Imatges de pàgina
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HORTENSIO,

suitors to Bianca.

SCENE,

CURTIS,

Pedant, an old fellow set up to personate Vincentio.

KATHARINA, the shrew;

BIANCA, her sister,

Widow.

daughters to Baptista.

Tailor, Haberdasher, and Servants attending on Baptista and Petruchio.

· sometimes in PADU▲; and sometimes in PETRUCHIO's House in the Country.

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Hest. You will not pay for the glasses you have burst!

Sy. No, not a denier: Go by, says Jeronimy ;Go to thy cold bed, and warm thee, Hest. I know my remedy, I must go fetch the thirdborough. [Exit. Sly. Third, or fourth, or fifth borough, I'll anwer him by law: I'll not budge an inch, boy; let hing come, and kindly.

[Lies down on the ground, and falls asleep. Find horns. Enter a LORD from hunting, with Huntsmen and Servants.

Lord. Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my

bounds:

Brach Merriman, -the poor cur is emboss'd,
And couple Clowder with the deep-mouth'd brach.
Saw'st thou not, boy, how Silver made it good
At the hedge corner, in the coldest fault?
I would not lose the dog for twenty pound.

1 Hun. Why, Belman is as good as he, my lord;
He cried upon it at the merest loss,
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

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Carry him gently to my fairest chamber,
And hang it round with all my wanton pictures:
Balm his foul head with warm distilled waters,
And burn sweet wood to make the lodging sweet:
Procure me musick ready when he wakes,
To make a dulcet and a heavenly sound;
And if he chance to speak, be ready straight,
And, with a low submissive reverence,

Say, What is it your honour will command? Let one attend him with a silver bason,

Full of rose-water, and bestrew'd with flowers; Another bear the ewer, the third a diaper,

And say, Will't please your lordship cool your hands?

Some one be ready with a costly suit,

And ask him what apparel he will wear;
Another tell him of his hounds and horse,
And that his lady mourns at his disease:
Persuade him, that he hath been lunatick;
And, when he says he is, say, that he dreams,
For he is nothing but a mighty lord.
This do, and do it kindly, gentle sirs ;
It will be pastime passing excellent,
If it be husbanded with modesty.

1 Hun. My lord, I warrant you, we'll play our part,

As he shall think, by our true diligence,
He is no less than what we say he is.
Lord. Take him up gently, and to bed with him;
And each one to his office, when he wakes.

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[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.

How now? who is it?

Serv.

An it please your honour, Players that offer service to your lordship. Lord. Bid them come near :

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thou didst it excellent.

Lord. 'Tis very true ; Well, you are come to me in happy time; The rather for I have some sport in hand, Wherein your cunning can assist me much. There is a lord will hear you play to-night: But I am doubtful of your modesties; Lest, over-eying of his odd behaviour, (For yet his honour never heard a play, You break into some merry passion, And so offend him; for I tell you, sirs, If you should smile, he grows impatient.

1 Play. Fear not, my lord; we can contain ourselves,

Were he the veriest antick in the world.

Lord. Go, sirrah, 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. Tell him from me, (as he will win my love,) He bear himself with honourable action, Such as he hath observ'd in noble ladies Unto their lords, by them accomplished: Such duty to the drunkard let him do, With soft low tongue, and lowly courtesy; And say, - What is't your honour will command, Wherein your lady, and your humble wife, May show her duty, and make known her love? And then-with kind embracements, tempting

kisses,

And with declining head into his bosom,
Bid him shed tears, as being overjoy'd
To see her noble lord restor'd to health,
Who, for twice seven years, hath esteemed him
No better than a poor and loathsome beggar:
And if the boy hath not a woman's gift,
To rain a shower of commanded tears,
An onion will do well for such a shift;
Which in a napkin being close conveyed,
Shall in despite enforce a watery eye.
See this despatch'd with all the haste thou canst;
Anon I'll give thee more instructions.

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When they do homage to this simpic peasant. I'll in to counsel them: haply, my presence May well abate their over-merry spleen, Which otherwise would grow into extremes.

[Exeun

SCENE II.. -A Bedchamber in the Lord's Hous SLY is discovered in a rich night-gown, with Attend ants; some with apparel, others with bason, ewe and other appurtenances. Enter LORD, dresse like a servant.

