Ped. Sir, at the farthest for a week or two. Ped. Of Mantua. Tra. Of Mantua, sir?-Marry, God forbid! And come to Padua, careless of your life? Ped. My life, sir! how, I pray? for that goes hard. To come to Padua. Know you not the cause? Tra. Among them, know you one Vincentio ? A merchant of incomparable wealth. Tra. He is my father, sir; and sooth to say, In countenance somewhat doth resemble you. Bion. As much as an apple doth an oyster, and all one. Tra. To save your life in this extremity, [Aside. This favor will I do you for his sake; His name and credit shall you undertake, And in my house you shall be friendly lodged.- Ped. O 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 pass assurance of a dower in marriage 'Twixt me and one Baptista's daughter here. In all these circumstances I'll instruct you: Go with me, sir, to clothe you as becomes you. [Exeunt. SCENE III. A Room in Petruchio's House. Enter KATHARINA and GRUMIO. Gru. No, no; forsooth; I dare not, for my life. Beggars that come unto my father's door, If not elsewhere they meet with charity: But I-who never knew how to entreat Am starved for meat, giddy for lack of sleep; As who should say,-if I should sleep, or eat, I care not what, so it be wholesome food. Kath. 'Tis passing good; I pr'ythee let me have it. How say you to a fat tripe, finely broiled? Kath. I like it well; good Grumio, fetch it me. What say you to a piece of beef, and mustard? Kath. Then both, or one, or any thing thou wilt. That triumph thus upon my misery! Go, get thee gone, I say. Enter PETRUCHIO, with a dish of meat; and HORTENSIO. Pet. How fares my Kate? What, sweeting, all amort? Hor. Mistress, what cheer? 'Faith, as cold as can be. Pet. Pluck up thy spirits, look cheerfully upon me. Here, love; thou see'st how diligent I am, To dress thy meat myself, and bring it thee. [Sets the dish on a table. I am sure, sweet Kate, this kindness merits thanks. What, not a word? Nay then, thou lov'st it not; And all my pains is sorted to no 'proof.Here, take away this dish. Kath. Pray you, let it stand. Pet. The poorest service is repaid with thanks; And so shall mine, before you touch the meat. Kath. I thank you, sir. Hor. Seignior Petruchio, fie! you are to blame: Come, mistress Kate, I'll bear you company. Pet. Eat it up. all, Hortensio, if thou lovest me.— [Aside. Much good do it unto thy gentle heart! With silken coats, and caps, and golden rings, Enter Tailor. Come, tailor, let us see these ornaments; Enter Haberdasher. Lay forth the gown.-What news with you, sir? A knack, a toy, a trick, a baby's cap. Kath. I'll have no bigger; this doth fit the time, And gentlewomen wear such caps as these. Pet. When you are gentle, you shall have one too, And not till then. Hor. That will not be in haste. [Aside. Kath. Why, sir, I trust I may have leave to speak; And speak I will; I am no child, no babe. I love thee well, in that thou lik'st it not. Kath. Love me, or love me not, I like the cap; And it I will have, or I will have none. Pet. Thy gown? why, ay.-Come, tailor, let us see't. O mercy, God! what masking stuff is here? What's this? a sleeve! 'tis like a demi-cannon. What! up and down, carved like an apple-tart? Here's snip, and nip, and cut, and slish, and slash, Like to a censer in a barber's shop.Why, what, o' devil's name, tailor, call'st thou this? Hor. I see she's like to have neither cap nor gown. [Aside. Tai. You bade me make it orderly and well, According to the fashion, and the time. Pet. Marry, and did; but if you be remembered, I did not bid you mar it to the time. Go, hop me over every kennel home, For you shall hop without my custom, sir. Pet. Why, true; he means to make a puppet of thee. Tai. She says, your worship means to make a puppet of her. Pet. O monstrous arrogance! Thou liest, thou thread, Thou thimble, Thou yard, three-quarters, half-yard, quarter, nail, As thou shalt think on prating whilst thou liv'st! Just as my master had direction. Grumio gave order how it should be done. Gru. I gave him no order; I gave him the stuff. Tai. But did you not request to have it cut? Tai. I have. Gru. Face not me; thou hast braved many men, brave not me; I will neither be faced nor braved. I say unto thee, I bid thy master cut out the gown; but I did not bid him cut it to pieces: ergo, thou liest. Tai. Why, here is the note of the fashion to testify. Pet. Read it. Gru. The note lies in his throat, if he say I said so. Tai. Imprimis, a loose-bodied gown; Gru. Master, if ever I said loose-bodied gown, sew me in the skirts of it, and beat me to death with a bottom of brown thread. I said, a gown. Pet. Proceed. Tai. With a small compassed cape. 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. 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. |