Tra. Mi perdonate,' gentle master mine, Talk logick with acquaintance that you have, The mathematicks, and the metaphysicks, Fall to them, as you find your stomach serves you: Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise. If, Biondello, thou wert come ashore, We could at once put us in readiness; And take a lodging, fit to entertain Tra. Master, some show, to welcome us to town. Enter BAPTISTA, KATHARINA, BIANCA, GREMIO, and HORTENSIO. LUCENTIO and TRANIO stand aside. Bap. Gentlemen, impórtune me no further, Pardon me. 2 Harsh rules. 3 Animate. you well, If either of you both love Katharina, Kath. I pray you, sir, [To BAP.] is it your will 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, Luc. But in the other's silence I do see Maids' mild behaviour and sobriety. Peace, Tranio. Tra. Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill. Put finger in the eye,-an she knew why. A bait or decoy. 5 Think. Pet. Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe: Luc. Hark, Tranio! thou may'st hear Minerva speak. [Aside. Hor. Signior Baptista, will you be so strange? Sorry am I, that our good will effects Bianca's grief. Gre. Why, will you mew 7 her up, Signior Baptista, for this fiend of hell, And make her bear the penance of her tongue? Bap. Gentlemen, content ye; I am resolv'd:Go in, Bianca. [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 7 Shut. 8 Recommend. 9 Knowing, learned. Endowments., together, and fast it fairly out; our cake's dough 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 brook'd parle, know now, upon advice,2 it toucheth us both, that we may yet again have access to our fair mistress, 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. 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, 2 Consideration. and then have to't afresh.-Sweet Bianca!-Happy man be his dole!3 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 pos sible That love should of a sudden take such hold? Tra. Master, it is no time to chide you now; If love have touch'd you, nought remains but so,— Redime te captum quam queas minimo. 5 Luc. Gramercies, lad; go forward: this contents; The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound. Tra. Master, you look'd so longly on the maid, Perhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all. Luc. O yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face, 5 Longingly. 3 Gain or lot. 4 Driven out by chiding. |