You heedlefs jolt-heads, and unmanner'd slaves! For it engenders choler, planteth anger; Come, I will bring thee to thy bridal chamber. [Exeunt. Nath. Peter, didft ever feek the like? Enter Curtis, a Servant. Curt. In her chamber, making a fermon of continency to her, And rails and fwears, and rates: that fhe, poor Soul, Enter Petruchio. Pet.. Thus have I politickly begun my reign, [Exeunt. To make her come, and know her keepers' Call: As As with the meat, fome undeserved fault And here I'll fling the pillow, there the bolter, [Exit. SCENE, before Baptifta's House. Enter Tranio and Hortenfio. TRANIO. S't poffible, friend Licio, that Bianca (16) Her. (16) Is't poffible, friend Licio, &c.] This Scene, Mr. Pope, upon what Authority I cannot pretend to guefs, has in his Editions made the First of the Fifib Act: in doing which, he has fhewn the very Power and Force of Criticism. The Confequence of this judicious Regulation is, that two unpardonable Abfurdities are fix'd upon the Author, which he could not poffibly have committed. For, in the firft Place, by this fhuffling the Scenes out of their true Pofition, we find Hortenfio, in the fourth Act, already gone from Baptifta's to Petruchio's Country-houfe; and afterwards in the beginning of the fifth Act we find him first forming the Refolution of quitting Bianca; and Tranio immediately informs us, he is gone to the Taming School to Petruchio. There is a Figure, indeed, in Rhetorick, call'd, rego węótegova But this is an Abuse of it, which the Rhetoricians will never adopt upon Mr. Pope's Authority. Again, by this Mifplacing, the Hor. To fatisfy you, Sir, in what I faid, Stand by, and mark the manner of his teaching. Enter Bianca and Lucentio. [They ftand by. Luc. Now, miftrefs, profit you in what you read? Bian. What, mafter, read you? firft, refolve me that. Luc. I read that I profefs, the art of Love. Bian. And may you prove, Sir, master of your art! Lac. While you, fweet dear, prove mistress of my heart. [They retire backward. Hor. Quick proceeders! marry! now, tell me, I pray, you that durft fwear that your miftrefs Bianca loved none in the world fo well as Lucentio. Fra. Defpightful love, unconftant womankind! I tell thee, Licio, this is wonderful. Hor. Miftake no more, I am not Licio, Nor a mufician, as I feem to be; But one that fcorn to live in this disguise Tra. Signior Hortenfio, I have often heard And fince mine eyes are witnefs of her lightness, Hor. See, how they kifs and court!-Signior Lucentio, the Pedant makes his first Entrance, and quits the Stage with Franio in order to go and dress himself like Vincentio, whom he was to perfonate: but his fecond Entrance is upon the very Heels of his Exit; and without any Interval of an Aft, or one Word intervening, he comes out again equipped like Vincentio. If fuch a Critick be fit to publifh a Stage-Writer, I fhall not envy Mr. Pope's Admirers, if they fhould think fit to applaud his Sagacity. I have replaced the Scenes in that Order, in which I found them in the old Books. Here Here is my hand, and here I firmly vow Tra. And here I take the like unfeigned oath, Fy on her fee, how beaftly fhe doth court him. I will be married to a wealthy widow, Ere three days pafs, which has as long lov'd me, Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks, [Exit Hor. Tra. Mistress Bianca, blefs you with fuch grace, As longeth to a lover's bleffed cafe : Nay, I have ta'en you napping, gentle love, And have forfworn you with Hortenfio. [Lucentio and Bianca come forward. Bian. Tranio, you jeft: but have you both forfworn me? Tra. Miftrefs, we have. Luc. Then we are rid of Licio. Tra. l'faith, he'll have a lufty widow now, That fhall be woo'd and wedded in a day. Tra. Ay, and he'll tame her. Bian. He fays fo, Tranio. Tra. 'Faith, he's gone unto the Taming school. That teacheth tricks eleven and twenty long, Enter Biondello, running. Bian. Oh mafter, mater, I have watch'd fo long, That That I'm dog-weary; but at laft I fpied (17) Tra. What is he, Biondello? Bion. Matter, a mercantant, or else a pedant; Tra. If he be credulous, and trust my tale, [Exeunt Lucentio and Bianca, Enter a Pedant. Ped. God fave you, Sir. Tra. And you, Travel (17) Sir; you are welcome : you far on, or are you at the fartheft? but at laft I fpied An ancient Angel going down the Hill, Tho' all the printed Copies agree in this Reading, I am confident, (18) but formal in Apparel ; In Gate and Countenance furely like a Father.] I have made bold to read, furly; and furely, I believe, I am right 'Tis well; and hold your own in any Cafe, C Ped. |