SCENE, before Baptifta's Houfe.

Enter Tranio and Hortenfio.

'S't poffible, friend Licio, that Bianca (19)
Doth fancy any other but Lucentio?
I tell you, Sir, the bears me fair in hand.
Hor. To fatisfy you, Sir, in what I said,
Stand by, and mark the manner of his teaching.

Enter Bianca and Lucentio.

[They fland by.

Luc. Now, miftrefs, profit you in what you read?
Bian. What, mafter, read you? firft, refolve me that.
Luc. I read that I profefs, the art of love.
Bian. And may you prove, Sir, master of your art!
Luc. While you, fweet dear, prove mistress of my heart.
[They retire back-ward.

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.

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Tra. O defpightful love, unconftant womankind!
I tell thee, Licio, this is wonderful.

Hor. Miftake no more, I am not Licio,
Nor a mufician, as I feem to be;
But one that fcorn to live in this difguife,
For fuch a one as leaves a gentleman,
And makes a God of fuch a cullion;
Know, Sir, that I am call'd Hortenfio.
Tra. Signior Hortenfio, I have often heard
Of your entire affection to Bianca;

And fince mine eyes are witnefs of her lightness,
I will with you, if you be fo contented,
Forfwear Bianca and her love for ever.

Hor. See, how they kifs and court Signior Lucentio,
Here is my hand, and here I firmly vow
Never to wooe her more; but do forfwear her,
As one unworthy all the former favours,
That I have fondly flatter'd her withal.

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.
Hor. Would all the world, but he, had quite forfworn
For me, that I may furely keep mine oath,

I will be married to a wealthy widow,

Ere three days pafs, which has as long lov'd me,
As I have lov'd this proud difdainful haggard.
And fo farewel, Signior Lucentio.

Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks,
Shall win my love: And fo I take my leave,
In refolution as I fwore before.

[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.
Bian. God gave him joy!onstruon
Tra. Ay, and he'll tame her.ɔ se të L
Bian. He fays fo, Tranio.

Tra. 'Faith, he's gone unto the taming fchool.
Bian. The taming fchool? what, is there fuch a place?
Tra. Ay, miftrefs, and Petruchio is the mafter;
That teacheth tricks eleven and twenty long,
To tame a fhrew, and charm her chattering tongue.
Enter Biondello, running.

Bion. Oh master, mafter, I have watch'd fo long,
That I'm dog-weary; but at laft I fpied (20)
An ancient engle, going down the hill,

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,
Will ferve the turn.]

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)
In gate and countenance furely like a father.]

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,
I'll make him glad to feem Vincentio,
And give him affurance to Baptifta Minola,
As if he were the right Vincentio :
Take in your love, and then let me alone.

Enter a Pedant.

Ped. God fave you,

Sir.

[Exe. Luc. and Bian.

Tra. And you, Sir; you are welcome:
Travel you far on, or are you at the fartheft?
Ped. Sir, at the fartheft for a week or two;

But then up farther, and as far as Rome;
And fo to Tripoly, if God lend me life.
Tra. What countryman, I pray?

Ped. Of Mantua.

Tra. Of Mantua, Sir? God forbid !
And come to Padua, careless of your life?

Ped. My life, Sir! hcw, I pray? for that goes hard.
Tra. 'Tis death for any one in Mantua

To come to Padua; know you not the caufe?
Your fhips are ftaid at Venice, and the Duke
(For private quarrel 'twixt your Duke and him,)
Hath publish'd and proclaim'd it openly:
'Tis marvel, but that you're but newly come,
You might have heard it elfe proclaim'd about.
Ped. Alas, Sir; it is worfe for me than fo;
For I have bills for money by exchange
From Florence, and must here deliver them,
Tra. Well, Sit, to do you courtesy,

This will I do, and this will I advite you;
Firft, tell me, have you ever been at Pifa?
Ped. Ay, Sir, in Pifa have I often been s
Pifa renowned for grave citizens.

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,
This favour will I do you for his fake;
And think it not the worst of all your fortunes,
That you
are like to Sir Vincentio :

His name and credit fhall you undertake,
And in my houfe you fhall be friendly lodg'd:
Look, that you take upon you as you fhould.
You understand me, Sir: So fhall you stay
'Till you have done your business in the city.
If this be court'fy, Sir, accept of it.

Ped. Oh, Sir, I do; and will repute you ever
The Patron of my life and liberty.

Tra. Then go with me to make the matter good:
This by the way I let you understand,

My father is here look'd for every day,
To pafs affurance of a dowre in marriage
'Twixt me and one Baptifta's daughter here:
In all thefe circumftances I'll inftruct you:

Go with me, Sir, to cloath you as becomes you. [Exeunt.
Enter Catharina and Grumio.

Gru. No, no, forfooth, I dare not for my life.
Cath. The more my wrong, the more his spite appears:

What, did he marry me to famish me?
Beggars, that come unto my father's door,
Upon intreaty, have a prefent alms;
If not, elfewhere they meet with charity:
But I, who never knew how to intreat,
Nor never needed that I should intreat,

Am ftarv'd for meat, giddy for lack of fleep;
With oaths kept waking, and with brawling fed;

And that, which fpights me more than all thefe wants,
He does it under name of perfect love:

As