2

O, how we joy to see your wit restor'd! Therefore they thought it good you hear a p.ay, 0, that once more you knew but what you are! And frame your mind to mirth and merriment, These fifteen years you have been in a dream; Which bars a thousand harms, and lengthens life. Or, when you wak’d, so wak'd as if you slept. Sly. Marry, I will ; let them play it: Is not a comSly. These fifteen years! by my fay,' a goodly moniy“ a Christmas gambol, or a tumbling trick? nap.

Page. No, my good lord; it is more pleasing stuff But did I never speak of all that time ?

Sly. What, household stuff? 1 Serv. O, yes, my lord ; but very idle words: Page. It is a kind of history.' For though you lay here in this goodly chamber, Sly. Well, we'll see't: Come, madam wise, sit Yet would you say, ye were beaten out of door ; by my side, and let the world slip; we shall leer And rail upon the hostess of the house;

be younger.

[They sit doen, And say, you would present her at the leet,? Because she brought stone jugs and no seal'd quarts :

ACT I. Sometimes

you

would call out for Cicely Hacket, SCENE I. Padua. A public Place. Enter Sly. Ay, the woman's maid of the house.

LUCENTIO and TRANIO. 3 Serv. Why, sir, you know no house, nor no such

Luc. Tranio, since-for the great desire I had maid, Nor no such men as you have reckon'd up,

To see fair Padua, nursery of arts,-
As Stephen
Sly, and old John Naps of Greece,

I am arriv'd for fruitful Lombardy,
And Peter Turf, and Henry Pimpernell;

The pleasant garden of great Italy; And twenty more such names and men as these,

And, by my father's love and leave, am arm'd

With his good will, and thy good company,
Which never were, nor no man ever saw.
Sly. Now, Lord be thanked for my good amends! Most trusty servant, well approv'd in 'all;

Here let us breathe, and happily institute
All. Amen.

A course of learning, and ingenious studies. Sly. I thank thee; thou shalt not lose by it.

Pisa, renowned for grave citizens,
Enter the Page, as a Lady, with Attendants. Gave me my being, and my father first,
Page. How fares my noble lord ?

A merchant of great traffic through the world,
Sly. Marry, I fare well ; for here is cheer enough. Vincentio, come of the Bentivoli.
Where is my wife ?

Vincentio's son, brought up in Florence, Page. Here, noble lord ; What is thy will with It shall become, to serve all hopes conceiv'd, her ?

To deck his fortune with his virtuous deeds: Sly. Are you my wife, and will not call me, And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study, husband ?

Virtue, and that part of philosophy My men should call me-lord; I am your goodman. Will I apply,' that treats of happiness Page. My husband and my lord, my lord and By virtue 'specially to be achiev'd. husband;

Tell me thy mind: for I have Pisa left

, I am your wife in all obedience.

And am to Padua come : as he that leaves Sly. I know it well :-What must I call her ? A shallow plash,' to plunge him in the deep, Lord. Madam.

And with satiety seeks to quench his thirst. Sly. Al'ce madam, or Joan madam?

Tra. Mi perdonate, gentle master mine, Lord. Madam, and nothing else: so lords call I am in all affected as yourself. ladies.

Glad that you thus continue your resolve, Sly. Madam wife, they say that I have dream'd To suck the sweets of sweet philosophy. and slept

Only, good master, while we do admire Above some fifteen year and more.

This virtue, and this moral discipline,
Page. Ay, and the time seems thirty unto me;

Let's be no stoics, nor no stocks, I pray:
Being all this time abandon'd from your bed. Or so devote to Aristotle's ethics,'.
Sly. 'Tis much; -Servants, leave me and her As Ovid be an outcast quite abjur'd:
alone.

Balkell logic with acquaintance that you have, Madam, undress you, and come now to bed. And practise rhetoric in your common talk: Page. Thrice noble lord, let me entreat of you

Music and poesy use to quicken"? you ; To pardon me yet for a night or two;

The mathematics, and the metaphysics, Or, if not so, until the sun be set:

Fall to them as you find your stomach serves you: For your physicians have expressly charg'd, No profit grows where is no pleasure ta'en :In peril to incur your former malady,

In brief, sir, study what you most affect. That I should yet absent me from your bed : Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise. I hope this reason stands for my excuse.

