Because I know you well, and love you well, me: There, there Hortensio, will you any wife? Kath. I pray you, sir, [To BAP.] is it your will To make a stale of me amongst these mates? 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 us! Gre. And me too, good Lord! Tra. Hush, master! here is some good pastime toward; That wench is stark mad, or wonderful froward. Maid's mild behaviour and sobriety. Peace, Tranio. Tra. Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill. Bap. Gentlemen, that I may soon make good What I have said,-Bianca, get you in: And let it not displease thee, good Bianca; Put finger in the eye,-an she knew why. Bian. Sister, content you in my discontent. Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe: 3 A pretty peat!] Peat or pet is a word of endearment from petit, little, as if it meant pretty little thing. My books, and instruments, shall be my company; On them to look, and practise by myself. speak. Luc. Hark, Tranio! thou may'st hear Minerva [Aside. Hor. Signior Baptista, will you be so strange?* Sorry am I, that our good will effects Bianca's grief. Gre. Why, will you mew her up, And make her bear the penance of her tongue? To mine own children in good bringing-up; not? What, shall I be appointed hours; as though, be like, I knew not what to take, and what to leave? Ha! [Exit. Gre. You may go to the devil's dam; your gifts are so good, here is none will hold you. Their love is not so great, Hortensio, but we may blow our so strange?] That is, so odd, so different from others in your conduct. JOHNSON. 5 cunning men] Cunning had not yet lost its original signification of knowing, learned, as may be observed in the translation of the Bible. JOHNSON. 6 your gifts-] Gifts for endowments. nails together, and fast it fairly out; our cake's dough on both sides. Farewell:-Yet, for the love I bear my sweet Bianca, if I can by any means light on a fit man, to teach her that wherein she delights, I will wish him to her father." 8 Hor. So will I, signior Gremio: But a word, I pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brook'd parle, know now, upon advice, it toucheth us both, that we may yet again have access to our fair mistress, and be happy rivals in Bianca's love,— to labour and effect one thing 'specially. Gre. What's that, I pray? Hor. Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister. Gre. A husband! a devil. Hor. I say, a husband. Gre. I say, a devil: Think'st thou, Hortensio, though her father be very rich, any man is so very a fool to be married to hell? Hor. Tush, Gremio, though it pass your patience and mine, to endure her loud alarums, why, man, there be good fellows in the world, an a man could light on them, would take her with all faults, and money enough. Gre. I cannot tell; but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition,-to be whipped at the high-cross every morning. Hor. 'Faith, as you say, there's small choice in rotten apples. But, come; since this bar in law makes us friends, it shall be so far forth friendly maintained, till by helping Baptista's eldest daughter to a husband, we set his youngest free for a husband, and then have to't afresh.-Sweet Bianca!Happy man be his dole!" He that runs fastest, gets the ring. How say you, signior Gremio? 7 I will wish him to her father.] i. e. I will recommend hirı. upon advice,] i. e. on consideration, or reflection. 8 9 Happy man be his dole!] A proverbial expression. Dule is Gre. I am agreed: and 'would I had given him the best horse in Padua to begin his wooing, that would thoroughly woo her, wed her, and bed her, and rid the house of her. Come on. [Exeunt GREMIO and HORTENSIO. Tra. [Advancing.] I pray, sir, tell me,—Is it possible That love should of a sudden take such hold? Luc. O Tranio, till I found it to be true, I never thought it possible, or likely; Tra. Master, it is no time to chide you now; If love have touch'd you, nought remains but So, Redime te captum quam queas minimo.1 Luc. Gramercies, lad; go forward: this contents; The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound. maid, any thing dealt out or distributed, though its original meaning was the provision given away at the doors of great men's houses. STEEVENS. 1 is not rated-] Is not driven out by chiding. 2 Redime, &c.] Our author had this line from Lilly, which I mention, that it might not be brought as an argument for his learning. JOHNSON. -longly-] i. e. longingly. I have met with no example of this adverb. STEEVENS. Perhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all. That made great Jove to humble him to her hand, Began to scold; and raise up such a storm, Tra. Nay, then, 'tis time to stir him from his trance. I pray, awake, sir; If you love the maid, Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it stands: Her elder sister is so curst and shrewd, Luc. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he! Tra. Master, for my hand, Both our inventions meet and jump in one. Luc. Tell me thine first. - daughter of Agenor -] Europa, for whose sake Jupiter transformed himself into a bull. |