SCENE, before Baptifta's Houfe. Enter Tranio and Hortenfio. 'S't poffible, friend Licio, that Bianca (19) Enter Bianca and Lucentio. [They fland by. Luc. Now, miftrefs, profit you in what you read? Hor. Quick proceeders! marry! now, tell me, I pray, you that durft fwear that your mistress Bianca lov'd none in the world fo well as Lucentio. (19) Is't poffible, friend Licio, &c.] This fcene Mr. Pope, upon what authority I can't pretend to gueis, has in his editions made the firft of the fiftb act: In doing which, he has fhewn the very power and force of criticifm. The confequence of this judicious regulation is, that two unpardonable abfurdities are fix'd upon the author, which he could not poffibly have committed. For, in the first place, by this fhuffling the fcenes out of their true pofition, we find Hortenfio, in the fourth act, already gone from Baptifia's to Petruchio's countryhoufe; and afterwards in the beginning of the fifth act we find him firft forming the refolution of quitting Bianca; and Tranio immediately informs us, he is gone to the Taming-School to Petruchio. There is a figure, indeed, in rhetorick, call'd, sepov porεpov: But this is an abuse of it, which the rhetoricians will never adopt upon Mr. Pope's authority. Again, by this mifplacing, the pedant makes ba first entrance, and quits the ftage with Tranio in order to go and dreis himself like Vincentio, whom he was to perfonate: But his fecond entrance is upon the very heels of his exit; and without any interval of an act, or one word intervening, he comes out again equipp'd like Vincentio. If fuch a critick be fit to publish a stage. writer, I fhall not envy Mr. Pope's admirers, if they should think fit to applaud his fagacity. I have replac'd the fcenes in that order, in which I found them in the old books. Tra. ར་ Tra. O defpightful love, unconftant womankind! Hor. Miftake no more, I am not Licio, And fince mine eyes are witnefs of her lightness, Hor. See, how they kifs and court Signior Lucentio, Tra. And here I take the like unfeigned oath, Never to marry her, tho' fhe intreat. Fy on her! fee, how beaftly fhe doth court him. I will be married to a wealthy widow, Ere three days pafs, which has as long lov'd me, Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks, [her! [Exit Hor. Tra. Miftrefs Bianca, blefs you with fuch grace, As longeth to a lover's bleffed cafe: Nay, I have ta'en you napping, gentle love, And have forfworn you with Hortenfio. [Lucentio and Bianca come forward. Bian. Tranio, you jeft: But have you both forfworn me? Tra. Miltrels, we have.. Luc. Then we are rid of Licio Tra. I'faith, he'll have a lufty widow now, That fhall be woo'd and wedded in a day.' SHREW. Tra. 'Faith, he's gone unto the taming fchool. Bion. Oh master, mafter, I have watch'd fo long, Will ferve the turn. Tra. What is he, Biondello? Bion. Master, a mercantant, or else a pedant; I know not what; but formal in apparel; (21) An ancient angel going down the bill, In Though all the printed copies agree in this reading, I am confident, that Shakespeare intended no profanation here; nor indeed any compliment to this old man who was to be impos'd upon, and made a property of. The word I have reftor'd, certainly retrieves the author's meaning: And means, either in its firft fignification, a burdash; (for the word is of Spanish extraction, ingle, which is equivalent to inguen of the Latines; or, in its metaphorical fenfe, a gull, a cully, one fit to be made a tool of. And in both fenfes it is frequently us'd by B. Jonfon. Cynthia's Revels. and sweat for every venial trefpafs we commit, as fome author would, if he had fuch fine engles as we. The Cafe is alter'd; (a comedy not printed among B. Jonson's works) What Signior Antonio Balladino! welcome, sweet engle. Poetafter. What, fhall I have my fon a stager now? an engle for players? And he likewife uses it, as a verb, in the fame play, fignifying to beguile, defraud. I'll prefently go, and engle fome broker for a poet's gown, and be fpeak a garland. -but formal in apparel; (21) I have made bold to read, furly; and furely, I believe, I am right in doing fo. Our peet always reprefents his pedants, imperious and magifterial. In gate and countenance furly like a father. Luc. And what of him, Tranio? Tra. If he be credulous, and truft my tale, Enter a Pedant. Ped. God fave you, Sir. [Exe. Luc. and Bian. Tra. And you, Sir; you are welcome: But then up farther, and as far as Rome; Ped. Of Mantua. Tra. Of Mantua, Sir? God forbid ! Ped. My life, Sir! hcw, I pray? for that goes hard. To come to Padua; know you not the caufe? This will I do, and this will I advite you; magifterial. Befides, Tranio's directions to the pedant for his beha viour vouch for my emendation. 'Tis well; and hold your own in any cafe, With fuch aufterity as longeth to a father. Tra. Among them know you one Vincentio? Ped. I know him not, but I have heard of him A merchant of incomparable wealth. Tra. He is my father, Sir; and, footh to fay, In count'nance fomewhat doth resemble you. よう Bion. As much as an apple doth an oyster, and all one. !} [Afide. Tra. To fave your life in this extremity, His name and credit fhall you undertake, Ped. Oh, Sir, I do; and will repute you ever Tra. Then go with me to make the matter good: My father is here look'd for every day, Go with me, Sir, to cloath you as becomes you. [Exeunt. Gru. No, no, forfooth, I dare not for my life. What, did he marry me to famish me? Am ftarv'd for meat, giddy for lack of fleep; And that, which fpights me more than all thefe wants, As |