Hor. Madam, before you touch the inftrument, Bian. Why, I am pafs'd my gamut long ago. Bian. [reading] Gamut I am, the ground of all acAre, to plead Hortenfio's paffion; Bi mi, Bianca, take him for thy lord; Cfaut, that loves with all effection; D fel re, one cliff, but two notes have I, Call you this gamut? tut, I like it not: Enter a Servant. [cord, Serv. Miftrefs, your father prays you leave your books, And help to drefs your fifter's chamber up; Bian. Farewel, fweet mafters, both; I muft be gone, [Exit. Luc. 'Faith, miftrefs, then I have no caufe to stay. [Exit. Hor. But I have caufe to pry into this pedant; Methinks he looks as tho' he were in love: Yet if thy thoughts, Bianca, be fo humble, To caft thy wand'ring eyes on every stale; Seize thee who lift; if once I find thee ranging, Hortenfio will be quit with thee by changing. Exit. SCENE II. Enter Baptifta, Gremio, Tranio, Catherine, Lucentio, Bianca, and attendants. Bap. Signior Lucentio, this is the 'pointed day That Cath'rine and Petruchio fhould be married; And yet we hear not of our fon-in-law. VOL. II. Ee What What will be faid! what mockery will it be, What fays Lucentio to this fhame of ours! Cath. No fhame, but mine; I muft, forfooth, be force'd To give my hand oppos'd against my heart, He'll woo a thoufand, 'point the day of marriage, Tra. Patience, good Catharine, and Baptifta too; Cath. Would Catherine had never feen him tho! [Exit. weeping. Bap. Go, girl; I cannot blame thee now to weep; For fuch an injury would vex a faint, Much more a threw of thy impatient humour. SCENE III. Enter Biondello. Bion. Mafter, master; old news, and fuch news as you never heard of. Bap. Is it new and old too? how may that be? Bion. Why, is it not news to hear of Petruchio's coming? Bap. When will he be here? Bion. When he ftands where I am, and fees you there. Tra. Tra. But fay, what to thine old news? Bion. Why, Petruchio is coming in a new hat and an old jerkin; a pair of old breeches thrice turn'd; a pair of boots that have been candle-cafes, one bucy kled, another lace'd; an old rufty sword ta'en out of the town armoury, with a broken hilt, and chapelefs, with two broken points; his horfe hipp'd with an old mothy faddle, the ftirrups of no kindred; befides poffefs'd with the glanders, and like to mofe in the chine, troubled with the lampaffe, infe&ed with, the fashions, full of windgalls, fped with fpavins, raied with the yellows, paft cure of the fives, fark fpoil'd with the ftaggers, begnawn with the bots, waid in the back and thoulder-fhotten, near-legg'd before, and with a half-check'd bit, and a headitali of fheep's leather; which being refrain'd, to keep ⚫ him from ftumbling, hath been often burt, and now, repair'd with knots; one girt fix tires piece'd, and a woman's crupper of velure, which hath two letters for her name, fairly fet down in fluds, and here and there piece'd with pack-thread." Вар. Who comes with him? Bion. Oh, Sir, his lackey, for all the world cys rifon'd like the horfe, with a linen flock on one leg, ⚫ and a kersey boot-hofe on the other, garter'd with a red and blue. lit, an old hat, and the bumour offerty fancies prick'd up in't for a feather: a monfter, a ve ry monster in apparel, and not like a Chriftian footboy, or a gentleman's lackey.' Tra. 'Tis fome odd humour pricks him to this faYet oftentimes he goes but mean apparel'd. (fhion; Bap. I am glad he's come, howfoever he comes. Bion. Why, Sir, he comes not. Bap. Didit thou not fay, he comes? Bion. Who? that Petruchio came not? Bap. Ay, that Petruchio came. Bion. No, Sir; I fay his horfe comes with him on his back. Bap. Why, that's all one. Bion. Nay, by St. Jamy, I hold you a penny, A horfe and a man is more than one, and yet not many.. * S.m. balad or drollery of that time is hele ridiculed. E c 2 SCENE. Enter Petruchio and Grumio fantaftically habited. Pet. Come, where be thefe gallants? who is at home? Bap. You're welcome, Sir. Pet. And yet I come not well. Bap. And yet you halt not. Tra. Not fo well 'parell'd as I wish you were. As if they faw fome wondrous monument, Bap. Why, Sir, you know, this is your wedding-day: Tra. And tell us what occafion of import. Hath all fo long detain'd you from your wife, And fent you hither fo unlike yourself? Pet. Tedious it were to tell, and harsh to hear : But where is Kate? Iftay too long from her; with words; To me fhe's married, not unto my cloaths: And And feal the title with a lovely kifs. [Exit. Tra. He hath fome meaning in his mad attire: We will perfuade him, be it poffible, To put on better ere he go to church. Bap. I'll after him, and fee the event of this. [Exit. Tra. But, Sir, our love concerneth us to add' I am to get a man, (whate'er he be, It kills not much; we'll fit him to our turn); greater fums than I have promised: So fhall you quietly enjoy your hope, And marry fweet Bianca with confent. Luc. Were it not that my fellow-fchoolmafter 'Twere good, methinks, to fteal our marriage; SCENE VI. Enter Gremio." Now, Signior Gremio, came you from the church? home? Gre. A bridegroom, fay you? 'tis a groom, indeed, A grumbling groom, and that the girl shall find. Tra. Curiter than the? why, 'tis impoffible. Gre. Why, he's a devil, a devil, a very fiend. Tra. Why, fhe's a devil, a devil, the devil's dam. Gre. But, fhe's a lamb, a dove, a fool to him. I'll tell you, Sir Lucentio; when the priest Should afk, if Catherine fhould be his wife? Ee 3 Av. |