So work manly the blood and tears are drawn. Than any woman in this waning age. 1 Serv. And, till the tears that she hath shed for thee, Like envious floods o'er-ran her lovely face, She was the fairest creature in the world; And yet she is inferior to none. Sly. Am I a lord? and have I such a lady? I smell sweet savours, and I feel soft things:- - And not a tinker, nor Christophero Sly.- 2 Serv. Will't please your mightiness to wash your hands? [Servants present an ewer, bason, and O, how we joy to see your wit restor❜d! napkin. O, that once more you knew but what you are! 1 Serv. O, yes, my lord; but very idle words :- 3 Serv. Why, sir, you know no house,nor no such maid; And twenty more such names and men as these, Sly. Now, Lord be thanked for my good amends! Sly. I thank thee; thou shalt not lose by it. Enter the Page, as a Lady, with Attendants. Page. How fares my noble lord ? [2] At the Court-leet, or courts of the manor. JOHNS. Sly. Marry, I fare well; for here is cheer enough. Where is my wife? Page. Here, noble lord; What is thy will with her? Sly. Are you my wife, and will not call me-husband? My men should call me-lord; I am your good-man. Page. My husband and my lord, my lord and husband; I am your wife in all obedience. Sly. I know it well :-What must I call her? Sly. Al'ce madam, or Joan madam ? Lord. Madam, and nothing else; so lords call ladies. Sly. Madam wife, they say that I have dream'd, and slept Above some fifteen year and more. Page. Ay, and the time seems thirty unto me; Being all this time abandon'd from your bed. Sly. 'Tis much ;-Servants, leave me and her alone. Madam, undress you, and come now to-bed. Page. Thrice noble lord, let me entreat of you, To pardon me yet for a night or two; Or, if not so, until the sun be set : For your physicians have expressly charg'd, That I should yet absent me from your bed: I hope, this reason stands for my excuse. Sly. Ay, it stands so, that I may hardly tarry so long. But I would be loath to fall into my dreams again; I will therefore tarry, in despite of the flesh and the blood. Enter a Servant. Ser. Your honour's players, hearing your amendment, Are come to play a pleasant comedy, For so your doctors hold it very meet; Seeing too much sadness hath congeal'd your blood, Therefore, they thought it good you hear a play, Sly. Marry, I will; let them play: is not a common ty a Christmas gambol, or a tumbling-trick? Page. No, my good lord; it is more pleasing stuff. Sly. What, household stuff? Page. It is a kind of history. Sly. Well, we'll see't: Come, madam wife, sit by my side, and let the world slip; we shall ne'er be younger. ¡They sit down. ACT I. SCENE I-Padua. A public Place. Enter LUCENTIO and TRANIO. Lucentio. TRANIO, since-for the great desire I had And, by my father's love and leave, am arm'd Gave me my being, and my father first, Vincentio his son, brought up in Florence, Will I apply, that treats of happiness Glad that you thus continue your resolve, [3] To fulfil the expectations of his friends. MALONE. Music and poesy, use to quicken you; Fall to them, as you find your stomach serves you : In brief, sir, study what you most affect. Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise. We could at once put us in readiness; Such friends, as time in Padua shall beget. Tra. Master, some show, to welcome us to town. Enter BAPTISTA, KATHARINA, BIANCA, GREMIO, and Bap. Gentlemen, impórtune me no further, If either of you both love Katharina, Because I know you well, and love you well, Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure. Gre. To cart her rather: She's too rough for me : There, there, Hortensio, will you any wife? Kath. I pray you, sir, [To BAP.] is it your will to make a stale of me amongst these mates? Hor. Mates, maid! how mean you that? no mates for you, Unless you were of gentler, milder mould. Kath. I'faith, sir, you shall never need to fear; I wis, it is not half way to her heart: But, if it were, doubt not her care should be To comb your noddle with a three-legg'd stool, And paint your face, and use you like a fool. Hor. From all such devils, good Lord, deliver us ! Gre. And me too, good Lord! Tra. Hush, master! here is some good pastime toward; That wench is stark mad, or wonderful froward. Luc. But in the other's silence I do see Maids' mild behaviour and sobriety. Peace, Tranio. Tra. Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill. What I have said,-Bianca, get you in: And let it not displease thee, good Bianca ; For I will love thee ne'er the less, my girl. Bian. Sister, content you in my discontent. My books, and instruments, shall be my company; Luc. Hark, Tranio! thou may'st hear Minerva speak. Hor. Signior Baptista, will you be so strange ?6 Sorry am I, that our good will effects Bianca's grief. Gre. Why will you mew her up, And make her bear the penance of her tongue? [Aside. [Exit BIANCA -And for I know, she taketh most delight Schoolmasters will I keep within my house, To mine own children in good bringing-up; [Exit. Kath. Why, and I trust, I may go too, may I not? What, shall I be appointed hours; as though, belike, I knew not what to take, and what to leave? Ha! [Exit. Gre. You may go to the devil's dam; your gifts are so good, here is none will hold you. Their love is not so great, Hortensio, but we may blow our nails together, and fast it fairly out; our cake's dough on both sides. Farewell :-Yet, for the love I bear my sweet Bianca, if I can by any means light on a fit man to teach her that wherein she delights, I will wish him to her father. Hor. So will I, signior Gremio: But a word, I pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brook'd parle, know now, upon advice, it toucheth us both, [5] Peat or pet is a word of endearment from petit, little, as if it meant pretty little thing. JOHNSON. [6] That is, so odd, so different from others in your conduct. JOHN. [7] Cunning had not yet lost its original signification of knowing, learned, as may be observed in the translation of the Bible. JOHNSON. |