Lady. Thrice-noble Lord, let me entreat of you, Or, if not fo, until the fun be fet: Sly. Ay, it ftands fo, that I may hardly tarry fo longs but I would be loath to fall into my dream again: I will therefore tarry in defpight of the flesh and the blood. Enter a Melenger. Me. Your Honour's players, hearing your amendment, Are come to play a pleafant comedy; For fo your doctors hold it very meet, Seeing too much fad nefs hath congeal'd your blood; Therefore, they thought it good you hear a play, Sly. Marry, I will; let them play; is it not a com- Lady. It is a kind of history. Sly. Well, we'll fee't: Come Madam wife, fit by my fide, and let the world flip, we shall ne'er be younger. 5 F The TAMING of the SHREW. T A C T I. SCENE, a Street in Padua. Flourish. Enter Lucentio and Tranio, LUCENTI O. Ranio, fince for the great defire I had And, by my father's love and leave, am arm'd Gave me my being; and my father first, A merchant of great traffick through the world: Vincentio his fon, brought up in Florence, (7) I am arriv'd for fruitful Lombardy,] Though all the impref fions concur in this, I take it to be a blunder of the editors, and not of the author. Padua is not in Lombardy; but Pifa, from which Lucentio comes, is really in thofe territories, And And therefore, Tranio, for the time I ftudy, Glad, that you thus continue your refolve, Talk logick with acquaintance that you have, Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well doft thou advifes We could at once put us in readiness ; Such friends, as time in Padua fhall beget. But ftay a while, what company is this? Tra. Master, fome fhow to welcome as to town, Enter Baptifta with Catharina and Bianca, Gremio and Bap. Gentlemen both, importune me no farther, If either of you both love Catharina, VOL. II. Q Because Because I know you well, and love you well, To make a ftale of me amongst these mates? Hor. Mates, maid, how mean you that à no mates for you; Unless you were of gentler milder mould. Cath. I'faith, Sir, you fhall never need to fear, I wis, it is not half way to her heart: Hor. From all fuch devils, good Lord, deliver us. Tra. Huh, mafter, here's fome good paftime] toward; That wench is ftark mad, or wonderful froward. Maid's mild behaviour and fobriety. Peace, Tranio. Tra, Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fili. Bap. Gentlemen, that I may foon make good What I have faid, Bianca, get you in; And let it not difpleafe thee, good Bianca; afide. Cath. A pretty peat! it is beft put finger in the eye, an the knew why. Bian. Sifter, content you in my difcontent. Sir, to your pleasure humbly I fubfcribe: My books and inftruments fhall be my company, On them to look, and practise by myself. Luc. Hark, Tramio, thou may't hear Minerva speak. Hor, Signior Baptifta, will you be so strange? Sorry am I, that our good will effects Bianca's grief. Gre. Why will you mew her up, Signior Baptifta, for this fiend of hell, [afide. And And make her bear the penance of her tongue ?. my And for I know, the taketh moft delight [Exit Bianca To mine own children, in good bringing up; TExit. Cath. Why, and, 1 truft, I may go too, may I not? what, fhall I be appointed hours, as though, belike, I knew not what to take, and what to leave? ha! [Exit. Gre. You may go to the devil's dam: Your gifts are fo good, here is none will hold you. Our love is not fo great, Hortenfio, bat we may blow our nails together, and faft it fairly out. Our cake's dow on both fides. Farewel; yet for the love I bear my sweet Biança, if I can by any means light on a fit man to teach her that wherein the delights, I will with him to her father. Hor. So will I, Signior Gremio: But a word, I pray; though the nature of our quarrel never yet brook'd parle, know now, upon advice, it toucheth us both, that we may yet again have access to our fair miftrefs, and be. happy rivals in Bianca's love, to labour and effect one thing 'fpecially.. Gre. What's that, I pray? Hor. Marry, Sir, to get a husband for her fifter. Hor. I fay, a husband. Gre. I fay, a devil. Think'ft thou, Hortenfio, though her father be very rich, any man is fo very a fool to be married to hell? Hor. Tufh, Gremio; though it pafs your patience and mine to endure her loud alarms, why, man, there be good |