Bup. Talk not, signior Gremio ; I say, he shall; SCENE 11.-A Room in LUCENTIO's House. go to prison.

Enter BAPTISTA, VIN. Gre. Take heed, signior Baptista, lest you be A Banquet set out. coney-catched in this business; I dare swear,

CENTIO, GREMIO, the PEDANT, LUCENTIO, this is the right Vincentio.

BIANCA, PETRUCHIO, KATHARINA, HORTENPed. Swear, if thou darest.

SIO, and Widow. TRANIO, BIONDELLO, Gre. Nay, I dare not swear it.

GRUMI0, and others, attending. Tru. Then thou wert best say, that I am not Luc. At last, though long, our jarring notes Lucentio.

agree : Gre. Yes, I know thee to be signior Lucen- And time it is, when raging war is done, tjo.

To smile at 'scapes and perils overblown.Bap. Away with the dotard ; to the jail with My fair Bianca, bid my father welcome, him.

While I with self-same kindness welcome Vin. Thus strangers may be haled and abus'd :

thine :- monstrous villain !

Brother Petruchio,-sister Katharina,

And thou, Hortensio, with thy loving widow,Re-enter BIONDELLO, with LUCENTIO, and Feast with the best, and welcome to my bouse ; BIANCA.

My banquet is to close our stomachs up, Bion. Oh! we are spoiled, and-Yonder be After our great good cheer : Pray you sit down ; is; deny hin, forswear him, or else we are all For now we sit io chat, as well as eat.

; uudoue.

[They sit at table. Luc. Pardon, sweet father. (Kneeling. Pet. Nothing but sit and sit, and eat and eat! Vin. Lives my sweetest son ?

Bup. Padua affords this kindness, son Pe.

truchio.
(BIONDELLO, TRANIO, and PEDANT run
out.

Pet. Padua affords nothing but what is kind. Bian. Pardon, dear father. (Kneeling Hor For both our sakes, I would that word Bup. How hast thou offended

were true. Where is Lucentio ?

Pet. Now, for my life, Hortensio fears + bis Luc. Here's Lucentio,

widow. Right son unto the right Vincentio ;

Wld, Then never trust me if I be afeard. That have by marriage made thy daughter mine, Pet. You are sensible, and yet you miss my Wbile counterfeit supposes blear'd thine eyne. +

sense ; Gre. Here's packing, I with a witness, to deceive I mean, Hortensio is aseard of you. us all!

Wid. He that is giddy, thinks the world turns Vin. Where is that damned villain, Tranio,

round.
That fac'd and brav'd me in this matter so? Pet. Roundly replied.

Bap. Why, tell me, is not this my Cambio ? Kath. Mistress, how mean you that?
Bian. Cambio is chang'd into Lucentio.

Wid. Thus I conceive by bim.
Luc. Love wrought these miracles. Bianca's

Pet. Conceives by me!-How likes Hortensio love

that ? Made me exchange my state with Tranio,

Hor. My widow says, thus she conceives her While he did bear my countenance the

tale. town ;

Pet. Very well mended : Kiss him for that, And happily I have arriv'd at last

good widow. Unto the wished haven of my bliss :

Kath. He that is giddy, thinks the world turns What Tranio did, myself enforc'd hiin to ;

round:--Then pardon him, sweet father, for my sake. I pray you, tell me wbat yon meant hy that. Vin. I'll sit the villain's nose, that would have

Wid. Your busband, being troubled with a sent me to the jail.

shrew, Bap. But do you hear, Sir? [TO LUCENTIO.) Measures my husband's sorrow by his woe : Have you married my daughter without asking And now you know iny meaning. my good will ?

Kath. A very mean meaning. Vin. Fear not, Baptista ; we will content you,

Wid. Right, I mean you. go to : But I will in, to be revenged for this

Kath. And I am mean, indeed, respecting villany.

(Erit

you. Bup. And I, to sound the depth of this kna- Pet. To her, Kate ! very.

(Ex it. Hor. To her, widow ! Luc. Look not pale, Bianca ; thy father will not Pet. A hundred marks, iny Kate does put her frown. (Exeunt Luc. and BIAN.

down. Gre. My cake is dough : 9 But I'll in among

Hor. That's my office. the rest ;

Pet. Spoke like an officer :-Ha’ to thee, lad. Out of hope of all,-but my share of the feast.

