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. Enter a Servant. Serv. Your honour's players, hearing your amendment, Are come to play a pleasant comedy, Seeing too much sadness hath congeal'd your blood, Therefore, they thought it good you hear a play, And frame your mind to mirth and merriment, Which bars a thousand harms, and lengthens life. Sly. Marry, I will; let them play it: Is not a commonty 2 a Christmas gambol, or a tumblingtrick. 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 [They sit down. be younger. 2 For comedy. ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I. Padua. A public Place. Enter LUCENTIO and TRANIO. Luc. Tranio, since for the great desire I had And, by my father's love and leave, am arm'd Gave me my being, and my father first, A merchant of great traffick through the world, Vincentio, his son, brought up in Florence, 3 Ingenuous. VOL. III. + Small piece of water. BB 5 Pardon me. Glad that you thus continue your resolve, Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise. If, Biondello, thou wert come ashore, We could at once put us in readiness; And take a lodging, fit to entertain Such friends, as time in Padua shall beget. But stay a while: What company is this? Tra. Master, some show, to welcome us to town. Enter BAPTISTA, KATHARINA, BIANCA, GREMIO, and HORTENSIO. LUCENTIO and TRANIO stand aside. Bap. Gentlemen, importune me no further, For how I firmly am resolv'd you know; That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter, If either of you both love Katharina, Because I know you well, and love you well, me: There, there Hortensio, will you any wife? Kath. I pray you, sir, [To BAP.] is it your will To make a stale of me amongst these mates? 6 Harsh rules. 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 fear; I wis, it is not half way to her heart: But, if it were, doubt not her care should be Tra. Hush, master! here is some good pastime That wench is stark mad, or wonderful froward. Luc. But in the other's silence I do see Maids' mild behaviour and sobriety. Peace, Tranio. Tra. Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill. Put finger in the eye, an she knew why. speak. Luc. Hark, Tranio! thou may'st hear Minerva [Aside. Hor. Signior Baptista, will you be so strange? Sorry am I, that our good will effects Bianca's grief. Gre. Why, will you mew1 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. s Think. 9 Pet. 1 Shut. And for I know, she taketh most delight To mine own children in good bringing up; not? What, shall I be appointed hours: as though, belike, I knew not what to take, and what to leave? [Exit. Gre. You may go to the devil; your gifts2 are so good, here is none will hold you. Our 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. 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 advice3, 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 her? Hor. Tush, Gremio, though it pass your pa 2 Endowments. 3 Consideration. |