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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 prone.
Gru. And that his bags shall 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 curft 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 fcold:

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 strange: But if you haue ftomacke, too't a Gods name,

You shall haue me affisting you in all.

But will you woo this wild-cat?'

Petr. Will I liue?

Gru. Wil he woo her? I: or Ile 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 skies?
Haue I not in a pitched battell heard

Loud larums, neighing fteeds, and trumpets clangue?
And do you tell me of a womans tongue?

That giues not halfe so great a blow to heare,

As wil a cheffe-nut in a farmers fire.

Tufh, tufh, feare boyes with bugs.

Gru. For he feares none.
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 ?

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 reason I beseech you.

Gre. For this reafon if you'l kno.

That she's the choice loue of fignior Gremio.

Hor. That she 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 thousand wooers,
Then well one more may faire Bianca haue;
And fo the 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 so bold as aske you,

Did you yet euer see Baptiftas daughter ?

Fra.

Tra. No fir, but heare I do that he hath two :
The one, as famous for a scolding 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 vnderstand 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 sister first be wed.
The yonger then is free, and not before.

Tra. If it be fo fir, that you are the man
Must steed vs all, and me amongst the rest:
And if you breake the ice, and do this feeke,
Atchieue the elder, set the yonger free,
For our accesse, 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 reft generally beholding.

Tra, Sir, I shall 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 shall 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 these other goods,
Vnbind my hands, Ile pull them off myselfe,
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'ft beft: fee thou diffemble 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 fifter heere I sweare
Ile plead for you myfelfe, but you shall 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 perceiue
You have but iefted with me all this while :
I pre thee fifter Kate vnite my hands.

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 fhe weepes:

Go ply the needle, meddle not with her.

For shame thou hilding of a diuellish spirit,

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

When did thee crosse 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, she must have a husband,

Exit.

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