mine old master, Vincentio? now we are undone, and brought to nothing. Vin. Čome hither, crack-hemp. [Seeing BIONDEllo. Bion. I hope, I may choose, sir. Vin. Come hither, you rogue; What, have you forgot me? Bion. Forgot you? no, sir: I could not forget you, for I never saw you before in all my life. Vin. What, you notorious villain, didst thou never see thy master's father, Vincentio ? Bion. What, my old, worshipful old master? yes, marry, sir; see where he looks out of the window. Vin. Is't so, indeed? [Beats BIONDELlo. Bion. Help, help, help! here's a madman will murder me. Ped. Help, son! help, signior Baptista! [Exit. Exit, from the window. Pet. Pr'ythee, Kate, let's stand aside, and see the end of this controversy. [They retire. Re-enter Pedant below; BAPTISTA, TRANIO, and Servants. Tra. Sir, what are you, that offer to beat my servant? Vin. What am I, sir? nay, what are you, sir?O immortal gods! O fine villain! A silken doublet! a velvet hose! a scarlet cloak! and a copatain hat!3 -O, I am undone! I am undone! while I play the good husband at home, my son and my servant spend all at the university. 3 Tra. How now! what's the matter? Bap. What, is the man lunatick? Tra. Sir, you seem a sober ancient gentleman by a copatain hat!] is, I believe, a hat with a conical crown, anciently worn by well-dressed men. JOHNSON. your habit, but your words show you a madman: Why, sir, what concerns it you, if I wear pearl and gold? I thank my good father, I am able to main tain it. Vin. Thy father? O, villain! he is a sail-maker in Bergamo. Bap. You mistake, sir; you mistake, sir: Pray, what do you think is his name? Vin. His name? as if I knew not his name: I have brought him up ever since he was three years old, and his name is-Tranio. Ped. Away, away, mad ass! his name is Lucentio; and he is mine only son, and heir to the lands of me, signior Vincentio. Vin. Lucentio! O, he hath murdered his master!-Lay hold on him, I charge you, in the duke's name:-O, my son, my son!-tell me, thou villain, where is my son Lucentio? Tra. Call forth an officer: [Enter one with an Officer.] carry this mad knave to the gaol:-Father Baptista, I charge you see, that he be forthcoming. Vin. Carry me to the gaol! Gre. Stay, officer; he shall not go to prison. Bap. Talk not, signior Gremio; I say, he shall go to prison. Gre. Take heed, signior Baptista, lest you be coney-catched in this business; I dare swear, this is the right Vincentio. Ped. Swear, if thou darest. Gre. Nay, I dare not swear it. Tra. Then thou wert best say, that I am not Lucentio. Gre. Yes, I know thee to be signior Lucentio. Bap. Away with the dotard; to the gaol with him. coney-catched-] i. e. deceived, cheated. Vin. Thus strangers may be haled and abus'd:O monstrous villain! Re-enter BIONDELLO, with LUCENTIO, and Bion. O, we are spoiled, and-Yonder he is; deny him, forswear him, or else we are all undone. Luc. Pardon, sweet father. Vin. [Kneeling. Lives my sweetest son? [BIONDELLO, TRANIO, and Pedant run out. Bian. Pardon, dear father. [Kneeling. How hast thou offended? Here's Lucentio, Right son unto the right Vincentio; That have by marriage made thy daughter mine, Vin. Where is that damned villain, Tranio, Luc. Love wrought these miracles. Bianca's love Made me exchange my state with Tranio, While he did bear my countenance in the town; Unto the wished haven of my bliss: What Tranio did, myself enforc'd him to; Vin. I'll slit the villain's nose, that would have sent me to the gaol. Bap. But do you hear, sir? [To LUCENTIO.] 5 While counterfeit supposes blear'd thine eyne.] To blear the eye, was an ancient phrase signifying to deceive. • Here's packing,] i. e. plotting, underhand contrivance. Have you married my daughter without asking my good-will? Vin. Fear not, Baptista; we will content you, go to: But I will in, to be revenged for this villainy. [Exit. Bap. And I, to sound the depth of this knavery. frown. Exit. Luc. Look not pale, Bianca; thy father will not [Exeunt Luc. and BIAN. Gre. My cake is dough: But I'll in among the rest; Out of hope of all,-but my share of the feast. PETRUCHIO and KATHARINA advance. [Exit. Kath. Husband, let's follow, to see the end of this ado. Pet. First kiss me, Kate, and we will. Kath. No, sir; God forbid:-but ashamed to kiss. Pet. Why, then let's home again:-Come, sirrah, let's away. Kath. Nay, I will give thee a kiss: now pray thee, love, stay. Pet. Is not this well?-Come, my sweet Kate; Better once than never, for never too late. [Exeunt. 7 My cake is dough:] A phrase generally used when any project miscarried, or rather when any disappointment was sustained, contrary to every appearance or expectation. SCENE II. A Room in Lucentio's House. A Banquet set out. Enter BAPTISTA, VINCENTIO, GREMIO, the Pedant, LUCENTIO, BIANCA, PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, HORTENSIO, and Widow. TRANIO, BIONDELLO, GRUMIO, and Others, attending. Luc. At last, though long, our jarring notes agree: And time it is, when raging war is done, While I with self- same kindness welcome thine:- And thou, Hortensio, with thy loving widow,- [They sit at table. true. Pet. Now, for my life, Hortensio fears his widow." My banquet-] A banquet, or (as it is called in some of our old books,) an afterpast, was a slight refection, like our modern desert, consisting of cakes, sweetmeats, and fruit. fears his widow.] To fear, as has been already observed, meant in our author's time both to dread, and to intimidate. The widow understands the word in the latter sense; and Petruchio tells her, he used it in the former. MALONE. |