 | The Chances |  |
Scæna prima.
Enter Duke, pursued by Petruchio, Antonio, and that Faction.Duke.
You will not all oppresse me?
Ant.
Kill him ith' wanton eye: let me come to him.
Duk.
Then yee shall buy me dearely.
Petr.
Say you so sir?
Ant.
I say cut his Wezand spoile his peeping:
Have at your love-sick heart sir.
John.
Sure 'tis fighting.
Enter Don John.
My friend may be engag'd: fie gentlemen,
This is unmanly oddes.
Ant.
Ile stop your mouth sir.
John.
Nay, then have at thee freely:
Ther's a plumb sir to satisfie your longing.
Du. fals down, Don Ioh. bestrides him.
Pet.
Away: I hope I have sped him: here comes rescue.
We shall be endangered: where's Antonio?
Ant.
I must have one thrust more sir.
Ioh.
Come up to me.
Ant.
A mischiefe confound your fingers.
Petr.
How is't?
Ant.
Well:
Ha's giv'n me my quietus est, I felt him
In my small guts, I'me sure, has seez'd me:
This comes of siding with ye.
2 Gent.
Can you goe sir?
Ant.
I should goe man, and my head were of,
Never talke of going.
Pet.
Come, all shall be well then.
I heare more rescue comming.
Enter the Dukes Faction.
Ant.
Let's turne back then;
My skull's uncloven yet, let me but kill.
Pet.
Away for heaven sake with him.
Ioh.
How is't?
Du.
Well sir,
Onely a little stagger'd.
Faction Du.
Lets pursue 'em.
Du.
No not a man, I charge ye: thanks good coat,
Thou hast sav'd me a shrewd welcome: 'twas put home too,
With a good minde I'me sure on't.
Ioh.
Are ye safe then?
Du.
My thanks to you brave sir, whose timely valour,
And manly courtesie came to my rescue,
Io.
Ye' had foule play offer'd ye, and shame befall him
That can passe by oppression.
Du.
May I crave sir,
But thus much honour more, to know your name?
And him I am so bound to?
Ioh.
For the Bond sir,
'Tis every good mans tye: to know me further
Will little profit ye; I am a stranger,
My Countrey Spaine; my name Don Iohn, a gentleman
That lyes here for my study.
Du.
I have heard sir,
Much worthy mention of ye, yet I finde
Fame short of what ye are.
Iohn.
You are pleas'd sir,
To expresse your courtesie: may I demand
As freely what you are, and what mischance
Cast you into this danger?
Du.
For this present
I must desire your pardon: you shall know me
Ere it be long sir, and a nobler thanks,
Then now my will can render.
Ioh.
Your will's your owne sir.
Du.
What is't you look for sir, have yee lost any thing?
Io.
Onely my hat i'th scuffle; sure these fellowes
Were night-snaps.
Du.
No, believe sir: pray ye use mine,
For 'twil be hard to finde your owne now.
Ioh.
No sir.
Du.
Indeed ye shall, I can command another:
I doe beseech ye honour me.
Io.
I will sir,
And so Ile take my leave.
Du.
Within these few dayes
I hope I shall be happy in your knowledge.
Till when I love your memory.
Io.
I yours.
Exit Duke, &c. Enter Fredrick.
This is some noble fellow.
Fred.
'Tis his tongue sure.
Don Iohn?
Ioh.
Don Fredrick?
Fred.
Ye' are fairely met sir:
I thought ye had been a Bat-fowling: prethee tell me,
What Revelations hast thou had to night,
That home was never thought of?
Io.
Revelations?
Ile tell thee Fredrick. but before I tell thee,
Settle thy understanding.
Fred.
'Tis prepar'd, sir.
Io.
Why then mark what shall follow. This night Fredr.
This bawdy night.
Fred.
I thought no lesse.
Ioh.
This blinde night,
What dost think I have got?
Fred.
The Pox it may be.
Io.
Would 'twere no worse: ye talke of Revelations,
I have got a Revelation will reveale me,
An arrant Coxcombe while I live.
