Hor. So will I, Signior Gremio: but a word, I pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brooked 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. 116 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.

120

Gre. I say, a devil. Thinkest 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.

127

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?

136

Gre. I am agreed; and would I had given him the best horse in Padua to begin his wooing that would thoroughly

113 yet never] never yet Pope.

parle] FIQF2 parlee F3F4. parly Capell.

121 Thinkest] Think's F4.
122 any] any a F2.

125 loud] lowd F,Q. lewd FF3F4-
alarums] alarms Rowe.
126 an] Pope. and FfQ.

127 all] all her F4.

129 high-cross] Hyphened by Rowe.
130 small] a small Theobald.
131 But come] F1Q. come F2F3F4-

law] love Gould conj.

134 to't] F4 too t F. too 't QF,F3. 138 his wooing] the wooing Rowe (ed. 2). thoroughly] FQ. throughly FFF ̧.

3

woo her, wed her and bed her and rid the house of her!
Come on.
[Exeunt Gremio and Hortensio.

Tra. I pray, sir, tell me, is it possible
That love should of a sudden take such hold?
Luc. O Tranio, till I found it to be true,
I never thought it possible or likely;
But see, while idly I stood looking on,
I found the effect of love in idleness:
And now in plainness do confess to thee,
That art to me as secret and as dear
As Anna to the Queen of Carthage was,
Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio,
If I achieve not this young modest girl.
Counsel me, Tranio, for I know thou canst ;
Assist me, Tranio, for I know thou wilt.

Tra. Master, it is no time to chide you now;
Affection is not rated from the heart :

If love have touch'd you, nought remains but so, 'Redime te captum quam queas minimo.'

Luc. Gramercies, lad, go forward; this contents: The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound.

Tra. 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 great Jove to humble him to her hand,

140 [Exeunt...] Exeunt ambo. Manet

Tranio and Lucentio. Ff Q.

141 [advancing. Capell.

142 of] FQF on F3F4

2.

147 do] to FF4.

155 rated] raved Gould conj.

156 have] F1Q. om. F2F3F4. has Rowe

(ed. 1). hath Rowe (ed. 2).

touch'd] toyl'd Warburton.
nought] F2F3F4. naught F1Q.

140

145

150

155

160

157 captum] FFF, captam F.Q.
158 Gramercies] Gramercy Rowe.
159 counsel's] FFF, counsels F1Q.
160 longly] lovingly Collier conj. long-
ingly Keightley.

maid] Mad F

161 mark'd] marked F4.

163 Agenor had] Agenor's race Collier,

ed. 2 (Collier MS.).

165

When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan strond.
Tra. Saw you no more? mark'd you not how her sister
Began to scold and raise up such a storm
That mortal ears might hardly endure the din?
Luc. Tranio, I saw her coral lips to move
And with her breath she did perfume the air:
Sacred and sweet was all I saw in her.

170

Tra. Nay, then, 'tis time to stir him from his trance. I pray, awake, sir: if you love the maid,

Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it stands:
Her elder sister is so curst and shrewd

That till the father rid his hands of her,
Master, your love must live a maid at home;
And therefore has he closely mew'd her up,
Because she will not be annoy'd with suitors.

Luc. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he!
But art thou not advised, 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.
Tra.

You will be schoolmaster

And undertake the teaching of the maid:

That's your device.

165 strond] F1QF2F3

175

180

185

strand F4

179 she] he Dyce, ed. 2 and Keightley (Singer conj.).

168 hardly] scarce Collier MS. endure] dure S. Walker conj. din?] Rowe (ed. 2). din. FfQ.

173 pray] pray you Q.

[shaking him. Capell. 174 wits] wit Rowe (ed. 2). 175 elder] eldest F3F4. shrewd shrew'd FfQ.

176 rid] rids Rowe.

will] shall Rowe.

180 father's] Rowe. Fathers FfQ.
182 To get her] Together F. To gather
Long MS.

schoolmasters] masters Collier, ed. 2
(Collier MS.).

her?] Rowe. her. Ff Q.

Luc.

It is may it be done?

Tra. Not possible; for who shall bear your part,
And be in Padua here Vincentio's son ;

Keep house and ply his book, welcome his friends,
Visit his countrymen and banquet them?

Luc. Basta; content thee, for I have it full.
We have not yet been seen in any house,
Nor can we be distinguish'd by our faces
For man or master; then it follows thus ;
Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in my stead,
Keep house and port and servants, as I should:
I will some other be; some Florentine,
Some Neapolitan, or meaner man of Pisa.
"Tis hatch'd and shall be so: Tranio, at once
Uncase thee; take my colour'd hat and cloak :
When Biondello comes, he waits on thee;
But I will charm him first to keep his tongue.
Tra. So had you need.

In brief, sir, sith it your pleasure is,

And I am tied to be obedient,

For so your father charged me at our parting;
'Be serviceable to my son,' quoth he,

Although I think 'twas in another sense;
I am content to be Lucentio,
Because so well I love Lucentio.

189 part] port Collier conj. 194 been] F3F4. bin F1QF2.

200 meaner] mean Capell. some Cart-
wright conj.

Pisa] Milan Elze conj. (Athen.
1881).

201 'Tis] It is Hanmer, ending lines
200-205 at man...so...take...comes
...first.....need.

202 take] and here take Hanmer.

colour'd] FF. Conlord F,Q. Cou

lord F. om. Hanmer.
204 charm] charge Keightley conj.
205 So] And so, sir, Hanmer.

190

195

200

205

210

[They exchange habits. Theobald. 206 In brief, sir] In brief, good sir Pope. Omitted by Capell. In brief then, sir Malone. Be breefe, then Sir Collier MS.

sith] sithence Dyce (ed. 2).

it your pleasure is] it is your pleasure thus Anon. conj.

Luc. Tranio, be so, because Lucentio loves : And let me be a slave, to achieve that maid Whose sudden sight hath thrall'd my wounded eye. 215 Here comes the rogue.

Enter BIONDELLO.

Sirrah, where have you been?

220

Bion. Where have I been! Nay, how now! where are you? Master, has my fellow Tranio stolen your clothes? Or you stolen 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, While I make way from hence to save my life: You understand me?

Bion.

Luc.

I, sir! ne'er a whit.

And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth: Tranio is changed into Lucentio.

225

230

Bion. The better for him: would I were so too! Tra. So could I, faith, boy, to have the next wish after, That Lucentio indeed had Baptista's youngest daughter.