with this condition, to be whipp'd at the High-Cross every morning.

Hor. Faith, as you say, there's small choice in rotten apples. But come; since this bar in law makes us friends, it shall be so far forth friendly maintain'd 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 man be his dole! He that runs fastest gets the ring. How say you, Signior Gremio?

140

GRE. I am agreed: 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.

TRA. I pray, Sir, tell me, is it possible

[Exeunt ambo.

That love should of a sudden take such hold?
Luc. O Tranio, till I found it to be true,
I never thought it possible or likely.
But, see! while idly I stood looking on,
I found the effect of love in idleness;
And now in plainness do confess to thee,
That art to me as secret and as dear
As Anna to the Queen of Carthage was,
Tranio, I burn, I pine; I perish, Tranio,
If I achieve not this young modest girl.
Counsel me, Tranio, for I know thou canst;
Assist me, Tranio, for I know thou wilt.
TRA. Master, it is no time to chide you now;
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 forward; this contents :
The rest will comfort, for thy counsel's sound.
TRA. Master, you look'd so longingly on the maid,
Perhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all.
Luc. O, yes; I saw sweet 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 sister

150

160

169

ACT I
Sc. I

ACT I
Sc. I

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 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 he will 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 jump1 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 some man of Pisa.

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190

200

When Biondello comes, he waits on thee;
But I will charm him first to keep his tongue.
TRA. So had you need.

In brief, Sir, sithence 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, quoth he,
Although I think 'twas in another sense),
I am content to be Lucentio,

Because so well I love Lucentio.

Luc. Tranio, be so, because Lucentio loves :
And let me be a slave to achieve that maid,
Whose sudden sight hath thrall'd my wounded eye.
Here comes the rogue.

Enter BIONDELLO.

210

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?1

2

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 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!

221

230

TRA. So could 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

1 matter.

III: c

2 name and identity.

17

ACT I
Sc. I

ACT I
Sc. I

You use your manners discreetly in all kind of
companies :

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

240

Luc. Tranio, let's go: one thing more rests,1 that thyself execute, to make one among these wooers: if thou ask me why, sufficeth my reasons are both good and weighty.

The Presenters above speak.

[exeunt.

FIRST SERV. My Lord, you nod; you do not mind the play.

SLY. Yes; by Saint Anne, do I. A good matter, surely:

comes there any more of it?

PAGE. My Lord, 'tis but begun.

250

SLY. 'Tis a very excellent piece of work, Madam Lady:

would 'twere done!

[They sit, and mark.

SCENE II. The Same. Before HORTENSIO's House.

Enter PETRUCHIO and his man GRUMIO.

PET. Verona, for a while 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 rebus'd 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's 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 ring it;
I'll try how you can say sol, fa, and sing it.

[He wrings him 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
Grumio! and my good friend Petruchio! How do
you all at Verona?

PET. Signior Hortensio, come you to part the fray ?
Con tutto il cuore ben trovato, may I say.

22

HOR. Alla nostra casa ben venuto, molto honorato signor mio Petruchio.

Rise, Grumio, rise : we will compound this quarrel. GRU. Nay; 'tis no matter, Sir, what be leges in Latin. If this be not a lawful cause for me to leave his service, look you, Sir: he bid me knock him and rap him soundly, Sir: well, was it fit for a servant to use his master so, being perhaps (for aught I see) two-andthirty,1 a pip2 out?

Whom would to God I had well knock'd at first,
Then had not Grumio come by the worst.
PET. A senseless villain! Good Hortensio,
I bade the rascal knock upon your gate,
And could not get him for my heart to do it.

33

GRU. Knock at the gate! O Heavens! Spake you not these words plain : Sirrah, knock me here, rap me here, knock me well, and knock me soundly? And come you now with knocking at the gate?

42

PET. Sirrah, be gone, or talk not, I advise you.
HOR. Petruchio, patience; I am Grumio's pledge:
Why, this 's 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 ?
PET. Such wind as scatters young men through the world
To seek their fortunes farther 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 to wive and thrive as best I may :

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ACT I
Sc. II