How say you,

150

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. Signior 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. 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 con-

tents :
The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound.

Tra. Master, you look'd so longly on the maid, 170 144. Happy man be his dole! 165. rated, expelled by scoldmay it be his portion to be

ing. a 'happy man';

167. 'Buy yourself off though somewhat antiquated cheaply as you may' (Ter. phrase.

Eunuchus). 145. the ring, the prize.

170. so longly, so longingly.

166

6

a

common

as 180

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 strond.
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 eldest sister is so curst and shrewd
That till the father rids his hands of her,
Master, your love must live a maid at home;
And therefore has he closely mew'd her up,
Because she will not be annoy'd with suitors.

Luc. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he !
But art thou not advised, 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.

190 200

210

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 distinguish'd 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 meaner 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.
In brief, sir, sith it your pleasure is,
And I am tied to be obedient,
For so your father charged me at our parting,
*Be serviceable to my son,' quoth he,
Although I think 'twas in another sense ;
I am content to be Lucentio,
Because so well I love Lucentio.

Luc. Tranio, be so, because Lucentio loves : And let me be a slave, to achieve that maid Whose sudden sight hath thrall’d my wounded

220 230

240

Enter BIONDELLO.
Sirrah, where have

you been ? Bion. Where have I been! Nay, how now! where are you? Master, has my fellow Tranio stolen

your

clothes ? Or you stolen 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 changed into Lucentio.
Bion. The better for him : would I were so

too!
Tra. So could 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.

Luc. Tranio, let's go: one thing more rests, 250 that thyself execute, to make one among these 230. what's the news ? what's the matter ?

250. rests, remains.

33

VOL. II

D

wooers : if thou ask me why, sufficeth, my reasons are both good and weighty.

[Exeunt.

The presenters above speak. First 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 !

[They sit and mark.

SCENE II.

Padua. Before HORTENSIO's house.

Enter PETRUCHIO and his man 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. Gru. My master is grown quarrelsome. I

should knock you first, And then I know after who comes by the worst.