Oh that once more you knew but what you are:
These fifteene yeeres you haue bin in a dreame,
Or when you wak'd, fo wak'd as if you flept.
Beg. These fifteene yeeres, by my fay, a goodly nap,
But did I neuer fpeake of all that time.

1 Man. Oh yes my lord, but verie idle words
For though you lay heerę in this goodlie chamber,
Yet would you fay, ye weare beaten out of doore,
And raile vpon the hofteffe of the house,

And fay you would prefent her at the leete,
Because she brought ftone-iugs, and no feal'd quarts:
Sometimes you would call out for Cicely Hacket.

Beg. I, the womans maid of the house.

3 Man. Why fir you know no house, nor no fuch maid Nor no fuch men as you haue reckon'd

VP,

As Stephen Slie, and old John Naps of Greece,
And Peter Turph, and Henry Pimpernell,
And twentie more fuch names and men as thefe,

Which neuer were, nor no man euer faw.

Beg. Now Lord be thanked for my good amends.

All. Amen.

Enter Ladie with attendants.

Beg. I thanke thee, thou shalt not loose by it.
Lady. How fares my noble lord?

Beg. Marrie I fare well, for heere is cheere enough.
Where is my wife?

Lady. Heere noble lord, what is thy will with her

Beg. Are you my wife and will not call mee husband?

My men fhould call mee lord, I am your good-man.

Lady. My husband and my lord, my lord and husband

I am your wife in all obedience.

Beg. I know it well, what must I call her?

Lord. Madam.

Beg.

Beg. Alce madam, or Ione madam ?

Lord. Madam, and nothing else, fo lords call ladies.
Beg. Madame wife, they fay that I haue dream'd,
And slept about fome fifteene yeare or more.
Lady. I, and the time feeme's thirty vnto me,
Being all this time abandon'd from your bed.

Beg. 'Tis much, feruants leaue me and her alone :
Madam vndresse you, and come now to bed.

Lady. Thrice noble lord, let me intreate of you
To pardon me yet for a night or two;
Or if not so, vntil the fun be fet.

.

For your phyfitions have expressely charg'd,
In perill to incurre you former malady,
That I fhould yet abfent me from your bed:
I hope this reason ftands for my excufe.

Beg. I, It stands fo that I may hardly tarry fo long: But I would be loth to fall into my dreames againe: I will therefore tarrie in defpight of the flesh and the blood.

Enter a Messenger.

Mell. Your honors players hearing your amendment, Are come to play a pleafant comedie,

For fo your doctors hold it verie meete,

Seeing too much fadneffe hath congeal'd your blood,
And melancholly is the nurfe of frenzie,

Therefore they thought it good you heare a play,
And frame your mind to mirth and merriment,

Which barres a thousand harmes and lengthens life.

Beg. Marrie I will let them play, it is not a commontie, a

Christmas gambold, or a tumbling tricke?

Lady. No my good lord, it is more pleasing stuffe.

Beg. What houshold ftuffe.

Lady. It is a kind of history.

Beg. Well, we'l fee't:

Cow

Com madam wife fit by my fide,

And let the world flip, wee shall nere be yonger.

Flourish. Enter Lucentio, and his man Triano.

Luc. Tranio, fince for the great defire I had
To fee faire Padua, nurferie of arts,
I, am arriu'd for fruitfull Lumbardie,
The pleasant garden of great Italy,
And by my fathers loue and leaue am arm'd
With his good will, and thy good companie.
My truftie feruant well approu'd in all,
Heere let vs breath, and haply institute
A courfe of learning, and ingenious ftudies.
Pifa renowned for graue citizens

Gaue me my being, and my father first

A merchant of great trafficke through the world:
Vincentio's come of the Bentiuolij,

Viccentio's fonne, brought vp in Florence,

It shall become to ferue all hopes conceiu'd
To decke his fortune with his vertuous deedes:
And therefore Tranio, for the time I studie,
Vertue and that part of philofophie
Will I applie, that treates of happineffe,
By vertue fpecially to be atchieu'd.

Tell me thy minde, for I haue Pisa left,
And am to Padua come, as he that leaues
A shallow plash, to plunge him in the deepe,
And with facietie feekes to quench his thirst.

Tra. Me pardinato, gentle maister mine:
I am in all affected as yourfelfe,
Glad that you thus continue your refolue,
To fuck the sweets of sweete philofophie.
Onely (good mafter) while we do admire
This vertue and this morall difcipline,

Let's

Let's be no ftoickes, nor no stockes I pray,
Or fo deuote to Ariftotles checkes

As Quid; be an out-caft quite abiur'd:

Balke logicke with acquaintance that you haue,
And practise rhetoricke in your common talke,
Muficke and poefie vfe, to quicken you,
The mathematickes and the metaphyfickes

Fall to them as you finde your stomacke ferues you :
No profit growes where is no pleasure tane :
In briefe fir, studie what you most affect.

Luc. Gramercies Tranio, well doft thou aduife,

If Biondello thou wert come afhore,
We could at once put vs in readinesse,

And take a lodging fit to entertaine

Such friendes (as time) in Padua fhall beget.

But stay a while, what companie is this?

Tra. Mafter fome fhew to welcome vs to towne.

Enter Baptifta with and his two daughters, Katerina Bianca, Gremio a pantelowne, Hortentio fifter to Bianca. Lucen Tranio, ftand by.

Bap. Gentlemen importune me no farther,
For how I firmly am refolu'd you know :
That is, not to bestow my yongest daughter,
Before I have a husband for the elder :
If either of you both loue Katherina,

Because I know you well, and loue you well,

Leaue fhall you have to court her at your pleasure.
Gre. To cart her rather. She's to rough for mee,
There, there Hortenfio, will you any wife?

Kate. I pray you fir, is it your will

To make a stale of me amongst these mates?

Hor. Mates maid, how meane you that?

No

No mates for you,

Vnleffe you were of gentler milder mould.

Kate. I faith fir, you shall neuer need to feare,
I wis it is not halfe way to her heart :

But if it were, doubt not, her care should be,
To combe your noddle with a three-legg'd stoole,
And paint your face, and vse you like a foole.

Hor. From all fuch diuels, good Lord deliuer vs.

Gre. And me too, good Lord.

Tra. Husht master, heeres fome good pastime toward;
That wench is ftarke mad, or wonderfull froward,

Lucen. But in the others filence do I fee,

Maids milde behauiour and fobrietie.

Peace Tranio.

Tra. Well faid Mr. mum, and gaze your fill.

Bap. Gentlemen, that I may foone make good
What I haue faid Bianca get you in,

And let it not displease thee good Bianca,

For I will loue thee nere the leffe my girle.

Kate. A pretty peate, it is best put finger in the eye, and

fhe knew why.

Bian. Sifter content you

in

my

discontent.

Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe :

My bookes and inftruments fhall be my companie,

On them to looke, and practise by my felfe.

Luc. Harke Tranio, thou maist heare Minerua speak.
Hor. Signior Baptifta, will you be so strange,

Sorrie am I that our good will effects

Bianca's greefe.

Gre. Why will you mew her vp

(Signior Baptifta) for this fiend of hell,

And make her beare the pennance of her tongue.
Bay. Gentlemen content ye: I am refolu'd :
Go in Bianca.

And