And undertake the teaching of the maid: That's your device. Luc. It is: May it be done? Tra. Not possible; For who shall bear your part, And be in Padua here Vincentio's son ? should; Keep house, and ply his book; welcome his friends; [They exchange habits. In brief then, Sir, sith § it your pleasure is, (For so your father charged me at our parting; Although, I think, 'twas in another sense), Because so well I love Lucentio. 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. Enter BIONDELLO. Here comes the rogue.-Sirrah, where have you been? 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. Bion. I, Sir, ne'er a whit. Luc. And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth; Tranio is changed into Lucentio. Bion. The better for him; Would I were so too! * 'Tis enough. + Show. § Since. + Planned in my head. Tra. So would I, 'faith, boy, to have the next wish after,- But in all places else, your master Lucentio. One thing more rests, that thyself execute; To make one among these wooers: If thou ask me why, 1 Serv. My lord, you nod; you do not mind the play. [Exeunt. 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 'twere done! SCENE II.-The same. Before HORTENSIO's House. Pet. Verona, for a while I take my leave, Gru. Knock, Sir! whom should I knock? is there any man has rebused your worship? Pet. Villain, say, I knock me here soundly. Gru. Knock you here, Sir? why, Sir, what am I, Sir, that I should knock you here, Sir? Pet. Villain, say I, 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! Enter HORTENSIO. Hor. How now? what's the matter ?-My old friend Grumio! and my good friend Petruchio!-How do you all at Verona? Pet. Signior Hortensio, come you to part the fray? Con tutto il core bene trovato, may I say. Hor. Alla nostra casa bene venuto, Molto honorato signor mio Petruchio. Rise, Grumio, rise; we will compound this quarrel. Gru. Nay, 'tis no matter, what he 'leges* in Latin.-If this be * Alleges. not a lawful cause for me 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, Pet. A senseless villain-Good Hortensio, I bade the rascal knock upon your gate, Spake you not these words plain, Sirrah, knock me here, Pet. Such wind as scatters young men through the world, Where small experience grows. But, in a few,* Signior Hortensio, thus it stands with me: Antonio, my father, is deceased; And I have thrust myself into this maze, Crowns in my purse I have, and goods at home, Hor. Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee. Pet. Signior Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as we, (As wealth is burden of my wooing dance), I come to wive it wealthily in Padua; 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 ;t or an old trot with ne'er a tooth in her head, though she have as many diseases as two and fifty horses: why nothing comes amiss, so money comes withal. * Few words. † A small image on the tag of a lace. Hor. Petruchio, since we have stepp'd thus far in, I will continue that I broach'd in jest. I can, Petruchio, help thee to a wife With wealth enough, and young, and beauteous; Is, that she is intolerably curst, And shrewed, and froward; so beyond all measure, I would not wed her for a mine of gold. Pet. Hortensio, peace; thou know'st not gold's effect :- For I will board her, though she chide as loud An affable and courteous gentleman: Renown'd in Padua for her scolding tongue. Pet. I know her father, though I know not her; I will not sleep, Hortensio, till I see her; 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 rope-tricks.* 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; For in Baptista's keept my treasure is: He hath the jewel of my life in hold, His youngest daughter, beautiful Bianca; And her withholds from me, and other more (For those defects I have before rehearsed), Therefore this order§ hath Baptista ta'en;- Till Katharine the curst have got a husband. A title for a maid, of all titles the worst. Hor. Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace; And offer me, disguised in sober robes, To old Baptista as a schoolmaster Well seen in music, to instruct Bianca; *I.e. like a parrot. § Measure. + Withstand. + Custody. Versed. That so I may by this device, at least, Have leave and leisure to make love to her, And unsuspected, court her by herself, 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! Hark you, Sir: I'll have them very fairly bound: Signior Baptista's liberality, I'll mend it with a largess :-Take your papers too, To whom they go to. What will you read to her? Gre. O'this learning! what a thing it is! [They retire. Hor. Grumio, mum !-God save you, signior Gremio! Gre. And you're well met, signior Hortensio. Trow you Whither I am going ?-To Baptista Minola. I promised to inquire carefully About a schoolmaster for fair Bianca: And, by good fortune, I have lighted well On this young man; for learning and behaviour, Fit for her turn; well read in poetry, And other books,-good ones, I warrant you. Hor. "Tis well: and I have met a gentleman, Hath promised me to help me to another, A fine musician to instruct our mistress! So shall I no whit be behind in duty To fair Bianca, so beloved of me. Gre. Beloved of me,-and that my deeds shall prove. 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. Here is a gentleman, whom by chance I met, * Rate. [Aside. |