cially lamented to her, that he was the moft paffionate Creature breathing. By this one Intimation, he at once made her underftand Warmth of Temper to be what he ought to pardon in her, as well as that he alarmed her against that Conftitution in him felf. She at the fame Time thought herfelf highly obliged by the compofed Behaviour which he maintained in her Prefence. Thus far he with great fuccefs foothed her from being guilty of Violences, and ftill refolved to give her fuch a terrible Apprehenfion of his fiery Spirit. that she should never dream of giving Way to her own. He return'd on the day appointed for carrying her home; but instead of a Coach and fix Horses, together with the gay Equipage fuitable to the Occafion, he appeared without a Servant, mounted on the Skeleton of a Horfe, which his Huntsman had the Day before brought in to feaft his Dogs on the Arrival of his new Miftrefs, with a Pillion fixed behind, and a Cafe of Pistols before him, attended only by a favourite Hound. Thus equipped, he in a very obliging (but fomewhat pofitive) Manner, defired his Lady to feat herself on the Cufhion; which done, away they crawled. The Road being obstructed by a Gate, the Dog was commanded to open it: The poor Cur looked up and wagged his Tail; but the Mafter, to thew the Impatience of his Temper, drew a Piftol and fhot him dead. He had no fooner done it, but he fell into a thoufand Apologies for his unhappy Rafhnefs, and begg'd as many Pardons for his

Exceffes before one for whom he had fo profound a Refpect. Soon after their Steed ftumbled, but with fome Difficulty recovered: However, the Bridegroom took Occafion to fwear, if he frightened his Wife fo again, he would run him through! And alas! the poor Animal being now almoft tired, made a fecond Trip; immediately on which the careful Hufband alights, and with great Ceremony, first takes off his Lady, then the Acoutrements, draws his Sword, and faves the Huntfman the Trouble of killing him: Then fays to his Wife, Child, prithee take up the Saddle; which the readily did, and tugged it home, where they found all Things in the greatest Order fuitable to their Fortune and the present Occafion. Some Time after, the Father of the Lady gave an Entertainment to all his Daughters and their Husbands, where, when the Wives were retired, and the Gentlemen paffing a Toaft about, our laft married Man took Occafion to obferve to the rest of his Brethren, how much, to his great Satisfaction, he found the World mistaken as to the Temper of his Lady, for that he was the most meek and humble Woman breathing. The Applaufe was received with a loud Laugh: But as a Trial which of them would appear the moft Maßler at home, he propofed they fhould all by Turns fend for their Wives down to them. A Servant was dispatched, and Answer was made by one, Tell him I will come by and by; and another, That the would come when the Cards were

out

out of her Hand, and fo on. But no fooner was her Hufband's Defire whispered in the Ear of our laft married Lady, but the Cards were clapp'd on the Table, and down the comes with, My Dear, would you speak with me? He received her in his Arms, and after repeated Caref fes tells her the Experiment, confeffes his Good Nature, and affures her, that fince fhe could now command her Temper, he would no longer difguife his own.

It cannot but feem ftrange that Shakespeare fhould be fo little known to the author of the Tatler, that he should suffer this Story to be obtruded upon him, or fo little known to the Publick, that he could hope to make it pafs upon his readers as a novel nar

rative of a transaction in Lincolnhire; yet it is apparent, that he was deceived, or intended to deceive; that he knew not himself whence the story was taken, or hoped that he might rob fo obfcure a writer without detection.

Of this play the two plots are fo well united, that they can hardly be called two without injury to the art with which they are interwoven. The attention is entertained with all the variety of a double plot, yet is not diftracted by unconnected incidents.

The part between Catharine and Petruchio is eminently spritely and diverting. At the marriage of Bianca, the arrival of the real father, perhaps, produces more perplexity than pleafure. The whole play is very popular and diverting.