Lady. My lord, 'tis but begun. Beg. 'Tis a verie excellent peece of worke, madame ladie: would 'twere done. They fit and marke Enter Petruchio, and his man Grumio. Petr. Verona, for a while I take my leaue, Gru. Knocke fir? whome should I knocke? Is there any man has rebus'd your worship? Petr. Villaine I fay, knocke me heere foundly. Gru. Knocke you heere fir? Why fir, what am I fir, that I should knocke you heere fir. Petr. Villaine I fay, knocke me at this gate, And rap me well, or Ile knocke your knaues pate. I should knocke you firft, And then I know after who comes by the worst. Petr. Will it not be? Faith firrah, and you'l not knocke Ile ring it, Ile trie how you can Sol, Fa, and fing it. He rings him by the eares. Gru. Helpe miftris helpe, my master is mad. Petr. Now knocke when I bid you: firrah villaine. Enter Hortenfio. Hor.. How now, what's the matter? my old friend Grumie, and my good friend Petruchio? How do you all at Verona? Petr. Signior Hortenfio come you to part the fray? Contutti le core bene trobatto, may I fay. Hor. Alla noftra cafa bene venuto multo honorata fignior mio Petruchio. Rife Grumio rife, we will compound this quarrell. Gru. Nay 'tis no matter fir, what he leges in Latine. If this be not a lawfull caufe for me to leaue his feruice, looke you fir: he bid me knocke him, and rap him foundly fir, well, was it fit for a feruant to vse his master so, being perhaps (for ought I fee) two and thirty, a peepe out? Whome would to God I had well knockt at first then had not Grumio come by the worst. Petr. A fenceleffe villaine: good Hortenfio, I bad the rascall knocke vpon your gate, And could not get him for my heart to do it. Gru. Knocke at the gate? Oh heauens: fpake you not thefe words plaine? Sirra, knocke mee heere: rappe me heere: knocke me well, and knocke me foundly? And come you now with knocking at the gate ? Petr. Sirra begon, or talke not I aduise you. Petr. Such winde as fcatters yong men through the world, To feeke their fortunes farther then at home, Where small experiencc growes but in a few, And I haue thruft myselfe into this maze, Happily to wiue and thriue, as best I may : Crownes in my purse I haue, and goods at home, And fo am come abroad to see the world. Hor. Petruchio, fhall I then come roundly to thee, And wish thee to a fhrew'd ill-fauor'd wife? Thou'dft thanke me but a little for my counfell : Petr. Hortenfio, 'twixt fuch friends as wee, She moues me not, or not remoues at least I come to wiue it wealthily in Padua : Gru. Nay looke you fir, he tels you flatly what his minde is why giue him gold enough, and marrie him to a puppet or an aglet babie, or an old trot with ne're a tooth in her head, though she haue as many diseases as two and fiftie horses. Why nothing comes amiffe, fo monie comes withall. Hor. Petruchio, fince we are ftept thus farr in, I will continue that I broach'd in iest, I can Petruchio helpe thee to a wife With wealth enough, and yong and beautious, Is, that she is intollerable curst, And shrow'd and froward, fo beyond all measure, That were my state farre worfer then it is, I would not wed her for a mine of gold. Petr. Hortenfio peace: thou know'ft not golds effect, Tell mee her fathers name, and 'tis enough ; For For I will boord her, though fhe chide as loud. 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 sleepe Hortenfio til I fee her, And therefore let me be thus bold with you, Vnleffe you will accompanie mee thither. Gru. I pray you fir let him go while the humor lafts. A my word, and fhe 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 stand 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 treasure is : For thofe defects I haue before rehearst, 1 Gru. Katherine the curft, 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 sober robes, To old Baptifta as a schoole-master. 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: And see you reade no other lectures to her : Ile mend it with a largeffe. Take your paper too, For she is sweeter then perfume itselfe To whom they go to: what will you reade to her. As firmely as your felfe were still in place, Gre. Oh this learning, what a thing it is. Gru, |