Cath. Where did you ftudy all this goodly fpeech? Cath. A witty mother, witless else her fon. Cath. Yes; keep you warm. Pet. Why, fo I mean, fweet Catharine, in thy bed: And therefore fetting all this chat afide, Thus in plain terms: your father hath confented, Enter Baptifta, Gremio, and Tranio. Bap. Now, Signior Petruchio, how fpeed you with my daughter? Pet. How but well, Sir? how but well? It were impoffible, I fhould fpeed amifs. Bap. Why, how now, daughter Catharine, in your dumps? Cath. Call you me daughter? now, I promise you. You've fhew'd a tender fatherly regard, To wifh me wed to one half lunatick; A madcap ruffian, and a íwearing Jack, That thinks with oaths to face the matter out. Pet. Father, 'tis thus; yourself and all the World, For fbe's not froward, but modeft as the dove: And, to conclude, we've greed fo well together, That Thit upon Sunday is the wedding-day. Gre Hark, Petruchio! the fays, fhe'll fee thee hang'd firft. Tra Is this your fpeeding? nay, then. good night, our part! Pet. Be patient, Sirs, I chufe her for myself; If fhe and I be pleas'd, what's that to you i 'Tis bargain'd 'twixt us twain, being alone, That the fhall fill be curft in company. I tell you, 'tis incredible to believe How much he loves me; oh, the kindest Kate !— Bap. I know not what to fay, but give your hands Gre. Tra. Amen, fay we; we will be witneffes. We will have rings and things, and fine array; [Exe. Petruchio, and Catharine feverally. Tra. 'Twas a commodity lay fretting by you; Tra Tra. And I am one, that love Bianco more Than words can witness, or your thoughts can guess, Gre. But thine doth fry. Skipper, ftand back, 'tis age that nourisheth. Say, Signior Gremio, what can you affure her? In ivory coffers I have ftuft my crowns; Fine linen, Turkey cufhions bofs'd with pearl; Tra. That only came well in~~ Sir, lift to me į I am my father's heir, and only fon ; If I may bave your daughter to my wife, I'll leave her houfes three or four as good, Old Signior Gremio has in Padua ; Befides two thousand ducats by the year Gre. Gre. Two thoufand ducats by the year of land! (12) Tra. Gremio, 'tis known, my father hath no lefs 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-vied. Bap. I must confefs, your offer is the best; My daughter Catharine is to be married: (12) Gre. Two thousand Ducats by the year of Land! That she shall have, and Tho' all the Copies concur in this Reading, furely, if we examine the Reasoning, fomething will be found wrong. Gremio is startled at the high Settlement Tranio proposes; fays, his whole Estate in Land can't match it, yet he'll fettle fo much a Year upon her, &c. This is Mock-reafoning, or I don't know what to call it. The Change of the negative in the 2d Line, which Mr. Warburton prefcribed, falves the Abfurdity, and fets the Paffage right. Gremio and Tranio are vying in their Offers to carry Bianca: The latter boldly proposes to fettle Land to the amount of 2000 Ducats per Annum. Ay, fays the other; my whole Estate in Land amounts but to that Value: yet the fhall have that; I'll endow her with the whole; and confign a rich Veffel to her Ufe, over and above. Thus all is intelligible, and he goes on to outbid his Rival. VOL. II. R Now Now on the Sunday following fhall Bianca And fo I take my leave, and thank you both. [Exit. [Exit. Gre. Adieu, good neighbour.-Now I fear thee not; Sirrah, young gamefter, your father were a fool To give thee all; and in his waining age Set foot under thy table: tut! a toy! An old Italian fox is not so kind, my boy. Tra. A vengeance on your crafty wither'd hide! Yet I have fac'd it with a card of ten : 'Tis in my head to do my mafter good: I fee no reason, but fuppos'd Lucentio May get a father, call'd, fuppos'd Vincentio ; And that's a wonder: fathers commonly Do get their children; but, in this cafe of wooing, A child fhall get a fire, if I fail not of my cunning. [Exit. [The Presenters, above, speak here. Sly. Sim, when will the fool come again? Sim. Anon, my Lord. Sly. Give's fome more drink here-where's the tapfter ? here, Sim, eat fome of these things. Sim. So I do, my Lord. Sly. Here, Sim, I drink to thee. ACT |