Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Bion. Then thus. Baptista is safe, talking with the Happy the parents of so fair a child!
deceiving father of a deceitful son.
Luc. And what of him?

Bion. His daughter is to be brought by you to the

supper.

Luc. And then?

Happier the man, whom favourable stars
Allot thee for his lovely bed-fellow!

Ped

shall

Pet

-D

Pet. Why, how now, Kate! I hope, thou art not mad,
This is a man, old, wrinkled, faded, wither'd;
And not a maiden, as thou say'st he is.

Bion. The old priest at St Luke's church is at your Cath. Pardon, old father, my mistaking eyes,

command at all hours.

Luc. And what of all this?

Bion. I cannot tell; except they are busied about a counterfeit assurance. Take you assurance of her, cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum: to the church; -take the priest, clerk, and some sufficient honest witnesses!

If this be not that you look for, I have no more to say, But, bid Bianca farewell for ever and a day. [Going. Luc. Hear'st thou, Biondello?

Bion. I cannot tarry: I knew a wench married in an afternoon, as she went to the garden for parsley to stuff a rabbit; and so may you, sir; and so adieu, sir. My master hath appointed me to go to St Luke's to bid the priest be ready to come, against you come with your appendix.

[Exit.

Luc. I may, and will, if she be so contented;
She will be pleas'd, then wherefore should I doubt?
Hap what hap may, I'll roundly go about her;
It shall go hard, if Cambio go without her.

SCENE V. A public road.

[Exit.

Enter PETRUCHIO, CATHARINA, and HORTENSIO. Pet. Come on, o' God's name; once more toward our father's!

That have been so bedazzled with the sun,
That every thing I look on seemeth green:
Now I perceive, thou art a reverend father;
Pardon, I pray thee, for my mad mistaking.
Pet. Do, good old grandsire ;and withal, make known
Which way thou travellest: if along with us,
We shall be joyful of thy company.

Good Lord, how bright and goodly shines the moon!
Cath. The moon! the sun; it is not moonlight now.
Pet. I say, it is the moon that shines so bright.
Cuth. I know, it is the sun that shines so bright.
Pet. Now, by my mother's son, and that's myself,
It shall be moon, or star, or what I list,
Or ere I journey to your father's house:
Go on, and fetch our horses back again!—
Evermore cross'd, and cross'd, nothing but cross'd!
Hor. Say as he says, or we shall never go.
Cath. Forward, I pray, since we have come so far,
And be it moon, or sun, or what you please:
And if you please to call it a rush candle,
Henceforth I vow, it shall be so for me.
Pet. I say, it is the moon,

Cath. I know it is.

Pet. Nay, then you lie; it is the blessed sun.

Vin. Fair sir,- and you my merry mistress,
That with your strange encounter much amaz'd me,
My name is call'd - Vincentio; my dwelling-Pisa :
And bound 1 am to Padua, there to visit
A son of mine, which long I have not seen.
Pet. What is his name?
Vin. Lucentio, gentle sir.

I

Cath. Then God be bless'd, it is the blessed sun: -
But sun it is not, when you say it is not;
Aud the moon changes, even as your mind.
What you will have it named, even that it is;
And so it shall be so, for Catharine.

Pet. Happily met! the happier for thy son! And now by law, as well as reverend age, may entitle thee -my loving father; The sister to my wife, this gentlewoman, Thy son by this hath married. Wonder not, Nor be not griev'd; she is of good esteem, Her dowry wealthy, and of worthy birth; Beside, so qualified as may beseem The spouse of any noble gentleman. Let me embrace with old Vincentio : And wander we to see thy honest son, Who will of thy arrival be full joyous. Vin. But is this true? or is it else your pleasure, Like pleasant travellers, to break a jest Upon the company, you overtake?

Hor. Petruchio, go thy ways; the field is won.
Pet.Well, forward, forward! thus the bowl should run,
And not unluckily against the bias. —
But soft; what company is coming here?

Enter VINCENTIO, in a travelling dress.
Good-morrow, gentle mistress! Where away?.

[To Vincentio.

Hor. I do assure thee, father, so it is.
Pet. Come, go along, and see the truth hereof!
For our first merriment hath made thee jealous.

[Exeunt Petruchio, Catharina, and Vincentio.
Hor. Well, Petruchio, this hath put me in heart.
Have to my widow; and if she be froward,
Then hast thou taught Hortensio to be untoward.

