For I will boord her, though fhe chide as loud
As thunder, when the clouds in autumne cracke.
Hor. Her father Baptifta Minola,

An affable and courteous gentleman,

Her name is Katherina Minola,

Renown'd in Padua for her fcolding tongue.

Petr. I know her father, though I know not her, And he knew my deceafed father well :

I will not fleepe Hortenfio til I fee her,

And therefore let me be thus bold with you,

To giue you ouer at this first encounter,

Vnleffe you will accompanie mee thither.

Gru. I pray you fir let him go while the humor lafts. A my word, and the knew him as well as I do, fhe would thinke fcolding would do little good vpon him. Shee may perhaps call him halfe a score knaues, or fo: why that's nothing; and he begins once, hee'le raile in his rope trickes, Ile tell you what fir, and fhe ftand him but a litle, he will throw a figure in her face, and fo disfigure hir with it, that she shall haue no more eies to fee withall then a cat: you know him not fir.

Hor. Tarrie Petruchio I must go with thee,

For in Baptiftas keepe my treafure is:

He hath the jewel of my life in hold,
His yongeft daughter, beautifull Bianca,
And her with-holds from mé. Other more
Suters to her, and riuals in my loue :
Suppofing it a thing impoffible,

For those defects I haue before rehearst,
That euer Katherina wil be woo'd
Therfore this order hath Baptista tane,
That none shall haue acceffe vnto Bianca,
Till Katherine the curft, haue got a husband.

Gru. Katherine the curst,

A title for a maide, of all titles the worst.

Hor. Now fhall my friend Petruchio do me grace,
And offer me difguis'd in fober robes,

To old Baptifta as a schoole-master.
Well feene in musicke, to inftru&t Bianca,
That so I may by this deuice at least
Haue leaue and leisure to make loue to her,
And vnfufpected court her by her felfe.

Enter Gremio and Lucentio difguis'd.

Gru. Heere's no knauerie. See, to beguile the olde folkes, how the young folkes lay their heads together. Master, master, looke about you: who goes there?

Hor. Peace Grumio, it is the riuall of my loue. Petruchio ftand by a while..

Gru. A propper ftripling, and an amorous.

Gremio. Oh very well, I haue perus'd the note:
Hearke you fir, Ile haue them verie fairely bound,
All bookes of loue, fee that at any hand,

And see you reade no other lectures to her:
You vnderstande me. Ouer and befide

Signior Baptiftas liberalitie,

Ile mend it with a largeffe.

Take your paper too,

And let me haue them verie well perfum'd;

For she is sweeter then perfume itselfe

To whom they go to: what will you reade to her.
Luc. What ere I read to her, Ile pleade for you,
As for my patron, ftand you fo affur'd,

As firmely as your felfe were still in place,
Yea and perhaps with more fucceffefull words
Then you: vnlesse you were a scholler fir.

Gre. Oh this learning, what a thing it is.

Gru.

Gru. Oh this woodcocke, what an asse it is.
Petru. Peace firra.

Hor. Grumio mum: God faue you fignior Gremio.
Gre. And you are wel met, fignior Hortenfio.
Trow you whither I am going? To Baptifta Minola,
I promift to enquire carefully

Aboute a schoolemaster for the faire Bianca,

And by good fortune I haue lighted well
On this yong man: for learning and behauiour
Fit for her turne, well read in poetrie

And other bookes, good ones, I warrant yee.

Hor. 'Tis well and I haue met a gentleman

:

Hath promist me to helpe one to another,
A fine mufitian to inftruct our miftris,
So fhall I no whit be behind in dutie,

To faire Bianca, fo beloued of me.

Gre. Beloued of me, and that my deeds fhall proue.
Gru. And that his bags fhall proue.

Hor. Gremio, 'tis now time to vent our loue,
Listen to me, and if you speake me faire,

Ile tell you newes indifferent good for either.
Heere is a gentleman whom by chance I met
Vpon agreement from vs to his liking,
Will vndertake to woo curst Katherine,
Yea and to marrie her, if her dowrie please. .
Gre. So faid, fo done, is well:

Hortenfio, haue you told him all her faults?

Petr. I know she is an irksome brawling scold:"
If that be all masters, I heare no harme.

Gre. No, fayft me fo, friend? what countreyman?
Petr. Borne in Verona, old Butonios fonne :
My father dead, my fortune liues for me,
And I do hope good dayes and long, to fee.

Gre.

Gre. Oh fir, fuch a life with fuch a wife, were ftrange : But if you haue ftomacke, too't a Gods name, You shall haue me affifting you in all.

But will you woo this wild-cat?

Petr. "Will I liue?

Gru. Wil he woo her? I: or fle hang her.
Petr. Why came I hither, but to that intent?
Thinke you, a little dinne can daunt mine eares?
Haue I not in my time heard lyons rore?

Haue I not heard the fea, puft vp with windes,
Rage like an angry boare, chafed with fweat?
Haue I not heard great ordnance in the field?
And heauens artillerie thunder in the fkies?
Haue I not in a pitched battell heard

Loud larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets clangue?
And do you tell me of a womans tongue ?
That giues hot halfe so great a blow to heare,

As wil a cheffe-nut in a farmers fire.

Tush, tush, feare boyes with bugs.
Gru. For he feares noné.
Grem. Hortenfio hearke:

This gentleman is happily arriu'd;"

My minde prefumes for his owne good, and yours.
Hor. I promist we would be contributors,

And beare his charge of wooing whatsoere.

Gre. And fo we will, prouided that he win her.
Gru. I would I were as fure of a good dinner.

Enter Tranio braue, and Biondello.

Tra. Gentlemen God faue you. If I may be bold
Tell me I beseech you which is the readiest way
To the house of fignior Baptifta Minola?

Bion. He that ha's the two faire daughters: ift he you

meane ?

Tra. Euen he Biondello.

Gre. Hearke you fir, you meane not her to

Tra. Perhaps him and her fir, what haue you to do?
Petr. Not her that chides fir, at any hand I pray.
Tra. I loue no chiders fir: Biondello, let's away.
Luc. Well begun Tranio.

Hor. Sir a word ere you go:

Are you a futor to the maid you talke of, yea or no?
Tra. And I be fir, is it any offence in

Gre. No if without more words you will get you hence, Tra. Why fir, I pray you are not the streets as free for me, as for you ?

Gre. But fo is not she.

Tra. For what reafon I befeech you.

Gre. For this reafon if you'l kno.

That she's the choice loue of fignior Gremio.

Hor. That he is the chofen of fignior Hortenfio. :

Tra. Softly my masters: if you be gentlemen
Do me this right: heare me patience,
Baptifta is a noble gentleman,

To whom my father is not all vnknowne,
And were his daughter fairer then she is,
She may more futors haue, and me for one.
Faire Ladaes daughter had a thoufand wooers,
Then well one more may faire Bianca haue;
And fo fhe fhall: Lucentio fhall make one,
Though Paris came, in hope to speede alone.

Gre. What, this gentleman will out-talke vs all.
Luc. Giue him head, I know hee'l proue a iade.
Petr. Hortenfio, to what end are all these words?
Hor. Sir, let me be fo bold as afke you,
Did you yet euer fee Baptiftas daughter ?

Tra.