If, Biondello, thou wert come ashore,
Sly. Ay, it stands so, that I may hardly tarry so We could at once put us in readiness;
long. But I would be loath to fall into my dreams And take a lodging fit to entertain
again; I will therefore tarry, in despite of the tiesh Such friends as time in Padua shall beget.
and the blood.

But stay awhile : What company is this?
Enter a Servant.

Tra. Master, some show, to welcome us to tond. Serv. Your honour's players, hearing your amend- Enter Baptista, KATHARINA, BIANCA, GREment,

Mio, and HORTENSIO. LUCENTIO and TRANIO Are come to play a pleasant comedy,

stand aside. For so your doctors hold it very meet;

Bap. Gentlemen, importune me no further,
Seeing too much sadness hath congeal'd your blood, For how I firmly am resolvid
And melancholy is the nurse of frenzy,

That is—not to bestow my youngest daughter, 1 According to some old authorities, Sly here uses a 6 i. e. to fulfil the expectations of his friends. very ladylike imprecation. "Ecastor,? says Cooper, .by my fay, used only of women.'

7 Apply for ply is frequently used by old writers

It is merely a con. Thus Baret: with diligent endeavour to applie the traction of by my fuith.

studies.' 2 That is at the Court Leel, where it was usual to she her wheele applyde.'

And in Turberville's Tragic Tales: "He* Jesent such matters, as appears from Kitchen on 8 Small piece of water.

9 Pardon me. Vourts : 'Also if tiplers sell by cups and dishes, or mea. 10 The old copy reads Aristotle's checks. Blackstone sures sealed or not sealed, is inquirable...

suggests that we should read ethics, and the renes 3 Blackstone proposes to read, old John Naps o'the seems to require it; I have therefore adnited it into the Green. The addition seeing to have been a common text. 4 For comedy.

11 The modern cditions read, · Talk logie, &e. The

old copy reads Balke, which Mr. Boswell suggeus may 5 Ingenious and ingenuous were very commonly be righi, although the meaning of die word is now boss. confounded by old writers.

you know;

one.

for you,

1

fill.

Before I have a husband for the elder:

light on a fit man to teach her that wherein she de If either of you both love Katharina,

lights, I will wish?" him to her father. Because I know you well, and love you well, Hor. So will I, signior Gremio : but a word, I Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure. pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never

Gre. To cart her rather: She's too rough for me:- brook'd parle, know now, upon advice," it toucheth
There, there, Hortensio, will you any wife? us both, that we may yet again have access to

Kath. I pray you, sir, [To Bap.] is it your will our fair mistress, and be happy rivals in Bianca's
To make a stalei of me amongst these mates ? love,-to labour and effect one thing 'specially.
Hor. Mates, maid! how mean you that? no mates Gre. What's that, I pray?

Hor. Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister. Unless you were of gentler, milder mould.

Gre. A husband! a devil.
Kath. I'faith, sir, you shall never need to fear; Hor. I say, a husband.
I wis, it is not half way to her heart:

Gre. I say, a devil: Think'st thou, Hortensio,
But if it were, doubt not her care should be though her father be very rich, any man is so very
To comb your noddle with a three-legg'd stoul, a fool to be married to hell ?
And paint your face, and use you like a fool. Hor. Tush, Gremio, though it pass your patience

Hor. From all such devils, good Lord, deliver us! and mine, to endure her loud alarums, why, man, Gre. And me too, good Lord !

there be good fellows in the world, an a man could Tre Hush, master! here is some good pastime light on them, would take her with all faults, and toward;

money enough. # That wench is stark mad, or wonderful froward. Gre. I cannot tell ; but I had as lief take her

Luc. But in the other's silence I do see dowry with this condition,—to be whipped at the Maid's mild behaviour and sobriety.

high-cross every morning. Peace, Tranio.

