Gre. Tut, fhe's a lamb, a dove, a fool to him: This mad-brain'd Bridegroom took him fuch a cuff, Tra. What faid the wench, when he rose up again? Gre. Trembled and fhook; for why, he ftamp'd and fwore, As if the Vicar meant to cozen him... He calls for wine: a health, quoth he; as if I know, the rout is coming: Such a mad marriage Ne'er was before. Hark, hark, I hear the minstrels. [Mufick plays. Enter Petruchio, Catharina, Bianca, Hortenfio, and Baptifta. Pet. Gentlemen and friends, I thank you for your pains : I know, you think to dine with me to day, And have prepar'd great ftore of wedding cheer; You You would entreat me rather go than stay. Gre. Let me intreat you. Pet. It cannot be. Cath. Let me intreat you. Pet. I am content Cath. Are you content to ftay? Pet. I am content, you fhall intreat me, ftay; But yet not stay, intreat me how you can. Cath. Now, if you love me, ftay. Pet. Grumio, my horses. Gru. Ay, Sir, they be ready: the oats have eaten the horses. Cath. Nay, then, Do what thou canft, I will not go to day; No, nor to morrow, nor 'till I please my felf: Pet. O, Kate, content thee; pr'ythee, be not angry. I fee, a woman may be made a fool, If she had not a spirit to refift. Pet. They fhall go forward, Kate, at thy command. Obey the Bride, you that attend on her: Go to the feaft, revel and domineer ; Carowfe full measure to her maiden-head; Be mad and merry, or go hang your selves; But for my bonny Kate, fhe muft with me. Nay, Nay, look not big, nor ftamp, nor ftare, nor fret, Draw forth thy weapon; we're befet with thieves; Fear not, fweet wench, they shall not touch thee, Kate; [Exeunt Pet. and Cath. Bap. Nay, let them go, a couple of quiet ones. Gre. Went they not quickly, I should die with laughing. Tra. Of all mad matches, never was the like. Luc. Miftrefs, what's your opinion of your Sifter? Bian. That, being mad her felf, fhe's madly mated. Gre. I warrant him, Petruchio is Kated. Bap. Neighbours and Friends, tho' Bride and Bride groom want For to fupply the places at the table; You know, there wants no junkets at the feast: Tra. Shall fweet Bianca practise how to bride it? Exeunt. VOL. II Y ACT 1 ACT SCENE, Petruchio's Country House. F Enter Grumio. GRUM I 0. IE, fie on all tired jades, and all mad mafters, and all foul ways! was ever man fo beaten? was ever man fo raide? was ever man fo weary? I am fent before, to make a fire; and they are coming after, to warm them: now were I not a little pot, and foon hot, my very lips might freeze to my teeth, my tongue to the roof of my mouth, my heart in my belly, ere I fhould come by a fire to thaw me; but I with blowing the fire fhall warm my felf; for confidering the weather, a taller man than I will take cold: holla, hoa, Curtis! Enter Curtis. Curt. Who is it that calls fo coldly? Gru. A piece of ice. If thou, doubt it, thou may'st flide from my fhoulder to my heel, with no greater a run but my head and my neck. A fire, good Curtis. Curt. Is my mafter and his wife coming, Grumio? Gru, Oh, ay, Curtis, ay; and therefore fire, fire; caft on no water. Curt. Is fhe fo hot a Shrew, as fhe's reported? Gru. She was, good Curtis, before this froft; but thou know'ft, winter tames man, woman and beaft; for it hath tam'd my old mafter, and my new mistress, and my self, fellow Curtis. Curt. Away, you three-inch'd fool; I am no beast. Gru. (18) Am I but three inches? why, my horn is a foot, and fo long am I at the leaft. But wilt thou make (18) Am I but three Inches? why, thy Horn is a foot, and fo long am at the leaft] This is faid by Grumio to Curtis. But, tho' all the Co make a fire, or fhall I complain on thee to our mistress, whose hand, fhe being now at hand, thou fhalt foon feel to thy cold comfort, for being flow 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 mafter and miftrefs are almoft 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 fo full of conycatching. Gru. Why, therefore, fire; for I have caught extream cold. Where's the cook? is fupper ready, the houfe trimm'd, rufhes ftrew'd, cobwebs fwept, the servingmen in their new fuftian, their white ftockings, and every officer his wedding garment on? be the Jacks fair within, the Fills fair without, carpets laid, and every thing in order? Curt. All ready and therefore, I pray thee, what news? Gru. First, know, my horfe is tired, my mafter and mistress fall'n out. Curt. How? Gru. Out of their faddles into the dirt; and thereby hangs a tale. Curt. Let's ha't, good Grumio. Gru. Lend thine ear. Curt. Here. Gru. There. [Strikes him. Curt. This is to feel a tale, not to hear a tale. Gru. And therefore 'tis call'd a fenfible tale: and this cuff was but to knock at your ear, and befeech liftning. Now I begin: imprimis, we came down a foul hill, my mafter riding behind my mistress. pies agree in the Reading, what Horn had Curtis? But Grumio rides Poft before his Mafter, and blows his Horn to give notice of his own coming home, and his Master's Approach. Y 2 Curt.. |