Pet. Such wind as fcatters young men through the world, To feek their fortunes farther than at home, 'Where small experience grows. But, in a few, And I have thrust myfelf into this maze, Hor. Petruchio, fhall I then come roundly to thee, Pet. Signior Hortenfio, 'twixt fuch friends as us As Socrates' Xantippe, or a worse, She moves me not; or not removes, at least, 5 Where Small experience grows but in a FEW.] This nonfenfe fhould be read thus: Where Small experience grows but in a MEW, i. e. a confinement at home. And the meaning is that no improvement is to be expected of those who never look out of doors. WARLURTON. Why this should feem nonfeafe, I cannot perceive. In a few means the fame as in fhort, in few words. The burthen of a dance is an As expreffion which I have never heard ; the burthen of his wooing fing had been more proper. 7 Be fhe as foul as was Floren tius' le.] This I fuppofe relates to a circumflance in fome Italian novel, an fhould be read, Flrentio's. WARBURTON. 8 Affection's EDGE in ME.] This man is a strange talker. He tells you he wants money only. And, as to affection, he thinks fo little of the matter, that give him but a rich mistress, and he will take her though incruited all As are the fwelling Adriatick Seas, Gru. Nay, look you, Sir, he tells you flatly what his mind is why, give him gold enough, and marry him to a puppet, or an aglet-baby, or an old Trot with ne'er a tooth in her head, tho' he have as many diseases as two and fifty horfes; why, nothing comes amifs, fo money comes withal. Hor. Petruchio, fince we are ftept thus far in, I will continue That I broach'd in jeft. I can, Petruchio, help thee to a wife With wealth enough, and young and beauteous; And fhrewd, and froward, fo beyond all measure, I would not wed her for a Mine of gold. Pet. Hortenfio, peace; thou know'ft not gold's effect; Tell me her Father's name, and 'tis enough: over with the worst bad qualities of age, uglinefs and ill-manners. Yet, after this, he talks of Affection's edge being fo strong. in him that nothing can abate it. Some of the old copies indeed, inftead of me read time: this will direct us to the true reading, which I am perfuaded is this, Affection SEIG'D IN COIN, i. e. placed, feated, fixed. This makes him fpeak to the purpose, that his affection is all love of money. The expreffion too is Pet. Such wind as fcatters young men through the world, To feek their fortunes farther than at home, s Where small experience grows. But, in a few, And I have thruft myself into this maze, Hor. Petruchio, fhall I then come roundly to thee, Pet. Signior Hortenfio, 'twixt fuch friends as us 5 Where Small experience grows but in a FEW.] This nonfenfe fhould be read thus ; Where Small experience grows but in a MEW, i. e. a confinement at home. And the meaning is that no improvement is to be expected of those who never look out of doors. WARBURTON. Why this fhould seem nonfenfe, I cannot perceive. In a few means the fame as in fort, in few words. 6 The burthen of a dance is an VOL. III. As expreffion which I have never heard; the burthen of his wooing fang had been more proper. 7 Be fhe as foul as was Florentius' love.] This I fuppofe relates to a circumftance in fome Italian novel, and fhould be read, Florentio's. WARBURTON. 8 Affection's EDGE in ME.] This man is a ftrange talker. He tells you he wants money only. And, as to affection, he thinks fo little of the matter, that give him but a rich miftrefs, and he will take her though incrusted all C 5 over As are the fwelling Adriatick Seas, 9 Gru. Nay, look you, Sir, he tells you flatly what his mind is why, give him gold enough, and marry him to a puppet, or an aglet-baby, or an old Trot with ne'er a tooth in her head, tho' fhe have as many difeafes as two and fifty horfes; why, nothing comes amifs, fo money comes withal. Hor. Petruchio, fince we have ftept thus far in, I will continue That I broach'd in jeft. I can, Petruchio, help thee to a wife With wealth enough, and young and beauteous; Is, that he is intolerably curft: And fhrewd, and froward, fo beyond all measure, I would not wed her for a Mine of gold. Pet. Hortenfio, peace; thou know'it not gold's Tell me her father's name, and 'tis enough: over with the worst bad qualities of age, uglinefs and ill-manners. Yet, after this, he talks of Affe lion's edge being fo ftrong in him that nothing can abate it. Some of the old copies indeed, inhead of me read time: this will direct us to the true reading, which I am perfuaded is this, Afection SIEG'D IN COIN, i. e. placed, feated, fixed. This makes him fpeak to the purpose, that his affection is all love of money. The expreffion too is Her name is Catharina Minola, Renown'd in Padua for her fcolding tongue. Pet.. I know her Father, tho' I know not her; I will not fleep, Hortenfio, 'till I fee her, I Gru. I pray you, Sir, let him go while the humour lafts. O'my word, an' fhe knew him as well as I do, she would think fcolding would do little good upon him. She may, perhaps, call him half a fcore knaves, or fo: why, that's nothing; an' he begin once, he'll rail-In his rope-tricks (I'll tell you what, Sir) an' she stand him but a little, he will throw a figure in her face, and fo disfigure her with it, that the fhall have no more eyes to fee withal than a cat. You know him not, Sir. Hor. Tarry, Petruchio, I must go with thee, For in Baptifta's house my Treasure is: He hath the jewel of my life in hold, His youngest Daughter, beautiful Bianca ; • And her with-holds he from me, and others more. For thofe defects I have before rehears'd, An he begin once, he'll rail in his rope-tricks.] This is obfcure. Sir Thomas Hanmer reads, he'll rail in his rhetorick; I'll tell you, &c. Rhetorick agrees very well with figure in the fucceeding part of the fpeech, yet I am inclined to believe that Rope-tricks is the true word. 2 It flood thus: And her withholds he from me. Other more Suitors to her, and Rivals in my Love: &c] The Regulation, which I have given to the Text, was dictated to me by the ingenious Dr. Thirlby, THEOBALD. Gru. |