Curt. This is to feel a tale, not to hear a tale. Gru. And therefore 'tis call'd a sensible tale: and this cuff was but to knock at your ear, and befeech listning. Now I begin : imprimis, we came down a foul hill, my master riding behind my mistress. Curt. Both on one horse ? Curt. Why, a horse. Gru. Tell thou the tale. But hadst thou not crost me, thou should'ft have heard how her horse fell, and she under her horfe: thou should'st have heard in how miry a place, how she was bemoil'd, how he left her with the horse upon her, how he beat me because her horse stumbled, how the waded through the dirt to pluck him off me; how he swore, how the pray'd that never pray'd before; how I cry'd; how the horses ran away; how her bridle was burst; how I lost my crupper; with many things of worthy memory, which now shall die in oblivion, and thou return unexperienc'd to thy grave. Curt. By this reckoning he is more shrew than she. Gru. Ay, and that you and the proudest of you all shall find, when he comes home. But what talk I of this? call forth Nathaniel, Joseph, Nicholas, Philip, Walter, Sugarfop, and the rest: let their heads be sleekly comb'd, their blue coats brush'd, and their garters of an indifferent knit; let them curt'sy with their left legs, and not presume to touch a hair of my master's horse-tail, 'till they kiss their hands. Are they all ready? Curt. They are. Gru. Call them forth. Curt. Do you hear, ho? you must meet my master to countenance my mistress. 9 Garters of an indifferent knit.] What is the sense of this I know not, unless it means, that their Garters should be fillows; indifferent, or not different, one from the other. Gru. Gru. Why, she hath a face of her own. Gru. Thou, it seems, that call'd for company to countenance her. Curt. I call them forth to credit her. Enter four or five Serving-men. Gru. Why, she comes to borrow nothing of them. Nath. Welcome home, Grumio. Phil. How now, Grumio? Jof. What, Grumio! Nath. How now, old lad? Gru. Welcome, you; how now, you; what, you; fellow, you; and thus much for greeting. Now, my spruce companions, is all ready, and all things neat ? Nath. All things are ready; how near is our master? Gru. E'en at hand, alighted by this; and therefore be not-cock's passion, filence! I hear my master. SCENE II. Enter Petruchio and Kate. Pet. Where be these knaves? what, no man at door to hold my stirrup, nor to take my horse? where is Nathaniel, Gregory, Philip? All Serv. Here, here, Sir; here, Sir. Pet. Here, Sir, here, Sir, here, Sir, here, Sir? Gru. Here, Sir, as foolish as I was before. drudge, Did not I bid thee meet me in the park, And bring along these rascal knaves with thee? Gru. I Gru. Nathaniel's coat, Sir, was not fully made: Yet as they are, here are they come to meet you. [Exeunt Servants. Where is the life that late I led ? Enter Servants with Supper. [Singing. Why, when, I say? nay, good sweet Kate, be merry. Off with my boots, you rogue: you villains, when? It was the Friar of Orders grey, As he forth walked on his way. [Sings: Out, out, you rogue! you pluck my foot awry. [Strikes bim. Be merry, Kate: fome water, here; what hoa! Enter one with water. Where's my spaniel Troilus? firrah, get you hence, Cath. Patience, I pray you, 'twas a fault unwilling. Come, Kate, fit down; I know, you have a stomach. Will you give thanks, sweet Kate, or else shall I? What's this, mutton? 1 Ser. Yes. Pet. Who brought it? Ser. I Pet. 'Tis burnt, and so is all the meat: And serve it thus to me that love it not? There, take it to you, trenchers, cups and all : [Throws the meat, &c. about the Stage. You heedless jolt-heads, and unmanner'd slaves ! Pet. I tell thee, Kate, 'twas burnt and dry'd away, Enter Servants severally. Nath. Peter, didst ever fee the like ? Enter Curtis, a Servant. Curt. In her chamber, making a fermon of conti nency to her, And rails and swears, and rates; that she, poor foul, Knows not which way to stand, to look, to speak, VOL. III. F And 4 And fits as one new-risen from a dream. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Enter Petruchio. Pet. Thus have I politickly begun my reign, And with the clamour keep her still awake. Now let him speak, 'tis charity to shew. [Exit. 3 - to man my baggard,] A baggard is a wild barwk; to man a hawk is to tame her. SCENE |