Bion. Ay, Sir, ne'er a whit. Luc. And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth Tranio is chang'd into Lucentio. ; Bion. The better for him, would I were fo too. Tra. So would I, 'faith, boy, to have the next wish after; that Lucentio, indeed, had Baptifta's youngest Daughter. But, firrah, not for my fake, but your mafter's, I advise you, ufe your manners difcreetly in all kind of companies: when I am alone, why, then I am Tranio; but in all places elfe, your mafter Lucentio. if Luc. Tranio, let's go: one thing more refts, that thy felf execute, to make one among these wooers; thou ask me why, fufficeth, my reafons are both good and weighty. [Exeunt. SCENE, before Hortenfio's House, in Padua. Pet. Enter Petruchio, and Grumio. Erona, for a while I take my leave, VE To fee my friends in Padua; but of all My best beloved and approved friend, Hortenfio; and, I trow, this is the house; Gru. Knock, Sir? whom should I knock? is there any man, has rebus'd your Worship? Pet. Villain, I fay, knock me here foundly. Gru. Knock you here, Sir? why, Sir, what am I, Sir, That I fhould knock you here, Sir? Pet. Villain, I fay, knock me at this gate, And rap me well, or I'll knock your knave's pate. Gru. My mafter is grown quarrelsome: I should knock you first, And then I know after, who comes by the worst. Faith, firrah, an you'll not knock, I'll ring it, I'll try how you can Sol, Fa, and fing it. [He wrings him by the Ears. Gru. Help, mafters, help; my master is mad. Pet. Now knock, when I bid you: Sirrah! Villain! VOL. II. U Enter Enter Hortenfio. Hor. How now, what's the matter? my old friend Grumio, and my good friend Petruchio! how do you all at Verona? Pet. Signior Hortenfio, come you to part the fray? Con tutto il Core beh trovato, may I fay. Hor. Alla noftra Cafa ben venuto, molto honorato Signor mio Petruchio. Rife, Grumio, rife; we will compound this quarrel. Whom, would to God, I had well knock'd at first, Good Hortenfio, Gru. Knock at the gate? O heav'ns!, fpake you not these words plain? firrah, knock me here, rap me here, knock me well, and knock me foundly and come you now with knocking at the gate? Pet. Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advife you. Pet. Such wind as fcatters young men through the world, To feek their fortunes farther than at home; (8) Where small experience grows, but in a few. Signior Hortenfio, thus it ftands with me, (8) Where Small Experience grows, but in a few.] Our Poet is frequently obfcure in his Ufe of this Conjunction disjunctive. He means here, that fmall Experience grows to Youths, who stay at home; except to a Few, that are Exceptions to this Obfervation. Antonio Antonio my Father is deceas'd; And I have thruft my felf into this maze, Hor. Petruchio, fhall I then come roundly to thee, Pet. Signior Hortenfio, 'twixt fuch friends as us She moves me not; or not removes, at least, I come to wive it wealthily 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 a tooth in her head, tho' fhe have as many dif eases as two and fifty horfes; why, nothing comes amifs, fo mony comes withal. Hor. Petruchio, fince we are ftept thus far in, I will continue That I broach'd in jest. I can, Petruchio, help thee to a wife With wealth enough, and young and beauteous; Is, that he is intolerable curft; And fhrewd, and froward, fo beyond all measure, I would not wed her for a Mine of gold. Pet. Hortenfio, peace; thou know'ft not gold's ef fect; Tell me her Father's name, and 'tis enough: Renown'd in Padua for her fcolding tongue. I will not fleep, Hortenfio, 'till I see her, Gru. I pray you, Sir, let him go while the humour lafts. O' my word, an fhe knew him as well as I do, fhe would think fcolding would do little good upon him. She may, perhaps, call him half a fcore knaves, or fo why, that's nothing; an he begin once, he'll rail in his rope-tricks. I'll tell you what, Sir, an she ftand him but a little, he will throw a figure in her face, and fo disfigure her with it, that the fhall have no more eyes to fee withal than a cat: you know him not, Sir. Hor. Tarry, Petruchio, I must go with thee, For in Baptifta's house my Treasure is: He hath the jewel of my life in hold, His youngest Daughter, beautiful Bianca; (9) And her with-holds he from me, and others more Suitors to her, and Rivals in my love: Suppofing it a thing impoffible, (For thofe defects I have before rehears'd,) That ever Catharina will be woo'd; Therefore this order hath Baptifta ta'en, (9) And her withholds he from me. Other more Suitors to her, and Rivals in my Love: &c.] The Editors, in this Carelessnefs of their Pointing, have made stark Nonfense of this Paffage. The Regulation, which I have given to the Text, was dictated to me by the ingenious Dr. Thirlby. That That none fhall have access unto Bianca, A title for a maid of all titles the worst! To old Baptifta as a school-mafter, Well feen in mufick, to inftruct Bianca; Enter Gremio, and Lucentio difguis'd. Gru. Here's no knavery! fee, to beguile the old folks, how the young folks lay their heads together. Master, look about you: who goes there? ha. Hor. Peace, Grumio, 'tis the Rival of my love. Gru. A proper Stripling, and an amorous. Signior Baptifta's liberality, I'll mend it with a largefs. Take your papers too, To whom they go: what will you read to her? Hor. Grumio, mum! God fave you, Signior Gremio. Gre. And you are well met, Signior Hortenfio. Trow you, whither I am going? to Baptista Minola; I pro U 3 mis'd |