Fit for her turn; well read in poetry, So fhall I no whit be behind in duty To fair Bianca, fo belov'd of me. Gre. Belov'd of me, and that my deeds fall prove. Gru. And that his bags fhall prove. Hor. Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our love : I'll tell you news indifferent good for either. Pet. I know, fhe is an irksome brawling scold; If that be all, masters, I hear no harm. "Gre. No, fay'st me fo, friend? Pray, what country "man? "Pet. Born in Verona, old Antonio's fon : "My father dead, my fortune lives for me; "And I do hope good days, and long, to fee. "Gre. Sir, fuch a life, with fuch a wife, "strange: "But, if you have a stomach, to't o'God's name, "You fhall have me affifting you in all. But will you woo this wild-cat? Pet. Will I live? Gru. Will he woo her? ay, or I'll hang her. were Loud Loud arums, neighing fteeds, and trumpets' clangue ? That gives not half fo great a blow to the ear, Tufh, tufh! fear boys with bugs. Gre. Hortenfio, hark! This gentleman is happily arriv'd, My mind prefumes, for his own good, and ours. Tra. Gentlemen, Heav'n fave you! If I may be bold, Gre. He that has the two fair daughters! is't he you mean? Tra. Even he, fir. Gre. Hark you, fir; you mean not her to Tra. Perhaps, him and her, fir: What have you to do? Pet. Not her that chides, fir, at any hand, I pray. Tra. I love no chiders, fir:- Biondello, let's away. Luc. Well begun, Tranio. Hor. Sir, a word ere you go ; Are you a fuitor to the maid you talk of, yea, or no? Tra. An if I be, fir, is it any offence? Gre. No; if, without more words, you will get you hence. Tra. Why, fir, I pray you, are not the streets as free For me, as for you? Gre. But fo is not she. Tra. For what reafon, I befeech you? Gre. For this reason, if you'll know, That he's the choice love of fignior Gremio. This fpeech manifefts a spirited grandeur of idea; the allufione fpeak our author ftrongly, though ftrictness of climax is not maintained; but that objection, in comic writing, is trifling. Hor. That he is the chofen of fignior Hortenfio. To whom my father is not all unknown; Gre. What, what! this gentleman will out-talk us all. Tra. No, fir; but hear I do, that he hath two: Pet. Sir, fir, the firft's for me; let her go by. Pet. Sir, understand you this of me infooth ;- Tra. If it be so, fir, that you are the man Hor. Sir, you fay well, and well you do conceive: And fince you do profefs to be a fuitor, You must, as we do,-gratify this gentleman, To whom we all reft generally beholding. Tra. Sir, I fhall not be flack: in fign whereof, Please ye we may convive this afternoon, And And do as adverfaries do in law, Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends. Gru. O excellent motion !-Fellows, let's be gone. Hor. The motion's good indeed, and be it so ;Petruchio, I'll be your ben venuto. [Exeunt *. ACT II. SCENE I. The fame. A Room in Baptifta's Houfe. Enter Catherina, and Bianca, her Hands bound. G "BIANCA. OOD fifter, wrong me not, nor wrong yourself, To make a bondmaid and a slave of me; "That I difdain: but for these other gawds,"Unbind my hands, I'll pull them off myself, "Yea, all my raiment, to my petticoat; "Or, what you will command me, will I do, "So well I know my duty to my elders. "Cat. Of all thy fuitors, here I charge thee, tell "Whom thou lov'ft beft: fee thou diffemble not. "Bia. Believe me, fifter, of all the men alive, "I never yet beheld that fpecial face "Which I could fancy more than any other. "Cat. Minion, thou ly'ft; Is't not Hortenfio? "Bia. If you affect him, fifter, here I fwear, "I'll plead for you myself, but you fhall have him. "Cat. O then, belike, you fancy riches more } "You will have Gremio, to keep you fair. "Bia. Is it for him you do envy me fo? "Nay, then you jeft; and now I well perceive, "You have but jefted with me all this while : "I pr'ythee, fifter Kate, untie my hands. There is a great deal of plot, well conceived, and good difpo fitions in this Act: it contains fome-humour, and a confiderable fhare of more elevated. fancy; but (including the introduction) must prove much too long for the ftage, even as we have curtailed it. VOL. VI. F "Cat. If that be jeft, [ftriking her] then all the reft 66 was fo. Enter Baptifta. Bap. Why, how now, dame! whence grows this infolence?— Bianca, ftand afide;-poor girl! fhe weeps:-"Go, ply thy needle; meddle not with her."For fhame, thou hilding of a devilish spirit, "Why doft thou wrong her that did ne'er wrong thee? "When did the crofs thee with a bitter word ? "Cat. Her filence flouts me, and I'll be reveng'd. [Flies after Bianca. Bap. What, in my fight ?-[topping her.] Bianca, 66 get thee in. [Exit Bianca. "Cat. Will you not fuffer me? Nay, now I fee, "She is your treasure, she must have a husband; "I muft dance bare-foot on her wedding-day, "And, for your love to her, lead apes in hell. "Talk not to me; I will go fit and weep, "Till I can find occafion of revenge. [Exit Catherine. "Bap. Was ever gentleman thus griev'd as I? "But who comes here? * Enter Gremio, and Lucentio; Petruchio, with Hortenfio as a Mufician; and Tranio, with Biondello attending, bearing a Lute and Books. Gre. Good morrow, neighbour Baptifta. Bap. Good morrow, neighbour Gremio-Heav'n fave you, gentlemen! Pet. And you, good fir! Pray, have you not a daughter Call'd-Catherina, fair, and virtuous ? Bap. I have a daughter, fir, call'd-Catherina. As all preceding this is an uneffential aggravation of Cathe rine's turbulence, the fecond Act would undoubtedly begin better here; especially as it relieves Bianca from being feen in fuch an aukward, disagreeable fituation. |