(Drinks to HORTENSIO, (Erit.

Bap. How likes Gremio these quick-willed

folks ? PETRUCHIO and KATHARINA advance. Gre. Believe me, Sir, they butt together well. Kath. Husband, let's follow, to see the end of

Bian. Head, and bult? an basty-witted body this ado.

Would say, your head and butt were head and Pet. First kiss me, Kate, and we will.

horu. Kath. What, in the midst of the street ?

Vin. Ay, mistress bride, bath that awaken'd Pet. What, art thou ashamed of me? Kath. No, Sir ; God forbid :--but ashamed to

Bian. Ay, but not frighted me: therefore I'll kiss.

sleep again. Pet. Why, then let's home again :--Come,

Pet. Nay, that you shall not ; since you bave sirrab, let's away.

begun, Kath. Nay, I will give thee a kiss ; now pray Have at you for a bitter jest or two.. thee, love, stay.

Bian. Am I your bird? I mean to shift my l'et. Is not this well ?-Come, my sweet

bush, Kate ;

And then pursue me as you draw your bow : Better once than never, for never too late.

You are welcome all. (Ereunt.

(Exeunt BIANCA, KATHARINA, and Widow.

Pet. She bath prevented me. Here, siguior • Chcated + Deceived thy eyes.

Tianio, • Tricking, underhand contrivances, A proverbial expression, repeated after a disappoint- • A banquet was a resection consisting of fruit, cakca,

you?

self ;

This bird you aim'd at, though you bit ber not ; | Swinge me them soundly forth unto their bus. Therefore, a health to all that shot and miss'd.

bands : Tra. O sir, Lucentio slipp'd me like his grey Away, I say, and bring them hither straight. hound,

[Erit KATHARINA. Which runs himself, and catches for his master. Luc. Here is a wonder, if you talk of a won. Pet. A good swift • simile, but something

der. currish.

Hor. And so it is ; I wonder what it bodes. Tra. 'Tis well, sir, that you hunted for your- Pet. Marry, peace it bodes, and love, and

quiet life, Tis thought, yons deer does bold you at a bay. An awful rule, and right supremacy ;

Bap. O bo, Petruchio, Tranio bits you now, And, to be short, what not, that's sweet and Luc. I thank thee for that yird, + good Tranio.

happy. Hor. Confess, confess, hath he not hit you Bap. Now fair befall thee, good Petruchio ! here?

The wager tbou bast won; and I will add
Pet, 'A has a little gall’d me, I confese ; Uuto their losses twenty thousand crowns;
And, as the jest did glance away from me, Another dowry to another daughter,
'Tis ten to one it maim'd you two ontright. For she is chang'd, as she had never been.

Bap. Now, in good saduess, son Petruchio, Pet. Nay, I will win my wager beiter yet ; I think thou hast tbe veriest shrew of all.

And show inore sign of her obedience,
Pet. Well, I say-10 : and therefore, for assur. Her uew-built virtue and obedience.
Let's each one send unto bis wife ; (auce,
And he, whose wife is most obedient

Re-enter KATHARINA, with BIANCA, and

WIDOW. To come at first when he doth send for her, Shall win the wager which we will propose. See, where she comes; and brings your froward Hor. Content: What is the wager ?

wives Luc. Twenty crowns.

As prisoners to her womanly persuasion.Pet. Twenty crowns !

Katharine, that cap of your's becomes you not ; I'll venture so much on my hawk, or hound, off with that bauble, throw it under foot. But twenty times so much upon my wise.

(KATHARINA pulls off her cap, and throw's Luc. A bundred then.

it down, Hor. Content.

Wid. Lord, let me never have a cause to sigb, Pet. A match ; 'tis done.

Till I be brought to such a silly pass ! Hor. Who shall begin?

Bian. Fie ! what a fuolish duty call you this ? Luc. Tbat will l. Go,

Luc. I would, your duty were as foolish too : Biondello, bid your mistress come to me. The wisdom of your duty, fair Bianca, Bion. I go.

(Exit. Hath cost me a bundred crowns since supper. Bap. Son, I will be your half, Bianca comes.

time. Luc. I'll have no halves ; I'll bear it all my. Bian. The more fool you, for laying on my seli.

duty.

Pet. Katharine, I charge thee, tell these headRc-enter BIONDELLO.

strong women How now! what news!

