Faith, sirrah, an you'll not knock, I'll ring it; [He wrings him 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 20 friend Ġrumio! and my good friend Petruchio! How do you all at Verona ? Pet. Signior Hortensio, come you to part the fray? 'Con tutto il cuore, ben trovato,' may I say. Hor. 'Alla nostra casa ben venuto, molto honorato signor mio Petruchio.' Rise, Grumio, rise: we will compound this quarrel. Gru. Nay, 'tis no matter, sir, 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 knock'd at first, Then had not Grumio come by the worst. Pet. A senseless villain! Good Hortensio, 30 Gru. Knock at the gate! O heavens! Spake you not these words plain, 'Sirrah, knock me 40 here, rap me here, knock me well, and knock me 24. Con tutto, etc., with all my heart, well met. 25. Alla nostra, etc., welcome to our house. out, drunk. The expression was derived from the game of Bone-ace, or One-and-thirty' (Halliwell); a 'pip' being a 33. two and thirty, a pip spot on cards. soundly'? And come you now with, 'knocking at the gate'? Pet. Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you. Hor. Petruchio, patience; I am Grumio's pledge : Why, this' a heavy chance 'twixt him and you, Your ancient, trusty, pleasant servant Grumio. And tell me now, sweet friend, what happy gale Blows you to Padua here from old Verona ? Pet. Such wind as scatters young men through the world To seek their fortunes farther than at home Where small experience grows. But in a few, 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 Pet. Signior Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as we Be she as foul as was Florentius' love, 46. this', this is (a common contraction). 52. in a few, in brief. 56. Haply, at haphazard. 69. Florentius' love. Knight Florent was the hero of a famous mediaval riddle-story told in Gower's Confessio Amantis, book i. Having 50 60 committed a homicide, he was promised life on condition of answering the question what women most desire.' An 'olde lothly woman' offered him the answer provided he engaged himself to marry her. The marriage complete, she became young and beautiful. As old as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd I come to wive it wealthily in Padua ; 70 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 80 she have as many diseases as two and fifty horses: why, nothing comes amiss, so money comes withal. Hor. Petruchio, since we are stepp'd thus far in, I will continue that I broach'd in jest. I can, Petruchio, help thee to a wife. With wealth enough and young and beauteous, And shrewd and froward, so beyond all measure I would not wed her for a mine of gold. Pet. Hortensio, peace! thou know'st not gold's Tell me her father's name and 'tis enough; An affable and courteous gentleman: Her name is Katharina Minola, Renown'd in Padua for her scolding tongue. Pet. I know her father, though I know not her; And he knew my deceased father well. 90 100 79. aglet-baby, a small image carved on the tag of a point or lace ('aiguillette,' 'aglet'). I will not sleep, Hortensio, till I see her; Gru. I pray you, sir, let him go while the humour lasts. O' my word, an she knew him as well as I do, she would think scolding would do little good upon him: she may perhaps call him 110 half a score knaves or so: why, that's nothing; an he begin once, he 'll rail in his rope-tricks. I'll tell you what, sir, an she stand him but a little, he will throw a figure in her face and so disfigure her with it that she shall have no more eyes to see withal than a cat. You know him not, sir. Hor. Tarry, Petruchio, I must go with thee, For those defects I have before rehearsed, Till Katharine the curst have got a husband. A title for a maid of all titles the worst. Hor. Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace, 105. give you over, leave you. ib. encounter, meeting. 112. rope-tricks, tricks that deserve hanging ; Grumio's word for rhetoric.' 113. stand him, stand her ground against him; thwart him. 120 130 And offer me disguised in sober robes Gru. Here's no knavery! See, to beguile the old folks, how the young folks lay their heads together! Enter GREMIO, and LUCENTIO disguised. Master, master, look about you: who goes there, ha? Hor. Peace, Grumio! it is the rival of my love. Petruchio, stand by a while. Gru. A proper stripling and an amorous! Gre. O, very well; I have perused the note. And see you read no other lectures to her: Signior Baptista's liberality, I'll mend it with a largess. Take your paper too, For she is sweeter than perfume itself To whom they go to. What will you read to her? 134. well seen, accomplished. 144. proper, handsome. 145. note, list (of books). 140 150 150 |