SCENE II.-The same. Before HORTENSIO's House. Enter PETRUCHIO and GRUMIO. Pet. Verona, for a while I take my leave, To see my friends in Padua; but, of all, My best beloved and approved friend, Hortensio; and, I trow, this is his house : Here, sirrah Grumio; knock, I say. Gru. Knock, sir! whom should I knock? is there any man has rebused your worship? Pet. Villain, I say, Knock me here soundly. Gru. Knock you here, sir? why, sir, what am I, sir, that I should knock you here, sir? Pet. Villain, I say, knock me at this gate, And rap me well, or I'll knock your knave's pate. And then I know after who comes by the worst. '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 signior mio Petruchio. Rise, Grumio, rise; we will compound this quarrel. Gru. Nay, 'tis no matter, what he 'leges in Latin.— If this be 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, here, Rap me here, knock me well, and knock me soundly? Pet. Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you. Pet. Such wind as scatters young men through the world, To seek their fortunes further than at home, Where small experience grows. But, in a few, Signior Hortensio, thus it stands with me: Antonio, my father, is deceas'd; And I have thrust myself into this maze, Haply to wive, and thrive, as best I may: And so am come abroad to see the world. Hor. Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee, And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favour'd wife? Thou'dst thank me but a little for my counsel: And yet I'll promise thee she shall be rich, : And very rich but thou'rt too much my friend, Pet. Signior Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as we, 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; 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. 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; And shrewd, and froward; so beyond all measure, That, were my state far worser than it is, I would not wed her for a mine of gold. Pet. Hortensio, peace; thou know'st not gold's effect: Tell me her father's name, and 'tis enough; 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; And he knew my deceased father well: 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; Suitors to her, and rivals in my love: (For those defects I have before rehears'd,) A title for a maid, of all titles the worst. Hor. Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace; And offer me, disguis'd in sober robes, To old Baptista as a schoolmaster Well seen in musick, to instruct Bianca: 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! [They retire. Gre. O, very well; I have perus'd the note. Hark you, sir; I'll have them very fairly bound: All books of love, see that at any hand; And see you read no other lectures to her; You understand me :-Over and beside |