Or wilt thou ride? thy horses shall be trapp'd, 1 Serv. Say, thou wilt course; thy greyhounds are as As breathed stags, ay, fleeter than the roe. [swift 2 Serv. Dost thou love pictures ? we will fetch thee Adonis, painted by a running brook: [straight And Cytherea all in sedges hid, Which seem to move and wanton with her breath, Lord. We'll shew thee lö, as she was a maid; As lively painted as the deed was done. 3 Serv. Or Daphne, roaming through a thorny wood, Scratching her legs that one shall swear she bleeds: And at that sight shall sad Apollo weep, So workmanly the blood and tears are drawn. Lord. Thou art a lord, and nothing but a lord: Thou hast a lady far more beautiful Than any woman in this waning age. [thee, 1 Serv. And till the tears, that she hath shed for Like envious floods, o'er-ran her lovely face, She was the fairest creature in the world; And yet she is inferior to none. Sly. Am I a lord? and have I such a lady? I smell sweet savours, and I feel soft things:- [hands! 2 Serv. Will't please your mightiness to wash your (Servants present an ewer, basin, and napkin.) O, how we joy to see your wit restored! O, that once more you knew but what you are! 1 Serv. O yes, my lord; but very idle words :- Because she brought stone jugs and no seal'd quarts 1 Serv. Why, sir, you know no house, nor no such maid And twenty more such names and men as these, 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? Sly. Are you my wife, and will not call me husband? My men should call me-lord; I am your good-man. Lord. Madam. What must I call her? Sly. Alce madam, or Joan madam? Lord. Madam, and nothing else; so lords call ladies. Sly. Madam wife, they say that I have dream'd and Above some fifteen year and more. Page. Ay, and the time seems thirty unto me, Being all this time abandon'd from your bed. [slept Sly. 'Tis much; -- Servants, leave me and her alone. Madam, undress you, and come now to bed. Page. Thrice noble lord, let me entreat of you, To pardon me yet for a night or two; Or, if not so, until the sun be set: For your physicians have expressly charged, That I should yet absent me from your bed: Sty: Ay, it stands so, that I may hardly tarry so long. But I would be loth to fall into my dreams again; 1 will therefore tarry, in despite of the flesh and the blood. Enter a Servant. Serv. Your honour's players, hearing your amendAre come to play a pleasant comedy, [ment, с For so your doctors hold it very meet; Therefore, they thought it good you hear a play, Sly. Marry, I will; let them play it: Is not a 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. ACT I. SCENE I. Padua. A public Place. Enter LUCENTIO and TRANIO. I am arrived for fruitful Lombardy, And, by my father's love and leave, am arm'd Gave me my being, and my father first, Vincentio his son, brought up in Florence, Glad that you thus continue your resolve, To suck the sweets of sweet philosophy. As Ovid be an outcast quite abjured: Fall to them as you find 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, 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 awhile: What company is this? Tra. Master, some show, to welcome us to town. Enter BAPTISTA, KATHARINA, BIANCA, GREMIO, and HORTENSIO. LUCENTIO and Bap. Gentlemen, impórtune me no farther, If either of you both love Katharina, Because I know you well, and love you well, Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure. Hor. Mates, maid! how mean you that? no mates Unless you were of gentler, milder mould. [for you, 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 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! [toward 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 Maid's mild behaviour and sobriety. Peace, Tranio. 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; Put finger in the eye,-an she knew why. Bian. Sister, content you in my discontent.- My books and instruments shall be my company; 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 mew her up, And make her bear the penance of her tongue ? And for I know, she taketh most delight [Exit Bianca. Schoolmasters will I keep within my house, To mine own children in good bringing up; [E.rit. Kath. Why, and I trust, I may go too; may I not? What, shall I be appointed hours; as though, belike, 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 noue will hold you. Their 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 1 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, it toucheth us noth,that we may yet again have access to our fair mistress, |