me in the skirts of it, and beat me to death with á I said, a gown. bottom of brown thread. Pet. Proceed. Tai. With a small compassed cape;1 Gru. I confess the cape. Tai. With a trunk sleeve ;- Gru. Error i'the bill, sir; error i'the bill. I commanded the sleeves should be cut out, and sewed up again; and that I'll prove upon thee, though thy little finger be armed in a thimble. Tai. This is true, that I say; an I had thee in place where, thou shouldst know it. Gru. I am for thee straight. Take thou the bill, give me thy mete-yard, and spare not me. Hor. God-a-mercy, Grumio! then he shall have no odds. Pet. Well, sir, in brief, the gown is not for me. Gru. Villain, not for thy life. Take up my mistress' gown for thy master's use! Pet. Why, sir, what's your conceit in that? Gru. O, sir, the conceit is deeper than you think for. Take up my mistress' gown to his master's use! O, fie, fie, fie! Pet. Hortensio, say thou wilt see the tailor paid. [Aside. Go, take it hence; be gone, and say no more. Away, I say; commend me to thy master. [Exit Tailor: Pet. Well, come, my Kate; we will unto your father's, 1 A round cape. 2 A quibble is intended between the written bill and the bill or weapon of a foot-soldier. 2 .Even in these honest, mean habiliments. Our purses shall be proud, our garments poor; Because his painted skin contents the eye? Kath. I dare assure you, sir, 'tis almost two; It shall be what o'clock I say it is. Hor. Why, so! This gallant will command the sun. [Exeunt.1 1 After this exeunt the characters before whom the play is supposed to De exhibited, were introduced, from the old play, by Mr. Pope in his edition. Go "Lord. Who's within there? [Enter Servants.] Asleep again! take him easily up, and put him in his own apparel again. But see you wake him not in any case. Serv. It shall be done, my lord; come, help to bear him hence. [They bear off Sly." Johnson thought the fifth act should begin here. SCENE IV. Padua. Before Baptista's House. Enter TRANIO, and the Pedant dressed like VIN CENTIO. Tra. Sir, this is the house. Please it you that I call? Ped. Ay, what else? And, but I be deceived, Seignior Baptista may remember me, Near twenty years ago, in Genoa, where We were lodgers at the Pegasus. Tra. 'Tis well; And hold your own, in any case, with such Enter BIONDello. Ped. I warrant you. But, sir, here comes your boy, "Twere good he were schooled. Tra. Fear you not him. Sirrah, Biondello, Now do your duty throughly, I advise you; Imagine 'twere the right Vincentio. Bion. Tut! fear not me. Tra. But hast thou done thy errand to Baptista? Bion. I told him, that your father was at Venice; And that you looked for him this day in Padua. Tra. Thou'rt a tall1 fellow; hold thee that to drink. Here comes Baptista.-Set your countenance, sir.— Enter BAPTISTA and LUCENTIO. Seignior Baptista, you are happily met.— This is the gentleman I told you of; I pray you, stand good father to me now, Ped. Soft, son! 1 i. e. a high fellow, a brave boy. Sir, by your leave: Having come to Padua To have him matched; and,-if you please to like Seignior Baptista, of whom I hear so well. Bap. Sir, pardon me in what I have to say.- 2 Your son shall have my daughter with consent. best, 3 We be affied; and such assurance ta’en, As shall with either part's agreement stand? Bap. Not in my house, Lucentio; for you know, Tra. Then at my lodging, an it like you, sir. 1 i. e. scrupulous. 2 Assure or convey; a law term. 3 Betrothed. 4 Happily, in Shakspeare's time, signified peradventure, as well as fortrnately; we now write it haply. VOL. 11. 66 My boy shall fetch the scrivener presently. Bap. It likes me well.-Cambio, hie you home, And how she's like to be Lucentio's wife. Luc. I pray the gods she may, with all my heart! Tra. Dally not with the gods, but get thee gone. Seignior Baptista, shall I lead the way? Welcome! one mess is like to be your cheer. I follow you. [Exeunt TRANIO, Pedant, and BAPTISTA. Bion. Cambio, Luc. What say'st thou, Biondello? Bion. You saw my master wink and laugh upon you? Luc. Biondello, what of that? Bion. 'Faith, nothing; but he has left me here behind, to expound the meaning or moral of his signs and tokens. Luc. I pray thee, moralize them. Bion. Then thus. Baptista is safe, talking with the deceiving father of a deceitful son. Luc. And what of him? Bion. His daughter is to be brought by you to the supper. Luc. And then? Bion. The old priest at St. Luke's church is at your command at all hours. Luc. And what of all this? 2 Bion. I cannot tell; except they are busied about a counterfeit assurance. Take you assurance of her, cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum, to the church; -take the priest, clerk, and some sufficient honest witnesses: 1 The first folio reads expect. 2 These were the words of the old exclusive privilege for imprinting a book. A quibble is meant. |