Tow. I was just preparing.

Har.  Sen. I must prevent part of the ceremony:  You thought to go to her; she is by this time at the castle, where she is invited with our common friends; for you shall give me leave, if you so please, to entertain you both.

Tow. I have some reasons, why I must refuse the honour you intend me.

Har.  Sen. You must have none:  What! my old friend steal a wedding from me?  In troth, you wrong our friendship.

Beam. [To him aside.] Sir, go not to the castle; you cannot, in honour, accept an invitation from the father, after an affront from the son.

Tow. Once more I beg your pardon, sir.

Har.  Sen. Come, come, I know your reason of refusal, but it must not prevail:  My son has been to blame; I’ll not maintain him in the least neglect, which he should show to any Englishman, much less to you, the best and most esteemed of all my friends.

Tow. I should be willing, sir, to think it was a young man’s rashness, or perhaps the rage of a successless rival; yet he might have spared some words.

Har.  Sen. Friend, he shall ask your pardon, or I’ll no longer own him; what, ungrateful to a man, whose valour has preserved him?  He shall do it, he shall indeed; I’ll make you friends upon your own conditions; he’s at the door, pray let him be admitted; this is a day of general jubilee.

Tow. You command here, you know, sir.

Fisc. I’ll call him in; I am sure he will be proud, at any rate, to redeem your kind opinion of him. [Exit.

  FISCAL re-enters, with HARMAN Junior.

Har.  Jun. Sir, my father, I hope, has in part satisfied you, that what I spoke was only an effect of sudden passion, of which I am now ashamed; and desire it may be no longer lodged in your remembrance, than it is now in my intention to do you any injury.

Tow. Your father may command me to more difficult employments, than to receive the friendship of a man, of whom I did not willingly embrace an ill opinion.

Har.  Jun. Nothing henceforward shall have power to take from me that happiness, in which you are so generously pleased to reinstate me.

Har.  Sen. Why this is as it should be; trust me, I weep for joy.

Beam. Towerson is easy, and too credulous.  I fear ’tis all dissembled on their parts. [Aside.

Har.  Sen. Now set we forward to the castle; the bride is there before us.

Tow. Sir, I wait you. [Exeunt HARMAN Sen. TOWERSON, BEAMONT,
                             and VAN HERRING.

Enter Captain PEREZ.

Fisc. Now, captain, when perform you what you promised, concerning Towerson’s death?