Hor. 'Faith, as you say, there's small choice in Tra Well said, master; mum! and gaze your rotten apples. But come; since this bar in law

makes us friends, it shall be so far forth friendly Bap. Gentlemen, that I may soon make good maintained, -till by helping Baptista's eldest daughWhat I have said,-Bianca, get you in :

ter to a husband, we set his youngest free for a And let it not displease thee, good Bianca; husband, and then have to't afresh.-Sweet Bianca ! For I will love thee ne'er the less, my girl. -Happy man be his dole !12 He that runs fastest, Kath. A pretty peat !'tis best

gets the ring." How say you, signior Gremio ? Put finger in the eye,--an she knew why.

Gre. I am agreed : and 'would I had given him Bian. Sister, content you in my discontent.- the best horse in Padna to begin his wooing, that Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe : would thoroughly woo her, wed her, and bed' her, My books, and instruments, shall be my company; and rid the house of her. Come on. On them to look, and practise by myself.

(Ereunt GREMIO and HORTENSIO. Luc. Hark, Tranio! thou may'st hear Minerva Tra. (Advancing.) I pray, sir, tell me, -Is it speak.

(Aside. possible Hor. Signinr Baptista, will you be so strange 34 That love should of a sudden take such hold? Sorry am I that our goodwill effects

Luc. O Tranio, till I found it to be true, Bianca's grief.

I never thought it possible, or likely; Gre.

Why, will you mew' her up, But see! while idly I stood looking on,
Signior Baptista, for this fiend of hell,

I found the effect of love in idleness :
And make her bear the penance of her tongue ? And now in plainness do confess to thee,

Bap. Gentlemen, content ye; I am resolv'd:- That art to me as secret, and as dear,
Go in, Bianca,

{Exit Branca. As Anna to the queen of Carthage was,And for I know, she taketh most delight

Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranin,
In music, instruments, and poetry,

If I achieve not this young modest girl :
Schoolmasters will I keep within my house, Counsel me, Tranio for I know thou canst ;
Fit to instruct her youth.--If you, Hortensió, Assist me, Tranio, for I know thou wilt.
Or signior Gremio, you-know any such,

Tra. Master, it is no time to chide you now; Prefer them hither; for to cunning' men

Affection is not rated14 from the heart: I will be very kind, and liberal

If love have touch'd you, nought remains but so, To mine own children in good bringing up ; Redime te captum quam queas minimo.“ And so farewell. Katharina, you may stay: Luc. Gramercies, lad; go forward: this conFor I have more to commune with Bianca." (Erit.

tents; Kath. Why, and I trust, I may go too: May I The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound. not?

Tra. Master, you look'd so longly16 on the maid, What, shall I be appointed hours; as though, be- Perhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all. like,

Luc. Ở yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face, I knew not what to take and what to leave? Ha! Such as the daughter'? of Agenor had,

[Exit. That made great Jove to humble him to her hand, Gre. You may go to the devil's dam : your gifts When with his knces he kiss'd the Cretan strand. are so good, here is none will hold you. Theiro Tra. Saw you no more ; mark'd you not, how love is not so great, Hortensio, but we may blow

her sister our Dails together, and fast it fairly out; our cake's Began to scold ; and raise up such a storm, dough on both sides. Farewell,-yet, for the love That mortal ears might hardly endure the din? I bear my sweet Bianca, if I can by any means Luc. Tranio, I saw her coral lips to move,

And with her breath she did perfume the air ;

Sacred, and sweet, was all I saw in her. 1 She means 'do you intend to make a strumpet of me among these companions. But the expression old writing stood for either their or your. If their love seems to have a quibbling allusion to the chess term of be right, it must mean--the goodwill of Baptista and & lale-mate.

Bianca towards us. 2 Think. 3 Pet.

10 i. e. I will recommend him. 4 i. e. so oud, so different from others in your conduct. Il Consideration, or reficcion.

