Persuade him that he hath been lunatic;

And, when he says he is say that he dreams,
For he is nothing but a mighty lord.
This do, and do it kindly, gentle sirs:
It will be pastime passing excellent,

If it be husbanded with modesty.

And with declining head into his bosom,
Bid him shed tears, as being overjoy'd
To see her noble lord restor'd to health,
Who for this seven years hath esteemed him

120

And if the boy have not a woman's gift
To rain a shower of commanded tears,
An onion will do well for such a shift,
Which in a napkin being close convey'd,
Shall in despite enforce a watery eye.
See this dispatch'd with all the haste thou canst :
Anon I'll give thee more instructions.
Exit Servant.

130

Lord. 'Tis very true: thou didst it excellent.

Third Serv. What raiment will your honour wear to-day?

Sly. I am Christophero Sly; call not me honour, nor lordship: I ne'er drank sack in my life; and if you give me any conserves, give me conserves of beef. Ne'er ask me what raiment I'll wear,

But I am doubtful of your modesties,

Lest, over-eyeing of his odd behaviour, For yet his honour never heard a play, You break into some merry passion And so offend him; for I tell you, sirs, If you should smile he grows impatient.

for I have no more doublets than backs, no more stockings than legs, nor no more shoes than feet; nay, sometime more feet than shoes, or such shoes as my toes look through the overleather. Lord. Heaven cease this idle humour in your honour!

Were he the veriest antick in the world.

100

Of such possessions, and so high esteem, Should be infused with so foul a spirit.

13

Sly. What! would you make me mad! Am not I Christopher Sly, old Sly's son of Burtonheath, by birth a pedlar, by education a cardmaker, by transmutation a bear-herd, and now by present profession a tinker? Ask Marian Hacket, the fat ale-wife of Wincot, if she know me not: if she say I am not fourteen pence on the score for sheer ale, score me up for the lyingest knave in Christendom. What! I am not bestraught: here's

First Scrv. O! this it is that makes your lady

Adonis painted by a running brook,
And Cytherea all in sedges hid,
Which seem to move and wanton with her breath,
Even as the waving sedges play with wind.

Lord. We'll show thee Io as she was a maid,
And how she was beguiled and surpris'd,
As lively painted as the deed was done.

Third Serv. Or Daphne roaming through a thorny wood,

Scratching her legs that one shall swear she bleeds;

And at that sight shall sad Apollo weep,

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So workmanly the blood and tears are drawn. Lord. Thou art a lord and nothing but a lord: Thou hast a lady far more beautiful

Than any woman in this waning age.

First Serv. And till the tears that she hath shed for thee

Like envious floods o'er-run her lovely face,
She was the fairest creature in the world;
And yet she is inferior to none.

Sly. Am I a lord? and have I such a lady?
Or do I dream? or have I dream'd till now? 70
I do not sleep; I see, I hear, I speak;

I smell sweet savours, and I feel soft things:

Upon my life, I am a lord indeed,

And not a tinker, nor

Christophero Sly.

Well, bring our lady hither to our sight;

And once again, a pot o' the smallest ale.

Second Serv. Will't please your mightiness to wash your hands ?

Servants present an ewer, basin, and napkin.

O! how we joy to see your wit restor'd,
O! that once more you knew but what you are.
These fifteen years you have been in a dream, 80
Or, when you wak'd, so wak'd as if you slept.

Sly. These fifteen years! by my fay, a goodly nap.

But did I never speak of all that time?

First Ser. O! yes, my lord, but very idle words; For though you lay here in this goodly chamber, Yet would you say ye were beaten out of door, And rail upon the hostess of the house, And say you would present her at the leet, Because she brought stone jugs and no seal'd

quarts.

Sometimes you would call out for Cicely Hacket.

91

Sly. Ay, the woman's maid of the house. Third Serv. Why, sir, you know no house, nor no such maid,

Nor no such men as you have reckon'd up,
As Stephen Sly, and old John Naps of Greece,
And Peter Turf, and Henry Pimpernell,
And twenty more such names and men as these,
Which never were nor no man ever saw.

Sly. Now, Lord be thanked for my good amends!
All. Amen.

Sly. I thank thee; thou shalt not lose by it.

Enter the Page, as a lady, with Attendants.

100

Page. How fares my noble lord? Sly. Marry, I fare well, for here is cheer enough. Where is my wife?

