Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 04 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_John._ I do beseech your Grace stay there,
(For I know you too now) that love and honour
I come not to receive; nor can you give it,
Till ye appear fair to the world; I must beseech ye
Dismiss your train a little.
_Duke._ Walk aside,
And out of hearing I command ye: Now, Sir.
_John._ Last time we met, I was a friend.
_Duke._ And Nobly,
You did a friends office: let your business
Be what it may, you must be still--
_John._ Your pardon,
Never a friend to him, cannot be friend
To his own honour.
_Duke._ In what have I transgress'd it?
Ye make a bold breach at the first, Sir.
_John._ Bolder,
You made that breach that let in infamy,
And ruine, to surprise a noble stock.
_Duke._ Be plain, Sir.
_John._ I will, and short;
Ye have wrong'd a Gentleman,
Little behind your self, beyond all justice,
Beyond mediation of all friends.
_Duke._ The man, and manner of wrong?
_John._ _Petrucchio_,
The wrong, ye have Whor'd his Sister.
_Duke._ What's his will in't?
_John._ His will is to oppose you like a Gentleman,
And single, to decide all.
_Duke._ Now stay you, Sir,
And hear me with the like belief: this Gentleman,
His Sister that you nam'd, 'tis true I have long lov'd,
Nor was that love lascivious, as he makes it;
As true, I have enjoy'd her: no less truth,
I have a Child by her: but that she, or he,
Or any of that family are tainted,
Suffer disgrace, or ruin, by my pleasures,
I wear a Sword to satisfie the world no,
And him in this cause when he please; for know, Sir,
She is my Wife, contracted before Heaven,
(Witness I owe more tye to, than her Brother)
Nor will I flye from that name, which long since
Had had the Churches approbation,
But for his jealous danger.
_John._ Sir, your pardon,
And all that was my anger, now my service.
_Duk._ Fair Sir, I knew I should convert ye; had we
But that rough man here now too--
_John._ And ye shall, Sir,
Whoa, hoa, hoo.
_Duke._ I hope ye have laid no Ambush?
_Enter_ Petrucchio.
_John._ Only friends.
_Duke._ My noble Brother welcome:
Come put your anger off, we'll no fighting,
Unless you will maintain I am unworthy
To bear that name.
_Pet._ Do you speak this heartily?
_Duke._ Upon my soul, and truly; the first Priest
Shall put you out of these doubts.
_Pet._ Now I love ye;
And I beseech you pardon my suspicions,
You are now more than a Brother, a brave friend too.
_John._ The good man's over-joy'd.
_Enter_ Frederick.
_Fred._ How, how, how goes it?
_John._ Why, the man has his Mare again, and all's well, _Frederick_,
The Duke professes freely he's her Husband.
_Fred._ 'Tis a good hearing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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