in A Merry Dialogue between Band, Cuff, and Ruff — Anonymous
Metadata
Play
A Merry Dialogue between Band, Cuff, and Ruff
Author
Anonymous
Year (catalogued)
1615
First performance
1615
Decade
1610s
Genre
Academic Entertainment
Play type
University
Theater
at University;
Speech prefix(es)
Band.
Words
310
Characters
1517
Typicality
0.17 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A03424
BritDrama no.
1759
Cluster
Cluster 7 — Pedants, satyrs & Latin wit
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
VFFE, where art thou? Where is this Cuff? What? do you think I am afraid of your great words? no, you shall know that there be men of fashion in place, as well as your self. A scurvy shagrag Gentleman, new come out of the North, a Puny, a Freshman, come up hither to learn fashions and seek to expel me? No, Hodge Peak, its more then you can do. Ther's never a Spanish Ruff of you all can do it. Lace me? thou wouldst be laced thy self, Ruff, for this is the very truth, thou art a plain Knave. In the field? why? thou art but and ef feminate fellow, Ruff; for all thou art so well set: but at what weapon? Sfoot, thou shalt know, a Gentleman and a Soldier scorns thy proffer. Where I have served, it is no matter, but I am sure I have been pressed oft. Nay bragger, it is not your great words can carry it away so; give Band but a hem, and he will be for you at any time, name the place, the time and hour of our meeting. Then farewell. Well, remember the time and place, Ruff. Who? Mistress Stichwell, by this light I know her not. Nor Band a button. The place the Paper-mills, the hour to morrow at one. Say and hold. Friends with him? such a base Rascal? he is a very threadbare fellow, I scorn, but my man Collar should go as well as he every day in the week, and be friends with him. Since you will force me to it, if Ruff be content, I am willing. If I may choose, I'll have Master Hand kerchief. No, I deny that, he is a very bade Justice, you may have him wrought on any side for more nic. He is not in Town.
Plot summary
Plot — A Merry Dialogue between Band, Cuff, and Ruff
Ruff and Band quarrel over which of them is the more modish, and make a date to fight a duel the following day. Cuff tries to keep the peace, threatening them with a beating from the laundress and hanging by the seamster, but is unable to dissuade them. They disagree about who should umpire the fight, but finally agree to appoint Cuff moderator. Cuff defuses the situation by arguing that both are the height of fashion with different people: ruffs are favoured by clerics (other than Puritans) and bands by gallants.