5 To'mer up, was to confine or shut up close, as it 12 A proverbial expression. Dole is lol, portion. was the custom to confine hawks while they mero'd or The phrase is of very common occurrence. moulted. V. note on K. Richard III. Act. i. Sc. 1. 13 The allusion is probably to the sport of running at 6 Recommend.

the ring, or some similar game. 7 Cunning has not yet lost its original signification of 14 Is not driven out by chiding. knowing, learned, as may be observed in the transla. 15 This line is quoted as it appears in Lilly's GramLion of the Bible.

mar, and not as it is in Terence. See Farmer's Essay * Endowments.

op the Learning of Shakspeare. It seems that we should read-Your love. yr. in 16 Longingly

17 Europa.

Tra, Nay, then, 'tis time to stir him from his Tra. So would I, faith, boy, to have the next trance.

wish after, I pray, awake, sir; If you love the maid, That Lucentio indeed had Baptista's youngest Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it

daughter. stands :

But, sirrah,-not for my sake, but your master's Her elder sister is so curst and shrewd,

I advise That, till the father rids his hands of her,

You use your manners discreetly in all kind of comMaster, your love must live a maid at home:

panies : And therefore has he closely mew'd her up,

When I am alone, why then I am Tranio; Because she shall not be annoy'd with suitors. But in all places else, your master Lucentio.

Luc. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he! Luc. Tranio, let's go :But art thou not advis'd, he took some care One thing more rests, that thyself execute :To get her cunning schoolmasters to instruct her? To make one among these wooers: If thou ask me Tra. Ay, marry, am I, sir ; and now 'tis plotted.

why, Luc. I have it, Tranio.

Sufficeth, my reasons are both good and weighty. Tra. Master, for my hand,

[Eretat Both our inventions meet and jump in one.

1 Serv. My lord, you nod; you do not mind te Luc. Tell me thine first.

play. Tra.

You will be schoolmaster, Šly. Yes, by Saint Anne, do 1. A good matter, And undertake the teaching of the maid:

surely : Comes there any more of it? That's your device.

Page. My lord, 'tis but begun. Luc.

It is: May it be done? Sly. 'T'is a very excellent piece of work, madan Tra. Not possible: For who shall bear your part, lady: 'Would, 'twere done! And be in Padua here Vincentio's son ?

SCENE II. The same. Before Hortensio's Hers. Keep house, and ply his book; welcome his friends;

Enter PETRUCHIO and GRUMIO.
Visit his countrymen, and banquet them?
Luc. Basta ;' content thee, for I have it full.

Pet. Verona, for a while I take my leave,
We have not yet been seen in any house ;

To see my friends in Padua ; but, of all,
Nor can we be distinguish'd by our faces,

My best beloved and approved friend,
For man, or master: then it follows thus :- Hortensio ; and, I trow, this is his house :-
Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in my stead,

Here, sirrah Grumio; knock, I say.
Keep house, and port,? and servants, as I should :

Gru. Knock, sir! whom should I knock ? is there I will some other be ; some Florentine,

any man has rebused your worship? Some Neapolitan, or meaner man of Pisa.

Pet. Villain, I say, knock me here soundly. "Tis hatch'd, and shall be so: Tranio, at once

Gru. Knock you here, sir ? why, sir, what am I, Uncase thee; take my colour'd hat and cloak:

sir, that I should knock you here, sir ? When Biondello comes, he waits on thee :

Pet. Villain, I say, knock me at this gate, But I will charm him first to keep his tongue.

And rap me well, or I'll knock your knave's pats. Tra. So had you need. [They exchange habits. Gru. My master is grown quarrelsomo: should In brief then, sir, sith it your pleasure is,

knock you first, And I am tied to be obedient;

And then I know after who comes by the worst. (For so your father charg'd me at our parting;

Pet. Will it not be ? Be serviceable to my son, quoth he ;

Faith, sirrah, an you'll not knock, I'll wring it; Although, I think, 'twas in another sense ;) I'll try how you can sol, fa, and sing it. I am content to be Lucentio,

[He wrings GRUMIO by the ears. Because so well I love Lucentio.

