Tra. No fir, but heare I do that he hath two :
The one, as famous for a fcolding tongue,
As is the other, for beautious modestie.

Petr. Sir, fir, the firft's for me, let her go by.
Gre. Yea leaue that labour to great Hercules,
And let it be more then Alcides twelue.

Petr. Sir vnderftand you this of me (infooth)
The yongest daughter whom you hearken for,
Her father keepes from all acceffe of futors
And will not promise her to any man,
Vntil the elder fifter firft be wed.

The yonger then is free, and not before.

Tra. If it be fo fir, that you are the man
Muft fteed vs all, and me amongst the rest:
And if you breake the ice, and do this feeke,
Atchieue the elder, fet the yonger free,
For our acceffe, whofe hap fhall be to haue her,
Wil not fo graceleffe be, to be ingrate.

Hor. Sir you fay wel, and well you do conceiue,
And fince you do profeffe to be a futor,
You must as we do, gratifie this gentleman,
To whom we all rest generally beholding.

Tra. Sir, I fhall not be flacke, in figne whereof,
Please ye we may contriue this afternoone,
And quaffe carouses to our mistresse health,

And do as aduerfaries do in law,

Striue mightily, but eate and drinke as friends.

Gru. Bion. Oh excellent motion: fellowes let's be gon.
Hor. The motions good indeed, and be it fo,

Petruchio, I fhall be your Been venuto,

Enter Katherina and Bianca.

Exeunt.

Bian. Good fifter wrong me not, nor wrong yourselfe,

To make a bondmaide and a flaue of mee,

That

That I difdaine: but for thefe other goods,
Vnbind my hands, Ile pull them off myfelfe,
Yea all my rayment, to my petticoate,
Or what you will commaund me, will I do,
So well I know my dutie to my elders.

Kate. Of all thy futors heere I charge tell
Whom thou lou'st best: see thou dissemble not.
Bianca. Beleeue me fifter, of all the men aliue,
I neuer yet beheld that speciall face,

Which I could fancie, more then any other.

Kate. Minion thou lyeft; It's not Hortenfio?
Bian. If thou affect him sister heere I sweare
Ile plead for you myfelfe, but you fhall haue him.
Kate. Oh then belike you fancie riches more.
You will haue Gremio to keepe you faire.

Bian. Is it for him you do enuie me fo?
Nay then you ieft, and now I well perceive
You have but iefted with me all this while :
pre thee fifter Kate vnite my hands.

I

Ka. If that be ieft, then all the rest was fo,

Enter Baptifta.

Strikes her.

Bap. Why how now dame, whence growes this infolence? Bianca, ftand afide, poore gyrle she weepes:

Go ply the needle, meddle not with her.

For shame thou hilding of a diuellish spirit,

Why doft thou wrong her, that did nere wrong thee?

When did thee croffe thee with a bitter word?
Kate. Her filence flouts me, and Ile be reueng'd.

Flies after Bianca.

Bap. What in my fight? Bianca get thee in.
Kate. What will you not fuffer me: nay now I fee

She is your treasure, fhe muft haue a husband,

Exit.

I must

I muft dance bare-foot on her wedding day,
And for your loue to her, lead apes in hell.
Talke not to me, I will go fit and weepe,
Till I can finde occafion of reuenge.

Bap. Was euer gentleman thus greeu'd as I?
But who comes heere.

Enter Gremio, Lucentio, in the habit of a meane man, Petruchio with Tranio, with his boy bearing a lute and books. Gre. Good morrow neighbour Baptifta.

Bap. Good morrow neighbour Gremio: God faue you gentlemen.

Petr. And you good fir: pray haue you not a daughter cal'd Katerina, and vertuous.

Bap. I haue a daughter fir, cal'd Katerina.

Gre. You are to blunt, go to it orderly.

Petr. You wrong me fignior Gremio, giue me leaue?

I am a gentleman of Verona fir,

That hearing of her beautie, and her wit,

Her affabilitie and bathfull modeftie:

Her wondrous qualities, and mild behauiour,
Am bold to fhew myselfe a forward guest
Within your house, to make mine eie the witnesse
Of that report, which I fo oft haue heard,
And for an entrance to my entertainment,
I do prefent you with a man of mine
Cunning in muficke, and the mathematickes,
To inftruct her fully in thofe sciences,
Whereof I know fhe is not ignorant,
Accept of him, or else you do me wrong,
His name is Litio, borne in Mantua.

Bap.

Bap. Y'are welcome fir, and he for your good fake: But for my daughter Katerine, this I know,

1

She is not for your turne the more my greife.

Petr. I fee you do not meane to part with her, Or else you like not of my companie,

Bap. Mistake me not, I fpeake but as I finde, Whence are you fir ? what may I call your name. Petr. Petruchio is my name Antonio's fonne,

A man well knowne throughout all Italy.

Bap. I know him well: you are welcome for his fake.

Gre. Sauing your tale Petruchio, I pray let vs that are poore petitioners speake too? Bacare, you are meruaylous

forward.

Petr. Oh, pardon me fignior Gremio, I would faine be doing.

Gre. I doubt it not fir. But you will curfe
Your wooing neighbors: this is a guift
Very gratefull, I am fure of it, to expresse
The like kindneffe myselfe, that haue beene
More kindely beholding to you then any
Freely giue vnto this yong fcholler, that hath
Beene long studying at Rhemes, as cunning
In Greeke, Latine, and other languages,
As the other in musicke and mathematickes :
His name is Cambio pray you accept his feruice.
Bap. A thousand thankes fignior Gremio:

Welcome good Cambio. But gentle fir,
Methinke you walke like a ftranger,

May I be fo bold to know the cause of your comming?
Tra. Pardon me fir, the boldneffe is mine owne,

That being a stranger in this cittie heere,
Do make myselfe a futor to your daughter,
Vnto Bianca, faire and vertuous :

Nor is your firme refolue, vnknowne to mee,

In

In the preferment of the eldest sister.
This libertie is all that I requeft,

That vpon knowledge of my parentage,

I may haue welcome 'mongst the rest that woo,
And towards the education of your daughters:
I heere beftow a fimple inftrument,

And this small packet of Greeke and Latine bookes :
If you accept them, then their worth is great :
Bap. Lucentio is your name of whence I pray.
Tra. Of Pifa fir, fonne to Vincentio.
Bap. A mightie man of Pisa by report,

I know him well: you are verie welcome fir:
Take you the lute, and you the fet of bookes,
You shall go fee your pupils prefently.
Holla, within.

Enter a Seruant.

Sirrah, lead these gentlemen

To my daughters, and tell them both

These are their tutors, bid them vse them well,
We will go walkę a little in the orchard,
And then to dinner: you are paffing welcome,
And so I pray you all to thinke yourselues.

Pet. Signior Baptifta, my businesse asketh haste,
And every day I cannot come to woo,
You knew my father well, and in him me,
Left folie heire to all his lands and goods,
Which I haue bettered rather than decreaft,
Then tell me, if I get your daughters loue,
What dowrie fhall I haue with her to wife.

Bap. After my death, the one halfe of my lands,

And in poffeffion twentie thousand crownes.

Pet.