SCAR.  What, slave? [Draws.

BUT.  Put up your bird-spit, tut, I fear it not;
In doing deeds so base, so vile as these,
’Tis but a kna, kna, kna—­

SCAR.  Rogue!

BUT.  Tut, howsoever, ’tis a dishonest part,
And in defence of these I throw off duty.

KATH.  Good butler.

BUT.  Peace, honest mistress, I will say you are wrong’d,
Prove it upon him, even in his blood, his bones,
His guts, his maw, his throat, his entrails.

SCAR.  You runagate of threescore!

BUT.  ’Tis better than a knave of three-and-twenty.

SCAR.  Patience be my buckler! 
As not to file[429] my hands in villain’s blood;
You knave, slave, trencher-groom! 
Who is your master?

BUT.  You, if you were a master.

SCAR.  Off with your coat then, get you forth a-doors.

BUT.  My coat, sir?

SCAR.  Ay, your coat, slave.

BUT.  ’Sfoot, when you ha’t, ’tis but a threadbare coat,
And there ’tis for you:  know that I scorn
To wear his livery is so worthy born,
And live[s] so base a life; old as I am,
I’ll rather be a beggar than your man,
And there’s your service for you. [Exit.

SCAR.  Away, out of my door:  away! 
So, now your champion’s gone, minx, thou hadst better
Have gone quick unto thy grave—­

KATH.  O me! that am no cause of it.

SCAR.  Than have suborn’d that slave to lift his hand against me.

KATH.  O me! what shall become of me?

SCAR.  I’ll teach you tricks for this:  have you a companion?

    Enter BUTLER.

BUT.  My heart not suffers me to leave my honest mistress and her pretty children.

SCAR.  I’ll mark thee for a strumpet, and thy bastards—­

BUT.  What will you do to them, sir?

SCAR.  The devil in thy shape come back again?

BUT.  No, but an honest servant, sir, will take this coat,
And wear it with this sword to safeguard these,
And pity them, and I am woe for you[430], too;
But will not suffer
The husband, viper-like, to prey on them
That love him and have cherish’d him, as these
And they have you.

SCAR.  Slave!

BUT.  I will outhumour you, [I will]
Fight with you and lose my life, ere[431] these
Shall taste your wrong, whom you are bound to love.

SCAR.  Out of my doors, slave!

BUT.  I will not, but will stay and wear this coat,
And do you service whether you will or no. 
I’ll wear this sword, too, and be champion
To fight for her, in spite of any man.

SCAR.  You shall:  you shall be my master, sir.

BUT.  No, I desire it not,
I’ll pay you duty, even upon my knee,
But lose my life, ere these oppress’d I’ll see.

SCAR.  Yes, goodman slave, you shall be master,
Lie with my wife, and get more bastards; do, do, do.