1

è Bar. Gentlemen, content ye; I am resoly'd
Go in, Bianca..

[ Exit BIANCA
And for I know, she taketh most delight
In musick, instruments, and poetry,
Schoolmasters will I keep within my house,
Fit to instruct her youth. If

yoll,

Hortensio,
Or Signior Gremio, you, kuow any such,
Prefer them hither: for to cunning men
I will be very kind, and liberal
Tó mine own children in good bringing.np;
And so farewell. Katharina you may, stay;
For have more to commune with Bianca. (Exit.
Kath. Why, and I trust, I

may go too, May

I not?
What, shall I be appointed hours ; as tlough, belike,
I knew not what to take, and what to leave? Ha!

{'Exit. 1

Gre. You may go to the devil's dam; your gifts are so good, here is none will hold you. Their love is not so great, Hortensið, but we may blow our nails together, and fast it fairly out; our cake's dough on both sides. Farewell: Yet, for the love I bear my sweet Bianca, if I can by any means light on a fit man, to teach her that wherein she delights, I will wish him to her father.

Hor. So will i, Signior Gremio: But a word, I pray. Thongh the nature of our quarrel yet never brook'd parle, know now, upon advice, it toncheth ns both, that we may yet again have access to our fair mistress , and be happy rivals in Bianca's love, - 10 labour and effect one thing 'specially.

Gre. What's that, I pray?
Aor. Marry, Sir, to get a husband for her sister.
Gre. A husband! a devil.
Hor. I say, 'a husband.
Gra I a devil: Thinkst thou, Hortensio,

though

say,

S

though her father be very rich, ang man is so verzia
fool to be married to hell ?

Hor. Tush, Gremio! though it pass your patience,
and mine, to endure. her loud alarums, why, man,
there be good fellows in the world, an a man could
light on them, would take her with all faults, and
money enough,

Gre. I cannot tell: but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition, to be whipp'd at the highcross every morning.

Hor. 'Faith, as you say, there's small choice in
'' rouen apples. But, come; since this bar in law ma-

kes us friends it shall be so far forth friendly main-
taiid, -till by helping Baptista's eldest daughter to a
husband, we set his youngest free for a husband,
and then have to't afresh. - Sweet Bianca! - Happy
mau be his dole! He that runs fastest, gets the ring.
How say you, Signior Gremio ?

Gre. I am agroed: and 'would I had given him the
best horse in Padua to begin his wooing, that would
thoroughly woo her, wed her, and bed her, and rid
the house of her. Come on.

[ Exeunt GREMIO, and HORTENSIO. Tra. (Advancing.) I pray, Sir, tell me,

Is it

possible
That love should of a sudden take such hold?

Luc. 0, Tranio, till I found it to be true,
I never thought it possible, or likely;
But see! while idly I stood idly looking on,
I found the effect of love in idleness:
And now in plainness do confess to thee,
That art to me as secret, am as dear,
As Anna to the Queen of Cartliage was,
Tranio, I burn, I pinc, I perish, Tranio,
If I achievs not this young modest girl:
Counsel me Traniq, for I know thou canst;
Vol. VI.

2

Assist me, Tranio, for I know thou wilt.

Tra. Master, it is no time to chide you nowy;
Affection is not rated from the heart:
If love have touch'd you, nought remains but so,
Redime te captum quam queas minimo.

Luc, Gramercies, lad; go forwnrd: this contents The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound.

Tra. Master, you lookd so longly on the maid, Perhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all. i?

Luc, O yes, I saty sweet beauty in her face, Such as the daughter of Agenor had, That made great Jove to humle hiin to her hand, When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan strand. • Tra. Saw you no more ? mark'd yon not, how her

sister Began to scold; and raise up such a storm, That mortal ears might hardly endure the din?

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 atchieve 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 mev'd her up,
Because she shall not be annoy'd with suitors,

Luc. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's hej
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 ploticd.
Luc. I have it, 'Tranio.

Tra. Master, for my hand,
Bør our inyentions meet and jump in onc.

LAC. Tell me tine first.

Tra. You will be schoolmaster,
And undertake the teaching of the maid:
That's youír device.
Luc. It is: ilTay 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 countrymeir, 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 thuis;

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 mau of Pisa.
'Tis hatch'd, and shall be so: - Tranio, at once
Uncase 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, Sir, sith it your pleasure is,
And I am tied to be obedient;
(For so your father charg'd me at our parting;
Be service able to my son, quoth he,'
Although, I think, 'twas in another sense,)
I am content to be Lucentio.
Because so well I love Lucentio.

Luc. Trania, be so, because Lucentio loves:
And let me be a slave to atchieve that maid
Whose sudden sight hath thrall'd my wounded eye.

Enter BIONDELLO,
Here comes thc rogue.

Sirrah, where have you

Bion. Where have I been? Nay, how now, where

are you? Master, has my fellow Tranio, stol'n your clothes? Or you stolen 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,
Puts my apparel and my countenance on,
And I for my.escape have put on his;
For in a quarrel, since I cane ashore,
I killd a man, and fear I was descried:
Wait you on him, I charge yon, as becomes,
While I make way from hence to save my life:
You understand me?

Bioi: 'I, Sir? ne'er a whit.

Luc. And not a jot of Trauio 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 use your manners discreetly in all kind of com

panics: When I am alone, why, then I am Tranio;, Bilt in all places else, your master Liicentio.

Luc. Tranio, let's go: One thing more reste, that thyself execute; To make one among these woqers: If thou ask me

why, Sufficeh, my reasons are both good and weighty.

[Excunt. • Scrv. My Lorri, you wod: you do not mind the play.