Hel. Then, I confess, Here on my knee, before high Heaven and you, My friends were poor but honest; so's my love: That he is lov'd of me: I follow him not Nor would I have him, till I do deserve him; : The sun, that looks upon his worshipper, But knows of him no more. My dearest madam, Hel. Madam, I had. Wherefore? tell true. For general sovereignty; and that he will'd me As notes, whose faculties inclusive were, More than they were in note: amongst the rest, To cure the desperate languishings whereof a Captious and intenible—capable of receiving (taking), but not of retaining. Count. This was your motive for Paris, was it? speak. Had, from the conversation of my thoughts, Count. But think you, Helen, If you should tender your supposed aid, He would receive it? He and his physicians Embowell'd of their doctrine, have left off The danger to itself? Hel. There's something hints, More than my father's skill, which was the greatest Shall, for my legacy, be sanctified By the luckiest stars in heaven; and, would your honour But give me leave to try success, I'd venture The well-lost life of mine on his grace's cure, By such a day and hour. Count. Dost thou believe 't? Hel. Ay, madam, knowingly. Count. Why, Helen, thou shalt have my leave and love, Means, and attendants, and my loving greetings To those of mine in court; I'll stay at home, [Exeunt THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. KATHARINE, the Shrew, was the eldest daughter of Baptista, a rich gentleman of Padua. She was a lady of such an ungovernable spirit and fiery temper, such a loud-tongued scold, that she was known in Padua by no other name than Katharine the Shrew. It seemed very unlikely, indeed impossible, that any gentleman would ever be found who would venture to marry this lady, and therefore Baptista was much blamed for deferring his consent to many excellent offers that were made to her gentle sister Bianca, putting off all Bianca's suitors with this excuse, that when the eldest sister was fairly off his hands, they should have free leave to address young Bianca. It happened, however, that a gentleman, named Petrucio, came to Padua purposely to look out for a wife, who, nothing discouraged by these reports of Katharine's temper, and hearing she was rich and handsome, resolved upon marrying this famous termagant, and taming her into a meek and manageable wife. And truly none was so fit to set about this herculean labour as Petrucio, whose spirit was as high as Katharine's, and he was a witty and most happy-tempered humorist, and withal so wise, and of such a true judgment, that he well knew how to feign a passionate and furious deportment, when his spirits were so calm that himself could have laughed merrily at his own angry feigning; for his natural temper was careless and easy; the boisterous airs he assumed when he became the husband of Katharine being but in sport, or, more properly speaking, affected |