A title for a maid, of all titles the worst. Hor. Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace; Well seen in musick,3 to instruct Bianca: Enter GREMIO; with him LUCENTIO disguised, with books under his arm. Gru. Here's no knavery! See; to beguile the old folks, how the young folks lay their 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! [They retire. Gre. O, very well; I have perus'd the note. Hark you, sir,; I'll have them very fairly bound: All books of love, see that at any hand;* And see you read no other lectures to her: You understand me:-Over and beside Signior Baptista's liberality, I'll mend it with a largess:-Take your papers too, And let me have them very well perfum'd; For she is sweeter than perfume itself, To whom they go. What will you read to her? Yea, and (perhaps) with more successful words 4 Well seen in musick,] Seen is versed, practised. 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. About a schoolmaster for fair Bianca: And, by good fortune, I have lighted well And other books,-good ones, I warrant you. To fair Bianca, so belov'd of me. Gre. Belov'd of me,-and that my deeds shall prove. Gru. And that his bags shall prove. [Aside. Hor. Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our love: Listen to me, and if you speak me fair, I'll tell you news indifferent good for either. Pet. I know, she is an irksome brawling scold; If that be all, masters, I hear no harm. Gre. No, say'st me so, friend? What countryman? Pet. Born in Verona, old Antonio's son: My father dead, my fortune lives for me; And I do hope good days, and long, to see. Gre. O, sir, such a life, with such a wife, were strange: But, if you have a stomach, to't o'God's name; But will you woo this wild cat? Will I live? Pet. [Aside. Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang? And do you tell me of a woman's tongue; That gives not half so great a blow to the ear, As will a chesnut in a farmer's fire? Tush! tush! fear boys with bugs.. Gru. Gre. Hortensio, hark! This gentleman is happily arriv'd, For he fears none. [Aside. My mind presumes, for his own good, and yours. 5 with bugs.] i. e. with bug-bears. [Aside. Enter TRANIO, bravely apparell'd; and BIONDELLO. Tra. Gentlemen, God save you! If I may be bold, Tell me, I beseech you, which is the readiest way To the house of signior Baptista Minola? Gre. He that has the two fair daughters:-is't [Aside to TRANIO.] he you mean? 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 away. Luc. Well begun, Tranio.. Hor. Sir, a word ere you go; Are [Aside. you a suitor to the maid you talk of, yea, or no? Tra. An if I be, sir, is it any offence? Gre. No; if, without more words, you will get you hence. Tra. Why, sir, I pray, are not the streets as free For me, as for you? Gre. But so is not she. Tra. For what reason, I beseech you? That she's the choice love of signior Gremio. To whom my father is not all unknown; And so she shall; Lucentio shall make one, Gre. What! this gentleman will out-talk us all. Luc. Sir, give him head; I know, he'll prove a jade. Pet. Hortensio, to what end are all these words? Hor. Sir, let me be so bold as to ask Did you yet ever see Baptista's daughter? you, 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 younger then is free, and not before. do conceive; Tra. Sir, I shall not be slack: in sign whereof, Please ye we may contrive this afternoon, And quaff carouses to our mistress' health; Please ye we may contrive this afternoon,] Contrive does not signify here to project, but to spend and wear out; probably from contero. |