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Part 22

The Taming of the Shrew · William Shakespeare — chapter 22 of 30 · ~546 words · public domain

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Tail. Why heere is the note of the fashion to testify

Pet. Reade it

Gru. The note lies in's throate if he say I said so

Tail. Inprimis, a loose bodied gowne

Gru. Master, if euer I said loose-bodied gowne, sow me in the skirts of it, and beate me to death with a bottome of browne thred: I said a gowne

Pet. Proceede

Tai. With a small compast cape

Gru. I confesse the cape

Tai. With a trunke sleeue

Gru. I confesse two sleeues

Tai. The sleeues curiously cut

Pet. I there's the villanie

Gru. Error i'th bill sir, error i'th bill? I commanded the sleeues should be cut out, and sow'd vp againe, and that Ile proue vpon thee, though thy little finger be armed in a thimble

Tail. This is true that I say, and I had thee in place where thou shouldst know it

Gru. I am for thee straight: take thou the bill, giue me thy meat-yard, and spare not me

Hor. God-a-mercie Grumio, then hee shall haue no oddes

Pet. Well sir in breefe the gowne is not for me

Gru. You are i'th right sir, 'tis for my mistris

Pet. Go take it vp vnto thy masters vse

Gru. Villaine, not for thy life: Take vp my Mistresse gowne for thy masters vse

Pet. Why sir, what's your conceit in that? Gru. Oh sir, the conceit is deeper then you think for: Take vp my Mistris gowne to his masters vse. Oh fie, fie, fie

Pet. Hortensio, say thou wilt see the Tailor paide: Go take it hence, be gone, and say no more

Hor. Tailor, Ile pay thee for thy gowne to morrow, Take no vnkindnesse of his hastie words: Away I say, commend me to thy master.

Exit Tail.

Pet. Well, come my Kate, we will vnto your fathers, Euen in these honest meane habiliments: Our purses shall be proud, our garments poore: For 'tis the minde that makes the bodie rich. And as the Sunne breakes through the darkest clouds, So honor peereth in the meanest habit. What is the Iay more precious then the Larke? Because his feathers are more beautifull. Or is the Adder better then the Eele, Because his painted skin contents the eye. Oh no good Kate: neither art thou the worse For this poore furniture, and meane array. If thou accountedst it shame, lay it on me, And therefore frolicke, we will hence forthwith, To feast and sport vs at thy fathers house, Go call my men, and let vs straight to him, And bring our horses vnto Long-lane end, There wil we mount, and thither walke on foote, Let's see, I thinke 'tis now some seuen a clocke, And well we may come there by dinner time

Kate. I dare assure you sir, 'tis almost two, And 'twill be supper time ere you come there

Pet. It shall be seuen ere I go to horse: Looke what I speake, or do, or thinke to doe, You are still crossing it, sirs let't alone, I will not goe to day, and ere I doe, It shall be what a clock I say it is

Hor. Why so this gallant will command the sunne. Enter Tranio, and the Pedant drest like Vincentio.

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