And every day I cannot come to woo. Bap. After my death, the one half of my lands: And, in possession, twenty thousand crowns. Bap. Ay, when the special thing is well obtain'd, This is, her love; for that is all in all. Pet. Why, that is nothing; for I tell you, father, I am as peremptory as she proud-minded; For I am rough, and woo not like a babe. Bap. Well may'st thou woo, and happy be thy speed! But be thou arm'd for some unhappy words. Pet. Ay, to the proof; as mountains are for winds, That shake not, though they blow perpetually. Re-enter HORTENSIO, with his head broken. Bap. How now, my friend? why dost thou look so pale? Hor. For fear, I promise you, if I look pale. Bap. What, will my daughter prove a good mu sician? Hor. I think, she'll sooner prove a soldier ; Iron may hold with her, but never lutes. Bap. Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute ? Hor. Why, no; for she hath broke the lute to me. I did but tell her, she mistook her frets,+ And bow'd her hand to teach hier fingering; them: And, with that word, she struck me on the head, Pet. Now, by the world, it is a lusty wench; Bap. Well, go with me, and be not so discom fited: Proceed in practice with my younger daughter; her frets,] A fret is that stop of a musical instrument which causes or regulates the vibration of the string. JOHNSON. 5 And-twangling Jack:] To twangle is a provincial expres sion, and signifies to flourish capriciously on an instrument, as per formers often do after having tuned it, previous to their beginning a regular composition. And woo her with some spirit when she comes. Say, that she frown; I'll say, she looks as clear And say-she uttereth piercing eloquence: When I shall ask the banns, and when be married: But here she comes; and now, Petruchio, speak. Enter KATHARINA. Good-morrow, Kate; for that's your name I hear. Kath. Well have you heard, but something hard of hearing; They call me-Katharine, that do talk of me. Kate, And bonny Kate, and sometimes Kate the curst ; Remove you hence: I knew you at the first, You were a moveable. Pet. Why, what's a moveable? Kath. A joint-stool. Pet. Thou hast hit it: come, sit on me. Kath. Asses are made to bear, and so are you. Pet. Women are made to bear, and so are you. Kath. No such jade, sir, as you, if me you mean. Pet. Alas, good Kate! I will not burden thee: For, knowing thee to be but young and light,Kath. Too light for such a swain as you to catch; And yet as heavy as my weight should be. Kath. thee? Kath. Ay, for a turtle; as he takes a buzzard. Pet. Come, come, you wasp; i̇'faith, you are too angry. Kath. If I be waspish, best beware my sting. In his tail. Kath. Pet. In his tongue. Whose tongue ? Kath. Yours, if you talk of tails; and so fare well. Pet. What, with my tongue in your tail? nay, come again, Good Kate; I am a gentleman. Kath. That I'll try. [Striking him. Pet. I swear I'll cuff you, if you strike again. 5 A joint-stool.] This is a proverbial expression; "Cry you mercy, I took you for a join'd stool." See Ray's Collection. If Kath. So may you lose your arms: you strike me, you are no gentleman; And if no gentleman, why, then no arms. Pet. A herald, Kate? O, put me in thy books. Kath. What is your crest? a coxcomb? Pet. A combless cock, so Kate will be my hen. Kath. No cock of mine, you crow too like a craven." Pet. Nay, come, Kate, come; you must not look so sour. Kath. It is my fashion, when I see a crab. not sour. Kath. There is, there is. Pet. Then show it me. Had I a glass, I would. Pet. What, you mean my face? Kath. Well aim'd of such a young one. Pet. Now, by Saint George, I am too young for you. Kath. Yet you are wither'd. Pet. Kath. "Tis not with cares. I care not. Pet. Nay, hear you, Kate: in sooth, you 'scape not so. Kath. I chafe you, if I tarry; let me go. Pet. No, not a whit; I find you passing gentle. "Twas told me, you were rough, and coy, and sullen, And now I find report a very liar; For thou art pleasant, gamesome, passing courteous; But slow in speech, yet sweet as spring-time flowers: Thou canst not frown, thou canst not look askance, Nor bite the lip, as angry wenches will; Nor hast thou pleasure to be cross in talk; 7 — a craven.] A craven is a degenerate, dispirited cock. Craven was a term also applied to those who in appeals of battle became recreant, and by pronouncing this word, called for quarter from their opponents; the consequence of which was they were for ever after deemed infamous. |