I have fixed this post in my yard, and had it painted and carved something like a soldan or Saracen, and with him I breathe myself, and will wield my two handed sword against him, thrust or point, for an hour together." "That must make you familiar with the use of your weapon," said the smith.
"Ay, marry does it; and sometimes I will place you a bonnet--an old one, most likely--on my soldan's head, and cleave it with such a downright blow that in troth, the infidel has but little of his skull remaining to hit at." "That is unlucky, for you will lose your practice," said Henry.

"But how say you, bonnet maker?
I will put on my head piece and corselet one day, and you shall hew at me, allowing me my broadsword to parry and pay back?
Eh, what say you ?" "By no manner of means, my dear friend.

I should do you too much evil; besides, to tell you the truth, I strike far more freely at a helmet or bonnet when it is set on my wooden soldan; then I am sure to fetch it down.

But when there is a plume of feathers in it that nod, and two eyes gleaming fiercely from under the shadow of the visor, and when the whole is dancing about here and there, I acknowledge it puts out my hand of fence." "So, if men would but stand stock still like your soldan, you would play the tyrant with them, Master Proudfute ?" "In time, and with practice, I conclude I might," answered Oliver.

"But here we come up with the rest of them.