No profit grows, where is no pleasure ta'en;- Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise. Such friends, as time in Padua shall beget. Tra. Master, some show, to welcome us to town. Enter BAPTISTA, KATHARINA, BIANCA, GREMIO, and HOR- Bap. Gentlemen, impórtune me no further, If either of you both love Katharina, Because I know you well, and love you well, Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure. Gre. To cart her, rather: she's too rough for me : There, there, Hortensio, will you any wife? Kath. I pray you, Sir [To BAP.], is it your will To make a stale of me* amongst these mates? Hor. Mates, maid, how mean you that? no mates for you, Unless you were of gentler, milder mould. Kath. I' faith, Sir, you shall never need to fear; I wis,t it is not half way to her heart: But, if it were, doubt not her care should be To comb your noddle with a three-legg'd stool, And paint your face and use you like a fool. Hor. From all such devils, good Lord, deliver us! Gre. And me too, good Lord! Tra. Hush, master, here is some good pastime toward; That wench is stark mad, or wonderful froward. Luc. But in the other's silence I do see Maid's mild behaviour and sobriety. Peace, Tranio. Tra. Well said, master: mum! and gaze your fill. What I have said,-Bianca, get you in: And let it not displease thee, good Bianca; Kath. A pretty peat! 'tis best Put finger in the eye,-an she knew why. Bian. Sister, content you in my discontent. Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe: My books, and instruments, shall be my company; On them to look, and practise by myself. Luc. Hark, Tranio! thou mayst hear Minerva speak. [Aside. Hor. Signior Baptista, will you be so strange? *To put me, stale-mate, into a corner. †Think. Pet. Sorry am I, that our good will affects Bianca's grief. Gre. Why, will you mew her up, And make her bear the penance of her tongue? And for I know, she taketh most delight Schoolmasters will I keep within my house, To mine own children in good bringing up; [Exit BIANCA. Kath. Why, and I trust I may go too; May I not? [Exit. [Exit. Gre. You may go to the devil's dam; your gifts are so good, here is none will hold you. Their love is not so great, Hortensio, but we may blow our nails together, and fast it fairly out; our cake 's dough on both sides. Farewell:-Yet, for the love I bear my sweet Bianca, if I can by any means light on a fit man, to teach her that wherein she delights, I will wish him to her father. Hor. So will I, signior Gremio: But a word, I pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brook'd 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. 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. Gre. I say, a devil: Think'st 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. 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 ? Gre. I am agreed: and 'would I had given him the best horse *Recommend. † Consideration. in Padua to begin his wooing, that would thoroughly woo her wed her, and bed her, and rid the house of her. Come on. [Exeunt GREMIO and HORTENSIO. Tra. [Advancing.] 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; Tra. Master, it is no time to chide you now; If love have touch'd you, naught remains but so,— Luc. Gramercies, lad; go forward: this contents; That made great Jove to humble him to her hand, 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? And with her breath she did perfume the air; Tra. Nay, then, 'tis time to stir him from his trance. Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it stands:- That, till the father rid his hands of her, Tra. Master, for my hand, Both our inventions meet and jump in one. Luc. Tell me thine first. Tra. You will be schoolmaster, *Driven out by chiding. + Longingly. + Europa. 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, Keep house, and ply his book; welcome his friends; Luc. Basta;* content thee, for I have it full.† In brief then, Sir, sith § it your pleasure is, [They exchange habits. (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: 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,- [Exeunt. 1 Serv. My lord, you nod; you do not mind the play. 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, Here, sirrah Grumio; knock, I say. : 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. |