Sly. These fifteen years! By my fay,' a goodly nap. But did I never speak of all that time? 1 Serv. O, yes, my lord; but very idle words.- And say, you would present her at the leet,2 3 Serv. Why, sir, you know no house, nor no such maid, Nor no such men as you have reckoned up,- And twenty more such names and men as these, Sly. Now, Lord be thanked for my good amends! Sly. I thank thee; thou shalt not lose by it. Enter the Page, as a Lady, with Attendants. Page. How fares my noble lord? Sly. Marry, I fare well; for here is cheer enough. Where is my wife? Page. Here, noble lord. Sly. Are you my wife, husband? What is thy will with her? and will not call me My men should call me-lord; I am your goodman. Page. My husband and my lord, my lord and husband. I am your wife in all obedience. Sly. I know it well.-What must I call her? Lord. Madam. 1 A contraction of by my faith. 2 That is, at the court leet, where it was usual to present such matters, as appears from Kitchen on Courts:-" Also if tiplers sell by cups and dishes, or measures sealed or not sealed, is inquirable." 3 Blackstone proposes to read, "old John Naps o'the Green." The addition seems to have been a common one. Sly. Al'ce madam, or Joan madam? Lord. Madam, and nothing else; so lords call ladies. Sly. Madam wife, they say that I have dreamed and slept Above some fifteen year and more. Page. Ay, and the time seems thirty unto me; Being all this time abandoned from your bed. Sly. 'Tis much.- -Servants, leave me and her alone. Madam, undress you, and come now to bed. Sly. Ay, it stands so, that I may hardly tarry so long. But I would be loath to fall into my dreams again; I will therefore tarry, in despite of the flesh and the blood. Enter a Servant. Serv. Your honor's players, hearing your amendment, Are come to play a pleasant comedy, For so your doctors hold it very meet; Seeing too much sadness hath congealed your blood, Therefore they thought it good you hear a play, Page. It is a kind of history. Sly. Well, we'll see't. Come, madam wife, sit by my side, and let the world slip; we shall ne'er be [They sit down. younger. 1 For comedy. ACT I. SCENE I. Padua. A public Place. Enter LUCENTIO and TRANIO. Luc. Tranio, since-for the great desire I had And, by my father's love and leave, am armed Gave me my being, and my father first, Vincentio's son, brought up in Florence, 1 Ingenious and ingenuous were very commonly confounded by old writers. 2 i. e. to fulfil the expectations of his friends. 3 Apply for ply is frequently used by old writers. Thus Baret:-" with diligent endeavour to applie their studies." And in Turberville's Tragic Tales:-"How she her wheele applyde.” 4 Small piece of water. 5 Pardon me. Glad that you thus continue your resolve, 1 As Ovid be an outcast quite abjured: Balke logic with acquaintance that you have, Fall to them as you find your stomach serves you; Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise. We could at once put us in readiness; Such friends as time in Padua shall beget. Tra. Master, some show, to welcome us to town. Enter BAPTISTA, KATHARINA, BIANCA, GREMIO, and Bap. Gentlemen, importune me no further, If either of you both love Katharina, Because I know you well, and love you well, 1 The old copy reads Aristotle's checks. Blackstone suggests that we should read ethics, and the sense seems to require it; it is therefore admitted into the text. 2 The modern editions read, "Talk logic, &c. The old copy reads Balke, which Mr. Boswell suggests may be right, although the meaning of the word is now lost. Kath. I pray you, sir, [To BAP.] is it To make a stale of me amongst these mates? your will Hor. Mates, maid! how mean you that? no mates for you, Unless you were of gentler, milder mould. Kath. I'faith, sir, you shall never need to fear; I wis,' it is not half way to her heart: But if it were, doubt not her care should be Hor. From all such devils, good Lord deliver us! Tra. Hush, master! here is some good pastime toward; That wench is stark mad, or wonderful froward. Maid's mild behavior and sobriety. Tra. Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill. Put finger in the eye,-an she knew why. My books, and instruments, shall be my company; Luc. Hark, Tranio! thou mayst hear Minerva speak. [Aside. Hor. Seignior Baptista, will you be so strange? Sorry am I that our good will effects Bianca's grief. Gre. Why, will you mew her up, Seignior Baptista, for this fiend of hell, And make her bear the penance of her tongue? [Exit BIANCA. |