Hor. Petruchio, go thy ways, the field is won.

Pet. Well, forward, forward:-thus the bowl fhould

run,

And not unluckily against the bias.-

But foft; fome company is coming here.-
Eater Vincentio, journeying.

Good morrow, gentle miftrefs: Whither away?
Tell me, fweet Kate, and tell me truly too,
Haft thou beheld a fresher gentlewoman?
Such war of white and red within her cheeks!
What stars do fpangle heaven with fuch beauty,
As those two eyes become that heavenly face ?-
Fair lovely maid, once more good day to thee :-
Sweet Kate, embrace her for her beauty's fake.

Hor. 'A will make the man mad, to make a woman of him.

Cat. Young budding virgin, fair, and fresh, and fweet,

Whither away or where is thy abode ?
Happy the parents of so fair a child;
Happier the man, whom favourable stars

Allot thee for his lovely bedfellow !

Pet. Why, how now, Kate! I hope, thou art not mad: This is a man, old, wrinkl'd, faded, wither'd ;.

And not a maiden, as thou fay'st he is.

Cat. Pardon, old father, my mistaking eyes,.
That have been fo bedazzl'd with the fun,
That every thing I look on feemeth green :
Now I perceive, thou art a reverend father;
Pardon, I pray thee, for my mad mistaking *.

Pet. Do, good old grand-fire; and, withal, make known

Which way thou travel'ft: if along with us,
We shall be joyful of thy company.

Vin. Fair fir, and you, my merry mistress here,That with your ftrange encounter much amaz'd me;

The fervile conceffions of Catherine are a very juft picture of an over-bearing tyrannical mind, broke down to fubmiffion; for the moft imperious, violent, and pragmatical, while improperly indulged, are the most obfequious, when properly restrained.

My

My name is call'd-Vincentio, dwelling-Pifa s
And bound I am to Padua ; there to visit
A fon of mine, which long I have not seen.
Pet. What is his name?

Vin. Lucentio, gentle fir.

Pet. Happily met; the happier for thy fon
And now by law, as well as reverend age,
I may entitle thee-my loving father;
The fifter of my wife, this gentlewoman,
Thy fon by this hath marry'd:-Wonder not,
Nor be not griev'd; fhe is of good esteem,
Her dowry wealthy, and of worthy birth;
Befide, fo qualify'd as may befeem
The fpoufe of any noble gentleman.
Let me embrace with old Vincentio :
And wander we to fee thy honeft fon,
Who will of thy arrival be full joyous.

Vin. But is this true? or is it elfe your pleafure,
Like pleasant travellers to break a jest
Upon the company you overtake♪

Hor. I do affure thee, father, fo it is.

Pet. Come, go along, and fee the truth hereof; For our firft merriment hath made thee jealous.

[Exeunt Cat. Pet. and Vin. Hor. Well, fir Petruchio, this has put me in heart :Have to my widow; and if fhe be froward,

Then haft thou taught Hortenfio be untoward.

[Exit,

SCENE II. Padua. Before Tranio's House.

Enter Biondello, with Lucentio and Bianca, baftily; Gremio is feen entering behind.

Bio. Softly and fwiftly, fir; for the priest is ready. Luc. I fy, Biondello: but they may chance to need thee at home, therefore leave us. [Exit, with Bianca.. Bio. Nay, 'faith, I'll fee the church o'your back; and then come back to my master's as foon as I can.

[Exit Gre. I marvel, Cambia comes not all this while.

Enter Petruchio, Catherine, Vincentio, and Attendants.
Pet. Sir, here's the door, this is Lucentio's house,
My father's bears more toward the market-place;
Thither muft I, and here I leave you, fir.

Vin. You shall not choose but drink before you go s
I think, I fhall command your welcome here,
And, by all likelihood, fome cheer is toward.

[Noife within. Vin. knocks. Gre. They're bufy within, you were best knock louder. [Knocks again.

Enter Pedant, above, at a Window.

Ped. What's he, that knocks as he would beat down the gate ?

Vin. Is fignior Lucentio within, fir?

Ped. He's within, fir, but not to be fpoken withal. Vin. What if a man bring him a hundred pound or two, to make merry withal?

Ped. Keep your hundred pounds to yourfelf; he fhall need none, fo long as I live.

Pet. Nay, I told you, your fon was well belov'd in Padua,-Do you hear, fir,-to leave frivolous circumftances, I pray you, tell fignior Lucentio, that his father is come from Pifa, and is here at the door to speak with him.

