Gre. Trembled and shook; for why, he stamp'd, 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, [Musick. 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 prepar'd great store of wedding cheer; Bap. Is't possible, you will away to-night? That have beheld me give away myself To this most patient, sweet, and virtuous wife : For I must hence, and farewell to you all. Tra. Let us entreat you stay till after dinner. Gre. Let me entreat you. Pet. It cannot be. Kath. Let me entreat you. Pet. I am content. Kath. 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. 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; She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house, My horse, my ox, my ass, my any thing; Fear not, sweet wench, they shall not touch thee, Kate; [Exeunt PETRUCHIO, KATHARINE, and GRUMIO. Bap. Nay, let them go, a couple of quiet ones. Gre. Went they not quickly, I should die with laughing. Tra. Of all mad matches, never was the like! Bap. Neighbours 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? go. [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I.-A Hall in PETRUCHIO's Country House. Enter GRUMIO. Gru. Fye, fye, on all tired jades! on all mad masters! and all foul ways! Was ever man so beaten? was ever man so rayed? was ever man so weary? 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. Curt. Who is that, calls so coldly? Gru. A piece of ice: If thou doubt it, thou may'st slide from my shoulder to my heel, with no greater a run but my head and my neck. A fire, good Curtis. Curt. Is my master and his wife coming, Grumio? Gru. O, ay, Curtis, ay: and therefore fire, fire; cast on no water. Curt. Is she so hot a shrew as she's reported? thou know'st, winter tames man, woman, and beast; for it hath tamed my old master, and my new mistress, and myself, fellow Curtis. Curt. 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. Curt. 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. Curt. There's fire ready; And therefore, good Grumio, the news? Gru. Why, Jack boy! ho boy! and as much news as thou wilt. Curt. Come, you are so full of conycatching: Gru. Why therefore, fire; for I have caught extreme cold. Where's the cook? is supper ready, 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? Curt. All ready; And therefore, I pray thee, news? Gru. First, know, my horse is tired; my master and mistress fallen out. Curt. How? |