Gru. Help, masters, help! my master is mad. Luc, Tranio, be so, because Lucentio loves. Pet. Now, knock when I bid you : sirrah! villain ! And let me be a slave, to achieve that maid

Enter HORTENSIO. Whose sudden sight hath thrall’d my wounded eye. Hor. How now? what's the matter?-My old Enter BIONDELLO.

friend Grumio! and my good friend Petruchio! Here comes the rogue.-Sirrah, where have you How do you all at Verona ! been?

Pet. Signior Hortensio, come you to part the fray? Bion. Where have I been? Nay, how now, where Con tutto il core bene trovato, may I say. are you?

Hor. Alla nostra casa bene venuto, Master, has my fellow Tranio stol'n your clothes ? Molto honorato, signor mio Petruchio. Or you stol'n his ? or both ? pray what's the news? Rise, Grumio, rise; we will compound this quarrel.

Luc. Sirrah, come hither; 'tís no time to jest, Gru. Nay, 'tis no matter what he leges in Latin. And therefore frame your manners to the time.

-If this be not a lawful cause for me to leave his Your fellow Tranio here, to save my life,

service.--Look you, sir, he bid me knock him, and Puis my apparel and my countenance on, rap him soundly, sir : Well, was it fit for a servant And I for my escapo have put on his ;

to use his master so: being, perhaps, (for anght I For in a quarrel, since I came ashore,

see) two and thirty, a pip out ? I kill'd a man, and fear I was descried:

Whom, 'would to God, I had well knockd at first, Wait you on him, I charge you, as becomes,

Then had not Grumio come by the

worst. While I make way from hence to save my life:

Pet. A senseless villain-Good Hortensio, You understand me?

I bade the rascal knock upon your gate, Bion.

I, sir, ne'er a whit. And could not get him for my heart to do it. Luc. And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth; Gru. Knock at the gate ?-O heavens! Tranio is chang'd into Lucentio.

Spake you not these words plain, -Sirtak, knæk Bion. The better for him : 'Would, I were so too!

me here,

Rap me here, knock me well, and knock me soundly? i It is enough, Ital.

And come you now with-knocking at the gate? 2 Port is figure, show, appearance. 3 Since.

4 Here in the old copy we have, 'The presenters 6 Gascoigne m his Supposes has spelt this name car. above speak;. meaning siy, &c. who were placed in a rectly Petrucio, but Shakspeare wrote it as it appears in balcony raised at the back of the stage. After the words the text, in order to teach the actors how to pronounce it

. would it were done, the marginal direction is, They sit 7 i. e. what he alleges in Latin. Grumio mistakes and mark.

the Italian spoken for Latin. Tyrwhitt suggests that 5 Malone remarks that Grumio's pretensions to wit we should read—Nay, 'tis no matter what be leges in have a strong resemblance to Dromio-s, in The Comedy Latin, if this be not a lawful cause for me to leave his of Errors; and the two plays were probably written at service. That is, 'Tis no matter what is luw if this no great distance of time from each other. I have else be not a lawful cause,' &c. where had occasion to observe that the idiom, Knock 8 This passage has escaped the commentators, and mne hero,' is familiar to the French language.

yet it is more obscure than many they have explained.

Pet. Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you. as I do, she would think scolding wouid do little Hor. Petruchio, patience; I am Grumio's pledge: good upon him : She may, perhaps, call him half Why, this a heavy chance 'twixt him and you; à score knaves or so: why, that's nothing; an ho Your ancient, trusty, pleasant servant, Grumio. begin once, he'll rail in his rope-tricks. I'll tell And tell me now, sweet friend,—what happy gale you what, sir,-an she stand? him but a little, he Blows you to Padua here, from old Verona? will throw a figure in her face, and so disfigure her Pe. Such wind as scatters young men through with it, that she shall have no more eyes lo see the world,

withal than a cat:You know him not, sir. To seek their fortunes further than at home,

Hor. Tarry, Petruchio, I must go with thee; Where small experience grows. But, in a fow,' For in Baptista's keep my treasure is : Signior Hortensio, thus it stands with me :- He hath the jewel of my life in hold, Antonio, my father, is deceas'd;

His youngest daughter, beautiful Bianca;
And I have thrust myself into this maze,

And her withholds from me, and other more
Haply to wive, and thrive, as best I may: Suitors to her, and rivals in my love :
Crowns in my purse I have, and goods at home, Supposing it a thing impossible,
And so am comc abroad to see the world.

