Pet. Petruchio is my name: Antonio's son, Bap. I know him well: you are welcome for his sake. Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too: Pet. O, pardon me, signior Gremio; I would fain be doing. Neighbour, this is a gift very grateful, I am sure of it. To express the like kindness myself, that have been more kindly beholden to you than any, I freely give unto you this young scholar, [presenting LUCENTIO,] that hath been long studying at Rheims; as cunning in Greek, Latin, and other languages, as the other in musick and mathematicks: his name is Cambio; pray accept his service. Bap. A thousand thanks, signior Gremio: welcome, good Cambio.-But gentle sir, [to TRANIO,] methinks, you walk like a stranger; May I be so bold to know the cause of your coming? Tra. Pardon me, sir, the boldness is mine own; That being a stranger in this city here, Do make myself a suitor to your daughter, Unto Bianca, fair, and virtuous, Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me, I may have welcome 'mongst the rest that woo, And this small packet of Greek and Latin books :" Bap. Lucentio is your name? of whence, I pray? m Beccare!] A cant word, meaning stand back; used in allusion to a proverbial saying, "Bachare quoth Mortimer to his sow;" probably in ridicule of some men who affected a knowledge of Latin without having it.-FARMER. this small packet of Greek and Latin books:] In queen Elizabeth's time the young ladies of quality were usually instructed in the learned languages, if any pains were bestowed on their minds at all. Lady Jane Grey and her sisters, Queen Elizabeth, &c. are trite instances.-PERCY. Tra. Of Pisa, sir; son to Vincentio. Bap. A mighty man of Pisa: by report I know him well: you are very welcome, sir.— Take you [to HOR.] the lute, and you [to Luc.] the set of books, You shall go see your pupils presently. Holla, within! Sirrah, lead Enter a Servant. These gentlemen to my daughters; and tell them both These are their tutors; bid them use them well. [Exit Servant, with HORTENSIO, LUCENTIO, and BIONDELlo. We will go walk a little in the orchard, And then to dinner: you are passing welcome, Pet. Signior Baptista, my business asketh haste, You knew my father well; and in him, me, Bap. After my death, the one half of my lands: Bap. Ay, when the special thing is well obtained, Pet. Why, that is nothing; for I tell you, father, of-] Perhaps we should read on. In the old copies of and on are frequently confounded by the printers' inattention.-STEEVENS. Though little fire grows great with little wind, Bap. Well may'st thou woo, and happy be thy speed! But be thou arm'd for some unhappy words. Pet. Ay, to the proof; as mountains are for winds, That shake not, though they blow perpetually. Re-enter HORTENSIO, with his head broken. Bap. How now, my friend? why dost thou look so pale? Hor. For fear, I promise you, if I look pale. Bap. What, will my daughter prove a good musician? Hor. I think she'll sooner prove a soldier; Iron may hold with her, but never lutes. Bap. Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute? Hor. Why, no; for she hath broke the lute to me. I did but tell her, she mistook her frets,P And bow'd her hand to teach her fingering; When, with a most impatient devilish spirit, As on a pillory, looking through the lute; And-twangling Jack; with twenty such vile terms, Pet. Now, by the world, it is a lusty wench; O, how I long to have some chat with her! Bap. Well, go with me, and be not so discomfited: Proceed in practice with my younger daughter; She's apt to learn, and thankful for good turns.— - her frets,] A fret is that stop of a musical instrument which causes or regulates the vibration of the string.-JOHNSON. a And-twangling Jack ;] To twangle is a provincial expression, and signifies to flourish capriciously on an instrument, as performers often do after having tuned it, previous to their beginning a regular composition.-HENLEY. Signior Petruchio, will you go with us; [Exeunt BAPTISTA, GREMIO, TRANIO, And woo her with some spirit when she comes. Say, that she frown; I'll say, she looks as clear Enter KATHARINA. k; Good-morrow, Kate; for that's your name, I hear, hearing; They call me-Katharine, that do talk of me. Pet. You lie, in faith; for you are call'd plain Kate, And bonny Kate, and sometimes Kate the curst; But Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendom, Kate of Kate-Hall, my super-dainty Kate, For dainties are all cates; and therefore, Kate, Take this of me, Kate of my consolation ;Hearing thy mildness prais'd in every town, Thy virtues spoke of, and thy beauty sounded, (Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs,) Myself am mov'd to woo thee for my wife. Kath. Mov'd! in good time: let him that mov'd you hither, Remove you hence: I knew you at the first, You were a moveable. Pet. VOL. III. Why, what's a moveable? X Kath. A joint-stool." Pet. Pet. Should be? should buz. Well ta'en, and like a buzzard. Pet. O, slow-wing'd turtle! shall a buzzard take thee? Kath. Ay, for a turtle; as he takes a buzzard." Pet. Come, come, you wasp; i'faith, you are too angry. Kath. If I be waspish, best beware my sting. Pet. My remedy is then, to pluck it out. Kath. Ay, if the fool could find it where it lies. Pet. Who knows not where a wasp doth wear his sting? In his tail. Kath. Pet. In his tongue. Whose tongue? Kath. Yours, if you talk of tails; and so farewell. again, Good Kate; I am a gentleman. Kath. That I'll try. [Striking him. Pet. I swear I'll cuff you, if you strike again. If you strike me, you are no gentleman; Pet. A herald, Kate? O, put me in thy books. Pet. A combless cock, so Kate will be my hen. ↑ A joint-stool.] This is proverbial expression; Cry you mercy, I took you for a join'd stool."-See Ray's Collection.STEEVENS. ▪ — for a turtle as he takes a buzzard.] i. e. He may take me for a turtle, but he should find me a hawk.-JOHNSON. This expression also seems to have been proverbial.-STEEVENS. |