Fred.
What is't?
Thou hast lost nothing?
Io.
No, I have got I tell thee.
Fr.
What hast thou got?
Io.
One of the Infantry, a childe.
Fr.
How?
Io.
A chopping child, man.
Fr.
'Give ye joy, sir.
Io.
A lump of lewdnesse Fredrick, that's the truth on't:
This Town's abominable.
Fr.
I still told ye Iohn
Your whoring must come home; I counsell'd ye:
But where no grace is—
Io.
'Tis none o' mine, man.
Fr.
Answer the Parish so.
Io.
Cheated introth.
Peeping into a house, by whom I know not,
Nor where to find the place agen: no Fredricke,
Had I but kist the ring fort; 'tis no poor one,
That's my best comfort, for't has brought about it
Enough to make it man.
Fr.
Where is't?
Io.
At home.
Fr.
A saving voyage: But what will you say Signior.
7
Has met a stranger fortune?
Joh.
How, good Frederick?
A militant girle now to this boy would hit it?
Fred.
No, mine's a nobler venture: What do you think Sir
Of a distressed Lady one whose beauty
Would oversell all Italy?
Joh.
Where is she—
Fred.
A woman of that rare behaviour,
So qualified, as admiration
Dwels round about her: of that perfect spirit—
Joh.
I marry Sir.
Fred.
That admirable carriage,
That sweetnes in discourse; young as the morning,
Her blushes staining his.
Joh.
But where's this Creature?
Shew me but that.
Fred.
That's all one, shee's forth comming.
I have her sure Boy.
Joh.
Harke ye Fredrick.
What truck betwixt my Infant?
Fred.
'Tis too light Sir,
Stick to your charges good Don John, I am well.
Joh.
But is there such a wench?
Fred.
First tell me this,
Did ye not lately as ye walk'd along,
Discover people that were arm'd, and likely
To doe offence?
Ioh.
Yes mary, and they urg'd it
As far as they had spirit.
Fred.
Pray goe forward.
Ioh.
A Gentleman I found ingag'd amongst 'em,
It seemes of noble breeding, I'm sure brave mettall,
As I return'd to looke you, I set in to him,
And without hurt (I thanke heaven) rescued him,
And came my selfe off safe too.
Fred.
My work's done then:
And now to satisfie you, there is a woman,
Oh Iohn, there is a woman—
Ioh.
Oh, where is she?
Fred.
And one of no lesse worth then I assure ye;
And which is more, falne under my protection.
Ioh.
I am glad of that: forward sweet Fredrick.
Fred.
And which is more then that, by this nights wandring,
And which is most of all, she is at home too Sir.
Io.
Come, lets be gone then.
Fred.
Yes, but 'tis most certaine,
You cannot see her, Iohn.
Ioh.
Why?
Fred.
She has sworne me
That none else shall come neare her: not my Mother
Till some few doubts are clear'd.
Ioh.
Not look upon her? What chamber is she in?
Fred.
In ours.
Ioh.
Let's goe I say:
A womans oathes are wafers, breake with making,
They must for modestie a litle: we all know it.
Fred.
No, I'le assure you Sir.
Ioh.
Not see her?
I smell an old dog trick of yours, well Fredrick.
Ye talkt to me of whoring, let's have faire play,
Square dealing I would wish ye.
Fred.
When 'tis come,
Which I know never will be, to that issue,
Your spoone shall be as deep as mine Sir.
Ioh.
Tell me,
And tell me true, is the cause honourable,
Or for your ease?
Fr.
By all our friendship, Iohn,
'Tis honest, and of great end.
Ioh.
I am answer'd:
But let me see her though: leave the doore open
As yee goe in.
Fr.
I dare not.
Io.
Not wide open,
But just so, as a jealous husband
Would levell at his wanton wife through.
Fr.
That courtesie,
If ye desire no more, and keep it strictly,
I dare afford yee: come, 'tis now neare morning.
Ex.
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