved a hundred
pound: I meant innocently, as I hope to be saved, sir (a damned
hot fellow), only, as I was saying, I let him have all my ready
money to redeem his great sword from limbo. But, sir, I have a
letter of credit to Alderman Fondlewife, as far as two hundred
pound, and this afternoon you shall see I am a person, such a one
as you would wish to have met with -

SHARP. That you are, I'll be sworn. [Aside.] Why, that's great
and like yourself.


SCENE II.


[To them] CAPTAIN BLUFFE.