What duty they do owe their lords and husBion. Sir, my mistress sends you word

bands. That she is busy, and she cannot come.

Wid. Come, come, you're mocking; we will Pet. How ! she is busy, and she cannot come !

have no telling. Is that an answer ?

Pet. Come on, I say; and first begin with Gre. Ay, and a kind one too :

her. Pray God, Sir, your wise send you not a worse. Wid. She shall not. Pet. I hope, better.

Pet. I say, she shall ;-and first begin with Hor. Sirrah, Biondello go, and entreat my

her. wife

Kath. Fie, fie! unknit that threat'ning on. To come to me forthwith. [Erit BIONDELLO.

kind brow; Pet. O ho! entreat hier!

And dart uoi scornful glances from those eyes, Nay, then she must needs come.

To wound thy lord, thy king, thy goveruor : Hor. I am afraid, Sir,

It blots thy beauty, as frosts bite the meads; Do what you can, your's will not be entreated. Confounds thy fame, as whirlwinds shake fair

buds; Re-enter BIONDELLO.

And in no sense is meet, or amiable. Now where's my wife?

A woman mov'd, is like a fountain troubled, Bion. She says, you have some goodly jest in Muddy, ill-seeming, thick, bereit of beauty; band;

And, wbile it is so, none so dry or thirsty She will not come ; she bids you come to her. Will deign to sip, or touch one drop of it.

Pet. Worse and worse ; sbe will not come ! 0 Thy busband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper, Intolerable, not to be endur'd !

(vile Thy head, thy sovereign ; one that cares for Sirrah Grumio, go to your mistress ;

tbee, Say, I command her to come to me.

And for thy maintenance : commits his body

[Erit GRUMIO. To painful labour, both by sea and Jand; Hor. I know her answer.

To watch the night in storms, the day in cold, Pet. What ?

While thou liest warm at home, secure and sate, Hor. She will not come.

And craves no other tribute at thy bands, Pet. The fouler fortune mine, and there an But love, fair looks, and true obedience ;end.

Too little payment for so great a debt.

Such duty as the subject owes the prince,
Enter KATHARINA.

Even such, a woman oweth to her husband : Bap. Now, by my holidame, here comes And, when she's froward, peevish, sullen, sour, Katharina !

And, not obedient to his honest will, Kath. What is your will, Sir, that you send What is she, but a foul contending rebel, for me

And graceless traitor to her loving lord 1Pet. Where is your sister, and Hortensio's I am asham'd, that women are so simple wife

To offer war, where they should kneel for Kath. They sit conferring by the parlour fire.

peace ; Pet. Go fetch tbem hither; if they deny to Or seek for rule, supremacy, and sway, come,

When they are bound to serve, love, and obey.

Why are our bodies soft, and weak and smootb, Sarcasm. Unapt to toil and trouble in the world ;

• Witty

But that our soft conditions and our hearts, Pet. Why, there's a wench I-Come on, and Should well agree with our external parts ?

kiss me, Kate. Come, come, you froward and unable worms! Luc. Well, go thy ways, old lad; for thou My inind bath been as big as one of your's,

shalt ba't. My heart, as great; my reason, haply, more, Vin. 'Tis a good hearing, when children are To bandy word for word, and frown for frown:

toward. But now, I see our lances are but straws ;

Luc. But a harsh hearing, when women are Our strength as weak, our weakness past com

froward. pare,

Pet. Come, Kate, we'll to bed :--That seeming to be most, which we least are. We three are married, but we two are sped Theu vail your stomachs, t for it is no boot ; 'Twas I won the wager, though you hit the white ; And place your hands below your husband's

[To LUCENTIO. foot :

And, being a winner, God give you good night ! In token of which duty, if be please,

[Exeunt PETRUCHIO and KATA. My band is ready, may it do him ease !

Hor. Now go thy ways, thou bast tam'd a

curst sbrew, • Gentle tempers. + Abate your spirits. Luc. 'Tis a wonder, by your leave, she will be tam'd so.

(Exeunt.

THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR.

LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE. THIS play was produced under two disadvantages : first, it was not the suggestion of Shakspeare's own genius, he

having exhibited the character of Falstaff in three inimitable plays, and finished the portrait to his own taste ; and secondly, it was written with unusual expedition, in the short period of fourteen days. Queen Elizabeth is said to have been so delighted with the Knight, that she commanded our poet to show him in love; and, upon this regal signification, Dr. Johnson remarks, that " no task is harder than that of writing to the ideas of another. Shakspeare knew what the Queen, if the story be true, seems not to have known---that by any real passion of tenderness, the selfish craft, the careless jollity, and the lazy luxury of Falstaff must have suffered so much abatement, that little of his former craft would have remained. Falstaff could not love, but by ceasing to be Falstaff.” The most noted propensities of "the fat old man," are however, skilfully engrafted on the design of the piece ; so that wit, covetousness, mendacity, and concupiscence, are as much as possible combined and developed in his coaduct. The other characters, also, are well contrasted ; and many of the scenos are pregnant with amusing incident. The circumstances of the plot are variously derived : some of them, probably, from an old translation of Il Pecorone by Giovanni Fiorentino; the particular adventures of Falstaff, from The Lovers of Pisa, a story in an ancient piece called Tarleton's News out of Purgatorie. Malonc supposes that Shakspeare chose Windsor for the scene of Falstaff's love-frolics, upon reading the subjoined passage in “ Watward for Smelts:" " In Windsor not long agoe, dwelt a sumpterman, who had ta wise a very faire but wanton creature, over whom, not without cause, he was something jealous ; yet bad he never any proof of her inconstancy."

DRAMATIS PERSONE. SIR JOHN FALSTAPP.

ROBIN, Page to Falstaff. FENTON.

SIMPLE, Servant to Slender.
SHALLOW, a Country Justice.

RUGBY, Servant to Dr. Caius.
SLENDER, Cousin to Shallow.
MR. FORT, Two Gentlemen dwelling at
MR. PAGE,

Windsor.

MRS. FORD,

Mrs. PAGE.
WILLIAM PAGB, a Boy, Son to Mr. Page.
SIR HUGH EVANS, a Welsh Parson.

MRS. ANNE PAGE, her Daughter, in love with

Fenton,
DR. CATUS, a French Physician.

MRS. QUICKLY, Servant to Dr. Caius.
Host of the Garter Inn.
BARDOLPH,
PISTOL,
Followers of Falstaff.

Servants to Page, Ford, &c.
NYM,

SCENE-Windsor, and the parts adjacent.

'}

ACT I.

old coat well ; it agrees well, passant : it is a

familiar beast to man, and signifies-love. SCENE 1.-Windsor. Before Page's House.

Shal. The luce is the fresh fisb ; the salt fish Enter Justice SHALLOW, SLENDER, and Sir is an old coat. HUGH EVANS.

Slen. I may quarter, coz!

Shal. You may, by marrying. Shal. Sir Hugb, persuade me not: I will make a star chamber matter of it: if he were

Eva. It is marring indeed, if he quarter it.

Shal. Not a whit. twenty Sir John Falstaffs, he shall not abuse Robert Shallow, esquire.

Eva. Yes, py'r lady if he has a quarter of Slen. In the county of Gloster, justice of your coat, there is but three skirts for yourself,

in my simple conjectures : but that is all ove: peace, and coram.

If Sir John Falstaff have committed disparShal. Ay, cousin Slender, aud Cust-alorum. +

Sien. Ay, and ratolorun too ; and a gentle agements unto you, I am of the church, and man boru, master parson ; wbówrites himseli will be glad to do my benevolence, to make

atonements and compromises between you. armigero ; in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, armigero.

Shal. The council + shall bear it ; it is a riot. Shal. Áy, that we do; and bave done any there is no fear of Got in a riot: the councii

Eva. It is not meet the council bear a riot time these three hundred years. Slen. All his successors, gone before bim and not to hear a riot; take your vizaments

look you, shall desire to bear the fear or Got, have done't; and all his ancestors, that come in that. after him, may ; they may give the dozen wbite

Shal. Ha! o' my life, if I were young again, luces t in their coat.

the sword should end it. Shal. It is an old coat. Eva. The dozen wbite louses do become an and end it: and there is also another derice

Era. It is petter that friends is the sword, • A title formerly appropriated to chaplains as well as in my prain, whicb, peradventure, prings gooi to knights. + Custos rotulorun.

Anne Page at Sir Thomas Lucy, who compelled him to leave Stral. ferd,