SCENE, Sometimes in Padua; and sometimes SCENE, Athens; and sometimes Ferando's in Petruchio's House in the Country. Country House. INDUCTION. SCENE I-Before an Alehouse on a Heath. Enter HOSTESS and SLY. Sly. I'll pheese* you, in faith. Host. A pair of stocks, you rogue! Sly. Y'are a baggage; the Slies are no rogues: Look in the chronicles, we came in with Richard Conqueror. Therefore, paucas pallabris; + let the world slide: Sessa! Host. You will not pay for the glasses you have burst? Sly. No, not a denier: Go by, says Jeronimy-Go to thy cold bed, and warm thee. Host. I know my remedy, I must go fetch the thirdborough.T [Exit. Sly. Third, or fourth, or fifth borough, I'll answer him by law: I'll not budge an inch, boy; let him come, and kindly. [Lies down on the ground, and falls asleep. Wind horns. Enter a LORD from hunting, with Huntsmen and Servants. brach. Brach* Merriman,-the poor cur is emboss'd,t 1 Hun. Why, Belman is as good as he, my He cried upon it at the merest loss, [lord; And twice to-day pick'd out the dullest scent: Trust me, I take him for the better dog. Lord. Thou art a fool; if Echo were as fleet, I would esteem him worth a dozen such. But sup them well, and look unto them all; To-morrow I intend to hunt again. 1 Hun. I will, my lord. Lord. What's here? one dead, or drunk? See, doth he breathe? 2 Hun. He breathes, my lord: Were he not warm'd with ale, This were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly. Lord. O monstrous beast! how like a swine he lies! [image! Grim death, how foul and loathsome is thine Lord. Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well Sirs, I will practise on this drunken man. my hounds: What think you, if he were convey'd to bed, Wrapp'd in sweet clothes, rings put upon his fingers, A most delicious banquet by his bed, And brave attendants near him when he wakes, Would not the beggar then forget himself? 1 Hun. Believe me, lord, I think he cannot choose. 2 Hun. It would seem strange unto him when he wak'd. Lord. Even as a flattering dream, or worthless fancy. Then take him up, and manage well the jest:- - tures: Balm his foul head with warm distilled waters, And burn sweet wood to make the lodging sweet: Procure me music ready when he wakes, Some one be ready with a costly suit, 1 Hun. My lord, I warrant you, we'll play our part, As he shall think, by our true diligence, And each one to his office, when he wakes.[Some bear out SLY. A trumpet sounds. Sirrah, go see what trumpet 'tis that sounds:[Exit SERVANT. Belike, some noble gentleman; that means, Travelling some journey, to repose him here.Re-enter a SERVANT. Well, you are come to me in happy time; Were he the veriest antick in the world. Lord. Go, sirrab, take them to the buttery, And give them friendly welcome every one: Let them want nothing that my house affords. [Exeunt SERVANT and PLAYERS. Sirrah, go you to Bartholomew my page, [To a SERVANT. And see him dress'd in all suits like a lady: That done, conduct him to the drunkard's chamber, And call him-madam, do him obeisance,- Wherein your lady, and your humble wife, kisses, And with declining head into his bosom, I know, the boy will well usurp the grace, laughter, When they do homage to this simple peasant. SCENE II. A Bedchamber in the LORD's House. SLY is discovered in a rich night gown, with Attendants; some with apparel, others with bason, ewer, and other appurtenances. Enter LORD, dressed like a Servunt. Sly. For God's sake a pot of small ale. 1 Serv. Will't please your lordship drink a cup of sack? 2 Serv. Will't please your honour taste of these conserves? 3 Serv. What raiment will your honour wear to-day? Sly. I am Christophero Sly; call not me * Perhaps honour, nor lordship, I never drank sack in Sly. Am I a lord? and have 1 such a lady? my life; and if you give me any conserves, give Or do I dream? or have I dream'd till now? me conserves of beef: Ne'er ask me what rai-I do not sleep: I see, I hear, I speak; ment I'll wear; for I have no more doublets than backs, no more stockings than legs, nor no more shoes than feet; nay, sometimes, more feet than shoes, or such shoes as my toes look through the over-leather. Lord. Heaven cease this idle humour in your O, that a mighty man, of such descent, I smell sweet savours, and I feel soft things:- Sly. These fifteen years, by my fay, a goodly [SERVANTS present an ewer, basin, and napkin. O, how we joy to see your wit restor❜d! O, that once more you knew but what you are! Sly. What, would you make me mad? Am These fifteen years you have been in a dream: not I Christopher Siy, old Sly's son of Burton-Or, when you wak'd, so wak'd as if you slept. heath; by birth a pedlar, by education a cardmaker, by transmutation a bear-herd, and now by present 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 1 Serv. O, this it is, that makes your lady mourn. 2 Serv. O, this it is that makes your servants droop. Lord. Hence comes it that your kindred shun As beaten hence by your strange lunacy. And twenty caged nightingales do sing; soar Above the morning lark: Or wilt thou hunt? Thy hounds shall make the welkin answer them, And fetch shrill echoes from the hollow earth. As breathed stags, ay, fleeter than the roe. [breath, Adonis, painted by a running brook: 3 Serv. Or Daphne, roaming through a thorny [lord: 1 Serv. And, till the tears that she hath shed for thee, Like envious floods, o'er-ran her lovely face, # Distracted. nap. But did I never speak of all that time? 1 Serv. O, yes, my lord; but very idle words:- Nor no such men, as you have reckon❜d on- amends! All. Amen. Page. My husband and my lord, my lord and husband; I am your wife in all obedience. Sly. I know it well:-What must I call her? Sly. Al'ce madam, or Joan madam? Sly. Madam wife, they say that I have Above some fifteen year and more. her alone. -Servants leave me and Sly. Ay, it stands so, that I may hardly tarry | We could at once put us in readiness; so long. But I would be loath to fall into my And take a lodging, fit to entertain dreams again; I will therefore tarry, in despite Such friends, as time in Padua shall beget. of the flesh and the blood. But stay awhile: What company is this; Tra. Master, some show, to welcome us to Enter a SERVANT. town. Serv. Your honour's players, hearing your Enter BAPTISTA, KATHARINA, BIANCA, GREMIO, amendment, SCENE 1.