blue list; an old hat, and The humor of forty fancies,1 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. Bion. Why, sir, he comes not. 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. You are welcome, sir. Bap. And yet you halt not. Tra. As I wish you were. And yet I come not well. Not so well apparelled Pet. Were it better, I should rush in thus. But where is Kate? Where is my lovely bride ?— How does my father?-Gentles, methinks you frown. And wherefore gaze this goodly company, As if they saw some wondrous monument, Some comet, or unusual prodigy? Bap. Why, sir, you know, this is your wedding day. 1 Warburton's supposition, that Shakspeare ridicules some popular, cheap book of this title, by making Petruchio prick it up in his footboy's hat instead of a feather, has been well supported by Steevens; he observes that "a penny book, containing forty short poems, would, properly managed, furnish no unapt plume of feathers for the hat of a humorist's servant." First were we sad, fearing you would not come ; 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. 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, As I before imparted to your worship, 1 i. e. to deviate from my promise. 2 The old copy reads, " But, sir, love concerneth us to add, Her father's liking." The emendation is Mr. Tyrwhitt's. The nominative case to the verb concerneth is here understood. I am to get a man,-whate'er he be, It skills not much; we'll fit him to our turn,- Luc. Were it not that my fellow schoolmaster Tra. That by degrees we mean to look into, 2 The quaint musician, amorous Licio; Re-enter GREMIO. Seignior Gremio! came you from the church? Gre. A bridegroom, say you? 'Tis a groom indeed, The mad-brained bridegroom took him such a cuff, 1 "It matters not much," it is of no importance. 2 Quaint had formerly a more favorable meaning than strange, awkward, fantastical, and was used in commendation, as neat, elegant, dainty, dexterous. That down fell priest and book, and book and priest. Now take them up, quoth he, if any list. Tra. What said the wench, when he arose again? Gre. Trembled and shook; for why, he stamped and 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, [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; Tra. Let us entreat you stay till after dinner. Pet. It may not be. Pet. It cannot be. Kath. 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; 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. 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,' She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house, 1 That is, bluster or swagger. |