Hor. To fatisfy you, Sir, in what I faid, Stand by, and mark the manner of his teaching. [They stand by.

Enter BIANCA and LUCENTIO.

Luc. Now, miftrefs, profit you in what you read? Bian. What, mafter, read you? firit refolve me.

that.

Luc. I read that I profefs, the art of love. Bian. And may you prove, Sir, master of your art! Luc. While you, fweet dear, prove mitress of my heart. [They retire backward.

Hor. Quick proceeders! marry, now tell me, I pray you, that durft fwear that your mistress Bianca loved none in the world fo well as Lucentio.

Tra. O defpightful love! unconftant womankind! I tell thee, Licio, this is wonderful.

Hor. Miftake no more, I am not Licio,

Nor a musician, as I feem to be;

But one that scorn to live in this difguife,
For fuch a one as leaves a gentleman,
And makes a god of fuch a cullion;
Know, Sir, that I am called Hortenfio.
Tra. Signior Hortenfio, I have often heard
Of
your entire affection to Bianca;

gone to the Taming-School to Petruchio. There is a figure indeed in rhetoric, called repov prepov: but this is an abuse of it, which the rhetoricians will never adopt upon Mir Pope's authority. Again, by this mifplacing, the pedant makes his firft entrance, and quits the ftage with Tranio in order to go and drefs himself like Vincentio, whom he was to perfonate but his fecond entrance is upon the very heels of his exit; and without any interval of an act, or one word intervening, he comes out again equipped like Vincentio. If fuch a critic be fit to publifh a ftage writer, I fhall not envy Mr Pope's admirers, if they fhould think fit to applaud his fagacity. I have replaced the fcenes in that order in which 1 found them in the old books.

:

And fince mine eyes are witnefs of her lightnefs, I will with you, if you be fo contented, Forfwear Bianca and her love for ever.

Hor. See, how they kifs and court !-----Signior
Lucentio,

Here is my hand, and here. I firmly vow
Never to woo her more; but do forfwear her,
As one unworthy all the former favours
That I have fondly flattered her withal.

Tra. And here I take the like unfeigned oath, Never to marry her, tho' fhe intreat.

Fy on her! fee how beaftly fhe doth court him. Hor. Would all the world but he had quite forfworn her!

For me, that I may furcly keep mine oath,
I will be married to a wealthy widow,

Ere three days pafs, which has as long loved me,
As I have loved this proud difdainful haggard.
And fo farewel, Signior Lucentio.

Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks,
Shall win my love: and fo I take my leave,
In refolution as I fwore before.

[Exit Hor. Tra. Miftrefs Bianca, blefs you with fuch grace

As longeth to a lover's bleffed cafe;

Nay, I have ta'en you napping, gentle love,

And have forfworn you with Hortenfio.

[Lucentio and Bianca come forward.

Bian. Tranio, you jeft: but have you both forfworn me?

Tra. Miftrefs, we have.

Luc. Then we are rid of Licio..

Tra. I'faith, he'll have a lufty widow now,

That fhall be woo'd and wedded in a day.

Bian. God give him joy!

Tra. Ay, and he'll tame her.
Bian. He fays fo, Tranio?

Tra. 'Faith, he's gone unto the taming school. Bian. The taming fchool? what, is there fuch a place?

Tra. Ay, mirefs, and Petruchio is the mafter; That teacheth tricks eleven and twenty long, To tame a threw, and charm her chattering tongue Enter BIONDELLO running.

Bion. Ob mafter, mafter, I have watched fo long That I'm dog-weary; but at last I spied (20), An ancient engle, going down the hill,

Will ferve the turn.

Tra. What is he, Biondello!