Tell me, sweet Kate, and tell me truly too,
Hast thou beheld a fresher gentlewoman?
Such war of white and red within her cheeks!
What stars do spangle heaven with such beauty,
As those two eyes become that heavenly face?
Fair lovely maid, once more good-day to thee!-
Sweet Kate, embrace her for her beauty's sake!
Hor. 'A will make the man mad, to make a woman
of him.

Cath. Young budding virgin, fair, and fresh, and

sweet,

Whither away; or where is thy abode?

[blocks in formation]

[Exit.

Padua. Before Lucentio's house. Enter, on one side, BIONDELLO, LUCENTIO, and BIANCA; GREMIO walking on the other side,

Bion. Softly and swiftly, sir; for the priest is ready; Luc. Ifly, Biondello: but they may chance to need thee at home, therefore leave us.

back;

Bion. Nay, faith, I'll see the church o' your and then come back to my master as soon as I can.

[Exeunt Lucentio, Bianca, and Biondello. Gre. I marvel, Cambio comes not all this while. Enter PETRUCHIO, CATHARINA, VINCENTIO, and Attendants.

Pet. Sir, here's the door, this is Lucentio's house, My father's bears more toward the market-place; Thither must I, and here I leave you, sir.

Vin. You shall not choose but drink before you go; I think, I shall command your welcome here, And, by all likelihood, some cheer is toward. [Knocks. Gre. They're busy within,you had best knock louder. Enter Pedant above, at a window. Ped. What's he, that knocks as he would beat down the gate?

Vin. Is signior Lucentio within, sir? Ped. He's within, sir, but not to be spoken withal. Vin. What if a man bring him a hundred pound or two, to make merry withal?

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]
[blocks in formation]

Ped. Lay hands on the villain! I believe, 'a means to cozen somebody in this city under my countenance. Re-enter Biondello.

Bion. I have seen them in the church together; God send 'em good shipping!-But who is here? mine old master, Vincentio? now we are undone, and brought to nothing.

Vin. Come hither, crack-hemp ! [Seeing Biondello.
Bion. I hope, I may choose, sir.

Vin. Come hither, you rogue! What, have you forgot me?

Bion. Forgot you? no, sir: I could not forget you, for I never saw you before in all my life. Vin. What, you notorious villain, didst thou never see thy master's father, Vincentio?

Bion. What, my old, worshipful old master? yes, marry, sir; see where he looks out of the window. Vin. Is't so, indeed? [Beats Biondello. Bion. Help, help, help! here's a madman will murder [Exit.

me.

Ped. Help, son! help, signior Baptista!

[Exit from the window. Pet. Pr'ythee Kate, let's stand aside, and see the end of this controversy. [They retire. Re-enter Pedant below; BAPTISTA, TRANIO, and Ser

vants.

Tra. Sir, what are you, that offer to beat my servant?
Vin. What am I, sir? nay, what are you, sir?-O
immortal gods! O fine villain! A silken doublet! a
velvet hose! a scarlet cloak! and a copatain hat!
O, I am undone! I am undone! while I play the good
husband at home, my sou and my servant spend all at
the university.

Tra. How now! what's the matter?
Bap. What, is the man lunatic?

Tra. Sir, you seem a sober ancient gentleman by your habit, but your words show you a madman. Why, sir, what concerus it you, if I wear pearl and gold? I thank my good father, I am able to maintain it.

Vin. Thy father? O, villain! he is a sail-maker in
Bergamo.

do

Bap. You mistake, sir; you mistake, sir. Pray, what you think is his name?

Vin. His name? as if I knew not his name: I have brought him up ever since he was three year: old, and his name is -Tranio.

Ped. Away, away, mad ass! his name is Lucentio; and he is mine only son, and heir to the lands of me, signior Vincentio.

Vin. Lucentio! O, he hath murdered his master!
Lay hold on him, I charge you, in the duke's name'.
O, my son, my son! - tell me, thou villain, where is
my son Lucentio?

Tra. Call forth an officer: [Enter one with an offi-
cer.] carry this mad knave to the gaol! - Father Bap-
tista, I charge you see, that he be forthcoming.
Vin. Carry me to the gaol!

Gre. Stay, officer; he shall not go to prison.

Bap. Talk not, signior Gremio; I say, he shall go to prison.

Gre. Take heed, signior Baptista, lest you be coneycatched in this business! I dare swear, this is the right Vincentio.

