Tra. An if I be, sir, is it any offence? 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? Gre. For this reason, if you'll know, That she's the choice love of Signior Gremio. Hor. That she's the chosen of Signior Hortensio. Tra. Softly, my masters! if you be gentlemen, Do me this right,-hear me with patience. Baptista is a noble gentleman, To whom my father is not all unknown; Pet. Hortensio, to what end are all these words? Hor. Sir, let me be so bold as to ask you, Did you yet ever 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. Gre. Yea, leave that labour to great Hercules; And let it be more than Alcides twelve. Pet. Sir, understand you this of me, insooth;The youngest daughter, whom you hearken for, Her father keeps from all access of suitors: And will not promise her to any man, 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, Will not so graceless be, to be ingrate. Hor. Sir, you say well, and well you do cou ceive; And since you do profess to be a suitor, 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 begone. Hor. The motion's good indeed, and be it Petruchio, I shall be your ben venuto. [Exeunt. Bian. Good sister, wrong me not, nor wrong yourself, To make a bondmaid and a slave of me; Kath. Of all thy suitors, here I charge thee, tell Whom thou lov'st best; see thou dissemble not. Bian. Believe me, sister, of all the men alive, I never yet beheld that special face Which I could fancy more than any other. 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? Nay, then you jest; and now I well perceive, You have but jested with me all this while : Enter BAPTISTA. Bap. Why, how now, dame! whence grows Bianca, stand aside:-poor girl! she weeps:- veng'd. When did she cross thee with a bitter word; [Exit KATHARINA. 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, bear. ing a Lute and Books. Gre. Good-morrow, neighbour Baptista. 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. 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 [Presenting HORTENSIO. Bap. You're welcome, sir; and he, for your good sake: But for my daughter Katharine,-this I know, She is not for your turn, the more my grief. 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 sake. Gre. Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray, Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too: Baccare! you are marvellous forward. Pet. O, pardon me, Signior Gremio; I would fain be doing, Gre. I doubt it not, sir; but you will curse your wooing. any, 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 I freely give unto you this young scholar [presenting LUCENTIO], that hath been long stu dying at Rheims; as cunning in Greek, Latin, and other languages, as the other in musick and mathematicks: 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; That, being a stranger in this city here, Do make myself a suitor to your daughter, Unto Bianca, fair and virtuous. Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me, 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: If you accept them, then their worth is great. Bap. Lucentio is your name? of whence, I pray? Tra. Of Pisa, sir; son to Vincentio. Bap. A mighty man of Pisa, by report You shall go see your pupils presently. Sirrah, lead Enter a Servant. These gentlemen to my daughters: and tell them both, These are their tutors; bid them use them well. [Exit Servant, with HORTENSIO, LUCENTIO, and BIONDELLO. We will go walk a little in the orchard, And every day I cannot come to woo. Bap. After my death, the one half of my lands: |