Virtue, and that part of philosophy have, Glad that you thus continue your resolve, If, Biondello, thou wert come ashore, Bap. Gentlemen, impórtune me no further, me: There, there Hortensio, will you any wife? Kath. I'faith, sir, you shall never need to fear; I wis, it is not half way to her heart: But, if it were, doubt not her care should be Gre. And me too, good Lord! Tra. Hush, master! here is some good pastime toward; That wench is stark mad, or wonderful froward. Tra.Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill. Bap. Gentlemen, that I may soon make good What I have said,-Bianca, get you in: And let it not displease thee, good Bianca; For I will love thee ne'er the less, my girl. Kath. A pretty peat! 'tis best Put finger in the eye,-an she knew why. Bian. Sister, content you in my discontent.Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe: My books, and instruments, shall be my company; On them to look, and practise by myself. Luc. Hark, Tranio! thou may'st hear Minerva speak. [Aside. Hor. Signior Baptista, will you be so strange? Sorry am I, that our good will effects Bianca's grief. Gre. Why, will you mew her up, Signior Baptista, for this fiend of hell, And make her bear the penance of her tongue? Bap. Gentlemen, content ye; I am resolv'd:Go in, Bianca. [Exit Bianca. And for I know, she taketh most delight In musick, instruments, and poetry, Schoolmasters will I keep within my house, Fit to instruct her youth. If you, Hortensio, Or signior Gremio, you,-know any such, Prefer them hither; for to cunning men I will be very kind, and liberal To mine own children in good bringing-up; And so farewell. Katharina you may stay; For I have more to commune with Bianca. [Exit. Kath. Why, and I trust, I may go too; may I not? What,shall Ibe appointed hours; as though,belike, I knew not what to take, and what to leave? Ha! [Exit. Gre. You may go to the devil's dam; your gifts are so good, here is none will hold you. Their love is not so great, Hortensio, but we may blow our nails together, and fast it fairly out; our cake's dough on both sides. Farewell: Yet, for the love I bear my sweet Bianca, if I can by any means light on a fit man, to teach her that, wherein she delights, I will wish him to her father. Hor. So will I, signior Gremio: But a word, I pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brook'd parle, know now, upon advice, it toucheth us both,-that we may yet again have access to our fair mistress, and be happy rivals in Bianca's love, to labour and effect one thing 'specially. Gre. What's that, I pray? Hor. Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister. Gre. A husband! a devil. Hor. I say, a husband. Gre. I say, a devil: Think'st thou, Hortensio, though her father be very rich, any man is so very a fool to be married to hell? Hor. Tush, Gremio, though it pass your patience, and mine, to endure her loud alarums, why, man, there be good fellows in the world, an a man could light on them, would take her with all faults, and money enough. Gre. I cannot tell; but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition, to be whipped at the high-cross every morning. Hor. 'Faith, as you say, there's small choice in rotten apples. But, come; since this bar in law makes us friends, it shall be so far forth friendly maintained,-till by helping Baptista's eldest daughter to a husband, we set his youngest free for a husband, and then have to't afresh. -Sweet Bianca!-Happy man be his dole! He that runs fastest, gets the ring. How say you, signior Gremio ? Gre. I am agreed: and 'would I had given him the best horse in Padua to begin his wooing, that would thoroughly woo her, wed her, and bed her, and rid the house of her. Come on. [Exeunt Gremio and Hortensio. Tra. [Advancing.] I pray, sir, tell me,-Is it possible That love should of a sudden take such hold? Luc. Gramercies, lad; go forward: this contents; The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound. Tru. Master, you look'd so longly on the maid, Perhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all. Luc. O yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face, Such as the daughter of Agenor had, That made grent Jove to humble him to her hand, When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan