There is a scene in Jonson's "Every Man out of his Humour," (Act IV.
Scene 6.) in which a Euphuist of the time gives an account of the
effects of a duel on the clothes of himself and his opponent, and
never departs a syllable from the catalogue of his wardrobe. We shall
insert it in evidence that the foppery of our ancestors was not
inferior to that of our own time.
"_Fastidius_. Good faith, Signior, now you speak of a quarrel,
I'll acquaint you with a difference that happened between a gallant
and myself, Sir Puntarvolo. You know him if I should name him--Signor
Luculento.
"_Punt_. Luculento! What inauspicious chance interposed itself to
your two lives?
"_Fast_. Faith, sir, the same that sundered Agamemnon, and great
Thetis' son; but let the cause escape, sir. He sent me a challenge,
mixt with some few braves, which I restored; and, in fine, we met. Now
indeed, sir, I must tell you, he did offer at first very desperately,
but without judgment; for look you, sir, I cast myself into this
figure; now he came violently on, and withal advancing his rapier to
strike, I thought to have took his arm, for he had left his body to my
election, and I was sure he could not recover his guard. Sir, I mist
my purpose in his arm, rashed his doublet sleeves, ran him close by
the left cheek and through his hair. He, again, light me here--I had
on a gold cable hat-band, then new come up, about a murrey French hat
I had; cuts my hat-band, and yet it was massy goldsmith's work, cuts
my brim, which, by good fortune, being thick embroidered with gold
twist and spangles, disappointed the force of the blow; nevertheless
it grazed on my shoulder, takes me away six purls of an Italian
cut-work band I wore, cost me three pounds in the Exchange but three
days before.
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