(For those defects I have before rehears'd,)
Hor. Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee, That ever Katharina will be wood;
And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favour'd wife? Therefore this ordero hath Baptista ta'en ;-
Thou’dst thank me but a little for my counsel: That none shall have access unto Bianca,
And yet I'll promise thee she shall be rich, Till Katharine the curst have got a husband.
And very rich :-But thou’rt too much my friend, Gru. Katharine the curst!
And I'll not wish thee to her.

A title for a maid, of all titles the worst.
Pet. Signior Hortensio; 'twixt such friends as we Hor. Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace;
Few words suffice: and, therefore, if thou know And offer me, disguis'd in sober robes,
One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife,

To old Baptista as a schoolmaster (As wealth is burthen of my wooing dance,) Well seen'' in musick, to instruct Bianca : Be she as foul as was Florentius' love,

That so I may by this device, at least, As old as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd

Have leave and leisure to make love to her, As Socrates Xantippe, or a worse,

And, unsuspected, court her by herself. She moves me not, or not removes, at least,

Enter GREMIO; with him Lucentio disguised, Affection's edge in me; were she as rough

with books under his arm. As are the swelling Adriatic seas; I come to wive it wealthily in Padua;

Gru. Here's knavery! See, to beguile the old

folks, how the young folks lay their heads together! If wealthily, then happily in Padua.

Gru. Nay, look you, sir, he tells you flatly what Master, master, look about you: Who goes there? ha! his mind is: 'Why, give him gold enough and marry

Hor. Peace, Grumio: 'tís the rival of my love :him to a puppet, or an aglet-baby;' or an old trot Petruchio, stand by a while. with ne'er a tooth in her head, though she have as

Gru. A proper stripling, and an amorous!

[They retire. many diseases as two and fifty horses :* why, nothing comes amiss, so money comes withal.

Gre. O, very well; I have perus'd the note. Hor. Petruchio, since we have stepp'd thus far in, Hark you, sir; I'll have them very fairly bound : I will continue that I broach'd in jest.

All books of love, see that at any hand;12

And see you read no other lectures to her:
I can, Petruchio, help thee to a wife
With wealth enough, and young, and beauteous ;

You understand me;-Over and beside
as best becomes a gentlewoman;

Signior Baptista's liberality,

I'll mend it with a largess: 16 Take your papers too, Is-that she is intolerably curst,"

And let me have them very well perfum'd; And shrewd, and froward; so beyond all measure, To whom they go. What will you read to her?

For she is sweeter than perfume itself, That, were my state far worser than it is,

Luc. Whate'er I read to her, I'll plead for you, I would not wed her for a mine of gold. Pet. Hortensio, peace; thou know'st not gold's As firmly as yourself were still in place

As for my patron, (stand you so assur’d,) effect: Tell me her father's name, and 'tis enough;

Yea, and (perhaps) with more successful words For I will board her, though she chide as loud

Than you, unless you were a scholar, sir. As thunder, when the clouds in autumn crack.

Gre. O this learning; what a thing it is!

Gru. O this woodcock! what an ass it is!
Hor. Her father is Baptista Minola,
An affable and courteous gentleman :

Pet. Peace, sirrah.
Her name is Katharina Minola,

Hor. Grumio, mum!-God save you, signior Renown'd in Padua for her scolding tongue.

Gremio!
Pet. I know her father, though I know not her ;

Gre. And you're well met, signior Hortensio.
And he knew my deceased father well:
I will not sleep, Hortensio, till I see her;

Whither I am going ?-To Baptista Minola.
And therefore let me be thus bold with you,

I promis'd to enquire carefully
To give you over at this first encounter,

About a schoolmaster for fair Bianca:
Unless you will accompany me thither.

