than stay. 1 But so it is, my haste doth call me hence, my leave. Pet. I must away to-day, before, night come: Tra. Let us entreat you stay till after dinner. Let me entreat you. Let me entreat you. Are content to stay? Pet. I am content you shall entreat me stay; But yet not stay, entreat me how you can. Kath. Now, if you love me, stay. Grumio, my horses. Gru. Ay, sir, they be ready; the oats have eaten the horses. Kath. Nay, then, Сс Pet. O, Kate, content thee ;- pr’ythee, be not angry. Kath. I will be angry; What hast thou to do? Father, be quiet; he shall stay my leisure. Gre. Ay, marry, sir: now it begins to work, Kath. Gentlemen, forward to the bridal dinner : I see, a woman may be made a fool, If she had not a spirit to resist. Pet. They shall go forward, Kate, at thy com mand :Obey the bride, you that attend on her : Go to the feast, revel and domineer, Carouse full measure to her maidenhead, Be mad and merry, or go hang yourselves; But for my bonny Kate, she must with me. Nay, look not big, nor stamp, nor stare, nor fret; I will be master of what is mine own: She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house, My houshold-stuff, my field, my barn, My horse, my ox, my ass, my any thing; And here she stands, touch her whoever dare; I'll bring my action on the proudest he That stops my way in Padua. Grumio, Draw forth thy weapon, we're beset with thieves; Rescue thy mistress, if thou be a man :Fear not, sweet wench, they shall not touch thee, I I'll buckler thee against a million. [Exeunt PETRUCH10, KATHARINE, and GRUMIO. Bap. Nay, let them go, a couple of quiet ones. Gre. Went they not quickly, I should die with laughing Kate; Tra. Of all mad matches, never was the like! bridegroom wants Tra. Shall sweet Bianca practise how to bride it? Bap. She shall, Lucentio. - Come, Gentlemen, [Ereunt. let's go ACT IV. SCENEI. A Hall in Petruchio's Country House. Enter GRUMIO. Gru. Fye, fye, on all tired jades! on all mad masters! and all foul ways! Was ever man so beaten? was ever man so rayed ?' was ever man so weary? I am sent before to make a fire, and they are coming after to warm them. Now, were not I a little pot, and soon hot, my very lips might freeze to my teeth, my tongue to the roof of my mouth, my heart in my belly, ere I should come by a fire to thaw me: -But, I, with blowing the fire, shall warm myself; for, considering the weather, a taller man than I will take cold. Holla, hoa! Curtis ! Enter Curtis. Curt. Who is that, calls so coldly? Gru. A piece of ice: If thou doubt it, thou may'st slide from my shoulder to my heel, with no greater a run but my head and my neck. A fire, good Curtis. Curt. Is my master and his wife coming, Grumio? Gru. O, ay, Curtis, ay: and therefore fire, fire; cast on no water. Curt. Is she so hot a shrew as she's reported ? Gru. She was, good Curtis, before this frost: but, thou know'st, winter tames man, woman, and beast; for it hath tamed my old master, and my new mistress, and myself, fellow Curtis. Curt. Away, you three-inch fool! I am no beast. Gru. Am I but three inches? why, thy horn is a foot; and so long am I, at the least. But wilt thou make a fire, or shall I complain on thee to our mistress, whose hand (she being now at hand,) thou shalt soon feel, to thy cold comfort, for being slow in thy hot office. Curt. I pr’ythee, good Grumio, tell me, How goes the world? Gru. A cold world, Curtis, in every office but thine; and, therefore, fire: Do thy duty, and have thy duty; for my master and mistress are almost frozen to death. Curt. There's fire ready; And therefore, good Grumio, the news? Gru. Why, Jack boy ! ho boy! and as much news as thou wilt. Curt. Come, you are so full of conycatching : Gru. Why therefore, fire; for I have caught extreme cold. Where's the cook? is supper ready, the house trimmed, rushes strewed, cobwebs swept; the serving-men in their new fustian, their white stockings, and every officer his wedding-garment on? Be the jacks fair within, the jills fair without, the carpets laid, and every thing in order ? Curt. All ready; And therefore, I pray thee, news? Gru. First, know, my horse is tired; my master and mistress fallen out. Curt. How? Gru. Out of their saddles into the dirt; And thereby hangs a tale. Curt. Let's ha't, good Grumio. [Striking him. Curt. This is to feel a tale, not to hear a tale. Gru. And therefore 'tis called, a sensible tale : and this cuff was but to knock at your ear, and be. seech listening. Now I begin: Imprimis, we came down a foul hill, my master riding behind my mistress: Curt. Both on one horse ? Gru. Tell thou the tale: But hadst thou not crossed me, thou should'st have heard how her horse fell, and she under her horse; thou should'st have heard, in how miry a place: how she was bemoiled;* 2 Bemired. |