Sly. For God's sake, a pot of small ale.

1 Serv. Will't please your lordship drink a cup

sack?

2 Serv. Will't please your honour taste of the conserves?

3 Serv. What raiment will your honour wear t day?

Sly. I am Christophero Sly; call not me-honou nor lordship: I never drank sack in my life; and you give me any conserves, give me conserves beef: Ne'er ask me what raiment I'll wear: for have no more doublets than backs, no more stoc ings than legs, nor no more shoes than feet; na sometimes, more feet than shoes, or such shoes my toes look through the overleather.

Lord. Heaven cease this idle humour in yo

honour!

O, that a mighty man of such descent,
Of such possessions, and so high esteem,
Should be infused with so foul a spirit!

S. What, would you make me mad? Am not I Christopher Sly, old Sly's son of Burton-heath; by birth a pedlar, by education a card-maker, by transmutation a bear-herd, and now by present profession a tinker? Ask Marian Hacket, the fat alewife of Wincot, if she know me not if she say I un 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&r. O, this it is that makes your lady mourn. 2 Sere. O, this it is that makes your servants droop.

Lord. Hence comes it that your kindred shun your house,

As beaten hence by your strange lunacy.
0. noble lord, bethink thee of thy birth;

Call horne thy ancient thoughts from banishment,
And banish hence these abject lowly dreams;
Look how thy servants do attend on thee,
Each in his office ready at thy beck.

Wilt thou have musick? hark! Apollo plays,

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Above the morning lark: Or wilt thou hunt? Thy hounds shall make the welkin answer them,' And fetch shrill echoes from the hollow earth.

1 Sere. Say, thou wilt course; thy greyhounds are as swift

As breathed stags, ay, fleeter than the roe.

2 Sere. Dost thou love pictures? we will fetch
thee straight

Adonis, painted by a running brook :
And Cytherea all in sedges hid;

Which seem to move and wanton with her breath,
Even as the waving sedges play with wind.

Lord. We'll show thee Io, as she was a maid; And how she was beguiled and surpriz'd, As lively painted as the deed was done.

3 Bere. 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.

O, how we joy to see your wit restor❜d!
O, that once more you knew but what you are!
These fifteen years you have been in a dream;
Or, when you wak'd, so wak'd as if you slept.
Sly. These fifteen years! by my fay, a goodly nap.
But did I never speak of all that time?

1 Serv. O, yes, my lord; but very idle words:
For though you lay here in this goodly chamber,
Yet would you say, ye were beaten out of door;
And rail upon the hostess of the house;
And say, you would present her at the leet,
Because she brought stone jugs and no scal'd quarts:
Sometimes you would call out for Cicely Hacket.
Sly. Ay, the woman's maid of the house.

3 Serv. Why, sir, you know no house, nor no such maid;

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My men should call me-lord; I am your goodman. 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? Lord. Madam.

Sly. Al'ce madam, or Joan madam?

Lord. Madam, and nothing else; so lords call ladies.

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; Being all this time abandon'd from your bed. 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 charg'd,

1 Serv. And, till the tears that she hath shed for In peril to incur your former malady,

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ACT I.

Luc. Tranio, since for the great desire I had
To see fair Padua, nursery of arts,
I am arriv'd for fruitful Lombardy,
The pleasant garden of great Italy;

And, by my father's love and leave, am arm'd
With his good will, and thy good company,
Most trusty servant, well approv'd in all;
Here let us breathe, and happily institute
A course of learning, and ingenious studies.
Pisa, renowned for grave citizens,
Gave me my being, and my father first,

A merchant of great traffick through the world,
Vincentio, come of the Bentivolii.

