tience, 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! How say you, signior Gremio ?

1

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 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;
But see! while idly I stood looking on,
I found the effect of love in idleness:
And now in plainness do confess to thee, -
That art to me as secret, and as dear,
As Anna to the queen of Carthage was, -
Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio,
If I achieve not this young modest girl :
Counsel me, Tranio, for I know thou canst;
Assist me, Tranio, for I know thou wilt.
Tra. Master, it is no time to chide you now;
Affection is not rated from the heart:

If love have touch'd you, nought remains but so,
Redime te captum quam queas minimo.

Luc. Gramercies, lad; go forward: this contents;

The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound.
Tra. Master, you look'd so longly on the maid,
Perhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all.
Luc. O yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face,
Such as the daughter of Agenor had,
That made great Jove to humble him to her hand,
When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan strand.

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?

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.

I pray, awake, sir; If you love the maid,
Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her. Thus it

stands:

Her elder sister is so curst and shrewd,
That, till the father rid his hands of her,
Master, your love must live a maid at home;
And therefore has he closely mew'd her up,
Because she shall not be annoy'd with suitors.
Luc. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he!

But art thou not advis'd, he took some care
To get her cunning schoolmasters to instruct her?
Tra. Ay, marry, am I, sir; and now 'tis plotted.
Luc. I have it, Tranio.

Tra.

Master, for my hand,

Both our inventions meet and jump in one.

Luc. Tell me thine first.
Tra.

You will be schoolmaster, 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, And be in Padua here Vincentio's son ?

Keep house, and ply his book; welcome his friends; Visit his countrymen, and banquet them?

Luc. Basta; content thee; for I have it full.

We have not yet been seen in any house;
Nor can we be distinguished by our faces,
For man, or master: then it follows thus; -
Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in my stead,
Keep house, and port, and servants, as I should :
I will some other be; some Florentine,
Some Neapolitan, or mean man of Pisa.
'Tis hatch'd, and shall be so: - Tranio, at once
Uncase thee; take my colour'd hat and cloak:
When Biondello comes, he waits on thee;
But I will charm him first to keep his tongue.

Tra. So had you need. [They exchange habits.
In brief then, sir, sith' it your pleasure is,
And I am tied to be obedient;

(For so your father charg'd me at our parting;

Be serviceable to my son, quoth he,
quoth
Although, I think, 'twas in another sense,)
I am content to be Lucentio,

Because so well I love Lucentio.

Luc. Tranie, be so, because Lucentio loves :

And let me be a slave, to achieve that maid
Whose sudden sight hath thrall'd my wounded eye.

Enter BIONDELLO.

Here comes the rogue. - Sirrah, where have you

been?

Bion. Where have I been? Nay, how now, where

are you?

8 'Tis enough.

9 Show, appearance.

Since

Master, has my fellow Tranio stol'n your clothes ?
Or you stol'n 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.
Your fellow Tranio here, to save my life,
Puts my apparel and my countenance on,
And I for my escape have put on his;
For in a quarrel, since I came ashore,
I kill'd a man, and fear I was descried :
Wait you on him, I charge you, as becomes,
While I make way from hence to save my life:
You understand me?

Bion.

I, sir, ne'er a whit.

Luc. And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth; Tranio is chang'd into Lucentio.

Bion. The better for him; Would I were so too! Tra. So would I, 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 com

panies:
When I am alone, why, then I am Tranio;
But in all places else, your master Lucentio.
Luc. Tranio, let's go : -

One thing more rests, that thyself execute; -
To make one among these wooers: If thou ask me

why,

Sufficeth, my reasons are both good and weighty. [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't were done!

SCENE II.

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.

4

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.

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.

VOL. III.

CC