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 :
Her elder sister is so curst and shrewd,
That, till the father rid his hands of her,
Master, your love must live a maid at home;
And therefore has he closely mew'd her up,
Because she shall not be annoy'd with suitors.

Luc. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he!
But art thou not advis'd, he took some care
To get her cunning schoolmasters to instruct her?

Tra. Ay, marry, am I, sir; and now 'tis plotted.
Luc. I have it, Tranio.
Tra.

Master, for my hand,
Both our inventions meet and jump in one.

Luc. Tell me thine first.
Tra.

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,
For man, or master: then it follows thus ;-
Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in my

stead,
Keep house, and port, and servants, as I should :
I will some other be; some Florentine,
Some Neapolitan, or mean man of Pisa.
"Tis hatch'd, and shall be so :-Tranio, at once
Uncase thee; take my colour'd hat and cloak:
When Biondello comes, be waits on thee;
But I will charm him first to keep his tongue.

Tra. So had you need. [They exchange Habits.

wounded eye.

In brief, sir, sith it your pleasure is,
And I am tied to be obedient
(For so your father charg'd me at our parting;
Be serviceable to my son, quotb he,
Although, I think, 'twas in another sense);
I am content to be Lucentio,
Because so well I love Lucentio.

Luc. Tranio, be so, becausé Lucentio loves :
And let me be a slave, to achieve that maid
Whose sudden sight hath thralld my

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 ?
Or you stol'n his? or both? pray, what's the news?

Luc. Sirrah, come hither; 'tis no time to jest,
And therefore frame your manners to the time.
Your fellow, Tranio, here, to save my life,
Pats my apparel and my countenance on,
And I for my escape have put on his;
For in a quarrel, since I came ashore,
I kill'd a man, and fear I was descried :
Wait you on him, I charge you, as becomes,
While I make way from hence to save my life:
You understand me?
Bion.

I, 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 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,-I

advise You ase your manners discreetly in all kind of com

panies: When I am alone, why, then I am Tranio; But in all places else, your master Lucentio,

B

any

Luc. Tranio, let's go :One thing more rests, that thyself execute;To make one among these wooers: If thou ask mewhy, Sufficeth, my reasons are both good and weighty.

[Ereunt. 1 Ser. My lord, you nod; you do not mind the play.

Sly. Yes, by saint Anne, doʻI. A good matter, surely; Comes there

more of it? Page.

My lord, 'tis but begun.
Sly. 'Tis a very excellent piece of work, madam lady;
'Would't were done!
SCENE II. The same. Before HORTENSIO's House.

Enter PETRUCHIO and GRUMIO.
Pet. Verona, for awhile I take my leave,
To see my friends in Padua; but of all,
My best beloved and approved friend,
Hortensio; and, I trow, this is his house :
Here, sirrah Grumio; knock, I say.

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. Gru. My master is grown quarrelsome: I should

knock you first, And then I know after who comes by the worst.

Pet. Will it not be? 'Faith, sirrah, an you'll not knock, I'll wring it; I'll try how you can sol, fa, and sing 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 Gramio! 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 bene venuto, Molto honorato signor mio Petruchio. Rise, Grumio, rise; we will compound this quarrel.

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,-be bid me knock him, and rap him soundly, sir: Well, was it fit for a servant to use

bis master so; being perhaps (for aught I see), two Į and thirty, a pip out?

Whom, 'would to God, I had well knock'd at first,
Then had not Grumio come by the worst.

Pet. A sepseless villain!-Good Hortensio,
I bade the rascal knock upon your gate,
And could not get him for my heart to do it.

Gru. Knock at the gate?-0 heavens !
Spake you not these words plain -Sirruh, knock me here,
Rap me here, knock me well, and knock me soundly?
And come you now with-knocking at the gate?

Pet. Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you.

Hor. Petruchio, patience; I am Grumio's pledge : Why, this a heavy chance 'twixt him and you; Your ancient, trusty, pleasant servant Grumio. And tell me now, sweet friend,—what happy gale Blows you to Padua here, from old Verona? [world,

Pet. Such wind as scatters young men through the To seek their fortunes further than at home, Where small experience grows. But, in a few, Signior Hortensio, thus it stands with me:Antonio, my father, is deceas'd; And I have thrust myself into this maze, Haply lo wive, and thrive, as best I may: Crowns in my purse I bave, and goods at home, And so am come abroad to see the world.

Hor. Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee, And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favour'd wife?" Thoud'st thank me but a little for my counsel : And yet I'll promise thee she shall be rich,

:

sir;

folks, how the young folks lay their heads together! Master, master, look about you: Who goes there? ha!

Hor. Peace, Grumio; 'tis the rival of my love:-
Petruchio, stand by awhile.
Gru. A proper stripling, and an amorous!

[They retire.
Gre. 0, very well; I have perus’d the note.
Hark you, I'll have them very fairly bound :
All books of love, see that at any hand;.
And see you read no other lectures to her:
You understand me:-Over and beside
Sigvior Baptista's liberality,
I'll mend it with a largess:-Take your papers too,
And let me have them very well perfum'd;
For she is sweeter than perfume itself,
To whom they go. What will you read to her?

Luc. Whate'er I read to her, I'll plead for you,
As for my patron (stand you so assurd),
As firmly as yourself were still in place:
Yea, and (perhaps) with more successful words
Than you, unless you were a scholar, sir.

Gre. O this learning! what a thing it is!
Gru. O this woodcock! what an ass it is!
Pet. Peace, sirrah.
Hor. Grumio, unum!—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 inquire carefully
About a schoolmaster for fair Bianca :
And, by good fortune, I have lighted well
On this young man; for learning, and behaviour,
Fit for her turn; well read in poetry,
And other books,-good ones, I warrant you.

Hor. "Tis well: and I have met a gentleman,
Hath promis'd me to help me to another,
A fine musician to instruct our mistress;
So shall I no wit be behind in duty
To fair Bianca, so belov'd of me.

Gre. Belov'd of me--and that my deeds shall prove.