Because I know you well, and love you well, 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. Cath. I'faith, Sir, you fhall never need to fear, But if it were, doubt not, her care fhall be Tra. Hush, master, here's some good pastime toward; That wench is ftark mad, or wonderful fro ward. Luc. But in the other's filence I do fee Maid's mild behaviour and fobriety. Peace, Tranio. Tra. Well faid, mafter; mum! and gaze your fill. Bap. Gentlemen, that I may foon make good And let it not displease thee, good Bianca; Şafide. Cath. A pretty Peat! it is best put finger in the eye, an fhe knew why. Bian. Sifter, content you in my difcontent. Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe: My books and inftruments fhall be my company, Luc. Hark, Tranio, thou may't hear Minerva speak. Hor. Signior Baptifta, will you be so strange? [afide. Gre. Gre. Why will you mew her up, And make her bear the penance of her tongue? And for I know, fhe taketh most delight To mine own children, in good bringing up; Hor. So will I, Signior Gremio: but a word, I pray; tho' the nature of our quarrel never yet brook'd Parle, know now, upon advice, 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 fifter. Hor. I fay, a husband. Gre. I fay, a devil. Think'ft thou, Hortenfio, tho' her father be very rich, any man is fo very a fool to be married to hell? Hor. Hor. Tufh, Gremio; tho' it pass your patience and mine to endure her loud alarms, why, man, there be good fellows in the world, an a man could light on them, would take her with all her faults, and mony enough. Gre. I cannot tell; but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition, to be whip'd at the high-cross every morning. Hor. 'Faith, as you fay, there's a small choice in rotten apples: but, come, fince this bar in law makes us friends, it shall be so far forth friendly maintain'd, 'till by helping Baptifta's eldest daughter to a husband, we fet his youngest free for a husband, and then have to't afresh. Sweet Bianca happy man be his dole; he that runs fafteft gets the ring; how fay you, Signior Gremio ? Gre. I am agreed; and would I had given him the beft horfe in Padua to begin his wooing, that would throughly wooe her, wed her, and bed her, and rid the house of her. Come on. [Exeunt Gremio and Hortenfio. Manent Tranio and Lucentio. Tra. I pray, Sir, tell me, is it poffible I never thought it poffible or likely. Tra. Mafter, it is no time to chide you now; If love hath touch'd you, nought remains but so, Luc. Luc. Gramercy, lad; go forward, this contents; That made great Jove to humble him to her hand, Tra. Saw you no more mark'd you not, how her Began to fcold, and raife up fuch a fform, Tra. Nay, then 'tis time to ftir him from his trance: I pray, awake, Sir; if you love the maid, Bend thoughts and wit t' atchieve her. Thus it ftands: That till the Father rids his Hands of her, Tra. Mafter, for my hand, Both our inventions meet and jump in one. Luc. Tell me thine firft., Tra. You will be school-mafter, And undertake the teaching of the maid: That's your device. Luc. It is: may it be done? Tra. Not poffible for who fhall bear your part, And be in Padua here Vincentio's fon, Keep house, and ply his book, welcome his friends, Luc. Luc. Bafta 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, For man or mafter: then it follows thus. Thou shalt be mafter, Tranio, in my ftead; Keep house, and port, and fervants, as I should. I will fome other be, fome Florentine, Some Neapolitan, or meaner man of Pisa. "Tis hatch'd, and fhall be fo: Tranio, at once Uncafe thee: take my colour'd hat and cloak. When Biondello comes, he waits on thee; But I will charm him first to keep his tongue. Tra. So had you need. [They exchange Habits. In brief, good Sir, fith it your pleasure is, And I am tied to be obedient, (For fo your Father charg'd me at our parting; Be ferviceable to my Son, quoth he,) Altho', I think, 'twas in another sense; I am content to be Lucentio, Because fo well I love Lucentio. Luc. Tranio, be fo; because Lucentio loves ; Enter Biondello. Here comes the rogue. Sirrah, where have you been? Bion. Where have I been? nay, how now, where are you? mafter, has my fellow Tranio ftoll'n your cloaths, or you ftoll'n his, or both? pray, what's the news? Luc. Sirrah, come hither: 'tis no time to jeft; |