Bion. Mafter, a mercantant, or else a pedant;

(20)

but at last I fpied

An ancient angel going down the hill,
Willjerve the turn]

Though all the printed copies agree in this reading, I am confident that Shakespeare intended no profanation here; nor indeed any compliment to this old man, who was to be impofed upon, and made a property of. The word I have reftored, certainly retrieves the Author's meaning: and means, either in its first fignification, a burdash; (for the word is of Spanish extraction, ingle which is equivalent to inguen of the Latins ;) or, in its metaphorical fenfe, a gull, a cully, one fit to be made a tool of. And in both fenfes it is frequently used by B. Johnson.

Cynthia's Revels:

-and fweat for every venial trefpafs we commit, as fome Author would, if he had fuch fine engles as we. The Cafe is altered; (a comedy not printed among B. Johnfon's works)

What, Signior Antonio Balladino! welcome, fweet engle.

Poctaller.

What fhall I have my fon a ftranger now? an engle for players?

And he likewife ufes it, as a verb, in the fame play, fignifying to beguile, defraud.

I'll prefently go, and engle fome broker for a Poet's gown, and befpeak a garland.

I know not what; but formal in apparel; (21)
In gait and countenance furly like a father.
Luc. And what of him, Tranio?

Tra. If he be credulous, and trust my tale,
I'll make him glad to feem Vincentio,
And give him affurance to Baptifta Minola,
As if he were the right Vincentio:
Take in your love, and then let me alone.

Ped. God fave

[Exeunt Lucentio and Bianca.

Enter a Pedant.

you, Sir.

Tra. And you, Sir; you are welcome:
Travel you far on, or are you at the fartheft?
Ped. Sir, at the fartheft for a week or two;
But then up farther, and as far as Rome;
And fo to Tripoly, if God lend me life.
Tra. What countryman, I pray?

Ped. Of Mantua.

Tra. Of Mantua, Sir? God forbid !

And come to Padua, carelefs of your

life?

Ped. My life, Sir! how, I pray? for that goes hard.

Tra. 'Tis death for any one in Mantua To come to Padua; know you not the caufe? Your fhips are ftaid at Venice, and the Duke (For private quarrel 'twixt your Duke and him,) Hath published and proclaimed it openly:

(21)

-but formal in apparel;

In gait and countenance furely like a father.] I have made bold to read, furly; and furely, I believe, I am right in doing fo. Our Poet always reprefents his pe dants, imperious and magifteria!. Befides, Tranio's direc tions to the pedant for his behaviour vouch for my emenda

tion.

'Tis well; and hold your own in any cafe,
With fuch aufterity as 'longeth to a father.

"Tis marvel, but that you're newly come,
You might have heard it elfe proclaimed about.
Ped. Alas, Sir, it is worse for me than so;
For I have bills for money by exchange
From Florence, and must here deliver them.
Tra. Well, Sir, to do you courtesy,

This will I do, and this will I advise you;
First tell me, have you ever been at Pifa?
Ped. Ay, Sir, in Pifa have I often been;
Pifa renowned for grave citizens.

Tra. Among them know you one Vincentio? Ped. I know him not, but I have heard of him; A merchant of incomparable wealth.

Tra. He is my father, Sir; and, footh to say, In count'nance fomewhat doth resemble you. Bien. As much as an apple doth an oyster, and

all one.

[Afide.

Tra. To fave your life in this extremity,
This favour will I do you for his fake;
And think it not the worst of all your fortunes,
That you are like to Sir Vincentio :

His name and credit fhall you undertake,
And in my houfe you fhall be friendly lodged:
Look that you take upon you as you fhould.
You understand me, Sir: fo fhall
you stay
'Till you have done your bufinefs in the city.
If this be curt'fy, Sir, accept of it.

Ped. Oh, Sir, I do; and will repute you ever
The patron of my life and liberty.

Tra. Then go with me to make the matter good: This by the way I let you understand, My father is here looked for every day, To pafs affurance of a dower in marriage 'Twixt me and one Baptifta's daughter here: In all thefe circumftances I'll inftru&t you: Go with me, Sir, to cloath you as becomes you

[Exeunt]