I have no more doublets than backs, no more stock-And not a tinker, nor Christophero Sly.— ings than legs, nor no more shoes than feet; nay, Well, bring our lady hither to our sight; sometimes, more feet than shoes, or such shoes as And once again, a pot o' the smallest ale. tny toes look through the overleather. 2 Serv. Will't please your mightiness to wash your hands? Lord. Heaven cease this idle humour in your honour! O, that a mighty man, of such descent, [Servants present an ewer, bason, and napkin. nap. Sly. What, would you make me mad? Am not I Christopher Sly, old Sly's son of Burton-heath; by birth a pedler, by education a card-maker, by transmutation a bear-herd, and now by present But did I never speak of all that time? profession a tinker? Ask Marian Hacket, the fat ale wife of Wincot, if she know me not: if she say I am not fourteen pence on the score for sheer ale, score me up for the lyingest knave in Christendom. What, I am not bestraught: Here's I Serv. O, this it is that makes your lady mourn. 2 Serv. Ó, this it is that makes your servants droop. Lord. Hence comes it that your kindred shun As beaten hence by your strange lunacy. [Music. And twenty caged nightingales do sing: 1 Serv. Say, thou wilt course; thy greyhounds As breathed stags, ay, fleeter than the roe. Adonis, painted by a running brook: Which seem to move and wanton with her breath, Lord. We'll show thee Io, as she was a maid; 3 Serv. Or Daphne, roaming through a thorny Scratching her legs that one shall swear she bleeds: 1 Serv. And, till the tears that she hath shed for Like envious floods, o'er-ran her lovely face, Sly. Am I a lord? and have I such a lady? : I smell sweet savours, and I feel soft things:- 1 Serv. O, yes, my lord; but very idle words:- 3 Serv. Why, sir, you know no house, nor no Nor no such men, as you have reckon'd up,- Sly. Now, Lord be thanked for my good amends! Sly. I thank thee; thou shalt not lose by it. Sly. Marry, I fare well; for here is cheer enough. Page. Here, noble lord; What is thy will with her? My men should call me-lord; I am your goodman. I husband; am your wife in all obedience. Sly. I know it well:-What must I call her? Sly. 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: Madam, undress you, and come now to bed. Page. Thrice noble lord, let me entreat of you, 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, Serv. Your honour's players, hearing your amendment, Are come to play a pleasant comedy, For so your doctors hold it very meet; (3) Court-leet. Seeing too much sadness hath congeal'd your blood, Enter Baptista, Katharina, Bianca, Gremio, and Hortensio. Lucentio and Tranio stand aside. Bap. Gentlemen, impórtune me no further, For how I firmly am resolv'd you know; That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter, Before I have a husband for the elder: Because I know you well, and love you well, If either of you both love Katharina, 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? To make a stale of me amongst these mates? Kath. I pray you, sir, [To Bap.] is it your wil Hor. Mates, maid! how mean you that? Do 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: 8 But, if it were, doubt not her care should be To comb your noddle with a three-legg'd stool, Enter And paint your face, and use you like a fool. Luc. Tranio, since-for the great desire I had Vincentio his son, brought up in Florence, Tra. Mi perdonate, gentle master mine, Glad that you thus continue your resolve, Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well doɛt thou advise. (1) For comedy. 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. Tra. Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill. Bap. Gentlemen, that I may soon make good Put finger in the eye,-an she knew why. Bian. Sister, content you in my discontent.Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe: My books, and instruments, shall be my company, On them to look, and practise by myself. Luc. Hark, Tranio! thou may'st hear Minerva speak. [Aside. Hor. Signior Baptista, will you be so strange? Sorry am I, that our good will effects Bianca's grief. Gre. Why, will you mew 10 her up, To mine own children in good bringing-up; [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. I Tra. Nay, then, 'tis time to stir him from hie trance. stands: pray, awake, sir; If you love the maid, Hor. So will I, signior Gremio: But a word, I Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brook'a parle, know now, upon advice,' it toucheth Her elder sister is so curst and shrewd, 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? Hor. Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister. 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. That, till the father rid his hands of her, Luc. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he! Tra. Master, for my hand, You will be schoolmaster And undertake the teaching of the maid: That's your device. Luc. It is May it be done? Tra. Not possible; for who shall bear your part, And be in Padua here Vincentio's son? Hor. 'Faith, as you say, there's small choice in Keep house, and ply his book; welcome his friends; rotten apples. But, come; since this bar in law Visit his countrymen, and banquet them? makes us friends, it shall be so far forth friendly Luc. Basta; content thee; for I have it full. maintained, till by helping Baptista's eldest We have not yet been seen in any house; daughter to a husband, we set his youngest free for Nor can we be distinguished by our faces, a husband, and then have to't afresh.-Sweet Bi- For man, or master: then it follows thus ;anca!-Happy man be his dole! He that runs fast-Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in my stead, est, gets the ring. How say you, signior Gremio? Keep house, and port, and servants, as I should Gre. I am agreed: and 'would I had given him I will some other be; some Florentine, the best horse in Padua to begin his wooing, that Some Neapolitan, or mean man of Pisa. 