Ped. Swear, if thou darest.
Gre. Nay, I dare not swear it.

Tra. Then thou wert best say, that I am not Lucentio.
Gre. Yes, I know thee to be signior Lucentio.
Bap. Away with the dotard; to the gaol with him!
Vin. Thus strangers may be haled and abus'd. - O
monstrous villain!

Re-enter BIONDELLO, with LUCENTIO, and BIANCA.
Bion. O, we are spoiled, and -Yonder he is; deny
him, forswear him, or else we are all undone.
Luc. Pardon, sweet father!
Vin. Lives my sweetest son?

[Kneeling.

[Biondello, Tranio, and Pedant run out. Bian. Pardon, dear father! [Kneeling. Where is Lucentio? Bap. How hast thou offended?

Luc. Here's Lucentio,

[ocr errors]

Right son unto the right Vincentio;

That have by marriage made thy daughter mine,
While counterfeit supposes blear'd thine eyne.
Gre. Here's packing, with a witness, to deceive us all!
Vin. Where is that damned villain, Tranio,
That fac'd and brav'd me in this matter so?
Bap. Why, tell me, is not this my Cambio?
Bian. Cambio is chang'd into Lucentio.
Luc. Love wrought these miracles. Bianca's love
Made me exchange my state with Tranio,
While he did bear my countenance in the town;
And happily I have arriv'd at last
Unto the wished haven of my bliss:-
What Tranio did, myself enforc'd him to;
Then pardon him, sweet father, for my sake!
Vin. I'll slit the villain's nose, that would have sent
me to the gaol.

Bap. But do you hear, sir? [To Lucentio.] Have you
married my daughter without asking my good-will?
Vin. Fear not, Baptista; we will content you, go to:
But I will in to be revenged for this villainy. [Exit.
Bup. And I,to sound the depth of this knavery. [Exit.
Luc.Look not pale, Bianca; thy father will not frown.
[Exeunt Luc. and Bian.
Gre. My cake is dough. But I'll in among the rest;
Out of hope of all, but my share of the feast. [Exit.
PETRUCHIO and CATHARINA advance.
Cath. Husband, let's follow, to see the end of this ado.
Pet. First kiss me, Kate, and we will.
Cath. What, in the midst of the street?
Pet. What, art thou ashamed of me?
Cath. No, sir; God forbid! — but ashamed to kiss.
Pet. Why, then let's home again!— Come, sirral,
let's away!

[merged small][ocr errors]

Pet. Is not this well? Come, my sweet Kate!
Better once than never, for never too late.

SCENE II.

[Exeunt.

A Room in Lucentio's house.
Abanquet set out. Enter BAPTISTA, VINCENTIO, GRE-
MIO, the Pedant, LUCENTIO, BIANCA, PETRUCHIO, CA-
THARINA, HORTENSIO, and Widow; TRANIO, BION-
DELLO, GRUMIO, and others, attending.
Luc. At last, though long, our jarring notes agree:
And time it is, when raging war is done,
To smile at 'scapes and perils overblown.-
My fair Bianca, bid my father welcome,
While I with self-same kindness welcome thine:-
Brother Petruchio, sister Catharina,
And thou, Hortensio, with thy loving widow, -

-

Feast with the best, and welcome to my house;
My banquet is to close our stomachs up,
After our great good cheer. Pray you, sit down!
For now we sit to chat, as well as eat [They sit at table.
Pet. Nothing but sit and sit, and eat and eat!
Bap. Padua affords this kindness, son Petruchio.
Pet. Padua affords nothing but what is kind.
Hor. For both our sakes, I would that word were true.
Pet. Now, for my life, Hortensio fears his widow.
Wid. Then never trust me, if I be afeard.

Pet. You are sensible, and yet you miss my sense;
I mean, Hortensio is afeard of you.

Wid. He, that is giddy, thinks the world turns round.
Pet. Roundly replied.

Cath. Mistress, how mean you that?
Wid. Thus I conceive by him.

Pet. Conceives by me! - How likes Hortensio that?
Hor. My widow says, thus she conceives her tale.
Pet. Very well mended! Kiss him for that, good
widow!

Cath. He, that is giddy, thinks the world turns round:--

I pray you, tell me what you meant by that.

But twenty times so much upon my wife.
Luc. A hundred, then.
Hor. Content.

