Serv. It shall be done, my Lord; come help to bear bim [They bear off Sty. bence. J 1 SCENE, before Baptifta's House. Enter Tranio, and the Pedant dreft like Vincentio. SIR TRANI O. IR, this is the house, please it you, that I call? Ped. Ay, what elfe! and (but I be deceived,) Signior Baptifta may remember me Near twenty years ago in Genoa, Where we were lodgers, at the Pegafus. (22) Tra. 'Tis well, and hold your own in any cafe With fuch aufterity as longeth to a father. Enter Biondella. Ped. I warrant you: but, Sir, here comes your boy; 'Twere good he were school'd. Tra. Fear you not him; firrah, Biondello, Now do your duty throughly, I advise you: Imagine 'twere the right Vincentio. Bion. Tut, fear not me. Tra. But haft thou done thy errand to Baptifta? Bion. I told him that your father was in Venice, And that you look'd for him this day in Padua. Tra. Th'art a tall fellow, hold thee that to drink; Here comes Baptifta; fet your countenance, Sir. Enter Baptifta and Lucentio. Tra. Signior Baptifta, you are happily met: Sir, this is the gentleman I told you of; 3 (22) Tra. Where we were lodgers at the Pegafus.] This line has in all the editions hitherto been given to Tranio. But Tranio could with no propriety fpeak this, either in his affum'd or real character. Lucentio was too young to know any thing of lodging with his father, twenty years before at Genda: And Tranio must be as much too young, or very unfit to reprefent and perfonate Lucentio. I have ventur'd to place the line to the Pedant, to whom it must certainly belong, and is a fequel of what he was before saying, pray you ftand, good father, to me now, Give me Bianca for my patrimony. Ped. Soft, fon. Sir, by your leave, having come to Padua To have him match'd; and if you please to like Bap. Sir, pardon me in what I have to fay: Your fon fhall have my daughter with confent. Tra. I thank you, Sir. Where then do you know best, Be we affied; and fuch affurance ta'en, As fhall with either part's agreement ftand; Bap. Not in my houfe, Lucentio; for, you know, Tra. Then at my lodging, an it like you, Sir, Вар. Bap. It likes me well. Go, Cambio, hie you home, And bid Bianca make her ready ftraight: And if you will, tell what hath happen'd here: And how fhe's like to be Lucentio's wife. Luc. I pray the gods fhe may, with-all my heart! [Ex. Tra. Dally not, with the gods, but get thee gone. Signior Baptifta, fhall I lead the way? Welcome! one mefs is like to be your Come, Sir, we will better it in Pifa. Bap. I'll follow you. cheer. Enter Lucentio and Biondello. Bion. Cambio, Luc. What fay't thou, Biondello? [Exeunt. Bion. You faw my mafter wink and laugh upon you. Luc. Biondello, what of that? Bion. 'Faith, nothing; but ha's left me here behind to expound the meaning or moral of his figns and tokens. Luc. I pray thee, moralize them. Bion. Then thus. Baptifta is fafe, talking with the deceiving father of a deceitful fon. Luc. And what of him? Bion. His daughter is to be brought by you to the fupper. Luc. And then? Bion. The old prieft at St. Luke's church is at your command at all hours. Luc. And what of all this? Bion. I cannot tell, except they are bufied about a counterfeit affurance; take you affurance of her, Cum privilegio ad imprimendum folùm; to th' church take the prieft, clark, and fome fufficient honest witnesses: If this be not that you look for, I have no more to say, But bid Bianca farewel for ever and a day. Luc. Hear't thou, Biondello? Bion I cannot tarry; I knew a wench married in an afternoon as she went to the garden for parfly to ituff a rabbet; and fo may you, Sir, and fo adieu, Sir; my mafter hath appointed me to go to St. Luke's, to bid the prieft be ready to come against you come with your ap- Luc. I may, and will, if the be fo contented: Pet. SCENE, a green Lane. Enter Petruchio, Catharina, and Hortenfio. Come [Exit. more tow'ards Good Lord, how bright and goodly fhines the moon! Hor. Say, as he fays, or we fhall never go. Pet. I fay, it is the moon. Cath. I know, it is the moon. Pet. Nay, then you lye; it is the bleffd fun. Hor. Petruchio, go thy way, the field is won. Pet. Well, forward, forward, thus the bowl should run; And not unluckily against the bias But foft, fome company is coming here. 1 Enter Good-morrow, gentle miftrefs,where away? [To Vincentio. Hor. He will make the man mad, to make a woman of him. Cath. Young budding virgin, fair, and fresh, and sweet, Whither away, or where is thy aboad? (23) Happy the parents of fo fair a child; Happier the man, whom favourable stars Allot thee for his lovely bedfellow! Pet. Why, how now, Kate, I hope, thou art not mad ! This is a man, old, wrinkled, faded, withered, And not a maiden, as, thou fay'st, he is. Cath. Pardon, old father, my mistaken eyes; That have been so bedazled with the fun, SN That every thing I look on feemeth green. Now I perceive, thou art a reverend father: Pardon, I pray thee, for my mad mistaking. он Pet. Do, good old grandfire, and withal make known Which way thou travelleft; if along with us, We fhall be joyful of thy company. Vin. Fair Sir, and you my merry mistress, That with your ftrange encounter much amaz'd me; And bound I am to Padua, there to vifit (23) Happy the parents of so fair a child! Happier the man, whom favourable stars Allet thee for his lovely bedfellow!] This paffage has a great refemblance to what Ovid has made Salmacis fay of Hermaphroditus. qui te genuere beati: Et mater faix, & fortunata profecto Si qua tibi foror eft, & quæ dedit ubera nutrix: Sed longe cunétis, longeque beatior illa eft Si qua tibi fponfa eft, fi quam dignabere tada. Mr. Warburton. A |