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. Tra. To save your life in this extremity, This favour will I do you for his sake; [Aside. And think it not the worst of all your fortunes, His name and credit shall you undertake, Till you have done you stay 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, 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. • To 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. 7 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 Licia. SCENE III. A Room in Petruchio's House. Enter KATHARINA and GRUMIO. 1 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? As who should say,-if I should sleep, or eat, Kath. 'Tis passing good; I pr'ythee let me have it. 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. Kath. Why, then the beef, and let the mustard rest. Gru. Nay, then I will not; you shall have the mustard, Or else you get no beef of Grumio. Kath. Then both, or one, or any thing thou wilt. Gru. Why, then the mustard without the beef. Kath. Go, get thee gone, thou false deluding [Beats him. slave, That feed'st me with the very name of meat: Sorrow on thee, and all the pack of you, Go, get thee gone, I say. Enter. PETRUCHIO with a dish of meat; and HORTENSIO. Pet. How fares my Kate? What, sweeting, all amort ?8 Hor. Mistress, what cheer?, Kath. '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:9 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. What, sweeting, all amort?] This gallicism is common to many of the old plays. That is, all sunk and dispirited. And all my pains is sorted to no proof:] And all my labour has ended in nothing, or proved nothing. Kath. I thank you, sir. Hor. Signior Petruchio, fye! you are to blame! 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;2 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. with his ruffling treasure ] i. e. rustling. 2 Come, tailor, let us see these ornaments;] In our poet's time, women's gowns were usually made by men. Kath. Why, sir, I trust, I may have leave to 'And speak I will; I am no child, no babe: 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, carv'd 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 çap nor gown. Aside. Tai. You bid me make it orderly and well, According to the fashion, and the time. Pet. Marry, and did; but if you be remember'd, 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: 3 A custard-coffin,] A coffin was the ancient culinary term for the raised crust of a pie or custard. 4 censer] We learn from an ancient print, that these censers resembled in shape our modern brasieres. They had pierced convex covers, and stood on feet. They not only served to sweeten a barber's shop, but to keep his water warm, and dry his cloths on. |