Pet.
Come, where be these gallants? who is at home?

Bap.
You're welcome, Sir.

Pet.
And yet I come not well.

Bap.
And yet you halt not.

Tra.
Not so well 'parell'd as I wish you were.

Pet.
Were it better, I should rush in thus.
But where is Kate? where is my lovely bride?
How does my father? gentles, methinks you frown:
And wherefore gaze this goodly company,
As if they saw some wondrous monument,
Some comet, or unusual prodigy?

Bap.
Why, Sir, you know this is your wedding-day:
First were we sad, fearing you would not come;
Now sadder, that you come so unprovided.
Fie, doff this habit, shame to your estate,
An eye-sore to our solemn festival.

Tra.
And tell us what occasion of import
Hath all so long detain'd you from your wife,
And sent you hither so unlike your self?

Pet.
Tedious it were to tell, and harsh to hear:
Sufficeth I am come to keep my word,
Tho' in some part enforced to digress,
Which at more leisure I will so excuse,
As you shall well be satisfied withal.
But where is Kate? I stay too long from her;
The morning wears; 'tis time we were at church.

Tra.
See not your bride in these unreverent robes;
Go to my chamber, put on cloaths of mine.

Pet.
Not I; believe me, thus I'll visit her.

Bap.
But thus, I trust, you will not marry her.

Pet.
Good sooth, even thus; therefore ha' done with words;
To me she's married, not unto my cloaths:
Could I repair what she will wear in me,
As I could change these poor accoutrements,
'Twere well for Kate, and better for my self.

But what a fool am I to chat with you,
When I should bid good-morrow to my bride,
And seal the title with a lovely kiss? [Exit.

Tra.
He hath some meaning in his mad attire:
We will persuade him, be it possible,
To put on better ere he go to church.

Bap.
I'll after him, and see the event of this. [Exit.

Previous section

Next section