But now,

I see, our lances are but straws; Our strength as weak, our weakness past compare,— That seeming to be most, which we least are. Then vail your stomachs3, for it is no boot; And place your hands below your husband's foot: In token of which duty, if he please,

My hand is ready, may it do him ease.

Pet. Why, there's a wench!—Come on, and kiss me, Kate.

Luc. Well, go thy ways, old lad; for thou shalt ha't.

Vin. 'Tis a good hearing, when children are toward. Luc. But a harsh hearing when women are froward. Pet. Come, Kate, we'll to bed:

We three are married, but you two are sped 9. "Twas I won the wager, though you hit the white 10; [To LUCENTIO.

And, being a winner, God give you good night! [Exeunt PETRUCHIO and KAth. Hor. Now go thy ways, thou hast tam'd a curst

shrew.

Luc. 'Tis a wonder, by your leave, she will be

tam'd so,

8 Vail your stomachs,' abate your pride, your boot, i. e. it is profitless, it is no advantage. Richard II. Act i. Sc. 1;

[Exeunt 11.

spirit, it is no Thus in King

Norfolk, throw down; we bid; there is no boot.'

9 i. e. the fate of you both is decided; for you both have wives who exhibit early proofs of disobedience.

10 The white was the central part of the mark or butt in archery. Here is also a play upon the name of Bianca, which is white in Italian.

Then enter two, bearing SLIE in his own apparel againe, and leaves him where they found him, and then goes out: then enters the Tapster.

Tapster. Now that the darksome night is overpast, And dawning day appeares in christall skie,

Now must I haste abroade: but softe! who's this?
What, Slie? O wondrous? hath he laine heere all night!
Ile wake him; I thinke he's starved by this,
But that his belly was so stufft with ale:
What now, Slie? awake for shame.

Slie. [Awaking.] Sim, give's more wine.-What all the players gone?-Am I not a lord?

Tap. A lord, with a murrain?-Come, art thou drunk still? Slie. Who's this? Tapster!-Oh I have had the bravest dream that ever thou heard'st in all thy life.

Tap. Yea, marry, but thou hadst best get thee home, for your wife will curse you for dreaming here all night.

Slie. Will she? I know how to tame a shrew. I dreamt upon it all this night, and thou hast wak'd me out of the best dream that ever I had; but I'll to my wife, and tame her too, if she anger me.

Of this play the two plots are so well united that they can hardly be called two, without injury to the art with which they are interwoven. The attention is entertained with all the variety of a double plot, yet is not distracted by unconnected incidents.

The part between Katharina and Petruchio is eminently spritely and diverting. At the marriage of Bianca the arrival of the real father, perhaps, produces more perplexity than pleaThe whole play is very popular and diverting.

sure.

JOHNSON.

END OF VOL. III.

C. and C. Whittingham, College House, Chiswick.