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Scæne 3.
Enter Petruchio with a Letter.Petr.
This man should be of speciall rank:
For these commends carry no common way,
No slight worth with 'em:
A shall be he.
Ent. Don Iohn.
John.
'Save yee sir: I am sorrie
My businesse was so unmannerly, to make ye
Wait thus long here.
Petr.
Occasions must be serv'd sir:
But is your name Don John?
Ioh.
It is Sir.
Petr.
Then,
First, for your owne brave sake I must embrace yee:
Next, from the credit of your noble friend
Hernando de Aluara, make yee mine:
Who layes his charge upon me in this Letter
To look yee out, and for the goodnesse in yee,
Whilst your occasions make yee resident
In this place, to supply yee, love and honour yee;
Which had I knowne sooner—
Iohn.
Noble sir,
You'll make my thanks too poore: I weare a sword, sir,
And have a service to be still dispos'd of,
As you shall please command it.
Petr.
Gentle sir,
That manly courtesie is half my businesse:
And to be short, to make ye know I honour ye,
And in all points believe your worth like Oracle,
And how above my friends, which are not few,
And those not slack, I estimate your vertues.
Make your selfe understand, This day Petruchio,
A man that may command the strength of this place,
Hazzard the boldest spirits; hath made choice
Onely of you, and in a noble office.
Ioh.
Forward, I am free to entertaine it.
Petr.
Thus then:
I doe beseech ye mark me.
Ioh.
I shall doe it.
Pet.
Ferrara's Duke, would I might call him worthie,
But that he has raz'd out from his family,
As he has mine with Infamie, This man,
Rather this powerfull Monster, we being left
But two of all our house, to stock our memories,
My Sister, and my selfe; with arts, and witch-crafts,
Vowes, and such oathes heaven has no mercy for,
Drew to dishonour this weak maid, by stealthes,
And secret passages I knew not of,
Oft he obtain'd his wishes, oft abus'd her:
I am asham'd to say the rest: This purchas'd,
And his hot bloud allay'd, as friends forsake us
At a miles end upon our way, he left her,
And all our name to ruine.
Ioh.
This was foule Play,
And ought to be rewarded so.
Petr.
I hope so;
He scap'd me yester-night: which if he dare
Againe adventure for, heaven pardon him,
I shall with all my heart.
Ioh.
For me, brave Signior,
What doe yee intend?
Petr.
Onely, faire sir, this trust,
Which from the commendations of this Letter,
I dare presume well placed, nobly to beare him
By word of mouth a single challenge from me,
That man to man, if he have honour in him,
We may decide all difference.
Ioh.
Faire, and noble,
And I will doe it home: When shall I visite ye?
Pet.
Please you this after-noon, I will ride with yee.
10
To finde him.
Iohn.
Ile be ready.
Petr.
To attend ye,
My man shall wait: with all my love
Ex. Petr.
John.
My service shall not faile yee.
Enter Fredr.
Fred.
How now?
John.
All's well: who dost thou think this wench is?
Ghesse, and thou canst?
Fred.
I cannot.
Iohn.
Be it knowne then,
To all men by these presents, this is she,
She, she, and only she, our curious coxcombs
Were errant two moneths after.
Fred.
Who, Constantia?
Thou talk'st of Cocks and Bulls.
Ioh.
I talke of wenches,
Of Cocks and Hens Don Frerdick; this is the Pullet
We two went proud after.
Fred.
It cannot be.
Iohn.
It shall be;
Sister to Don Petruchio: I know all man.
Fred.
Now I beleeve.
Iohn.
Goe to, there has been stirring,
Fumbling with Linnen Fredrick.
Fred.
'Tis impossible,
You know her fame was pure as fire.
Ioh.
That pure fire
Has melted out her maiden-head: she is crackt:
We have all that hope of our side, boy.
Fred,
Thou tell'st me,
To my imagination, things incredible:
I see no loose thought in her.
Ioh.
That's all one,
She is loose ith' hilts by heaven: but the world must know
A faire way, upon vow of marriage.
Fred.
There may be such a slip.
Iohn.
And will be Fredrick.
Whil'st the old game's a foot: I feare the boy too
Will prove hers too I took up.
Fred.
Good circumstance
May cure all this yet.
Iohn.
There thou hitst it, Fredrick:
Come, let's walke in and comfort her: her being here
Is nothing yet suspected: anon Ile tell thee
Wherefore her brother came, who by this light
Is a brave noble fellow, and what honour
H'as done to me a stranger: there be Irons
Heating for some, will hisle into their heart blouds,
'Ere all be ended; so much for this time.
Fred.
Well sir.
Exeunt.
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