and be happy rivals in Bianca's love,-to labour and effect one thing 'specially. Gre. What's that, I pray? Hor. Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister. 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, 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. (Advancing.) I pray, sir, tell me,-Is it possible That love should of a sudden take such hold? 1 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; If love have touch'd you, nought remains but so,- Lue. Gramercies, lad; go forward: this contents; That made great Jove to humble him to her hand, [sister Tra. Saw you no more? mark'd you not, how her 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: That, till the father rid his hands of her, Tra. Both our inventions meet and jump in one. Luc. Tell me thine first. Tra. Master, for my hand, 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, 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, When Biondello comes, he waits on thee; (They exchange habits.) In brief, then, sir, sith it your pleasure is, 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: And let me be a slave, to achieve that maid, Whose sudden sight have thrall'd my wounded eye. 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 stol'n your clothes ? 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 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, advise [panies t You use your manners discreetly in all kind of com- One thing more rests, that thyself execute, To make one among these wooers: If thou ask me why,Sufficeth my reasons are both good and weighty. [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. Sly. Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam lady: 'Would 'twere done! SCENE II. The same. Before Hortensio's Enter PETRUCHIO and GRUMIO. Pet. Verona, for a while I take my leave, 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. And then I know after who comes by the worst. Faith, sirrah, an you'll not knock, I'll wring it; (He wrings Grumio 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 friend Grumio! and my good friend Petruchio!- How do you all at Verona ? Pet. Signior Hortensio, come you to part the fray? Con tutto il core bene trovato, may I say. Hor. Alla nostra casa ben venuto. Molto honorato signior mio Petruchio. Gru. Nay, 'tis no matter 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,) twu and thirty, a pip out? Whom, would to God, I had well knock'd at first, Pet. A senseless villain !- Good Hortensio, There, I bade the rascal knock upon your gate, Pet. Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you. Pet. Such wind as scatters young men through the world, To seek their fortunes farther than at home, And I have thrust myself into this maze, Hor. Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee, And very rich-But thou 'rt too much my friend, Pet. Signior Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as we, One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife, (As wealth is burden of my wooing dance,) Be she as foul as was Florentius' love, I come to wive it wealthily in Padua ; If wealthily, then happily in Padua. 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 D |