Their harness ftudded all with gold and pearl. 1. S. Say, thou wilt course; thy greyhounds are as "fwift "As breathed ftags, ay, fleeter than the roe. 66 2. S. Doft thou love pictures? we will fetch thee "ftraight "Adonis, painted by a running brook; "And Citberea all in fedges hid; "Which feem to move and wanton with her breath, "Even as the waving fedges play with wind. "Lord. We'll fhew thee Fo, as fhe was a maid; "And how she was beguiled and furpriz'd, "As lively painted as the deed was done. 66 3. S. Or Daphne, roaming through a thorny wood; "Scratching her legs, that one fhall fwear fhe bleeds: "And at that fight fhall fad Apollo weep; "So workmanly the blood and tears are drawn. Lord. Thou art a lord, and rothing but a lord: Thou hast a lady far more beautiful Than any woman in this waining age. 1. S. And 'till the tears, that the hath fhed for thee, Like envious floods, o'er-run her lovely face, She was the faireft creature in the world; And yet fhe is inferior to none. Sly. Am I a lord? and have I fuch a lady ? I fmell fweet favours, and I feel foft things:- And not a tinker, nor Christophero Sly.- All that comes between this and the Lord's next speech, though there are some sweet poetical ideas, feems dwelling too long upon the matter, unless fome humorous blundering remarks upon the claffical allufions of the new made Lord. 2. S. Will't please your mightiness to wash your hands? [Prefenting the Ewer, &c. O, how we joy to fee your wit reftor'd! O, that once more you knew but what you are! 1. S. O, yes, my lord; but very idle words :- And fay, you would prefent her at the leet, 3. S. Why, fir, you know no house, nor no fuch maid; And twenty more fuch 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 Page as a Lady, attended. Page. How fares my noble lord ? Sly. Marry, I fare well; For here is cheer enough. Where is my wife? Page. Here, noble lord: What is thy will with her ? Sly. Are you my wife, and will not call me-husband? My men fhould call me-lord; I am your good-man. 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? Sly, Al'ce madam, or Joan madam? Lord. Madam, and nothing elfe; fo lords call ladies, Shy. Madam wife, they say,—that I have dream'd, And lept about some fifteen year or more. Page. Ay, and the time feems thirty unto me; Being all this time abandon'd from your bed. Sly. 'Tis much;-Servants, leave me and her alone:Madam, undress you, and come now to bed. Page. Thrice noble lord, let me entreat of you, To pardon me yet for a night or two; Or, if not fo, until the fun be fet: For your phyficians have exprefsly charg'd, On peril to incur your former malady, That I fhould yet absent me from your I hope, this reafon ftands for my excufe. bed: Sly. Ay, it ftands fo, that I may hardly tarry fo long. But I would be loth to fall into my dreams again; I will therefore tarry, in despight of the flesh and the blood. Enter another Servant. 4. S. Your honour's players, hearing your amendment, Are come to play a pleasant comedy, For fo your doctors hold it very meet; Seeing too much fadnefs hath congeal'd your blood, Therefore they thought it good you hear a play, Sly. Marry, I will let them play't.-Is not a commonty A christmas gambol, or a tumbling trick? Page. No, my good lord; it is more pleafing stuff. Sly. What houshold stuff? Page. It is a kind of history. Sly. Well, we'll fee't: Come, madam wife, fit by my fide, And let the world flip: we shall ne'er be younger. [Seating her for the play. ES ACT I. SCENE I. Padua. A public Place. Enter Lucentio, and Tranio. LUCENTIO. TRanio, fince-for the great defire I had And, by my father's love and leave, am arm'd Gave me my being; and my father first, Lucentio his fon, brought up in Florence, Talk Talk logic with acquaintance that you have, Fall to them as you find your ftomach ferves you; Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well doft thou advise. We could at once put us in readiness; And take a lodging, fit to entertain But ftay a while; What company is this? Tra. Mafter, fome show, to welcome us to town. Enter, at a Diftance, Baptifta; Catharine, and Bianca, bis Daughters; Gremio, and Hortenfio, Suitors to Bianca. Bap. Gentlemen both, importune me no farther, That is, not to beftow my youngest daughter, Cat. I pray you, fir, [To Bap.] is it your will and pleasure, To make a ftale of me amongst these mates? Hor. Mates, maid! how mean you that? no mates for you, Unless you were of gentler milder mold. Cat. I'faith, fir, you fhall never need to fear; I wis, it is not half way to her heart: But, if it were, doubt not, her care fhould be, Catharine fhould be a commanding figure, and have features expreffive of fhrewithnefs; we don't mean an homely face, but features flexible to haughtiness and ftrong paffions. |