Yea, all my raiment, to my petticoat, Cath. Of all thy Suitors here, I charge thee, tell Bian. Is it for him you do fo envy me? Cath. If That be jeft, then all the reft was fo. Enter Baptifta. [Strikes her Bap. Why, how now, dame, whence grows this infolence ? Bianca, ftand afide; poor girl, the weeps; Catb. Her filence flouts me; and I'll be reveng'd. [Flies after Bianca. Bap. What, in my fight? Bianca, get thee in. [Exit Bianca, Cath. Will you not fuffer me? nay, now I fee, She is your treasure; she must have a husband; I muft dance bare-foot on her wedding day, And, for your love to her, lead apes in hell: Talk not to me, I will go fit and weep, 'Till I can find occasion of revenge. [Exit Cath Bap. Was ever gentleman thus griev'd, as I? But who comes here? Enter Enter Gremio, Lucentio in the habit of a mean man; Petruchio with Hortenfio, like a mufician; Tranio and Biondello bearing a lute and books. Gre. Good morrow, neighbour Baptifta. Bap. Good morrow, neighbour Gremio: God fave you, gentlemen. Pet. And you, good Sir; pray, have you not a daughter call'd Catharina, fair and virtuous ? Bap. I have a daughter, Sir, call'd Catharina. Pet. You wrong me, Signior Gremio, give me leave. I am a gentleman of Verona, Sir, That hearing of her beauty and her wit, Her affability and bashful modefty, Her wondrous qualities, and mild behaviour, Within your house, to make mine eye the witness [Prefenting Hor. I do prefent you with a man of mine, Bap. You're welcome, Sir, and he' for your good But for my daughter Catharine, this I know, Bap. Miftake me not, I fpeak but what I find. A man well known throughout all Italy. Bap. I know him well: you are welcome for his fake. Gre. Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray, let us, that are are poor petitioners, fpeak too. Baccalare! marvellous forward. (10) Pet. Oh, pardon me, Signior Gremio, I would fain be doing. (11) Gre. I doubt it not, Sir, but you will curfe your wooing. Neighbour, this is a gift very grateful, I am fure of it. To express the like kindness myself, that have been more kindly beholden to you than any, free leave give to this young scholar, that hath been long ftudying at Reims, [Prefenting Luc.] as cunning in Greek, Latin, and other Languages, as the other in mu fick and mathematicks; his name is Cambio; pray, accept his fervice. Bap. A thoufand thanks, Signior Gremio: welcome, good Cambio. But, gentle Sir, methinks, you walk like a ftranger;. [To Tranio.] may I be fo bold to know the caufe of your coming? Tra Pardon me, Sir, the boldness is mine own, That, being a stranger in this City here, (10) Baccare, you are marvellous forward.] But not so forward; as our Editors are indolent and acquiefcing. This is a ftupid Corruption of the Prefs, that None of them have div'd into. We must read, Baccalare, as Mr. Warburton acutely obferv'd to me; by which the Italians mean, Thou arrogant, prefumptuous Man! The Word is ufed fcornfully, upon any One that would affume a Port of Grandeur and high Repute. (11) Ob, pardon me, Signior Gremio, I ruould fain be doing.. Gre. I doubt it not, Sir, but you will curfe your wooing. Neigh bours. This is a Gift ;] It would be very unreasonable, after fuch a number of Inftances, to fufpect, the Editors ever dwelt on the meaning of any Passage : But why should Petruchio curse his wooing Neighbours? They were none of them his Rivals: Nor, tho' he should curfe his own Match afterwards, did he commence his Courtship on their Accounts. In fhort, Gremio is defign'd to answer to Petruchio in doggrel Rhyme, to this purpose. Yes; 1 know, you would fain be doing; but you'll cope with fuch a Devil, that You'll have Reason to "curfe your Wooing." and then immediately turns his Difcourfe to Baptifta, whom he calls Neighbour, (as he had done before at the Beginning of this Scene,) and makes his Prefent to him. " De Do make my felf a fuitor to your daughter, Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me, And this fmall packet of Greek and Latin books. [They greet privately. Bap. Lucentio is your name? of whence I pray? Tra. Of Pifa, Sir, fon to Vincentio. Bap. A mighty man of Pifa; by Report I know him well; you are very welcome, Sir. Take You the lute, and you the Set of books, [To Hortenfio and Lucentio, You fhall go fee your pupils prefently. Holla, within ! Enter a Servant. Sirrah, lead these gentlemen. To my two daughters; and then tell them Both, [Exit Ser. with Hortenko and Lucentio. We will go walk a little in the orchard, And then to dinner. You are paffing welcome, Her Her widowhood, be it that the furvive me, Bap. Ay, when the special thing is well obtain'd, Pet. Why, that is nothing: for I tell you, father, For I am rough, and wooe not like a babe. But be thou arm'd for fome unhappy words. Pet. Ay, to the proof, as mountains are for winds: That shake not, tho' they blow perpetually. Enter Hortenfio with his head broke. Bap. How now, my friend, why doft thou look fo pale ? Hor. For fear, I promise you, if I look pale. Bap. What, will my daughter prove a good mu fician? Hor. I think, fhe'll fooner prove a soldier; Iron may hold with her, but never lutes. Bap. Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute? Hor. Why, no; for fhe hath broke the lute to me. And bow'd her hand to teach her fingering, Frets call you them? quoth fhe; I'll fume with them And through the inftrument my Pate made way, As on a pillory, looking through the lute: And A A I |