neck.

Liv.   Because I have known you, I'll be thus kind to you;
Farewel, and be a man, and I'll provide you,
Because I see y'are desperate, some staid Chamber-maid
That may relieve your youth with wholsome doctrine.

Mor.   She's mine from all the world: ha wench?

Liv.   Ha Chicken?— [gives him a box o' th' ear, and Ex.

Mor.   How's this? I do not love these favors: save you.

Row.   The devil take thee— [wrings him by th' nose.

Mor.   Oh!

Row.   There's a Love-token for you: thank me now.

Mor.   I'll think on some of ye, and if I live,
My nose alone shall not be plaid withal. [Exit.

Actus Secundus. Scæna Prima.

Enter Petronius, and Moroso.

Petro.   A Box o'th' ear do you say?

Mor.   Yes sure, a sound one,
Beside my nose blown to my hand; if Cupid
Shoot Arrows of that weight, I'll swear devoutly,
H'as sued his Livery, and is no more a boy.

Petro.   You gave her some ill language?

Mor.   Not a word.

Petro.   Or might be you were fumbling?

Mor.   Would I had Sir.
I had been a forehand then; but to be baffl'd,
And have no feeling of the cause—

Petro.   Be patient,
I have a medicine clapt to her back will cure her.

Mor.   No sure it must be afore, Sir.

Petro.   O' my conscience,
When I got these two wenches (who till now
Ne'r shew'd their riding) I was drunk with Bastard,
Whose nature is to form things like it self
Heady, and monstrous: did she slight him too?

Mor.   That's all my comfort: a meer Hobby-horse
She made child Rowland: s'foot she would not know him,
Not give him a free look, not reckon him
Among her thoughts, which I held more than wonder,
I having seen her within's three days kiss him
With such an appetite as though she would eat him.

Petro.   There is some trick in this: how did he take it?

Mor.   Ready to cry; he ran away.

Petro.   I fear her.
And yet I tell you, ever to my anger,
She is as tame as innocency; it may be
This blow was but a favour.

Mor.   I'll be sworn 'twas well tied on then.

Petro.   Goe too, pray forget it,
I have bespoke a Priest: and within's two hours
I'll have ye married; will that please you?

Mor.   Yes.

Petro.   I'll see it done my self, and give the Lady
Such a sound exhortation for this knavery
I'll warrant you, shall make her smell this month on't.

Mor.   Nay good Sir be not violent.

Petro.   Neither—

Mor.   It may be
Out of her earnest love there grew a longing
(As you know women have such toys) in kindness,
To give me a box o'th' ear, or so.

Petro.   It may be.

Mor.   I reckon for the best still: this night then
I shall enjoy her.

Petro.   You shall handsel her.

Mor.   Old as I am, I'll give her one blow for't
Shall make her groan this twelve-month.

Petro.   Where's your Joynture?

Mor.   I have a Joynture for her.

Petro.   Have your Council perus'd it yet?

Mor.   No Council but the night, and your sweet daughter,
Shall e'r peruse that joynture.

Petro.   Very well, Sir.

Moro.   I'll no demurrers on't, nor no rejoynders.
The other's ready seal'd.

Petro.   Come then let's comfort
My Son Petruchio, he's like little Children
That loose their baubles, crying ripe.

Mor.   Pray tell me,
Is this stern woman still upon the flaunt
Of bold defiance?

Petro.   Still, and still she shall be,
Till she be starv'd out, you shall see such justice,
That women shall be glad after this tempest,
To tie their husbands shooes, and walk their horses.

Mor.   That were a merry world: do you hear the rumor?
They say the women are in insurrection,
And mean to make a—

Petro.   They'll sooner
Draw upon walls as we do: Let 'em, let 'em,
We'll ship 'em out in Cuck-stools, there they'll sail
As brave Columbus did, till they discover
The happy Islands of obedience.
We stay too long, Come.

Mor.   Now St. George be with us. [Exeunt.

Scæna Secunda.

Enter Livia alone.

Liv.   Now if I can but get in handsomely,
Father I shall deceive you; and this night
For all your private plotting, I'll no wedlock;
I have shifted sail, and find my Sisters safety
A sure retirement; pray to heaven that Rowland
Do not believe too far, what I said to him,
For yon old Foxcase forc'd me, that's my fear.
Stay, let me see, this quarter fierce Petruchio
Keeps with his Myrmidons, I must be suddain,
If he seize on me, I can look for nothing
But Marshal-Law; to this place have I scap'd him;
Above there.

Enter Maria and Byancha above.

Mar.   Cheval' a.

Liv.   A friend.

By.   Who are you?

Liv.   Look out and know.

Mar.   Alas poor wench, who sent thee?
What weak fool made thy tongue his Orator?
I know you come to parly.

Liv.   Y'are deceiv'd,
Urg'd by the goodness of your cause, I come
To do as you do.

Mar.   Y'are too weak, too foolish,
To cheat us with your smoothness: do not we know
Thou hast been kept up tame?

Liv.   Believe me.

Mar.   No, prethee good Livia
Utter thy Eloquence somewhere else.

By.   Good Cosin
Put up your Pipes; we are not for your palate
Alas we know who sent you.

Liv.   O' my word—

By.   Stay there; you must not think your word,
Or by your Maidenhead, or such Sunday oaths,
Sworn after Even-Song, can inveigle us
To lose our hand-fast: did their wisdoms think
That sent you hither, we would be so foolish,
To entertain our gentle Sister Sinon,
And give her credit, while the wooden Jade
Petruchio   stole upon us: no good Sister,
Go home, and tell the merry Greeks that sent you,
Ilium   shall burn, and I, as did Æneas,
Will on my back, spite of the Myrmidons,
Carry this warlike Lady, and through Seas
Unknown, and unbeliev'd, seek out a Land,
Where like a race of noble Amazons
We'll root our se[l]ves, and to our endless glory
Live, and despise base men.

Liv.   I'll second ye.

By.   How long have you been thus?

Liv.   That's all one, Cosin,
I stand for freedom now.

By.   Take heed of lying;
For by this light, if we do credit you,
And find you tripping, his