gether! 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: I'll mend it with a largess:-Take your papers too, To whom they go. What will you read to her? Gre. O this learning! what a thing it is! Hor. Grumio, mum!-God save you, signior Gre. And you're well met, signior Hortensio. Trow you, Whither I am going?-To Baptista Minola. About a schoolmaster for fair Bianca: And, by good fortune, I have lighted well On this young man; for learning, and behaviour, And other books,-good ones, I warrant you. So shall I no whit be behind in duty Gre. Belov'd of me,—and that my deeds shall prove. Gru. And that his bags shall prove, [Aside. Hor. Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our love: Listen to me, and if you speak me fair, I'll tell you news indifferent good for either, Here is a gentleman, whom by chance I met, Upon agreement from us to his liking, Will undertake to woo curst Katharine; Yea, and to marry her, if her dowry please. Gre. So said, so done, is well:Hortensio, have you told him all her faults? Pet. I know, she is an irksome brawling scold; If that be all, masters, I hear no harm. Gre. No, say'st me so, friend? What country man? Pet. Born in Verona, old Antonio's son: My father dead, my fortune lives for me; And I do hope good days, and long, to see. Gre. O, sir, such a life, with such a wife, were strange: But, if you have a stomach, to't o'God's name; You shall have me assisting you in all. But will you woo this wild cat? Pet. Will I live? Gru. Will he woo her? ay, or I'll hang her. [Aside. Pet. Why came I hither, but to that intent? Think you, a little din can daunt mine ears? Have I not in my time heard lions roar? Have I not heard the sea, puff'd up with winds, Rage like an angry boar, chafed with sweat? Have I not heard great ordnance in the field, And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies? Have I not in a pitched battle heard Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang? And do you tell me of a woman's tongue; That gives not half so great a blow to the ear, Tush! tush! fear boys with bugs. Gru. Gre. Hortensio, hark! For he fears none. [Aside. This gentleman is happily arriv'd, My mind presumes, for his own good, and yours. Gre. And so we will; provided, that he win her. [Aside. Enter Tranio, bravely apparell'd; and Biondello. bold, Tell me, I beseech you, which is the readiest way To the house of signior Baptista Minola? Gre. He that has the two fair daughters:-is't [Aside to Tranio.] he you mean? Tra. Even he. Biondello! Gre. Hark you, sir; You mean not her to to do? Pet. Not her that chides, sir, at any hand, I pray. Tra. I love no chiders, sir:-Biondello, let's away. Luc. Well begun, Tranio. Hor. Sir, a word ere you go; [Aside. Are you a suitor to the maid you talk of, yea, or no? Tra. An if I be, sir, is it any offence? Gre. No; if, without more words, you will get you hence. Tra. Why, sir, I pray, are not the streets as free For me, as for you? Gre. But so is not she. Tra. For what reason, I beseech you? Gre. For this reason, if you'll know, That she's the choice love of signior Gremio. Hor. That she's the chosen of signior Horten sio. Tra. Softly, my masters! if you be gentlemen, Do me this right,-hear me with patience. Baptista is a noble gentleman, To whom my father is not all unknown; Then well one more may fair Bianca have: Pet. Hortensio, to what end are all these words? Did you yet ever see Baptista's daughter? Pet. Sir, sir, the first's for me; let her Pet. Sir, understand you this of me, insooth;— The youngest daughter, whom you hearken for, Her father keeps from all access of suitors; And will not promise her to any man, Until the elder sister first be wed: The younger then is free, and not before. Tra. If it be so, sir, that you are the man Must stead us all, and me among the rest; An if you break the ice, and do this feat,Achieve the elder, set the younger free For our access,-whose hap shall be to have her, Will not so graceless be, to be ingrate. Hor. Sir, you say well, and well you do conceive; And since you do profess to be a suitor, You must, as we do, gratify this gentleman, Tra. Sir, I shall not be slack: in sign whereof, |