Imatges de pàgina
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It shall be moon, or star, or what I list,
Or ere I journey to your father's house :-
Go on, and fetch our horses back again.-
Evermore cross'd, and cross'd; nothing but cross'd!
Hor. Say as he says, or we shall never go.

Kath. Forward, I pray, since we have come so far,

And be it moon, or sun, or what you please :
And if you please to call it a rush candle,
Henceforth I vow it shall be so for me.

Pet. I say, it is the moon.

Kath. I know it is.

Pet. Nay, then you lie ; it is the blessed sun.

Kath. Then, God be bless'd, it is the blessed sun :

But sun it is not, when you say it is not;

And the moon changes, even as your mind.
What you will have it nam'd, even that it is;

And so it shall be so, for Katharine.

Hor. Petruchio, go thy ways; the field is won.

Pet. Well, forward, forward: thus the bowl should

run,

And not unluckily against the bias.-
But soft; what company is coming here?

Enter VINCENTIO, in a travelling dress.
Good-morrow, gentle mistress: Where away?

[TO VINCENTIO.

-Tell me, sweet Kate, and tell me truly too,
Hast thou beheld a fresher gentlewoman ?
Such war of white and red within her cheeks!
What stars do spangle heaven with such beauty,
As those two eyes become that heavenly face?
-Fair lovely maid, once more good day to thee :
-Sweet Kate, embrace her for her beauty's sake.

Hor. 'A will make the man mad, to make a woman

of him.

Kath. Young budding virgin, fair, and fresh, and sweet, Whither away; or where is thy abode ? Happy the parents of so fair a child; Happier the man, whom favourable stars Allot thee for his lovely bed-fellow !

Pet. Why, how now, Kate! I hope thou art not mad: This is a man, old, wrinkled, faded, wither'd; And not a maiden, as thou say'st he is.

Kath. Pardon, old father, my mistaking eyes,

That have been so bedazzled with the sun,

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Now I perceive, thou art a reverend father;
Pardon, I pray thee, for my mad mistaking.

Pet. Do, good old grandsire; and, withal, make known
Which way thou travellest: if along with us,
We shall be joyful of thy company.

Vin. Fair sir, and you, my merry mistress,-
That with your strange encounter much amaz'd me;
My name is call'd-Vincentio; my dwelling-Pisa;
And bound I am to Padua; there to visit

A son of mine, which long I have not seen.
Pet. What is his name?

Vin. Lucentio, gentle sir.

Pet. Happily met; the happier for thy son.
And now by law, as well as reverend age,
I may entitle thee-my loving father;
The sister to my wife, this gentlewoman,
Thy son by this hath married: Wonder not,
Nor be not griev'd; she is of good esteem,
Her dowry wealthy, and of worthy birth;
Beside, so qualified as may beseem
The spouse of any noble gentleman.
Let me embrace with old Vincentio:
And wander we to see thy honest son,
Who will of thy arrival be full joyous.

Vin. But is this true? or is it else your pleasure,
Like pleasant travellers, to break a jest
Upon the company you overtake?

Hor. I do assure thee, father, so it is.
Pet. Come, go along, and see the truth hereof;
For our first merriment hath made thee jealous.

[Exe. PET. KATH.and VIN

Hor. Well, Petruchio, this hath put me in heart.
Have to my widow; and if she be froward,
Then hast thou taught Hortensio to be untoward.

[Exit.

[4] Shakspeare's observations on the phænomena of nature are very accurate. When one has sat long in the sunshine, the surrounding objects will often appear tinged with green. The reason is assigned by many of the writers on opticks. BLACKSTONE,

:

ACT V.

SCENE I-Padua. Before LUCENTIO's House. Enter on one side BIONDELLO, LUCENTIO, and BIANCA; GREMIO walking on the other side.

Biondello.

SOFTLY and swiftly, sir; for the priest is ready. Luc. I fly, Biondello; but they may chance to need thee at home, therefore leave us.

Bion. Nay, faith, I'll see the church o'your back; and then come back to my master as soon as I can.

[Exeunt Luc. BIAN. and BIONDELLO.

Gre. I marvel, Cambio comes not all this while. Enter PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, VINCENTIO, and Attendants. Pet. Sir, here's the door, this is Lucentio's house, My father's bears more toward the market-place; Thither must I, and here I leave you, sir.

Vin. You shall not choose but drink before you go; I think, I shall command your welcome here, And, by all likelihood, some cheer is toward. [Knocks. Gre. They're busy within, you were best knock louder.

Enter Pedant above, at a window.

Ped. What's he, that knocks as he would beat down the gate?

Vin. Is signior Lucentio within, sir?

