Sympathetic Theater

I have introduced it. Behold, therefore, the narration of the whole history in a few words.
Mr. James Howel, secretary to the Duke of Buckingham (otherwise well known in France for the accurate writings he has communicated to the world, and especially his Dendrologia Forest Talk/History of Trees, translated into the French language by Mr. Baudouin, if I am not mistaken), arrived quite opportunely one day when two of his intimate friends were locking hands and committing a single combat. He immediately performed the office of a friend and strove with all his might to separate them. Therefore, he immediately threw himself into the middle, and with his left hand seized the hilt of the sword of one of the combatants, while with his bare right hand he gripped the blade of the other. They, pulled aside by the fury lending them arms, strained every nerve to extricate themselves from the embraces of their common friend, who was seriously trying to prevent any of them from incurring imminent danger to their life. Therefore, the one, ferociously drawing back the sword—which could not be held comfortably in the hand because of its edge—cut all the nerves, muscles, and tendons in the palm of Mr. Howel. At the same moment, the other wrenched the handle of his own sword and threatened the head of his enemy with the raised blade. The enemy, avoiding the blow by inclining his body, caused it to fall upon the head of the friend, who, struggling to ward it off, presented his now