And am to Padua come, as he that leaves Glad, that you thus continue your refolve, Fall to them, as you' find your ftomach ferves you: No profit grows, where is no pleasure ta'en : In brief, Sir, ftudy what you most affect. Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well doft thou advise; i If, Biondello, thou wert come afhore, We could at once put us in readiness; And take a lodging fit to entertain Such friends, as time in Padua fhall beget. But ftay a while, what company is this? Tra. Mafter, fome fhow to welcome us to town. Enter Baptifta with Catharina and Bianca, Gremio and Hortenfio. Lucentio and Tranio ftand by、 Вар. NENTLEMEN Both, importune me no Bap. G farther, For how I firmly am refolv'd, you know; That is, not to beflow my youngest Daughter, If either of you both love Catharina, Because Because I know you well, and love you well, Cath. I pray you, Sir, is it your will 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, I wis, it is not half way to her heart: But if it were, doubt not, her care shall be To comb your noddle with a three-legg'd ftool, Hor. From all fuch devils, good Lord, deliver us. Tra. Huh, mafter, here's fome 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 difplease thee, good Bianca; afide. Cath. A pretty Peat! it is best put finger in the. eye, an fhe knew why. discontent. Bian. Sifter, content you My books and inftruments fhall be my company, Luc. Hark, Tranio, thou may't hear Minerva fpeak. [afide. Sorry Hor. Signior Baptifta, will you be fo ftrange? VOL. III. F Sorry am I, that our good will effects Gre. Why will you mew her up, And make her bear the penance of her tongue ? [Exit Bianca. And for I know, she taketh most delight In mufic, inftruments, and poetry; School-mafters will I keep within my houfe, To mine own children, in good bringing up; [Exit. Cath. Why, and, I truft, I may go too, may I not? what, fhall I be appointed hours, as tho', belike, I knew not what to take, and what to leave? ha! SCENE III. [Exit. Gre. OU may go to the devil's dam: your gifts are fo good, here is none will hold you. Our love is not fo great, Hortenfio, but we may blow our nails together, and faft it fairly out. Our cake's dow on both fides. Farewel; 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 the delights, I will with him to her Father. 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 accefs to our fair Miftrefs, and be happy rivals in Bianca's love, to labour and effect one thing 'fpecially. Gre. What's that, I pray? Hor. Hor. Marry, Sir, to get a husband for her fifter. Gre. A hulband! a devil. Hor. I fay, a husband. Gre. I fay, a devil. Think'ft thou, Hortenfio, tho' her father be very rich, any man is so very a fool to be married to hell? Hor. Tufh, Gremio; tho' it pafs 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 money 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 fmall choice in rotten apples: but, come, fince this bar in law makes us friends, it fhall be fo far forth friendly maintain'd, 'till by helping Baptifta's eldest daughter to a hufband, 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 horse in Padua to begin his wooing, that would throughly woo her, wed her, and bed her, and rid the house of her. Come on. Tra. [Exeunt Gremio and Hortenfio. SCENE IV. Manent Tranio and Lucentio. Pray, Sir, tell me, is it poffible That love fhould on a fudden take fuch hold? Luc. Oh, Tranio, 'till I found it to be true, F 2 (That (That art to me as fecret, and as dear, Tra. Mafter, it is no time to chide you now; If Love hath toil'd you, nought remains but fo, Luc. Gramercy, lad; go forward, this contents; Luc. O yes, I faw fweet Beauty in her face; Such as the daughter of Agenor had, That made great Jove to humble him to her hand, When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan strand. Tra. Saw you no more? mark'd you not, how her fifter Began to fcold, and raise up fuch a form, Tra. Nay, then 'tis time to ftir him from his trance: That till the Father rids his Hands of her, Luc. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel Father's he! Tra. |