Kath. Well have you heard, but something hard of hearing;2 They call me-Katharine, that do talk of me. Pet. You lie, in faith; for you are call'd plain Kate, Myself am mov'd to woo thee for my wife. Kath. Mov'd! in good time: let him that mov'd you hither, Remove you hence: I knew you at the first, Kath. Asses are made to bear, and so are you. Pet. Women are made to bear, and so are you. to bear Kath. No such jade, "sir, as you, if me you mean. 4 " "(For I methinkes have liv'd too long a maide) 66 Alfon. Give me thy hand: Ferando loves thee well, "And will with wealth and ease maintaine thy state. "Here Ferando, take her for thy wife, "And Sunday next shall be our wedding-day. "Feran. Why so, did I not tel thee I should be the man? "Father, I leave my lovely Kate with you. "Provide yourselves against our marriage day, "For I must hie me to my country-house "In haste, to see provision may be made "To entertaine my Kate when she doth come," &c. Steevens. 2 Well have you heard, but something hard of hearing;] A poor quibble was here intended. It appears from many old English books that heard was pronounced in our author's time, as if it were written hard. Malone. 3 A joint-stool.] This is a proverbial expression: "Cry you mercy, I took you for a join'd stool." 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. Pet. Should be? should buz. Kath. Well ta'en, and like a buzzard. Kath. If I be waspish, best beware my sting. Kath. Ay, if the fool could find it where it lies. In his tail. Kath. Pet. In his tongue. Whose tongue? Kath. Yours, if you talk of tails; and so farewel. Pet. What, with my tongue in your tail? nay, come again, Good Kate; I am a gentleman. Kath. That I'll try. [Striking him. 4 No such jade, sir,] The latter word, which is not in the old copy, was supplied by the editor of the second folio. Malone. Perhaps we should read-no such jack. However, there is authority for jade in a male sense. So, in Soliman and Perseda, Piston says of Basilisco, "He just like a knight! He'll just like a jade." Farmer. So, before, p. 55: “I know he'll prove a jade.” Malone. 5 Ay, for a turtle; as he takes a buzzard.] Perhaps we may read better Ay, for a turtle, and he takes a buzzard. That is, he may take me for a turtle, and he shall find me a hawk. Johnson. This kind of expression likewise seems to have been proverbial. So, in The Three Lords of London, 1590: 66 hast no more skill, "Than take a faulcon for a buzzard?" Steevens. 6 Yours, if you talk of tails;] The old copy reads-tales, and it may perhaps be right." Yours, if your talk be no better than an idle tale." Our author is very fond of using words of similar sounds in different senses.-I have, however, followed the emendation made by Mr. Pope, which all the modern editors have adopted. Malone. Pet. I swear I'll cuff you, if you strike again. If you strike me, you are no gentleman; Pet. A combless cock, so Kate will be my hen. sour. Kath. It is my fashion, when I see a crab. Pet. Why, here's no crab; and therefore look not sour. Kath. There is, there is. Pet. Then show it me. Kath. 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 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; But thou with mildness entertain'st thy wooers, 7 a craven.] A craven is a degenerate, dispirited cock. So, in Rhodon and Iris, 1631: "That he will pull the craven from his nest." Steevens. 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, that they for ever after were deemed infamous. See note on 'Tis Pity she's a Whore. Dodsley's Collection of Old Plays, Vol. VIII, p. 10, edit. 1780. Reed. With gentle conference, soft and affable. Why does the world report, that Kate doth limp? As Kate this chamber with her princely gait? And then let Kate be chaste, and Dian sportful! Kath. A witty mother! witless else her son. Kath. Yes; keep you warm.9 Pet. Marry, so I mean, sweet Katharine in thy bed: And therefore, setting all this chat aside, Thus in plain terms:-Your father hath consented 1 Now, Kate, I am a husband for your turn; 8 Go, fool, and whom thou keep'st command.] This is exactly the ПarcáμE ÉTÍTacos of Theocritus, Eid. xv, v. 90, and yet I would not be positive that Shakspeare had ever read even a translation of Theocritus. Tyrwhitt. 9 Pet. Am I not wise? Kath. Yes; keep you warm.] So, in Beaumont and Fletcher's Scornful Lady: 66 - your house has been kept warm, sir. "I am glad to hear it; pray God, you are wise too." Again, in our poet's Much Ado about Nothing: that if he has wit enough to keep himself warm.” Steevens. 1 nill you,] So, in The Death of Robert Earl of Huntington, 1601: "Will you or mill you, you must yet go in." Again, in Damon and Pithias, 1571: "Neede hath no law; will I, or nill I, it must be done." Steevens. And bring you from a wild cat to a Kate2 Re-enter BAPTISTA, GREMIO, and TRANIO, Signior Petruchio: How speed you with Pet. How but well, sir? how but well? It were impossible, I should speed amiss. Bap. Why, how now, daughter Katharine? in your dumps? Kath. Call you me, daughter? now I promise you, You have show'd a tender fatherly regard, To wish me wed to one half lunatick; A mad-cap ruffian, and a swearing Jack, That thinks with oaths to face the matter out. Pet. Father, 'tis thus,-yourself and all the world, ་་ For she's not froward, but modest as the dove; mon She is not hot, but temperate as the morn;" ་ For patience she will prove a second Grissel;3 And to conclude, we have 'greed so well together, a wild cat to a Kate-] The first folio reads: a wild Kate to a Kate, &c. The second folio a wild Kat to a Kate, &c. Steevens. The editor of the second folio with some probability readsfrom a wild Kat, meaning certainly cat. So before: "But will you woo this wild cat?" Malone. 3 a second Grissel; &c.] So, in The Fair Maid of Bristow, 1605, bl. 1: "I will become as mild and dutiful "As ever Grissel was unto her lord, "And for my constancy as Lucrece was." There is a play entered at Stationers' Hall, May 28, 1599, called "The plaie of Patient Grissel." Bocaccio was the first known writer of the story, and Chaucer copied it in his Clerke of Oxenforde's Tale. Steevens. The story of Grisel is older than Bocaccio, and is to be found among the compositions of the French Fabliers. Douce. |