As Ovid be an outcaft quite abjur'd. your ; Fall to them, as you find ftomach ferves you. Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well doft thou advise ; We could at once put us in readiness; Such friends, as time in Padua fhall beget. Tra. Mafter, fome fhow to welcome us to town. Enter Baptifta, with Catharina and Bianca, Gremio and Hortenfio. Lucentio and Tranio ftand by. Bap. Gentlemen both, importune me no farther, Because I know you well, and love you well, Gre. To cart her rather.-She's too rough for me: There, there, Hortenfio, will you any wife? Cath. I pray you, Sir, is it your will To make a ftale 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 fhall be To comb your noddle with a three-legg'd ftool, Tra. Huh, Mafter, here's fome good paftime 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 Bap. Gentlemen, that I may foon make good And let it not displease thee, good Bianca; Afide. Cath. A pretty peat ! it is best put finger in the eye, an fhe knew why. Bian. Sifter, content you in my difcontent. Sir, to your pleasure humbly I fubfcribe: My books and inftruments fhall be my company, Luc. Hark, Tranio, thou may'ft hear Minerva fpeak. [fide. Hor. Signior Baptifta, will you be fo ftrange ! Sorry am I, that our good will effects Bianca's grief. Gre. Why will you mew her up, Signior Baptifta, for this fiend of hell, And make her bear the penance of her tongue ? [Exit Bianca. And for I know, she taketh most delight 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. You 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 fast 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 access to our fair mistress, and be happy rivals in Bianca's love, to labour and effect one thing 'fpecially. Gre. What's that, I pray? Hor. Marry, Sir, to get a husband for her fifter. 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 pass 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 whipp'd at the high-crofs 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 shall be fo far forth friendly maintain'd, till by helping Baptista's eldest daughter to a husband, we fet 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 fay you, Signior Gremio? Gre. I am agreed; and would I had given him the VOL. II. C beft horfe in Padua to begin his wooing, that would throughly woo her, wed her, and bed her, and rid the houfe of her. Come on. SCENE IV. [Exeunt Gremio and Hortenfio. Manent Tranio and Lucentio. Tra. I pray, Sir, tell me, is it poffible 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; The reft will comfort, for thy counfel's found. Tra. Mafter, you look'd fo longly on the maid, Perhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all. Luc. O yes, I faw fweet beauty in her face; That made great Jove to humble him to her hand, Tra. Saw you no more? mark'd you not, how her fifter Began to fcold, and raife up fuch a ftorm, That mortal ears might hardly endure the din? Tra. Nay, then 'tis time to ftir him from his trance: I pray, awake, Sir; if you love the maid, Bend thoughts and wit t'atchieve her. Thus it stands : Her eldest fifter is fo curs'd and shrewd, That till the father rids his hands of her, Luc. Ah, Tranio, what a cruel father's he! But art thou not advis'd, he took fome care To get her cunning schoolmafters to inftruct her? Tra. Ay, marry, am I, Sir; and now 'tis plotted. Luc. I have it, Tranio. Tra. Mafter, for my hand, Both our inventions meet and jump in one. Tra. You will be schoolmafter, And undertake the teaching of the maid: Luc. It is may it be done? Tra. Not poffible for who fhall bear your part, And be in Padua here Vincentio's fon, Keep houfe, and ply his book, welcome his friends, Luc. Bafta;-content thee; for I have it full. [They exchange habits. In brief, good Sir, fith it your pleasure is, And I am ty'd to be obedient, (For fo your father charg'd me at our parting; Be ferviceable to my fon, quoth he), Altho', I think, 'twas in another sense; I am content to be Lucentio, Because fo well I love Lucentio. Luc. Tranio, be fo; because Lucentio loves; |