Bap. When will he be here? Bion. When he stands where I am, and sees you there. Tra. But say, what. To thine old news. Bion. Why, Petruchio is coming, in a new hat and an old jerkin; a pair of old breeches, thrice turned; a pair of boots that have been candle-cases, one buckled, another laced; an old rusty sword ta'en out of the town armory, with a broken hilt and chapeless; with two broken points. His horse hipped with an old mothy saddle, the stirrups of no kindred: besides, possessed with the glanders, and like to mose in the chine; troubled with the lampass, infected with the fashions, full of windgalls, sped with spavins, raied with the yellows, past cure of the fives, stark spoiled with the staggers, begnawn with the bots; swayed in the back, and shoulder-shotten; ne'er legged before; and with a halfchecked bit, and a head-stall of sheep's leather; which, being restrained to keep him from stumbling, hath been often burst, and now repaired with knots; one girt six times. pieced, and a woman's crupper of velure, which hath two letters for her name, fairly set down in studs, and here and there pieced with packthread. Bap. Who comes with him? Bion. O sir, his lackey, for all the world caparisoned like the horse; with a linen stock on one leg, and a kersey boothose on the other, gartered with a red and blue list; an old hat, and The humor of forty fancies, pricked in't for a feather: a monster, a very monster in apparel; and not like a Christian footboy, or a gentleman's lackey. Tra. 'Tis some odd humor pricks him to this fashion! Yet oftentimes he goes but mean apparelled. Bap. I am glad he is come, howsoever he comes. Bap. Didst thou not say, he comes? Bion. Who? that Petruchio came? Bap. Ay, that Petruchio came. Bion. No, sir; I say, his horse comes with him on his back. Bap. Why, that's all one. Bion. Nay, by Saint Jamy, I hold you a penny, A horse and a man is more than one, and yet not many. Enter PETRUCHIO and GRUMIO. Pet. Come, where be these gallants? Who is at home? Bap. And yet you halt not. And yet I come not well. Tra. As I wish you were. Not so well apparelled Pet. Were it better, I should rush in thus. As if they saw some wondrous monument, Bap. Why, sir, you know, this is your wedding day. First were we sad, fearing you would not come; Now sadder, that you come so unprovided. Fie! doff this habit, shame to your estate, An eye-sore to our solemn festival. Tra. And tell us, what occasion of import Pet. Tedious it were to tell, and harsh to hear: But where is Kate? I stay too long from her; Tra. See not your bride in these unreverent robes; Go to my chamber; put on clothes of mine. Pet. Not I, believe me; thus I'll visit her. Bap. But thus, I trust, you will not marry her. words; To me she's married, not unto my clothes. [Exeunt PET., GRU., and BION. Tra. He hath some meaning in his mad attire. We will persuade him, be it possible, To put on better ere he go to church. Bap. I'll after him, and see the event of this. [Exit. Tra. But, sir, to her love concerneth us to add Her father's liking; which to bring to pass, I am to get a man,-whate'er he be, It skills not much; we'll fit him to our turn,- And he shall be Vincentio of Pisa; Luc. Were it not that my fellow schoolmaster Tra. That by degrees we mean to look into, Re-enter GREMIO. Seignior Gremio! came you from the church? Tra. What said the wench, when he arose again? swore, As if the vicar meant to cozen him. But after many ceremonies done, He calls for wine.-A health, quoth he; as if But that his beard grew thin and hungerly, And seemed to ask him sops as he was drinking. [Music. Enter PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, BIANCA, BAPTISTA, HORTENSIO, GRUMIO, and Train. Pet. Gentlemen and friends, I thank you for your pains. I know you think to dine with me to-day, And have prepared great store of wedding cheer; Gre. Pet. It cannot be. Pet. I am content. Kath. Let me entreat you. Let me entreat you. Are you 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. Pet. Grumio, my horses. Gru. Ay, sir, they be ready; the oats have eaten the horses. Kath. Nay, then, Do what thou canst, I will not go to-day; No, nor to-morrow, nor till I please myself. You may be jogging whiles your boots are green: Pet. 0, Kate, content thee; pr'ythec, 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 command. Obey the bride, you that attend on her. Go to the feast, revel and domineer, Be mad and merry, or go hang yourselves; Nay, look not big, nor stamp, nor stare, nor fret; She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house, My horse, my ox, my ass, my any thing; That stops my way in Padua.-Grumio Draw forth thy weapon; we're beset with thieves; Fear not, sweet wench, they shall not touch thee, Kate; [Exeunt PET., KATH., and GRU. Bap. Nay, let them go, a couple of quiet ones! Bap. Neighbors and friends, though bride and bridegroom wants For to supply the places at the table, You know there wants no junkets at the feast.- Tra. Shall sweet Bianca practise how to bride it? [Exeunt. |