"Pet. What, with my tongue in your tail? nay, 66 come again," Good Kate; I am a gentleman.. [Striking him. Pet. I fwear, I'll cuff you, if you ftrike again. "Cat. So may you lose your arms: if you ftrike me, "You are no gentleman; and if no gentleman, "Why, then no arms. "Pet. A herald, Kate? O, put "Me in thy books. "Cat. What is your creft? a coxcomb? Pet. A comblefs cock, fo Kate will be my hen. "Cat. No cock of mine, you crow too like a craven. "Pet. Nay, come, Kate, come; you must not look "fo four. "Cat. It is my fashion, when I fee a crab. "Pet. Why, here's no crab; and therefore look not "four, "Cat. There is, there is. "Pet. Then fhew it me. "Cat. Had I a glass, I would. "Pet. What, you mean my face. "Cat. Well aim'd of such a young one. "Pet. Now, by faint George, I am too young for you. "Cat. Yet you are wither'd. "Pet. 'Tis with cares. "Cat. I care not. Pet. Nay, hear you, Kate: in footh, you 'fcape not fo. Pet. No, not a whit; I find you paffing gentle. For thou art pleafant, gamefome, paffing courteous, * This converfation, though very spirited, is much too long; befides, fome of the lines marked for omiffion are unpardonably indecent. Nor Nor haft thou pleasure to be cross in talk; Cat. Yes; keep you warm. Pet. Marry, fo I mean, fweet Catherine, in thy bed: And therefore, fetting all this chat aside, Thus in plain terms;-Your father hath confented, Re-enter Baptifta, Gremio, and Tranio. Pet. How but well, fir? how but well? This is a very mafterly fpeech, as the pleafant ironical ideas it contains are judiciously, and by no means rudely, thrown out. Bap. Why, how now, daughter Catherine? in your dumps ? Cat. Call you me-daughter? now I promife you, You have thew'd a tender fatherly regard, To wish me wed to one half lunatick ; A mad-cap ruffian, and a swearing Jack, Pet. Father, 'tis thus,-yourself and all the world, For fhe's not froward, but modeft as the dove; And to conclude,-we have 'greed fo well together,. Cat. I'll fee thee hang'd o'Sunday first. Gre. Hark, Petruchio! She fays, he'll fee thee hang'd o'Sunday first. Tra. Is this your fpeeding? nay, then, good night our part. Pet. Be patient, gentlemen; I choose her for myself; If the and I be pleas'd, what's that to you? "Tis bargain'd 'twixt us twain, being alone, That the fhall ftill be curft in company. I tell you, 'tis incredible to believe How much he loves me: O, the kindest Kate! Bap. I know not what to say: but give me your hands; God fend you joy, Petruchio! 'tis a match. Gre. Tra. Amen, fay we; we will be witneffes.. Pet. Father, and wife, and gentlemen, adieu;. I will to Venice, Sunday comes apace :- [Exeunt Cat. and Pet. Gre. Was ever match clapt up fo fuddenly? "Bap. 'Faith, gentlemen, now I play a merchant's part, "And venture madly on a defperate mart. Tra. 'Twas a commodity lay fretting by you; Tra. And I am one, that love Bianca more "Gre. But thine doth fry. Skipper, ftand back; 'tis age, that nourisheth. "Tra. But youth, in ladies' eyes that flourisheth. Bap. Content you, gentlemen; I will compound this trife: 'Tis deeds, muft win the prize; and he, of both, Gre. First, as you know, my houfe within the city Is richly furnished with plate and gold; Bafons, and ewers, to lave her dainty hands; In ivory coffers I have stuff'd my crowns ; Through the whole fcene, Petruchio is drawn in a very mafterly and original ftile of humour; he requires great and outrè comic talents to keep pace in reprefentation with the author; genteel extravagance of deportment, and arch infolence of features, are the chief external merit. + Baptifta here fhews himself, as too many fathers in private life have done, of a mean felfish defpotic temper; his daughter muft fubmit according to his idea, where fortune beckons. In cypress chefts my arras counteṛpanes, Tra. That, only, came well in.-Sir, lift to me; Befides two thousand ducats by the year Of fruitful land, all which fhall be her jointure.— "What, have I pinch'd you, fignior Gremio? "Gre. Two thousand ducats by the year of land!— "My land amounts but to fo much in all, "That fhe fhall have; befides an argofy, "That now is lying in Marseilles' road :"What, have I choak'd you with an argofy? "Tra. Gremio, 'tis known, my father hath no less "Than three great argofies; befides two galliaffes, "And twelve tight gallies these I will affure her, "And twice as much, whate'er thou offer'st next. "Gre. Nay, I have offer'd all, I have no more; "And the can have no more than all I have :"If you like me, fhe fhall have me and mine. "Tra. Why, then the maid is mine from all the world, "By your firm promise; Gremio is out-vy'd. Bap. I must confefs, your offer is the best; And, let your father make her the affurance, She is your own; elfe, you must pardon me: If you should die before him, where's her dower? Tra. That's but a cavil; he is old, I young. Gre. And may not young men die, as well as old ? |