Bap. She shall, Lucentio.-Come, gentlemen, Was ever man so beaten? was ever man so weary? Gru. Fie, fie, on all tired jades, on all mad masters, and all foul ways! was ever man so rayed?1 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. Cur. Who is that, calls so coldly? Gru. A piece of ice: if thou doubt it, thou mayst slide from my shoulder to my heel, with no greater a run but my head and my neck. A fire, good Curtis. 1 Bemired, dirty. Cur. Is my master and his wife coming, Grumio? Gru. O, ay, Curtis, ay: and therefore fire; fire; cast on no water. Cur. 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. Cur. 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. Cur. 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. Cur. There's fire ready; and therefore, good Grumio, the news? Gru. Why, Jack boy! ho boy!'1 and as much news as thou wilt. 2 Cur. Come, you are so full of coney-catching! — Gru. Why, therefore, fire: for I have caught extreme cold. Where's the cook? Is supper ready, 1 The commencement of an old song. 2 Tricks. 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? Cur. All ready; and therefore, I pray thee, news? Gru. First, know, my horse is tired; my master and mistress fallen out. Cur. How? Gru. Out of their saddles into the dirt; and thereby hangs a tale. Cur. Let's ha't, good Grumio. Gru. Lend thine ear. Cur. Here. Gru. There. [striking him. Cur. 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 beseech listening. Now I begin. Imprimis, we came down a foul hill, my master riding behind my mistress ; Cur. Both on one horse? Gru. What's that to thee? Cur. Why, a horse. Gru. Tell thou the tale :-but, hadst thou not crossed me, thou shouldst have heard how her horse fell, and she under her horse: thou shouldst have heard, in how miry a place: how she was bemoiled; 1 how he left her with the horse upon her: 1 1 Pemired. |