Page. Here, noble lord: what is thy will with her?

Sly. Are you my wife, and will not call me husband?

My men should call me lord: I am your goodman. Page. My husband and my lord, my lord and husband;

I am your wife in all obedience.
Sly. I know it well. What must I call her?
Lord. Madam.

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Madam, undress you, and come now to bed.
Page. Thrice-noble lord, let me entreat of you
To pardon me yet for a night or two,
Or if not so, until the sun be set :
For your physicians have expressly charg'd,
In peril to incur your former malady,
That I should yet absent me from your bed :
I hope this reason stands for my excuse.

Sly. Ay, it stands so, that I may hardly tarry so long; but I would be loath to fall into my dreams again: I will therefore tarry in despite of the flesh and the blood.

[ACT I.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-Padua. A public Place.
Enter LUCENTIO and TRANIO.

Luc. Tranio, since for the great desire I had
To see fair Padua, nursery of arts,
I am arriv'd for fruitful Lombardy,
The pleasant garden of great Italy;
And by my father's love and leave am arm'd
With his good will and thy good company,
My trusty servant, well approv'd in all,
Here let us breathe, and haply institute
A course of learning and ingenious studies.
Pisa, renowned for grave citizens,

Gave me my being and my father first,
A merchant of great traffic through the world,
Vincentio, come of the Bentivolii.
Vincentio's son, brought up in Florence,

It shall become to serve all hopes conceiv'd,
To deck his fortune with his virtuous deeds:
And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study,
Virtue and that part of philosophy
Will I apply that treats of happiness
By virtue specially to be achiev'd.
Tell me thy mind; for I have Pisa left
And am to Padua come, as he that leaves
A shallow plash to plunge him in the deep,
And with satiety seeks to quench his thirst.

Tra. Mi perdonate, gentle master mine,
I am in all affected as yourself,
Glad that you thus continue your resolve
To suck the sweets of sweet philosophy.
Only, good master, while we do admire
This virtue and this moral discipline,
Let's be no stoics nor no stocks, I pray;
Or so devote to Aristotle's checks

As Ovid be an outcast quite abjur'd.

10

20

30

Balk logic with acquaintance that you have,
And practise rhetoric in your common talk;
Music and poesy use to quicken you;
The mathematics and the metaphysics,
Fall to them as you find your stomach serves you;
No profit grows where is no pleasure ta'en:
In brief, sir, study what you most affect.

40

Luc. Gramercies, Tranio. well dost thou advise. If, Biondello, thou wert come ashore, We could at once put us in readiness, And take a lodging fit to entertain Such friends as time in Padua shall beget. But stay awhile: what company is this?

Tra. Master, some show to welcome us to town.

Enter BAPTISTA, KATHARINA, BIANCA, GREMIO, and HORTENSIO. stand aside. LUCENTIO and TRANIO

Bap. Gentlemen, importune me no further, For how I firmly am resolv'd you know; That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter 50 Before I have a husband for the elder. If either of you both love Katharina,

Because I know you well and love you well, Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure. Gre. Aside. To cart her rather she's too

rough for me.

There, there, Hortensio, will you any wife? Kath. I pray you, sir, is it your will

To make a stale of me amongst these mates?

Hor. Mates, maid! how mean you that? no mates for you,

Unless you were of gentler, milder mould.
Kath. I' faith, sir, you shall never need to fear:
I wis it is not half way to her heart;
But if it were, doubt not her care should be
To comb your noddle with a three-legg'd stool,
And paint your face, and use you like a fool.
Hor. From all such devils, good Lord deliverus!
Gre. And me too, good Lord!

Tra. Hush, master! here is some good pastime toward:

70

That wench is stark mad or wonderful froward.
Luc. But in the other's silence do I see
Maid's mild behaviour and sobriety.
Peace, Tranio!

Tra. Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill.
Bap. Gentlemen, that I may soon make good
What I have said, -Bianca, get you in:
And let it not displease thee, good Bianca,
For I will love thee ne'er the less, my girl.

Kath. A pretty peat! it is best
Put finger in the eye, an she knew why.

Bian. Sister, content you in my discontent.
Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe:
My books and instruments shall be my company,
On them to look and practise by myself.

Luc. Hark, Tranio! thou may'st hear Minerva speak.

Hor. Signior Baptista, will you be so strange? Sorry am I that our good will effects Bianca's grief.

