Enter BAPTISTA, KATHARINA, BIANCA, GREMIO, and HORTENSIO. LUCENTIO and TRANIO stand aside. Bap. Gentlemen, importune me no farther, For how I firmly am resolved you know; That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter, Before I have a husband for the elder: If either of you both love Katharina, Because I know you well, and love you well, me: There, there, Hortensio, will you any wife? 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-legg'd 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. 1 Think. Luc. But in the other's silence I do see Maids' mild behavior and sobriety. Peace, Tranio! Tra. Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill. Bap. Gentlemen, that I may soon make good Put finger in the eye,—an she knew why. Luc. Hark, Tranio! thou mayst hear Minerva speak. [aside. Hor. Signior Baptista, will you be so strange? Gre. Why, will you mew her up, Signior Baptista, for this fiend of hell, And make her bear the penance of her tongue? Bap. Gentlemen, content ye: I am resolved :— [Exit Bianca. Go in, Bianca. And for I know, she taketh most delight In music, instruments, and poetry, Pet. Fit to instruct her youth.-If you, Hortensio, To mine own children in good bringing up; not? [Exit. May I 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 2 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 3 on both sides. Farewell. Yet 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, signior Gremio: but a word, I pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brooked parle, know now, upon advice,5 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. 1 Knowing, learned. 2 Endowments. 3 A proverbial expression in common use when any project miscarried. 5 Consideration. + Recommend. 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. Thinkest 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, signior Gremio? Gre. I am agreed: and, the best horse in Padua to would thoroughly woo her, and rid the house of her. would I had given him begin his wooing, that wed her, and bed her, Come on. [Exeunt Gre. and Hor. 1 i. e. e. may his fortune be that of a happy man: a proverbial expression. Tra. [advancing.] I pray, sir, tell me, is it pos sible 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; Tra. Master, it is no time to chide you now: Affection is not rated 1 from the heart: If love have touch'd you, naught 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 2 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 3 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 i Driven out by chiding. 2 Longingly. 3 Europa. |