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 That love should of a sudden take such hold? I never thought it possible, or likely; Tra. Master, it is no time to chide you now; Luc. Gramercies, lad; go forward: this contents; Began to scold; and raise up such a storm, (1) Consideration. (2) Gain or lot. 'Tis hatch'd, and shall be so :-Tranio, at once Tra. So had you need. [They exchange habits. (For so your father charg'd me at our parting; Because so well I love Lucentio. Luc. Tranio, be so, because Lucentio loves: And let me be a slave, to achieve that maid, Whose sudden sight hath thrall'd my wounded eye. Enter Biondello. Here comes the rogue.-Sirrah, where have you been? Bion. Where have I been? Nay, how now, where Master, has my fellow Tranio stol'n your clothes? Luc. Sirrah, come hither; 'tis no time to jest, Bion. The better for him; 'Would I were so too Tra. So would I, 'faith, boy, to have the next Rap me here, knock me well, and knock me wish after, soundly? That Lucentio indeed had Baptista's youngest | And come you now with-knocking at the gate? daughter. But, sirrah,-not for my sake, but your master's,- You use your manners discreetly in all kind of When I am alone, why, then I am Tranio; One thing more rests, that thyself execute ;- Sufficeth, my reasons are both good and weighty. Sly. Yes, by saint Anne, do I. A good matter, surely; Comes there any more of it? Page. My lord, 'tis but begun. Sly. 'Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam lady; 'Would't were done! SCENE II.-The same. Before Hortensio's house. Enter Petruchio and Grumio. Pet. Verona, for a while I take my leave, Gru. Knock, sir! whom should I knock? is there any man has rebused your worship? Pet. Villain, I say, knock me here soundly. Gru. Knock you here, sir? why, sir, what am sir, that I should knock you here, sir? I, Pet. Villain, I say, knock me at this gate, And then I know after who comes by the worst. [He wrings Grumio by the ears. Gru. Help, masters, help! my master is mad. Pet. Now, knock when I bid you: sirrah! villain! Enter Hortensio. Hor. How now? what's the matter?-My old friend Grumio! and my good friend Petruchio! How do you all at Verona ? Pet. Signior Hortensio, come you to part the fray? Molto honorato signior mio Petruchio. Rise, Grumio, rise; we will compound this quarrel. Pet. Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you. Hor. Petruchio, patience; I am Grumio's pledge: Why, this is a heavy chance 'twixt him and you; Your ancient, trusty, pleasant servant Grumio. And tell me now, sweet friend,-what happy gale Blows you to Padua here, from old Verona ? Pet. Such wind as scatters young men through To seek their fortunes further than at home, And I have thrust myself into this maze, Hor. Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favour'd wife? Pet. Signior Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as we, or an Gru. Nay, look you, sir, he tells you flatly what Hor. Petruchio, since we have stepp'd thus far in, And shrewd, and froward; so beyond all measure, I would not wed her for a mine of gold. Gru. Nay, 'tis no matter, what he 'leges' in Latin Tell me her father's name, and 'tis enough; -if this be not a lawful cause for me to leave his For I will board her, though she chide as loud service,-Look you, sir,—he bid me knock him, and As thunder, when the clouds in autumn crack. rap him soundly, sir: Well, was it fit for a servant to use his master so; being, perhaps, (for aught see,) two and thirty,-a pip out? Whom, 'would to God, I had well knock'd at first, Then had not Grumio come by the worst. I Pet. A senseless villain!-Good Hortensio, me here, (1) Alleges. (2) Few words. (3) See the story, No. 39, of ' A Thousand Notable Things.' Hor. Her father is Baptista Minola, Pet. I know her father, though I know not her, Gru. I pray you, sir, let him go while the hu→ mour lasts. O''my word, an she knew him as well as I do, she would think scolding would do little (4) A small image on the tag of lace. good upon him: She may, perhaps, call him half So shall I no whit be behind in duty Gre. Belov'd of me,-and that my deeds shall Hor. Tarry, Petruchio, I must go with thee; A title for a maid, of all titles the worst. Enter Gremio; with him Lucentio disguised, with books under his arm. prove. Gru. And that his bags shall prove. [Aside. Hor. Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our love Pet. Born in Verona, old Antonio's son: Gre. O, sir, such a life, with such a wife, were But, if you have a stomach, to't, o' God's name; [Aside. Pet. Why came I hither, but to that intent? Think you, a little din can daunt mine ears? Gru. Here's no knavery! See; to beguile the Have I not in my time heard lions roar? old folks, how the young folks lay their heads to- Have I not heard the sea, puff'd up with winds, gether! Master, master, look about you: Who Rage like an angry boar, chafed with sweat? goes there? ha! Have I not heard great ordnance in the field, Hor. Peace, Grumio; 'tis the rival of my love:- And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies?' Gru. A proper stripling, and an amorous! Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets'clang. Gre. Hortensio, hark! For he fears none. I'll mend it with a largess :-Take your papers too, This gentleman is happily arriv'd, And let me have them very well perfum'd; To whom they go. What will you read to her? Gre. O this learning! what a thing it is! Hor. Grumio, mum!-God save you, signior Gre. And you're well met, signior Hortensio. Trow you, Whither I am going ?-To Baptista Minola. I promis'd to inquire carefully About a schoolmaster for fair Bianca: And, by good fortune, I have lighted well On this young man; for learning, and behaviour, My mind presumes, for his own good, and yours. [Aside. Enter Tranio, bravely apparelled; and Biondello. Gre. He that has the two fair daughters :-is't [Aside to Tranio.] he you mean? Tra. Even he. Biondello! Gre. Hark you, sir; You mean not her to-- you to do? Pet. Not her that chides, sir, at any hand, I pray Tra. An if I be, sir, is it any offence? (5) Versed. (6) Rate. (7) Present. (8) Fright boys with bug-bears. |