Their harness ftudded all with gold and pearl. 1 Man. Say thou wilt course, thy greyhounds are as As breathed ftags; ay, fleeter than the roe. [fwift 2 Man. Doft thou love pictures? we will fetch thee Adonis, painted by a running brook; [ftraight And Cytherea all in fedges hid; Which feem to move, and wanton with her breath, Lord. We'll fhew thee Io, as fhe was a maid, 3 Man. Or Daphne roaming through a thorny wood, Scratching her legs, that one fhall fwear the bleeds: And at that fight fhall fad Apollo weep: So workmanly the blood and tears are drawn. Lord. Thou art a Lord, and nothing but a Lord : Thou haft a Lady far more beautiful Than any woman in this waining age. 1 Man. And till the tears that the hath fhed for thee, Like envious floods, o'er-run her lovely face, She was the fairest creature in the world, And yet fhe is inferior to none. Sly. Am I Lord, and have I such a Lady? And not a tinker, nor Chriftophero Sly. 2 Man. Will't please your Mightiness to wash your 1 Man. Oh, yes, my Lord, but very idle words. For For though you lay here in this goodly chamber, And fay, you would prefent her at the leet, 3 Man. Why, Sir, you know no house, nor no fuch And twenty more fuch names and men as these, Sly. Now Lord be thanked for my good amends ! Sly. By th' mass, I think I am a Lord indeed. What is thy name? Man. Sim, an't please your Honour. Sly. Sim that's as much as to fay Simeon or Simon; put forth thy hand and fill the pot. [The fervant givés hîm drink. SCENE V. Enter Lady with attendants. I thank thee ; thou shalt not lofe by it. Lady. How fares my Noble Lord? Sly. Marry, I fare well; for here is cheer enough. Where's my wife? Lady. Here, Noble Lord, what is thy will with her? Sly. Are you my wife, and will not call me husband ? My men fhould call me Lord, I am your good-man. Lady. My husband and my lord, my lord and hufI am your wife in all obedience. [band; Sly. I know it well: what muft I call her? Sly. Alce Madam, or Joan Madam? Lord. Madam, and nothing elfe; fo Lords call Ladies. Sly. Come, fit down on my knee. Sim, drink to her. Madam wife, they fay that I have dream'd, and flept above fome fifteen years and more. Lady. Ay, and the time seems thirty unto me, Being all this time abandon'd from your bed. Sly. 'Tis much. Servants, leave me and her alone.— Madam, Madam, undrefs you, and come now to bed. Sim, drink to her. Lady. Thrice-noble Lord, let me intreat of you For your phyficians have expressly charge'd, Sly. Ay, it ftands fo, that I may hardly tarry fo long; but I would be loth to fall into my dream again. I will therefore tarry in defpight of the flesh and the blood. SCENE VI. Enter a Messenger. Meff. Your Honour's players, hearing your amend ment, Are come to play a pleasant comedy; For fo your Doctors hold it very meet, Seeing too much fadnefs hath congeal'd your blood; Therefore they thought it good you hear a play, Sly. Marry, I will; let them play; is it not a com modity? a Christmas gambol, or a tumbling trick? Lady. No, my good Lord, it is more pleasing stuff. Sly. What, houthold-ftuff? Lady. It is a kind of hiftory.. Sly. Well, we'll fee't: come, Madam wife, fit by my fide, and let the world flip, we fhall ne'er be younger, 208 The TAMING of the SHREW. ACT I. SCENE L Luc. A freet in Padua. Flourish. Enter Lucentio and Tranio. Ranio, fince for the great defire I had The pleafant garden of great Italy : Gave me my being; and my father first, Vincentio his fon, brought up in Florence,! Tra. Me pardonato, gentle mafter mine, Glad that you thus continue your refolve, As As Ovid be an outcaft quite abjur'd. Talk logic with acquaintance that you have, Fall to them, as you find your stomach serves you. Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise; We could at once put us in readiness ; Such friends, as time in Padua fhall beget. Tra. Mafter, fome fhow to welcome us to town. SCENE II. Enter Baptifta, with Catharina and Bianca, Gremio and Hortenfio. Lucentio and Tranio ftand by. Bap. Gentlemen both, importune me no farther, For how I firmly am refolv'd, you know; That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter, Before I have a husband for the elder: If either of you both love Catharina, Because I know you well, and love you well, To make a stale of me amongst these mates? Unless you were of gentler, milder mould. Cath. 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 fhall be Hor. From all fuch devils, good Lord, deliver us. Tra. |