Vincentio his son, brought up in Florence,
It shall become, to serve all hopes conceiv'd,
To deck his fortune with his virtuous deeds:
And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study,
Virtue, and that part of philosophy
Will I apply, that treats of happiness
By virtue 'specially to be achiev'd.
Tell me thy mind: for I have Pisa left,
And am to Padua come; as he that leaves
A shallow plash, to plunge him in the deep,
And with satiety seeks to quench his thirst.
Tra. Mi perdonate, gentle master mine,
I am in all affected as yourself;
Glad that you thus continue your resolve,
To suck the sweets of sweet philosophy.
Only, good master, while we do admire
This virtue, and this moral discipline,
Let's be no stoicks, nor no stocks, 1 pray;
Or so devote to Aristotle's checks,
As Ovid be an outcast quite abjur'd:
Talk logick with acquaintance that you have,
And practise rhetorick in your common talk:
Musick and poesy use to quicken you;
The mathematicks, and the metaphysicks,
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 TRANIO stand aside.
Bap. Gentlemen, impórtune me no further,
For how I firmly am resolv'd you know;
That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter,
Before I have a husband for the elder:

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
Gre. To cart her rather: She's too rough fo

me:

There, there Hortensio, will you any wife?
Kath. I pray you, sir, [to BAP.] is it your wil
To make a stale of me amongst these mates?
Hor. Mates, maid! how mean you that? n
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 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!

Tra. Hush, master! here is some good pastim toward;

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 ;
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 Miner speak. [Asid Hor. Signior Baptista, will you be so strangel Sorry am I, that our good will effects Bianca's grief.

Gre.

Why, will you mew 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 BLANC And for I know, she taketh most delight In musick, 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. (E Kath. Why, and I trust, I may go too; May

not?

I knew not what to take, and what to leave! Ha!

What, shall I be appointed hours; as though, belike, | That made great Jove to humble him to her hand, When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan strand. Tra. Saw you no more? mark'd you not, how her sister

[Exit. Gre. You may go to the devil's dam; your gifts tre so good, here is none will hold you. Their love is not so great, Hortensio, but we may blow our mis 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?

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.

Her. So will I, signior Gremio: But a word, II pray, awake, sir; If you love the maid, pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brook'd parle, know now, upon advice, 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.

Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it stands:

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?

Her. 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 retten 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 on.

[Exeunt GREMIO and HORTENSIO. Tra. [Advancing.] I pray, sir, tell me, — Is it possible

That love should of a sudden take such hold?
Luc. O Tranio, till I found it to be true,

I never thought it possible, or likely;

But see! while idly I stood looking on,
I found the effect of love in idleness:
And now in plainness do confess to thee,-
That art to me as secret, and as dear,
As Anna to the queen of Carthage was,
Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio,
If I achieve not this young modest girl:
Counsel me, Tranio, for I know thou canst;
Assist me, Tranio, for I know thou wilt.

Tra. Master, it is no time to chide you now ;
Affection is not rated from the heart:
If love have touch'd you, nought remains but so, —
Redime te captum quam queas minimo.

Luc. Gramercies, lad; go forward: this con

tents;

The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound.
Tra. Master, you look'd so longly on the maid,
Perhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all.
Luc. O yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face,
Sach as the daughter of Agenor had,

Her eldest sister is so curst and shrewd,
That, till the father rid his hands of her,
Master, your love must live a maid at home;
And therefore has he closely mew'd her up,
Because she shall not be annoy'd with suitors.

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 her?
Tra. Ay, marry, am I, sir; and now 'tis plotted.
Luc. I have it, Tranio.

Tra.

Master, for my hand,

Both our inventions meet and jump in one.
Luc. Tell me thine first.
Tra.

You will be schoolmaster,
And undertake the teaching of the maid:
That's your device

Luc.

It is May it be done? Tra. Not possible; For who shall bear your part, And be in Padua here Vincentio's son ? Keep house, and ply his book; welcome his friends; Visit his countrymen, and banquet them?

Luc. Basta; content thee; for I have it full. We have not yet been seen in any house; Nor can we be distinguished by our faces, For man, or master: then it follows thus ;Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in my stead, Keep house, and port, and servants, as I should: I will some other be; some Florentine, Some Neapolitan, or mean man of Pisa. 'Tis hatch'd, and shall be so: - Tranio, at once Uncase thee; take my colour'd hat and cloak: When Biondello comes, he waits on thee; But I will charm him first to keep his tongue. Tra. So had you need. [They exchange habits. In brief then, sir, sith it your pleasure is, And I am tied to be obedient;

(For so your father charg'd me at our parting;
Be serviceable to my son, quoth he,

Although, I think, 'twas in another sense,)
I am content to be Lucentio,

Because so well I love Lucentio.

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.

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