fon'd like the horse, with a linnen flock on one leg, and a kersey boot-hofe on the other, garter'd with a red and blue lift,' an old hat, and the humour of forty fancies prickt up in't for a feather: a monster, a very monster in apparel, and not like a chriftian footboy, or a gentleman's lackey. Tra. 'Tis fome odd humour pricks him to this fashion; Yet fometimes he goes but mean apparell'd. Bap. Didit thou not fay, he comes? Bion. Who? that Petruchio came not. Bap. Ay, that Petruchio came. Bion. No, Sir; I fay, his horfe comes with him on his back. Bap. Why, that's all one. Bion. Nay, by St. Jamy, I hold you a penny, A horfe and a man is more than one, and yet not many. 1 An old bat, and the humour of forty fancies prickt up in't for a feather] This was fome ballad or drollery of that time, which the Poet here ridicules, by making Petruchio prick it up in his foot-boy's old hat for a feather. His fpeakers are perpetually quoting scraps and ftanzas of old Ballads, and often very obfcurely; for, fo well are they adapted to the occafion, that they seem of a piece with the reft. In Shakespear's time, the kingdom was over-run with thefe doggrel compofitions. And he feems to have born them a very particular grudge. He frequently ridicules both them and their makers with exquifite humour. In Much ado about nothing, he makes Benedict lay, Prove that ever I lofe more blood with love than I get again with drinking, prick out my eyes with a ballad maker's pen. As the bluntnefs of it would make the execution of it extremely painful. And again in Troilus and Crefide, Pandarus in his diftrefs, having repeated a very ftupid flanza from an old ballad, fays, with the highest humour, There never was a truer rhyme; let us caft away nothing, for we may live to have need of fuch a verfe. We fee it, we fee it. E 3 WARBURTON. SCENE SCENE IV. Enter Petruchio and Grumio fantastically habited. Pet. Come, where be thefe gallants? who is at home? Bap. You're welcome, Sir. Pet. And yet I come not well. Bap. And yet you halt not. Tra. Not fo well 'parell'd, as I wish you were. And wherefore gaze this goodly company, Bap. Why, Sir, you know this is your weddingday: First, were we fad, fearing you would not come ; Tra. And tell us what occafion of import Pet. Tedious it were to tell, and harsh to hear: But, where is Kate? I ftay too long from her; To digris] To deviate from any promife. Pet. Pet, Not I; believe me, thus I'll visit her. Bap. But thus, I truft, you will not marry her. Pet. Good footh, even thus; therefore ha' done with words; To me she's married, not unto my cloaths; [Exit. Bap. I'll after him, and fee the event of this. [Exit. SCENE V. Tra. But, Sir, our love concerneth us to add I am to get a man (whate'er he be, It skills not much; we'll fit him to our turn); And make affurance here in Padua Luc. Were it not, that my fellow school- mafter E 4 The The quaint musician amorous Licio; SCENE VI. Enter Gremio. Now, Signior Gremio, came you from the church? Gre. A Bridegroom, fay you? 'tis a groom, indeed, Ay, by gogs-woons, quoth he and swore fo loud, This mad-brain'd Bridegroom took him fuch a cuff, Tra. What faid the wench, when he rose up again? Gre. Trembled and fhook? for why, he stamp'd and fwore, As if the Vicar meant to cozen him. But after many ceremonies done, He calls for wine: a health, quoth he; as if With fuch a clamorous fmack, that at the parting CENE VII. Enter Petruchio, Catharina, Bianca, Hortenfio, and Baptifta. 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; Tra. Let us entreat you ftay 'till after dinner. Gre. Let me entreat you. Pet. It cannot be. Cath. Let me entreat you. Pet. I am content Cath. Are you content to ftay? Pet. I am content, you fhall entreat me, stay; But yet not stay, 'entreat me how you can. Cath. Now if you love me, stay. Pet. Grumio, my horfes. 4 Gru. |