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The Woman's Prize, or the Tamer Tamed

Act 1, Scene 1; TLN number 1-83

 
97
 

THE
WOMANS PRIZE:
O   R,
T he Tamer Tamed.

Actus Primus----------------------Scæna Prima.

       Enter Moroso, Sophocles, and Tranio, with Rosemary,
                               as from a wedding.

                Moroso.
G Od give 'em joy.
     Tra. Amen.
     Soph. Amen, say I to:            (wench,
The Puddings now i'th proof; alas poor
Through what a mine of patience must
        thou worke,
Ere thou know'st good houre more?              [10]
     Tra. Tis too true :   Certaine,
Me thinks her father has dealt harshly with her,
Exceeding harshly, and not like a Father,
To match her to this Dragon; I protest
I pity the poore Gentlewoman.
     Mor. Me thinks now,
He's not so terrible as people think him.
     Soph. This old thiefe flatters, out of meere devotion,
To please the father for his second daughter.
     Tra. But shall he have her?               [20]
     Soph. Yes, when I have Rome.
And yet the father's for him.
     Mor. Ile assure ye,
I hold him a good man.
     Soph. Yes sure a wealthy,
But whether a good womans man, is doubtfull.
     Tra. Would 'twere no worse.
     Mor. What though his other wife,
Out of her most abundant sobernesse,
Out of her daily huy and cries upon him,        [30]
(For sure she was a Rebell ) turn'd his temper,
And forc'd him blow as high as she? do'st follow
He must retain that long since buried Tempest,
To this soft maid?
     Soph. I feare it.
     Tra. So do I too :
And so far, that if God had made me woman,
And his wife that must be _____
     Mor. What would you doe sir?
     Tra. I would learn to eate Coales with an angry Cat,        [40]
And spit fire at him:   I would ( to prevent him )

Do all the ramping, roaring tricks, a whore
Being drunke, and tumbling ripe, would tremble at :
There is no safety else, nor morall wisdome,
To be a wife, and his.
     Soph. So I should think too.
     Tra. For yet the bare remembrance of his first wife
( I tell ye on my knowledge, and a truth too )
Will make him start in's sleep, and very often
Cry out for Cudgels, Colstaves, any thing;        [50]
Hiding his Breeches, out of feare her Ghost
Should walk, and weare 'em yet. Since his first marriage,
He is no more the still Petruchio,
Then I am Babylon.
     Soph. He's a good fellow,
And on my word I love him: but to think
A fit match for this tender soule _____
     Tra. His very frowne, if she but say her prayers
Louder then men talk treason, makes him tindar;
The motion of a Diall, when he's testy,        [60]
Is the same trouble to him as a water-worke;
She must do nothing of her selfe; not eate,
Drink, say sir how do ye, make her ready, unready,
Unlesse he bid her.
     Soph. He will bury her
Ten ponnd to twenty shillings, within these three
     Tra: Ile be your halfe.                              (weeks.
             Enter Jaques with a pot of Wine.
     Mor. He loves her most extreamly,
And so long 'twil be honey-moon. Now Jaques        [70]
You are a busie man I am sure.
     Jaq. Yes certaine,
This old sport must have egges,
     Soph. Not yet this ten daies.
     Jaq. Sweet Gentlemen with Muskadell.
     Tra. That's right sir.
     Mor. This fellow broods his Master: speed ye Jaques.
     Soph. We shall be for you presently.
     Jaq. Your worships
Shal have it rich and neat: and o' my conscience        [80]
As welcom as our Lady day: O my old sir,
When shall we see your worship run at Ring?
That houre a standing were worth money.

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© Twilight Pictures, September 2000. This text is freely available for educational, non-profit uses only. Please report any errors or suggestions to Drew Whitehead.