Signior Baptista's liberality, I'll mend it with a largess :-Take your papers too, To whom they go. What will you read to her? Gre. O this learning! what a thing it is! Hor. Grumio, mum !—God save you, signior Gremio! you, Whither I am going?-To Baptista Minola. I promis'd to enquire carefully About a schoolmaster for fair Bianca: And, by good fortune, I have lighted well On this young man; for learning, and behaviour, And other books,-good ones, I warrant you. Hor. 'Tis well and I have met a gentleman, : Hath promis'd me to help me to another, A fine musician to instruct our mistress; So shall I no whit be behind in duty To fair Bianca, so belov'd of me. Gre. Belov'd of me,-and that my deeds shall prove. [Aside. Hor. Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our love; Listen to me, and if you speak me fair, I'll tell you news indifferent good for either. If that be all, masters, I hear no harm. Gre. No, say'st me so, friend? What countryman? My father dead, my fortune lives for me; Gre. O, sir, such a life, with such a wife, were strange: But, if you have a stomach, to't, o'God's name; But will you woo this wild cat? Pet. Will I live? Gru. Will he woo her? ay, or I'll hang her. Pet. Why came I hither, but to that intent? [Aside. Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang? And do you tell me of a woman's tongue, That gives not half so great a blow to the ear, As will a chesnut in a farmer's fire? Tush tush fear boys with bugs. Gru. For he fears none. Gre. Hortensio, hark! This gentleman is happily arriv'd, [Aside. My mind presumes, for his own good, and yours. And bear his charge of wooing, whatsoe'er. [Aside. Enter TRANIO, bravely apparell'd; and BIONDELLO. 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 [Aside to TRANIO.] he you mean? Tra. Even he. Biondello ! Gre. Hark you, sir; You mean not her to Tra. Perhaps, him and her, sir; What have do? you to Pet. Not her that chides, sir, at any hand, I pray. Tra. I love no chiders, sir :-Biondello, let's away. Luc. Well begun, Tranio. Hor. Sir, a word ere you go;— [Aside. Are you a suitor to the maid you talk of, yea, or no? Tra. An if I be, sir, is it any offence? Gre. No; if, without more words, you will get you hence. Tra. Why, sir, I pray, are not the streets as free For me as for you? Gre. But so is not she. Tra. For what reason, I beseech you? Hor. That she's the chosen of signior Hortensio. To whom my father is not all unknown; Gre. What! this gentleman will out-talk us all. Did you ever yet see Baptista's daughter? Tra. No, sir; but hear I do, that he hath two; The one as famous for a scolding tongue, As is the other for beauteous modesty. Pet. Sir, sir, the first's for me; let her go by. Pet. Sir, understand you this of me, in sooth ;- Until the elder sister first be wed: The younger then is free, and not before. Tra. If it be so, sir, that you are the man Must stead us all, and me among the rest; An if you break the ice, and do this feat,Achieve the elder, set the younger free For our access,-whose hap shall be to have her, Hor. Sir, you say well, and well you do conceive; Tra. Sir, I shall not be slack in sign whereof, Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends. Gru. Bion. O excellent motion! Fellows, let's be gone. Hor. The motion's good indeed, and be it so ;Petruchio, I shall be your ben venuto. [Exeunt. |