And see you read no other lectures to her: I'll mend it with a largess :-Take your papers too, For she is sweeter than perfume itself, To whom they go. What will you read to her? Gre. O this learning! what a thing it is! Hor. Grumio, mum!- God save you, signior Gremio! Gre. And you're well met, signior Hortensio. Trow you, Whither I am going?—To Baptista Minola. I promis'd to enquire carefully About a schoolmaster for fair Bianca: And, by good fortune, I have lighted well On this young man; for learning, and behaviour, And other books,-good ones, I warrant you. To fair Bianca, so belov'd of me. Gre. Belov'd of me,- -and that my Gru. And that his bags shall prove. deeds shall prove. [Aside. Hor. Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our love: Hortensio, have you told him all her faults? Gre. No, say'st me so, friend? What countryman? My father dead, my fortune lives for me; Gre. O, sir, such a life, with such a wife, were strange : But, if you have a stomach, to't o'God's name; You shall have me assisting you in all. But will you woo this wild cat? Pet. Will I live? Gru. Will he woo her? ay, or I'll hang her. [Aside. Pet. Why came I hither, but to that intent? Think you, a little din can daunt mine ears? Have I not in my time heard lions roar? Have I not heard the sea, puff'd up with winds, Rage like an angry boar, chafed with sweat? Have I not heard great ordnance in the field, And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies? Have I not in a pitched battle heard Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang? And do you tell me of a woman's tongue; That gives not half so great a blow to th' ear, As will a chesnut in a farmer's fire? Gre. Hortensio, hark! This gentleman is happily arriv'd, For he fears none. [Aside. My mind presumes, for his own good, and yours. [Aside. Enter TRANIO, bravely apparell'd; and BIONDELLO. Tra. Gentlemen, God save you! If I may be bold, Tell me, I beseech you, which is the readiest way To the house of signior Baptista Minola? Gre. He that has the two fair daughters :-is't [Aside to TRANIO.] he you mean? Tra. Even he. Biondello! Gre. Hark you, sir; You mean not her to Tra. Perhaps, him and her, sir; What have you to do? Pet. Not her that chides, sir, at any hand, I pray. Tra. I love no chiders, sir:-Biondello, let's away. Luc. Weil begun, Tranio. Hor. Sir, a word ere you go ; [Aside. Are you a suitor to the maid you talk of, yea, or no? Tra. An if I be, sir, is it any offence? Gre. No; if, without more words, you will get you hence. Tra. Why, sir, I pray, are not the streets as free For me, as for you? Gre. But so is not she. Tra. For what reason, I beseech you? Gre. For this reason, if you'll know, That she's the choice love of signior Gremio. Hor. That she's the chosen of signior Hortensio. To whom my father is not all unknown; Gre. What! this gentleman will out-talk us all. Pet. Sir, sir, the first's for me; let her go by. Pet. Sir, understand you this of me, insooth;- Tra. If it be so, sir, that you are the man Must stead us all, and me among the rest; For our access,-whose hap shall be to have her, Hor. Sir, you say well, and well you do conceive; And since you do profess to be a suitor, You must, as we do, gratify this gentleman, To whom we all rest generally beholden. Tra. Sir, I shall not be slack: in sign whereof, And quaff carouses to our mistress' health; Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends. Gru. Bion. O excellent motion! Fellows, let's begone. Hor. The motion's good indeed, and be it so;Petruchio, I shall be your ben venuto. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I.-The same. A room in Baptista's house. Enter KATHARINA and BIANCA. Bian. Good sister, wrong me not, nor wrong yourself, To make a bondmaid and a slave of me; |