Pet. It is extempore, from my mother-wit. Cath. Yes; keep you warm. Pet. Why, fo I mean, sweet Catharine, in thy bed: And therefore fetting all this chat aside, Thus in plain terms: your father hath confented, Enter Baptifta, Gremio, and Tranio. Bap. Now, fignior Petruchio, how speed you with my daughter? Pet. How but well, Sir? how but well? It were impoffible, I fhould fpeed amifs. Bap. Why, how now, daughter Catharine, in your dumps? Cath. Call you me daughter? now, I promise you, You've fhew'd a tender fatherly regard, To with me wed to one half lunatick; A madcap ruffian, and a swearing Jack, That thinks with oaths to face the matter out. For For fhe's not froward, but modeft as the dove: And to conclude, we've 'greed fo well together, Cath. I'll fee thee hang'd on Sunday first. Gre. Hark: Petruchio! fhe fays, fhe'll fee thee hang'd first. Tra. Is this your speeding? nay, then, good night, Pet. Be patient, Sirs, I chufe her for my self; I tell you, 'tis incredible to believe How much she loves me; oh, the kindeft Kate!- Bap. I know not what to fay, but give your God fend you joy, Petruchio! 'tis a match. Gre. Tra. Amen, fay we; we will be witneffes. We will have rings and things, and fine array; SCENE 1 SCENE VI Gre. Was ever match clapt up fo fuddenly? Tra. 'Twas a commodity lay fretting by you; Tra. And I am one, that love Bianca more Gre. But thine doth fry. Skipper, stand back; 'tis age that nourisheth. 'Tis deeds muft win the prize; and he, of Both, Say, Signior Gremio, what can you affure her? Bafons and ewers to lave her dainty hands: Fine linnen, Turkey cushions bofs'd with pearl; Six Sixfcore fat oxen standing in my ftalls; Tra. That only came well in-Sir, lift to me; If I may have your daughter to my wife, 3 Gre. Two thousand ducats by the year of land! Tra. Gremio, 'tis known, my father hath no less Than three great Argofies, besides two galliaffes And twelve tight gallies; these I will affure her, And twice as much, what e'er thou offer'ft next. 3 Gre. Two thousand ducats by the year of land! My land amounts not to fo much in all: That he shall have, and -] Tho' all the copies concur 'in this reading, furely, if we examine the reasoning, fomething will be found wrong. Gremio is ftartled at the high fettlement Tranio propofes; fays, his whole estate in land can't match it, yet he'll fettle fo much a year upon her, &c. This is playing at crofs purposes. The change of the negative in the fecond line falves the abfurdity, and fets the paffage right. Gremio and Tranio are vyeing in their offers to carry Bianca: The latter boldly propoies to fettle land to the amount of two thousand ducats per annum. My whole eftate, fays the other, in land, amounts but to that value; yet fhe fhall have that: I'll endow her with the whole; and confign a rich veffel to her use, over and above. Thus all is intelligible, and he goes on to outbid his rival. Gre. Gre. Nay, I have offer'd all; I have no more; And she can have no more than all I have; If you like me, fhe fhall have me and mine. Tra. Why, then the maid is mine from all the world, By your firm promife; Gremio is out-vied. Bap. I must confefs, your offer is the best; Gre. And may not young men die, as well as old? Bap. Well, gentlemen, then I am thus refolv'd: On Sunday next, you know, My daughter Catharine is to be married: And fo I take my leave, and thank you both. [Exit. not: Sirrah, young gamefter, your father were a fool [Exit. Tra. A vengeance on your crafty wither'd hide! 4 Yet I have fac'd it with a card of ten: 'Tis in my head to do my mafter good: 4 Yet I have fac'd it with a card of ten :] That is, with the highest card, in the old fimple games of our ancestors. So tha: this became a proverbial expression. So Skelton, Fyrfte pycke a quarrel, and fall out with him then, And fo outface him with a card of ten. And Ben Johnson in his Sad Shepherd, a Hart of ten I trow he be, i, e. an extraordinary good one. I |