Fred. He must buy you dear; With more than common lives.

John. Fear not, nor weep not:

By Heaven, I'll fire the town before you perish!
And then, the more the merrier, we'll jog with you.
Fred. Come in, and dry your eyes.
John. Pray no more weeping:

Spoil a sweet face for nothing? My return

Shall end all this, I warrant you.

Con. Heaven grant it!

SCENE IV.

[Exeunt.

Another in the same.

Enter PETRUCCIO, with a letter.

Petr. This man should be of special rank; for these commends

Carry no common way, no slight worth, with 'em: He shall be he.

Enter DON JOHN.

John. 'Save you, sir! I am sorry

My business was so unmannerly, to make you

Wait thus long here.

Petr. Occasions must be served, sir.

But is your name Don John?

John. It is, sir.

Petr. Then,

First, for your own brave sake, I must embrace you:

Next, from the credit of your noble friend

Hernando de Alvara, make you mine;

Who lays his charge upon me in this letter
To look you out, and, for the goodness in you,
Whilst your occasions make you resident

In this place, to supply you, love and honour you;
Which, had I known sooner-

John. Noble sir,

You'll make my thanks too poor: I wear a sword, sir,

And have a service to be still disposed of,
As you shall please command it.

Petr. Gentle sir,

That manly courtesy is half my business:

And, to be short, to make you know I honour you,
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 virtues,
Make yourself understand, this day Petruccio
(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.

John. Forward; I am free to entertain it.
Petr. Thus then :

I do beseech you mark me.

John. I shall do it.

Petr. Ferrara's duke, ('would I might call him worthy!

But that he has razed 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 memories,
My sister and myself, with arts and witchcrafts,
Vows, and such oaths Heaven has no mercy for,
Drew to dishonour this weak maid, by stealths,
And secret passages I knew not of;

Oft he obtain❜d his wishes, oft abused her:
I am ashamed to say the rest! This purchased,

And his hot blood allay'd, as friends forsake us
At a mile's end upon our way, he left her,
And all our name to ruin.

John. This was foul play,

And ought to be rewarded so.
Petr. I hope so.

He 'scaped me yester-night; which, if he dare
Again adventure for, Heaven pardon him!
I shall, with all
my heart.

John. For me, brave signor,
What do you intend?

Petr. Only, fair sir, this trust,

Which, from the commendations of this letter, I dare presume well placed) nobly to bear 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.

John. Fair and noble,

And I will do it home. When shall I visit you? Petr. Please you, this afternoon. I will ride with you;

For at a castle, six miles hence, we are sure
To find him.

John. I'll be ready.

Petr. To attend you,

My man shall wait. With all my love [Exit. John. My service shall not fail you.

"With all my love.] We much doubt whether these words are not part of Don John's speech:

With all my love, my service shall not fail you.-Ed. 1778. Mason supports the alteration; but a bar, showing that Petruchio does not complete his speech, sets all right.

1

Enter FREDERIC.

Fred. How now?

John. All's well. Who dost thou think this

wench is ?

Guess, an thou canst.

Fred. I cannot.

John. Be it known then,

To all men by these presents, this is she,
She, she, and only she, our curious coxcombe
Were errant two months after.

Fred. Who? Constantia ?
Thou talk'st of cocks and bulls.

John. I talk of wenches,

Of cocks and hens, Don Frederic; this is the pullet We two went proud after.

Fred. It cannot be.

John. It shall be;

Sister to Don Petruccio: I know all, man.

Fred. Now I believe.

John. Go to; there has been stirring,

Fumbling with linen, Frederic.

Fred. Tis impossible;

You know her fame was pure as fire.

John. That pure fire

Has melted out her maidenhead; she's crack'd:

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.

John. That's all one,

She is loose i' th' hilts, by Heaven! But the world Must know a fair way; upon vow of marriage! Fred. There may be such a slip.

John. And will be, Frederic,

Whilst the old game's a-foot. I fear the boy too Will prove hers, I took up.

Fred. Good circumstance

May cure all this yet.

John. There thou hit'st it, Frederic.

Come, let's walk in and comfort her: Her being here

Is nothing yet suspected. Anon I'll tell thee
Wherefore her brother came, (who, by this light,
Is a brave noble fellow) and what honour

He has done to me, a stranger. There be irons
Heating for some, will hiss into their heart-bloods,
Ere all be ended. So much for this time.
Fred. Well, sir.

[Exeunt.

ACT III. SCENE I.

Another in the same.

Enter Landlady and PETER.

Land. Come, you do know!

Peter. I do not, by this hand, mistress :

But I suspect

Land. What?

Peter. That if

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