Or do I dream? or have I dream'd till now? I do not sleep I see, I hear, I speak ; : 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? O, how we joy to see your wit restor❜d! 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; Nor no such men, as you have reckon'd up 13 As Stephen Sly, and old John Naps of Greece,15 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? Sly. Marry, I fare well; for here is cheer enough. Where is my wife? Page. Here, noble lord; what is thy will with her? Page. My husband and my lord, my lord and husband; Sly. I know it well.-What must I call her? Lord. Madam. Sly. Alice madam, or Joan madam? Lord. Madam, and nothing else; so lords call ladies. Sly. Madam wife, they say that Above some fifteen year or more. have dream'd, and slept Page. Ay, and the time seems thirty unto me; Sly. 'Tis much.-Servants, leave me and her alone.- In peril to incur your former malady, That I should yet absent me from your 'chamber:' I hope this reason stands for my excuse. Sly. Ay, I would be loth to fall into my dreams again. I will therefore tarry. 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; 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 it. Is it not a commonty, 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. Enter LUCENTIO and TRANIO. Luc. Tranio, since, for the great desire I had I am arriv'd for fruitful Lombardy, And, by my father's love and leave, am arm'd Vincentio's son, brought up in Florence, I your stomach serves you : No profit grows, where is no pleasure ta'en ;— In brief, sir, study what you most affect. Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise. If Biondello now were come ashore, We could at once put us in readiness ; And take a lodging, fit to entertain Tra. Master, some show, to welcome us to town. |