-Padua.-A public Place. Luc. Tranio, since-for the great desire I had Vincentio his son, brought up in Florence, Glad that you thus continue your resolve, you: No profit grows, where is no pleasure ta'en;In brief, Sir, study what you most affect. Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou adIf, Biondello, thou wert come ashore, [vise. For comedy. + Ingenuous. Small piece of water. Pardon me. Harsh rules. 9 Animate. and HORTENSIO. LUCENTIO and TRANIO stand aside. For how I firmly am resolv'd you know; Gre. To cart her rather: She's too rough for me: There, there, Hortensio, will you any wife? Kath. pray you, Sir, [To BAP.] is it your will To make a stale of me amongst these mates? Hor. Mates, maid! how mean you that? no mates for you, Unless you were of gentler, milder mould. Kath. I'faith, Sir, you shall never need to I wis,t it is not half way to her heart: [fear; But, if it were, doubt not her care should be To comb your noddle with a three-legg'd stool, And paint your face, and use you like a fool. Hor. From all such devils, good Lord, deliver us! Gre. And me too, good Lord! Tru. 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 What I have said,-Bianca, get you in: And let it not displease thee, good Bianca; For I will love thee ne'er the less, my girl. Kath. A pretty peat! 'tis best 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 mews her up, Signior Baptista, for this fiend of hell, And make her bear the penance of her tongue? Bap. Gentlemen, content ye; I am resolv'd :Go in, Bianca. [Exit BIANCA And for I know, she taketh most delight In music, instruments, and poetry, Schoolmasters will I keep within my house, Fit to instruct her youth.-If you, Hortensio, Or signior Gremio, you,-know any such, Prefer them hither; for to cunning¶ men I will be very kind, and liberal To mine own children in good bringing up; And so farewell. Katharina you may stay; For I have more to commune with Bianca {Exil + Pet. Knowing, learned. Kath. Why, and I trust I may go too; May 1 not? [belike, What, shall I be appointed hours; as though, I knew not what to take, and what to leave? Ha! [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 tast 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. Hor. So will I, signior Gremio: But a word, I pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brook'd parle, know now, upon advice,t it toucheth 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. A husband! a devil. Hor. I say, a husband. 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. Hor. 'Faith, as you say, there's small choice in rotten apples. But, come; since this bar in law makes us friends, it shall be so far forth friendly maintained,-till by helping Baptista's eldest daughter to a husband, we set his youngest free for a husband, and then have to't afresh.-Sweet Bianca!-Happy man be his dole! He that runs fastest gets the ring. How say you, signior Gremio? Gre. I am agreed: and 'would I had given him the best horse in Padua to begin his wooing, that would thoroughly woo her, wed her, and bed her, and rid the house of her. Come [Exeunt GREMIO and HORTENSIO. Tra. [Advancing.] I pray, Sir, tell me,-Is it possible on. That love should of a sudden take such hold? Tru. Master, it is no time to chide you now; Affection is not rated from the heart: [so,If love have touch'd you, nought remains but Redime te captum quam queas minimo. Luc. Gramercies, lad; go forward: this contents; The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound. Tru. Master, you look'd so longly on the maid, erhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all. • Endowments. + Consideration. + Gain or lot. Driven out by chiding. Il Longingly. Luc. O yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face, Such as the daughter of Agenor had, That made great Jove to humble him to her hand, [strand. When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan Tra. Saw you no more? mark'd you not how her sister Began to scold; and raise up such a storm, That mortal ears might hardly endure the din? 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. Tra. Nay, then, 'tis time to stir him from his trance. I pray, awake, Sir; if you love the maid, Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it stands : Her elder sister is so curst and shrewd, Luc. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he! But art thou not advis'd, he took some care To get her cunning schoolmasters to instruct ber? Tra. Ay, marry, am I, Sir; and now 'tis plotted. Luc. I have it, Tranio. Both our inventions meet and jump in one. Tra. You will be schoolmaster, Luc. It is: May it be done? Tra. Not possible; For who shall bear your And be in Padua here Vincentio's son? [part, Keep house, and ply his book; welcome his friends; Visit his countrymen, and banquet them? Luc, Basta;t content thee; for I have it full. I will some other be; some Florentine, Tra. So had you need. [They exchange habits. In brief then, Sir, siths it your pleasure is, And I am tied to be obedient; (For so your father charg'd me at our parting; 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 are you? clothes? Master, has my fellow Tranio stolen your Or you stolen his? or both? pray, what's the news? 2 |