Ped. He's within, sir, but not to be spoken withal. Vin. What if a man bring him a hundred pound or two, to make merry withal.

Ped. Keep your hundred pounds to yourself; he shall need none, so long as I live.

Pet. Nay, I told you, your son was beloved in Padua. -Do you hear, sir? - to leave frivolous circumstances, I pray you, tell signior Lucentio, that his father is come from Pisa, and is here at the door to speak with him.

Ped. Thou liest; his father is come from Pisa, and here looking out at the window.

Vin. Art thou his father?

Ped. Ay, sir; so his mother says, if I may believe her. Pet. Why, how now, gentleman! [To VINCENTIO.] why, this is flat knavery, to take upon you another man's

name.

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cozen somebody in this city under my countenance.

Re-enter BIONDELLO.

Bion. I have seen them in the church together; God send 'em good shipping!-But who is here? mine old master, Vincentio? now we are undone, and brought to nothing.

Vin. Come hither, crack-hemp. [Seeing BIONDELLO.
Bion. I hope, I may choose, sir.

Vin. Come hither, you rogue; What, have you forgot me?

Bion. Forgot you? no, sir: I could not forget you, for I never saw you before in all my life.

Vin. What, you notorious villain, didst thou never see thy master's father, Vincentio?

Bion. What, my old, worshipful old master? yes, marry, sir; see where he looks out of the window. Vin. Is't so, indeed?

[Beats BIONDELLO.

[Exit.

Bion. Help, help, help! here's a madman will murder me !

Ped. Help, son! help, signior Baptista!

[Exit from the window.
Pet. Pr'ythee, Kate, let's stand aside, and see the end
of this controversy.
[They retire.

Re-enter Pedant below; BAPTISTA, TRANIO, and Servants.
Tra. Sir, what are you, that offer to beat my servant?

Vin. What am I, sir? nay, what are you, sir?-O immortal gods! O fine villain! A silken doublet! a velvet hose! a scarlet cloak! and a copatain hat! 5-0, I am undone! I am undone! while I play the good husband at home, my son and my servant spend all at the university.

Tra. How now! what's the matter?
Bap. What, is the man lunatic?

Tra. Sir, you seem a sober ancient gentleman by your habit, but your words shew you a madman: Why, sir, what concerns it you, if I wear pearl and gold? I thank my good father, I am able to maintain it.

[5] A copatain hat, is, I believe, a hat with a conical crown, such as was anciently worn by well-dressed men. JOHNSON.

In Stubbs's Anatomie of Abuses, printed 1595, there is an entire chapter "on the hattes of England," beginning thus:-" Sometimes they use them sharpe on the crowne, pearking up like the speare or shaft of a steeple, standing a quarter of a yard above the crowne of their heads," &c. STEEV.

Vin. Thy father?-O, villain! he is a sail-maker in

Bergamo.

Bap. You mistake, sir; you mistake, sir: Pray, what do you think is his name?

Vin. His name? as if I knew not his name: I have brought him up ever since he was three years old, and his name is-Tranio.

Ped. Away, away, mad ass! his name is Lucentio ; and he is mine only son, and heir to the lands of me, signior Vincentio.

Vin. Lucentio! O, he hath murdered his master!Lay hold on him, I charge you, in the duke's name :O, my son, my son !-tell me, thou villain, where is my son Lucentio?

Tra. Call forth an officer: [Enter one with an Officer.] carry this mad knave to the gaol :- Father Baptista, I charge you see, that he be forthcoming.

Vin. Carry me to the gaol!

Gre. Stay, officer; he shall not go to prison.

Bap. Talk not, signior Gremio; I say, he shall go to prison.

Gre. Take heed, signior Baptista, lest you be coneycatched in this business; 6 I dare swear, this is the right Vincentio.

Ped. Swear, if thou darest.

Gre. Nay, I dare not swear it.

Tra. Then thou wert best say, that I am not Lucentio.
Gre. Yes, I know thee to be signior Lucentio.
Bap. Away with the dotard; to the gaol with him.
Vin. Thus strangers may be haled and abus'd :-
monstrous villain !

Re-enter BIONDELLO, with LUCENTIO and BIANCA. Bion. O, we are spoiled, and-Yonder he is; deny

him, forswear him, or else we are all undone.

Luc. Pardon, sweet father.

Vin. Lives my sweetest son?

[Kneeling.

[BION. TRA. and Pedant run out.7

Bian. Pardon, dear father.

Bap. How hast thou offended ?

Where is Lucentio?

Luc. Here's Lucentio,

[6] Coney-catched-i.e. deceived, cheated. [7] The old copy says-as fast as may be.

STEEVENS,
RITSON.

[Kneeling.

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