strand. Tra. Saw you no more? mark'd you not, how her sister pray, awake, sir; If you love the maid, | But art thou not advis'd, he took some care To get her cunning schoolmasters to instruct her? Tra. Ay, marry, am I, sir; and now 'tis plotted. Luc. I have it, Tranio. Tra. Master, for my hand, Both our inventions meet and jump in one. Luc. Tell me thine first. You will be schoolmaster, And undertake the teaching of the maid: That's your device. Luc. Tra. It is: May it be done? Visit his countrymen, and banquet them? Tra. So had you need. [They exchange habits. (For so your father charg'd me at our parting; Luc. Tranio, be so, because Lucentio loves: And let me be a slave, to achieve that maid, Whose sudden sight hath thrall'dmy wounded eye. Bion. Where have I been? Nay, how now, where are you? Master, has my fellow Tranio stol'n your clothes? Or you stol'n his? or both? pray, what's the news? Luc. Sirrah, come hither; 'tis no time to jest, And therefore frame your manners to the time. Your fellow Tranio here, to save my life, Puts my apparel and my countenance on, And I for my escape have put on his; For in a quarrel, since I came ashore, I kill'd a man, and fear I was descried: Wait you on him, I charge you, as becomes, Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it While I make way from hence to save my life: stands:- Her eldest sister is so curst and shrewd, Luc. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he! You understand me? Bion. The better for him; 'Would I were so too! Tra. So would I, 'faith, boy, to have the next wish after, That Lucentio indeed had Baptista's youngest daughter. But, sirrah,-not for my sake, but your master's,-I advise You use your manners discreetly in all kind of companies: When I am alone, why, then I am Tranio; One thing more rests, that thyself execute;To make one among these wooers: If thou ask me why, Sufficeth, my reasons are both good and weighty. [Exeunt. 1 Serv. My lord, you nod; you do not mind the play. Sly. Yes, by saint Anne, do I. A good matter, surely; Comes there any more of it? Page. My lord, 'tis but begun. Sly. 'Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam lady; 'Would't were done! SCENE II. The same. Before Hortensio's house. Enter PETRUCHIO and GRUMIO. Pet. Verona, for a while I take my leave, To see my friends in Padua; but, of all, My best beloved and approved friend, Hortensio; and, I trow, this is his house:Here, sirrah Grumio; knock, I say. Gru. Knock, sir! whom should I knock? is there any man has rebused your worship? Pet. Villain, I say, knock me here soundly. Gru. Knock you here, sir? why, sir, what am I, sir, that I should knock you here, sir? Pet. Villain, I say, knock me at this gate, And rap me well, or I'll knock your knave's pate. Gru. My master is grown quarrelsome: I should knock you first, And then I know after who comes by the worst. Pet. Will it not be? 'Faith, sirrah, an you'll not knock, I'll wring it; I'll try how you can sol, fa, and sing it. [He wrings Grumio by the ears. Gru. Help, masters, help! my master is mad. Pet. Now, knock when I bid you: sirrah! villain! to leave his service,-Look you, sir,--he bid me knock him, and rap him soundly, sir: Well, was it fit for a servant to use his master so; being, perhaps, (for aught I see,) two and thirty,a pip out? Whom, 'would to God, I had well knock'd at first, Then had not Grumio come by the worst. Pet. A senseless villain!-Good Hortensio, I bade, the rascal knock upon your gate, And could not get him for ny heart to do it. Gru. Knock at the gate?-O heavens! Spake you not these words plain, — Sirrah, knock me here, Rap me here, knock me well, and knock me soundly? And come you now with-knocking at the gate? Pet. Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you. Hor. Petruchio, patience; I am Grumio's pledge: Why, this a heavy chance 'twixt him and you; Your ancient, trusty, pleasant servant Grumio. And tell me now, sweet friend,-what happy gale Blows you to Padua here, from old Verona ? Pet. Such wind as scatters young men through the world, To seek their fortunes further than at home, And I have thrust myself into this maze, Hor. Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee, And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favour'd wife? Pet. Signior Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as we, Few words suffice: and, therefore, if thou know 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, though she have as many discases as two aud fifty horses: why, nothing comes amiss, so money comes withal. Hor. Petruchio, since we have stepp'd thus far in, I will continue that, I broach'd in jest. And shrewd, and froward; so beyond all mea sure, That, were my state far worser than it is, Tell me her father's name, and 'tis enough; And he knew my deceased father well:- Gru. I pray you, sir, let him go while the humour lasts. O' my word, an she knew him as well as I do, she would think scolding would do little good upon him: She may, perhaps, call him half a score knaves, or so: why, that's nothing; an he begin once, he'll rail in his ropetricks. I'll tell you what, sir,-an she stand him but a little, he will throw, a figure in her face, and so disfigure her with it, that she shall have no more eyes to see withal than a cat: You know him not, sir. Hor. Tarry, Petruchio, I must go with thee; A title for a maid, of all titles the worst. heads together! Master, master, look about you: Who goes there? ha! Hor. Peace, Grumio; 'tis the rival of my love: Petruchio, stand by a while. Gru, A proper stripling, and an amorous! And let me have them very well perfum❜d; Gre. O this learning! what a thing it is! Hor. Grumio, mum !-God save you, signior Gre. And you're well met, signior Hortensio. Whither I am going?-To Baptista Minola. Hor. 'Tis well and I have met a gentleman, Gre. Belov'd of inc,-and that my deeds Gru. And that his bags shall prove. [Aside. Hor. Now shall my friend Petruchio do me Yea, and to marry her, if her dowry please. Gre, So said, so done, is well :- Pet. Born in Verona, old Antonio's son: Gru. Here's no knavery! See; to beguile the old folks, how the young folks lay their But, if you have a stomach, to't o'God's name; You shall have me assisting you in all. Will I live? [Aside. And do you tell me of a woman's tongue; For he fears none. [Aside. Gre. Hortensio, hark! This gentleman is happily arriv'd, My mind presumes, for his own good, and yours. Hor. I promis'd, we would be contributors, And bear his charge of wooing, whatsoe'er. Gre. And so we will; provided, that he win her. Gru. I would, I were as sure of a good dinner. [Aside. Enter TRANIO, bravely apparell'd; and BION DELLO. Tra. Gentlemen, God save you! If I may be bold, way Tell me, I beseech you, which is the readiest Tra. Even he. Biondello! Gre. Hark you, sir; You mean not her toTra. Perhaps, him and her, sir; What have you to do? Pet. Not her that chides, sir, at any hand, I pray. Tra. I love no chiders, sir :-Biondello, let's Gre. For this reason, if you'll know,That she's the choice love of signior Gremio. Hor. That she's the chosen of signior Hor tensio. Tra. Softly, my masters! if you be gentlemen, Do me this right,-hear me with patience. Baptista is a noble gentleman, To whom my father is not all unknown; Luc. Sir, give him head; I know, he'll prove a Pet. Hortensio, to what end are all these words? Hor. Sir, let me bo so bold as to ask you, Did you yet ever see Baptista's daughter? Tra. No, sir; but hear I do, that he hath two; The one as famous for a scolding tongue, As is the other for beauteous modesty. Pet. Sir, sir, the first's for me; let her go by. Gre. Yea, leave that labour to great Hercules; And let it be more than Alcides' twelve. Pet. Sir, understand you this of me, insooth ;The youngest daughter, whom you hearken for, Her father keeps from all access of suitors; And will not promise her to any man, Until the elder sister first be wed: The younger then is free, and not before. Tra. If it be so, sir, that you are the man Must stead us all, and me among the rest; An if you break the ice, and do this feat,Achieve the elder, set the younger free For our access, whose hap shall be to have her, Will not so graceless be, to be ingrate. Hor. Sir, you say well, and well you do con- And since you do profess to be a suitor, Tra. Sir, I shall not be slack: in sign whereof, Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends. Gru. Bion. O excellent motion! Fellows, let's begone. Hor. The motion's good indeed, and be it |