It shall become, to serve all hopes conceiv'd, Glad that you thus continue your resolve, In brief, sir, study what you most affect. Luc. Gramercies, Tranio, well dost thou advise. If, Biondello, thou wert come ashore, We could at once put us in readiness; And take a lodging, fit to entertain Such friends, as time in Padua shall beget. Tra. Master, some show, to welcome us to town. 9 Small piece of water. 1 Pardon me. 2 Harsh rules. 3 Animate. 320 TAMING OF ACT I. Enter BAPTISTA, KATHARINA, BIANCA, GREMIO, and HORTENSIO. LUCENTIO and TRANIO stand aside. Bap. Gentlemen, impórtune me no further, Because I know you well, and love you well, Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure. Gre. To cart her rather: She's too rough for me: There, there, Hortensio, will you any wife? Kath. I pray you, sir, [to Bap.] is it your will To make a stale of me amongst these mates? Hor. Mates, maid! how mean you that? no mates for you, Unless you were of gentler, milder mould. Kath. I'faith, sir, you shall never need to fear; I wis5, it is not half way to her heart: But, if it were, doubt not her care should be Gre. And me too, good Lord! Tra. Hush, master! here is some good pastime toward; That wench is stark mad, or wonderful froward. Luc. But in the other's silence I do see Maid's mild behaviour and sobriety. Peace, Tranio. Tra. Well said, master; mum! and gaze your fill. 4 A bait or decoy. 5 Think. - Bap. Gentlemen, that I may soon make good What I have said, Bianca, get you in: And let it not displease thee, good Bianca; For I will love thee ne'er the less, my girl. Kath. A pretty peat! 6 'tis best discontent. Put finger in the eye,- -an she knew why. My books, and instruments, shall be my company; On them to look, and practise by myself. Luc. Hark, Tranio! thou mayest hear Minerva speak. [Aside. Hor. Signior Baptista, will you be so strange? Sorry am I that our good-will effects Bianca's grief. Gre. Why, will you mew 7 her up, Signior Baptista, for this fiend of hell, And make her bear the penance of her tongue? To mine own children in good bringing up; For I have more to commune with Bianca. [Exit. not? 6 Pet. Recommend. 7 Shut. What, shall I be appointed hours; as though, be like, I knew not what to take, and what to leave? Ha! [Exit. Gre. You may go to the devil's dam; your gifts1 are so good, here is none will hold you. Their love is not so great, Hortensio, but we may blow our nails together, and fast it fairly out; our cake's dough on both sides. Farewell.-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 she delights, I will wish him to her father. Hor. So will I, signior Gremio: but a word, I pray. Though the nature of our quarrel yet never 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 'specially. Gre. What's that, I pray? Hor. Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister. Gre. A husband! a devil. Hor. I say, a husband. Gre. I say, a devil: Think'st thou, Hortensio, though her father be very rich, any man is so very a fool to be married to hell? Hor. Tush, Gremio, though it pass your patience and mine, to endure her loud alarums, why, man, there be good fellows in the world, an a man could light on them, would take her with all faults, and money enough. Gre. I cannot tell, but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition,―to be whipped at the high-cross every morning. 1 Endowments. 2 Consideration. 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 maintained, 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 doles! He that runs fastest, gets the ring. How say you, signior Gremio? 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. [Exeunt GREMIO and HORTENSIO. Tra. [advancing.] I pray, sir, tell me,-Is it possible That love should of a sudden take such hold? I never thought it possible, or likely: Tra. Master, it is no time to chide you now; 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. 3 Gain or lot. 4 Driven out by chiding. |