Ped. Thou ly'ft; his father is come from- Maxtua, and here looking out at the window.

Vin. Art thou his father?

Ped. Ay, fir; fo his mother fays, if I may believe her. Pet. Why, how now, gentleman! [to Vin.] why, this is flat knavery, to take upon you another man's name. Ped. Lay hands on the villain; I believe, 'a means to cozen fomebody in this city under my countenance.

Re-enter Biondello.

Bio. I have feen them in the church together; Heav'n fend 'em good fhipping!-But who is here? [drawing backward.] mine old mafter Vincentio ? now we're undone and brought to nothing. [Seeing Biondello.

Vin. Come hither, crack-hemp.

Bio. I hope, I may choose, fir.

Vin. Come hither, you rogue; what, have you forgot me?

Bio. Forgot you? no, fir: I could not forget you; for I never faw you before in all my life *.

Vin. What, you notorious villain, didft thou never fee thy mafter's father Vincentio?

Bio. What, my worshipful old mafter? yes, marry, fir; fee, where he looks out of the window.

Vin. Is't fo, indeed?

[Beats Biondello.

Bio. Help, help, help! here's a madman will murther me.

[Exit, crying out.

Ped. Help, fon! help, fignior Baptifta!

[Exit, from above.

Pet. Pr'ythee, Kate, let's ftand afide, and see the end of this controversy. [Draws her afide. Re-enter Pedant, below; Tranio, Baptifta, and Servants.

Tra. Sir, what are you, that offer to beat my fervant? Vin. What am I, fir? nay, what are you, fir ?-O immortal gods! [furveying him.] O fine villain! A filken doublet! a velvet hofe! a fcarlet cloak! and a copatain hat!-O, I'm undone, I'm undone! while I play the good husband at home, my fon and my fervant fpend all at the univerfity.

Tra. How now! what's the matter now?

Bap. What, is the man lunatic ?

Tra. Sir, you feem a fober ancient gentleman by your habit, but your words fhew you a madman: Why, fir, what concerns it you, if I wear pearl and gold? I thank my good father, I am able to maintain it.

Vin. Thy father -O villain !—he's a fail-maker in Bergamo.

Bup. You mistake, fir; you mistake, fir: Pray, what do you think is his name?

Vin. His name? as if I knew not his name: I have brought him up ever fince he was three years old, and his name is-Tranio.

Biondello's affected ignorance of his old mafter, is a diverting fuggeftion; and the confequence of Vincentio's beating him, produces very confiderable entertainment.

143

Ped. Away, away, mad afs! his name is, Lucentio ; and he is mine only son, and heir to the lands of me, fig

nior Vincentio.

Vin. Lucentio! O, he hath murther'd his mafter! Lay hold on him, I charge you in the duke's name :— O my fon, my fon !-tell me, thou villain, where is my 'fon Lucentio ?

Tra. Call forth an officer :-[Enter one with an Officer.] carry this mad knave to the jail :-father Baptifta, I charge you, fee that he be forth-coming.

Vin. Carry me to the jail!

Gre. Stay, officer; he fhall not go to prison.

Bap. Talk not, fignior Gremio; I fay, he fhall go to prifon.

coney

Gre. Take heed, fignior Baptifta, left you be catch'd in this bufinefs; I dare fwear, this is the right Vincentio.

Ped. Swear, if thou dar'ft.

Gre. Nay, I dare not fwear it.

Tra. Then thou wert best say, that I am not Lucentio. Gre. Yes, I know thee to be fignior Lucentio.

Bap. Away with the dotard; to the jail with him *. Vin. Thus ftrangers may be hal'd and abus'd:-O monftrous villain !

Re-enter Biondello, with Lucentio, and Bianca.

Bio. O, we are spoil'd, and-Yonder he is; deny him, forfwear him, or elfe we are all undone.

Luc. Pardon, fweet father.
Vin. Lives my sweet fon?

[Kneels to Vin.

[Bio. Tra. and Ped. run off.

Bia. Pardon, dear father.

[Kneels to Bap.

Bap. How haft thou offended?

Where is Lucentio ?

Luc. Here's Lucentio,

Right fon unto the right Vincentio ;

That have by marriage made thy daughter mine,
While counterfeit supposes blear'd thine eyne.

The confufion of this scene is, without exaggeration, a moft pleafant appeal to feelings of a lively nature; performed with spirit and wolubility, it must have a very happy effect,