Hor. Petruchio, patience; I am Grumio's pledge: Why, this a heavy chance 'twixt him and you; Your ancient, trusty, pleasant servant Grumio. And tell me now, sweet friend,-what happy gale Blows you to Padua here, from old Verona? Pet. Such wind as scatters young men through the world, To seek their fortunes further than at home, And I have thrust myself into this maze, Hor. Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee, And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favour'd wife? Pet. Signior Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as we, As old as Sybil, and as curst and shrewd 3 Where small experience grows. But, in a few,] In a few, means the same as in short, in few words. JOHNSON. 4 (As wealth is burthen of my wooing dance,)] The burthen of a dance is an expression which I have never heard; the burthen of his wooing song had been more proper. JOHNSON. Be she as foul as was Florentius' love,] The allusion is to a story told by Gower in the first Book De Confessione Amantis. Florent is the naine of a knight who had bound himself to marry a deformed hag, provided she taught him the solution of a riddle on which his life depended. As Socrates' Xantippe, or a worse, She moves me not, or not removes, at least, I come to wive it wealthily in Padua; Gru. Nay, look you, sir, he tells you flatly what his mind is: Why, give him gold enough and marry him to a puppet, or an aglet-baby; or an old trot with ne'er a tooth in her head, though she have as many diseases as two and fifty horses: why, nothing comes amiss, so money comes withal. Hor. Petruchio, since we have stepp'd thus far in, I will continue that I broach'd in jest. I can, Petruchio, help thee to a wife With wealth enough, and young, and beauteous; Brought up, as best becomes a gentlewoman: Her only fault (and that is faults enough,) Is, that she is intolerably curst, And shrewd, and froward; so beyond all measure, That, were my state far worser than it is, I would not wed her for a mine of gold. Pet. Hortensio, peace; thou know'st not gold's Tell me her father's name, and 'tis enough; Renown'd in Padua for her scolding tongue. aglet-baby;] i. e. a diminutive being, not exceeding in size the tag of a point. An aglet-baby was a small image or head cut on the tag of a point, or lace. 7-shrewd,] Here means, having the qualities of a shrew. The adjective is now used only in the sense of acute, intelligent. And he knew my deceased father well :— Gru. I pray you, sir, let him go while the humour lasts. O' my word, an she knew him as well as I do, she would think scolding would do little good upon him: She may, perhaps, call him half a score knaves, or so: why, that's nothing; an he begin once, he'll rail in his rope-tricks. I'll tell you what, sir,-an she stand him' but a little, he will throw a figure in her face, and so disfigure her with it, that she shall have no more eyes to see withal than a cat: You know him not, sir. Hor. Tarry, Petruchio, I must go with thee; For in Baptista's keep my treasure is: He hath the jewel of my life in hold, His youngest daughter, beautiful Bianca; (For those defects I have before rehears'd,) Ban he begin once, he'll rail in his rope-tricks.] Ropery or rope-tricks originally signified abusive language, without any de terminate idea; such language as parrots are taught to speak. I 9 stand him-] i. e. withstand, resist him. that she shall have no more eyes to see withal than a cat:] It may mean, that he shall swell up her eyes with blows, till she shall seem to peep with a contracted pupil, like a cat in the light. JOHNSON. ? Therefore this order hath Baptista ta'en;] To take order is to take measures. A title for a maid, of all titles the worst. Hor. Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace; And offer me, disguis'd in sober robes, To old Baptista as a schoolmaster Well seen in musick,3 to instruct Bianca: Enter GREMIO; with him LUCENTIO disguised, with books under his arm. Gru. Here's no knavery! See; to beguile the old folks, how the young folks lay their heads together! Master, master, look about you: Who goes there? ha! Hor. Peace, Grumio; 'tis the rival of my love:Petruchio, stand by a while. Gru. A proper stripling, and an amorous! [They retire. Gre. O, very well; I have perus'd the note. Hark you, sir; I'll have them very fairly bound: All books of love, see that at any hand;* And see you read no other lectures to her: You understand me:-Over and beside Signior Baptista's liberality, I'll mend it with a largess:-Take your papers too, And let me have them very well perfum'd; For she is sweeter than perfume itself, To whom they go. What will you read to her? As for my patron, (stand you so assur'd,) Well seen in musick,] Seen is versed, practised. Gre. O this learning! what a thing it is! Hor. Grumio, mum!-God save you, signior Gre. And you're well met, signior Hortensio. Whither I am going?-To Baptista Minola. About a schoolmaster for fair Bianca: And, by good fortune, I have lighted well And other books,-good ones, I warrant you. To fair Bianca, so belov'd of me. Gre. Belov'd of me,-and that my deeds shall prove. Gru. And that his bags shall prove. [Aside. Hor. Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our love: Listen to me, and if you speak me fair, I'll tell you news indifferent good for either. Pet. I know, she is an irksome brawling scold; If that be all, masters, I hear no harm. Gre. No, say'st me so, friend? What countryman? Pet. Born in Verona, old Antonio's son: |