Pet. A match; 'tis done.
Hor. Who shall begin?
Luc. That will 1.- Go,
Biondello, bid your mistress come to me!
Bion. I go.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Pet.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

Bap. Son, I will be your half, Bianca comes.
Luc. I'll have no halves: I'll bear it all myself.
Re-enter BIONDELLO.

How now! what news?
Bion. Sir, my mistress sends you word,
That she is busy, and she cannot come.
Pet. How! she is busy, and she cannot come!
Is that an answer?

Gre. Ay, and a kind one too :

Pray God, sir, your wife send you not a worse.
Pet. Ihope, better.

Hor. Sirrah, Biondello, go, and entreat my wife
To come to me forthwith.

Pet. O, ho! entreat her!
Nay, then she must needs come.

Wid. Your husband, being troubled with a shrew, Hor. I am afraid, sir,

Measures my husband's sorrow by his woe:

And now you know my meaning.

Cath. A very mean meaning!

Wid. Right, Imean you.

Cath. And I am mean, indeed, respecting you.
Pet. To her, Kate!

Hor. To her, widow!

Pet. A hundred marks, my Kate does put her down.
Hor. That's my office.

Pet. Spoke like an officer!-Ha' to thee, lad!
[Drinks to Hortensio.
Bap. How likes Gremio these quick-witted folks?
Gre. Believe me, sir, they butt together well.
Bian. Head, and butt? an hasty-witted body
Would say, your head and butt were head and horn.
Vin. Ay, mistress bride, hath that awaken'd you?
Bian. Ay, but not frighted me; therefore I'll sleep
again.

Pet. Nay, that you shall not; since you have begun, Have at you for a bitter jest or two.

Bian. Am I your bird? I mean to shift my bush,
And then pursue me, as you draw your bow:-
You are welcome all.

[Exeunt Bianca, Catharina, and Widow. Pet. She hath prevented me. Here, signior Tranio, This bird you aim'd at, though you hit her not; Therefore, a health to all, that shot and miss'd. Tra. O, sir, Lucentio slipp'd me like his greyhound, Which runs himself, and catches for his master. Pet. A good swift simile, but something currish. Tra. 'Tis well, sir, that you hunted for yourself; 'Tis thought, your deer does hold you at a bay. Bap. Oho, Petruchio, Tranio hits you now. Luc. I thank thee for that gird, good Tranio. Hor. Confess, confess, hath he not hit you here? Pet. 'A has a little gall'd me, I confess; And as the jest did glance away from me, 'Tis ten to one, it maim'd you two outright. Bap.Now, in good sadness, son Petruchio, I think thou hast the veriest shrew of all.

And

Mad
And

[Exit Biondello.

And

Top

Do what you can, yours will not be entreated.

Re-enter Biondello.

Now, where's my wife?

Bion. She says, you have some goodly jest in hand;
She will not come; she bids you come to her.
Pet. Worse and worse; she will not come! O vile,
Sirrah, Grumio, go to your mistress;
Intolerable, not to be endur'd!
Say, I command her to come to me.
Hor. I know her answer.

Pet. Well, I say -no: and therefore, for assurance,

Let's each one send unto his wife;
And he, whose wife is most obedient

To come at first, when he doth send for her,
Shall win the wager, which we will propose.
Hor. Content! what is the wager?
Luc. Twenty crowns.

Pet. Twenty crowns!

I'll venture so much on my hawk, or hound,

Pet. What?

Hor. She will not come.

1

[Exit Grumio.

Pet. The fouler fortune mine, and there an end.
Enter CATHARINA.
Bap. Now, by my holidame, here comes Catharina!
Cath. What is your will, sir, that you send for me?
Pet. Where is your sister, and Hortensio's wife?
Cath. They sit conferring by the parlour fire.
Pet. Go, fetch them hither; if they deny to come,
Swinge me them soundly forth unto their husbands;
Away, I say, and bring them hither straight!

[Exit Catharina.
Luc. Here is a wonder, if you talk of a wonder.
Hor. And so it is; I wonder what it bodes.
Pet. Marry, peace it bodes, and love, and quiet life,
An awful rule, and right supremacy;
And, to be short, what not, that's sweet and happy.
Bap. Now fair befal thee, good Petruchio!
The wager thou hast won, and I will add
Unto their losses twenty thousand crowns --
Another dowry to another daughter;
For she is chang'd as she had never been.
Pet. Nay, i will win my wager better yet;
And show more sign of her obedience,
Her new-bailt virtue and obedience.