And, by good fortune, I have lighted well Gru. I pray you, sir, let him go while the hu- curved on an aglet or jewel ; such as Queen Mab is mour lasts. O my word, an she knew him as well described :

• In shape no bigger than an agate stone Perhaps it was passed over because it was not under- On the fore-finger of an aiderman.' stood? The allusion is to the old game of Bone-ace or 4 The fifty diseases of a horse seems to be proverbial, one-and-thirty. A pip is a spot upon a card. The old of which, probably, the text is only an exaggeration. copy has it peepe.

5 Cross, froward, petulant. I In a few, means the same as in short, in a fero 6 i. e. roguish tricks. Ropery is used by Shakspeare words.

in Romeo and Juliet for roguery. A rope-ripe is ono 2 This allusion is to a story told by Gower in the first for whom the gallows groans, according to Coigrave. book of his Confessio Amantis. Florent is the name of 7 Withstand. a knight who bound himself to marry a deformed hag 8 To endeavour to explain this would certainly be provided she taught him the solution of a riddle on lost labour. Mr. Boswell justly remarks that nothing which his life depended.

is more common in ludicrous or playsul discourse than 3 1. e. ' a diminutive being, not exceeding in size the to use a comparison where no resemblance is intended." lag of a point,' says Steevens; · a small image or head 9 Keep here means care, keeping, custody. cut on the tag of a point or lace,' says Malone. It was 10 To take order is to take measures. do such thing; an uglet was not only a tag of a point, 11 To be well seen in any art was to be tell skilled but a brooch or jewel in one's cap,’ag Baret explaing it. in it. An uglel-baby, therefore was a diminutive figure 12 Rate.

"

Her only
Brought out (and that is faults enough,)

5

Trow you,

On this young man; for learning and behaviour, Tra. Why, sir, I pray, are not the streets as free Fit for her turn; well read in poetry

For me as for you? And other books,-good ones, I warrant you. Gre.

But so is not she. Hor. 'Tis well: and I have met a gentleman, Tra. For what reason, I beseech you

u ? Hath promis'd me to help me to another,

Gre. For this reason, if you'll know,A fine musician to instruct our mistress;

That she's the choice love of Signior Gremio. So shall I no whit be behind in duty

Hor. That she's the chosen of Signior Hortensio. To fair Bianca, so belov'd of me.

Tra. Softly, my masters! if you be gentlemen, Gre. Belov'd of me,—and that my deeds shall Do me this right-hear me with patience. prove.

Baptista is a noble gentleman,
Gru. And that his bags shall prove. (Aside. To whom my father is not all unknown;

Hor. Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our love: And, were his daughter fairer than she is,
Listen to me, and if you speak me fair,

She may more suitors have, and me for one. I'll tell you news indifferent good for either. Fair Leda's daughter had a thousand wovers; Here is a gentleman, whom by chance I met, Then well one more may fair Bianca have: Upon agreement from us to his liking,

And so she shall; Lucentio shall make one, Will undertake to woo curst Katharine;

Though Paris came in hope to speed alone. Yea, and to marry her, if her dowry pleaso.

Gre. What! this gentleman will out-talk us all. Gre. So said, so done, is well :

Luc. Sir, give him head; I know he'll prove a Hortensio, have you told him all her faults ?

jade. Pel. I know, she is an irksome brawling scold; Pet. Hortensio, to what end are all these words! If that be all, masters, I hear no harm.

Hor. Sir, let me be so bold as ask you, Gre. No! say'st me so, friend? What countryman? Did you yet ever see Baptista's daughter? Pet. Born in Verona, old Antonio's son:

Tra. No, sir; but hear I do that he hath two; My father dead, my fortune lives for me;

The one as famous for a scolding tongue, And I do hope good days, and long, to see. As is the other for beauteous modesty. Gre. O, sir, such a life, with such a wife, were Pet. Sir, sir, the first's for me; lei her go by. strange :

Gre. Yea, leave that labour to great Hercules; But, if you have a stomach, to't o' God's name, And let it be more than Alcides' iwelve. You shall have me assisting you in all.

