Tra. Mi perdonate, gentle master mine, To suck the sweets of sweet philosophy. Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise. Tra. Master, some show, to welcome us to town. Enter BAPTISTA, KATHARINA, BIANCA, Gremio, and HORTENSIO. LUCENTIO and Tranio stand aside. Bap. Gentlemen, importune me no further, i- Aristotle's checks,] Tranio is here descanting on academical learning, and mentions by name six of the seven liberal sciences. I suspect this to be a mis-print, made by some copyist or compositor, for ethicks. The sense confirms it. BLACKSTONE. — to quicken you;] i. e, animate. Because I know you well, and love you well, me: Kath. I pray you, sir, [To BAP.7 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 Maid's mild behaviour and sobriety. Peace, Tranio. Tra. Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill. Kath. A pretty peat !3 'tis best Bian. Sister, content you in my discontent. * A pretty peat!] Peat or pet is a word of endearment from petit , little, as if it meant pretty little thing. My books, and instruments, shall be my company; [Aside. Gre. Why, will you mew her up, Bap. Gentlemen, content ye; I am resolv’d:Go in, Bianca. [Exit BIANCA. And for I know, she taketh most delight In musick, instruments, and poetry, Schoolmasters will I keep within my house, Fit to instruct her youth.-If you, Hortensio, Or signior Gremio, you-know any such, Prefer them hither; for to cunning men I will be very kind, and liberal To mine own children in good bringing-up; And so farewell. Katharina you may stay; For I have more to commune with Bianca. [Exit. Kath. Why, and I trust, I may go too; May I not? What, shall I be appointed hours; as though, be like, 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 - so strange?] That is, so odd, so different from others in your conduct. JOHNSON. - cunning meri-] Cunning had not yet lost its original signification of knowing, learned, as may be observed in the translation of the Bible. JOHNSON. - your gifts —] Gifts for endowments. 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,—that we may yet again have access to our fair mistress, and be happy rivals in Bianca's love, to labour and effect one thing 'specially. Gre. What's that, I pray? Gre. I say, a devil: Think'st thou, Hortensio, though her father be very rich, any man is so very a fool to be married to hell? Hor. Tush, Gremio, though it pass your patience and mine, to endure her loud alarums, why, man, there be good fellows in the world, an a man could light on them, would take her with all faults, and money enough. Gre. I cannot tell; but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition,--to be whipped at the high-cross every morning. Hor. 'Faith, as you say, there's small choice in rotten apples. But, come; since this bar in law makes us friends, it shall be so far forth friendly maintained, -till by helping Baptista's eldest daughter to a husband, we set his youngest free for a husband, and then have to't afresh. ---Sweet Bianca !Happy man be his dole!' He that runs fastest, gets the ring. How say you, signior Gremio? 1- I will wish him to her father.] i.e. I will recommend him. - upon advice,] i. e. on consideration, or reflection. • Happy man be his dole!] A proverbial expression. Dole is Gre. I am agreed: and 'would I had given him the best horse in Padua to begin his wooing, that would thoroughly woo her, wed her, and bed her, and rid the house of her. Come on. [Exeunt Gremio and HORTENSIO. Tra. [Advancing] I pray, sir, tell me,- Is it possible Luc. O Tranio, till I found it to be true, Tra. Master, it is no time to chide you now; SO, Redime te captum quan queas minimo. Luc. Gramercies, lad; go forward: this con tents; The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound.. Tra. Master, you look'd so longly on the maid, any thing dealt out or distributed, though its original meaning was the provision given away at the doors of great men's houses. SrEEVENS. 1- is not rated -] is not driven out by chiding. Redime, &c.] Our author had this line from Lilly, which I mention, that it might not be brought as an argument for his learning. JOHNSON. longly -] i. e. longingly. I have met with no exam. ple of this adverb. STEEVENS. |