 | The Chances |  |
SCENE. III.
Enter Petruchio with a Letter.Petr.
This man should be of Quality and worth
By Don Alvaras Letter, for he gives
No slight recommendations of him:
Ile e'en make use of him.
Enter Don John.
Jo.
Save ye Sir: I am sorry
My business was so unmannerly, to make ye
Wait thus long here.
Petr.
Occasions must be serv'd Sir:
But is your name Don John?
Jo.
It is Sir:
Petr.
Then,
First for your own brave sake I must embrace ye:
Next, for the credit of your noble Friend
Hernanda de Alvara, make ye mine:
Who lays his charge upon me in this Letter
To look ye out, and
Whil'st your occasions make you resident
In this place, to supply ye, love and honor ye;
Which had I known sooner—
Jo.
Noble Sir,
You'll make my thanks too poor: I wear a Sword Sir,
And have a Service to be still dispos'd of
Petr.
That manly curtesie is half my business: Sir,
And to be short, to make ye know I honor ye,
And in all points believe your worth like Oracle,
This day Petruchio,
A man that may command the strength of this place,
Hazard the boldest Spirits, hath made choice
Only of you, and in a noble Office.
Jo.
Forward, I am free to entertain it.
Petr.
Thus then:
I do beseech ye mark me.
Jo.
I shall Sir.
Petr.
Ferrara's Duke, would I might call him worthy,
But that he has raz'd out from his Family,
As he has mine with Infamy, This man,
Rather this powerful Monster, we being left
But two of all our House, to stock our Memoires,
My Sister Constantia and my self; with Arts and Witchcrafts,
Vows, and such Oaths Heaven has no mercy for,
Drew to dishonour this weak Maid, by stealth,
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 blood allay'd, he left her,
And all our Name to ruine.
Jo.
This was foul play,
And ought to be rewarded so.
Petr.
I hope so;
He scap'd me yesternight:
Which if he dare again adventure for—
Jo.
Pray Sir what Commands have you to lay on me?
Petr.
Only thus; by word of mouth to carry him
A Challenge from me that so (if he have honor in him)
We may decide all difference between us.
Jo.
Fair, and noble,
And I will do it home: when shall I visit ye?
Petr.
Please you this afternoon, I will ride with ye;
For at a Castle six mile hence, we are sure
To find him.
Jo.
I'll be ready.
Petr.
My man shall
Wait here, to conduct ye to my House.
I shall not fail ye Sir.
[Exit Petruchio.
Enter Frederick.
Fred.
How now?
Jo.
All's well, and better than thou could'st expect, for this Wench
here is certainly no Maid; and I have hopes she is the same that our two
curious. Coxcombs have been so long a hunting after.
Fred.
Why do ye hope so?
Jo.
Why? because first she is no Maid, and next because she's handsome;
there are two Reasons for you: now do you find out a third, a
better if you can. For take this Frederick, for a certain Rule, since she
loves the sport, she'll never give it over. And therefore (if we have
good luck) in time may fall to our shares.
Fred.
Very pretty Reasons indeed. But I thought you had known
some particular that made you conclude this to be the Woman.
Jo.
Yes, I know her name is Constantia.
Fred.
That now is something; but I cannot believe her dishonest for
all this: she has not one loose thought about her.
Jo.
It's no matter, she's loose i'th'hilts by Heaven. There has been
stirring, fumbling with Linnen, Frederick.
Fred.
There may be such a slip
Jo.
And will be Frederick, whil'st the old Game's afoot. I fear the
Boy too will prove hers I took up.
Fred.
Good circumstance may cure all this yet.
Jo.
There thou hit'st it Frederick, come let's walk in, and comfort
her; that she is here is nothing yet suspected. Anon I shall tell thee
why her Brother came, (who by this light is a noble Fellow) and what
honor he has done to me, a Stranger, in calling me to serve him. There
be Irons heating for some on my word Frederick.
[Exeunt.
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