Pet. Sir, understand you this of me, insooth ;But will you woo this wild cat ?

The youngest daughter, whom you hearken for, Pet.

Will I live? Her father keeps from all access of suitors:
Gru. Will he woo her? ay, or I'll hang her. And will not promise her to any man,

(Aside. Until the elder sister first be wed:
Pet. Why came I hither, but to that intent? The younger then is free, and not before,
Think you, a little din can daunt mine ears? Tra. If it be so, sir, that you are the man
Have I not in my time heard lions roar ?

Must stead us all, and me among the rest;
Have I not heard the sea, puffd up with winds, An if you break the ice, and do this feat, -
Rage like an angry boar, chafed with sweat? Achieve the elder, set the younger free
Have I not heard great ordnance in the field, For our access, whose hap shall be to have her,
And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies? Will not so graceless be, to be ingrate.
Have I not in a pitched battle heard

Hor. Sir, you say well, and well you do conceives Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang? And since you do profess to be a suitor, And do you tell me of a woman's tongue, You must, as we do, gratify this gentleman, That gives not half so great a blow to the ear To whom we all rest generally beholden. As will a chestnut in a farmer's fire ?

Tra. Sir, I shall noi be slack: in sign whereal, Tush! tush! fear boys with bugs.?

Please ye we may contrive* this afternoon, Gru.

For he fears none. (Aside. And quaff carouses to our mistress' health; Gre. Hortensio, hark !

And do as adversaries; do in law,This gentleman is happily arriv'd,

Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends. My mind presumes, for his own good, and ours. Gre. Bion.'ó excellent motion! Fellows, let's Hor. I promis'd, we would be contributors,

begone. And bear his charge of wooing, whatsoe'er. Hor. The motion's good indeed, and be it so ;Gre. And so we will; provided that he win her. Petruchio, I shall be your ben venuto. (Eseunt. Gru. I would, I were as sure of a good dinner.

[Aside.

ACT II. Enter TRANIO, bravely apparell’d; and BIONDELLO.

SCENE I. The same. A Room in Baptista's Tra. Gentlemen, God save you! If I may be bold,

House. Enter KATHARINA and Bianca. Tell me, I beseech you, which is the readiest way To the house of signior Baptista Minola ?

Bian. Good sister, wrong me not, nor wrong Bion. He that has the two fair daughters :-is'i yourself, [Aside to TRANIO) he you mean?

To make a bondmaid and a slave of me;
Tra. Even he, Biondello,

That I disdain : but for these other gawds,'
Gre. Hark you, sir ; You mean not her to- -2 Unbind my hands, I'll put them off myself,
Tra. Perhaps him and her, sir; What have you Yea, all my raiment, to my petticoat;
to do?

Or, what you will command me, will I do,
Pet. Not her that chides, sir ; at any hand, I pray. So well I know my duty to my elders.
Tra. I love no chiders, sir :-Biondello, let's away. Kath. Of all thy suitors, here I charge thee, tell
Inc. Well begun, Tranio.

(Aside. Whom thou lov'st best : see thou dissemble not. Hor. Sir, a word ere you go ;

Bian. Believe me, sister, of all the men alive Are you a suitor to the maid you talk of, yea or no? I never yet beheld that special face Tra. An if I be, sir, is it any offence?

Which I could fancy more than any

other. Gre. No; it without more words, you will get Kath. Minion, thou liest; Is't not Hortensio?

Bian. If you affects him, sister, here I swear,

I'll plead for you myself, but you shall have hima i Fright boys with bug-bears.

2 This hiatus is in the old copy; it is most probable 5 Adversaries most probably here signifies contend. that an abrupt sentence was intended,

ing barristers, or counsellors; surely not their clients ? 8 Ungrateful.

8 Fellows means companions, and not fellow-ser 4 To contrive is to wear out, to pass away, from con. vants, as Malone supposed. trivi, the preterite of contero, one of the disused Lati. 7 Toys, trilling ornaments. nisms.

!

6

you hence,