country you are come into, and of its continual travel and traffic to 

 the country town you came from ; which is also very observable by 

 the fulness of its road, and the loaden horses you meet everywhere 

 upon the way. 



VIAT. Well, sir, I will be content to think as well of your country 

 as you would desire ; and I shall have a great deal of reason both to 

 think, and to speak very well of you, if I may obtain the happiness 

 of your company to the fore-mentioned place, provided your affairs 

 lead you that way, and that they will permit you to slack your pace, 

 out of complacency to a traveller utterly a stranger in these parts, and 

 who am still to wander further out of my own knowledge. 



Pise. Sir, you invite me to my own advantage, and I am ready to 

 attend you, my way lying through that town ; but my business, that 

 is, my home, some miles beyond it : however, I shall have time enough 

 to lodge you in your quarters, and afterward to perform my own 

 journey. In the meantime, may I be so bold as to inquire the end of 

 your journey ? 



VIAT. 'Tis into Lancashire, sir ; and about some business of 

 concern to a near relation of mine ; for I assure you I do not use to 

 take such long journeys as from Essex upon the single account of 

 pleasure. 



Pise. From thence, sir ! I do not then wonder you should 

 appear dissatisfied with the length of the miles, and the foulness of 

 the way : though I am sorry you should begin to quarrel with them 

 so soon ; for, believe me, sir, you will find the miles much longer, 

 and the way much worse, before you come to your journey's end. 



VIAT. Why ! truly, sir ! for that I am prepared to expect the 

 worst ; but methinks the way is mended since I had the good for- 

 tune to fall into your good company. 



Pise. You are not obliged to my company for that, but because 

 you are already past the worst, and the greatest part of your way to 

 your lodging. 



VIAT. I am very glad to hear it, both for the ease of myself and 

 my horse ; but especially, because I may then expect a freer enjoy 

 ment of your conversation ; though the shortness of the way will, I 

 fear, make me lose it the sooner. 



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