Re-enter CATHARINA, with BIANCA, and Widow. See, where she comes: and brings your froward wives As prisoners to her womanly persuasion. Catharine, that cap of yours becomes you not; Off with that bauble, throw it under foot.

[blocks in formation]

Fo

And

Bat

Tod

Eve

An

An

W

Au

Pet. Catharine, I charge thee, tell these headstrong | I am asham'd that women are so simple

women,

What duty they do owe their lords and husbands!
Wid. Come, come, you're mocking; we will have no
telling.

Pet. Come on, I say; and first begin with her!
Wid. She shall not.

Pet. I say, she shall; and first begin with her!
Calh. Fye, fye! unknit that threat'ning unkind brow;
And dart not scornful glances from those eyes,
To wound thy lord, thy king, thy governor!
It blots thy beauty, as frosts bite the meads,
Confounds thy fame, as whirlwinds shake fair buds,
And in no sense is meet, or amiable.

A woman mov'd, is like a fountain troubled,
Muddy, ill-seeming, thick, bereft of beauty;
And, while it is so, none so dry or thirsty
Will deign to sip, or touch one drop of it.
Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper,
Thy head, thy sovereign; one that cares for thee
And for thy maintenance: commits his body
To painful labour, both by sea and land,
To watch the night in storms, the day in cold,
While thou liest warm at home, secure and safe;
And craves no other tribute at thy hands,
But love, fair looks, and true obedience-
Too little payment for so great a debt!
Such duty as the subject owes the prince,
Even such, a woman oweth to her husband:

And, when she's froward, peevish, sullen, sour,
And not obedient to his honest will,
What is she, but a foul contending rebel,
And graceless traitor to her loving lord?-

To offer war, where they should kneel for peace;
Or seek for rule, supremacy, and sway,
Where they are bound to serve, love and obey.
Why are our bodies soft, and weak, and smooth,
Unapt to toil and trouble in the world;
But that our soft conditions, and our hearts,
Should well agree with our external parts?
Come, come, you froward and unable worms!
My mind hath been as big, as one of yours,
My heart as great; my reason, haply, more,
To bandy word for word, and frown for frown.
But now, I see, our lances are but straws;
Our strength as weak, our weakness past compare, —
That seeming to be most, which we least are.
Then vail your stomachs, for it is no boot,
And place your hands below your husband's foot:
In token of which duty, if he please,

My hand is ready, may it do him ease!

[ocr errors]

Pet. Why, there's a wench! Come on, and kiss

me,

Kate!

Luc. Well, go thy ways, old lad; for thou shalt ha't.
Vin. 'Tis a good hearing, when children are toward.
Luc. But a harsh hearing, when women are froward.
Pet. Come, Kate, we'll to bed!

We three are married, but you two are sped.
'Twas I won the wager, though you hit the white!

[ocr errors]

[To Lucentio. And, being a winner, God give you good night! [Exeunt Petruchio and Cath. Hor. Now go thy ways, thou hast tam'd a curs't shrew. Luc. 'Tis a wonder, by your leave, she will be tam'd [Exeunt.

so.

[blocks in formation]

Enter CAMILLO and ARCHIDAMUS. Arch. If you shall chance, Camillo, to visit Bohemia on the like occasion, wherein my services are now on foot, you shall see, as I have said, great difference betwixt our Bohemia, and your Sicilia.

Cam. I think, this coming summer, the king of Sicilia means to pay Bohemia the visitation, which he justly owes him.

Arch. Wherein our entertainment shall shame us, we will be justified in our loves: for, indeed, Cam. 'Beseech you, Arch. Verily, I speak it in the freedom of my knowledge: we cannot with such magnificence-in so rare -I know not what to say.-We will give you sleepy

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

drinks; that your senses, unintelligent of our insuffi- Charge him too coldly. Tell him, you are sure,
cience, may, though they cannot praise us, as little All in Bohemia's well: this satisfaction
The by-gone day proclaim'd; say this to him,
He's beat from his best ward.

accuse us.

Cam. You say a great deal too dear for what's given freely.

