Balke logic with acquaintance that you have, 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, importune me no further, Gre. To cart her rather; she's too rough for me.- 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, 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-legged 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 behavior and sobriety. Peace, Tranio. Tra. Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill What I have sai,-Bianca, get you in: And let it not displease thee, good Bianca; Put finger in the eye,-an she knew why. My books, and instruments, shall be my company; Luc. Hark, Tranio! thou mayst hear Minerva speak. Hor. Seignior Baptista, will you be so strange? Sorry am I that our good will effects Bianca's grief. Gre. Why, will you mew her up, And make her bear the penance of her tongue? Aside. [Exit BIANCA. And for I know she taketh most delight To mine own children in good bringing up; [Exit. Kath. Why, and I trust, I may go too, may I not? What, shall I be appointed hours; as though, belike, I knew not what to take and what to leave? Ha! [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. Farewellyet, 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, seignior Gremio: but a word, I pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brooked 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 labor 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, 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; you now; Luc. Gramercies, lad; go forward: this contents; The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound. 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 B* 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? Thus it stands: Tra. Nay, then, 'tis time to stir him from his trance. 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. 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. [They exchange habits. 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? Pray what's the news? Luc. Sirrah, come hither; 'tis no time to jest, 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. |