Kath. Minion, thou liest; Is't not Hortensio ? Bian. If you affect him, sister, here I swear, I'll plead for you myself, but you shall have him. Kath. O, then, belike, you fancy riches more; You will have Gremio to keep you fair. Bian. Is it for him you do envy me so? Kath. If that be jest, then all the rest was so. [Strikes her. Enter Baptista. Bap. Why, how now, dame! whence grows Bianca, stand aside;-poor girl! she weeps:- see, Exit Kath. Bap. Was ever gentleman thus griev'd as I? But who comes here? Enter Gremio, with Lucentio in the habit of a mean man; Petruchio, with Hortensio as a musician; and Tranio, with Biondello bearing a lute and books. Gre. Good-morrow, neighbour Baptista. (1) Love. VOL. III. (2) A worthless woman. I Bap. Good-morrow, neighbour Gremio: God save you, gentlemen! Pet. And you, good sir! Pray, have you not a daughter Call'd Katharina, fair, and virtuous? 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,- [Presenting Hortensio. Bap. You're welcome, sir; and he, for your good sake: But for my daughter Katharine,-this I know, Pet. I see, you do not mean to part with her; Or else you like not of my company. Bap. Mistake me not, I speak but as I find. Whence are you, sir? what may I call your name? Pet. Petruchio is my name; Antonio's son, A man well known throughout all Italy. Bap. I know him well: you are welcome for his Gre. Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray, (1) A proverbial exclamation then in use. Pet. O, pardon me, signior Gremio ; I would fai be doing. Gre. I doubt it not, sir; but you will curse your wooing. Neighbour, this is a gift very grateful, I am sure of it. To express the like kindness myself, that have been more kindly beholden to you than any, I freely give unto you this young scholar [Presenting Lucentio.] 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.-But, gentle sir [To Tranio.] 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; Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me, I may have welcome 'mongst the rest that woo, And this small packet of Greek and Latin books: Tra. Of Pisa, sir; son to Vincentio. Bap. A mighty man of Pisa; by report I know him well: you are very welcome, sir.Take you [To Hor.] the lute, and you [To Luc.] the set of books, You shall go see your pupils presently. Holla, within! Sirrah, lead Enter a Servant. These gentlemen to my daughters; and tell them both, These are their tutors; bid them use them well. We will go walk a little in the orchard, Pet. Signior Baptista, my business asketh haste, Bap. After my death, the one half of my lands: And, in possession, twenty thousand crowns. Pet. And, for that dowry, I'll assure her of Bap. Ay, when the special thing is well obtain'd, This is, her love; for that is all in all. Pet. Why, that is nothing; for I tell you, father, I am as peremptory as she proud-minded; And where two raging fires meet together, They do consume the thing that feeds their fury: Though little fire grows great with little wind, Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire and all: So I to her, and so she yields to me: For I am rough, and woo not like a babe. Bap. Well may'st thou woo, and happy be thy speed! But be thou arm'd for some unhappy words. Re-enter Hortensio, with his head broken. Bap. How now, my friend? why dost thou look Hor. For fear, I promise you, if I look pale. musician? Hor. I think she'll sooner prove a soldier; Iron may hold with her, but never lutes. Bap. Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute? Hor. Why, no; for she hath broke the lute to me. I did but tell her, she mistook her frets,1 And bow'd her hand to teach her fingering; When, with a most impatient devilish spirit, Frets, call you these? quoth she: I'll fume with them: And, with that word, she struck me on the head, As on a pillory, looking through the lute : As she had studied to misuse me so. Pet. Now, by the world, it is a lusty wench; Bap. Well, go with me, and be not so discomfited: (1) A fret in music is the stop which causes or regulates the vibration of the string. (2) Paltry musician. |