ACT I GRE. Hortensio, hark: Sc. II This gentleman is happily arriv'd, My mind presumes, for his own good and our's. And bear his charge of wooing, whatsoever. Enter TRANIO, brave,' and BIONDELLO. 210 TRA. Gentlemen, God save you! If I may be bold, tell me, I beseech you, which is the readiest way to the house of Signior Baptista Minola? GRE. He that has the two fair daughters: is't he you mean? TRA. Even he: Biondello ! 220 GRE. Hark you, Sir; you mean not her to— TRA. Perhaps, him and her, Sir: what have you to do? HOR. Sir, a word ere you go: Are you a suitor to the maid you talk of, yea or no? GRE. No; if without more words you will get you hence. For me as for you? GRE. 230 But so is not she. For this reason, if you'll know, TRA. For what reason, I beseech you ? That she's the choice love of Signior Gremio. To whom my father is not all unknown; 1 richly dressed. 240 And so she shall; Lucentio shall make one, Must stead us all, and me amongst the rest; do conceive; And, since you do profess to be a suitor, GRU. BION. } O excellent motion!" Fellows, let's be HOR. The motion 's good indeed, and be it so: Petruchio, I shall be your ben venuto." gone. 250 260 270 7 warrant for a welcome. III: D 25 ACT I ACT II Sc. I ACT II SCENE I. Padua. BAPTISTA's House. Enter KATHARINA and BIANCA. BIAN. Good Sister, wrong me not, nor wrong yourself I never yet beheld that special face, I'll plead for you myself but you shall have him. You will have Gremio to keep you fair. BIAN. Is it for him you do envy me so? Nay, then; you jest, and now I well perceive ΤΟ 20 You have but jested with me all this while : Enter BAPTISTA. BAP. Why, how now, Dame! whence grows this in solence? Bianca, stand aside. Poor girl! she weeps. Go ply thy needle; meddle not with her. For shame, thou hilding1 of a devilish spirit, Why dost thou wrong her that did ne'er wrong thee? KATH. Her silence flouts me, and I'll be reveng'd. 1 baggage. BAP. What, in my sight? Bianca, get thee in. KATH. What, will you not suffer me? Nay, now I see She is your treasure, she must have a husband; And for your love to her lead apes in Hell.2 BAP. Was ever gentleman thus griev❜d as I? [exit. Enter GREMIO, with LUCENTIO in the habit of a mean man; PETRUCHIO, with HORTENSIO as a Musician; and TRANIO, with his Boy bearing a lute and books. GRE. Good morrow, Neighbour Baptista. BAP. Good morrow, Neighbour Gremio. God save you, 41 PET. And you, good Sir! Pray, have you not a daughter BAP. I have a daughter, Sir, call'd Katharina. GRE. You are too blunt: go to it orderly. 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 wondrous qualities and mild behaviour, Within your house, to make mine eye the witness BAP. Y'are welcome, Sir; and he for your good sake. She is not for your turn, the more my grief. 1 as an elder sister, whose junior weds before her. 2 the punishment of old maids after death. 27 50 60 ACT II PET. I see you do not mean to part with her; A man well known throughout all Italy. BAP. I knew him well: you are welcome for his sake. Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too: 70 PET. O, pardon me, Signior Gremio; I would fain be doing. 2 Neighbour, this is a gift very grateful, I am sure of it. To express the like kindness, myself, that have been more kindly beholding to you than any, freely give unto you this young scholar, that hath been long studying at Rheims; as cunning in Greek, Latin, and other languages as the other in music and mathematics: his name is Cambio; pray, accept his service. BAP. A thousand thanks, Signior Gremio. Welcome, good Cambio. [to TRANIO.] But, gentle Sir, methinks you walk like a stranger: may I be so bold to know the cause of your coming? TRA. Pardon me, Sir, the boldness is mine own, That, being a stranger in this City here, Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me This liberty is all that I request: That, upon knowledge of my parentage, I may have welcome 'mongst the rest that woo, And free access and favour as the rest: And, toward the education of your daughters, I here bestow a simple instrument And this small packet of Greek and Latin books: BAP. A mighty man of Pisa; by report 1 (slang) dog-Latin for 'stand back.' 2 acceptable. 90 100 |