Gre.

Why, will you mew her up,

Signior Baptista, for this fiend of hell,
And make her bear the penance of her tongue?

Bap. Gentlemen, content ye; I am resolv'd.
Exit BIANCA.

Go in, Bianca.

And for I know she taketh most delight
In music, instruments, and poetry,
Schoolmasters will I keep within my house,
Fit to instruct her youth. If you, Hortensio,
Or Signior Gremio, you, know any such,
Prefer them hither; for to cunning men
To mine own children in good bringing-up;
I will be very kind, and liberal
And so farewell. Katharina, you may stay; 100
For I have more to commune with Bianca.

120

Gre. A husband! a devil.

Hor. I say, a husband.

Gre. I say, a devil. Thinkest thou, Hortensio, though her father be very rich, any man is so verv a fool to be married to hell?

Hor. Tush, Gremio! though it pass your patience and mine to endure her loud alarums, why, man, there be good fellows in the world, an a man could light on them, would take her with all faults, and money enough.

132

Gre. I cannot tell; but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition, to be whipped at the high-cross every morning.

Hor. Faith, as you say, there's small choice in rotten apples. But, come; since this bar in law makes us friends, it shall be so far forth friendly maintained, till by helping Baptista's eldest daughter to a husband, we set his youngest free for a husband, and then have to 't afresh. Sweet Bianca! Happy man be his dole! He that runs fastest gets the ring. How say you, Signior Gremio?

Gre. I am agreed : and would I had given him the best horse in Padua to begin his wooing, that would thoroughly woo her, wed her, and bed her, and rid the house of her. Come on.

Exeunt GREMIO and HORTENSIO.

Tra. I pray, sir, tell me, is it possible That love should of a sudden take such hold? 150 Luc. O Tranio! till I found it to be true, I never thought it possible or likely; But see, while idly I stood looking on, I found the effect of love in idleness; And now in plainness do confess to thee, That art to me as secret and as dear As Anna to the Queen of Carthage was, Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio, If I achieve not this young modest girl. Counsel me, Tranio, for I know thou canst: 160 Assist me, Tranio, for I know thou wilt.

Tra. Master, it is no time to chide you now; | Affection is not rated from the heart: If love have touch'd you, nought remains but so, Redime te captum quam queas minimo.

Luc. Gramercies, lad; go forward: this contents:

The rest will comfort, for thy counsel 's sound. Tra. Master, you look'd so longly on the maid, Perhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all. Luc. O yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face, 170 Such as the daughter of Agenor had,

That made great Jove to humble him to her

hand,

When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan strand. Tra. Saw you no more? mark'd you not how her sister

Began to scold and raise up such a storm
That mortal ears might hardly endure the din?
Luc. Tranio, I saw her coral lips to move,
And with her breath she did perfume the air;
Sacred and sweet was all I saw in her.

Tra. Nay, then, 'tis time to stir him from his

trance.

180

I pray, awake, sir: if you love the maid, Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it stands:

Her elder sister is so curst and shrewd,

That till the father rid his hands of her,

189

Because she will not be annoy'd with suitors.
Luc. Ah! Tranio, what a cruel father's he;
But art thou not advis'd he took some care
Together cunning schoolmasters to instruct her?
Tra. Ay, marry am I, sir; and now 'tis plotted.
Luc. I have it, Tranio.
Tra.

Master, for my hand,

Both our inventions meet and jump in one.
Luc. Tell me thine first.
Tra.

You will be schoolmaster,

And undertake the teaching of the maid :
That's your device.

Luc.

It is may it be done?

Tra. Not possible; for who shall bear your part, And be in Padua here Vincentio's son ; Keep house and ply his book, welcome his friends, Visit his countrymen, and banquet them?

200

Luc. Basta, content thee; for I have it full. We have not yet been seen in any house, Nor can we be distinguished by our faces For man or master: then, it follows thus: Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in my stead, Keep house, and port, and servants, as I should : I will some other be; some Florentine, Some Neapolitan, or meaner man of Pisa. 'Tis hatch'd and shall be so: Tranio, at once Uncase thee, take my colour'd hat and cloak: 210 When Biondello comes, he waits on thee;

But I will charm him first to keep his tongue.
Tra. So had you need.

In brief then, sir, sith it your pleasure is,
And I am tied to be obedient;