Leon. Well said, Hermione!

venture

Arch. Believe me, I speak as my understanding in- Her. To tell, he longs to see his son, were strong:
structs me, and as mine honesty puts it to utterance. But let him say so then, and let him go;
Cam. Sicilia cannot show himself overkind to Bohe-But let him swear so, and he shall not stay,
mia. They were trained together in their childhoods; We'll thwack him hence with distaffs.-
and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection, Yet of your royal presence [ To Polixenes.] I'll ad-
which cannot choose but branch now.Since their more
mature dignities, and royal necessities, made separa-
tion of their society, their encounters, though not
personal, have been royally attornied, with inter-
change of gifts, letters, loving embassies; that they
have seemed to be together, though absent, shook
hands, as over a vast, and embraced, as it were, from
the ends of opposed winds. The heavens continue
their loves!

The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia
You take my lord, I'll give him my commission,
To let him there a month, behind the gest
Prefix'd for's parting: yet, good deed, Leontes,
I love thee not a jar o'the clock behind
What lady she her lord.-You'll stay?
Pol. No, madam.
Her. Nay, but
you will?
Pol. I may not, verily.
Her. Verily!

Arch. I think, there is not in the world either malice,
or matter, to alter it. You have an unspeakable com-
fort of your young prince Mamillius; it is a gentleman
of the greatest promise, that ever came into my note.
Cam. Ivery well agree with you in the hopes of him:
it is a gallant child; one that, indeed, physics the sub- Should yet say, Sir, no going. Verily,
ject, makes old hearts fresh: they,that went on crutch-You shall not go; a lady's verily is
es ere he was born, desire yet their life, to see him

You put me off with limber vows but I,
Though you would seek to unsphere the stars with
oaths,

[blocks in formation]

Arch. If the king had no son, they would desire to
live on crutches, till he had one.
[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-The same. A room of state in the palace.
Enter LEONTES, POLIXENES, HERMIONE, MAMILLIUS,
CAMILLO, and Attendants.

Pol. Nine changes of the wat'ry star have been
The shepherd's note, since we have left our throne
Without a burden: time as long again

Would be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks;
And yet we should, for perpetuity,

Go hence in debt. And therefore, like a cipher,
Yet standing in rich place, I multiply,

With one we thank you, many thousands more,
That
go before it.

Leon, Stay your thanks awhile
And pay them, when you part!
Pol. Sir, that's to-morrow.

I am question'd by my fears, of what may chance,
Or breed upon our absence: that may blow
No sneaping winds at home, to make us say,
This is put forth too truly! Besides, I have stay'd
To tire your royalty,

Leon. We are tougher, brother,

[blocks in formation]

Pol. Very sooth, to-morrow.

As potent, as a lord's. Will you go yet?
Force me to keep you as a prisoner,

Not like a guest; so you shall pay your fees,
When you depart, and save your thanks. How say you?
My prisoner? or my guest? by your dread verily,
One of them you shall be.

Pol. Your guest then, madam:
To be your prisoner, should import offending;
Which is for me less easy to commit,
Than you to punish.

Her. Not your gaoler then,

But your kind hostess. Come, I'll question you
Of my lord's tricks, and yours, when you were boys;
You were pretty lordlings then.

Pol. We were, fair queen,

Two lads, that thought, there was no more behind,
But such a day to-morrow as to-day,
And to be boy eternal.

Her. Was not my lord the verier wag o'the two?
Pol. We were as twinn'd lambs, that did frisk i'the sun,
And bleat the one at the other: what we chang'd,
Was innocence for innocence; we knew not
The doctrine of ill-doing, no, nor dream'd
That any did. Had we pursued that life,
And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'd
With stronger blood, we should have answer'd heaven
Boldly, Not guilty; the imposition clear'd,
Hereditary ours.

Her. By this we gather,
You have tripp'd since.

Pol. O my most sacred lady,

Temptations have since then been born to us; for
In those unfledg'd days was my wife a girl;

Leon. We'll part the time between's then: and in that Your precious self had not then cross'd the eyes

I'll no gain-saying.

Pol. Press me not, 'beseech you, so!

There is no tongue, that moves,uone, none i'the world,
So soon as yours, could win me: so it should now,
Were there necessity in your request, although
"Twere needful, I denied it. My affairs
Do even drag me homeward: which to hinder
Were, in your love, a whip to me; my stay
To you a charge and trouble: to save both,
Farewell, our brother!

Leon. Tongue-tied, our queen? speak you.
Her. I had thought, sir, to have held my peace until
You had drawn oaths from him, not so stay. You, sir,

[blocks in formation]

Car

« AnteriorContinuar »