Hor. Quick proceeders, marry! Now, tell me, I

pray,

You that durst swear that your mistress Bianca
Lov'd none in the world so well as Lucentio.

Tra. O despiteful love! unconstant womankind!I tell thee, Licio, this is wonderful.

Hor. Mistake no more: I am not Licio,

Nor a musician, as I seem to be;

But one that scorn to live in this disguise,
For such a one as leaves a gentleman,

And makes a god of such a cullion:3
Know, sir, that I am call'd-Hortensio.

Tra. Signior Hortensio, I have often heard
Of your entire affection to Bianca;

And since mine eyes are witness of her lightness,
I will with you,-if you be so contented,-
Forswear Bianca and her love for ever.

Hor. See, how they kiss and court!

Lucentio,

-Signior

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

Tra. And here I take the like unfeigned oath,Ne'er to marry with her though she would entreat: Fye on her! see, how beastly she doth court him. Hor. 'Would, all the world, but he, had quite forsworn!

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

Ere three days pass; which hath as long lov'd me,
As I have lov'd this proud disdainful haggard:
And so farewell, signior Lucentio.-

Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks,

3-cullion:] A term of degradation, with no very decided meaning: a despicable fellow, a fool, &c.

Shall win my love:-and so I take
In resolution as I swore before.

my leave,

[Exit HORTENSIO.-LUCENTIO and BIANCA

advance.

Tra. Mistress Bianca, bless you with such grace As 'longeth to a lover's blessed case!

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

And have forsworn you, with Hortensio.

Bian. Tranio, you jest; But have you both forsworn me?

Tra. Mistress, we have.

Luc.

Then we are rid of Licio.

Tra. I'faith, he'll have a lusty widow now, That shall be woo'd and wedded in a day.

Bian. God give him joy!

Tra. Ay, and he'll tame her.

He says so, Tranio.

Bian.
Tra. 'Faith, he is gone unto the taming-school.
Bian. The taming-school! what, is there such a

place?

Tra. Ay, mistress, and Petruchio is the master; That teacheth tricks eleven and twenty long,— To tame a shrew, and charm her chattering tongue.

Enter BIONDELLO, running.

Bion. O master, master, I have watch'd so long That I'm dog-weary; but at last I spied

An ancient angel' coming down the hill,

Will serve the turn.

Tra.
Bion. Master, a mercatantè, or a pedant,

What is he, Biondello?

5

An ancient angel-] For angel Mr. Theobald, and after him Sir T. Hannaer and Dr. Warburton, read engle, or a gull, but angel may mean messenger.

3 Master, a mercatantè,] The old editions read marcantant. The Italian word mercatantè is frequently used in the old plays for a merchant, and therefore I have made no scruple of placing it here. STEEVENS.

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

Tra. If he be credulous, and trust my tale,
I'll make him glad to seem Vincentio;
And give assurance to Baptista Minola,
As if he were the right Vincentio.

Take in your love, and then let me alone.

[Exeunt LUCENTIO and BIANCA.

Enter a Pedant.

Ped. God save you, sir!

Tra.

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

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.

Tra. 'Tis death for any one in Mantua
To come to Padua; Know you not the cause?
Your ships are staid at Venice; and the duke
(For private quarrel 'twixt your duke and him,)
Hath publish'd and proclaim'd it openly:
"Tis marvel; but that you're but newly come,
You might have heard it else proclaim'd 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 Pisa?

Ped. Ay, sir, in Pisa have I often been; Pisa, 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, sooth to say, In countenance somewhat doth resemble you. Bion. As much as an apple doth an oyster, and all one. [Aside.

Tra. To save your life in this extremity,
This favour will I do you for his sake;

And think it not the worst of all your fortunes,
That you are like to sir Vincentio.

His name and credit shall you undertake,
And in my house you shall be friendly lodg'd;-
Look, that you take upon you as you should;
You understand me, sir;-so shall you stay
Till you have done your business in the city:
If this be courtesy, sir, accept of it.

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 look'd for every day, Το 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.

• Το pass assurance-] To pass assurance means to make a conveyance or deed. Deeds are by law-writers called, "The common assurances of the realm," because thereby each man's property is assured to him.

Go with me, &c.] There is an old comedy called Supposes, translated from Ariosto, by George Gascoigne. Thence Shakspeare borrowed this part of the plot, (as well as some of the phraseology,) though Theobald pronounces it his own invention. There, likewise, he found the names of Petruchio and Licio.

SCENE III.

A Room in Petruchio's House.

Enter KATHARINA and GRUMIO.

Gru. No, no; forsooth; I dare not, for my life. Kath. The more my wrong, the more his spite appears:

What, did he marry me to famish me?
Beggars, that come unto my father's door,
Upon entreaty, have a present alms;

If not, elsewhere they meet with charity:
But I,-who never knew how to entreat,-
Am starv'd for meat, giddy for lack of sleep;
With oaths kept waking, and with brawling fed:
And that which spites me more than all these wants,
He does it under name of perfect love;

As who should say,-if I should sleep, or eat,
"Twere deadly sickness, or else present death.—
I pr'ythee go, and get me some repast;
I care not what, so it be wholesome food.
Gru. What say you to a neat's foot?

Kath. "Tis passing good; I pr'ythee let me have it.
Gru. I fear, it is too cholerick a meat:-
How say you to a fat tripe, finely broil'd?

Kath. I like it well; good Grumio, fetch it me. Gru. I cannot tell; I fear, 'tis cholerick. What say you to a piece of beef, and mustard? Kath. A dish that I do love to feed upon. Gru. Ay, but the mustard is too hot a little.

My young master and his man exchange habits, and persuade a Scenase, as he is called, to personate the father, exactly as in this play, by the pretended danger of his coming from Sienna to Ferrara, contrary to the order of the government.