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, seignior Gremio? Gre. I am agreed; and 'would I had given him the best horse 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 touched you, nought remains but so,- Luc. Gramercies, lad; go forward: this contents; Tra. Master, you looked so longly on the maid, Perhaps you marked not what's the pith of all. Luc. O yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face, Such as the daughter of Agenor had, VOL. II.—2 That made great Jove to humble him to her hand, Tra. Saw you no more? Marked you not how her sister Began to scold, and raise up such a storm, That mortal ears might hardly endure the din? Luc. Tranio, I saw her coral lips to move, And with her breath she did perfume the air; Sacred, and sweet, was all I saw in her. Tra. Nay, then, 'tis time to stir him from his trance. Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it stands : Tra. Master, for my hand, Both our inventions meet and jump in one. Luc. Tell me thine first. You will be schoolmaster, And undertake the teaching of the maid. 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. [They exchange habits. Tra. So had you need. And I am tied to be obedient, (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? Bion. Where have I been? Nay, how now? where are you? Master, has my fellow Tranio stolen your clothes? Bion. I, sir, ne'er a whit. Bion. The better for him. 'Would I were so too! Tra. So would I, faith, boy, to have the next wish after,That Lucentio indeed had Baptista's youngest daughter. But, sirrah,-not for my sake, but your master's-I advise You use your manners discreetly in all kind of companies. When I am alone, why then I am Tranio; But in all places else, your master Lucentio. One thing more rests, that thyself execute;- [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. Enter PETRUCHIO and GRUMIO. Pet. Verona, for a while I take my leave, To see my friends in Padua; but, of all, 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, sır, 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; [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. Seignior 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, it is 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 knocked at first; Then had not Grumio come by the worst. Pet. A senseless villain!-Good Hortensio, I bade the rascal knock upon your gate, And could not get him for my heart to do it. Spake you not these words plain,— Sirrah, knock me here, Pet. Such wind as scatters young men through the world, 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, And very rich. But thou'rt too much my friend, Pet. Seignior Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as we, Few words suffice; and, therefore, if thou know One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife, (As wealth is burden of my wooing dance,) Be she as foul as was Florentius' love, As old as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd She moves me not, or not removes, at least, 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 stepped thus far in, I will continue that I broached in jest. |